GOOD TEMPLAR GRAND LODGE.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 984, 15 January 1883, Page 4

GOOD TEMPLAR GRAND LODGE.

The ninth annual session of the Grand Lodge of 1.0. G.T., in connection with the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of the World, assembled at the Athenasum on Tuesday morning, and was opened by the G. W.C.T,, Bro J. Jinkins, at 10 o’clock. The following officers present: —Bro E F Miller, G.W.Y.T; Bro Douse, G.W.S ; Bro G P Brandt, A.G.S ; Bro Collis, G.W.M. ; Bro S Skinner, G.D.M; Bro S Howell, G.G.; Bro Beecher, G.W.S.; Bro Hall, G.W.C.; Bro Price, G.W.C. The following representatives were present:—Star of Wellington Lodge, Bro D Hall and Bro A Guise; Hope of Parneb, Bro W Haynes and Bro Robb; Star of Newton, Bro J Longhottom, Flower of the Forest, Bro Scott; Hope of Wairoa, Bro J Robertson; Pioneer of Milton, Bro Moorhouse; Guiding Star, Bro R Hare; Egmoht, Sister M M Sutherland, Bro S Howell; Ebenezer, Bro R Hare; Advance, Bro E Miller; Victoria, Bro G Robertson, Bro W Webber; Olive Branch, Bro W Collis; Hope of Mnnukan, Bros S Spenner and A Robb; Perseverance, Bro W Haynes; Banner of Freeman, Bro W Moorhouse ; No Surrender, Bro R Hare; Karori United, Bro P J Brandi ; Ark of Eden, Bro 0 Bailey; All Welcome, Bro W Moorhouse; Band of Unity, Bro J Higgs ; Phcenix, Bro Relf; Invincible, Bro W Haynes; Try Again, Bro E Westwood; Royal Oak, Bro T Scott; Paknranga, Bro W Webber; Mystic Tye, Bro E M’Lennan; Temple of Peace, Bro W Johnson; Star of Thames, Bro W Johnson ; Woodville Pioneer, Bro Groves. The sublime degree was conferred upon fonr brothers and two sisters. The G. W.C.T. gave his report on the work of the past year, especially referring to the starting of the Temperance Reformer, the official organ of the Order. The G.W.S. also presented his report as to the new lodges he had opened, &c. At the evening session, a long discussion took place on the report of the Committee on the good of the Order. The Grand Lodge resumed its session at half-past 9 o’clock on Wednesday morning. The committee on the Grand Lodge by-laws brought up their report. The matter of the establishment of district lodges was discussed, but it was considered undesirable to move in that direction, ns it was thought that the order was not yet ripe for such an organisation ; but a resolution was passed that the Executive, during the recess, should take the matter into consideration, and submit their report at the next annual meeting. During the afternoon sitting the report on by-laws was further discussed, and the recommendations of the committee were adopted with a few variations. A report on “appeals” was submitted, and, after discussion, adopted. The election of officers for the ensuing year then took place, with the following result:—Bro Longbottom, G.W.C.T.; Bro C. Bayley, G.W.C.; Sister M. M. Sutherland, G.W.Y.T.; Bro E. F. Miller, G W.S.; Bro John Robertson, G.W .T; Bro William Collis, G.W.C.; Bro A. Scott, G.W.M.; Bro William Moorhouse, G.D.M. ; Bro " C Beecher, G Messenger. At the evening session a deputation of the I. O.R. paid a fraternal visit, when Bro Fraser, the D.S., read the following address: “ Wellington, New Zealand. To the officers and representatives of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, under the R.W.G.L. of the world, assembled in session in Wellington :—Dear Sir and Brothers, —We, the officers of the New Zealand Central District, No, 86, Independent Order of Rechabites, have much pleasure in presenting our fraternal greetings on the occasion of the session of your Grand Lodge meeting in this city. We trust that your visit, though short, may be remembered by you in the . future with pleasure, and that your present deliberations will conduce to the extension of your noble and philanthropic order, and also to the spread of the temperance cause, to which our respective orders have the honor to belong, and although we have not in our particular organisation made that progress which we had desired, nevertheless, it must be a source of great thankfulness and gratitude to know that this cause, in which we are identified, has become a burning question of the present day and is steadily advancing. Besides our societies, the “ Blue Ribbon ” movement and “ Salvation Army ” are doing good work. The Pulpit and the Press, philosophical, and scientific societies and medical conferences, are giving their earnest efforts to this question, and even the British Parliament has, over and over again, occupied some valuable time in debating this same subject. Our brothers and sisters in America have achieved great success in the prohibition of the traffic in many of the States, and there are prospects of several others following in the same direction. These facts appear to ns as a bright lining to the dark cloud of intemperance, which has for so many years overshadowed our humanity and disgraced our civilisation. We hail these tokens of a coining victory with delight, and trust that they will encourage us to further exertions in bringing about the downfall of the tyrannical drinking customs of the present age. With yon, we desire to do good to all men and harm to none. Asking God’s blessing on this desire, and again wishing yon groat success in your noble work, wo are, yours injustice, fortitude, and truth. Wii.hiam Cook, A.D.C. Rnlcr. j William Redmond, D.D. Ruler. | Francis Si dev, P.D.C. Ruler. j John Okel, D. Treasurer. _ _ I Francis tl. Phaser, District j Secretary.’' i