MASONIC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3767, 1 June 1907, Page 2

MASONIC.

The installation of Bro. C. 1,. Barnard as W.M., and investiture of officers of Lodge Te Awahou, No. 133, N.Z.C., took place in the local Masonic Hall last evening. Visiting brethren were present from Bulls, Palmerston, Feilding, Rongotea, Levin, and elsewhere. R.W. Bro. R. Fletcher, Grand Superintendent, officiated as Installing Master. He was assisted by the following : Director of Ceremonies, Wor. Bro. L A. Nash, Wor. Bro. Neilson, Wor. Bro. J. Mclntyre (Horowhenua), Wor. Bro C. H. Bowater (Rongotea), Wor. Bro. W. J. Phillips (Raugitikei), Wor. Bro. Bennett (Palmerston). Wor. Bro. A. D, Clemett, P.M., invested the officers : W.M. Bro. C. L. Barnard, I.P.M. Wor. Bro. W. S. Stewart, S.W. Bro. E. Healey, J.W. Bro. J. K. Hornblow, Secretary, Bro. W. Adams; Treasurer, Bro. M. Walker; Chaplain, Bro. Bullard; Organist, Bro. G. H. Stiles ; S.D. Bro. M. Perreau, J.D. Bro. A. W. Bradley, LG. Bro. J. Senior, S.S. Bro. Charles Hood, J.S. Bro. L. W. Wilson, Tyler Bro. J. Johansen. The Grand Superintendent invested the Director ot Ceremonies, Bro. A, D. Clemett. After the ceremony an adjournment was made to the lower hall, where the banquet was held. The following toasts were honoured : —“ The King ’ ’ (Wor. Bro. Barnard), “Grand Lodge” (Wor, Bro. Fraser), Wor. Master (Wor. Bro. Clemett), “1.P.M.” (Wor. Bro. Mclntyre), “Installing Master” (Wor. Bro. J. A. Nash), “ The officers ” (Wor Bro. Bennett), “Visiting Brethren” (Wor. Bro. Stewart). During the ceremony Wor. Bro. Bennett rendered the solo “ He Wipes the Tear,” Bro. F. Woods “The Holy City,” and Bro. G. Barber “ Crossing the Bar.” At the banquet Bros. Barber, Hornblow, Hawkins, Bennett and Scruff contributed items at intervals.

The “ Sanson Express ” made a special trip to Foxton last evening with a cargo of Masons from Bulls and Rongotea. These brethren of the mystic tie had chartered the train in order to be present at the installation ceremony of the local lodge last evening. The train consisted of one carriage and the locomotive, and the distance from Sanson to Foxton was covered in a remarkably short time. The rabbits, unaccustomed to be disturbed by night trains, were caught napping on the permanent way, and it is said that the cow-catcher was covered with fur and gore on its arrival at Foxton. Settlers rushed out of doors on hearing the shrill whistle of the “ express ” as it sped on its way. Equestrians travelling alsongside the track caught a glimpse of individuals in the carriage and in their midst declared they saw a strange looking animal, and cards being held up, and voices like unto loud laughter. Foxton’s peaceful residents were disturbed by hearing shrill whistles shortly before midnight. It was thought that one of the flaxmills was ablaze. However, the police saw a number of men huddled in overcoats wending their way from the Masonic Hall to the station, where they boarded the “express.” Mutterings of an uncomplimentary kind were heard from the driver and his assistant. The lever was pulled, and before one had time to say “ knife ” the “special ” and its contents had sped forth in the darkness at 70 miles an hour on its return journey.