MASONIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6591, 2 January 1883, Page 6

MASONIC.

ALEXANDRA LODGE, No. 11SS, E.C. Tiie annual meeting of the above lodge, for installation purposes, was held in the lodgeroom, Alexandra, on Friday last, the 29th instant. There was a much larger attendance than usual, the room being inconveniently crowded. The W .M., Brother W . Jones presided and was well supported by his officers. After the lodge had been opened the W.M. briefly addressed the brethren on the progress of the lodge during the past year. More work had, he believed, been done in that time than during any previous year of the lodge's existence. He congratulated them on their present flourishing condition and hoped it might long continue. He thanked his officers, and the brethren generally, for the assistance they had rendered him and for the cordial manner in which they had all worked together during the year. At the request of the W.M. Brother W. P. Moat, D.S.G.W, then took the gavel and proceeded to instal Brother George M. Aubin Ahier as W.M., v.'ho then appointed and invested his officers as follows :—Brothers Wallace Jones, I. P.M.; R. \Y. Roche, S. W. ;C. B. Gentil, J.W. ; T. Finch, P.M., Treasurer ; i£. L. Hope, Secretary ; J. W. Charlton, S.D. ; James Rendell, J.D. ; H. Hallett, I.G. ; J. G. Tristram, Tyler. Previous to the lodge being closed, on the motion of Brother Aubin, P.M., seconded by Brother Jones, 1.P.M., a cordial vote of thanks was tendered to Brother Moat for having, at great personal inconvenience, come all the way from Aucklmd to act as Installing Master, and for the effective and impressive manner in which he had conducted the ceremony, Brother Aubin remarking that Brother Moat seemed to spare neither time, trouble, nor expense when the interests of Masonry were to be promoted.—Brother Moat, in responding, said the pleasure he felt at seeing the flourishing state of the lodge amply repaid him for his trouble in attending. Since it was first constituted, fifteen years ago, the lodge had passed through many vicissitudes. When he last visited it, three years ago, the prospect was a gloomy one, and many prophesied that it could not hold together much longer. Now all that was changed. They had between fifty and sixty subscribing members, and a good balance at their bankers ; and if they only worked as harmoniously together in the future as they had done during the past year, they would soon occupy a position second to no country lodge in the Auckland district. He alluded to the exertions of Brother P.M. Aubin, on behalf of the lodge. He had been one of its founders, and had consented to act as its W.M. on four different occasions, when the welfare of the lodge required it. After the business of the evening had been disposed of and the lodge closed, the brethren sat down to a banquet, where an ample supply of good things had been provided by Brother Finch, of the Doncaster Arms. The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given, honoured, and responded to, while a few songs from musical brethren added to the pleasure of the evening, which all seemed to enjoy.