MASONIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6758, 16 July 1883, Page 2 (Supplement)

MASONIC.

OPENING OF THE FIRST ROYAL ARCHCHAPTER UNDER THE ENGLISH CONSTITUTION.

Ox Thursday, June 23, a large number of Companions of the Order assembled at the Freemason's Hall, where the Chapterroom had been Bet out with regalia, newly arrived from England, The ceremony was commenced at eight o'clock, when the member of the Supreme Grand Chapter already referred to, the Most Excellent Companion, Rev. W. Tebbs, P.Z. of the Order, duly consecrated, dedicated, and constituted the newly formed Auckland Chapter attached to Lodge Prince of Wales, No. 133S on the books of the Grand Lodge of England. After performing the exceedingly beautiful ritual, in which Companion Pooley presided at the organ, and a goodly number of Companions acted a3 a choir, Companion Wade officiating as acting-Scribe E., Companion Tebbs installed as First Principals of the Chapter—Companion Skinner as Z., Companion Rev. C. M. Nelson as H., and Companion Dr. Dawson as J. He afterwards inducted and invested them and tbe other officers as follows : —Companion Leers, as Scribe E. ; Companion J. Potter Clarke, as P.S. ; Companion Tebbs, as Treasurer; Companion Pooley, as Organist; Companion Tonge as Janitor ; the filling up of the other offices being held in abeyance in the meantime. Companion Tebbs acts, of course, as the first M.E.P.Z.

OPENING OF A ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER AT REMUERA.

On' Thursday, July 1?, there was a large and influential gathering of Royal Arch Masons assembled at the Masonic Hall to take part .in. the inauguration of the " Remuera" Chapter. At eight o'clock the principals of the Auckland Chapter M.E. Companions Skinner and Nelson (M.E. Companion Moss Levy taking the place of M.E. Companion i)r. Dawson, unavoidably absent) opened a Chapter of Royal Arch Masonry. The procession then entered the Chapter, which was subsequently duly consecrated, dedicated, and constituted ,by the Most Excellent Companion Rev. Win. Tebbs, P.Z., who, as a member of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England, actcd as its deputy on the occasion. The exceedingly beautiful ritual included some well-executed muaic, of the execution of which Companion Pooley had the conducting, and a well conceived and planned oration by M.E. Companion the Rev. C. M. Nelson, who officiated as Acting-Chaplain. The duties of Director of Ceremonies were admirably performed by M.E. Companion Wade, the Acting-Scribe E. The Chapter having been duly formed, the Principals were inducted and invested as follow M.E. Companion Lodder, as M.E.Z. \ M.E. Companion Captain Wildman (as deputy of Companion Moat), as H.; and M.E. Companion Cooper, as J. The Chapter next elected Companion Tebbs to be the first M.E.P.Z.; a motion also being tabulated to confer upon him the honorary membership of the Chapter. The other officers having been elected and nominated respectively, were then duly inducted and invested Companion Wade, Scribe E.; Companion Kitt, Scribe N.; Companion Laßoche, P.S. Companion i Wade, Treasurer; Companion Pooley

(acting), Organist; and Companion Tonge (acting), _ Janitor. There were fifteen nominations for joining, on exaltation. A vots of thanks was passed to Mra. Tebbs for the present of a veil embroidered in gold upon white satin: also, a vote to those who had come out to assist in the ceremony. After tbe Chapter had been closed, the Companions sat down to an excellent supper, when, after the usual interrogatories, the fol- | lowing toasts were enthusiastically drunk :— T.T.G.M., "The Queen and the Royal Craft," "The MostExcellenttheGrandPrincipal (H.R.H. the Prince of Wales), and tbe other Grand Principals (Earl Lathom and Lord de Tabley)of the "Supreme Grand Chapter of England," given by M.E.Z., and responded to by the Deputy (Companion lebbs); "The three Principals of Reinuera Chapter" (by Companion Nelson), and duly responded to ; " The P.S., and other Officers of the Chapter," duly responded to; "M.E., Companion Tebb3, the Consecrating and Installing Officer," by Companion Wildman; ! " Sister Constitutions and Chapters" (responded to by M.E., Companion Levy) ; " M.E. Companion Wadej" by the First Principal. "The Janitor's Toast" brought to a close a most enjoyable evening.

