MANONIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7480, 9 November 1885, Page 5 (Supplement)

MANONIC.

I'. :<s. *.1. Niccol, W.P.IPS.M, and J. Sla'.or, P tr , Sec., S. i . N.I. of S.C., lets for Gi»'nori.e on October 1") per To Anau to crec and consecrate Lodje Montro-e. -\fter i. rattier rough passage they landed at 4 p.m. on l-'r. lay, and opened the P.O. Lodge on Saturday at 4..'!0, aud Lodge Montrose at 6 p.m. Toe fallowing officers were installed : — Mr .■>. J. Tnoiiifon, K. W.M ; K. J.diintone, P.M.L'.M.; A. t!. Croil, S.W.; J. P. Foster, •I. W.; "l. K. Jamos, Treasurer; S. Mcialwain, Secretary; A. Piiipps, S.U.; J. It. J.b'.; F. Phippa, 1.1'.; J. Fyson, Tyler. Nineteen gentlemen were initiated, and. after ciosinir lodge the Bretherii adjouriied to brother Scott's Masonic Hotel, «here a sumptuous banquet bad been prepared. wliich was done ample justice to by about 00 bretherii. The foundation stone of the new Masonic Hall for Southern Star Lodge. I.C , was laid on Oct dier 14 by Brother (1. S. (iraham. District Grand Master of Auckland, and wiio visited Nelson by invitation for the purpose. The ceremony was an imposing one, three local lodges and numerous vinitors being pr:s.Tit. I».strict Grand Master Graham, after the fctoue bad been laid according to ancient custom, delivered a suitable address. The quarterly communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge, North Island of New Zealand, S.C., was held in the Masonic Hall on the 2D:li October, at half-past seven o'clock. Brother Sir Frederick Wnitaker, 11. W. P.0.M.. wa» in the chair, supported by Brother M. Niccol, R. W.U.P.G.M.. and tho principal ollicers of the lodge. A vast deal of routine business was transacted with great despatch, owing to the excellent arrancem mcs made by .Brother Sl&tor, the Provincial Grand secretary. The R. W.P. Grand Master informed the lodge that tho published reports of some recent action of the Grand Lodge of Scotland had made provision for the retirement of the Grand Masters aud Provincial Grand Masters of Lodges under the Constitution at the end of five years from the time of talcing ollic«, and as he had been six years in his present office, it was manifest that his time was expired, though he had received no official notification of the fact. Finally, it was arranged that communication should be made with the authorities on the matter, in order to realise officially the exact position and nature of the case. There was a hearty and unanimous opinion that Brother Whitaker should continue to hold the honourable office, and there is no doubt but this feeling is shared by all the subordinate lodges in this provincial district. A petition, duly signed, for the erection of a new lodge under the constitution was rocaivod from the Mercury Bay district, and favourably entertained. The lodge was duly closed at half-past nine p.m. After the closing, Brother .Sir F. Whitaker exhibited to some of tho brethren a very interesting memento—viz., his Manonic apron which he wore when first raised to the degree of a Master Mason, in the City of Oxford, now nearly half a century ago.