THE ORANGE ORDER

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 89, 15 April 1922, Page 5

THE ORANGE ORDER

GRAND LODGE SESSIONS. OPENED IN AUCKLAND. Members of the Loyal Orange Institution and of tbe Royal Black Preceptory of the Knights of Ireland have been gathering together in Auckland from all parts of the Dominion during the past few days for the annual sessions of tbe two organisations. The Provincial Grand Black Chapter met yesterday at St. And-rew's Hall and sat throughout the day under the presidency of the Right Worshipful tbe Grand Master, the Rev. G. Rnowles Smith, a full delegation from the several procptoreies being in attendance, together with a number of visitors from the Auckland and other preceptories. the Auckland brethren hospitably entertaining the delegates at morning and afternoon tea and doing their best to make the stay of the visitors both pleasant and profitable. The Chapter was tiled at 0.30 a.m. and opened with tbe usual devotional exercises, after which formal business was disposed of and the report? presented. GRANDMASTER'S ADDRESS. j The Grand Master in an interesting resume of the year's proceedings referred to the trouble "in Ireland. The year, he said, had been a memorable one for thenIrish comrades, insomuch as the British Government had made some very definite and concrete proposals with a view to settling the age-long unrest in that, unhappy country. As was to be expected their Ulster fellow-Protestants had faced the charge with a true spirit and earnest desire to eo-opeTate in al measures tending to peace and the prosperity of their land, but the South refused the proffered independence, which did not include tbe

slavery of Ulster. The time had come when "the British Government should stand by tho loyalists and true Empire citizens and treat the residue as they say they wish to be treated —that is as a foreign foe. So far as the Sir Knights of Ireland were concerned the utmost would be done and given for their brethren across the pea. Let them make known their need and New Zealand Sir Knights would prove to the full the real bond of brotherhood. Referring- to the critical times before the brethren, the Grand Master expressed the belief that "throusrli the bravery and wisdom of the Sir Kn'ghts the cause of Protestantism will be carried forward to a complete victory against disintegrating forces." Tho near approach of the election of the Parliament of this Dominion rendered it imperative that some organised plan should lie prepared. • The reports were received and referred to the cxeontive. It was decided to make overtures to other Protestant associations with a view to securing united action at the polls. ELECTION" OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follows: — Provincial Orand Master. George Taylor. -T.P. (Auckland): Provincial DeputyUaster, W. Glibbery: P.C. Chaplain, iev. R. J. Liddell: Hon. Graml Chaplains, Rev. Canon Eccles, .1. fl. Gumming. jT. A. Pybus nnd Howard Elliott; P. 0. Registrar. W. Taylor (Dunedin): ! }>putv Grand Registrar. J. C. Findlnter | (Auckland): P.O. Treasurer, J. Rj Dickson (Dunedin): Deputy Grand ' froasurer, D. Steptoe (Wellington): P. IG. Lecturers, J. M. D. White. (Wellington). C. Galbraith (Auckland) ; licensors, W. Pit tarn (Auckland), N. ! Agnew (Invercargill) : Standard Hearers, iM. Upton (Petone). S. D. Kade (Auckland): G. Pursuivant. S. C Stuhbcrtield ' iChristchurch) :(! ln<ixrtor of Work--1 ings, A. Noble, P.P.G.M.: 0. Committee, .J. McLean (Timaru), H. Smithers (Feilding). S. C. Hewitt (Rangiora), A. K. Bennett. (Wellington I. P. Cobb (Palmerston North). E. A. Ross (Christchurch), M. Leaman Wellington). The

Chapter closed with the usual votes of thanks and the National Anthem. GRAND LODGE SESSIONS. The annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of the L.0.1. of New Zealand opened in | St. Andrew's Hall this morning, the R.W. | Grand Master (Bro. the Rev. G. KnowlesSmith) presiding. The lodge was opened with the usual devotional exercises in the I OTange degree and then raised to the ! R.A.P. degree, in which the proceedings I were conducted for tho remainder of the session. Two. hundred delegates were in attendance. GRAND MASTER' TO REPORT. In his report the Grand Master made j further reference to Irish affairs. He j went on to say that so far as the Orange I Institution in this Dominion is eon- \ corned they had every reason to be grateful for the evident signs of awakening ■to the claims of Protestantism which were being manifested throughout the . length and breadth of the land. Considerable advance had been made by the ' opening of new lodges and the influx of ' members into existing lodgott. He was particularly pleased to note that the ] number of ladies' lodges is increasing I very rapidly. There was a growing demand for juvenile lodges, an increase of lodge libraries and an evident desire to accumulate information by the purchase of Protestant literature. Reference was also made in the report to the absence of the Rev. Howard Elliott from

the session owing to his serious illness, and the hope was expressed that he would be restored to take his place once more as a leader beloved in his great work. GRAND SECRETARY'S REPORT. The Grand Secretary reported that during the fourteen years since the formation of'the Grand Lodge much progress had been made in raising the Order to a greater state of efficiency and mak. ing its mission more clearly understood and appreciated. Since last annual meeting twelve new warrants had been issued and one re-issued, making ten male and three female lodges to the register, and three applications for female warrants had still to be dealt with. Tiie reports received from lodge.' | were very encouraging, and indicated all-round progress. j The Grand Treasurer's report showec the finances to be in a satisfactory posi tion, and the prospects for the coming year are all that could be desired. (Proceeding.)