MASONIC GATHERING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 November 1924, Page 4

MASONIC GATHERING.

■—»■-■-■■■■■■■ ■ DOMINION GRAND LODGE. HONOUR FOR THE PREMIER. (by TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATIONAUCKLAND, Nov. 26. The annual communication of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand opened in the Town Hall this morning,.tne Hen. L. Michel, Pro-Grand Master, presiding. Mr W. F. Massey was elect---ed Grand Master., The principal other elective officers were: Grand treasurer, Mr jtyorris Copeland; registrar, Mr C. L. MacDiarmicl; president of the Board of General Purposes; Mr Chas. Rhodes; president of the Board of -Benevolence, Mr T. U. Wells; senior grand deacons, Messrs J. H. Jerram and W. H. Shannon; junior grand deacons, Messrs J. Y'Y - and N. W. Taylor;'grand; directors of ceremonies, Messrs F. W. Herbert, (Auckland), G. Yemm (Canter- - bury), H. E. Hart (Wellington), and G. li. Henderson (Otago). Other officers were elected as follow: Grand Superintendents of Works, Messrs W. Beanland (Canterbury) and H. D. Caplen (Taranaki); Grand Bible Bearers, Messrs S. T. W/Mertiri (Wellington) and J. Cloustori (Otago); Giand Sword Bearer; Mr J. R. Gilmour (Otago); Grand Standard-bearers, Messrs A. D. Wilson (Southland) and ' f • C. Hilton (Ruapehu); Grand Organist, Mr A. M. Owen (Canterbury); Grand Pursuivants, Messrs R. H. Webb (Wellington) and T. P. Firman (Ruapehu); Grand Stewards, Messrs A. ; f- If ird , and W. Bongard (Auckland), ■ J. Manchester and W. B. Oborn (Canterbury), A. Schmidt (Wellington), J. - Bissland (Otago),. W. E, Irvine (Southlfind),. R. Boswell (Ruapehu), H. W. Whittoii (Hawke’s Bay), W. G. Rudd (Nelson and Marlborough), A. J. Honey (West Coast), and W. C. Hislop. (Tara-; nakiV; members of the Board of Gen- ‘ eral Purpcees, Messrs W. R. T. LeighG- A. Bobbin, J\ A. Macfarlane,' \\. F.Brooke-Taylor and E. Grimwade (Auckland), B. Falck arid T. C. Hatton (Canterbury), G. W. Key ‘(Wellington), £• L- Roberts (Otago), W. Exccll (Southland). A. H. M. Wright (Ruapehu), J. Hobson (Hawke’s Bay), W.C. Lucas (Nelson and Marlborough), ■. J. Mclndoe (West Coast) aridW. W. Thomson (Taranaki); members of the - Board of Benevolence, Messrs E R Davis, D. B. Wallace. A. H. Caudwelll G. Ravenhill, W. Todd, C. B. Hobson’"' A. McLeod and H. G. McCrea (Auck-: land), H. J. Baron, F. H. Knight (Canterbury), W. Cochran, (Welling-* ton), W. H. Hopkins (Otago), J. H. . Worenson (Southland), L. B. H, De Lautour (Ruapehu), H. Bate (Hawke’s * ; Bay), R. H. Shaw-Thompson (Nelson. ? and Marlborough),' W. Prentice (West '. Coast), and H. E. Lawrence (Taranaki). . •' ' - POSITION 7 OF FUNDS. The report of the Board of Benevo-' lence showed that £1129 had been expended, during the year in direct relief i and that 14 circular appeal funds ‘-i were in existence, the amount to their v credit totalling £2122. The Annuity Board’s‘report showed -. taht 123 annuitants were in receipt of annuities-amounting to £4951, 24 new ones having been granted during the , year. Out of the special war bene- • volent fund £1744 had been paid in loans and direct grants. The table of Grand Lodge funds * , a; totalof £84,519, of which */ belonged.: to the general, fund, : £61,339 to the widows and orphans and aged Masons fund; ; £6779 : to the war benevolent fund, £3694 to the fund of benevolerice, £2122‘t0 the circular ap- ; peal funds, arid £1854 to the repre- • sentation fund. On the recommendation of the Board of General Purposes: the rank of Past Grand Master, was conferred upon Mr " Michel, Pro-Grand Master and that of - Pasfc Junior Grarid Warden upon Messrs W- If- Cooper (Christchurch) and D. B. ’ Wallace (Auckland). . j WORK OF THE GOVERNOR. Referring to the work of Lord Jellicoe, as Grand Master, the Hon. Michel ■- Master) said he had never wearied in striving to uphold the highest traditions and ideals of the craft. New Zealand was richer and Free- ; masonry stronger as a result of his work. ‘Although in the .past they had been fortunate in their Grand Mastersy he Was confident no Grand Master had more truly endeared himself- to 1 members, and in the name of the Grand ' Lodge he had sent hiiri a message ; of • farewell, wishing him a safe and pleas- • ant voyage and expressing the ho|ie.. that he would be spared for many years to render further service to the great Empire of which he was such an outstanding figure, and that all the blessings his. life could give would fall upon • lii mand those near and dear to him. He stated that Lord Jellicoe, during his term of office, .had devoted an average of. one evening a week to the interests of Freemasonry. It was agreed that next year’s communication should be held in Dunedin. INSTALLATION OF MR MASSEY. FAREWELL FROM LORD JELLICOE. AUCKLAND, Nov. 26. ' The installation of Mr W. F. Massey '• as Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge took place at the Town Hall this evening in the presence of a very large gathering' of 'Freemasons. Mr O. Nicholson (past Grand Master) acted as installing Grand Master. The gathering was beyond question the largest. assemblage of Freemasons yet held in the Dominion, the attendance being 2800. The distinguished ; visitor was Judge Montgomerie Hamiltori, Past Giand Master of New South Wales, who came from Sydney express- • ly to do honour to New Zealand’s, new - Grand Master. A telegram was read from Lord Jellicoe, expressing regret at his inability to be present, arid expressinjg to. Freemasons throughout the Dominion his extreme regret at leaving them and his warm fraternal wishes. The chief appointment to Masonic honour in the gift of the Grand Master were filled as follows: Deputy Grand Master, Mr R. H. Richmond (Greymouth) ; Provincial Grand Masters, Messrs O. Nicholson (Auckland), G. Russell . (Wellington), W. Lichner (Otago). W. A. Stout (Southland), W. H. Mae Lean (Ruapehu). C. H. Critchley (Hawke’s Bav), F. G. Wade (West Coast), R, P. Furness (Nelson and Marlborough) and G. W. Rogers (Taranaki); Senior Grand Warden, Mr C. W. Nielson (Wellington); Junior Grand Warden, Mr W. E. Rusderi . (Southland). These, as well as the officers elected by the Grand Lodge earlier in the day, were duly invested.