MASONIC PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 111, 11 May 1921, Page 9

MASONIC PROGRESS

FLOURISHING INSTITUTION

INCREASE IN FUNDS AND MEMBERSHIP

(HI TSUGRAPH.— SPECIAL TO THS POST.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

Freemasonry in New Zealand has shown remarkable progress during the) last two or three years. For that matter, the institution has flourished) in more tan the ordinary degree in all English-speaking countries since the war, and' is "being sought after by increased numbere of people. In spite of precautions taken ■by its leaders in making entrance and membership more expensive than formerly in all the principal | centres of the Dominion, as one meaina of checking 'the wish; for enrolment, there 1 are still admissions in more than the normal numbers every month. MEMBERSHIP AND FINANCE. The statistics to be presented at the annu.pl Communication of the Grand Lodge of Now Zealand, which opened at the Auckland Town Hall to-day, reflect the progress and present prosperity of the Craft. The membership 67 t-hei Lodges under the Grand Lodge, of which there are now 221, shows a-total of 17.425, an increase of 1220 within the last twelve months, and' the substantial position of the individual lodges is shown by the erection during the y«w by several of them of lodge-rooms to be devoted exclusively to Masonic purposes. As to financial strength, it is alio-wn, that, after making full provision for the charitable claims, the satisfaction of which, is one of the chief justifications for the existenoe of the institution, the funds of Grand Lodgo have increased! to the extent of £8539, and now show' a total of £73,433, divided' as follows:— £ General Fund ..' 5,761 Widows and Orphans and Aged , Masons' Fund 46,356 Special War Benevolent Fund 12,041 Fundi of Benevolence 3,685 Circular Appeal Funds 3,482 j Representation Fund 1,208 THE AGED, ORPHANS, AND WIDOWS. j The most useful work of Grand! Lodge is that done through its Widows andl Orphans and Aged Masons' Fund, which makes provision for assistance to the disabled and to dependents of deceased members of the Craft, out of the interest earned by the investment of the' principal sum. Within the financial year just ended, an appeal was niade by thel executive to the separate Lodges of the Dominion, with the view of augmenting the capital sum to the extent of £10,000. It seems extremely likely that it will be found dairing the Communication that the total sum aimed at has been realised, for, up to the 31st March, subscriptions' to the amount of £7963 had been received at the central office. . This has since been supplemented by an additional sum of £1784, making the total to hand £9747, and a number of Lodges have also intimated that they have further sums to remit. In the contributions of the various provincial districts, Wellington holds the place of honour, with a total so far of £2375; Auckland is an excellent second, with £2352;' Canterbury stands next, wish £1661; Otago providied £1025; and, of the smaller districts, Southland, contributed £538.

At last year's Communication, held at Invereargill, the desire was expressed! that the full amount of interest earned by the fund should be utilised in increasing the,annuities then paid. Accordingly, the' Board of Management has since authorised increases in the cases of 43 annuitants, involving am additional annual charge of £495. The recipients of annuities now number 61, after making allowances for deaths during the year, and of, the whole 28 are widows^ the annuity ranging from a maximum of £52 through various stages, regulated according to the need of the beneficiary,' to a minimum of £26. OTHER FORMS OF AID. The less permanent forms of Masonic relief are granted out of the Fund of Benevolence, and by the expedient of circular appeals to Lodges lor tho assistance of special cases that need substantial and prompt attention. Out of the Fundl of Benevolence 25 grants have been made during the year, to the total amount of £665. Of the funds raised by means of circular appeals there are at present 20 an existence, a number of others having served their purpose and been liquidated. Nine such appeals have been made diuring the year. Of these only three have, so far, been completed, raising sums of £255, £455, and £338, respectively, for the aid of widows lately bereaved. ■'■ Other appeals still current, and likely to be further augmented, already realised: the respective sums of £334, £357, £293, £243, white others again have only recently been set afloat. The total' amount raissd under this heading, in the course of tho year has been £2592. SPECIAL WAR FUND. Early in tlie progress of the European war a special effort was put form to raise a fund1, out of which, members of the draft who served at the front could be assisted with advances that would assist them in, setting- themselves up in business or other occupations, or they nr their depondents of the fallen oould be helped by way of annuity. The total! amount to the1 credit of this fund' is now £12,941, and as yet the calls upon it have not been large. Within'the last yeaT grants and loans have bei>n mat* by the Board of Management to ihs amount of £1833. One of tho fea'ure* of th© rules uudfcr which the fund ia administered, is that assistance granted from it is to bej supplementary to, and not in substitution, for, any pension or compensation to which the membeir may be entitled from the Government or any patriotic fund. . RECORD OF. PROGRESS.f

