FREEMASONRY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 815, 12 May 1910, Page 6

FREEMASONRY.

COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE

LORD PLUNKET'S TERM OF OFFICE.

"THE MAINSPRING OP THE CRAFT."

The annnnl communication of the Masonic Grand lodge of New Zealand opened in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. Ceremonies in honour of his Excellency tho Governor, on his retirement from the office of Grand Master, which lie has held for the last four years, wero to have been the outstanding feature of tho gathering, but the national calamity has overshadowed all else. On some fitting occasion, before Lord Plunket leaves New Zealand, a valuable service of plate, for which the lodges throughout' the have subscribed, will be presented to him. From first to last his Excellency baa thrown himself into masonic work «#h, enthusiasm and energy. It is not too much to say that for the last four years ho has been the mainspring of the craft in New Zealand. Not only has he paid periodical visits to the lodges in the most important centres of the Dominion, and made a tactful controller of the proceedings of Grand Lodge, but his has been one of the strongest hands in guiding tho policy of the executive in all matters of importance, and especially in furthering the benevolent movements which aro the principal concern of the institution.

Moreover, Lord Plnnket's term of office connotes the most prosperous and progressive period that Freemasonry has known in this Dominion. Since he was installed into the chair ; n 1906, .28 new lodges have been formed, and two dormant lodges resuscitated, while tho total membership has increased from less than 8000 to 11,000. Tho aggregate funds have more than doubled in amount, having increased from ,£10,750 to 1 .£21,944. The most useful fund of the institution, the AVidows' and Orphans' and Aged Masons' Fund, has grown from less than dEGOOO to over .£13,01)0, and the annuities paid by its means from £136 a year to iM92.

The official expression of regret at the retirement of M.W. Lord Plunket from the chair of Grand Muster occurs in tho report of the Board of General Purposes, which states:—"When His Excellency consented to accept nomination for tho office or Grand Master in 1906 we all realised the many advantages to the craft in this territory which must result from having the representative of his Majesty at the head of the fraternity, but we did not venture to hope that Lord Plunket would take tho earnest personal interest in our affairs which he has manifested throughout his occupancy of tho chair of Grand Master. : "To say that he has secured the respect and love of every Freemason in ften /oealani! would be no exaggeration; his name will always be intimately and honourably associated with the history of Freemasonry in this portion of the Empire. i

The succession to the Grand Mastership falls upon R.W. Bro. C. J. W Griffiths, of Blenheim, one of tlie oldest and most respected members of Grand Lodge, whose election is unopposed, and who was nominated by 52 lodges in the terntorv as well as by individual members. His formal election took place at the afternoon sitting, and Ills installation and the installation and investiture of other officers of tlie year,'also elected in tlie afternoon, were tlio business of the evening gathering. Masonic Charities. .The annual reports presented by the several central boards, which for th'e last two years hare been administered from Auckland, but are now to be centred for two years in Wellington, contain the usual amount of information as to the business of the year n. Tha 4r^ f th .° Board ot Management of the Widows' and Orphans' and -Aged Masons Fund shows that the capital of the fund has increased during the year i-^iS 7S3 '-S?- d now shows a total ° f tici ' i' I<!ldm S an annual income of Asbs, l'rom this annuities are being paid to twenty-thrco aged Masons and widows and orphans, in amounts ranging from MS U £&, anu totalling iio2 J-t may be explained that where the allowances aro small thej are thd largest sums that can bo granted under the existing law without affecting tlie old-a»e pensions drawn by the recipients from the bfcite. An incident of the year was the receipt by the fund of a bSquest of .£5 under the will o£ a member of the draft who died at Papauui, Canterbury, and who was not in affluent circumstances.

