THE ORANGE LODGE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 239, 9 April 1912, Page 5

THE ORANGE LODGE

CONFERENCE IN PALMERSTON. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmers ton N., Saturday. The annual meating of the Grand Orange Lodge took place to-day. A deputation from the local Ministers' Association welcomed the lodge and wished it a successful year of service. An application for a new lodge charter from Eltham was agreed to. The reports showed a steady increase in membership. Preceptories had increased from live to fifteen during the past six years. Mr. Thomas Davidson (Hastings) was elected R.W.G.M.; Mr. R. Johnston (Dunedin) G.D.M.; and (Mr. F. Melkenham jpislborne) Grand Chaplain. Resolutions were passed affirming loyalty to the King and the Protestant crown. An expression of heartfelt thanks was passed to the Unionist M.P.'s for opposing the Home Rule Bill, and a vote of sympathy was passed with brethren in Ireland in their fight. THE NE TEMERE DECREE. Palmerston N„ Last Night. The Orange Grand Lodge continued its sessions to-day. A cable was forwarded to Belfast tendering greetings to the great Orange meeting to be Oiel'd there to-morrow, and 1 urging Irish Orangemen to stand to their principles and promising them financial and- material assistance in their struggle against Home Rule. A resolution was also passed protesting against the Ne Temere Decree, which_ the conference considered destructive of the religious harmony it desired to promote, and that the interference by any Church with civil law should be followed by prosecution and imprisonment, as had been found necessary in Roman Catholic countries. A copy of the resolution is to be "forwarded to each member of the Cabinet, with a request that they prohibit the publication of the decree in the Dominion. E. N. Biuklen was re-elected! R.W.G.M., and William Hunter D.G.M.