FREEMASONRY

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1925, Page 4

FREEMASONRY

A NEW 7 TEAI FEE

LAYING OF FOUNDATION STONE.

One of the few public ceremonies in connection with the .Masonic ■ Order was held recently, when in lhe presence of a large gathering of Lodge members and of the public, tbe foundation stone of tbe new Alasonio Temple in Forth street was laid by - ost "Worshipful Hon. IT. L. AJichel, Fast Grand Afaster. The ceremonial was conducted with all the ancient rights and eustoifts of the Order and was a most impressive one. THE SERVICE.

Following on a hymn and a prayer offered byV.W. Bro. C. E. P. Weld., the plans were presented hv the architect, Bro. C. J. Brodrick. and were duly approved by AI.W. Hon. 11. L. Michel, F.G.AI.. who congratulated the architect on the preparation of the plans for a building which would he of great use to the craft and an ornament to the town ■

AI.W. Bro. Hon. 11. L. -Michel stated that it had ever been the custom of the Order on such occasions to deposit- a casket containing certain papers in some part of the building, so that if by. any means the foundations were laid hare and the building destroyed, there would remain a record of the industry, culture and education of the people of that time. W. Bro. 11. J. Fan-ant read tbe scroll and gave a list of the articles contained in the casket.

The ceremony, stated MAN. Bro. H. L. .Michel, was indicative ol two things. First, the great vitality and enthusiasm of the .Masons of this district, and secondly, their unbounded con--lidence in the province of Southland and in the town of Invercargill. “God grant that ages may pass away helon the casket might again he seen by human eyes.” The ceremony ol depositing the car. ket was conducted by V . Bro. A. Dor hie. F.G.D. Then followed ’the presentation of the trowel and mallet to AI.W. Bro. .Michel, tin- square to V.W. Bro. E. (’. Smith, assistant. F.G.AL, the level to R.W. Bro. T. Al. Rankin, F.P.G.Aland the plumb to 11. AY. Bro Rusden. G..LW., who. on applying the tools, reported that the stone was square, level and plumb respectively. AI.W. Bro. Alicliel then applied the mallet, and declared the stone to be well and truly laid. Corn, the emblem of plenty was scattered hv Itt. W Bro. W. A. stout, F. wine, tbe emblem ol joy. was poured by lit. W. Bro. Smith, P.D. G. and oil. the emblem of pence end consolation, was poured by lit. W. Bro. F. A. Steams. F.F.G.AI. In a brief address, AI.W. Bro. .Michel stated that the ceremony just performed was a very ancient one. From the days dating far down the ages it had been the custom when erecting a stately edifice to lay one of the prill cipal stones in the north- east corner. GROWTH OF THE (’IIAFT. It was seldom indeed that one had the privilege of speaking outside the portals of the Lodge, hut this, he thought, said Mr Aliehel. was an op-

portune occasion to say something about the Freemasonry. The definition of the Order given by encyclopedias stated that it was in existence from the Middle Ages, if not from a much earlier period, and that it was based on certain emblems and customs. I'll a t (I: !ini 1 ion was a (orrect one, but be wanted to say that, in so far as the origin of the crail was concerned, it did not matter much whether it. had its birth in tho civilisation and mystery of the Fast, of whether it had its beginning under the more clouded skies of the Western Hemisphere. Thev were now living in a time when man had very little sentimental regard for the past- and during the bis! MO

voiirs mjui v inst it ill hm»s

been swept away, heranse they had outlived their usefulness. I his was not so with Freemasonry, winch never at any time in its history, had shown the vitality it, did to-day. He felt sure that when the building was complete it would help to quicken the Freemasonry spirit in the ( entre. He eottgra tainted the Masons on the cnthnsiansm and optimism they had shown in undertaking the erection ol a hnildiiiv; at such a large financial nullity. Ho had hceii through many halls in X’ew Zealand, hut this was among the linesl ol them all. H would endure front veneration to generation aw 'many thousands would pass through its portal and join the fraternal union ol Ihe eralt. He hoped that they would realise the symbolism of llteir eralt atltl he true to their Kino it ml Country’ and to their Church what ever that Church was. He thanked the directors lor the beautiful trowel with which he was presented, and for the honour eonl'erred upon him by asking him to assist in the eeremonv. He regret lei 1 the inability of the Prime Minister to he present, ovine; to ill-health, hut expressed the hope that ho would he able to perform the dedication and opening ceremony. —Southland Times.”