MASONIC GRAND LODGE

Evening Star, Issue 18138, 30 November 1922, Page 10

MASONIC GRAND LODGE

INSTALLATION OF LORD JELLIGOE. GRAND MASTER’S FINE ADDRESS. CRAFT’S INFLUENCE FOR LOYALTY AND SOCIAL PEACE. [From Our Special Representative.] CHRISTCHURCH, November 29. The business and legislative (sessions of the Masonic Grand Lodge were concluded in the course of this atternoon. A number of proposed amendments of Grand Lodge laws were considered 1 . Provision was made for the election of four Grand Directors of Ceremonies, one for each of the principal centres, instead of two as heretofore. Grand Master Ross announced the appointment to the two additional posts of Mr C. E. Dutton (Auckland) and Mr W. R. Rusdeii (Southland). The rank of Past Grand Master was conferred upon Mr Clifton Bingham (of Christchurch). A proposal to frame a new method of selection of Grand l Lodge officers was referred to the Beard of Genera! Purposes. The question of locating the Grand Secretary’s office permanently in one centre was considered, but was eventually shelved by a resolution to pass io the next business. INSTALLATION OF GRAND MASTER. 'l'here was another crowded gathering in the evening at the Colosseum for the installation of Lord Jellicoe as Grand Master. Delegations from the Grand Lodges of Victoria and New South Wales were among the visitors. The ceremony having been carried out with imposing detail. Lord Jellicoe addressed the assemblage at some length. In the first place, he expressed appreciation of the responsibility of his new office, .and warmly thanked the visitors from the sister dominions for their presence. Proceeding, His Excellency said: “I need hardly assure the brethren bow deeply I feel the honor they have done me in electing me to be the bead 1 of so important and flourishing a body as the Freemasons of New Zealand. The honor is due to the position which I occupy in the dominion as representative of His Majesty, and that fact alone, apart from my anxiety to do all in my power to advance the great, principles of the craft, will inspire, mo to carry out my duties to the best of my ability. Tt may appear almost presumptuous for a. Freemason with my short experience lo express an opinion of Masonic life in New' Zealand; but I should like for a moment to touch upon the impressions which my a!l-too-brief association with the craft have made upon my mind. Perhaps because of my official post in (he dominion the first thing that has struck me is the loyalty of members of the craft. It- is most conspicuous, even in this conspicuously loyal dominion. Loyalty to the Throne and Empire is greatly fostered 1 , t think, by the Empire-wide—and, indeed, world-wide—nature of our institution. It promotes unity by reason of the fellowship existing between, members of the craft in all parts of the Empire. The social side of Masonry provides an opportunity for interchange of views by opening doors which .might otherwise be closed l to those who v/sit other parts of the dominion or Empire, and unity between the different peoples composing cur great Empire is therefore stimulated. His Majesty Die King is the symbol of that unity, and loyalty to the'Throne is a manifestation of" loyalty to the Empire. A second impression produced on my mind is the great value of the comradeship or brotherly Jove which is one of our principles, and which Masonic life does so much to encourage. 'Phis is of .special importance in these days, when, there is almost universal unrest as (he aftermath of the Great War. In a. Mason-io lodge all classes of the community meet in social intercourse. Here there arc gathered together men of all shades of political opinion, men, belonging to all iiades and all professions, employers and employed. , What bettor medium can there" bo for the removal of misunderstandings and the promotion of good-fellowship than the social intercourse afforded by Masonic lodges? A comradeship is -produced which one can liken to that of life in the trenches during the war, and surely the results must bo most beneficial to all. T confess that I look upon this feature of Masonic life, and especially at the present time, as of the greatest possible value not only to the craft, but to the community as a. whole. It is not necessary lo do more than mention tbc impression made upon my mind by the part that religion plays in our ritual. Lastly, 1 am immensely impressed with the value of (he charitable side of Masonic work. Here, again, Masons are carrying out one of their great principles—that of 'relief—very thoroughly and with great success.” After quoting tbo figures shown in the reports of the boards of the Grand Lodge, the Grand Master proceeded; “This is a record of which the brethren may well bo proud, especially when it is realised how the funds have grown since the establishment of the Grand Lodge in 1890. It is with, great pleasure, too, that I note the growth of Freemasonry in the dominion. During the eighteen months ended June 30 last, 2,956 new membors«have joined the lodges, an increase of nearly 12? per cent. 'lbis is a very dear and satisfactory indication of the respect in which Freemasonry is held in the dominion, and if the 20.000 members of the craft endeavor to act up to Masonic principles in their daily lives the example set to the whole community must inevitably bear good fruit. I venture, therefore, to remind the brethren of the marked influence for good which they can exercise in this land of groat promise by fulfilling their obligations. It will then in very truth lie realised how great: an honor it is to become a member of the craft, and these who follow the example of the brethren will be known as true and upright men and good citizens.” OTHER INSTALLATIONS.

'J'ho retiring Grand Master (Mr T. Ross) was installing officer in the case of Lord Jellicoe, and the Past Grand Master (Mr J. J. Bengali) installed the Pro Grand Master. The appointment of the following officers under the new Grand Master’s prerogative powers was announced:—Deputy Grand Master, Mr E. IV. G. H. Watts (Dunedin); Provincial Grand Masters— Messrs O. Nicholson (Auckland), Geo. Russell (Wellington), 'O. H. Mollcr (Otago), W. A. Stout (Southland). J. V. H. Perrott (Ruapehu). J. W.,Ritchie (Hawke’s Bay), F. C. Wade (West Coast), R. P. Furness (Nelson and Marlborough). W. N. Ewing (Taranaki); .and AH F. Le Bishop, by the election of the Provincial Grand Lodge, is Pro Grand Master of Canterbury. Other officiate chosen were; Senior Grand AVarden, Air G. W. Rogers (Taranaki): Junior Grand Warden, Mr G. A. Gribbin (Auckland). Tho investment of these officers was performed by Past Grands AI. S. AI. Thompson, J. J. Dongall, A. L. Herdman, S. C. C. Bingham, P.W. Grand Alaster Alichel, and Past Deputy Grand Alaster J, J. Esson. Tho Australian dignitaries, Alcssrs J. J. Goulston (Deputy Grand Master of New South Wales) and F. I. Hickford (Past W. Grand Alaster of Victoria), joined with the representatives of the Grand Lodges of gR parts of tho Empire and of the United States in offering congratulations to Lord Jellicoe on his installation.