MASONIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16550, 14 May 1914, Page 11

MASONIC.

GRAND LODGE OPENED. GATHERING AT CHORAL HALL. | FIRST BUSINESS SESSION. INSTALLATION OF R.W. BR'J. J. J. DOUGALL. ■ The annual communication of Grand lodgo of Antient. Free and Accepted M&fions of New Zealand is this year beiwg held in Christchurch, at tho Choral Hall. The Lodge was opened vesterday by the relyruig Gran. Master, Most Worshipful Brother Maurice Thompson. There was a largo attendance of delegates .to Grand Lodge, who occupied the floor oi the hall and a fair attendance of Master Masons, who were seated m tho gallevies* ! , MOTION OF SORROW. '■ Immediately on the opening of Grand Lodge, the Grand Master referred witu ie<n-et to the loss sustained by tne Craft in tho death of M.W. Brother Alfred Henry Burton, Past brand Master R.W. Brother Robert Clusenliall Hamerton, Past Grand 'Deputy Master, and other brethren whoso deaths had been recorded during the •j ear. Ho moved that Grand Lccteo should record on the minutes its sense of loss in the death of these brethren. , The motion was carried in silence.

' ELECTION OF GRAND MASTER. ' The retiring Grand Master announced that Right'Worshipful Brother J. JDougall had been unanimously nominated to fill the high position of Grand Master for the year, and' lie had much pleasure in submitting his name for election. It wasViite unnecessary in the Christchurch district to mention any of the qualifications that R.vV. Brother Dougall possessed for tho office, and he thought that brethren from other Darts of the dominion were fully aware of Brother Dougall's capabilities. , . , M.W. Brother F. C. Bums seconded the nomination, remarking that he had known Brother Dougall for a great number of years, and was very pleased indeed that he had been able to accept office. It was perfectly certain that he would give satisfaction not only to Canterbury, but to the whole territory, and all he would require would be that the brethren should stick loyally by him. The election was carried unanimously, and R. W. Brother DougJ'.ll briefly thanked the brethren. OTHER OFFICERS. Other elective officers were returnled as follow: — Canterbury Province—Grand Chap- : lain, W. Brother Rev A. Mitchell; ! Grand Treasurer, W. Brother D. A. Baxter: Grand Registrar, W. Brother E. D. Moseley; President of Board of General Purposes, R.AV. Brother S. C Bingham; President of Board of Bevevolence, W. Brother John Thornton; Grand Director of Ceremonies, W. Brother Kenneth Mackenzie: Grand Stewards, W. Brothers L. A. H. Gogoll and J. Mackenzie; members of Board of General Purposes, W. Brothers F. C. B. Bishop, A. H. Hobbs, H. Hopkin6on, H. J. Otley and M. B. Wright; members of Board of Benevolence, W. Brothers W. Brown, T. Compton, J. ,W. Roberts, A. H. Webb and W. M. Robinson. ! Auckland District Senior Grand Deacon, W. Brother S. S. Allen: Grand Superintendent of Works, W. Brother )J. S. Colhoun; Grand Bible Bearer, I W. Brother John Reid; Grand Stan- ' dard Bearer, W. Brother W.rS. Clark; Grand Stewards, W. Brothers C. F. Reed and Norman M'Kensue; members of Board of General Purposes, W. Brothers D. B. Walshe and H. Hammond; ; members of Board of Benevolence, W. Brothers G. E. M'Carthney and A. H. f' Brackebush. | Wellington District—Senior Grand 1 Deacon, W. Brother J. H. Worboys; Grand Director of Ceremonies, W. Brother F. J. Hunn; Grand Bible Bearer, W. Brother Frank Bedford; Grand . Standard Bearer, W. Brother Joseph Firth; Grand Stewards, W. Brothers W. J. Croucher and EGoodbehere; members of Board of General Purposes, W. Brothers J. G. Harkness and H. J. T. Jaggard; members of Board of Benevolence, W Brothers G. Russell and H. Hobbs. Otago District—Junior Grand Deacon, W. Brother W. H. Hopkins; Grand Superintendent of Works. W. B-other C. L. W. Lischher; Grand Organist, W. Brother F. TX. Burry; Grand Steward, W. Brother William Jacobsen; members of Board of General Purposes, W. Brothers F. Bradley and J. G. Ross; members of Board of Benevolence, W. Brothers H. G. Dea|Jtoid J. R. Gilmour. Southland District —Grand Chaplain, . W. Brother Ven Archdeacon Packe; Grand Pursuivant, W. Brother J. 0. Clapp. jun.; Grand Steward, W. Brother J. H. Homer; member of Board of General Purposes, W. Brother J. T. Pram; member or Board of Benevolence, W. Brother James Walker. Hawke's Bay Districts—Grand Pursuivant, W. Brother J. B. E. Hird; Grand Steward. W. Brother H. E. Burley ; member of Board of General Purposes, W. Brother E. Hosking: member of Board of Benevolence, \V. Bro-

