MASONIC INSTALLATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 149, 25 June 1889, Page 5

MASONIC INSTALLATION.

ARA LODGE, 348, I.C.

TnE ceremony of installing the officers for the ensuing year at the Ara Lodge of Freemasons took place lasb night, St. John's Day having been chosen for the occasion. There was a large gathering of distinguished brethren, there being 139 in bho Lodge, and of these 49 had passed through, the Master's Chair. The three Coiistitubions working ab presenb in New Zealand were well represenbed.

The ceremony of insballation was impressively performed with full musical accompaniment, Bro. J. R. Hanna officiating as insballing masber. Bros. A. Kidd and i W. Parkinson officiabed as presenting officers, and Bro. D. F. Evans delivered the customary address. The following were invesbed wibh the insignia of office:—W.M., Bro. S. D. Hanna; S.W., Brother G. Robson; J.W., Brobher W. M. Chapman ; Chaplain, Brobher Rev. : Dr. Kidd, P.M. ; Treasurer, Brobher A. S. • Russell, P.M. ; Secrebary, Brother G. H.! Powley, P.M. ; D.C., Brother J. R. Hanna,! P.M.; S.D., Brother J. Boskill ; J.D.,1 Brother E. Butler ; Organist, Brother A. I Hanna ; 1.G., Brother H. B. Dexter jSS.,I Brother W. H. Mahony ; J.S., Brobher D. '; Roberbson ; Tyler, Brobher E. Tonga.' Tha charge bo the Wardens wa3 delivered by Brother George Powley, P.M, Congratulations were given by visitors presenb, afber which bhe W.M. called upon bhe P.G.M.of bhe LC. to presenb Bro. D. F. Evans wibh a Masonic jewel. This was a Pasb Master's jewel of elegant design. Oa bhe bop are bwo clasps of solid gold bearing bhe raised lebbers of Ara Lodge, 348, I.C. Beneath, on a ribbon, is a beautiful gold, shamrock, and the whole inscription reads, " Presented to Bro. D. F. Evans by tha officers and brethren of Lodge Ara, 348, LC, June, 1889."—Bro. Evans suitably responded. The Lodge was then called off, and the W.M. invited those present to a banquet in the lower hall. Covers were laid for about 130 guests, the arrangments being satisfactorily carried out by Bro. G. Robson. The W.M. was supported on the right by Bro. Pierce and Bro. Lodder, and on tha left by Bro. Niccol. Loyal and obher toasts, customary on such occasions, wera honoured, and. the toast of *' Tha R.W.P.G.M., I.C. (Bro. G. P. Pierce), the R.W.D.G.M., E.C. (Bro! G. S. Graham), and the R.W.P.G.M., S.C. (Bro. Sir F. Whitaker)," was nexb proposed by Bro. A. Kidd, P.M. He mentioned thab each of

bhe three Grand Masters had been members of tbe Lodge Ara, the latber having been one of its first Masters, and having in-, itiated the first Mason in Auckland. BroJ Pierce joined in 1868, and Bro. Graham in 1871. This toasb was drunk wibh McDuff

honours, led by Bro. Powley. Bro. W. ■ Mahony then recited " Shamus O'Brien " in excellent style. Bro. Pierce responded, and referred to the movement! for the establishment of a United Grand Lodge for New Zealand. The movements; was strong in the South, and would pro-, bably take effect. He thought it was, how-! ever, twenty-five years too soon. The timewas inopportune, as they had not sufficient population. He had still a lingering feel- j ing that they could not be better governed \ in New Zealand than from the Old Country. I —Bro. Lodder responded on behalf of Bro.: Graham, and Bro. E. W. Page, W.M. j Lodge St. Andrew, on behalf of Sir F. Whitaker. Bro. J. S. Hanna sang " Lamplighter Dick," after which Bro. Powley. proposed the toast of the evening—"The; W.M. of Lodge Ara." He mentioned; thab the present was the fiftieth.installation, a thing which no other; lodge in New Zealand could boast of.—> Bro. Powley then gave an interesting' resume of the pasb proceedings of Lodgai; Ara since ibs commencemenb in 1843. He said that although ib was tbe 50th installation, bhe jubilee of bhe Lodere would nob bake place unbil 1893. The W.M. briefly replied, and "Join All in Harmony" was sung. The obher toasts were :— " The Installing Master," proposed by Bro. Page, and responded to by Bro. J. R. Hanna, and " Our Visiting Brethren." proposed by Bro. W. M. Chapman, J.W., and responded to by visitors presenb. "The P.M.'s and Officers of Lodge Ara" and . " The Tyler's Toasb" were also drunk, and i several songs were given before the brethren 1 separabed. ______„___,„_„,