FREEMASONRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2497, 4 January 1869, Page 4 (Supplement)

FREEMASONRY.

On D«, g| the Important corciimny nf in» stellinp * Frovliwtlnl Gram! Master was color Muted by the Krocmasons, at«l a-UwsM a targe attendance of brethren fmtnall liodgM »® the province A Inrge number of M)Xr«r« tatos attendedjtlm imriion of It open to v tew, and nlkiguther a very cmwlders abta intetwt w*i taken in the priMmling*- . brother Donald, the master cloot, lim ■sen prominently connected with tho Or|®f dwiludrstcatabHshment In th® province, teas ever jMesthiwd the retard nt hU idhiw-craflsmcH, He has held the ptwltlnn of deputy from I ho timu tlm tiffies became vacant—Mmic thrno yours ngo—nnd the permahciiey being wnfi'i'rv<l upon him has given Ecral mtisfiUitlim, tint brethren having n utwtnlmmjis In recommendhi« Ithn for the appointment. The tat ev ?nt of Himllnr Importttiieo to that of yesterday vm up wards of nine yearn ago, when tin> I'rovlncial Grand Imdgo wiw first constitut'd,ami Mr,J. C. Wntl< Uuwll was installed i* Grand Matter. Thm cere-

mony took place in Lyttelton, the then head quarters, ra st were, of the Order, and the progress wiifch lute been made In the interim vm shewn by the large muster of brethren belonging to the older Lodges and the appearance of ra additional one In the procession.

The tuwemhly yesterday was fixed for two o’clock, st the Lodge of Unanimity, Hereford street, rad at a little beyond tho half hoar the head of the proeowdon filed wit of (he foxlgo yard into the streel and proceeded in the following order direct to Ht, John’s Church;— Three Tylers, with diawn swords. Brethren not attached to any local Lodge. Brethren of the Canterbury Lodge. Brethren of the thmthera Cross Lodge. Kalapoi. Brethren of the St Augiatinc Lodge. Brethren of the Lodge of Unanimity. ORAWD ItoDOR !— The Grand Tyler, with his drawn sword.' Officers of the Grand Lodge. The Grand Secretary, with Book of Constitutiofl, The Grand Chaplain, Preceded by a Past Manter carrying the Bible, Square, and ComparaM, Tim Grand PHrarivaut. The Deputy Proviuda! Grand Master Elect W. DONALD, Era., Provincial Grand Master Elect, Supported by Brother Lexer, Installing Master. Tylers, with drawn swords.

Advancing towards the church, the procesrion formed a very Impressive spectacle, whilst the targe resratotagg of persons keeping paca with it, .and the fine summer weather, further tended to form a most pleasing and enlivening picture. There were, upwards of cue hundred and thirty brethren of the order, attired in full muonic costume, with the officers bearing the symbols emblematical of their respective preitfons, or referring to tbe mysteries of the craft, and a new banner, wfaish had been specially prepared for theoecasfa®. Todrecribeindiridraladornment from the plain inrignta of the younger members to the ridi deoaratfona cf the officers in immediate attendrare upon the Grand Master elect, would be tapoMlHe, but we may notice those of Brother Lazar, the Installing Officer. Hfe breast and apron were one mm of gold Irae, medals, and other decorations, and indmd it would Imvcbeen difficult to count the numerous marks of distinction which he wore. He walked on the right of Brother W. Donald, who also, by virtue of his position, 'possessed & large number of decorations, and. indeed, the circle of officers nt this part of the procession were more or leas attired in the rich inriguia peculiar to leading members of the Order. The banner also claims attention as formingone of the distinctive features of the procession. It wag composed of purple silk, and suspended from an appropriate pole with gilt ornaments. The heraldic bearings of the general masonic body are quartered with those of the Grand Lodge. In the first the field is Oslo, with three castles Argenf, a chevron Qr with a pair of comp®sseß extended thereon Azure. The second is quartered by a cross Fert voided Or, the first quartering is Azure a lion rampant Or, the second is Or a bull Hable, the third is a man proper, with arms extended upon a field Or; the fourth is Azure a spread, eagle Or. The above quarterings were severally borne upon the standards of the four principal tribes of Israel, viz., Judah, Ephraim, Reuben, and Dan. Tbe shield is surrounded by a circle, in which is inscribed, in gilt letters, <£ Canterbury, New Zealand.” Captain Wilson was in charge of the whole assemblage, and marshalled the brethren into order. On. arriving at the church gates, the liead of the procession halted, and the two ranks opening out and facing inwards formed a passage, up which the Grand. Master elect and his attendant officers passed into the building, followed by the others in order of seniority. A large and fashionable congregation had already collected in tbe sacred edifice, but a portion of the seated accommodation having been set- apart for the brethren of the Order, no confusion occurred. All the seats were filled when the seivicecommenced, and many persons were compelled to stand at each doorway. . Prayers were said by tbe Rer. J. O’B. Iloare, the prayer used “in time of war and tumults” being introduced. The 104th Psalm was chanted by the choir. The first lesson for the day; St Thomas/ was read by the Rer. F.-Knowles, and the second by the Rev. W. J. G. Bluett.

