Private: 2539 Private Leonard Sydney CROSSINGHAM

ODDFELLOWS WELCOME.

PRIDE OF CLYBUCCA HONORS SOLDIER BRETHREN.

The Pride of Clybucca Lodge, G.U. O.O.F., was well represented in the Australian forces and extends a welcome to each brother of the Lodge on his

return from the front. Last night the Clybucca Hall was crowded for the welcome to Bro. Trooper Austin Price, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Price, of East Kempsey, formerly of Summer Is land, and to Bro. Pte. L. S. Crossing ham, son of Mr. W. Crossingham, of Pelican Island. The gathering took a social form and was arranged by the Lodge's Entertainment Committee, which is composed of the following: Sisters V. Burton, who is hon. secretary, A. and B. Crossingham, Bros. J. Burton, C. Peck, A. and H. Sullivan. Sister A. Crossingham, who is at present N.G. of the Pride of Clybucca Lodge, is sister to Pte. Crossingham. Dancing was indulged in till between 10 and 11 o'clock, Mrs. Williams providing the music, assisted by others, and then the speeches commenced. Bro. C. Peck presided and besides the guests, there were on the platform Mr. and Mrs. and the Misses Price (2), mother father and sisters of Bro. Tpr. Price, Mr. W. Crossingham and Misses Crossingham (3) and Mrs. Parrish, father and sisters of Bro. Pte. Crossingham, Bro. Pte. Alexander and Tpr. St. John, together with several prominent Odd fellows and the speakers for the evening. The Chairman mentioned that he had received apologies from Rev. W. H. Butler and Mr. G. D. Johnston. The Chairman extended a hearty welcome home to Bros. Price and Crossingham and remarked that since they left our shores the world had gone through many darkened days of his tory. Those lads showed by their dash and courage that they were there to do something and did it. They let the world in general know that there was such a place as Australia. He had pleasure in welcoming these Oddfellows home and was sure their parents and relatives felt great joy and pleasure at their return. (Applause.)

Cr. J. P. Kissane referred in sympathetic terms to the loss which Clybucca suffered by the war. About three years ago he attended a fare well there to five or six noble lads, al most all members of the Lodge. Sad to say two boys of Mr. Crossingham's paid the supreme sacrifice, Pte. Cooper was also killed in action and Pte. Coleman suffered the loss of a leg. They were pleased that the heroes they had with them that night had returned. They fought for King and country and brought about a peace which we hoped would guarantee our liberty for the remainder of our lives and which would give civilisation what it had been fighting for for the last four years. He was only expressing the sentiments of the people when he said they were grateful to Pte. Crossingham and Tpr. Price for their services. They would never for get their bravery, one on the Western front and the other in Palestine. He expressed his sympathy with Mr. Crossingham in his bereavements and congratulated the relatives of both soldiers on their return, and heartily wel comed them home. (Applause.) The Rev. C. J. Chambers said there was a touch of pathos in that gathering that night, but it was a comfort to know that those who went out to fight from Clybucca and would not return were ready for the greater call when it came to them. They welcomed the

guests and congratulated them on their safe return. They had come home to one of the freest and greatest countries in the world. (Applause.) We said unhesitatingly that the soldiers who left their farms, their offices, their homes and dear ones to do and dare were going to be honoured citizens of this country in the future. They were not going to lose by their action. Mr. Holman had voiced the sentiments of the people of Australia in telling us "soldiers first," and who had a better right to be first than they had? He believed that the majority of soldiers who had gone to the front had deserved Military Medals or V.C.'s or D.C.M.'s, but they could not always catch the umpire's eye. As they had served the country well there, they were wanted to do a great work at home. He asked the soldiers, as they left to free Australia and came back to a free Australia, to determine to keep it a free Australia. They looked to them to do as well in Australia and they did in

Europe. Cr. R. E. Saul said that gathering had its grave and pathetic side, as well as its jubilant aspect. However they were gathered to express their keen appreciation and thanks and their great joy upon the return of these two brave boys. He was pleased to welcome their guests as he had watched them grow up from little fellows. Three years ago three brave, noble boys left a good home to go and fight that we might enjoy the peace of the country, but to-night they saw only one remaining. Clybucca had contributed perhaps more to the great pages of Australia's history written by the blood of our noble boys than any other little centre he knew of. He knew the joy of Mr. and Mrs. Price at their son's return, and he trusted that Pte. Crossingham's return would afford the fullest measure of consola tion to his father in his endeavor to live down the trouble and sorrow he had

been going through. He heartily welcomed the guests. (Applause.) Mr. C. B. Bailey, as a member of the Duke of Edinburgh Lodge, G.U., had very great pleasure in extending a hearty welcome to the guests of the evening and was sure that the members of the Duke of Edinburgh Lodge would join with the Pride of Clybucca in welcoming home brethren who were truly the "pride" of Clybucca. He congratulated the parents of the guests on their return. (Applause.) Bro. J. Burton, Past District Master, was then called upon to make the presentations. He had great pleasure in welcoming back brother oddfellows who had done so much for King and country. The soldier oddfellows of the Pride of Clybucca had made a name for themselves wherever they had been, in France or Palestine. They had with them that night Bro. Alexander, who left here under 20 and had returned a credit to the Lodge. They had also Bros. Crossingham and Price to whom the Pride of Clybucca was to make a presentation, which he hoped would be accepted just as readily as if it were

£1000. He then presented each guest with a medal and a cheque for £5 from the Pride of Clybucca Lodge, as a token of esteem for what they had done. He wished them long life and happiness and hoped they would be as good odd fellows as when they went away. (Applause.) Sister Crossingham pinned the medal to her brother's tunic and Sister Bur ton pinned the medal on Brother Price's tunic. Sister Burton made a neat little speech in which she said the medal was a token of the esteem in which the Lodge held Bro. Price, and they hoped he would have long life to wear it and be blessed with the best of health. (Applause.) The medals were very artistic and bore the inscriptions '' Presented to" (here followed the name) " by Clybucca G.U.O.O.F. on his return from active service. F.L.T. 20/8/19." Trooper Price said he had pleasure in being back amongst them and wished to thank them for the welcome and the Women Workers of Clybucca for the parcels sent whilst he was across the other side. (Applause.) Pte. Crossingham felt very proud to be amongst them. There was no one wished to be back more than he did. He had been looking forward for a long while to getting back to his people and dear old Aussie and he thanked them for the kind way they had shown their wishes to him. He thanked the Women Workers and all the people that sent parcels across to him in France whilst he was away. There were none of them knew how much the boys appreciated those things in France. (Applause.) The audience then sang "For they are jolly good follows" and gave hearty cheers for the guests. Supper, provided by the ladies, followed and then more dancing, the proceedings being of a very pleasant and successful character.