Foundation Stone of Masonic Temple Laid

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 781, 30 September 1929, Page 14

Foundation Stone of Masonic Temple Laid

ANCIENT CEREMONIAL CITY HOME FOR ORDER j Ancient custom and . ritual | were impressively carried out in the laying of the foundation stone of the new temple for the Masonic organisations of Auckland at the site in St. Benedict's Street on Saturday afternoon. fjpHE Most Worshipful Brother Oliver Nicholson, Provincial Grand Master, performed the laying of the stone after an elaborate ceremony. Among the attendance of about 300 members of the order, besides the public, were representatives of many of the lodges of the Auckland Province. English, Irish and Scottish constitutions were represented. In complete regalia, 27 members for the Auckland Province in the Grand Lodge of New Zealand marched to the scene of the ceremony. They were led by the Grand Director of Ceremonies, the V.W., Bro. W. C. Finnis. Trumpet and organ strains heralded their approach. Bro. Nicholson was informed of the preparation of the arrangements for the erection of the temple by the Acting-Deputy-Grand Master, Bro. F. Kearsley, and the contractor for the work, Mr. H. C. Curlett, was presented. A lesson from the Scripture was read by the ActingGrand Chaplain, the Right Worshipful Bro. the Rev. E. Lionel Harvie, who offered a prayer. ARTICLES LODGED The articles contained in a cylinder lodged in the stone were enumerated by the Acting-Grand Secretary, R.W. Bro. W. R. T. Leighton. The articles were the daily newspapers, “The Craftsman,” a programme of ceremony, and a list of subscribing lodges and members. Announcement of the Provincial Grand Master’s pleasure in the laying of the stone was made by Bro. Kearsley, the R.W. Bro. M. J. Binney, Acting-Senior Grand Warden, and the R.W. Bro. F. J. Herbert, Junior Grand Warden. Ceremonial testing and proving of the stone took place before Bro. Nicholson placed the cement for the stone to be lowered into position. Corn and wine were scattered and poured on the stone and it was also anointed with oil by Bro. Nicholson. The implements necessary for the ceremony and the plans for the temple were presented to the architect, Mr. W. S. R. Bloomfield. The ceremony ended with a proclamation by Bro. Finnis and the singing of the Doxology. The V.W. Bro. W. G. Mason had charge of the arrangements and the deacons were the R.W. Bros. F. Bartlett and H. N. Gill. ADHERENCE TO STATUTES In his address to the members of the order, Bro. Nicholson instanced the adherence of the Masonic Order to the laws and statutes of the country. Secrets held by the order, he continued, were entrusted in peace and honour to Masons of ancient times and they had been transmitted to the brethren to convey, unimpaired, to the latest posterity. The prayer of the brethren was that the work in the temple would prosper according to the laws of the land and for the benefit of the community. “May this undertaking be conducted and completed by the craftsmen in accordance with the grand plan of peace, harmony and love,” declared Bro. Nicholson In striking the stone three times with a gavel. The new temple will be completed early next year. It will be three storeys high and its striking f&catfe will embody engaged Greek lonic columns. There will be spacious accommodation for assemblies of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, and two of the largest halls of the building will be of lonic and Corinthian design. The construction of the building came about through the united effort of the lodges of Auckland.