ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 80, 21 September 1878, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Thursday, September 19, 1878, was a red-letter day in the annals of the Alex;androyna| L'odge, Tcmuka'i ;On day Hheihnew'hall .was* formally' dedicated to. .the-use .of-the-Lodge- with, alUdue.aiuL fitting ceremonies, Bros. J. . McGaw, Alexander,' Robinson, and Tongue' coming .from.. Dunedin,,,,, and,. Bro.. Lezard.,from, Christchurch, fur the purpose. j The 'hall itself' is a very good building in concrete, containing a main ha11;23 by 40, and two ante-rooms, each lfj 'feet square. .The .walls are 12 feet-high*," witha flat ceiling. "Two tri-liglit chandeliers light the main hall'perfectly. The officers of .the Grand Lodge having been formally admitted, the officers of the Lodge vacated their chairs, which were taken by the -visitors. The Gaitnd Master then, in the name and on behalfof the 1.0.0. F. of the Colony of New Z«aland, accepted the hall for dedication to the uses of Oddfellow-ship, ''To disseminate Friendship, Love, and Truth and vto diffuse- ,Bencvolenee : and Charity in their fullest extent to all its worthy members." and declared it duly dedicated. The Marshals then, by the sprinkling of water, emblematic of Friendship; by the lighting of fire, emblemativof Love; by/the scattering of.wheat, emblematic of Truth; by the strewing of flowers, emblematic of Faith, Hope, and Charity; proclaimed that the principles of Oddfellowship had here found a dwelling-place. The Grand Chaplain, Bro. Lezard, of Christchurch, then offered a dedicatory prayer, invoking the blessing and help of Heaven on, the Lodje; The G.M. adjuring the brethren never to forget the laws- of' the Order—" To visit the sick, to''relieve the distressed, to bury the dead, and to educate the orphan " —delivered again to the Alexandrovna Lodge, the temple dedicated to the Order. V The G.M. then delivered a short ad-. dress, expressing a hope that the renewal of vows which the ceremony implied, would never be forgotten, and expressing his pleasure at being present, and at seeing the Lodge so flourishing. The Rev G. Barclay then addressed the meeting. He was taken quite by surprise, but was glad to'say a few words. He was much gratified to see so many assembled, and had been much impressed by the dedicatory service. It.was the first time he had witnessed it, and being instinct with the great principles of rer ligion. it had given him great pleasure. The principles'of Faith, Love, Truth, and Charity, which underlie the Order, are the foundation of all social order, of political order, and material prosperity. The number of membei's belonging to this Lodge, between SO and 90," was a very respectable number in such a community as this. It might be said that there was no speei-d reason for the existence of such aii institution in so prosperous a country as this, yet anywhere and everywhere sickness and death, and widows and or.dians were to be found. Long may Oddfellowship flourish. Id had been said that ;m Oddfellow should 'be like the bee for industry ; like the fox f>r cunning; like the dove for innocence; like the sheep for usefulness ; and like the lion for bo'dness. He Hoped that every member of the Alexandrovna Lodge would long realise these characteristics. He hoped that on the next occasion of a meeting of this kind—the celebration of the anniversary —the number of members would be double what it is now. (Great Applause.) Mr Alexander Wilson then addressed the meeting, setting forth the advantages of leading virtuous and sober lives. Mr Teague, Dunedin, made a pithy speech in which he said that he was sure that anyone becoming an Oddfeliow might not become a good fellow, but he must becon e a better fellow. His own experience had proved this. The W. 0. then gave a short account of' his experiences of Oddfellowship in America and elsewhere. Wherever he had been he had found the members of ' the order a most respectable body. The members composing the council would compare favorably with any other legislative body in the world. Deputy G.M. Price, of Timaru, gave a short address, congratulating the Lodge upon their progress during the four years that have elapsed since its institution, and proposed a vote of thanks to the' ladies and gentlemen who had honored the meeting with their presencei and attention. A vote of thanks to the choir, who had sung several anthems and odes during the ceremony, was carried"'by acclamation. Bro. Alexander then recited a poem in praise of Oddfellowship by Thomas Bracken, a Dunedin writer of rising fame. He afterwards presented a volume of Bracken's poems to tlie Rev Mr Barclay, who suitably acknowledged the gift. The pronouncing by the Grand Chaplain of the benediction of the Order terminated the very interesting ceremony of dedication. The members of the Lodge, with the visiting brethren" and several invited guests, about seventy in all, then sat down to a sumptuous banquet provide'd by Mr Tombs Mr Jas. Blyth and Mr Gray being chairmen, and Mr Radford and Mr Stoppelbein being vice-chairmen of the two tables. After the usual loyal toasts, the Chairman proposed the health of the Grand Master, Mr M'Gaw, acknowledging 1 in suitable terms, the kindness and courtesy of the visiting brethren. Song- : Mr Massey. J Mr M'Gaw responded by giving a telling history of Oddfellowship in the Austra'ian colonies, and especially of the, rapid progress the craft was making in New Zealand. Mr.. M'Gaw also entertained the company with a song from Burns, "A Man's a man for a' that." The Chairman then gave the "Local Visitors," coupled with the name of the Rev Mr Barclay, paying a high eulogium to that rev gentleman for his telling speech at the dedication of the Lodge, and acknowledging the deep obligation which the Lodge laid under to Mr Barclay for so kindly honouring them with his presence. Mr Barclay responded by a speech of great comprehensiveness and information, expressing in the course of it his surprise

