“A TRUE MASON”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 98, 20 January 1936, Page 14

“A TRUE MASON”

Ex-Police Superintendent J. W. Ellison

TRIBUTES AT GRAVESIDE

The high respect in which a former superintendent of police, Mr. J. SV. Ellison, was held was shown by the large number of present and past members of the police force, members of the Masonic craft and relatives and friends who attended his funeral on Saturday morning.

The cortege left the residence in Willis Street for Karori Cemetery at 10.30

The chief mourners were five daughters, Mrs. C. W. Nielson (Wellington), Mrs. G. D. Little (Wellington), Mrs. E. Buri’ (Wellington), Miss L. Ellison (Wellington), and Miss W; Ellison (New Plymouth), and two sons, Messrs. J. Ellison (Christchurch) and T. Ellison (Marton). The pall-bearers at the house, representatives of the police, were Superintendent Emerson, Superintendent D. J. Cummings, Inspector G. B. Edwards, ex-Chief Detective A. Ward, ex-Detec-tive R. B. Black, Senior-Sergeant M. Gaffney and Mr. R. F. Madden, chief clerk. ' At the graveside the pallbearers were Wor. Bros. A. McLaren, D. Parnell, A. Gilchrist, E. A. Ballinger, R. M. Roberts (Past Masters of Leinster Lodge), and the Rt. Excellent Companion J. Rod (Waterloo Chapter).

The Rev. L. F. Owen, of St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, conducted services at the house and ' graveside, and a special Masonic service at the gra'veside was conducted by Very Wor. Bro. D. Calder, past Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. Mr. Calder, in an address at the graveside, acknowledged the length and devotion of Mr. Ellison’s service

to the craft. lu his early youth, he said, their late right worshipful brother had been a member of the Orange Order at Belfast, Ireland, but on arrival in New Zealand he became a Mason in United Service Lodge, Auckland. When ■Wellington became his place of residence he took an active part in the foundation of Leinster Lodge. The efforts to found the Grand Lodge of New Zealand received his hearty and unwavering support, and some of the Masons present could recall his recital of the difficulties that had to be surmounted by the movement. He was always an admirer of the Irish craft, but he never ceased to advocate and as--sist any proposal that might advance the interests and objects of the New Zealand Constitution, to which he had subscribed. The welfare of the craft of the territory was the first consideration in his Masonic outlook. It was Mr. Ellison’s general Masonic bearing, said Mr. Calder, that he wished to emphasise. In thought, word and deed he had been a typical craftsman in the truest sense of the term. His devotion to his home, his family, and his unfailing attention to public duty indicated the natural instincts of the true Mason. John Ellison, to his colleagues in the service, was respected as a man who gave a fair deal, and looked for fair service in return. For his many services to the craft his brother-Masons had honoured him on occasions, but these honours they had to ask him to accept.

Among those who attended tbe funeral were ex-Commissioner W. B. Mcllveney, ex-Superintendent McGrath, M. W. G. Riddll, a former Wellington magistrate, and the following members of the Masonic order: —V.W. Bro. H. A. Lamb (grand secretary. Grand Lodge of New Zealand), R.W. Bro. C. D. Nidsen (grand secretary, Grand Chapter of New Zealand), R.W. Bro. J. W. Jack, district grand master (E.C.), M.W. Bro. G. Russell, R.W. Bros. E. J. Guinness, H. G. Teagle, S. T. S. Martin, H. H. Seaton, V.W. Bros. R. H. Webb. F. C. Watt, J. McCardle, W. Bros. W. Berry, H. Ivory, F. J. Rea, Gentles, R. M. Roberts, G. D. Little and M. J. Riddle.

Others present were Messrs. J. D. Willis, E. Burr, M. Turner, D. Barham, and E. Little.