MASONIC LODGE

Evening Star, Issue 22203, 4 December 1935, Page 10

MASONIC LODGE

ANNUAL COMMUNICATION OPENS COLONEL ESSON RE-ELECTED GRAND I MASTER [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 4. The annual communication of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand opened this morning. THe greater number of the 303 lodges of the national constitution now 1 in the Dominion were represented either by their Masters or by delegates. Colonel J. J. Esson, who has been Grand Master for the past 12 months, presided, and was supported by a strong assemblage of Past Grand Masters.

After respect had been shovyn to the memory of the late Earl Jellicoe, who was Grand Master of New Zealand in 3.923 and 1924, and sympathy extended to his widow and family, the elective officers for tHe coming 12 months were chosen under a scheme of distribution submitted by the Board of General Purposes. Colonel Esson was re-elected Grand Master.

As the Grand Secretary’s office will remain in Wellington for another 12 months, the chief executive officers are from that district. Thus Mr H. G. Teague remains President of the Board of General Purposes, Mr C. N. Cathie is t President of the Board of Benevolence, Mr R. W. M'Villy .is Grand Treasurer, and Mr A. T. Duncan Grand Registrar. . A Grand Director of Ceremonies was elected for each of the four largest districts—Mr J. S. Martin for Wellington, Mr W. T. Fraffks for Canterbury, Mr W. W. Wright for Auckland (which also has an assistant Grand Director in Mr F. 6. Alpe); and Mr G. Waldie for Otago. Each of the other districts was allotted an assistant Grand Director — Waikato, Mr P. P. Powell j Southland, Mr A. Noble; Ruapehu, Mr G. N. Macdiarmid; Hawke’s Bay, Mr A. B, Davis; Nelson and Marlborough, Mr G. Mitchell; West Coast, Mr T. Ecclesfiold; Taranaki, Mr G. H, Hutton. Two Senior Grand Deacons elected are Mr A. Burgess, of Wellington, and Mr T. H. Ker, of Canterbury, and Junior Grand Deacons are Mr L, C. E. Hamann, of Auckland, and Mr J- D. King, of Otago. It is proposed that next year’s communication will be held at Dunedin. ' The installation of the Grand Master and the investiture of other officers nominated by him for the year will take place this evening.