and astonishment at the great growth of these Societies, and his appreciation of >th'eir'value as philanthropic institutions, "disseminating the principles of Love, Pesflpy, arid Good-wiJI ; the beauty and ha-inpny of the Order ; the reverence and "respufct member's liore to their officers ; the value of such institutions in the world-in aiding the needy and the hick, ' and in assuting respectable burial to their brethren. Heheldthoscsocictiesaspntferns ,{< r other institutions of even a religious nature. Its catholic spirit, its want of .sectarianism, holding out an open hand to' !every good/cil?z3n'o£ Whatever deuombaa- .. k mcfS' si viking feature' in iVieseT -societiesp*-svbi''h-"prpfesßing-. - Christians r \yowld do ,tr> copy from., .The rev. gentleman concluded. *by"referring to tvro ."geritleinen : ,»to*\vit-:Dr4iayuer r ..an old and intelligentj_settler. r of ..many more years standing than himself," and.also, to Mr ".Wilson, , proprietor,;- of- the-~TsMUKA Leaeeh, who were better entitled to 'address. theiu" on this occasion than himself,...;.' .'. , r .\ .. t \ ."..'„ .!"."/ - 'Song-' :'Mt : Pilbrt >w; ' ! (; ' ■'' ; < : Pr Rayner, on rising,, acknowledged the compliment.paid; him by Mr Barclay in a most witty and humorous speech, causing .the; whole company to join in roars of 'laughter.' The-' venerable- dbctdrf concluded by proposing " Tlie Press,"' coupled with the name of Mr Wilson, who, he said, had now become the proprietor of the Temuka Leader, and who would, he- had no doubt', whatever, look to the interests of the.district, especially in the great, all-absorbing subject of the Mil ford "Harbour, which he now believed he would yet see opened, and the colonial as well as the coastal shipping taking'shelter under hs natural defences from storms of wind or sea. H"> must admit that Mr Wilson took a warm interest in everything calculated for the good, not only of Temuka, but of South Canterbury, and although the conducting of a newspaper might be a new business to him, he believed he wou'd, with his usual energy and pluck, cause its, voice to be heard and listened to' as W power in their midst. Before'sitting down -lie would'also add the name of Mr -Massey, representative of the ' South Canterbury .Times,' to the toast. Song : Mr Farrol. Mr Wilson - responded, thanking tlfe Dr for th»> expressions of.-good-will, • and assuring the company that, although ho hadTpurchased the Leader a,, wreck and a bye-word, he would, not' rest till he, at whatever expense it cost him, brought it ton state of respectability and usefulness second to no paper in bouth Canterbury. Although he had not the same chance at starting as the first promoters, who were eneom-aged by all classes, yet he was pleased to be able .to say it had already secured a circulation larger than under j any of its formerproprietors, and although it could be made an implement for evil, his determination was to make it a mighty engine for good.. One topic would never be lost sight of within its columns until the object be an accomplished fact. (Great cheering.) That was its advocacy of the ] Milford Harbor. He could assure those present he had good reason for saying Milford Harbor, with its masts of shipping, would soon be one of the most prominent features of Temuka scenery. _ Mr Massey made ;i most amusing. spe- ch, reminding the company thatiffl* Wilson, although responding for the Press, spent most 'gas ? in puffing his <6wn paper, which, although he would hot deny the improvement in the Leader, would yet be a long time before it would be able to hold a candle to .the 'South Canterbury times..' (Great cheers.) Mr Blyth proposed the health -of Mr Stopplcbcin. Song: Mr Tombs. Mr Stopplebein briefly replied. Mr Wilson next proposed the health of Dr 11 lyner, one of the visiting friends, but a friend that was a staunch supporter of the various improvements taking place amongst ns He was, perhaps, the oldest settler i > the district. He was a gentleman with whom he had had a good many hot and spirited controversies, which always, like the railway whistle with its noise, ended in smoke, and, liKe the train, they were immediately after ab'e to run on their course -with the united determination to oppose allcomers when.dared te siiy that Temuka was not to -be the capital of South Canterbury. The Chairman next proposed ''The health of Brother Prioe, with the other visiting brethren from neighbouring lodges. " Mr Bar-clay proposed, in a neat speech, "The health of Mr Gray, mem her of the Timaru Harbor Board,'' who, he said, • had to fight the battles of this district singlehanded. , Mr Gray briefly replied., . , After a few more toasts Had been drunk; 'The '. Winchester" /Brethren," "The Volunteers," <fcc, one of the most agreeable evenings ever enjoyed in Temuka was brought to , a close, all returniug to tiieir homes expressiug admiration at the perfect arrangements made for this grand demonstration.