Masonic Parliament

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 831, 27 November 1929, Page 6

Masonic Parliament

BIG TOWN HALL ASSEMBLY

New Grand Master Elected

MEMBERS of the Masonic Craft from every part of The Dominion assembled in the Auckland Town Hall this morning, when his Excellency the Governor-General presided as Grand Master over the annual communication of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand. The first business was the election of Grand Master for 1929-30, Mr. J. J. Clark, of Dunedin, being appointed tmanimously to that post.

Picturesaue banks of colour, from gold-bullion fringes upon lambskin aprons and official collars, and gauntlets of Garter-blue, crimson and sky-blue were to be seen in the concert chamber of the Town Hall when the delegates assembled for the annual communication, or legislative and ceremonial session. His Excellency has held office as Grand Master for the last four years, and there was a large attendance of Past Grand Masters and Past Deputy-Grand Masters, and other grandees of the craft, besides delegates from most of the 300 lodges in the Dominion —there is now exactly the round number.

First in order of business, after the ceremonial opening and the confirmation of the minutes of last year’s communication—these minutes are a detailed report of the proceedings, recorded by an official shorthand-writer —came the election of the Grand Master for 1929-30. By unanimous choice of the lodges of the territory, the office had fallen upon Mr. John James Clark, Past Provincial Grand Master, of Dunedin. His election was formally confirmed, the installation ceremony to take place this evening. OTHER ELECTIVE OFFICERS On the recommendation of the Board of General Purposes, the scheme of distribution of other elective officers—those nearer to the chair are appointed by the new Grand Master, and will not be announced till tonight—was adopted as follow: Otago District.—Grand Chaplain, Rev. N. H. Finch; Grand Treasurer, Mr. C. Grater; Grand Registrar, Mr. A. E. Gascoigne; President of Board of General Purposes, Mr. W. G. Hay; President of Board of Benevolence, Mr. S. F. Bridgman; Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mr. Adam Smith; Grand Stewards, Messrs. W. Miller and C. Lambourne; members of Board of Benevolence, Messrs. J. Quaile, G. R. Henderson, J. M. Rodger, F. W. A. Clayr ton arid J. Dykes; W. R. Brugh, J. Bissland, J. D. King, W. B. McEwan, W. E. McLean, W. O. Smellie, G. Swan and H. Turner. Auckland District.—Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mr. W. C. Finnis; Junior Grand Deacon, Mr. C. Blackburn; Grand Superintendent of Works, Mr. G. T. Puddle; Grand Bible-bearer Mr. Alfred Bullock; Grand Standardbearer, Mr. J. Budge; Grand Pursuiva.nt, Mr. W. V. Bremner; Grand Stewards, Messrs. A. H. Curtis, A. J. S. D'Ewes, J. T. Graham, J. T. Hodge and J. B. Page; members of Board of General Purposes, Messrs. R. King and G. Laurenson: members of Board of Benevolence, Messrs. A. E. Snaitli and S. W. Turley. Wellington District.—Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mr. H. Hobbs; Grand Sword-bearer, Mr. A. E. Kennard; Grand Organist, Mr. H. W. Godier; Grand Stewards, Messrs. G. Cameron, J. Kerr, and H. A. Lamb; member oi Board of General Purposes, F. G. Roe; member of Board of Benevolence, Mr. L. C. Gibbins. Canterbury Province.—Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mr F. C. A'Court; Junior Grand Deacon, Mr. H. J. Baron; Grand Sword-bearer,* Mr. C. Mclncotash; Grand Standardbearer, Mr. M. H. McLeod; Grand Stewards, Messrs. J. G. Humphries, A. McPherson, A. J. R. Smither and A. uj Taylor; member of Board of General Purposes, Mr. P. H. Harris; member of Board of Benevolence, Mr. J. Moyes. Southland District.—Grand Superintendent of Works, Mr. J. Buchanan; Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Mr. A. D. Wilson; Grand Stewards, Messrs. G. H. Curie and J. Dennis; member of Board of General Purposes, Mr. G. Kerr; member of Board of Benevolence. Mr. W. J. Watson.Ruapehu District.—Grand Chaplain, Rev. W. H. Nicholas; Senior Grand Deacon, Mr. N. G. Armstrong; Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mr. A. G. Gilmour; Grand Bible-bearer, Mr C. H. T. Bowater; Grand Stewards, Messrs. G. Cowan and H. Johnston: member of Board of General Purposes, Mr. L. J. Thompson; member of Board of Benevolence, Mr. R. E. Toogood. Hawke’s Bay District.— Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mr. W. PI. L. Williams; Grand Stewards Messrs. J. Christie and W. P. Pickettmember of Board of General Purposes’, Mr. W. Dobson; member of Board of Benevolence, Mr. L. Wood. Nelson and Marlborough District. Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mr. W. G. Rudd: Grand Stewards, Messrs. G. M. Blizzard and A Gibson; member of Board of General Purposes, Mr. C. Collins; member of Board of Benevolence, Mr. W. H Marriott.