The report of the Board of Benevolence shows that .£271 was expended' during the year in the relief of casual distress, including £S0 disbursed to members of sis■ter constitutions. Besides this, was raised by circular appeal on behalf of tho widow and children of a deceased member, and utilised for tho purchase of an annuity; while another circular appeal not yet complete, is expected to raise about .£2OO for the benefit of a member who has fallen upon evil times. Further sums which have been raised by circular appeals, and are being administered, amounted respectively to .£lB5, .£238 .£157 £159, .£l7O, .£228, .£l9l, ,£214, £30., £Ui and .£155. The total amount disbursed during the year. out of the proceeds of circular appeals' was .€1330. Finance. The annual statement of accounts and balance-sheet shows that the cash balances of the several funds at March 31 stood as follow:—General Fund, ,£2984 • Fund of Benevolence, .£3874; W. and O. and A.M. Fund, .£13,439; Representation Fund, .£394; circular appeals, Presentation Fund, .£238; total, .£21,944. The total accumulated funds have increased during the year by ,£2191, of which ,£2077 belongs to the two benevolent funds. Extension of Freemasonry. Mention is made in the report of the Board of General Purposes of the institution of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Canterbury, with M.W. Bro. Binns as Provincial Grand Master, and regret is expressed at the death of R.W. Bro W D. Lyon, P.G.W., of Wellington. New lodges have been opened during the year as follow:—Karioi (Raglan), Tawhiri (Frankton Junction), United Masters (Auckland), Maungawhao (Mount Eden, Auckland), Marsden (Kaipara), Waitakerei (Henderson, Auckland), Huia (Palmerston North), Ruataniwha ' (Takapau, Hawke's Bay), Waro (Blackball, West Coast), Mataura (Mataura) and Pluniet; (Tβ KuitiEng Country), while Lodge St. John (Mosgiel) has been reopened. PROCEEDINGS OPENED. THE FIRST SESSION. The proceedings opened yesterday afternoon in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, M.W. Bro. Oliver Nicholson, of Auckland, Pro. Grand Master, occupied the throne, in tho unavoidable absence of His Excellency the Grand Master. Other Masonic diEnitories present included Bros. M. Niccol, H. J. Williams, and A. N. Burton, Past Grand Masters (the first-named is also Grand Secretary); M.W. Bros. F. C. Binns, Past Pro.- Grand Master, who is also -Provincial Grand Master of the recontly-created Provincial Grand Lodge of Canterbury R.AV. Bto. R. Fletcher, Deputv-G M if f W^G^weT of the Board of General Purposes; Vff Bro. Rolfe, Grand Treasurer, and a large assemblage of Past Grand officers and representatives of lodges from all parts of the Dominion. R.W. Bro. D. H Moellor, of Dnncdin, Senior Grand Warden, and R.W. Bro. G. W. Hulmc of Christchurch, Junior Grand Warden were presont, and occupied their respective chairs. v Officers Elected. After tho necessary ceremonial openin" and tho transaction of formal business' the reports of the sevoral Boards of brand Lodge, the principal contents of which are summarised above, wero considered and adopted. E,A y.' •.Pμ 0, c s ri^ o P hor James Whitncy Griffiths, of Blenheim, was unanimously elocted to the offico of Grand Master.

Other offioors were elected for the en suing year, as follow;— Wellington District.-Graud Chaplain, V.W. Bro. Rev. Thos. Porritt; Grand,

I Treasurer, B.W. Bro. Henry Cromwell Tewsley; Grand Registrar, AA T . Bro. Alexander Lawrence Herdinau; President of Board of General Purposes 11.AV. Bro. Herbert J. Williams; Pro! sident of the Board of Benevolence B.W. Bro. Robert Fletcher; Grand Director of Ceremonies, W. Bro. Herbert Hazell Seaton; Grand Sword Bearer, W. Bro. AVilliain Meldrum; Grand Stewards, W. Bros. John Kiloy Scrimgeour and Hammond Lawson; -Members of Board of General Purposes, W. Bros. James Jacob Esson, John Gordon Elliott, Joseph Harrison Worboys, Richard Mothes, and George Edward Smith; Members of Hie Board of Benevolence, W.. Bros. James Rod, Alexander Veitch, Charles J. B. Norwood, Thomas James Bush, Alexander Noely.

Auckland District.—Senior Grand Deacon, W. Bro. James Albert Cooper; Grand Superintendent of Works, AV. Bro. John Edwin Hammond) Grand Standard Bearer, W. Bro. Albert Joseph Fyson; Grand Pursuivant, W. Bro. nilliara Grey Nicholls; Grand Stewards, W. Bros. James Russell Hetherington and Walter' Thomas Smith; Membors of Board of General Purposes, W. Bros. David Brown Wallace and Alfred Arthur White; Members of the Board of Benevolence, W. Bros. James Edmund Holmes and Henry Willis.

Canterbury District.—Grand Director of Ceremonies, W. Bro. Frederick C. B. Bishop; Grand Organist, W. Bro. Alfred Selwyn Bruce; Grand Standard Bearer, W. Bro. John Harry Collins; Grand Stewards, W. Bros. Henry John Otley and Henry Hobbs; Members bf Board of General Purposes, AV.. Bros. Arthur James Bentiey and Henry Ruddenklau; Members of the Board of Benevolence, W. Bros. Charles Kay and Henry AVyatt.

Otago District.—Grand Chaplain, Bro. Rev. Alexander Porter; Grand Superintendent of Works, AV. Bro. James Sandilands Douglas; Grand Pursuivant, AA 7 . Bro. Thomas Gallagher; Grand Steward, W. Bro. AVilliam Conper; Member of Board of General Purposes, AV. Bro. Hugh M'Millan Ewing; Member of the Board of Benevolence, AV. Bro. David A. M'Nicoll.

