MASONIC.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 58, 31 July 1896, Page 5

MASONIC.

, + RECOGNITION OF THE GBANB LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND.

The news that W.M. Bro. H. D. Bell, of Wellington, Past Grand Master, has received a cable message announcing that the Masonic Grand Lodge of England has at length recognised the Grand Lodge of New Zealand will give very great satisfaction to Freemasons throughout the colony. During his recent visit to the Old Country Bro. Bell interested himself in the movement to bring about the recognition whioh has just been extended by the Grand Lodge of England, and it is mainly through his instrumentality that the end so long sought has at last been attained. The decision to recognise the Grand Lodge of New Zealand was unofficially conveyed to him by Bro. Greenwood, formerly of Canterbury, who is now a member of the Grand Lodge of England. The number of lodges now affiliated with the Grand Lodge of New Zealand is 107, and it is expected, now that recognition has been gained, that the other lodges in the colony (about 34 in number) will join the national body before long. A brief history of the movement in connection with the establishment of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, written by Bro. G, Hart, of Christchurch, states that in 1876 the first steps were taken towards the formation of a constitution in the colony which should unite in itself the three existing Constitu. tions. On the 7th July of that year R.W. Bro. V. Pyke, P.P.G.M. of- New Zealand South under the Scotch Constitution, in conjunction with Bro. E. T. Gillon, P.M., issued invitations to the various Scotch Lodges asking them to send delegates to a meeting in Wellington to consider the advisableness of constituting a United Grand Lodge for New Zealand. At that meeting, though there was a strong feeling in favour of the constitution and erection at a future period of a Grand Lodge for New Zealand, uniting all the three Constitutions under one control, it was not thought advisable to proceed with the project just then. It was therefore abandoned, but the seed then sown germinated through the succeeding years, and it became felt as time rolled on that a large number of the brethren held a very strong and deeply-rooted opinion that such a step was a positive necessity in the best interests of Freemasonry. The formation of Grand Lodges in South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria caused Bro. Gillon once more to come to the front, and, associating himself with several other leading members of the Craft, including Bro. G. Robertson, of Wellington, who afterwards rendered zealous and unselfish service to the cause, he called a meeting of the Past Masters of the three Constitutions in Wellington on Ist February, 1889. Bro. Gillon, was voted to the chair, and a motion by Bro. H. J. Williams that, in the opinion of the meeting, it was desirable to form a United Grand Lodge of New Zealand, was seconded by Bro. G. Robertson, and carried, there being only one dissentient. The initial principle having been agreed to, it became necessary to take steps to carry it into practical effect, and accordingly it was decided to form a Masonic Union, with branches in the different centres of the colony. As the outcome of the meeting, circulars, accompanied by a report of the meeting, were sent to the various Lodges in New Zealand asking for their co-operation in giving effect to the resolutions. Bro. Hart goes on to narrate the various steps which resulted in the formation of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, and concludes his history of the movement with an interesting account of the installation at Christchurch, on 30th April, 1890, of Bro. H. Thompson as the first Grand Master of the colony. It is worthy of note that Bro. the Earl of Onslow, when Governor of the colony, was asked to accept the honour afterwards bestowed upon Bro. Thompson, but declined to take the office except under conditions which it was not considered desirable to agree to. It goes as almost as a matter of course that the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland will also recognise the Grand Lodge of New Zealand now that the Grand Lodge of England has extended its recognition.