FREEMASONRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8106, 10 May 1906, Page 2

FREEMASONRY.

GJUND LODGE ANNUAL MEETING. FEK MESS ASSOCIATION. Ciibistcjiuuch, May 9. The annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of N'eiv Zealand Freeimihons was opened nt the. Choral Hall this afternoon, M.W. Bro. A. H. Burton, Grand Muster, in the chair. It was by far ihc largest Masonic gathering ever held in the Colony, some hundreds of representatives being present, hailing from lodges as far distant as Mougonui in the far north, and Inverc.irgtll and lliverton in the south,

The report of the Board of Management of the Widows and Orphans and Aged Masons fund showed that annuities wero now being paid to Beven aged masons and the widow of another, the aggregate amount being £l3l per annum. The capital value of the fund was £5,692. The Board of Benevolence in its report showed that grants had been made during the year to the amount of £152, apart from the I amounts voted by the individual lsdges in response to circular appeals. The annual statement of accounts and balance-sheet for the year ending 31st March 1906, showed that the cash balances of the several funds were as follows: General, £2,068; Fund of Benevolence, £2,325; Widows and Orphans and Aged Masons Fund, £5,692; Representation Fund, £294; Circular appeals, £296; Thomson memorial, £7B ; total, £10,753. The increase of the Capital funds in the two years of Dunedm administration was £2,939.

The election of Grand Lodge officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: Grand Master, His Excellency the Governor, Wor. Bro. William Lee, Baron Plunket; P'o. Grand Master E.W. Bro. Fred C. Binns. •Officers for Taranoki district: Grand Standard Bearer, W. Bro. Alexander Walker Eeid; Grand Steward W. Bro. George Smart; member of Board of general purposes, W. Bro, Thomas Hickman; member of Board of Benevolence, W. Bro. George William Calyert.

It was agreed that the next annua] Communication be held at Invercargill in May, 1907.

INSTALLATION OF GEAND MASTEE.

A BRILLIANT CEEEMONY. FEB PBEBS ASSOCIATION. Chbistohurch, May 9. His Excollency tho Governor was installed as Grand Master of the New Zealand Constitution at the Choral Hall to-night. There was a very large attendance, the hall being full to overflowing, Tho various lodges, from the Bluff to Auckland, wore represented by delegates and tho scene was a very brilliant one. The sorics of elaborate and stately ccromonies usual on such occasions were carried out with admirable precision and effeot. M.W. Bro. A. H. Barton (Otago), the retiring Grand Mastor, was on tho throne, supported by Past Grand Masters M.W. Bros. Malcolm, Niccol, W, Baron and H. J. Williams, The W. Bro. Dilworth Fox, District G.M., represented the District Grand Lodge E.C. Grand Master Bro. A. H. Barton acted as installing master, and tho ceremonios of investing and enthroning the Most Worshipful Bro. Lord Plunket was carried out with brilliant effect, in accordance with the ancient custom of the craft,' and the nowly installed Grand Master was duly saluted by the large assemblage of brothron. E.W. Bro. F. C. Binns was installed pro-Grand Master, and received the customery salutes. The Most Worshipful Grand Master announced appointments by him of the following officers, viz:—Deputy Grand Master, Dr B. D. Brown (Oamaru); Senior Grand Warden E.W. Bro. J. H. Keesing (Wanganui); Junior Grand Warden E.W., Bro. H C. Tewlsey (Auckland). The election of Grand Superintendents for various districts resulted as follows: Auckland, E.W. Bro 0. Nicholson; Wellington, E.W. Bro. C. J. Eonaldson; West Coast, R.W. Bro. J. H. Harkness; Nelson and Marlborough, E.W. Bro. J. Connolly; Southland, E.W. Bro. G. T. Smith; Hawke's Bay and Gisborno, E.W. Bro. J. W. MacDougalie; Taranaki, E.W. Bro. F. P, Corkill. The officers elected at the afternoon sitting of,tho Grand Lodge were duly invested. The tendering to the Most Wprshipfu. the Grand Master of paternal greetings and congratulations by the represen. lativos of the Grand Lodges in various parts of the world concluded what was probably the most impressively conducted Masonic ceremony ever held in New Zealand. A strong choir and orchestra provided tho musical portion of the ceremony. A banquet was subsequently held in the Canterbury Hall. To-morrow night there will be a conversazione and dance in the Canterbury Hall.

His Excellency in Lis installation speech, said that if Free Masonary was to be of genuine service to the brethren and was to attract their fellow men they must keep before their minds its real object, which was to help them to live better lives and to act on the square in all their doings. Tlio New Zealand Constitution was prosperous and increasing, the only jarring note sounding in their oars, year after year, being the position taken up by the parent Grand Lodgos at Home. In the meantime, the question was settling itself by tho Lodges working under the Home Constitution, joining the New Zealand Grand Lodge