ODFELLOWS ANNIVERSARY DINNER.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 1004, 28 November 1878, Page 2

ODFELLOWS ANNIVERSARY DINNER.

The members of the Loyal Hamilton Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., celebrated the anniversary of the Lodge by a dinner at the Royal Hotel, Hamilton, on Tuesday evening, when a really substantial and el eguntly appointed table was prepared by Host Dawson m his usual firstclass style. Aboub forty gentlemen sat down to dinner, the chai being occupied by the Noble Grand Bro. James Coombes, and tbe Yice-' Chair, by P.G. Bro. Land.

On the removal of the cloth, the Chairman, before proposing the toasts of the evening stated for the information of those present that io was now four years since the Lodge had been opened, having been established on the 24th November 1874. At that time it had been opened with forteen members, and had increased to 21 by the end of the quarter. Since then it had never been m an advanced state as regards numbers ; the roll of members varying at different times from 21 to to 36. There were signs lately, however, of an increase. The numbers of members at the present moment was 48, and there was an evident desire on the par!; of many of the community to aval themselves of the benefits which the institution afforded to membership. The Chairman then called on the Secretary, Bro. Small, to read the statement of the financial position of the Lo^ffe.

The Secretary then read a sit iement of accounts which showed that the Lodge had to its credit the handsome sum of £200.

The usual Loyid toasts having beeh proposed, and duly responded to,

The Vico-Chairman proposed the (i Avmy Navy and Volunteers" which was responded to by Captain Dawson.

The Vioe-Cliairraan then proposed the Manchester Unity. The present company was not; the only one he said whioli m all probability was proposing that toast to-night. Mustering over a million members as the order did m ail parts of the world, it was not likely but that some other anniversary was being then celebrated.

Bro. Jamieson, P G., responded on behalf of the Auckland Lodges and the Manchester Unity m general. The order had gained, m one year, 5000 members, and lately he had heard that it had gained 2000 more m the past half-year. A great deal was due m this matter, no doubt, to the action of the Government, which, m the Friendly Societies' Act, had plaoed the management and oontrol of their finances on a sound basis. It was now for them, while the movement was popular to bestir themselves and secure an accession of good and useful members. The Chairman proposed " The Master and Officers of Auckland."

Bro. Jamieson, m aclcnowlcdging the toast, apologised for the Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master of Auckland, that they were not able to attend on the present occasion, through press of hiysi-: ness, but that they hoped to,dsso.io,waxds the end of th,e. yefyr, ancj sppjftd a lodge evening" at itumiltcni. They had sent, through him, their bvothorly love and good wishes for the prosperity and advancement of the Hamilton Lodge. Brother Fitzgerald then proposed the " Sister Lodges," coupled with the name of Bro. George Browne.

Bro. Browne, m responding, nlludod. t^ his experience m other lodgos »\s weii as m that of the Loyi\l JjVvinilfcon, and spoke enthus^astiualiy ai? tho bonoiits derived from ihern. Tqo many young: men, m tho enjoyment of health and strength, pooh-pooiiGd tho idea of joining- a benefit seciety, but sooner or later the time ouwy

when those who did so found the advantage of it, and those who did not regretted the mistake they had made. No man, however independent and secure he might feel himself to-day, knew what to-morrow might bring forth. Many homes, so to speak, had been put on their feet by the head of them belonging to a society of this kind through the enjoyment of benefits which the most independent-minded man could accei^t, for they were not the doles of charity, but rights which he had become entitled to claim by a regular payment for them. Ho might remark that, since he first joined it, the Hamilton Lodge had very much progressed and improved. Of late, many new members had joined, and, among them, men whose energy would materially assist m still further advancing the welfare of the Lodgo. The efforts of a few such had been needed to assist those who had so ably and perseveringly struggled to work the Lodge through its early difficulties, and to continue so to carry it on as it should be.

Bro. Harp, of the Cambridge Lodge, also responded. He had been one of those who assisted m inaugurating the Hamilton Lodge, and it rejoiced him to see how largely it had prospered. Ho himself intended at an early date to become a member of it.

Bro. Small said there was no doubt about the advantages to be derived from belonging 1 to tliG Order. Ho could quote many instances where men, who when they joined never for a moment imagined they would ever need to participate m the pecuniary benefits of the Association, were, by the force of circumstances, compelled to po so within a very shore fame of becoming members. « , Bro. G. Browne proposed " The is ewlyInitiated Brethren."

Bro- Field, m response, said that, even as a novice, he could see that the Order of Odd Fellows was one of the most estimable societies m vogue — binding its members together not only m a pecuniary, but m a social and philanthropic manner : m unity and brotherly love. He proposed "The Commercial Interest of Hamilton," coupled with the name of Bro. Harris.

Bro. Harris, m responding, alluded to the time, fourteen years ago, when he first became a resident of Hamilton. Then the town consisted of about 14 buts, a small hotel and four stores. Now there were fully 350 houses, three wooden hotels, equal m size and convenience to any hotels m the colony, and a fourth of the same class, of brick, now building, -while the places of business had increased from 4 to 43, m addition to which they had their public offices of various kinds, and last, but not least, for it was the breath of life among them, the local journal, the Waikato Times. That journal, no doubt, had helped the Waikato much, especially the country districts, by its advocacy, and the prosperity of the country settlers had reacted upon that of the town, for really it was upon their prosperity that that of the town mainly depended, and he was proud to say that m all matters town and country had Avorked harmoniously together. Bro. Harris proposed the " Agricultural interests of the Waikato."

Bro. JMullins responded, and then proposed the "Borough of Hamilton," coupled with the name of Cr. Dawsou.

Bro. Cassidy proposed the " Visitors," coupled with the name of Surgeon Beale.

Bro. Harris, m a humorous speech, proposed tbe "Ladies," and Bro. Small, m an equally humorous speech, responded. The "Press," the " Sick and Distressed of the Order," the '• Host and Hostess," were all severally proposed, and this concluded a very agreable reunion of the brethren of the order.