Colourful Installation Of Druids' Officers

Northern Advocate, 27 November 1948, Page 7

Colourful Installation Of Druids' Officers

“MOST of my executive are interested in bowls, but not the kind that are rolled along the ground.” The Grand President of the United Ancient Order of Druids (Bro, H. E. Wells) said this jocularly when presenting Bro. R. E. Metcalf with a trophy for the singles indoor bowling championship of the Whangarei Lodge last night. The occasion was the installation of officers of the Whangarei Lodge, in the new Druids’ Hall.

Full of colourful ceremony, the installation was the first official function to be held in the new building. Officers installed were:— Junior Past Arch Druid, Bro. G. Goodhue: Arch Druid, Bro. R. P. Redwood; Vice-Arch Druid, Bro K. Laurie; Inside Guardian, Bro. R. E. Metcalf; Outside Guardian, Bro. C. Storey;

Arch Druid Bards, Bros. H. Ashcroft and T. Peat; Vice-Arch Druid Bards, Bros. W. H. Main and H. Sykes; Master of Ceremonies and Past Arch Druid, Bro. A. C. Bevington; secretary,, Bro. M. H. West; treasurer, Bro. E. E. Thornton. Installing officers were: The District President (Bro. F. H. Rodgers, M.C.; the Grand President (Bro. H. E. Wells).

COLLARS DESCRIBED Assisting, Bro. H. S. Abel described each collar as presented as:— Arch Druid’s collar: Coloured red as a symbol of warmth, with the sun as a badge, symbolic of power to rule, light to encourage and warmth for affection. The Arch Druid was also given his symbol of office, a shepherd’s crook.

Vice-Arch Druid’s collar: Bearing the moons as a badge. These were not as resplendent as the sun, but were just as necessary. 'lnside and Outside Guardians’, collars: Bearing swords, one of the connections with the early Druids, who found it necessary to post guards to keep out intruders. The Arch and Vice-Arch Druid Bards’ collars: Bearing a harp as a symbol of harmony. Other symbols were the wand carried by the Master of Ceremonies, giving him freedom of movement about the Lodge, and the tripod, standing for the Druids’ oak.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS Officers of the Grand Lodge who attended last night’s function were:— Grand President, Bro. Wells; ViceGrand, Bro. R. A. H. Dunderdale; Junior Past Grand President, Bro. F. Ramsbottom; Secretary of the Grand Lodge, Bro. M. Bringham; Grand Treasurer, Bro. J. Gauntlet; Grand Guardian, Bro. B. Hobday; Senior Grand Lodge trustee, Bro. H. S. Abel. Bowling trophies presented were: Singles, Bro. Metcalf; doubles. Bros. Main and Sykes. Presenting these, Bro. Wells said he had tried for two trophies in his own lodge—for bowls and for singing. He had won neither at any time, but in 26 years’ singing he had been runner-up twice—and that was 24 years ago.