CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOYAL BLUE SPUR M.U.I O.O. F.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 10, 18 April 1868, Page 3

CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOYAL BLUE SPUR M.U.I 0.0. F.

The L. Blue Spur M.U.1.0.0.F. held their first annual social meeting on Good Friday. The day being fine, there was a large attendance of ladies, and several of the brethren of the Order came from Waitahuna, Wetherstones, and one or two from Lawrence. Tea was laid out in the school room, which seats comfortably sixty people, but the large attendance filled the tables twice. There was abundance of good things provided including fruit. The following ladies presided at the tables : — Mesdamea Ralston and Wren, Miss Boyes, and Miss Elliott. The younger "Brethren" acted as waiters, and the ladies appeared to have no lack of attention from them, it may bethought invidious to draw a distinction, but we could not help noticing the great attention bestowed upon the single ladies especially. After tea was removed, brother Richard Williams, N.G., took the chair He regretted very much that we had not a room of sufficient dimensions at the Spur to accommodate all at once, at the same time we should be thankful for the day of Bmall things. He considered 'hat the present was the most desirable way to celebrate their anniversary ; a dinner had been talked about, but in that case the ladies would have been excluded. As it had been decided all could join, Mr. Williams took a review of Oddfellow^hip, from which we gathered that little over three years ago, when the Order met at Lawrence to form a lodge there, the local muster was only six, and now there were upwards of 300 members in the district, and still increasing ; our Lodge numbered over sixty members, the reserve fund amounts to L 15 0; the accumulated funds of the district are over LBOO, We have had no deaths in the Lodge, and very little sickness. He considered that they are in a very good position, and when the objects of the Society was taken into account, he thought the Society was well entitled to encouragement and support. Mr. Williams resumed his seat amid ftearty cheers. /o Tlie C!flAIB1(AN called upon brother (Secretary) John Carey, to give a reading. Brother Cabby gave '* Daniel O'Rourke'in fine style, such as an Irishman only can give— "Nate and clane," and re- ' ceived the hearty and well merited plaudits of the company. Mr. M*Lbm.and was next called upon for an address, in which he congratulated the Lodge on the weather, the company, . and last, though not least, on the manner pf celebrating their anniversary. , Att the inhabitants of the." Spur " notwithstanding their peculiar phrases and feelings, PQuld unite heartily in amidting in

this celebration. He (Mx. M Lelland), had no sympathy with tiie usual mode of celebrating these f eativities, not only in connexion, with Oddfellowship, but in other Societies and upon other occasions, he considered it always doubtful, whenit was thought prudent not to admit tne ladies ; he liked to see husbands and wives together, and did not ;much hke ,to hear of the frequent use of the Latoh key" He (MrTM'Lelland), spoke of the insignia of the Order suggestmg "Loyalty;" they were the best of Oddfellows who "Feared God and honored the Queen," then it suggested union and a common sympathy, which man in an isolated position could not hope to attain ; he could also say something of another union, of which he had been a member for a period of thirty-three yaars, and if he told them all the happiness and comfort arising from such union, he feared he should make some of our young men feel uncomfortable. He hoped that the married men when at their meetings would think of the mothers of their cnildren at home washing, stitching, darning, and waiting, for the return of their husbands. He thought it became him from his years and experience, that in all their hours of social e n i°yP, ent » * he 7 would keep good hours. He (Mr. M'Lelland), had not had an opportunity before to dissent from the mode in which tne last meeting had passed off ; there were too many broken bottles knocking about ; there was something suspicious about empty and broken bottles being lying in close proximity to a dwelling house— it was almost a personal matter with torn, for dubious people might shake^ their heads and even hint that he (Mr. M Leiland), was not a tee-totaller after all. On this account he congratulated the " Order " on the present arrangement. The Chairman called upon Mr. A. B. Matthews, who recited " Lochiel and the Wizard." Brother Tranter, of Waitahuna, a song. „ Brother Mawu» gave a short address upon the Order, He more especially had been an Oddfellow for a good many years, and hoped to remain so. They mustered in the old country at the present time nearly half a million, only think of the misery prevented by a judicious distribution of the funds covering such a vast amount of the population, and the benefit derived by widows and orphans. In Victoria they were very strong, and in Otago they were in a very respectable position. Our motto is this—" Do good unto all men, especially to those who are of the Order." Brother M'Nure, Waitahuna, followed by a recitation, "Brutus and Cassius." Brother Barr, Waitahuna, also a recitation, " Mark Anthony." Brother Morris gave a reading from " Caudle," when that lady was desirous of getting at the secret of Freemasonry. This was rendered in capital style. Brother King, a song. Brother M'Hapfib, Waitahuna, address — thought the brethren of the Blue Spur Lodge had acted very wisely in celebrating their anniversary in this manner. He was sure it was a step in the right direction, and well worthy of imitation. Brother Ledingham gave a reading, " Love and Marriage, Men and Women." Brother Mannuel, song, " The home of an Englishman.*' Brother Carey gave another reading. At this stage of the proceedings, Mr. Marriott, of Lawrence, put in an appearance ; the harmonium having been previously in its place, that gentleman accompanied brother Tranter in a song. The Chairman now announced that they had got to the end of the second part of the entertainment, and that they should finish off with a dance.

Brother Coverlid moved a vote of thanks to the" Chairman, which being seconded by Mr. M'Lelland, the room was cleared for dancing, the night being fine and every one in the best of humor, many of the company tripped it till after the " Wee short hour."

We have no hesitation in pronouncing this anniversary a " Great success."