DEDICATION OF THE NEWTON MASONIC HALL TO ODDFELLOWSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5636, 9 December 1879, Page 5

DEDICATION OF THE NEWTON MASONIC HALL TO ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Tiie ceremony of dedicating the newlyorectcd Masonic Hall, Newton, to the purposes of Oddfellowship, was celebrated last night with great eclat. Some time ago a branch of the Loyal Auckland Lodge, holding under t!ie American Constitution of Oddfellowahip, was found to bs necessary in consequence of the rapid spread of membership in Newton and its neighbourhood, and a lodge was formed with Bro'her Ellis as noble grand. The accommodation then available was not commensurate with the requirements of the lodge or the dignry of the order, but the pmje:t of erecting the Masonic Hall was then under consideration. Overtures were nude to the Lodge Kden. E.G., the proprietors of the litter, audit was arranged tint the hall, when erected, should be at the service of tin <>d Ifel'ows 0:1 terms fixed. Litit week the hall was completed and dedicated to Fioema-Oiiry. 'I'll'! Oddfellows had their celebration last night it was carried out with great cclal \t ha 1 a great advantage in this respect in the fact thatit was not exclusive. Invltiiims were issued to leading citizens, a:id members of the order were privileged to bring their wives sisters, or sweethearts to w tifc-s tVceremony. The consequence was that ill--had was filled almost to sutl'ooation, a:i ; numhers s-tond around tin doorway. At a rough estimate there were about 350 inside, of whom a third at least were women, who] by their prerencc, manifested their go-d feeling toward benefit sosieties in general, and the 1.0.0. I<\, American Constitution, in particular. The ceremony, we may remark, was carried through with a full choral service, in which several ladies and a numb r of gentlemen not members of the order to'>k part. These included some rea'ly excellent vic> s. Mr. T. Burnham presided as orgmist. The instrument on which he per-foi-mcd was a splendid one, lent for the occasion by Mr. J. Hughes. It is a double action instrument of rare power and sw. etnoss of tone, and the occompaniments showed to some extent ita power of modulation. The Loyal Lodge of Newton was constituted, with the N.G. Brother Kllii presiding. After which the Grand L>dge entered. The Grand Lodge was constituted as follows : - Brother J. Hughes, D.D.G.M., offioiatiu» as M.W.GM.; Brother Dr. Lee, D.V.G., bthciatiog as W. V.G. ; Brother Pigott, G. Marshall; Brother Patterson, G. Herald; Br.ither S. Matthews, G. Chaplain ; Brother Butler, G. Treasurer; Brother Pennal, G. Secretary; Brother R. J. Davidson, P.G.; Brothers Morrison, Faulkner, Power, and Kitt as Heralds for the north, south, east, and west, re3pectively. After prayer bv the Grand Chaplain, "Direct us, 0 Lord," the Grand Marshal announced the purpose of the assembly, and the N.G. of the Newton L >dgo placed the keys of the hall in the hands of the M. W.G.M., who acc-pted iu form the duty of dedica'ing the hall. The chaplain agaiu engaged in prayer, after which a selection from the Psalms was given, the choir intoning the responses, and following by the hymn, " Unto Thee, Great God, belong mystic rite=i," Sc. The G.M. then dedicated the hall to O.ldfellowship, and to disseminate friendship, love, and truth, aud the diffusion of charity! The Heralds, by command of the Grand Marshal, then proclaimed the lodge dedicated—north, in the name Friendship ; south, in the name of Love; east, in the name of Truth ; aud west, in the name of Faith, Hope, and Charity. The Grand Marshal, then announced that the proclamatiou had gone forth to the four quarters of the globe. Several o les were sung, and aftir prayer by the Grand Chaplain, the grand lodge retired, and Brother Ellis resumed the chair of the L >yal Lodge of Newton. lie expressed his gratification and pleasure on behalf of the lodg« at seeing so many present, and their gratitude to the members of the grand lodge, and the members of the choir, for their valuable services. He then, for the information of non-raem-bers, quoted statistic* regarding the order. The proceedings were brought to a close by singing the o.le, to the tune of " Auld Lang Syne," of "Good night! a truthful kind adieu." Subsequently, a number of those present got up an impromptu dance in the hall, and the necessary music was provided by members of the Engineer Band.