MASONIC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2652, 28 April 1894, Page 3

MASONIC.

The annual convocation of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand was held at Wellington on Wednesday afternoon in the Masonic Hall, Boulcott street. About two hundred brethren were present. The annual balance sheet and the quarterly statement of receipts and disbursements to March 31st last were adopted. The balance sheet for the year ending 31st December last showed that in almost every particular the accounts were in advance of the previous year, proving that the anticipations of the board in respect of income of the Graad Lodge were not visionary. The statement of receipts for the year showed an increase in the general fund. There had been a substantial increase in the widows' and orphans' fund, as well as in the benevolent fund; whilst in the balance sheet the general fund showed a balance of assets of £836 3s Id, as against £6lO 7s lid last year. In the fund of benevolence there was a balance of £572 12s lid, as against £414 13s 9d, and the statement of deposits gave a total of £746 17s Id, as against £476 8s 3d last year. The quarterly report of the boards of general purposes showed that the Grand Lodge has now 92 lodges under its jurisdiction. The board recommended that the Right Worshipful Bro. E. T. Gillon should receive the rank of Past Grand Master, and that the Right Worshipful Bro. H. J. Williams the rank of Past Deputy Grand Master in recognition the former of his unwearied exertions in the establishment of the Grand Lodge, and the latter of his untiring zeal whilst in charge of the district of Wellington. The Grand Lodges forwarded representative commissions as follows:—Grand Lodge of Athens for Bro. George Robertson; Grand Lodge of Quebec for Worshipful Bro. William Charles Walker; Grand Lodge of Ohio for Worshipful Bro. Miles Reginald Bree, of Gore. The report was adopted, as also was the report of the board of benevolence. W.M.G.M. Bro. F. H. D. Bell was elected the W.M. the Grand Master. The grand officers were also elected. Correspondence was read from the Grand Masters of the Australian Grand Lodges, regretting their inability to be present, aud from the new South Wales Lodge sending Bro. R. W. Edwards, 8.D.G.M., as their representative. The installation ceremony in the evening of Bro. H. D. Belt as Grand Master, was of a most brilliant character. The retiring Grand Master Nicoll officiated, and delegates from all parts of the colony were present. At the banquet, the Opera House was overcrowded, and large numbers were unable to obtain seats. At the Communication of the Grand Lodge, the Board of general purposes reported that Bro. Deßenzy had violated rule 115 of the Constitution by contributing to the lodges privately, and recommended his suspension. After ■considerable discussion the matter was postponed for three months, but subsequently it was decided by mombers of the board that the clause be withdrawn. Bro. Gillon, in proposing Bro. Bell as Grand Master, went at considerable length into the question of selecting a brother who was not a Past Master, and .quoted a number of precedents to show that that course was not uncommon. IJro. Bell, iu returning thanks, alluded to the fact that when it was determined that the Grand Master this year should be taken from Wellington, there were two men, .Bros. Gillon and Williams, who tiad superior claims to the office, but both had refused it. Congratulations were received from the Orand Lodges of the Grand Orients of Italv and Spain, Greec?, Cuba, Indian Territory, Nevada, Arkansas, Oklahama, Canada, If ova ScJtia, and New Brunswick, and South Australia. Bro. Peterkin, Aorangi Lodge, was presented with a Past Master's jewel on behalf of the lodge. A vote of thanks was passed to the Grand Lodge officers of Auckland for the way they had discharged their duties. Among the Grand Lod°e officers elected were :- Treasurer, Bro.° Goldfinch, Wellington ; registrar, Bro. Hauimerton, Wellington ; president of the board of general purposes, Bro. .Gillon, Wellington ; secretary, Rev. Bonaldson, Wellington; grand superintendents, Bro. Powley, Auckland, Bro. Beilbey, Hawke's Bay, Bio. Bischell, Westlaud, Bro. Kirby, Otago, Bro. Sawers, Southland, Bro. Thompson, Canterbury; president of the board of benevolence, Bro. Mclvenzie, Wellington; senior deacons, Bro. Hanna, Auckland, Bro. Thorne, Southland ; superintendent of works, Bro. Thomas, Auckland; director of ceremonies, Bro. Smith, Palmerstou North; organist, Bro. Robertson, Wellington.