FREEMASONS CONFER

Chronicle (Levin), 5 December 1946, Page 3

FREEMASONS CONFER

-Press Association

By Telegraplv —

CHRISTCHURCH, Dee. 4. Freemasona from all parts of the Dominion are visiting Christchurch for the 57th annual communication of the Grand Lodge. Moat of the 314 lodges of the New Zealand jurisdietion are represented either by sitting masters or their deputies. The business session of the Grand Lodge opened under the chairmanship of Grand Master E. C. Smith, of Gore. This evening the newly elected Grandmaster, Mr. Charles Flavcll (Past DepuLy Grandmaster) and other high oftieers of the order, were installed and invested with colourful ceremonial at the Civic Theatre. Under a system whereby tlie lieadquarters of the Grand Lodge is located for two year periods in each of the four main centres in rotation, the offices of the craft have just been removed from Dunedin to Christchurch and aecordingly the executive oftieers for the ensuing year have been chosen from Canterbury provinee. They were declared elccted as follows: Grand Treasurer, Mr P. C. Browne; Grand Registrar, Mr. II. H. Hanna; President of the Board of General Purposes, Mr. J. C. Forsyth; President of the Board of Benevolence, Mr. A. S. Drayton. It was decided that the next annual communication be held at Wellington. By 721 votes to 392 the lodge decided that the ofiice of the Grand Lodge should be situated in Wellington. This resolution will take effeet in two years' time as the ofhces have only recently been removed from Dunedin to Christchurch. Meetings of the executive boards will be held for two vears iu each of the four centres in rotation. After the installation of Mr. Charles Flavcll, Christchurch, as Grand Master, the following high officers were appointed: — Deputy Grand Master, Mr. A. Derbie (Invercargill); Provincial Grand Masters, Messrs C. H. Taylor (Wellington), W. W. Wright (Auckland), H. Arohbold (Otago), G. Gilchrist (Waikato), J. D. Campbell (Southland), J. A. Nasli (Iluapehu), E. C. Hurdslioid (Hawke's Bay), F. Mogridgo (NclsouMarlborough), D. Mclvor (West Coast); Benior Grand Warden, Mr. W. A. Watcrs (Palmerston North) ; Junior Grand Warden, Mr. F. Prideaux (Whakatane).