MASONIC JUBILEE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11103, 23 October 1901, Page 10

MASONIC JUBILEE.

&X£B IXTJSRESTIXG OLD-TIME EPOCHS.

(B* G. X H.) In riew of the celebration to-ni?ht by Lodge Unanimity in Lyttelton of its jubilee, some reference to old-time epochs in thi history of Masonry in Canterbury will, no doubt, prove interesting. The ancient and lfcmourable institution of Free and Accepted Masonry early took root in the congenial soil of Canterbury. On 23rd October, 1851, less than a year after the arrival of the historical first four ships, Bro. A. J. Alport, P.M., and several other enthusiastic Masons, met together in the Canterbury Association's store'in Lyttelton to devise means for establishing a lodge under the Grand Lodge of England. They agreed to form a lodge to be called the Lodge of Unanimity, and to apply to the Pacific Lodge of Wellington for an interim dispensation. This was dene, and owing to the length of time required for communicating with England, the District Grand Lodge of Sydney, under whose Masonic jurisdiction the Pacific was, granted it the power, of issuing an interim dispensation empowering the brethren ao constituted to meet as Masons, but to do nothing beyond formal business. That is, they were not empowered to do any of the actual ■work of the craft, such as initiations, passings, or raisings, but co-old meet for fraternal and social intercourse. Under this dispensation the Lodge of Unanimity continued to work for some time succeeding the arrival of the first four chips, and these gatherings once a month of our ancient Sretb!ren were spoken of as being a most enjoyable relief in the hard work and d'ifficu.ties inseparable from life in a new colony. Amongst thewe who were frequent visitors at these meetings may be mentioned Bros. J. C. Watts-Russell, afterwards the first District Grand Master of Canterbury, AY. G. Brittan, Captain Simeon, and many others. Of course, so enthusiastic a little baud of brethren could not be content with the mere outward husk of Masonry any longer than was absolutely necessary, and application was *at once made for a wiirranfc constituting them into a ledge with full powers under the Grand Lodga of England. The request was granted in due course, and on May 26th, 1853, tlVe lodge was duly opened as the Lodge of Unanimity, No. 879, on the roll of the Grand Ledge of England, and Bro. A. J. Alport was appointed as the.*first Worshipful Master. As the number of brethren residing on the Plains began to increase tlie neuessity for a Masonic Lodge in Christehureh was felt, and preliminary meetings having bgen held at tile instance of Bros. Dr. Gundtry, Luck, Ma-rshma-n. WattaRussell, and others, it was decided to apply a warrant for a new lodge, to be called Saint Augustine. In dna course the warrant granted by th'a Grand Ledge of Englar.d was received from England, and oa the 19th October, 1853, t'he Saint Augustine' Lodge standing as Xo. 885 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of England was duly consecrated and opened in the Magistrate's Room in the I.and Office, which bui.ding stood on the site now occiipied by the City Council Chambers. Forty brethren were present. Bro. C. B. Fooks, P.M., acted as District G.M. ; Bro. A. J. Alport a3 G.D.S.W. ; Bro. Dr. Donald as G.D.J. W. ; and Bro. Pvev. R. B. Paul as D.G. Chaplain. Tba ceremony of consecration was conducted by the District Grand Chaplain, who also delivered an oration ' on th'e principles of the craft; the : Acting District Grand Master addressing I the brethren on the duties of a Mason generally. The installation of the Worshipful Master and the investiture of his officers was carried out impressively by the Acting District Grand Lodge officers, the following brethren being duly installed and invested as the first officers of the Saint Augustine Lodge:—W.iM., Bro. J. Seager Gundryj S.W., Bro. Isaac Luck; J.W., Bro. J. Marahman; treasurer, Bro. J. C. Watts-Russell; secretary, Bro. Captain Simeon; S.D., Bro. C. Davie; J.D., Bro. Joseph Beswick; Tyler, Bro. Fry. At th* banquet which followed Bro. Fooks mentioned that two. brethren hbd joined the lodge who had only a few hour* before landed from England. On October 18th j 1854, c-r just twelve months from the time of the opening of the Saint Augustine Lodge, the first stone of the new Masonic Hall for the lodge was laid with, the usual, -ceremonials by Bro. J. S. Gundry, the Worshipful -Master of the Ledge. The site of thte* new _U1 was in