ORANGEISM.

Evening Star, Issue 7411, 5 January 1888, Page 2

ORANGEISM.

The annual session of the Orange Grand Lodge, Middle Lland of New Zealand, was held at Christen urch on Tuesday, 27th December, The Lodge was opened in due form by the R.W.G.M. Bro. Archibald Mahau, supported by Bros. P.G.M. Christie, frudhoe, and J. W. Anderson, G.S. E. Revell, G.T. W.S. Williams, D.G.S. Robertsou and Irwin, D.G.T. Penfold, Rev. Monro G. Chaplain, Hassell D.G.C., the G. Committee, and thirty-five W.M. officers of District private lodges. The R. W.G.M. reviewed the affairs of the institution during the year, and pointed out that though no new lodges bad been opened during his term of office, the Order was progressing favorably, as two lodges which had not been working for some time, owing to the depression of the country, bad recovered, and were now working. He had to ask the G.L. to allow of one of them to be transferred to East Gore from Dunedin, as so many of the brethren who belonged to the lodge had migrated to that township. He announced that he would not offer himself for re-election, but hoped that the Order would always be able to command the services of as efficient officers as those he had had the pleasure to work with. The election of officers was proceeded with:—Bro. Meredith (No. 20) was elected R.W.G.M.; Bro. Robert Irwin (No. 13), Dep. G.M.; Bro. E. Revell, G. 0.; Bro. W. T.> Williams, G.T.; Bros. Rev. Monro, Parker, Jones, Peters, G. F. Broke (No. 45, P.G.M., Nortnlsland),G.C.; Bros. Christie, Dysart, J. Walker, Stevenson, and W. White, G. Committee ; Bros. Prudhoe and Venables, G. Auditors. After notices of motion were disposed of, Bro. Meredith, on behalf of No. 6 District Lodge, moved—" That the time has arrived when the brethren should unite in endeavoring to secure the return of members of Parliament who would support their views and the best interests of the Order generally."

This was carried. A resolution was also carried—"That the Grand Lodge should make arrangements with some firm in Christchurch to supply all the necessary regalia required for the efficient working of P. Lodges." The G. Treasurer presented his balancesheet, showing—Receipts L 99, expenditure L 56, balance to credit L 43 Is 7d, which was received aDd adopted.

The G.S. was authorised to write off all amounts in the books which could not be fairly chargeable to the P.S., as errors and overcharges had accumulated during past years.

A special committee was appointed to make arrangements to celebrato the bi-cen-tenary of the glorious Revolution of 1688, and the landing of King William 111. of immortal memory in Torbay on the sth November in that year. Committees were appointed to procure a handsome certificate of merit for presentation to the P.G.M. on retiring from the Grand Chair—certificates of membership—and for presentation to W.M. of P.L. ; and were authorised to act.

The G.M. then installed the newly-elected G.M., Bro. Meredith, who was saluted in due form.

The R.W.G.M., Bro. Meredith, on taking his seat, returned thanks for the high honor conferred on him, and hoped that at the end of the year he would have as favorable a report of the progress of the institution to make as the P.G.M., Bro. Mahan, had made. No efforts on his part would be wanting to advance the interests of the Society, the good of true religion, and the welfare of the country. He especially pointed that unity among the members of the Order was necessary to bring the Order to its proper place of importance in this country, and that was only to be done by the brethren supporting one another in a legitimate way. The next session is to bo held in Dunedin at the end of 1888.—' Press.'