West Coast District.— Senior Grand Deacon, Mr. J. J. Breeze; Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mr. E. L. Peters; Grand Steward, Mr. W Colligan; member of Board of General Purposes, Mr. D. McGregor; member of Board of Benevolence, Mr. H. Campbell.

Taranaki District.—Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mr. W. C. Glenny; Grand Steward, Mr. A. L B Ross; member of Board of General

Purposes, Mr. H. E. Lawrence; member of Board of Benevolence. Mr. W. J. Villers.

BENEVOLENCE AND FUNDS The reports of the boards administering the two principal benevolent funds showed increased interest among the lodges in the support of the Widows’ and Orphans’ and Aged Masons’ Fund, the subscriptions to which had increased in the year by £1,617, making the year’s total under this heading £1,617.

Two bequests had been made under the wills of deceased Freemasons — £250 by the late Mr. W. Stewart, a colonist of 40 years’ standing, and an eventual one-third of an €*state valued at £II,OOO by the late Mr. James Moir, of Stratford, subject, however, in the meantime, to certain life interests.

The accumulated funds of Grand Lodge were stated at £127,403, an increase of £9,371 for the year. The amounts standing to the credit of the principal funds are:—General Fund, £13,823; W. and O. and A. M. Fund, £94,719; Special War Benevolent Fund, £5,931; Circular Appeal Funds, £1,673; Earthquake Relief Fund, £7Bl. NEW LODGES AND STATISTICS It was stated in the report of the Board of General Purposes that three new lodges had been opened during the year—Te Mata, at Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay; Lower Hutt, Wellington; and Herbert Teagle, Wellington City. Statistics of the membership of the lodges showed that out of a total of 26,783 at the end of 1928, there were 1,294 cases of dual membership—enrolment in more than one lodge. On June 30, 1929, the total membership was 26,954, a net increase for the year of 727.

The board laid down its opinion that for the future no new lodge should be named after a living person, however distinguished in the institution, except perhaps in the case of Royalty or Vice-Royalty. Past Grand Lodge rank, honoris causa, was recommended for notable members, as follows:—Past Grand Master, Mr. E. W. G. H. Watts, of Dunedin; Past Deputy Grand Master, Col. G. Barclay, now Grand Secretary; Past Grand Treasurer, Mr. C. A. Myhre. of Christchurch. LOCATION OF GRAND LODGE OFFICE Since its institution in 1890, Grand Lodge has had its head office stationed for periods of two years in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. At present, and for the next 12 months, at any rate, the headquarters are in Dunedin. Last year it was directed that a poll of the lodges of the Dominion be taken on the question of centralising the office for good in one or other of the four centres. The returns of the voting presented by the Board of General Purposes showed that 151 lodges had voted in favour of centralisation, and 139 against it. As the requisite two-thirds majority had not been obtained, the present peripatetic system will be maintained. One of the motions to be considered at the communication, however, proposes that the period of stay in each centre shall be extended to three years. GENEROUS GIFTS Last year Mr. F. S. Potter, member of an Auckland lodge, presented to Grand Lodge a property at Panmure, on which to erect homes for aged Freemasons and their wives. It was reported by the board that Mr. Potter was now having two cottages erected on the land, at his own expense, in furtherance cf the scheme. Further, he had donated another area of 9J acres at Papakura, with the cottage upon it, and purposed maintaining it free of expense to the craft until he establishes a fund for building purposes. If at the end of three years this has not been accomplished, Grand Lodge is to have the right to sell the land and devote the proceeds to the building of cottages or an orphanage on the property at Panmure. The board expressed its appreciation of Mr. Potter’s generosity. In recording the progress with Masonic structures in the Dominion—for the owning of its meeting-place is the aim of the majority of lodges, and has been or is being realised by most, and in Canterbury in every instance—it is mentioned that Mr. Geo. Alley, a member of Lodge Katikati, has given to it half an acre of land, and also the whole cost of the erection of a hall, amounting to £1,175. MISCELLANEOUS

Two important steps for which power was given by last year’s legislation have been carried out during the year. The first is the creation of a Juridiciai Committee, which consists of Messrs. J. J. Clark, of Dunedin. Mr. J. J. Dougall, of Christchurch, and Mr. C. W. Nielsen, of Wellington. The other is the appointment of Grand Lecturers, who are the Rev. A. M. Niblock. Auckland; Mr. O. C. Mazengarm, Wellington; and Mr. F. C. J. Cockburn, Nelson and Marlborough. A sum of £IOO was sent during the year for the relief of the Freemasons who were brought to distress by the hurricane which swept the island of Porto Rico, West Indies, in September 1928.

It was recommended that next year's communication be held in Christchurch. Consideration of the reports occupied the morning session.