ORANGE LODGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1941, Page 7

ORANGE LODGE

ANNUAL MEETING OF DELEGATES A LOYAL RESOLUTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The annual meeting of delegates to the Grand Lodge of the Royal Orange Institution, which was opened in Wellington on Saturday, was concluded yesterday. The Grand Lodge passed a loyal resolution in the following terms:— “That at this critical time in our nation’s history, when our Empire is engaged in a life and death struggle for the permanent preservation of the liberty and freedom of all peoples, we, the Orangemen of New Zealand, in conference assembled, once again pledge our unswerving loyalty to His Majesty the. King and to our Empire, assuring His Majesty’s Ministers and advisers of our individual and collective support to any measures necessary to ensure that liberty and peace may be restored to individuals and nations, and the future of Christian civilisation assured.”

It was resolved that an emphatic protest be made against the method of raising funds for patriotic purposes by means of gambling and in other similar ways.

Considerable discussion took place regarding the grounds on which exemption from military service may be granted. The following resolution was adopted: “This grand lodge, recognising that the present crisis necessitates the utilisation of the full manpower of the country, considers that no exemption from military service should, be granted except on the following grounds: (a) medical unfitness; (b) employment in essential services; (c) opposition to combatant service based on religious convictions. (In this last case alternative national service should be required.”) The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: 1.P.G.M., M. W. Leaman; M.W.G.M., E. A. Benfell; D.G.M., the Rev. 11. Cottom; G. Chap., the Rev. R. D. McEwan; G.Sec.. J. W. Patton; G.Treas., T. Pagan; G. Exec. Comm., G. Agnew, J. E. Horrell, F. Tombs, and G. M. Galbraith; G.D.C., J. A. Wallis; G.S.D., W. A. Pope; G. J. B. Congreve; G.1.C.. G. Searle; assistant secretary and chairman, R.A.P.Comm., F. Tombs; G.Dir. of juveniles, J. Hollinger.

On behalf of L.O.L. No. 54, P.G.M. Bro. A. Greig presented the grand master with a Bible fashioned from polished coal. It was resolved that the grand lodge urge the Government to take steps to suppress those organisations whose influence and activities tend to spread disloyalty among the people of this Dominion, thus impairing the effectiveness of our war effort.

The newly-elected officers having been duly installed the lodge was closed.