LOYAL MASTERTON LODGE, M.U., I.O.O.F.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1099, 14 June 1882, Page 2

LOYAL MASTERTON LODGE, M.U., 1.0.0. F.

was ; celebrated by a supj«f 'Sit.Bro. Cor-' bett'a Empire Hotel last' erianing." Between. 30 and 40* aat down to the. table, including visitors from the Foresters,: Druids, and the Wellington. Lodged Q-, M. Bro., Corbett.oocupied the, chair, supported on the right and left by P.D.G.M. Buiok, D.P.D.G.M. Dixon, and F.O.S. Bannister. After, full justice had been done to the good things proyjded, the Masterton String Band played an overture, "To the Caliph of Bagdad," in tine style, after whioh the.Ohairm'ari' proposed the" Queen,' 1 and " The Manchester Unity, and Board of Direbtbrs,'' ,in succession. Bro.Bish then'sangj" Golden Days" very nicely,, although He : waa suffering from a bad cold. ■ Bro., Jago. proposed the" District Offioers," pointing' out the great trouble they had taken to attend, " Tjie Lay of the last Oyster" by Mr Bapp created amusement', though the singer waf not in good l voice, jufferiug from a cold. Bro, Buiok thanked them for the manner in which they' had drank the health of the. District Officers, and hoped he would be able to attend many more of the anniversaries of the Lodge. Bro.'Bandißter also thanked them,.and gave'a historyof the progress of the din-' trici. He had held office 22 years.,. When 'he first took office' there wore 12 Lodges in the district, their capital then being about £2,000. ■ The Lodges in the Napier provinces afterwards ieoeded,'&nd formed a district of their own, They'started with a contribution of 6d, but this he thought was too low, and would not provide for the benefits promised. The high rate of iuterest they wero enabled to get lor their money, put them on their feet. They had always made progress, and had now a capital of over. i18.07Q. The country lodges were in sound positions Several members of his own lodge had been in receipt of sick pay for ten or twelve years, and he pointed out the great benefit this was to their wives. and children, and concluded by thanking them; Bro, Dalrymple then proposed the kindrod societies, coupled with the names of Bro. Hooper (Druids), and Bro. Elkins (Foresters) He, looked upon the Societies as ono great army as it were consisting of cavalry, infantry, &c, They were all pulling fn the same boatj their object being the advancement of society and the welfare of their fellow men. These Societies' lie maintained, made men aspire to greater things, and instanced Bro. Bißh (loud applause). He commenced as a supporter, and now was one of the highest officers, and also Mayor of Masterton. He also pointed out tho great pecuniary benefits to be derived from the sick societies. Bro. Dalrymple then sang the "Laird of Cockpen" with good effect, and Bro, Hnnper thanked ihem for drinking his health, He thought if a thing was worth doing at all it should be done , properly,, and he was doing his best to get to the top of the ladder. He would, advise every man to join a society, as providing for a rainy day. Bro', ElkinS replied in suitable terms. Bro. Sellar was applauded for his rendering of" Good Rhine Wine," after which the Strinn Band gave an overture from "Norma" very nicely, " Sister Lodges" was proposed by . Bro. Coker, Bro, Dixon giving "Three Jolly Britons" in fine style, for which he, win loudly applauded. Bro. Bannister in responding to the toast of" Sister Lodges'' said he joined to Order in 1845, and was made 1.6. the nigh he was initiated. It was on the night of an election, and he remembered it perfectly, Bro. ■ Marriott, who is now in his 82nd year,. being N.G. "With the' exception of lo months when he was trying his fortune at the diggings, he had been in harness the whole time. Some time after he joined the Britania .Lodge, 22 of them,seceded from it and formed the Antipodian Lodge, the one he now belonged to. Of these .22. there were only three alive, viz., Bro. G. Greathead of Greytown, Bro. John Smith and himself. He thanked them very [ much for the toast. Bro. Clayson sang " The Midshipmite" in fine style, and Bro. Dixon proposed tho " Loyal Masterton Lodge." He had had an opportunity that evening of seeing how the business waa' ooriduoted, and he congratulated the officora and brothers ou the manner in which It was managed. Bro. Buick sang " In her apron" and was loudly applauded, Bro. Dalrymplo in responding to the last toast gave a short history of how the Masterton Lodge was started. When he arrived in Masterton he found there was no Lodge, He had known Bro. Bish as ah Oddfellow in Greymouth and they puLthbir shoulders together and'started the present' lodge. They at first met with great difficulties, and had it not been for the strenuous efforts of Bros. Jago and Coker he thought they would have collapsed. The want of a suitable room being greatly felt about a year after they started Bro, Corbett came to Masterton and gave them a room, free, and he (Bro. Corbett) had done everything in his power to promote the welfare of (he Lodge. He could not sit down without saying a few wo r ds in praise of the Bros. IJarvey. They had brought more members to the Lo,lge thau all the rost put together, and had travelled long distances to attend their Lodge duties. They had large nominations for the respective offices, shewing that members took a great interest in the welfare of the Lodge, Their Lodge, was now in a good financial position. Bro. Coker then Bang " American drinks," after, whioh he proposed the "Ladies,"Bro. Waldenresponding. Bro. Elkins sang " Bonny Black Bess," and Bro. Jago " Sweet Bell MBhone," both being applauded. The" Press" was proposed by Bro Olayaon, and responded In by Mr Hogg and Bros. Bannister and MoKenzie. Mr Hall gave a oamic song, and was encored, and in response save another, whioh 1 was loudly applauded. Bro. Clayson sang "The Merry Cobbler," and in response to an encore gave "Sjgnor McStinger,.the Baritone Singer. 1 -' Bro Sellar was applauded for "Auld Robin the Laird," and Bro. Coker proposed "Host and Hostess Corbett," which wbb drank' with musical honors, the little Corbett's ooming in for their share, Bro. Corbett replying in suitable terms. Bro'. Lowenthall sang "Beloved Eye" vary nicely, and Bro. Dalrymple proposed "Health and Prosperity to ihe Masterton String Band" in eulogistic terms, which was responded to by Mr Lundqvist. The Band then played an overture, "II Trovatore," and, "Auld. Lang Syne" brought a most successful gathering to a j dose,