ORANGE GRAND LODGE.

Grey River Argus, 11 April 1912, Page 7

ORANGE GRAND LODGE.

-*•»■- ANNUAL CONFERENCE. , ' (i'er tres& Aasociauouj.. . . PALMERSTON N., April 9. : The seventii annual conference of the New Zealand Provincial Grand Black Chapter (Orange Lodge) opened in Pahnerston. Reports, showed a steady increase an" membership. . Preceptoriejj increased from five to fifteen during the past six years. Thos, Dandson (Hastings) was elected R.W.G-M. ; R. •Johnston (Duaedin), D.G.M., and R.; Melksham (.Gisborne), -Grand Chaplain. Resolutions were passed of loyalty to the King and the Protestant Crown expressing- heartfelt thanks to" the Unionist M.P's. for opposing- the Home Rule Bill, and sympathy with their brethern in Ireland in their fight. . . . . A cable was forwarded to Belfast, tendering- greetings to the great Orange meeting to be held there tomorrow, and urging the Irish Orangemen to stand to their principles, and ■promising.' financial and material assistance in the struggle against Home Rule. A resolution was also passed, protesting- against the Ne; Temere Decree, which the. Conference considered destructive of the religious harmony it desired to promote, and interference by any Church with the civil law should be followed by prosecution and imprisonment, as had been found necessary in Roman Catholic countries. . A copy of the resolution to be forwarded to each ineiaber of the Cabinet with a request that they prohibit the publication of the decree" in the Dominion. -~ ■ M't E. N. Budden was re-elected R.W.G^M. , and Mr William Hunter D.G.M. '■■ ' . •