New Masonic Grand Master

Northern Advocate, 29 November 1939, Page 2

New Masonic Grand Master

f Per Press Association. Copyright.] AUCKLAND, This Day.

The annual communication of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand opened at Auckland to-day. There are 303 active lodges under iurisdiction of the Grand Lodge and practically all are represented, mostly ,oy pitting members. Officials of the Grand Lodge, delegates and local freemasons attending as spectators made a very large gathering when the retiring Grand Master (Lord Galway ), with the officers, entered the Conference Hall.

The first item on the agenda was the election of a Grand Master for the ensuing year.

The unanimous choice of the lodges was Mr C. J. Ronaldson, of Christchurch, whose appointment was duly confirmed.

Other important offices are filled by the Grand Master under porogative power.

These include Mr C. L. Macdiarmid. of Hamilton, Deputy Grand Master; O. Nicholson (Auckland!, J. H. Terrain (Wellington), C. S. Thompson (Canterbury), J. A. Sparrow (Ctago). C. L. Macdiarmid (Waikato), A. Nob. 1 (Southland), A. W. Parkinson (Hawke's Bay). H. Campbell (West Coast). J. L. Ching (Nelson-Marlborough). J. C. Barclay (Taranaki), C. D. Fraser (Ruapehu). The foregoing are all Provincial Grand Masters. Together with the incoming Grand Master, those officials will be installed in the Town Hall this evening. Messrs H. C. Mac Gibbon and R. A. Gillespie will be installed Senior and Junior Grand Wardens respectively. High Past Grand Rank. In recognition of valued services, the Board of General Purposes recommended the following for High Past Grand rank, and the conference approved: Messrs J, B. Berth wick (Christchurch), as Warden; C. L. Thomas (Napier), as Director of Ceremonies; S. I. Crookes (Auckland), as Director of Ceremonies.

The following are Deacons: Messrs A. H. Booth (Wellington), J. G. Coates (Auckland and Wellington), C. M. Glimmer (Mom'nsville), C. Hedge (Te Aroha), L. J. Matthews (Kaitaia), Evan Morgan (Waihi), Duncan McGregor (Greymouth) and J, A. Orsman (Nelson). Messrs E. W. Cooper (Cust.) was elected Standard-bearer and W. E. Robertson (Pohgaroa) Bible-bearor. The Grand Lodge Communieation next year will bn in Wellington. Elective Officers. Elective officers for the Auckland district were chosen as follows: Grand Chaplain, Rev. Rabbi A. Aster; Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mr F. G. Alpe; Assistant-Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mr G. R. Hutch inson. jnr.; Grand Standard Bearer, Mr G. W. A. Clark; Grand Stewards, Messrs H. S. Dent. J, McGuire, H. H. Pickard, and R. Ward; members of the Board of General Purposes, Messrs J. J. Bedggood and A. Logan; member of the Board of Benevolence. Mr A. S. Boldero.