MASONIC CELEBRATION.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 742, 20 March 1877, Page 3

MASONIC CELEBRATION.

At; the conclusion of the business of its ordinary monthly meeting last; evenings the ; New Zealand Pacific' Lodge, 517 iE-a/ held a todgeiof /Sprro.w m memory of the late Sir •Donald McLean, R.W.D.G-.M. of the North Island, The observances ; of; the occasion were oif the most solemn and impressive character. The walls of the lodge were draped with crape/ and: the emblems of, /mortality r were so disposed as to ; .iWroindj the ; brethren of the end: common to all, and;which hadir'embved from amongst them so worthy a ! brpther. ' The sublime larigusige ; 'of; the ceremony was delivered^ jby. : f the..W.M., Brp, . Marchant, ,. and. the; Chaplain, Bro. thellev Mr Nichollsj' th'e, musical .portion of the service, being juncler' the direction of Bro Raymond. ;'■' The deposit of the ; wreaths and the procession form being 'ended, Bro. the Hon Robt. i Hart delivered a eulbgium, during which he stated that he had known, the departed brother .f or twenty-five years, and therefore knew well the worth of the man and the value of bis rfriendship. The faot ,that Sir Donald McLean was, a relation of his own, that they had been close friends for so many years, that he knew hini to be a man who could be loved and trusted, made him least fitted to speak to his memory upon such an occasion, but as he had been asked at a moment's notice to say a few words as to the life and carser of the brother who had passed from amongst; them, he could hot refuse* though he could not fail /to share a large part of the sorrow they were met. to ;express. If ever there was a man m New Zealand who disregarded; his own personal interest, if ever, there was a man who observed the stricjb course of duty regardless of fame or the hope of fame, if ever there was a man who worked honestly for the good of his country, caring nothing for his own external advantages, that man was Sir Donald McLean. ' For the last seven years he ' Worked two days m every one— -he, knew : not what, it was to spare himself— and any man who did that, doing it, as Sir Donald McLean did, from a * , conscientious sense of duty to his country, must m the end sacrifice his health and his life. For where was there a more vigorous, a more healthy, a more muscular man than the late Sir Donald McLean ? Yet he, with all his strength, was brought by incessant labor and close application to an end which otherwise might have been afar ; off. Thus had be s er ved his country for seven years when he might have, lived m case and retirement. Knowing what work and anxiety were,: he was a man : who never undervalued the services of others, and not un-, frequently he gave credit to those about him which of right belonged to himself. In some- degree his services to the country had been generously recognised, but the value of his labors would not and could not be fully known for many years to come. Even when prostrated by • Weakness he still labored on m the hope that he might advance the interest of the country with which his name had become|so prominently identified— that.' country' for which he had labored so long, so" devotedly and with so much success. His death was not alone a source of sorrow to his triendg. He was respected and honored by all with whom he' had been brought into contact, and his removal would indeed be difficult to fill. A- prayer expressly composed for such occasions was read by the Chaplain, and the proceedings concluded. A large number of visiting brethren were present, and the proceedings closed at 10.30 p.m.