ORANGE GRAND LODGE

Evening Star, Issue 18239, 2 April 1923, Page 3

ORANGE GRAND LODGE

SESSIONS OPENED. The session-of the Grand Lodge of Jhe Loyal Orange Institution of New Zealand opened in the Art Gallery at 0 a,in. on .Saturday, the R-.AV. Grand Master (Bro, Rev. F. G- Gumming) presiding over an attendance ot some 200 delegates and visitors. The Grand Lodge officers were welcomed hv P.P.G.M. Bro. A. Kirkpatrick, who expressed his pleasure at the Grand Lodge meeting in Dunedin, and the hope that their stay in the city would be both pleasant and profitable. The usual devotional exercises were led hv the Grand Chaplain, Rev. T. B. TVoolloxa.ll, who read 1 Corinthians, xiii. The hymn ‘ 0 God Our Help in Ages Past ’ "was sung heartily by the assembled brethren. Thereat ter the lodge, was raised to the second or Royal Arch purple degree, in which the subsequent proceedings were conductedA pleasant interlude followed, the mayor, Air J. S. Douglas, attending to officially welcome the delegates on behalf of'the city. The Grand Master, in receiving His Worship, paid that gentleman a warm tribute ot respect, acknowledging his readiness to assist in every good work tending to promote the welfare of the city and its residents. Although ITis AVorship was not a member of tho organisation, the speaker expressed the hope that some day Air Douglas _ might he iomul occupying the position of Grand Alaster. IT is AVorship tho Alayor, who was warmly greeted, said lie was pleased to be able to welcome tho members ot the organisation to tho city. Alter gently rallying tho northerners on their supposed disposition to belittle Dunedin, ho referred humorously to the firo brigades’ demonstration held recently, at which, although the Hillside Brigade gained the honors, Onehnnga was reported hv a northern paper to have “ won the shield ” and Hillside to have made a good display. (Laughter.) Ho reminded them that Hillside had not only won the honors, hut the money also, and “ being Scotch ” had kept it. The mayor expressed his pleasure that their organisation stood for loyalty, and for those qualities which tended to promote truth, justice, and righteousness in the community. Bro. the Rev. 0. Aitken, in replying, thanked His AVorship for his words of welcome, assuring him . that they greatly appreciated his presence on that occasion, and the hope that they might ere long welcome him ns one of their number. Tho Grand Alaster called for cheers for His AA'orship, which were heartilygiven, the mayor then taking his leave of the Grand Lodge, and being escorted to the door by the Grand Lodge officers. GRAND MASTER’S REPORT. 'Hie Grand Alaster. in presenting his annual report, began by sincerely thanking tho brethren for the honor conierred upon him some twelve months ago in the city of Auckland by electing him to the highest chair in connection with their illustrious institution, and expressing Ins appreciation of the kindness and confidence thus shown him. He had received the greatest possible assistance in connectio’i with his duties during the whole twelve months from the brethren of New Zcaland. their loyalty being of a high order and quite an inspiration to any leader. Lodge Visitation. —The Grand Alaster had made forty-six official visits to the lodges, principally outside the large centres, the ground covered being from the West Coast to TTiatapere in the far south. The Carson Testimonial.—This matter bad been fully gone into by the executive, and finally it was determined to leave ils preparation in the hands of the Grand Alaster, with Alessrs ARFarlane and Patton. Tho gift had been prepared and was now on view in Alessrs Dawson and Cn.’s window at the corner ot Princes street and Moray place. It was unique in design and made of New Zealand materials throughout with possibly one exception. (The gift in question consists of an elaborately designed inkstand made of New Zealand woods, beautifully carved and handsomely polished end mounted and engraved, and inscrilted with Lord Carson’s name and the Maori wish, “Kin. Ora,” and war cry “Ake, yb," with greenstone and silver fittings, etc., with a handsome canary clock fitted on the baric portion of the stand, which was shaped on the plan of the front of a Maori wbarp with pillars at the sides, the whole forming a very striking and valuable souvenir of New Zealand workmanship.! The Ladies’ Lodges. The Grand Alaster' outlined the proposals already covered in the report submitted by the Grand Secretary concerning the conference held hr the executive with delegates from the ladies’ lodges the previous even-

