MASONIC.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9139, 7 May 1908, Page 4

MASONIC.

GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND. Press Association. Auckland, May 6. The annual communication of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand was opened-this afternoon, the M.W. Bro. Lord Plunket, Grand Master, presiding. The report of the Board of General Purposes stated that the funds ef the Grand Lodge now amounted to £16,158, of which £3248 belonged to the fund of benevolence. There were now 157 lodges in the Dominion, aud®applications were likely to be received shortly for the establishment of others in several growing townships. It was decided that the next annual communication be held at New Plymouth in May, 1608. His Excellency Lord Plunket, in returning thanks for his election for the third time as Grand Master, reviewed the progress of the New Zealand Constitution. During the past year the membership had increased by 1300, and eight new lodges had been opeend. The event which stood out most prominently was the success which had attended the appeal he had ventured to make two years ago to the brethren to substantially increase the capital account of the Widows and Orphans and Aged Masons Fund. He warmly welcomed Bro. Feilding, Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales, who had been deputed by the Graud Master of New South Wales Lodge to represent him at the installation. At the evening sitting M.W. Bro. Nicholson was installed as Pro. Grand Master. The Gram! Master announced the appointments as follows :—Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Bro. .T. J. Withers, Canterbury; Senior Grand Warden, R.W. Bro. James Moncrieff (junior), Wairarapa; Junior Grand Warden, M, Reid, Invercargill. Grand Superintendents were appointed as follows West Coast, R.W. Bro. J. H. Harkness; Wellington, R.W. Bro. Fletcher; Canterbury, R.W. Bro. S. O. Bingham; Otago, R.W.'Bro. T. Ross; Nelson and Marlborough, R.W. Bro. .W. Moyes; Southland, R.W. Bro. M. Thompson; Hawke’s Bay, R.W. Bro, J. W. McDougall; Taranaki, R.W. Bro. F. P. Corkill. The Auckland district remains uduer the direction of the Pro. Grand Master. These, with the other Grand Lodge officers, were duly invested.