The annual election of officers of the Eden Masonic Lodge, No. 1530, H.C., took place at the monthly meeting held on the 26th June, at the Masonic Hall, Newton, and resulted as followsßrother T. W. Kitt, W.M. (re-elected); T. Jones, Treasurer, and W. Johnston, Tyler. Auditors were also appointed by the lodge. The annual meeting of Lodge Coromandel 456, 1.C., for the installation cf officers Was held on June 25. Brother Nazer, the J.P.M., installed his successor, Brother A. Bang, P. M. The W.M. then proceeded to invest his officers as follows Brothers S. Inder, S. W.; Archibald Kelso, J. W.; Chas. Grant, Treasurer; J. D. Colebrook. Secretary ; Lewis W. Edwards, S.D. ; Samuel Merrick, J.D.; Edward C. Randle, 1.G.; Chas. Coghlan, Tyler. Several visiting brethren were present from Auckland, I among them Brothers P.M.'s Brassey and Young, wbo assisted and supported the Installing Master daring the ceremony. The business being ended, the lodge was closed in due form, and the brethren proceeded to Mr. Boyd's dining-room where a most sumptuous banquet was laid out. Brother King occupird the chair, supported on his left by Brothers Nazer and Yonng, and on his right by Brothers Gatland and Brassey, P.M.'s.. Brother Inder, S.W., occupying the vice chair. A number of toasts were proposed and drunk, and a most enjoyable evening spent.

The installation of officers of the Lodge United Service. 421, 1.C., took place on the 27th Jnne, and the ceremonies attending it, as well as the after celebrations, were of the most successful character. There was a good attendance at the lodge, the D G. Lodge attending as a body, under the D. D. G. M , Brother Lodder. The P. G. Lodge, IC., was aiso represented, although the the K.Vt'.G.M.had tosendaletterof apology. The proceedings were of the most harmonous kind. Brother P.M. Suiter officiated as installing master, assisted by Brother Rees, and the following officers were installed :—J. Seabrook, W.M. ; J. Rule, 1.P.M.; W. G. Allen, S.W.; R. Flatt, J.W.; F. Roycroffc, treasurer; W. J. Meiton, secretary; J. Goodacre, chaplain ;E. Pollard, S.D.; "W. Craig, J.D.; T. \Y. Allen, I.G. ; Tonge, tyler; W.J. Suiter, lecturer; Harling and Middleton, stewards. —An apology was received from Mr. Pierce, D.G.M., and from other brethren.—After the proceedings a very handsome presentation was made to Brother Suiter by Brother P.M. Rees (acting for the P.G.M. Brother Pierce). The jewel was manufactured by Mr. Payne. It is a Past Master's jewel, in gold, and the obverse side of the square bears the inscription : "Presented to P.M. Brother W. J. Suiter by Lodge United Service 421, 1.C., June 27, 5553." Brother Rees, in making the presentation, referred to Brother Suiter's career as a Mason and master of a lodge in terms of the highest commendation.—Brother Suiter replied in an able address.— The -lodge struck out a new line in having a ball to celebrate their 1 inauguration, instead of the formal banquet, and the result was in favonr of the change. The installation of officers of Lodge Beta, Hamilton, took place on June 23 as follows : —YY.&I., Brother W. Murray; S. W., Brother McLernoE; J.W. Brother G. Edgecumbe ; Secretary and Treasurer, Brother S. E. G. Smith ; Chaplain, Brother Rev. R. O'C Biggs; S.D., Brother Carson ; J.D., Brother Coates; 1.G., Brother Dey; 0.G., Brother Pascoe ; Brother P.M. Johnson, assisted by Brothers CummiDgs, P.M., and Gaudin, P.M., acted as installing officer. A number of visitors, several of whom came from Cambridge, were present. After the ceremony, the brethren partook of refreshments provided in the anteroom by the newly installed officers.

The installation of officers of Lodge Ara, 348, 1.C., for the ensuing year, took place at the Masonic Hali, Princes-street, on July 2, and, as might have been expected, the attendance was large and influential. The Irish Grand Lodge, Brother Pierce and his officers attended as a body; so also did theD.G. Lodge (E.C.), with Brother D.D.G.M. and his officers ; and theS.C. was represented by Brother S. Slator, R. VV.M. St. Andrew's, and Brother Kllison, P.M., both officers of the Grand Lodge. It is nnncessary to refer to the ceremony. The installing officer was Brother A. Wright, an accomplished Mason, who gave due effect to the telling text of the ritual. In due course the following officers were installed:—Brothers C. S. Western, W.M.; G. H. Powlev, S.W.; J. R. HaDna, J.W.; Rev. Dr. Kidd, Chaplain; W.L.Mitchell, Treasurer ; A. S. Russell, Secretary ; S. D. Hanna, S. D.; A. Kidd, J. D.: S. Vosper, 1.G.; W. H. Fenton and G. Smith, Stewards ;J. Tonge, Tyler. When the lodge was closed the brethren were invited to a banqust in the lower hall. It was prepared by Brother McEwen, in his usual style of excellence, and was fully enjoyed. The customary toasts were proposed and responded to. The proceedings were agreeably varied by songs by Brotheis Gordon Gooch, Captain Farquhar, Dr. Erson, Dr. Walker, Mr. Hescott, and others.