"SILENT CITIES"

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 17, 21 January 1928, Page 9

"SILENT CITIES"

NEW MASONIC LODGE THE WAR CEMETERIES (From "The Post's" Representative.} LONDON, 14th December. The consecration took place in London on the evening of sth December of the Lodge of the Builders of the Silent Cities, whose members have to do _in some foisp or other with the setting up and maintenance of the War Cemeteries in the various countries where British troops fell, including France, Gallipoli, Egypt, Palestine, and Italy, and also in the United Kingdom, where many who died of wounds are buried. This lodge was consecrated by the Grand Lodge" of England. The Grand Secretary, Sir Colville Smith, was the chief consecrating officer. Its number is 4948. The first Master 1b Sir Herbert Ellisen, who is the Financial Adviser to the Imperial War Graves Commission, a body created by Imperial Statute which directs British •war graves operations, and -whose chairman is Sir Fabian Ware. Sir James Parr, High Commissioner for New Zealand, represents New Zealand on the Commission. The consecration service was most impressively performed. Reference was made to the special character of the new lodge, it being described aa a link with the war and the great dead of all the Dominions. The Grand Master of one of the most important French Orders of Masonry was present. Sir James Parr, responding to the toast of the "Visitors," at the subsequent banquet in the Connaught Rooms, said that New Zealanders were keenly interested in the new. lodge, because its members were men who were actually doing very fine work and performing a sacred duty in keeping the graves of New Zealand soldiers in first-rate order. It was good that such a great task should have the active assistance of Masonry, for the work would be done conscientiously. Sir James Parr referred to the consecration service as tho most impressive Masonic function he had ever witnessed, and he conveyed the fraternal greetings of all New Zealand Masons to the new Lodge of the Builders of tho Silent Cities.