MASONIC GRAND LODGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40029, 28 November 1929, Page 3

MASONIC GRAND LODGE.

ANNUAL COMMUNICATION

The annual communication of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand opened at Auckland yesterday morning, Sir Charles Fergusson presiding as Grand Master. The treasurer’s report showed the accumulated funds to be £127,403, of which £13,283 stands to the credit of 'the general fund, £94,710 to that of the widows, orphans and aged Masons’ fund, £8307 to the war benevolent, fund, £5931 to the fund of benevolence, -£1623 to circulate appeal funds, and £7Bl to earthquake funds. Bro. James John Clark, of Dunedin, was elected Grand Master for the ensuing year.

Dr. W. E. Redmond, of Blenheim, was invested as Deputy Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Masters of last year were reappointed, except that Mr. J. Molding, of Napier, took the place of the hat© Mr. A. M. Ritchie for Hawke’s Bay. Rev. W. 11. Nicholas, of Foxton, was appointed Grand Chaplain for the Ruapehu district. The report of the Board of General Purposes showed a nett numerical increase of 727 ia the yeatr and the opening of three new lodges. A further gift of 9£ acres of land af Papaikura by Bro. F. S. Potter for the purpose of erecting a Masonic orphanage was acknowledged. The retirement of Sir Charles Fergusson from the office of Grand Master of the New Zealand Freemasons was signalised last night by the presentation to him of a specially-designed memento of New Zealand in the form of an illuminated address in a casket characteristic of the Dominion, also a Past Grand Master’s jewel casket,

which took the shape of a slab of greenstone, above which is an ornamental structure of Dominion woods, inlaid with greenstone and gold.

The presentation was made by the retiring pro-Grand Master, Mr. E. AY. G. 11. Wjatts, and-his Excellency, in his reply, said the four years for which lie had held office had been very happy year,s on which he would always look back with grateful memory.