U.A.O. D.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4448, 7 April 1883, Page 2

U.A.O. D.

The lodge " Pride of the Thames, No^ 163, was inagurated last night by D.P.** Bro. Walter Bishop, aetting under instructionß from the Grand Lodge of Australia. About 40, intending members, attended at the Masonic Hall in the. afternoon and evening, and were duly initiated into the mysterious rules of Druidism. In the evening the officers were duly installed. They are as follows:—Arch" Ifruid, W. P. Scott? Tr*. X Druid, Gbls; AhierrßiKW**^ tary, J. W.Brame^Treasurer, :W. Gribble; Inner Guard, James- Thomas; Outer Guard. John Coutti 4 Arch Barda.Brof.A.,,, Vowles and B. Lewis; Vice Bards/Bros. J. Ingiis and T.^ilneV; Minute^ Secret taryiN. Veal. After the Lodge was adjourried the members met at the Pacjifio—? Hotel, where a banquet bad been prepared^ / and nearly 40 sat down to it. I.DI W. ' F. Scott occupied the chair, supported on his right by D.P^.Bro ; Bishop,r T w.,ho bad acted as Installing Officer, and the Vice* Chair was Cakeri 1 by V.A'.tt j}to:'£ffl»ip* After the usual.loyal, and fpatriotic to«s|f , bad been disposed of, the yice«Cbairnia# £ proposed the toast of the Grand f Lodge M and Board of Directors. ■ - -In responding to this the District President. (Bro Bishop)^} gave some interesting figures in conned* tion with, the..foundation, working, and success of the Order in England, Amerli»a/ 1 Germany, and the colonies. There are about 300,000 memben of tho T Order, . and tßit lodge sposjpess «\c*pitat offver Jy : two caillioQ sterling. Drnidism was first in* '* : traduced in to Australia 18 years afroi and to the management of.it there wag ajttribu* T . ~, table its great popularity and successful ' working. During last yeafr-theO^npSif of new lodges opened was I^, JJ622 -• new members were initiated. nTnjs made, .'* a total of 164 lodges-.6848 members under the Grand Lodge of Australia, i This does,not include New. South Wiipi x , and: South Australia, wfcio have -grsidh lodges of their own, and- number! some 3500 members strong. The Grand Lodgehas | accumulated ' £7,887/ ; and-" lodges under its jurisdiction £25,413,, shew* ing an iporease of ~£5,276\~f0f year. The outlay- by * the- lesdgiawenii U. tioned during rthe,, 12 month* was tor Bick«pay, £3429; for funeral claims £1035; and for surgeons' 'and medicine £6C61. Though only four years old in New Zealand, the Order numbers 41 lodges, with over 3000 members. There are four lodges jn the Auckland district, and others arein course of formation. The sum of £15,500 is invested by lodges. The speaker thanked the local member's for their attention snd, courtesy ddrini; his ; stay, gave them advice regarding the work* r ' ing of their lodge/, and hop¥d ne'irbuld- 5 again visit tnem/e^e'^Qn'g.r'^e^Ritwing "?' toasts were also proposed and responded to :~ " Kindred Societies," "Sister Lodges," "Success-to itfce^Pride)Of;^h»; > Thames Lodge," "the n Press," "the Ladies," and '.'the, Hos| and HqkUis." The proceedings' were'ehlivienea'by the vocal efforts of several of those present* and the.niejßtitig woQ*d^w|tb^^|i<ifgl^ v r Syne. The spread was prepareawifliHoK Curtis' well known"^c'are' and'attention.