Hereford street, about where the Union Bank of- Australia, now stands. Prior to the ceremony the brethren marched to "St. Michael's Church, where a sermon was preached by the District Grand Chaplain, Bro. the Rev. Octfevrus Mathias, The text AVas—''H was glad when they said unto mc (we -will go into the House of, the Lord." On the 25th October, 1855, the foundation stone, of the new hall for the Lodge of Unanimity was laid in t Lyttelton. A procession was formed outside the tenfporisxy Lodge in Bro. Alport's store, and theirce proceeded to the church, headed by the Worshipful Haste* , of the Lodge, Bro. Dr. Donald. At tito cburoh the Distrkt Grand Chaplain, Bro. Rev. R. B. Paul, preached a sermon, and the stcaie was then mid with the usual formalities. A Bcroll was deposited in a boftle under the etone, bearing the. following inscription.:— "In the name of the Great Architect of tue Universe and und«r the auspices of the Unitad Grand Lodge of the Ancient Fraternity of -Free and Accepted Masons of England this first stone of the New , Zealand Lodvre of Unanimity, Nα 879, was , laid by Bro. Wm. Donald., W.M. of'the said Lodge, on 25th October, 1855.—A. J. Alport, LP.M.; A. A. 'Dobbs, S.W.; R. Wormald, J.W.; R. Taylor, S.D.; . W. Gee, J.D.; A, Silk, 1.G.; B. W. Mount- 1 fort, architect; J. x\ McCardell, hon. se- j oretary." Another noticeable event in Ma- i conic history took place on the 19th July, 1859. Overtures had been made from time to time by the Masons of Wellington is. the direction of requesting Canterbury and Nelson to join them in establishing a District Grand Lodgs. The Canterbury 2fiaeons, however, were of opinion that, it -would be better for them, if possible,; to obtain an independent District Gtfand Lodge. At this time there were only two Lodges in the aa<b ifyras .necessary that a third should exist in order to apply for a warrant. Hence some delay occurred. The growth, of tSe population ; round about Kaiapoi solved the difficulty, and ah application was arranged to be sent . in due form for a wah'-int for a third Lodge, to bo located in Kaiapoi, and to hz called "The Southern Cross." Bro. Captain Simeon, who had bsen acting as Resident. Magistrate, was on the eve of taking hie departure for England, and to him thi) Canterbury brethren entrusted the dual fcwfc of presenting their request for the warrant to be granted for the new Lodge, at Kaiapoi and the constitution and erect ion of the District. Grand Lodge of Canterbury. That brother performed his task most expertly, and Rave tie Grand Lodge of England a glowing descripticwi of the enthusiasm of the brethren under the Southern Cross. Both, applicartione were cheerfully granted, and an the 6th. June, 1859, the necessary ■wamrata for opening tha Southern Gross Lodge and the constitution of the District Grand Lodge of Canterbury -ere received. Hβ first brother to occupy the distinguished office o£ District Grand Master of Canterbury was Bro. the H-tfi. J. C. Wafcts-Russell, the founder of Ham, and a tana type alike of fat English rentlem an and a sterling colonist. The date fixed ior the opening of tne District Grand Lodge and the installation a_d inreititure of officers -was the 19th July. Ore week prior to ti_t — viz., on the 12th oulv—the Southern,drose was. duly opened, a number of brethren from. Chrrstchureh. nnd Lyttelton taking part m the ceremony. Tin opening of the District Grand Lodge took place 1* was right <*nd proper under the banner of-<*e-nether of th* Lodge, of Unawmrty-r-m Xytt*ta-, and Mm bre&xuk mustered m greut force. The officer* appointed' were a* «H« D.D.G.M, Bro. CUB. Foobr I>.G.R.W. V Bro. A. J. Alport, P.M., >> r t w Dm W Doaale, P.M.; IM». ctonUin!-'B?o?'lUr. OcW" ***"'

D.G. treasurer, Bro. W. Q. Britt&n; D.O. seoretarr, Bro. C. E. JFooks; D.0.5.D., - Bro. C.W. Bishop; D.G.J.D., Brn. Bran- ' don; D.G. organist, Bro. Wvlde. The . brethren -..attended Divine seamee prior to ; the ceremony, when a sermon ~as preached by the District Grand Chaplain, from the , appropriate — ordss, "Glory to God in the ' j highest." At this important juncture in ' i the _fairs of the craft" what cooki have ■ I been more appropriate than the jubilant . I expression, "lilona in Excelsis Deo." A collection in aid of the Church Building Fund resulted in the sum of £16 being contributed. The points which have been referred to may be regarded as amongst the earliest landmarks of the craft here, and come appropriately on such an interesting occasion as that of this evening.