Primarv, Lodges.—The primary lodges wei'e the avenues through which they could find an outlet for enterprise and advance. The great need of the present dav in the Orange Institution, the Grand Alaster said, was a clean, Christian, brotherly soul. AVhere that existed they would find pence, happiness, and real prosperity. He therefore called upon the biethren at the conference to return to their respective lodge rooms determined of alt costs to bring this about in a- way hitherto unknown in their illustrious God-honoring order, which, above all. stands for civil and religious liberty. The report was received and adopted, and ordered to be printed in Hie annuli report, the Grand Master being also warmly thanked for his interesting deliverance. It was decided to adopt the suggestion agreed to by the executive with the lady delegates for a ladies’ conference to precede the usual Easter gatherings of the Grand Lodge. RESIGNATION. AA'or. Bro. George Agnow wrote expressing his deepest regret that owing to his having accepted a throe years’ appointment in Samoa ho wag compelled to fender his resignation as Grand Senior Deacon occupied by him during the past year, and also apologising for his consequent inability To attend the Grand Lodge gatherings. KING GEORGE AND THE PORE. Correspondence was received from the City of London Lodge, No, 45, intimating that it bad been unanimously decided to nquest every Grand Lodge to take steps to frustrate the apparent attempt by Rump lo once, again bring England under it? heel, as indicated by the reports which bad appeared in various newspapers that “ King George V. would, during his visit to Italy in the early part of this year, have an audience with Hig Holiness the Pope,”—The letter was referred to a special committee to bo set up to contidei Hie matter and report to the lodge. DEFENCE IN ULSTER. A letter from the Grand Orange Lodgeof Ireland with reference to the draft of £957 Os Id free of - exchange, forwarded under date February 20, 1920, intonated that when that money reached the Grand Lodge the Homo Rule Bill of 1920 was likely to pass, and that sum was not therefore passed over to the Sir Eduard Carson defence fund, as advised in the Grand Secretary’s letter of September 14, 1916. The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland now asked that the money might be retained for Grand Lodge purposes.—lT was decided that as the money was subscribed for a specific purpose to which it

could not. now be devoted, the Grand Lodge of Ireland be asked to return the merney so that it could : be held in trust and made available for defence purposes in Ulster should the necessity arise. SECRETARY’S REPORT.

The Grand Secretary reported that the year had been one of marked activity and general progress, with a substantial increase in membership. During the year five new warrants have been issued, two for men’s lodges and three women’s lodges, these being now in working order and represent increased accessions to .our membership. As a result of the recommendations of last annual meeting, many of the lodges had forwarded contributions to (be orphans’ fund, and it was suggested that as many lodges had forgotten the recommendation “to institute a copper collection at all regular meetings," they should again be urged to adopt this means of recruiting the fund. Regret was expressed at tho death ot several members during the year, and fraternal sympathy was expressed to the beiraved relatives. The financial statement presented by the Grand Treasurer must be generally regarded ns satisfactory.—Tho report was adopted. Tho treasurer’s report and balancesheet wore adopted, both disclosing a highly satisfactory position of affairs, the auditor’s report as presented on the balance-sheet, 'being also adopted. A Public Questions Committee was set up in report to Grand Lodge on Monday morning, and other business dealing with rules and methods of procedure occupied the remainder of the session until it adjourned at 5 p.m., the evening being occupied with meetings of the Nation Publishing Company and the District Grand Lodge. PARADE AND SERVICE. Over SCO members of tho order paraded yesterday afternoon, arid, headed by members of the Albany Street School Fife and Drum Band, marched to the First Church from the Art Gallery Hall by way of High street and Princes street. The parade made an impressive sight, and a considerable number of people lined the route. At the church a suitable service wa< held, R.AV.G.M. the Rev. Bro. F. G. Gumming. Rev. Bro. G. K. Aitken, Bro. AAL Taylor, and one of the sopranos of the AA’estminster Glee Singers (solo) contributing towards itf. The sermon was preached by the R.AV.G. Chaplain, Rev. Pro. T. B." AA’oolloxall, of Taihape. The preacher’s message was' critical of the theological school that places angels and spirits in the position of intervening between man and God. His example was the Roman Catholic Church. At the conclusion of the service a return was made to the Art Gallery Hall, where the parade dispersed. Before dispersing a collection was taken up for the boys of the Albany Street School Band, which was liberally responded to.