The number of new Lodges erectedl itt 1920-21, or now in process of formation, has exceeded all' previous records. The districts in which the Oaft has extendtedl its operations are : —Ohura (Auckiaindi), Oroua (Wellington), Taradaie (Hawkes Bay), Eastboxirae (Wellington), Wellington Dity, Wangaimi, and Watkouaiti (Otago). New charters have also been granted for the opening of Lodges at Taawatna; (Bay of Plenty), Ma-nsurewai (Auckland), and Waikaia (Southland); and steps are being taken for the formation of others1 a t Murohison. (Nelson) 1( Glentunnel (Canterbury). Wellington! (Sty, Wellington South, Whangamamona (Taranaki), and Tolaga B;;v (East Coast). THE ANNUAL GATHERING. Hitherto it has heein' the custom to hold the annual Communication in the month of May, talcing the four chief provincial districts of the Dominion in turn. The uncertainty of the weather during the nioDth in some parts of the country, and particularly the aberrations of Cook S'brait traffic, have arousedi tha feeling that some more settled) periodl of the year shouldl be chosen. Last year Grarid Lodge felt itself ima-ble, meeting' at Invcrcai-gill with a reduced attendance, on account- of the threatened railway strike, to como to a definitel conclusion on- the subject, which was accordingly remitted to the decision of the oompouont Lodges, Since then a vote ha» been token, vrith uo leetrictip.u v

to the choice of monthi. The resold is that 83 Lodges have voted in favour of November, 56 for February, 46 for May, and smaller numbers out of the total of 212 for other months. The executive will therefore submit to the present Communication the necessary amendmente of constitution to give effect to this decision. A VEfTFJRAN SECRETARY. Extreme regret is expressed in thei report of the Board' of General Purposes that Mr. Malcolm Niocol, who has held the post of Grand Secretary for the last twenty years, has been compelled by advancing years to ask to be reTievedi o>f the cares of office. Mr. Niocol has intimated his intention of tendering his resignation at the present Communication. During his period of office, remarks thd Boaird), he has rendered inestimable service, has seen the organisation make immense stridles, and lias aWy assisted' to direct and control its policy. The appointment of the new Grand Secretary comes within, the prerogative powers of the Grand Master. Colonel George Barclay is'at'present Acting-Grand Secretary. ; ELECTION OF OFFICERS. There was a large attendance at the opening ceremonies. The first' substarutial business was the election of tha Grand Master for the ensuing year. Mr. Thomas Ross, of Dunedin, who has filled the office for the past twelve months, was unanimously returned. The other principal offices were Sited as follows: —Senior Grand Deacons, Messrs. J. E. Wade (West Coast) and' J. L. Ching (Nelson); , Junior Grand Deacons, Messrs. A. H. Waring (Auckland!), E. L. Ironmonger (Rua.pehu); President of Board of Benevolence, Mr. E. W. G. H. Watts (Dunedin); President of Board of Benevolence, J. J. Clark (Dunedin); Grand Treasurer, Mr. J. A./ P. Predric (Dunedin); Grand Chaplains, the Revs. A., V. G. Chandler (Otago), and Angus Mao Donald (Auckland) ; Grand Directors of Ceremonies, Messrs. F. Lilt (Canterbury) ,and W. Lischner (Otago).