Protestant Alliance Anniversary Soiree.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5246, 10 November 1885, Page 2

Protestant Alliance Anniversary Soiree.

Notwithstanding the boisterous state of the weather last evening, there was a large attendance at the soiree and concert held in the Academy of Music in celebra* tion of the twelfth anniversary of the Prince of Wales Lodge, No. 20, Protestant Alliance Friendly Society. A bountiful supply of good things was provided by Mr W. Scott in his usual excellent manner, to which full justice was done, and the room was cleared for the concert, which was presided over by Mr John Me Waters, P.M., of the Lodge, and D GM. of the Graud Council of New Zealand, while several other officers occu pied seats on the stage. In the course of his opening remarks, the Chairman gave the motives which actuated him in joining the Order, and briefly compared the position of the Prince of Wales Lodge with the various other friendly societies in the district. It bad been said that it was a secret society, but the whole secret of the success of the institution was its adherence to the emblem emblazoned upon the banner —the Crown and Bible — which they would always maintain.

A duet, " Tell me where do fairies dwell," having been pleasantly rendered by Misses Adams and Phillips, for which they received well-deserved plaudits, the Secretary of the Lodge (Mr Win. Smith) then read the annual report, which was as follows:—

'• Tjbe number of members on the roll is 141 ; the amount of money'to our crtdit is £949 li, £900 of tbie is out at interest. 23 of the brethren have Buffered from sickness f. r ebort or long periods during the past year, and they hare received from the Lodge the sum of £168 5s 6d. The doctors, for attendance and medicine, have been paid £100. Tbore has only been one death to record through the year—that of the wife of one of our oldest members. Of the 9 new members who have joined the Lodge during the past twelve months, all but one are quite young men ; the example thus ehown of providing against a time of sickness it is to be hoped will be followed very largely during the next year. In reviewing the position of the central body of this Society in New Zealand, I have to report that the Grand Council has to its credit the sum of £1076 12s 9d, £750 of which is earning good interest. There are 11 Lodges of the Society in New Zealand,.with a total number of 600 members registered to the Funeral Fund, and about 1CI) honoraiy medical members. The amount of money to the credit of Sick Funds of the 11 Lodges is £2026 5s 10d. The average amount to credit of each financial benefit member in the Funeral Fund is £2 1b 3d. Taking the totals of the Sick Funds in the hands of the Lodges and the Funeral Fund in the band of the Grand Counoil, I find the average amount to the credit of each financial benefit member throughout the colony to be £5 19a 4d. But taking our own Lodge at Thames it will be found that we have in the Sick and Funeral Funds the sum of £10 2s Id to the credit of each financial benefit member. This result for the Prince of Wales Lodge I consider very satisfactory; and the only offset against tbe moderate average for the whole colony is in the fact that quite half the Lodges are of very recent formation, and therefore have only added to the liabilities by their numbers, but bare not yet had limp to show a largo ae»et in accumulated funds. My advice to the young mon of the Thames ie, therefore, to .immediately join a Friendly Bociety, and, in preference, to join that of the Prince of Wales Lodge: this advice is founded on experience, for wo never fear a doctor's bill, and me never fear that we shall be left without succour when on our beam ends through sickness.—Wm. Smith, See. No. 20."

Master Wells then gave a negro comic sonp, " Where has the Negro Josey Gone," for which he had to submit to a recall; being followed by Miss Manton, with that well known ballad, "Sweet Violets," •which she rendered in a very pleasing manner. Mr 0. McLirer was in excellent voice, and his rendition of" England, d,ear England." proved very acceptable, and wa? loudly'applauded'; while Mr. Jas. Wright caused roars of laughter with the comic song, " Lanigan's Ball," and in response to a vociferous recall, gave " Pat Molloy.". "Speed On" was excellently rendered by Mr S. Catran, whom we havp seldom heard to better advantage,'' and being recalled to the front, he substituted •f The Will o'-the Wisp. " A musical treat was afforded the audience by .Mr Chaloner, wl}a playvd. a sftlo upon the pioeolinq, (accompanied on the piano by Mr E, Trewheela); for which he received quite an ovation, and was thrice recalled, during which he gave a performance upon two instruments, and was loudly applauded. Miss Adams followed with a song, "Dream Faces," which was excellently rendered, and was "well i received, The #cv. W. S. letter said he was a firm believer in the good done by benefit societies, which tended to alleviate the sufferings of members who became afflicted, but there were perhaps some evils in connection therewith which should be avoided, such, for instance, as holding late meetings. He expressed himself 83 proud of a society which bore upon its banner the inscriptions of the open Bible, the British Drown, and dove, as the emblem of purity, and hoped that the crown might long rest upon the head of a sovereign ao worthy as Queen Tictoria, and that the Prince o f Wajep would, b<>.

her successor. He also dwelt upon th° advantages of social intercourse promoted by the existence of societies, and wished them every blessing.

•• Oh ! hear the wild winds blow " was then given by Mr S. Catran, being followed by Mr Wiseman in one of his local songs, in the course of which allusion was made to (he detectives recently appointed at the Cambria mine, and aausing roars of laughter, and for which he had to submit to a vociferous recall.

P.M. D. Henderson, in a humorous speech, proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies who had assisted at the tables, and to the vocalists, which was seconded by W.M. Gibbs, and carried by acclamation. A laughable farce, entitled "Tht" Siamese Twins," by Messrs Wells (3) and Woodward, concluded an excellent pro* gramme, and after the singing of the National Anthem, the hall was cleared for dancing, which was continued; until" the wee sma' hours ayont the twal," to the enlivening strains of Mr Christensen's string band.

Mr M. Trewheela, who bad charge of the musical arrangements, efficiently presided at the piano during the evening.