MA ONIC.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1921, Page 3

MA ONIC.

fISY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

AUCKLAND, May 10

Ereemasondy in New Zealand has shown remarkable progress during the* last two or three years, and statistics t<) he presented at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, which opens to-morrow reflect the progress and present prosperity of , the craft. The membership of the 221 j lodges totals 17,425, an increase of . 1220 in the last twelve months. Attei | making full provision for charitable claims, the funds of the Grand have increased to the extent of £8539, a „d total £73,433,'divided up as follows: General Fund, £5761; widows, orphans and aged Mason fund, £4b, 356; special war benevolence fund. £l2 941- fund of benevolence, £3b»o, circidar’ appeal funds, £3488; representation fund £I2OB. The number of new Lodges erected in 1920-21 or now in process of formation, exceeded all previous records. Great regret is expressed- at the pending resignation of Mr Malcolm Niccol, who has been , Grand Secretary for the past 20 years, j There is an unopposed candidate for the • position of Grand Master, Mr Thomas Doss, of Dunedin. j annual communication | AUCKLAND, May 11. : I The annual cpinmunication of the j j Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand opened to-day, Thos. Ross, Grand Mas- j ter, presiding. Ross was re-elected Grand Master. Other principal officers elected were-Grand Treasurer J. A Frederick (Dunedin); Grand Registrar W. Mi Hay (Dunedin), President of the Board of General Purposes, B. W. T. TT. Watts (Dunedin); President of ' poard of Benevolence; .T. W. Clark (Dunedin); Senior Grand Deacons-J. E. Wade (West Coast), and J. L. Clung (Nelson); Junior grand deacons, A. IT. Warning (Auckland). E. L. Ironmonger (Ruapehu). The annual balance sheet showed the total funds amounted to £73,433, of which £5,761 belonged to the general i fund, £46,356 to the annuity fund, CIO 940 to the special war benevolent ■ S; to th. fund of bonevolI enC6 ' , ■ , , The report on the widpws and orphans

fund showed 61 persons were in receipt of Masonic annuities up to the maximum of £52. A special effort made during the year for augmentation of the fund realised to 12th. April £9,747. A further return is to come in. Grants and loans out of the special war benevolent fund amountted to £1,884. The report of the board of genera L purposes stated that seven new lodges were opened during the year and charters grants issued with respect to three more. Steps were afoot in six oth< r districts for the formation of new lodges.

A poll of lodges as to the time of the year when the Grand Lodge Communications should be held had decided in favour of now.