Lodge Sir Walter Scott.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3100, 24 January 1879, Page 2

Lodge Sir Walter Scott.

INSTALLATION OF OFFICEES.

The annual installation of officers of Lodge Sir Walter Scott took place at the Freemasons' Hall last night, the installing officer being D.D.G.M. Bro. E. T. Wildman, P.M., E.C., and the 8.W.P.G.M., Bro. Whitaker, S.C., being present. Additional interest attended the proceedings from the fact of the Lodge of Light paying a fraternal visit to assist in the ceremonial, and to take part in the banquet which followed. The retiring Master, Bro. T.L. Murray.occupied the chair, and opened the lodge in due form at half.-past seven o'clock, when there were present besides those above mentioned Past Masters Robinson (Ara, Auckland), Black, Brodie, Bawden, Hopcraft, and Young ; officers and members Lodge of Light, and a good attendance of officers and members of Lodge Sir Walter Scott, and some visitors from Corinthian and other Lodges, the hall being well filled. The room was excellently laid off, the splendid furniture of the lodge being shown to great advantage. The B.W. Master, Bro. Murray, having handed over the lodge to the Installing Master, Bro. W. McCullough, Past Master of the Lodge and Master Elect; was presented, and the preliminaries having been got over, .a Board of Installed Masters was formed, all brethren below that degree retiring. On completion of this rite the brethren were once more admitted, when the newly installed master: was saluted according to ancient custom b/ the different degrees. The officers were then invested with their insignia of office in the following order:— D.M., Bro Dunlop; S.W., Bro G. MeVey; J.W., Bro Langford; S.D.; Bro Geo. Wilson; J.D., Bro Forgie j 1.G., Bro G. Kerr; Tyler, Bro T. Kawdon ; Treasurer, Bro J. H. Smith; Secretary,

Bro E. Burra; Bible Bearer, Bro P. Johnston©; Architect, Bro Bajldon; Organist, Bro S. C. Macky; Jeweller, Bro G. Price; Stewards, Brothers Symington (chief)) Johnston, John Comes, Rattray, C. Or. Brown- ■, In investing Bro. T. Eawdon, the Installing Master said he had the more pleasure in doing so as he was informed that it was the eighth year Bro. Kawdon had filled that office, which was a sufficient proof that he had fulfilled his duties to the satisfaction of the lodge. Bro, Wildman, Installing Master, delivered the ancient charges to the Master, officers and brethren in an impressive manner, and was attentively listened to. On reporting the completion of the installations, Bro. McCullough, E.W.M., said one of his duties was a most pleasing one. He had been entrusted with a Past Master's jewel for presentation to his predecessor, Bro. P.M. Murray, and he would request the R.W.P.G.M., Bro. F. Whitaker to make the presentation. The latter said he accepted the office wit!) pleasure. He had known Bro. Murray for a long time, and he was very pleased to find that after two years of office the brethren could give him such a distinguishing mark of their appreciation. He had pleasure in handing to P.M. Murray the very handsome Past Master's jewel. Bro. T. L. Murray briefly returned thanks, in the course of which he said' he. had always been loyally supported by the officers and members of the Lodge, and the handsome presentation made to him was as unexpected as it was'-undeserved. An apology was tendered from Bro. Climo,, W.M. Lodge of Light, unavoidably absent through sickness. The B.W.M. said on . occasions of that kind an address was looked for from the. chair, but owing to the lateness of the hour he was sure he would be pardoned for a departure from the usual custom. Totes of thanks were then passed to the E.W.P.G.M. for his visit, to Bro. E. T. Wildman, P.M., for his able services as Installing Master, and to. the choir for their services. The latter, tinder the leadership of Bro. Trewheela,, performed the following programme at appropriate inter* vals:—Opening,hymn, "Hail Eterna l;" Anthem, "Behold, how Good;" Hymn, " Father of Light; " Anthem, " Hail, Masonry;" Closing Hymn, " Now, the Evening Shadows;" and various marches during receptions and processions. The lodge was then closed in the usual manner and the brethren adjourned for

THE BANQUET, which took place in Gresham Hall, Bro. W. McCullough presiding, Bro. W. Finlay (S. W. Lodge of Light) and Bro. G. McVey (S.W. Lodge Sir Walter Scott), acting as Vice-Chairmen. Nearly 100 brethren sat down to an excellent supper provided by Bro. T. Bawdon., Supporting the chairman were the B.W.P.G.M. Bro. Whitaker; D.D.G.M., Bro. Wildman; and Bros. Black, Brodie, Bawden, Kobinson and Murray, P.M.'s. The Chairman called upon the brethren to drink "The Queen and Craft." Choir—" God Save the Queen." " The Three Grand Masters " was then proposed by the Chairman, who, in doing so, said,>they (Sir Walter Scott) had reason to be proud of Sir Michael Shaw Stewart as Grand Master, as their affairs were in a better state than ever before, while he believed the English masons were equally well pleased with their' Grand Master—the Prince of Wales—and the Irish with the Duke of Abercorn. 'ChoiiA**' G6dv. Bless the Prince of Wales." P.M. Bro. Bawden proposed the next toast —" The Provincial Grand Lodgeß," which, he said, were looked up to in the colonies as guides, and bodies to whom lodges could refer in place of the Grand Lodges. The Provincial Grand Lodges were now working well, since they had been under the guidance of certain distinguished brethren, two of whom were present. Song —Bro. Brown—"Three times three is the mystery," with chords; by 'choir. .:i •' '" ' ''■' '' ■ .•;"'"; .. y

