GOVERNOR'S NEW ROLE

Evening Star, Issue 18137, 29 November 1922, Page 9

GOVERNOR'S NEW ROLE

MASONIC GRAND MASTER. INSTALLATION AT CHRISTCHURCH PROSPERITY OP GRAFT. (Fkom Qua Special Cobbeffokdekt.] CHRISTCHURCH, f November 29. Again the representative of His MajeetJ in New Zealand takes office an head cl Hit Masonic craft in the dominion, for only the second lime in the history of the institution. Lord Onslow, who held the position of Governor in 1890, when the Grand Lodge of New Zealand was established, and who was already a Past Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge, of England, would have accepted the position only that lie did not consider that a sufficient proportion of the lodges in the country had given in their adhesion to the new movement. Since then the national Grand Lodge has made immense stride.*, and become by far the dominant Masonic institution in Now Zealand, having now under its jurisdiction 246 lodges, and Governors six) proud to take an active part, in its benevolent work. Lord Plunket was its Grand Master from 1306 to 1910. Since then six citizens of New Zealand have been his successors, and now Viscount JeJJiooe, by unanimous election at the •annual communication of Grand Lodge, ‘which was opened in Christchurch to-day, lakes the diair. His Excellency has for some time past taken an active interest in Masonic matters in Wellington., and ?ust now he is muster of the Island Bay ttedgo, formed there some months ago. The Pro-Grand Master of Victoria and a strong delegation of officers of the Grand Jjodgo of Victoria, besides the Deputy Grand Master end Junior Grand Warder of New South Wales, have visited Cbrid> churoh to attend -the. Grand Lodge session and he present at the installation ceremony in compliment to Lord Jdliooa. LORD JELLTCOE'S ELECTION. The opening sitting of the communication was presided over by Mr Theft. Ross, of Dunedin, the Grand Master of the last two years, and the first business after formalities was the election oi the now Grand Master. As Viscount Jelliooe wan the only candidate, he was nominated by ninety lodges and about thirty individual’ members. Ho was declared unanimously elected, and his installation was made a (fixture for the evening sitting. GRAND OFFICERS FOR TILE YEAR. The following officers were appointed Pro. Grand Master, H. L. Michel (Hokitika) ; Grand Ttegistrair, T. H. Williams (Canterbury); president of tho Board of General Purposes, A. H. Hobbs; Grand Directors of -Ceremonies, C. Flayell (Christchurch) and James Rod (Wellington). . The other principal elective grand officers for the year resulted as .follows, omitting the Masonic prefixes in each instance Grand Chaplains—the Rev. Wm. O, iSadlier, Bishop of Nelson, and tha (Rev. A. H. NoitSs, Canterbury; Grand Treasurer, Mr W. E. Scott, Canterbury; president -of Board of Benevolence, Mr iR. W. S. Eastwood; Senior Grand 'Deacons—'Messrs H. N. Gill, Auckland, and A. Derbie, Southland : Junior Grand Deaooni5 —Messrs F. W. Granger, Taranaki, and P. M'Caskill, Otago. WIDOWS AND ORPHAN'S’ TUN®. The report of the Board of Management of the widows and orphans’ and aged Masons’ fund showed the accretion to the fund in the last ei'ghtQen months—Grand Lodge hawing altered the time of year for its annual communications from May to November—to have been £12,252, including two legacies amounting respectively to £2OO and £SO. Thirly-ruma new annuities bad been granted to aged Masons and .widows, making the number, now current ninety-six, totalling £3,932 per annum. The capital value of the fund was shown as £54,058. The voluntary contributions ’of lodges have amounted to £6,943, and income from investments of capital to £4,549. Auckland district heads the list of district contributions with '£2,611.

WAR BENEVOLENT FUND. Another report showed that the special war benevolent fund has become operative to a considerable extent during the last eighteen months. Loans have been made to ex-soldier members to the extent of £4,059, and direct grants made to the extent of £662, leaving a .balance still to credit of £9,263. The purpose of this fund is to 'assist cx-soldicr Freemasons ini establishing themselves where deemed advisable, and to help the widows and orphans of Masons killed in the war. OTHER BENEVOLENCE. The report o-f the Board of Benevolence showed an expenditure of £1,558 in grants of casual relief to cases of distress in amounts from £IOO downwards. Twentythree circular appeal funds were also shown to be in existence rotating to oases requiring more substantial assistance, the total amount to their credit standing at £2,369. Appeals of this description made during the period have realised sums up to £455 by subscriptions from the lodges in the territory. FUNDS OF GR AND LODGE. The total cash balances of the various funds of Grand Lodge were shown to amount to £77,768, a.s follows : General, fund £7,217 Widows and orphans and aged. Masons’ fund Special war benevolent fund ... 9,260 Fund of benevolence ... . ... 3,753 Circular appeal funds 2,370 Representation fund ... 1,13-1 GENERAL MATTERS. The report of the Board of General Purposes showed that twenty-four lodges have been (opened in New- Zealand in the 3-ast eighteen months, making a total of 246 now on the register, land that charters have been -issued for tho formation! of others at Tokomaru Bay, Drury, and Invercargill. The eamo report cautions Freemason® against countenancing a spurious and clandestine Masonic and clandestine organisation known as “ Co-Ma®onjy, which is setting up lodges in Now Zealand, warning them that tuemibers attending any of these bodies violate their obligations, and render themselves liable to Masonic discipline. Statistics were given showing that the total membership of the. ctaft had growtn from 17,265 at the end of 1920 to 19,721 at tho end of last June. It was recommended that the next annual communication in November, 1923, be held in WellingtonAll tho various reports were considered and adopted.