MASONIC GATHERING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 299, 4 December 1935, Page 7

MASONIC GATHERING

N.Z. Grand Lodge Meets

NEW OFFICERS CHOSEN

(By Telegraph—Presa Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 4,

The annual communication of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand opened this morning. The greater number of the 306 lodges of the national constitution now in ths Dominion were represented either by their masters or by delegates. 'Colonel J. J. Esson, who has been Grand Master for the past twelve months presided, and was supported by a strong assemblage of Past Grand Masters.

After respect had been shown to the memory of the late Earl Jellicoe, who was Grand Master of New Zealand in 1923 and 1924, and sympathy extended to his widow and family, the elective officers for the coming twelve months were chosen. Under a scheme of distribution submitted by the Board of General Purposes Colonel Esson was reelected Grand Master. As the Grand Secretary office will remain in Wellington for another twelve months, the chief executive officers are from that district. Thus Mr. 11. G. Teague remains president of the Board of General Purposes, Mr. C. N. Cathie is president of the Board of Benevolence, Mr. R. W. McVilley is Grand Treasurer and Mr. A. T. Duncan Grand Registrar. A Grand Director of the Ceremonies was elected for each of the four largest districts—Mr. J. S. Martin for Wellington, Mr. W. T. Franks for Canterbury, Mr. W. W. Wright for Auckland, which also has an assistant Grand Director in Mr. F. G. Alpe, and Mr. G. Waldie for Otago. Each of the other districts was allotted an assistant Grand Director —Waikato, Mr. P. P. Bynon Powell; Southland, Mr. A. Noble; Ruapehu, Mr. G. N. Mac Diarmid; Hawke’s Bay, Mr. A. B. Davis; Nelson and Marlborough, Mr. G. Mitchell; West Coast, Mr. T. Ecclesfield; Taranaki, Mr. G H. Hutton. The two senior Grand Deacons elected are Messrs. A. Burgess, of Wellington, and T. H. Kerr, of Canterbury, and the Junior Grand Deacons are Messrs. L. C. E. Hamann, of Auckland, and J. D. King, of Otago. It is proposed that next year’s communication be held at Dunedin. The installation of the Grand Master and the investiture of the other officers nominated by him for the year will take place this evening.