CONSECRATION OF THE CANTERBURY KLWINNING LODGE OF F. & A. MASONS, S. CONSTITUTION.

Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 3201, 3 December 1875, Page 3

CONSECRATION OF THE CANTERBURY KLWINNING LODGE OF F. & A. MASONS, S. CONSTITUTION.

For some time there has been a strong wish amongst Scottish Masons to work under the constitution of their native country, and i after many meetings-they resolved to apply : to the fiW, the Provincial Grand Lodge of New Zealand, S.C., for a dispensation enabling them to open and work. After ! making due investigation, and being satis- > fied of the earnestness and integrity of the i applicants, the B. W.P.G. of N.Z. granted I their petition, and last evening the ceremony i of consecrating the lodge and installing officers was performed. A very large [ number of members whose sympathies were with the applicants came from sister lodges r in Christchurch and the neighborhood to i be present at the ceremony; Thursday 1 night being chosen as offering them ' facilities for returning from Lyttelton : by the late train. The visiting brethren r were met on the platform by the brethren of s the Canterbury Kilwinning Lodge, and . escorted to the lodge room, at present held in i the Oddfellowa' Hall, Lyttelton being at • present without a masonic hall in proper T repair. The P. Deputy D.G.M.E.C. having been - deputed by the X, W.P.G. of N.Z.8.0. to con- . secrate the lodge and install the officers, and 3 being ably assisted by brethren chosen by i hisa, the proceedings were carried oat with s an flßOunt of eclat that lias seldom, if ever, s\ttvm exeesisi in Caateroerj.

Th? following brethren from Christcbureh officiated ;^BroXJ^l)^aLi^A^#sei^ Brq J. Bavlee, Depute If enter; Pro J. Booth, Substitute .Master; Bro 3. L. Fleming, S.W.; Bjrd Thee.' BtaJ>leton,;Jjy.}.Bro. Wra-Clifford, secretary; Bro Oeo: Tomta,' aD.; Bro J. O. eWalson, J.D.V Bro L. A. Elerig, D.C.; Bro J. J. Milner, organist f Bro E. Webster, 1.G.; BroThos. Bh«iler, "Choir-nßrp.A' c - BeU, Bro B.B.W*lctjt, Broß Bro C. J. Hodge. "'.- ' , : The lodge was opened in due form, the chaplain offering prayer. Musical honours—Bo mosV I* be. ■ ■ Grand honor*. Psalm cxzxiii. was then sucgfc -I. Behold, how good and hwtpleasaat it is for brethren to dwell together in unity, 2. It is like the preciooa olnteent upon the; head that ran down upon X&e beard, even Aaron's beard ; that went down to the. skirts of Iris garments. if/H 3. Aβ the dew of ffermoo, and M the dew that descended upon the mountains off Zion, for there tbe Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. . - v ,-.,■.. CFr&nd honors. ', ; i i Bro-F. Benftoul delivered as oration ottlhe and Objects of M»eoa»y." HI; } -• I ■ AjrrKKM. -. ; ' : The gdorioOT majesty of the Lerd our God Bβ- upon us. Prosper thou the work of ou? handi upon us, O prosper thoa our handy iwoifc. So* mote is to. ] The Secretary read the Dispectflßtion and Commission to constitute. The Sabetitute sfsster presented jewels, collars, Ac, to the installing ©fficer. . . . The Depute Master presented W.tS. Blect Bro Afcx, Taylor. :' The W.M. Elect presented his oflfceiw. The Seesetary read neiawtes of prelisinary meetings. . ' The following Psalm was then chantedt—O come, let us- sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the roeft of our salvation. Let us come- before Hie presence with thaalsgiving ? and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For, the lord is a great CFedand a great Sing above all goda In Bis hand are the deep places ef the earth; the strength of the hills is Hi»alea. The sea is His and Hβ made it; and Bis hande formed the dry land. O come,, let ua worship and bow down ; let ue kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He- ie our €kxi ; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Glory be to God on high. Aβ it was in the beginning ie now and ever shall be,' yrorld without end. So mote it be. The Chaplain then offered prayer (§rst part of dedication), all the brethren kneeling. Musical response—As it was in the beginning, &c. Somofcefitbe. Holy ! Holy f Holy t Lord God Almighty. Heaven land: earth are full of. the Majesty of Thy Glory. Glory be to Thee O Lord. Glory be to Thee O Lord Most Holy, Lord God Almighty. „. The officers then formed procession:— solemn music—first time round. The Substitute Master scattered corn, and dedicated the Lodge to Masonry. ODE. Hail t Masonry divine 1 Glory of ages shine, Long may'st thou reign. Where'er thy Lodges stand, May they have great command, And always grace the land ; Thou art divine! Great fabric 1 still arise And grace the azure ekies Great are thy schemee 1 Thy noble orders are Matchless beyond compare, No art with thee can share : Thou art divine! Hiram, the architect, Did all the craft direct, How they should build ; Solomon, great Israel's king, Did mighty blessings bring, And left ua cause to sing, Hail! BojalArt! i Grand honors. Second procession—The Senior Warden I poured out wine. ! DEDICATION TO YIETUB. Come holy virtue, by whose aid In heavenward steps we long to tread, i Bring Love, bring truth, bring Friendship I here, I Bring Peace and Unity sincere. Grand honors. Third procession — The Junior Warden poured out oil. DEDICATION TO UNIVERSAL BENEVOLENCE. Come Charity with goodness crowned, Encircle in thy heavenly robe, Diffuse thy blessings all around, To every corner of the globe. Grand honors. The Installing Officer took the censer once round and censed the Lodge. The Chaplain offered, dedication prayer. (Second portion.) Musical reponse—Ae it was, &c. So mote it be. Grand honors. Solemn music, during which the brethren marched round the Lodge and did homage to the Installing Officer. The Director of Ceremonies proclaimed the Lodge, Musical response—So mote it be. The Chaplain read 2nd- Chronicles, chap, vi, v 12, U, 17 to 21, 33 middle, 11 ; chap, vii, v 1, 3, 12,18. ANTHEM. To Heaven's High Architect all praise, all gratitude be given : who deigns the human soul to raise by mystic secret sprung from Heaven. Sound loud the great Jehovah's praise, to him the Dome, the Temple raise. Grand honors, t -, ..■■■ This concluded the ceremony of Consecration and Constitution. The following officers beiag elected were duly installed in' their respective chairs :— 8.W., Bro Alex. Taylor; S.W., Bro Milne ; J.W., Bro Hodge; 5.D.,. Bro W. Austin ; J.D., Bro J. Dunlop; J.G., Bro P. Lindsay ; 0.G., Bro Zealander; treasurer, Bro Duff; secretary, Bro J. P. Parker. Several candidates were initiated, and the lodge was then closed in the usual manner. Owing to the exertions of the choir, the musical portion of the ceremony was a great success, Bro Hobbs and his confreres evidently having taken great pains with the music. The brethren then adjourned to Brother Burnip's, Canterbury Hotel, where an excellent dinner was partaken of. The visitors from Christchurch proceeded to town by the 11.30 p.m. train.