MASONIC

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 298, 11 May 1911, Page 5

MASONIC

GRAND LODGE COMMUNICATION. . By Tel: graph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. The Grand Masonic Lodge annual communication, which opened this atternoon in the Choral Hall, was the largest gathering of its kind yet held in the Dominion. About 250 members were present, including the direct representatives of 183 lodges from towns as far north as Mongomii and as far south as Invercargill. The Grand .Master, M.W. Bio. ('. .r. W. Griffiths, of Blenheim, occupied the throne.

The proposed transfer of £2OOO from the capital of the Fund of Benevolence to the Widows' and Orphans' and Aged Masons' Fund was unanimously approved, and it was promised that the Board of General Purposes would consider the (juestion of devising means for regularly and systematically raising means for the augmentation of the Annuity Fund. .

The suggestion that the next annual communication be held nt Dunedin was agreed to. Bio. Arthur T. Clarke, A.C.A., was appointed auditor for the ensuing year. The attendance in the evening was considerably swollen by an influx of members of the craft from the Christchurch lodges and those of the other towns of the provincial district. The hall was well filled, both on the floor and in the gallery, when the Grand Lodge resumed. ■M.W. Bro. Malcolm Kiccoll, Senior Past firand Master of the Dominion, astimed the throne upon the re-opening of the proceedings. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Canterbury was strongly represented, and the R.W. Bro. M. Brown, deputy-District Grand Master of the Canterbury Freemasons under the English Constitution, was present, attended by a retinue of district grand officers. The re-installation of iM.W. Bro. C, .1. W. Griffiths as Grand Master was carried out with dignity by M.W. Bro. H. J. Williams, Past P.C.M.', the musical contributions of a strong choir and orchestra materially enhancing tlie imprcssiveness of the ceremonial work. The announcement was made bv the Grand Master of bis appointment of R.W, Bro. .7. J. Dnugnll, of Christchurch. to the oflice of Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Bro. George Barclay (Auckland) as Senior Grand Warden, and R.W. Bro. Alfred Feldwick (Dunedin) as Junior Grand Warden. These several officers were duly invested and inducted. The (.'rand Master, in his address to the gathering, said the Grand Lodge had now nearly 12,000 members, and possessed accumulated funds to the amount, of between £24,000 and £25,000. Without being ostentatious, they might fairly say that these facts were matters for fraternal congratulation. The past year bad been one of peaceful, steady and uninterrupted progress, both numerically and financially. The opening of twelve new lodges within twelve months established a record, and the fact that for the. ninth year in .succession every lodge was, clear on the books spoke volumes for the healthv condition of the craft.