Freemasonry

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3522, 16 May 1905, Page 3

Freemasonry

INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS r OF TE AWAHOU LODGE. The annual installation of officers of Tm Awahon Lodge of Freemasons, iS.Z C., No 18.’, took pia.ee on Saf.urchvg in the newly erected Masonic* Hall iri Liddell street, Foxtoy, when there was a large at-' tendance'of 1 tha Brethren, rep-e.-eata-tivy of all parts of New Zealand. Lodge was ty led at 5180 p. m , ' 'W.M Bro., A. D Clemett receiving the M.'W the Grand Master, Bro. Alfred H Burton, and the Grand Lodge officers Tho Grand Master -then took the ; «rfhair and proceeded with the installation of Bro. A If!? ra?er as W.M, for tho ensuing year, his address to *■' the Brethren being magnificent in ifca simple impressiveness and touching reference to the duties and reMponsibilftiof appertaining, to associa-i . ition in the Brotherhood. The MrW. the Grand Secretary, "Bro. Malcolm Nicco!, next invested ' the other officers of the Lodge with the insignia of their rank, as fol lows ; P.M } B.VV , jßro.'WS,' Stewart; J ,Wi‘, Broi” C. L. -BarnardT reas ure *v Bro. T. W. Alcorn; Secretary, Bro. T. Haywood, PM. ; Organist, Bro. G H. Stiles; S.D., Bro. E. Healey ; • J.D., Bro. A J. Jonson ; S.S., Bro "R. Noonan ; J.S , Bro. C Hood ; ■■■LG., Bro J. Currie ; 0.G., Bro, J. Johansen The impressiveness of the ceremonial accompaniment of . the pro gramme was' greatly added to by the manner in which the organist, Bro Stilea, carried out his important duties, aided by Bro. J, Foster (violin), and Bro. Ballard, who acted as trumpeter, -In this connection may be mentioned an iteih of high merit in the excellence of its renii'tion, the so o Remember now v thy "Creator,” sung by Bro. A. G. Bon- | nett, of the Manawatu Kilwinning ! Lodge. Bro. -I Bett, of tho same .Tipdge, ,sapg with taste .and effect A dream of Paradise.” The closing ceremonies were ushered in by the presentation, by .the MA% tbe.(}i'and Secretary, ..of a . Jtlilt- 3ilasteb‘s'"T'nvel to ’Bro. A. D Clemett and a Past Secretary’s jewel to Bro T. Haywood In presenting these the Grand Secretary made a very earnest and impressive speech appropriate to the occasion, and the recipients suitably replied,, i The Lodge was then lowered to ; .the Second Degree, the M.W the Grand-Master offered congratulations to the newly installed W.M. and officers.of Lpdgeffia Awahou, and the Grand Lodge officers retired. The j Lodge was next lowered to the First Degree, and hearty good wishes apd . congratulations were offered" by the I visiting Brethren from all parts of j the colony,, after which the Lodge •dosed in. due form and an adjourn- . xnent was made to an ante-room in j which an excellent repast had been prepared, and to which full justice was accorded.

1 ' THE'NE W HALL 1 - ; ' ■ ,It ig now some fifteen months since Te Awahou Lodge was formed in Foxton, and meetings were for a time bold in the Good Templars* Hall, but the steady increasaof membership has urged the need of more extended accommodation. *<'his led the Lodge to consider the advisable floss of building a suitable hall of its own, and so energetically was the project taken in hand that very soon •11 difficulties regarding finance disappeared and in January last the foundation stone of the fine commodious structure which has since been reared in the convenient neighbourhood of Liddell Street was laid by the W.M. Bro. A. D Glemett in | the presence of a large gathering of Lodge members and the public. Under instructions from a special committee appointed for the purpose Arthur S. Jonson designed and drew up plans for the hall, and the contractors, Messrs Jonson and Son, have carried out their task in a thoroughly workmanlike manner, the result being that Lodge Te Awahou now possesses a meeting room second to none for convenience and general completeness of equipment. The Hall, which stand on a section purchased from Mr G. A, Simpson in Liddell street, is of two storeys, the upper being for Lodge business purely, and the lower fitted up for public entertainment. The structure has-a; frontage of 80ft. by a depth of 50ft. The lower ha'l, which is well lighted and ven Hated by four large double sashes on either side, has a floor space of 380. by 290., about lift, of the western end being raised and fitted with a 12ft. stage with a dressing room on either side. These are provided with lavatory basins, etc., and in one is a copper for b water which shou'd be much appreciated in the case of social functions hold in * be ball. Water is laid on, and patrons’ every want anticipated. The main public hal is neatly lined with tongue ! and grooved match-!ining(seasoned rimu) and the ceiling is similarly treated The whole is painted a light blue colour, and the proceninm and stage back-ground is treated with a more gober gray, the whole effect being very pleasing to the eye. In comjjiaaoa with the requirements of the

public safety ample means of exit’ are provided, both from the body of the hall andfrom the in addition fy ho large double front doors. The floor of the main hall is also a feature deserving of mien; tion, having been : feonstrriotefl specially in view of, probablyrequiremoots for dancum, and it is anticipated that the devotees of the TeVpsicorean art wiT hay? hothift,? to complain; .f. The timber (matai) has been all hand’dressed-, and sveat care taken in laying it down.

Passing-upstaiW-hy moans of a flight of steps placed outside the., bni'ding at the back, 1 the' vrflitor ' is u-hered ’iuto ati ante room 29ft by 10ft, with a fire place at one-end frnijl fitted up with wardrobes,'- .lookers; and tables. From this access is gained to the hall nf balls, the sanctum sanctorum of the Brotherhood, a fine room 40ft by a height of 17ft. from cei'iiig to floor. The whole Mace is matchIfned,similarly to the,lower hall,, ls}t, the*,, ihefiduiv. fseb^me; is planned i« conformity .with the ver qniremenfcs ~o£ the-business for which the room is intended,, Ail the usual accessories are provided, and, Indeed in no detail is there to be found a 1 deficiency For elegancy of appearance and utility in design; withal, nothing more fit Could have heoh desired, and with this. It,..is welFTo close our do<cripH‘‘’n, -. To Isay more would be to divulge mdmA.than prudence allows, anl sd’wjs precincts of the ball in Brotherhood of the Mystic Craft .will pursue the ever (let us hopel qven' tenour of, their ' way, ■ wilb-: increasing prQSoeirity and.gocid /fellowshin to the End of-AIF ,