MASONIC GRAND LODGE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 52, 25 November 1926, Page 8

MASONIC GRAND LODGE

ANNUAL COMMUNICATION GOVERNOR INSTALLED AS GRAND MASTER The largest deliberative body in the Dominion at the present time is the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand, the annual communication of which was held in Wellington yesterday, at the new Masoncc Temple. It comprises elected representatives of the majority of the 285 lodges in this country, besides a large number of officers and personal members of Grand Lodge. His Excellency Sir Charles Fergusson, who was elected Grand Master of the institution twelve months, ago, presided over yesterday’s gathering. Election of Officers. After the ceremonial opening, the, first business was the election of the Grana Master for the coming year. Sir Charles Fergusson was nominated for re-election by a large number of lodges and individual members, and was declared re-elected. For the oinre of pro-Grand Master, which is filled only when a representative of the Crown occupies the prineipal chair, Mr. G. Russell, of Wellington, was elected. Other officers were elected as follow, on the recommendation of the Board of General Purposes:— ~, , , Wellington district (which will be the seat of the executive for the next two years:—Grand Chaplain, Bev. J. H. ISvkes; Grand Treasurer, Mr. A. A. George; Grand Registrar, Air. It. H. Webb; President of Board of cGneral Purposes, Mr. H. H. Seaton; President uf Board of Benevolence, Air. E. J. Guineas; Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mr. J. C. Kiddell; Grand Steward, Mr. M W. Thew; members of Board of G.P., Messrs. 11. E. Anderson, A. Burgess, H. Hatch, A. H. Herbert, and A. E. Kennard; members of Board oi Benevolence, Messrs. A. T. Wells, It. ,1. Foss, A. Greening, G. I’. L. Lenzini, P. Levi, J. S. Martin, A. AV. Rowlands, and It. J Shakes. Auckland District—Grand Director ol Ceremonies. Mr. 11. M. Thorpe; Senioi Grand Deacon, Mr. F. J. Rowley; Grand Superintendent of Works, Air. E. E. Grimwade; Grand Sword-bearer, Mr. 11. I'l. Tristiam; Grand Pursuivant. Mr D. G. Thornton; Grand Stewards. Messrs. F. 11. 8. Matthews and E. A. Bryant; members of Board or G-l-, Messrs L. Buddle and F. A. Pickett; members of Board of Benevolence, Messrs. A. 11. J. Brackebush ami L. E. Hammond. ■ , Canterbury Province.—Grand Director of Ceremonies, Air. J. Hurley; Grand Standard-bearer, Mr. -1. A. Stables; Grand Pursuivant, Mr. A. h. Smith; Grand Stewards, Messrs. D. E. L. Collett and C- Mclntosh; member oi Board of G.P., Air. J. B. Borthwick; member of Board of Benevolence, Mi. P. H Harris. • Otago District.—Grand Director ci Ceremonies, Air. J. AL Rodgers; Senior GD. Mr. F. Bradley; Grand Biblebearer, Air. A. AlcKiniion; Grand Stewards, Messrs. F. AV. G. Qnaite and Logan; member Board of G.P., Mr. A. G. Creagh; member Board of Benevolence, Mr 11. Cameron. Southland District.—Grand Chaplain, Rev. Hoani Parata; Grand Standardbearer, Air. 11. J. Tarrant; Grand Stewand .Mr. TI. Graham; member of Board of G.P., Air. •). AV. Mclntyre;, member Board of Benevolence, Air. S. C. K Smith. . . Ruapehu District.—Junior G.D., Mr. AV. E. Carthcw; Grand Organist, Air. P. Mopham; Grand Steward, Mr. E. Larkin; member Board of G.P., Air. \v. ]). Carson; member Board <>l Benevolence, Mr. AV. P. Henderson. Hawke’s Bay District.—Grand Sword--bearer, Mr. R. J. Follow ; G. Steward, Mr. J. Rockell; member Board of G.P., Mr. AV. Dobson; member ,Board of Benevolence, Air. 11. P. Horne. ~ Nelson and .Marlborough District.—G. Supt. of Works, Air. T. Easteott; G. Steward, Air. 11. Tunnicliff; member Board of G.P., Air. A. C- Nathan; member of Board of Benevolence, AH. A. E. Jellyman. West Coast District.—G. Bible-bearer, .Mr. F. S. AVood; G. Steward, Air. AV. N. Prentice; member Board of G.P., Mr. J. Rose; member Board of Benevolence, Air. J. Simpson. Taranaki District.—Junior G.D., Air. F E. Wilson; member Board of G.P., Mr. C. A.- Larcombe; member Board ot Benevolence, Air. E. AV, Gardner. Financial Position. The financial statement showed the total accumulated funds of Grand Lodge to amount to the sums standing to the credit of the several funds being being as follow: General fund. £ll 354- "widows, orphans and aged masons’ fund. £73.748: special war benevolent fund, X 7.203; fund of benevolence. ,£H)C3; circular appeal funds, .£927; representation fund, ,£I7GI. The increase in aggregate tunas toi the vear was .£11,125. largely duo to activity shown in respect of the augmentation of the widows and orphans and aged masons’ fund. Work of Benevolence. It was shown by the report of the Board of Benevolence that JlBul baa been dispensed in the year, in the relief of 31 cases of hardship. Lnder the mangement of the board there were 13 funds raised by circularisation ot lodges in the interests of special cases. Hie appeals had in all instances resulted in the raising of sums exceeding J;™..’ which had been admistered by the boaid for the behoof of the beneficiaries. Within the year the Grand Alster had made a special appeal to the craft foi the raising of a sum of .£20.000 to place the widows and orphans and aged masons’ fund in a position of ’nereased usefulness. The special efforts this called for were not yet completed, but the contributions to the fund received in the year amounted to £lO 120 The amounts from the largest districts weie: Auckland £3157- Wellington. £1752: Canterbury, £1412: Otago. £9!0; Hawkes Bay. £O9O- Ruanehu. £O7O. , The report of the board which administers the annuity fund showed that the present annual distribution m anmdti’os amounted <o .£Ol9l. of wine . 148 annuitants wore receiving thn ’ t Wnnd The Fnecinl War Benevolent Fund, formed in the course of the Groat Wa or H e assistance of Masonic returned soldiers had been the moans of advancing £1317 in the vear in grants and loans in response to the needs of Mght applicants. There a anoe of £7203 to the credit of the fund, besides a contingent balance of £m-> for loans current. Expansion of the Craft. Apart from matters of interest only’ l-> the craft ihe report of the Board <7f General Fnrposos P stated that warranis had been issued for the toimalion of three new lodges—Rumen, Auckland district; Combined Forces . Auckland Citv; and Hataitai. Wellington. The fund raised by lodges in Now Zealand in assistance of the movement in other parts of the Empire for the preservation of the dome of St. Paul s Cathedral. London, amounted to L-b--which had been sent through I'jrrl Jellieoo Past Grand Master. Io the cathoral ’authorities. The Masonio Orphanage for girls nt Nelson cstahlislmd through tho munificence of the late Mr S. Kirkpatrick, .wa.s no "; " ■ i ,i„d management of a board which included representatives of the four constitutions. Tho institution contained 12 inmates and the admission of two others bad been aporoved. A proposal had been made by the board for the ' of an expenditure up to £lO9 for th erection of a memorial stone over the „rnve of Mr Malcolm Niccol. Past Grand blaster and for a long period Grand «ecretarv Glirisb-hurcb was named ns (he locale of next year’s communication Statistics contained in the rerort showed that lhe total membership nf the lodges under Grand. Lodge on June 30 last was 21,819. nn increase tor tho rear of 023 . Tho various reports were < iscussed and 3 Tlic afternoon sitting was devoted to

