KING EDWARD'S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 815, 12 May 1910, Page 6

KING EDWARD'S DEATH

NEW ZEALAND S SYMPATHY.

MASONIC MESSAGE TO THE QUEEN MOTHER..

COMMUNICATION FROM THE

GOVERNOR.

Freemasons of New Zealand, at the Communication of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand held at the Town Hall, Wellington, yesterday, expressed their sorrow for the death of the late King.

The Prov.-G.M. Most Worshipful Bro. .Nicholson, immediately after the ceremonial opening, said:—"Brethren, before proceeding with the ordinary business of this Communication, I desire to make Borne reference to the great loss which we havo sustained through tho death of our illustrious brother and august and beloved sovereign, King Edward VII. The suddenness of the news of His Majesty's death came as a great shock to the civilised world, and left the British ■Empire, whose destiny he so ably watch- : ed and directed, and over which ho so beneficently ruled, stunned and depressed' under a sense of the magnitude of tho loss it has sustained. As Freemasons,' his death directly affects us,' for at the ■ time of his decease, he occupied the position of Patron of our Grand Lodge, and held the title of Protector of Freelnasonry. I would remind you of the statement made by him on his accession .to the Throne, when resigning the position of Grand Master of English Freemasons, and assuming the title of Protector of Freemasonry, that he would not cease to take the same deep interest which he had always felt in, Freemasonry." His subsequent actions fully exemplified how well and truly he carTied this into effect. Tho craft'throughout the world has benefited to a great extent through the late King's attachment to it and its principles and teachings. His potent influence was always exerted iu the promotion and conservation of everything which pertained \to the welfare and happiness of his people. Ho lived and ruled in tho hearts • and affections of his subjects. The mantle of sorrow sits heavily upon ns in our assembly to-day, where we hoped to meet together in so much joy and happiness. We cannot at present measure the extent of our loss. In the future alone will this be revealed to us. As subjects of the British Empire, we share in the nation's grief and mourning, whilst all nations and races throughout the globe join in sympathy with our country in its distress. The Almighty's fiat has gone forth, and our illustrious brother and beloved Sovereign has been summoned by the Great Architect of the universe into His immediate presence, there to receive his just reward. His mission here is ended, and we feel this comforting assurance that his Master's call found him ready; with the task assigned to liim .on earth "well finished." We hoped and prayed that he would be spared to us for some time to come, but as such was not the Great Architect's wish, we bow with reverence and resignation to His decree. We deeply sympathise • with his sorrowing consort, our beloved and revered Queen Mother, and all the members of the Royal Family, in their great bereavement, and fervently pray that they may be given strength and comfort in their sorrow. At a later stage of these proceedings a resolution expressive of our sympathy and condolence will be eubmitted to you for adoption. , .

Message from the Governor. The following communication from his ■Excellency, the Grand Master, was also read:—"Most Worshipful, Eight Worshipful, ' Very Worshipful, and Worshipful Brethren,—Man proposes, but the (Great Architect disposes, and what was to-have, been, I believe, the largest and most enthusiastic meeting of the' Grand Xodge is practically a Grand Lodge of mourning. As loyal citizens and brother 'Freemasons, I know that every member of Grand Lodge joins' with me in heartfelt lamentation for the calamity which has fallen upon our Empire and for. the loss of the Patron of our craft. At such a moment it is impossible for me, remembering my public capacity, to take part in any ceremonies 6ave those connected with the Sovereign, and I cannot therefore be present with you to-day. This I deeply regret, as I had hoped to have personally thanked Grand Lodge again for the., trust it-so long reposed in me, to have, offered. my . congratulations and. paid my respects to your new Grand Master, and to have said some words of farewell to l my Neiv Zealand brethren. iNor can I feign ignorance that the projceedings were to have included the presentation of a substantial expression of the brethren's kindly regard towards myself, and I am much disappointed not to to able to receive this generous gift durjng the session of Grand Lodge, and Amongst representative brethren from .all parts of the Dominion. I can only assure my brethren that I am with them in spirit and in sympathy, that Ishall never forget their loyal support and constant goodwill, and that the prdp.Tess of the craft in New Zealand will remain of deep interest to ,me throughout my life. — (Signed) Plunket (retiring) Grand Master." , Message to the Quw-n-Dowager. During the afternoon a second message from his Excellency was received ae follows:— "Please inform Grand lodge that my last exercise of anthority as Grand Master was to dispatch a cable upon their tehalf to her Majesty the widowed Queen as follows:—'Queen Alexandra, London: Grand Lodge of New Zealand Freemason's tender your Majesty and Family their 'deep sorrow and respectful sympathy. (Signed) Plunket, Grand Master.' "To this the following reply was received :—'Queen Alexandra sends you her sincere thanks for your kind expression of sympathy in her sorrow.'" Resolution of Condolence. Before undertaking the installation ceremony at the evening session, the Pro. Grand Master moved the following resolution :—"We, the members of the Grand lodge of New Zealand, in Grand Lodge assembled, take this opportunity of expressing our sympathy and condolonces •Tvith our beloved Queen Mother Alexandra, his Majesty King George V, and the Eoyal Family, in their sad bereavement, and resolve that we go into mourning for a period of three months." The motion was seconded by M.W. Bro. JJiccol, and carried, all present standing, ■while the assemblage sang the late King's favourite hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee," and the Acting-Grand Organist '(W. Bro. Dr. Kington Fyffe) played the ' Dead March in "Saul" on the grand organ. ANOTHER MASONIC TRIBUTE, (By TeleEraph—Press Association.) Christchurch, May 11. The following resolution, proposed by the senior member,of St. Augustine Masonic Lodge at the ordinary meeting last evening, was passed and ordered to be engraved and forwarded to the Grand Secretary for presentation to the Governor:—"That members of this Lodge place on record their profound sorrow at the "death of our Illustrious Sovereign King Edward VII. As citizens of the British Empire, they feel the keenest grief at the loss of a King \vho?o all too short reign proved him possessed of the qualities belonging to a great ruler, whoso wiso judgment, kindly spirit, "and unfailing tact earned for him the noble title of Peacemaker; and yet whose firmness and strength of character helped, not merely to maintain, but to increase, the prestige and dignity of the mighty Empire over irhich ho ruled. As Freemnsons they experience tho most poignant regret for the loss of the noblest and most distinguished member of the craft, whose splendid services as Grand Master of the great British Constitntion raised tho Order in Great Britain to a position of greater power and dignity than it has ever held before, and they desire fur-, ther to place on record their deepest and most heartfelt sympathy with our gracious Queen Alexandra, wTth the sons and daughters who mourn tho loss of a •■father, and .with other members of thei

I Royal Family in the bereavement which I has come upon them; and to express their most sincere and fraternal sympathy, with their Masonic brethren throughout the Empire, and especially those of the . English Constitution, in the blow which has bereft them of the most distinguished ruler the craft has ever known; and finally they pray that the Great Architect of tho Universe will comfort in their sorrow those near and dear to our late beloved Sovereign, and all those whom the news of his death has affected with a ! sense of irreparable loss."