Loyal Waikato Lodge Anniversary.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2637, 21 June 1877, Page 2

Loyal Waikato Lodge Anniversary.

The Anniversary of the Loyal Waikato Lodge, M.U., Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was celebrated last night in the Academy of Music by a soiree, meeting thereafter, and a dance. The tea commenced at half-past six o'cloak, and was well supplied by, Host Curtis* and done full justice to by the large company present. The tea-taking occupied fully an hour, and some time was taken up thereafter in clearing the tables and rearranging the seats for the after entertainment, which partook of the nature of addresses, and songs, with an interlude of phrenological manipulation by Mr J.

Leydon, retiring- -TOkOr. of the Loyal Waikato Lodge, which was not the least interesting feature of the programme. His Worship the Mayor had kindly consented to preside, and be was punctual in-attendance.to-fulfil his 3 duties. On the; platform were to be seen many of the; past officers of the Lodge, besides repre-' sentatives of the various others friendly; societies on tlie Thames, all clad in regalia and insignia of their respective offices. APTEB, TEA. * His Worship "the" Mayor* t66K:the "chair at the meeting after tea, being introduced by Sir E. H. Power. . His Worship the .Mayor said he supposed that although this was a meeting of Odd Fellows he had to address himself to the ladies and gentlemen, as he saw more ladies than gentlemen. He did not know that-;he would be called uportrfor an address, jas;that was ajfparful-performance, so he would dispense with that. The fact of his being present as Mayor would be sufficient to say;that he,apprehended there: was nothing of a political or sectarian character; in that meeting, but that it was one of a charitable kind, namely, to assist those who belonged to their order in.case of sickness or death. He knew nothing of their secrets/but he had come at their invitation. .. He ; had; been.trying ,to find out .'the jncaning of .the letters and figures ori his. invitation, and he solved the difficulty iv this way, that . they: meant;, there 'Were: 5,444,100 fellows banded together to aid in 1 distress./ His first duty would be to call upon Mr Billings to sing them a song. ', l Song—Mr : Billings .—" Mary of Argyie." ■ ■ ■ •■"-' ■■'-■ y "^ !:; ■••■■■*: : ... Mr Bagnall was next called upon. He : gajdl^: Jfelil ;i^ would; bj^ i6;ut of/ pjfute to detain them, knowing what had to come on the programme! As he had frequentlyhad ithe pliastiiSß to; address his brethren; on Odd cqu)4 say he had' nothing new to say. There wasone'thing His Worship had referred to, namely, the unscientific character of their order* They had to cleat with the Scientific character of £. Ls.: d.; whether they had sufficient ••: funds to meet "the calls upon them. The Odd Fellows had gone to great pains to come to_ a satisfactory solution of that question, and if' they did that they would solve a very important problem. That was where the scientific business came in, but that; question came in more particularly when members were assembled in lodge. As for the secrets, they were a very unimportant matter,' and he would not unnecessarily detain them, especially as it was well known that a brother was going to enlighten them as to the secret of their "bumps." '

The: Chairman then: said the next item in the programme would be a song from a lady from whom they hoped to hear at no distant date,- but he had not known until that moment they were to hear herthat night. He meant Miss Hunter. : Song —Miss Bunier'-r' liThe^ BlindGirl's Dream." This was very nicely rendered and applauded; cordially. j ' Song—Mr Eobinson—" When we.were boys together." Very well received. : An address by Mr Ooombes was the next thing on the programme, but in his. absence was substituted a — : -s Song—Mr S. Catran"'-" The';. Plying Dutchman," which was encored, and the singer; then give «WilUd'-the-Wisp," which was very well rendered and ap^ plauded. > < ■ Song—Mr Yowles—" Sweet Flower." This young gentleman's effort was well received. . v • ! The Chairman';thfcn\: Called upon Mr Leydon, but, he said, there was a degree of ambiguity'about"th^programme as; to whether it was an address or a song that: Mr Leydon was required to give. . ~\ Mr Ley don, said that he would not tike; up their- time further tti&n by stating that if any gentlemen would come forward!he ; would have much pleasure in feeling their; heads in the presence of their wives; or sweethearts. He would have much ptea-.sure7ih'fe"elihg~the"Mayor's-'bumpsV''r".; After a short,internal; five gentlemen toot ■p'chairfljiist behind the! footlights, and- M« Leydon proceeded to delineate the "bumps "-of-the volunteers, to the intense amusement of the audience, and apparently to the satisfaction of the sub--jeets. >TMs ;»of i the- evening's] pro? gramme was evidently relished hjL-ihe audience. Mr Leydon did not attempt ariy^detailed; reading^ of lthe: "JheiuktvPi of his subjects, but merely referred to some of f the most prominent^characteristics, his,, yescripfcibn of which'was not •challenged. Mr Leydon did his part in a happy manner, that neither gave offence nor savored of flattery to his subjects; """ ;; "■i ; Song—Mr W. H. Keed—The A.B.C. of Odd Fellowship, an original song by_ the singer, which was much applauded ■ and encored, when Mr Eeed gave another of his'original songs '• Moanatairi," which was also well received.

Song — Miss Hunter — " Strangers Yet," being nicely sung. His Worship said, in one respect the programme was in due form, as.it called upon them to sing; M&odAlwtTe' the Queen." -. • . „ .•» Mr Bagnall said, before that wak«itte.| he would propose a cordial vote of thaijlt&j to his Worship the Mayor, forpresidiMp| which was carried by acclamation, acknowledged in appropriate terms by the Chairman. The company then sang " God Save the Queen," the solo being taken by; Miss Hunter, and the company standing; and immediately thereafter there was a partial dismissal, during which the'room "was cleared for * - .THE DANCE, which was commenced, as soon as the room was cleared, and kept .up for some hours with an apparent enjoyment. Ihe music was supplied by Keed Brothers, and pave satisfaction. We omitted 1 to mention in the usual place that the accompaniments to the songs during the evening were played by Mr E. H. Power and Mr Trewheela.