The R.W-P.G.M., Bro. F. Whitaker, said it afforded him great satisfaction to be present that evening. In .returning thanks for the Grand Lodge of Scotland, he could scarcely say he wished a Grand Lodge for New Zealand, as he had seen great discord had arisen from an attempt in that direction in New South Wales. He thought it would be premature to set up for themselves either in politics or in freemasonry. Representatives of different constitutions could always meet as on that occasion, in perfect harmony, and he hoped such would always be the case. So far as he was concerned he would always hold out the right hand of fellow-; ship to other constitutions, and he believed they could all work harmoniously. D.D.G.M. Bro.E. T. Wildman, in returning thanks, said he entirely deprecated any movement for forming a Grand Lodge for Australasia. The present position of lodges encouraged emulation amongst the several constitutions, .and their positions would not be bettered by separation from the present constitutiong.

P.M. Bro. Robinson returned thanks for the Irish Constitution. He did not think the present meeting an auspicious time for discussing the question or propriety of a second grand lodge. :He differed from some remarks made,. and speaking from" a long experience, he could say that he hoped the time would come when all nationalities would be sunk under one constitution for the Colonies, as had been the case in Canada.

The 8.W.P.G.M., Bro. Whitaker, proposed the next toast, that of "The Newly Installed Officers," which he did with a great deal of pleasure. Bro. MeCullough had on one occasion recently in Wellington been of great assistance to him, when he performed the ceremony of installing his (the proposer's) Deputy. Knowing how he had performed that ceremony he was quite satisfied that he was competent, For the position he had been elected to, and the officers who had been installed with him, he. felt sure, being efficient Masons, would so fill their positions as to merit the approbation of the lodge when their term of office had expired. He called upon them to drink 11 The B.W. Master and Newly Installed Officers," with "three times three." : , Drunk with honors and "They are jolly good fellows/ Song by Bro. Steward. The toast was responded to by the E.W. Master for himself and, officers. The Chairman next proposed "" Bro. Wildman, Installing Officer." He said most of them had had the pleasure of hearing Bro. Wildman conduct Masonic ceremonies, which he had made a study for years.' • They* were^under obligations to him, and it was gratifying to have such an officer with them. His presence that night he took as a personal compliment,

as be had been present five years ago When he (the Chairman) had been first placed in the chair of Sir Walter Scott Lodge. Bro. Wildman's own lodge—the Corinthian—it was a pleasure to visit for its admirable working. Drunk with cheers and honors. Song—" Ye Gallants of England," Bro. S. Catran.

D.D.GLM. Bro. Wildman, in returning thanks, said he could only say he was always pleased to afford assistance to either of the sister lodges in the district. P.M. Bro. Murray proposed r'The W.M., officers and brethren of the Lodge of Light," to whom was due a large amount of the success of that night's proceedings. In doing so he expressed regret for the absence of Bro, Climo, W.M. of the Lodpe of Light, who took great interest in all Masonic proceedings, but who was prevented- from being present by severe indisposition. He would couple with it the name of Bro. P.M. Bawden. Drunk with Macduff honors. I Song—" Many Happy Returns of the Day "—Bro. T. Mills. Bro. P.M. Bawden returned thanks for the toast last proposed. He regretted the absence of W.M. Bro. Climo, as he (Bro. Bawden) was a poor substitute. He hoped the other lodges would be as successful as was the Lodge of Light at the present time, which was now in a very prosperous state, a great deal of which was; due to Bro. Climo, and in a secondary measure to the brethren. Bro. Climo had during his term of office been extremely impartial, and on thai depended; a great deal of the success of a lodge. Bro. P.M. Brodie proposed " The Corinthian Lodge." He believed it had a great future before it, and they were pleased to see the members of it present with them at any time, and they also had pleasure in visiting the Corinthian. Drunk with musical honors and cheers. Song—" My old friend John'^Bro. C. Brown. Bro. P.M. Wildman and Bro. J. piborne returned thanks for " The Corinthian." .-,-

Bro. Wildman, P.M.. proposed " The' health of the E.W.P.G.M., B*o. Whitaker ;" a toast that was scarcely of. the for? mal nature of some that had preceded it. Their guest held the highest rank amongst them as a Mason, besides which he was distinguished as a citizen, a statesman and a gentleman. He would not detain them, and it was not his speech they muit look to, but the witty and agreeable reply they would receive. He only sought to elicit a cordial response to the toast, which he considered the toait of the evening. Drunk with Macduff honors. Song—" A Father's Love "—Bro. Williams. Bro. P. Whitaker, E.W.P.G.M., (who was received with cheers) in reply, said he felt he-was placed in an awkward position by their being led to expect too' much—a funny speech. Besides, he was on his legs for the sixth or seventh time' that evening.. He might say it afforded him very great pleasure to be there that evening, and to have his health proposed and received as it had been. (The speaker then proceeded humorously to refer to various matters in a speech which was received in excellent part.) He hoped that he might be present on the next anniversary, and that if would be as pleasant as that one. (Cheers.) i Bro. Finlay, S.W. Lodge of Light, proposed " The Visitors," coupled with the name of Bro. Ehrenfried. Drunk with cheers. Bro. Ehrenfried returned thanks for the visitors. ' "Masons' Wives and Masons' Bairns," " Our Caterer-—Bro. Bawdbn and Mrs Eawdon" (drunk with cheers),'"Poor, and Distressed Masons air' over the World", were proposed, duly honored, and responded to, and " AuldLang Syne" brought the proceedings to a close. ■!