GRAND LODGE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18552, 30 November 1925, Page 8

GRAND LODGE.

NEW MASTER INSTALLED. SIR CHARLES FERGUSSON'S EXHORTATION. (special to "the raiss.") DUNEDIN, November 38. The installation of Sir Charles Fcrgusson as Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand took place in tho Exhibition buildings this, evening. There was a very large attendance, though the unavoidable postponement of tho ceremony had meant that a considerable number of visitors from distant places were unable to remain. Mr J. J. Dougall, of Christchurch, Past Grand Master, acted as. installing Grand Master.

The Grand Master announced his appointment under his prerogative powers of Mr George Russell, of Wellington, as Deputy Grand Master, and of Provincial Grand Masters, as follows: — Wellington, Mr H. G. Teagje; Otago, Mr W. Lishner; Southland, Mr E. C. Smith; Ruapehu, Mr A. J. Graham; Hawke's Bay, Mr C. H. Critchloy; West Coast. Mr K Daore Dunn; Nelson and Marlborough, Mr A. G. Shrimpton: Taranaki, Mr G. W. Rogers. Canterbury has the Provincial G.M. of its own Provincial Grand Lodce, while tho Auckland district is in charge of Provincial Grand Master, iMr Oliver Nicholson. Other appointments were: Senior Grand Warden, Mr A. H. Hobbs, Christchurch; Junior Grand Warden, Mr A. F. Cheyne, Otasro. Grand Master's Address. i His Excellency, in his address to Grand Lodge, said he had not sought the position of Grand Master, nor did he accept it lightly. It was only the representation made to him that his assumption of the office would bo acceptable to the brethren generally and ! that he would be nMo to render useful service to the craft that he had overcome his scruples as to his quahfica- ; tions and caused him to place himself j unreservedly in his brethren's hands. After sympathetic references to the deaths of Queen Alexandra and of Messrs Massey and Nicoll and other hich dignitaries of the craft in New Zealand, the Grand Master strongly commended to lodges the necessity for placing the Widows' and Orphans' and ! Aeed Masons' Fund upon a sounder looting by providing for regular and ivstematic contributions. Loyalty and Service. "The occasion of the annual communication," proceeded His Excellency, "is a landmark in our Masonic life, at time when we should, as it were, take stock of our condition and formulate •plans and resolutions for the future. I .suggest that the need of tho world todav can be summed up in one word—loyalty. It is the particular pride and, boast of Freemasons that they are, above all things, loyal, but my reading of the meaning of the word is that lovaity is something far higher than a passive acquiescence in law and order, something more than acknowledging allegiance to the supremo power set over us. There must be service, for that is the only form of loyalty which is sincere and genuine and practicalIn the world to-day we see two distinct Jeaturcs. On the one hand there is at distinct striving among men and women to give service to their fellow creatures and a general awakening to the rosponsibilities of social service. On the other hand, in some parts of the world, sedition has reared its head. The common eood is forgotten and only selfish interests are considered. Sedition is the negation of service whether it be aimed directly against King and Constitution or generally against the interests of the country and the well-being of our fellow men; Masonic Mission. "It is now when we are at the parting of the ways that itXehoves all the Freemasons to throw their whole weight and influence into the scale. We have , a clear and distinct mission. Loyalty is and has always been our watch word. Let us bliow it by service. How can wo do it? Not, I think, by any general action as a body in public. Freemasonry, as I understand, it, aims at moulding the lives'and characters of | the brethren in such'a way that indi•riduals are brought to Recognise and live up to their responsibilities. It is for individuals to put into practice the ideals which they learn in the lodge, and we must leave to each one to do his duty as he has vision and. opportunity.

Guiding the Young. "The great need of the present day is to bring influence to bear upon the youtuc people on whom the future of our race depends. The late war made a big gap in our population. Tho steadying influence of too million young men who gave their lives' and who srould now have been the flower of our manhood has been lost. On us older ones has fallen the task of shielding tho young people from evil influences and of guiding them in the right path: Here is a great mission for the individual Freemason. By personal example, bv active and generous support of all movements which have for their object the training of youth in Christian principles and duties of citeenship we cam each do much to help, and wo may be sure that in so doing we shall be living up to the highest ideals of our craft. My call, then, to the brethren for the coming year is loyalty, not only its profession but its practice, loyalty to the craft, loyalty to our fellow men, to our King and country, loyalty given by a generous and ungrudging service as each has the opportunity."