tho discussion of a number of proposed amendments of the Grand Lodge laws, which, however, related to matters of interest only within the craft. Installation of Grand Master. Tin re-installation of Sir Charles Fergusson as Grand Afaster took place at the Town Hall in the evening, and was attended by a very largo gathering of Wellington and visiting members. Mr. M. Thompson, P.G.M. of Southland. presided in the earlier part of Ihe proceedings as Installing Grand Master and carried out the principal ceremony. After the investiture of Mr. G. Russell ns Pro Grand Master, and Mr. T M. Rankin, of Southland, appointed by the Grand Master ns his Deputy Grand Master, appointments to the office of Provincial Grand Master wore announced ns follow: Auckland, Air. O. Nichols; Wellington. Mr. IT. G. Teagle; Otago, Mr. W. Jjishnor; Southland. Air. E. C. Smith; Ruapehu, Mr. A. J. Graham; Hawke’s Bay, Mr. C. H. Critchley; West Const. Mr. E. Dncre Dunn; Nelson and MarlboToiigh. Mr. A. G. Shrimpton; Taranaki, Mr. G. W. Rogers; Cantorbury, by election of Provincial Grand Lodge, Mr. J. N. Du Feu. Fiirthej appointments proclaimed were those of Mr. S. S. Allen, of Morrinsville, ae Senior Grand Warden, and Air. C- Flavoll, of Christchurch, as Junior Grand Warden. The Investiture of those of ficurs was carried out bv Past Grand Masters J. J. Dongall. T. Ross. S. C. Bingham, and IT. I. Michel, and Air. W. Smith, Past D.G.M. Tho address of the Grand Master from the throne consisted largely of presentation to tho craft of the claims ol Ihe Widows and Orphans and Aged Masons’ Fund to support. Tn other respects its interest was confined to members of the institution.