SOLDIER MASONS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17118, 13 April 1921, Page 10

SOLDIER MASONS.

ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED, j There was a very large and representative gathering " 0 f Freemasons at the Christchurch Masonic Temple last evening, when a Roll of Honour was unveiled to commemorate those members of the Craft who fell in the Great War. Twenty-two Lodges were represented; jUso a large number of members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces Masonic Association. The ceremony was conducted by AI.W. Bro. J. J. l>ougall, assisted by lt.W. Bio. C. Dihvorth Fox, P.D.G.M., E.C, and R. W. Bro. F. C. B. Bishop, Prov. G.M. ■ M.AV. Bro. Dougall said that, the i Masonic Hall Company had erected the 1101 l of Honour to commemorate those brethren who had "gone West" during i tho Great War, ana the great gathering that eveniug had come together to pay its tribute of honour, esteem, and respect to those men. The Roll of Honour would last not only whilo those present" but as long as the Masonic Hall existed. Their, soldier brethren had passed from them, but they would still live in their thoughts and in their being. It was very difficult' to-day—-only two and a half years after tho war had ended—to visualise the magnitude .of the world struggle that had taken place. He honestly believed that it was too soon for them to get a right perspective of the matter—to 'realise the magnitude of the victory we had gained. The war had been a war for an ideal—whether might or right should rule the world. The Great Architect of the Universe, however, had decreed that the ethics which had guided humanity -in the past should continue to rule the "world. It was impossible to doubt that there had been some great guidance from Above in the conduct of the war. One had only to remember Germany's war preparations to realise that some Supreme Power had guided our destiny. Germany had been preparing for war for years. England, on the other, hand, had the naval instinct. She had a navy just powerful, enough to protect her Empire. Admiral of the Fleet Lord Jellicoe, had said that if the submarine war had been put into effect at the beginning of .the war it was doubtful whether Britain would have had one ship left. The. enemy, however., had made a miscalculation. They had done all in their power to ' ensure . victory, and whero they had failed waa in matters beyond human forethought. Brains were on the side- of the Allies. In the history of the war two names would stand pro-eminent—Joffre. and Foch. Both these men in the supreme crisis had developed genius probably unequalled in the history of the -world. Genius, he said, came from God, not from man. Wo in Now i Zealand had failed to realise the magnificent fighting quality of our men at the commencement of the war. On April 35th, 1915, however, the New Zealanders and the Australians made their mark on the wide world. On that historic day ttyey received such a baptism of Wood that they entitled themselveß to rank with any nation in the world. On all the battlefields subsequently they showod' their valour—Bhowed that, they wero men of whom any might be proud. Not only, -were they valorous in fighting, but they proved themselves to bo gentlemen. We,in New Zealand should feel supremely proud of our men —we could never pay enough honour, or a sufficiently high tribute,- to those of bur men who fought in ?he great war. When the history of the war cam© to be written it would b» a proud thing for New Zealand to be able to say that, of. all the oversea Dominions who sent men to tho front, she 'was the'one nation, who never failed to provide its quota. War would never end, and our duty was to see that .wo were as ready to (fight in the future as we had been in the past. Whether war came or not, they should strive to emulate the ex-. .ample of thoir soldier brethren. If they all did that. God'B blessing would rest upon the Dominion as it had done in the past. , .' . The roll of honour was then unveiled by R. Wor. Bro. Fox and R. Wor. Bro. F. C. B. Bishop, after which the hymn "0 God our Help in Ages Past" was sung, followed by the National Anthem. In the refectory -subsequently the toast "Our Sacred Dead," proposed by W. Bro. T. H. Williams, was honoured in silence. The toast "Our Returned Brethren," waa proposed by 8,. Wor. Bro. C. Dilworth Fox and responded to by W. Bros. Lieut.-Colonel J. "Murphy and Major W. G. Wrajr. The roll of honour, which i'b handsomely executed in oak, contains _ 39 names, surmounted by the insoriotion, "Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori."