MASONIC FESTIVITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 212, 6 September 1892, Page 2

MASONIC FESTIVITY.

LODGE ARA JUBILEE.

The celebration of the jubilee of Lodge Ara, 348, 1.C., last evening, was a brilliant nuccess. When the hall was lit up the beauty of the decbrationf to which we referred yesterday Was more fully apparent, and great praise was accorded those who had charge •of the arrangements. The brethren of Ara and a number of visitors met at 7 o'clock; when the Lodge was opened by the ..W.M., Brother Andrew Harms. All ordinary business was deferred until noxt meeting, in order to allow more time to enjoy tho festivibios. Bro. W, J. Rees, P.G.M., addressed a few congratulatory remarks to the brethren. Ho advocated tho formation of an endowmem to perpetuate the memory of tho jubilee of the Lodge. . It was agreed to vote the sum of £100 towards a Jubilea Commemoration Fund, reserving for future consideration the question as to whafc shape the endowment should take. The lodge was then closed, and the brethren retired to the lower hall, where dancing 3oon commenced, Bro. W. J. Keea officiating as Master of Ceremonies. Aboub 100 couplos were present, and dancing lasted until midnight, excellent music being supplied by Messrs Reid and Davis' band. At intervals songs were rendered by Bros. F. J. Whittaker, Davies, Colegrove, George, and Arnold. A Vocal trio was also given by Bros. Philpotb, Colegrove and George. For the nort-da'neers ample entertainment had boon provided in other rooms. Devotees to cartis were allowed a corner to themselves, while in the Lodge room Bro. Josiah Martin; P.M., was in attendance- with microscope, ready to furnish information to all wh'o chose to look closely into thingH. That mysterious . compound cheese was magnified to such a distressing extent that at the supper all who had examined its properties through the microscope, passed the delicacy whon offered. The circulation of blood in a frog and the flow of sap in plant lite were likewiso illustrated. In addition to theao objects of interest, thoro were numerous sets Of photographs, views and other attractions. The decorations of tho Lodge-room were very tasteful, flowers and pot plants adding greatly to the general good olFect. In" the supper - room downstairs, Mrs Tonge and" a staff of assistants were kept busy attending to tho comfort of the"guests. The arrangements throughout were eminently satisfactory, and it ia safe to state" that the jubilee of Lodge Aril, 348, 1.C., will long be remembered as otieof the most brilliant events of tho season.

It is'worthy of note—ass a singular coincidence — that though last night was the anniversary of the signing of the dispensation of Lodge Ara, it chanced to be the ordinary meeting night, tho document having been cignod on the sth of September, 1842. Tho firsh meeting of the Lodge was held in February, 184-3. Bro. Sir Frederick Whitaker officiated as presiding Mason on two occasions, and on the third Bfo. Such, the first master designate, was installed. The first meetings wero held in the Exchange Hotel, and subsequently the Lod^e met in.the old Masonic Hotel, adjoining tho present hull. When tho warrant was recoived from Home, Bro. Andrew Rooney was chos&n W.M. The eldest Past Master now living is Bro. Buchanan, of Parnell. Two other old Past Masters of this Lodge have also risen to positions of honour in one craft, one being Bro. W. J. Rees, P.G.M., 1.C., and the other Bro. A. S. Russell, late D.D.G.M. of the New Zealand Constitution, and at present W.M. ot Lodge Ara No. 1, N.Z.C.