MASONIC ANNIVERSARY.

Kumara Times, Issue 2302, 14 January 1884, Page 2

MASONIC ANNIVERSARY.

The ball and supper which took place on Friday evening to celebrate for the first time in Kumaw the annual installation of the Worshipful Master of the Lazar Lodge of Freemasons, under the English Constitution, and the investiture of his officers for the year, must be regarded as quite equaling the expectations of its most sanguine promoters. It was looked forward to by the craft, and by young and old, with great pleasure, and we venture to say that no one was disappointed. The ceremouies of installation and investiture of officers for the year took place at the Masonic Hall in the afternoon, and have been already noticed by us. The ball was held in the Adelphi Theatre in the evening. Both places were suitably decorated for the festivals. The Theatre, where the ball was held, ' was draped with thirty flags of all nations, and about the same number of Chinese lanterns lent a lnstre to the flags and ferns with which the walls were decorated, and which failed not to impart a corresponding vivacity to the general enjoyment. Dancing commenced shortly after nine o'clock, and was kept up with great spirit till supper, forty to fifty couples being present. After about a third of the programme had been gone through, an adjournment was made to the Masonic Hall for supper. About ninety ladies and gentlemen sat down to partake of the sumptuous spread provided by Mr Gilbert Stewart. Bro. Rogers, the newly-installed W.M., presided; and on his right were the R.W.D.G.M. John Bevao,and P.D.S.W. Johu Hudson, the principal conductors of the afternooon ceremonies, also Bro. Benning, from Hokitika ; and on the W.M.'s left were Bro. Thomson, of Waitnea, P.Ms. Block, Williams, and Nicholson. When ample justice had been done to the excellent repast, W.M. Rogers announced that the various toasts to be proposed would be of very few words. The first would be "The Queen and the Craft." [Applause] Although they were far away from England, they regarded her Majesty as the mother of Masons. The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm, and was followed with the singing of a verse of the "National Anthem." P.D.S.W. Hudson proposed—" His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England."—[Applause.] As the ladies and gentlemen must all be anxioua to get away to dance, he would not detain them by many words. The Prince of Wales was not only a Mason in name, but he was an active member of the Order ; and if he only made as good a King as he had clone a Mason, we should all have cause to be thankful.— [Cheers.] Song—" God bless the Prince of Wales." P.M. Williams then proposed "The Right Worshipful District Grand Master Bevan." R.W.D.G.M. Bevau briefly responded by thanking the company for the kind response they had made to the proposal of Bro. Williams. He seemed to have only one regret, and that was that he was not so well acquainted with the. ladies present and whom he had seen enjoy* ing themselves as he should wish to be. He had looked on with a great amount of enjoyment; and he hoped this festival would tend to the mutual advantage of both sex^s.—[Applause.] R.W.D.G.M. B.'vau then called upon j the compmy to drink to "The Health I of W.M. Tsm>. Bogprs." He was mi old ■ and icv [iitd .Mi:.son ; ;\- d lie miijl feel ■ highly complimented to be the Ursbj

W.M. who had been honoured with the presence of the ladies at the celebration of the inauguration of his official career.—[Applause.] W.M. Rogers thanked the company for the hearty manner in which the toast of his health had been responded to. He would use every endf-avour to fill the position with satisfaction to the Order and to himself; and he hoped this would not be the last occasion the installation would be so celebrated.—[Applause ] P.M. Nicholson said he had a toast to propose, which he considered the principal one of the evening ; it waa "The Health of the Ladies."—[Applause, and " Hip, hip, hurrah."] He would couple the names of Mr William Morris and Mr Todd. Bro. Morris responded humourously. Mr Todd also, briefly replied. He hoped by next year to see if they could not get all the old maids rubbed out of the country.—[Loud laughter and cheers. | The W.M. announced that there were several other toasts which they would wish to have proposed, but in deference to the ladies and those who doubtless preferred returning to the ball-room they must forego them. The company then adjourned to the Theatre, where dancing was kept up till nfter six o'clock in the morning—a significant omen of the general pleasure which had been experienced.