Southland District.—Junior Grand Deacon, AV. Bro. Alfred Edwin Smith; Grand Sword Bearer, W. Bro. Edward Henry AVhitmore; Grand Steward, AV. Bro. AValtor Crowthor; Member of Board of General Purposes, AV. Bro. Henry Coop; Member of tho Board of Benevolence, W. Bro. AVilliam Roljert Pctrie.

Hawkc'e Bay District.—Grand Bible. Bearer, AV. Bro. Joseph AA : illiam Bates; Grand Steward, W. Bro. Richard Lucas; Member of the Board, of General Purposes, AV. Bro. AYilliam Haines; Member of the Board of Benevolence, AA\ Bro. Charles Henry Critchley.

Nelson and Marlborough District — Junior Grand Deacon, AA\ Bro. Robert AVilliam Stiles; Grand Steward, AV. Bro. Frederick AVilliam Oscar Smith; Member of Board of General Purposes, AV. Bro. Edwin Grove; Member of. the Board of Benevolence, W. Bro. William Edward Redman.

West Coast District.—Senior Grand Deacon, W. Bro. Alfred Austin Andrewes; Grand Steward, W. Bro. William Arthur Bundle; Member of Board of General Purposes, AV. Bro. Edwin Dacre Dunn; Member of tho Board of Benevolence, AV. Bro..Abraham AVilliams.

Taranaki District.—Grand Bible Bearer, W. Bro. Gervaso Disney Hamerton; Grand Steward, AV. Bro. Alfred Ernest Surray; Member of Board of General Purposes, AV. .Bro. George Hutchinson Harle; Member of Board .of Benevolence, W. Bro. James Kenny. Location of Headquarters. Tho principal business of the afternoon session, after the adoption of the reports mentioned above, was a discussion of the report of tho Board of General Purposes. The greater part of tho report was adopted, and tho remainder was deferred until to-day. The principal question at issue arose" out of a recommendation of the board that a committee should be set up to report to next Communication of Grand Lodge as to whether the officers of Grand Lodge should be peripatetic as at present, or should be located in ono centre. After a good deal of discussion an amendment in favour of postponement until next year was negatived. Tho board's recommendatipn to set up a com- ■ mitteo was also negatived, and the discussion was thus inconclusive. . INSTALLATION CEREMONY.

ADDRESS BT GRAND MASTER. There was a gathering of about a thousand Freemasons in tho large Town Hall in the evening to witness tho installation of the new Grand Master, M.W. Bro. C. J. W. Griffiths, of Blenheim: M.W. Bro. Nicholson, P.G.M.,, presided. There were largo delegations from the District Grand Lodge of Wellington, 8.C., and tho Provincial Grand Lodge 'of Canterbury. Tho ceremony of enthronement was carried out by the Pro. G.M., and a fine musical programme was rendered, with W. Bro. Kington Fyffe as organist. Tho Grand Master announced the appointment of the following officers:—D«puty Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Thomas Ross, of Dunedin. Provincial Grand Masters: M.W. Bro. Oliver Nicholson .(Auckland district), M.W. Bro. F. C. Binns (Canterbury province), R.W. Bro. James Moncrieff (Wellington district), R.W. Bro. E. W. G. H. Watts (Otago district), RW. Bro. Thos. M. Rankin (Southland district), R.W. Bro. J. H. Harkness (West Coast), R.W. Bro. W. W. De Castro (Nelson and Marlborough district), R.W. Bro. Thomas Hobson (Hawke's Bay district), R.W. Bro. T. C. Fookes (Taranaki district). Senior Grand Warden: R.W. Bro. F. W. Hobbs, of Christchurch. Junior Grand Warden: R.W. Bro. Andrew King, of Coromandel. All the above as well as the officers elected at the afternoon sitting were duly installed. The Address. The new Grand Master, in his address to Grand Lodge, said the position had been unsolicited and ho might say undesired. by him, and he was deeply sensible of the honour conferred upon him. No efforts would bo wanting on his part to endeavour to justify the choice that had been made by Grand Lodge. The experience gained during 10 years of active Masonic life would be at their service. He congratulated Grand Lodge on the amazing progress made during Lord Plunket's four years of office as Grand Master. His Excellency's untiring energy, his ability, and the intense interest he had taken in tho work would long be gratefully remembered by tho craft throughout th£ Dominion. They must all regret that so many of their brethren continued working in New Zealand under the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland, and Scotland, instead of adding their weight and influence to tho territorial Grand Lodge. There had been no attempt on the part of tho New Zealand Grand Lodge to unduly hasten the accomplishment- of that object, but they had had reason to complain that proper facilities for lodges under the old constitutions giving expression to their wishes had been denied them by their Grand Lodges. Recent negotiations with the Grand Lodge of England had, however, led to a better understanding, and it was confidently hoped that any future case would be fully and fairly considered by'the English ' authorities. Relations with the Grand Lodge of Scotland had also materially improved, and they anticipated an early settlement of any differences which might have existed.