FREEMASONARY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1930, Page 6

FREEMASONARY

LORD BLEDISLOE

INSTALLED GRAND MASTER

(By Telegraph—Pres® Association)

CHRISTCHURCH, November 26

The business, sessions, morning and afternoon were devoted to matters interesting only within the craft itself. A hearty reception was given to- Lord Bledisloe on his appearance in the Grand Lodge shortly after his election to the Grand .Mastership. The Civic Theatre was used T»r the evening session the chief business of which was the installation ot Lord Bledisloe as grand Master, and the induction of Bro. Jas. H. Harknes.s as pro-Grand Master.. The attendance of visiting and local Freemasons was very large. Bro. J. J. Clark retiring Grand Master and Bro. J. J. Dougall, past Grand Master, officiating, as installing Grand Master. Provincial Grand Masters for the various Masonic districts were appointed by the new Grand Master, and invested. All were reappointed with the exception of Bro. F. S. Wood (West- Coast district), H. H. E.dward (Nelson and .Marlbo-rougli), and F. Sy.mes (Ruapahua).. Grand Wardens fo.r the year were appointed, invested and inducted, viz: Senior Grand Warden, Bro. W. J. Coleburne (Hastings), Junior Grand Warden, Bro. W> G v Mason, (Auckland.)* Officers elected- at the-morning sitting were also . in^esjked... In Lord BledisloeV address to the assembly after the installation. Lord Bledisloe saTcLth’at the' Invitation that lie should.* -accept r the - highest Masonic office in New Zealand had been so cordial and pressing that it appeared to him that a refusal would have been not merely ungracious and ungrateful, but also a violation of his royal mastery motto- “leb Dien” (I serve). He Had also been assured that the brethren of the Dominion would be willing to provide him with a most experienced, popular $ ami energetic proGrand Master in Mr Harluiess to exonerate him from personally conducting many of >the. more important tasks normally , undertaken by the Grand Master;: anti if, in these?matters he sought friendly , indulgence, it was due to no lack ol Masonic Zeal, but simply to limits of human strength, and a belief that in tlieso days when we were faced 'with grave industrial and economic problems, such surplus physicial ene.rgey as die might possess should be devoted preponderantly to their attempted;‘solution, the welfare of the craft and- all connected with it would even be-his Constant concern and -an object very near to his heart. Concluding, His Excellency’: said. “Allow me to Express the earnest hope that Freemasonary may be an ever-increasing power for good throughout New--Zealand during the period for which--P'shalti have the honour and privilege’of acting as your Grand Master, ’And tlitit-, if, as we all believe’ I’riwhtefi’usness’-' 1 ’riwhtefi’usness’-' exaltetli ‘ a nation such exaltation will characterise the future history of New Zealand, and that our craft may be a potent influence 'iff .the 'process.” ” Correction—The place of the . next communication should be Wellington, not Auckland, as previously telegraphed in the ’ afternoon.

The following officers we’he.. elected for the West 1 Coast district: Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, Bro. M. H. Houston (Hokitika) ; Grand Stewards, Bro. T. H. Boustridge (Greymouth) and D. McGregor (Greymouth) members of the Board of Benevolence, Bro. N. Campbell,, and Bro. J. Neilson (Blackball).