MASONIC GRAND LODGE

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1926, Page 11

MASONIC GRAND LODGE

ANNUAL COMMUNICATION GATHERING IN WELLINGTON. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Nov. 24. The Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand held its annual communication to-day, Sir Charles Fergusson presiding, as Grand Master, over a very large gathering. The financial statement showed accumulated funds as follow: General fund, £11,234; widows and orphans and aged Masons’ fund, £73,748; specid. war benevolent fund, £7263; fui.d cf benevolence, £4963; circular appeal iuuus, £927; representation fund. £1761; total £100,127. The board of benevolence made a grant to the amount of £852 in the year. The annuity fund for widows and orphans and aged Masons was maintaining 148 annuities, totalling £6194 annually. In response to the Grand Master’s special appeal, £10,426 had been subscribed voluntarily to the annuity fund. Sir Charles Fergusson was re-elected Grand Master, and the principal elective officers returned were: Grand chaplains, the Rev. J. H. Sykes (Wellington) and the Rev. Hoani Parata (Southland); grand treasurer, Mr. A. A. George; grand registrar, Mr. R. 11. Webb; president of the board of general purposes, Mr, H. H. Seaton; president of the board of benevolence, Mr. E. J. Guiness (all of Wellington); grand director of ceremonies, Messrs. J. C. Riddell (Wellington), H. M. Thorpe (Auckland), J. Hurley (Canterbury), J. M. Rodger (Otago); senior grand deacons, Messrs. W. E. Carthew grand deacons, Messrs. F. J. Rowley (Auckland), F. Bradley (Otago); junior (Ruapehu), F. E. Wilson (Taranaki). Warrants were said to have been issued for the formation of three lodges, two in Auckland and one in Wellington. The total membership of the lodges in the Dominion was 24,810, an increase of 923 in the year. The next annual communication wilt be held in Christchurch. The Masonic installation of the Gov-ernor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, as Grand Master, took place this evening. The other officers were; Pro-Grand Master, George Russell; Deputy-Grand Master T. M. Rankin, of Invercargill; provincial Grand Masters, O Nicholson (Auckland), H. J. Teagle (Wellington), W. Lishner (Otago), E. C. Smith (Southland) ; L. J. Graham (Ruapehu), C. H. Critchley (Hawke’s Bay), C. D. Dunn (West Coast), A. G. Shrimpton (Nelson and Marlborough), G. W. Rogers (Taranaki), while Canterbury has a Provincial Grand Master of its own election in Mr. J. N. Du Feu; Senior Grand Warden, S. S. Alien (Morrinsville); Junior Grand Warden, C. Flavell (Christchurch); Grand Superintendents of Works, E. E. Grimwade (Auckland) and T. Easteott (Nelson and Marlborough); Grand BibleBearers, A, McKinnon (Otago), F. S Wood (West Coast); Grand SwordBearers, H. E. Tristram (Auckland) and R. J. Pellew (Hawke’s Bay); Grand Standard-Bearers, J. A. Stables (Canterbury) and H. J. Farrant (Southland); Grand Organist, P. Mepham (Ruapehu); Grand Pursuivants, Messrs. D. G. Thornton (Auckland) and A. E. Smith (Canterbury). The Grand Stewards chosen for the year were: M. W. Thew (Wellington), F H. S. Matthews and E. A. Bryant (Auckland), D. E. L. Collett and C. McIntosh (Canterbury), J. Logan and F. W. G. Quaife (Otago), H. Graham (Southland), E. Larkin (Ruapehu), J. Rockeß (Hawke’s Bay), H. Tunnicliff (Nelson and Marlborough), and W. N. Prenteice (West Coast). Of the two new administrative boards, the constitution is as follows: Board of general purposes, H. E. Anderson, A. Burgess. H. Hatch, A. H. Herbert and A. E. Kennard (Wellington), L. Buddle and F. A. Pickett (Auckland), J. P. Borthwick (Canterbury), A. G. Gough (Otago), J. W. G. Mclntyre (Southland), W. D. Carson (Ruapehu), W. Dobson (Hawke’s Bay), A. C. Nathan (Nelson and Marlborough), J. Rose (West Coast), C. A. Larcombe (Taranaki). Board of Benevolence, A. T. Wells, R. J. Foss, A. Greening, G. F. L. Lenzini, P. Levi, J. S. Martin. A. W. Rowlands, and R. J. Shakes (Wellington), A. H. J. Brackebush and E. Hammons (Auckland), P. H. Harris (Canterbury),’ R. Cameron (Otago), S. C. K. Smith (Southland.), W. P. Henderson (Ruapehu), H. P. Horne (Hawke’s Bay), A. E. Jellyman (Nelson and Marlborough), J. Simpson (West Coast), and E. W. Garner (Taranaki). Ail these and the officers elected earlier in the day were invested. Mr. Maurice Thompson, of Invercargill, acted as installing Grand Master.