ther G. F. Roach. Nelson and Marlborough DistrictGrand Sword Bearer, W. Brother F. Thomas; Grand Steward, W. Brother F. Nosworthy; member of Board of Benevolence, W. Brother R. W. Styles. West Coast District —Grand Sword Bearer, W. Brother 0. P. Mori; •Grand Steward, W. Brother T. Pattison; member of Board of General Purposes, TV. Brother E. Schafer; member of Board of Benevolence, W. Brother G. Hufton. 1 Taranaki District—Junior Grand Deacon, W. Brother W. H. Haddrell; Grand Steward, W. Brother G. W. Rogers; member of Board of General Purposes, W. Brother F. G. Kimbell. BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE. The report of the Board of Benevolence stated that £452 6s 2d had been paid during the year. In pursuance of the policy recently adopted by the Board, and approved by Grand Lodge, the Board had endeavoured to meet all cases calling for assistance by increased grants from the Fund of Benevolence, and: had only advised tho Grand Master to sanction a general appeal to the Craft by circular in exceptional circumstances, where the requirements of the case were beyond the Board's power to meet. As a result of this system, the circular appeals for the year had been limited to ..three, without turning down any deserving application. The fund showed a credit balance of £3616 lis 9d. The report was adopted. . i ANNUITY FUND. k Tho Annuity Board and Board of F Management of the Widows and OiI phans and Aged Masons' Fund reported I that annuities had been confirmed to ! the value of £596 10s, and new annuities brought the ,total to £778 10s. The capital value of tho fund at March 31 was £22,634, an increase of £2OOB, the largest item in tho increase being voluntary contributions from lodges and brethren.

Civic Lodge, No. 157, Christchurch, had during the past year contributed over to the W. and O. and A.M. Fund, and had offered to donate further sums during the next four years, which would collectively amount to £4OO, on condition that thereafter an annuity of £26 should be allotted to Civic Lodge and bu \at the disposal of that lodge for the use and enjoyment of any member who might bo nominated by it, subject to the rules and requirements of the Board. The Board expressed willingness to fall in with tho idea, but an addition to the rules and approval by Grand Lodgo would be necessary before effect could bo given to such a proposal. Tim jP'wd

had tentatively adopted the following new rule, and now reported it to Grand Lodge for approval.—'Should any lodge or other recognised body of Freemasons, within a period of -ive years, contribute to the W. and 0. and A.M. Fund <,f (M-and'Lodge an iwruumt not less than £4OO, cither in "--no sum or by instalments, such lodge or bo r ly shall have the right to nominate to the Board the name of a brother to become an annuitant on the fund to the extent of £26 per annum. The Board, however,' must be satisfied that | the circumstances of the) proposed annuitant arc such as to entitle him to an annuity. The annuity may be? dis- ; tinguished by such designation as the 1 lodge may, with the approval of the : Board, determine." The report was adopted. j NECROLOGY. i The Board of General Purposes re--1 ported with profound sorrow the death of M.W. Brother Alfred Henry Burton, of Dunedin, Past Grand Master. Brother Burton had occupied . a prominent place in assemblies for the last twenty-four years, and had been present at the last communication. He had reached his eightieth year, but his mental vigour was unabated, his interest in Grand Lodge was as keen as ever and he was looking forward to the prospect of raising his voice in defence of certain features of policy which he had always advocated very strenuously. I Another pillar of Freemasonry had been removed by the death of Right Wor. Brothei- R. C. Hamerton, who served, the Craft faithfully for fifty years, and was one of the best known Freemasons in Wellington during that long period. Right Wor. Brother Hamerton died on September o, 1913, at the ripe ago of seventy-five, but he would long live in the memory of his many Masonic friends. Wor. Brother James T. Muir. Past Grand Deacon, died suddenly at Wanganui on January 21, at tho ago of fortythree, and tho graveside ceremonies I testified convincingly to the universal esteem in which he was held by all classes in the community. Other members of Grand Ledge who had ceased from labour during the past year were:—Wor. Brother George E. Collins, of Lvttelton, Past Grand Deacon, died March, 1914. Wor. Brother Gervase D. Hamerton, of Pa tea, Past Grand Bible Bearer, died July 13, 1913. Wor. Brother J. J. Grandi, of Timaru, Past Grand Sword Bearer, died August, 1913. FINANCE. Tho financial reports showed the following' cash balances: —General Fund, £3881; Fund of Benevolence, £3504; W. and 0 and A.M. Fund, £22,634; Circular Appeal Funds, £1414; Representation. Fund, £489. Total, £31.923. BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES. The Board of General Purposes reported that the new editioi of the constitution and laws of Grand Lodge had been printed, and was generally regarded as ii great improvement on previous editions. The agreement with the Grand Lodge of Scotland had been duly executed. Two new lodges had been constituted at Timaru, one at Whakatano and one at Middlemarch. The financial conditions of the Lodges was generally sound. None of them wero seriously embarrassed, but there were a few that had tried to work on too small a subscription, and althpugh the Board did not suggest interference by Grand Lodge in the domestic affairs of Lodges, it was worth considering whether the minimum rate of subscription should not be fixed by statute, the same as the minimum fee for initiation. The report was adopted. It was decided to hold the next communication of Grand Lodge at Wellington, AFTERNOON SESSION. Grand Lodge adjourned at one o'clock and resumed at 2.30, after a photograph had been taken of the delegates. "" ' ";"' The principal business in the nfternoon was a discussion as to whether a change should be made from the present system of administration, in which the executive officers are stationed for two years in one of the four centres, or whether the office should be permanently stationed at one centre, with «lrand Lodge meeting at various centres in turn.

Some two hours were given up to a discussion of the various motions bearing upon tho question. Last year at the Auckland session a motion was passed affirming the desirableness of looating the office permanently in one of the four chief centres (Wellington for preference), but it still remained to provide machinery to give effect to that # resolution. That step, however, was intercepted by a motion to rescind the Auckland resolution. The motion was warmly debated, and the advantages and drawbacks of centralisation were fully canvassed. Eventually the rescinding motion was carried by an overwhelming majority.