, The Anthem taken from the 133 d Psalm, f* Behold bow good and joyful, a thing it is, brethren to . dwell, together in unity,” wan beautifully given: ;.by‘ the choir, Brother Waddington presiding: at the organ. . After the 174th Hymn had been sung, the Rev. W. J, G. Bl nett pte Ached the sermon, selecting as IMs text the J Gth verse of \ the/iSMh chapter : 'of the Propbecles of Behold I lay in Zfon ■ for.■;.» ; fomsdiftipoi < stone, a tried ' atone; apneious oontar-stotte, a sure foundation.'* He remarked that that man was indeed to bo pitted who had no foundation stone upon which to build life hopes of a future life. A foundation stone of some kind was a jpjemity of our spiritual being, for no mic can divest himself of hfe responsibility,, and must liavo something upon which to build hfe hopes, But unfortunately many men pass their lives In building upon false and vain foundations, In foet upon any : fotihdiiliou hut the riylit one. Homo ti-iiai to their freedom from gws vice, some upon the bJamohissncsa of the ordinary wmrso of their Ilves, arid others upon their benevolence and good and amiable etualitUs. Others Again, though living in sin, havi wonio vague am undefined hope of God’s toey at the last, But all these foundations frill bn found mavulllng, for every man’s work will bd proved, and tliat which is not built upon the Rock of Ages shall be finally overthrown. So deceitful Is the human heart, ind so beguiling to sin, that many a man pomes life life, lulled into a false security, until lite Is moved by the Holy Spirit of God to altaridoit hfe plan of building upon a sandy iiundation, and a goodly building fe piacwl upon the true foundation stone, and tlses higher and higher still, until the jop-stono is laid upon it, amid a cry rf «< Grace—Grace unto it.” May we pass tlrough life, trusting on no other foundation than the true and precious one, Christ Jesusj Always bearing In mind that wc, too, hare a great blaster in. Heaven, and praying Him to use us as the' building materials of tho/eternal edifice, the only eno which Hie Gnjat Architect will deign to bless, and this filing will Induce a' feeling of real Wing spirit of brotherly: kindness and forbenran o towards one knnther, Tim Old Hundredth I’sslin was sang, and the offertory, which wiu| devoted to the; buildlng-fnnd. of the church wtw collected. The whole of the musical irtuigcnwnte were under tho able direction of! Brothers M’Cardell ntid Waddington, | The offertory amounted to i£H. I ' ■ Having loft the clinrehi the prrMWIPU formed lu the same order at before andreturned to the Dodge, where the ceremony of Installation took place, A coumicmoratlv© bmtoM vm aho given In jhc Town Hall in the evening, : After the Installation, |hc Grund Master appoint ml tho following hlclhrtm to fill the respomlve offices ftltaehotljo iholr munwt ;— 0, W, Bislmp, Deputy frnvlnefel Grund Master; C, B, Griewon, Wnfor Warden; H, Thomson,Junr, Wardoiß Ruv W, J.G, Bluett, Chaplain | C, W, Bishop, Ijegislrnr i A, Ft N. Ilfakiatan, Hwotary mw Treasurer; MamtfW, Benlnr Dewon 11, W, NiWi Junior Dcacmi; J, T. Jtouk Hnperintemhmt nf Works; A, Dmwau, pireetor of Cortn monies j J, Graham, Bearer, ,f, Wmbllngton, organist; n- Angus, Fwreufe viutt; G, Dorset, Tyler.

Nuw ZiujANn Domaa o? Uhanimitt, No, Tho annual meeting nf the above taulKc, to cclchriitu the fosflvul *»f Hi. John tho iteangclfet, whs holilut tin L>i<fe«t Lyttelton on I toeamlwr a I, The lanige met nt ’! p.m,, and itfter tho usuul pn'lfoilnjirius, llrnthor Henry Nowcmiieii Ntthler, Juntar Driwtm of ilic Grainl Lodge of Canterbury, nod Paul Hcnlor Warden i»f tlm lanlgo of Unanimity, wiw duly fodalk'd at Mitaterof tlmt Lndgii by the Right Worshipful the District Grand Master, Wlllinm Dotuild. Esq. The following officers of the L'"igv for the

ensuing yssx then Invested frith their Inrignfa, rad htrtrwctad In their dutfes;— Bro, Jem Ttasas Rome, P.M., at immltata Part Master; Bro. Edward 8. 'Elliston, m Senior Warden/ Bro. Wm. Mills, as 'Junior Warite rad Tririraw; Bro. W. B. Jm»», ra Secretary* 8™ -Albert Cuff, as Senior Deacon; Bro. Hugh M'Lellan, m Junior Dwunui Bro. David Day, as Inner Guard; Bro. Thoe. Hester, M Tyter., The Lodge was then called from Isdsrar to 'refrrriuucnt. rad rat down Io a banquet provided for the occasion, the R. W. D. G. M. ‘Xtcnpylng the chair. Ths iiraal tnaranfe tcarts were given .and duly Iwnoured, lueludlMg the Wllha of the IL W. D. G. M. Bro. DotaUd, W. M. of the Lodge, and of the rawly installed Bro. JI. N. Nalder. The brethren, after peering a very pleasant evening, separated shortly before midnight.