OBITUARY

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1256, 28 March 1878, Page 2

OBITUARY

THE BATE Mil F. 'VV. THIEB. [FEOM THE BEESS.] It is with very great regret that wo hare to record the decease of Mr F. W. Thiel, who has for many years been connected with Canterbury. Mr Thiel was a prominent member of the Masonic body, haring been identified for many years with the craft both in Australia and here ; indeed, in Christchurch he was the father of one lodge—the Canterbury — and he lired to see the small slip of the great tree of Masonry which he had planted blossom into goodly proportions. As a Mason Mr Thiel was energetic and zealous to a degree, no trouble or expense was spared by him to adrance the cause of the craft. To his endearours in no small degree the present flourishing condition of Masonry in Canterbury is due. The Canterbury Lodge, 1018 E.C., which now holds a high position amongst craft lodges in Canterbury, was established by him, and through many vicissitudes of fortune was safely piloted by him to the haven of prosperity. Mr F. W. Thiel had the rare gift of organisation in a high degree, which stood him in good stead in the wort of re-organising, and building up the Canterbury Lodge in which he held several offices, and of which he was treasurer at the time of his decease. Beloved and respected in no ordinary degree by his Masonic brethren as well as by the outer world, the decease of Mr Thiel will, we feel sure, be widely regretted. It may be interesting to the craft to give the Masonic biography of Mr Thiel. He was originally initiated in a lodge working under the Irish constitution, and his craft career njay be briefly traced si follows ;-Xa Au»«

tralia, member of the Australia Felix and Golden Lodges, Bendigo; founder of the Aurora Lodge, E.C., Inglewood, in 1861. In 1862 Mr Thiel came to Now Zealand, and threw in his lot with the Lodge of Dunedin, E.C., of which he was P.M., and he was also a member of the St. Andrews Lodge, S.C. Coming to Christchurch Mr Thiel joined the St. Augustine Lodge, 609, E.C., and afterwards became identified with the Canterbury Lodge, 1048, of which he was the founder,and with which his name will long be remembered in the Masoni annals of Canterbury. The lodge, in the day of small things, met in the room over the store of Messrs Thjgl, Mytton and Co., and Mr Thiel’s fidelity to his Masonic child never wavered to the hour of his death. The lodge was founded in 1864, and as we have said, passed th ough great vicissitudes, in all of which Mr Thiel never relaxed the hope which he saw realised of seeing his lodge take a prominent position amongst the craft lodges hero. He was Mark Master S.C. and E. 0., Master of Instruction of the Canterbury Lodge, Master and honorary member of the Canterbury Kilwinning Lodge, S.C. (Lyttelton), honorary member of the Somerset Lodge, E. 0., Ashburton. In the Grand Lodge he was P.D.D.G.M. Passing upward into the sublime degree of Royal Arch, Mr Thiel was a companion of the Golden Royal Arch Chapter, Bendigo. He was also the founder in Christchurch of the Canterbury Kilwinning Royal Arch Chapter 136, S.C., of which he was P.Z., and treasurer of St. Augustine Royal Arch Chapter. He was P.G.H. for New Zealand under the Supreme Chapter of ScotTnd, and with Companions A. A. Dobbs (since deceased) and Booth went to Nelson to open the Trafalgar Royal Arch Chapter, where his admirable rendering of the ritual was the theme of much admiration from his Masonic brethren. Ho was also an Ark Mariner and Knight of East and West and Red Cross. Going still higher to the 18°, Mr Thiel was M.W.S. of the Memphis chapter No. 2, Sovereign Prince Rose Croix 18°. He was also a member of the Supreme Council of Nine of the 33° of the Valley of New Zealand, holding under the Grand Orient of Egypt. It will thus be seen that the deceased brother held all degrees from 1 to 33, and in all of them he evinced the same zeal and sincere devotion to the interests of the craft which marked his career in the craft degrees. His funeral will be conducted according to the ancient formula of the craft, and, judging from the number of lodges, and brethren unconnected with lodges here, who have intimated their intention of doing honor to the memory of their deceased brother, the cortege on Sunday next will be one of the most imposing Masonic ceremonies seen in Christchurch for many years past. The brethren of the Thistle Lodge, S.C., Ashburton, and the Somerset Lodge, E.C., have arranged for ' a special train leaving Ashburton so as to enable them to be present on the occasion. The brethren of the Canterbury Kilwinning Lodge, S.C., and Lodge of Unanimity, E.C., Lyttelton, will also make arrangements to bo present.