MASONIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9492, 23 April 1894, Page 6

MASONIC.

GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND. It is arranged that the M.W.G.M. Brother Niccol and a number of Grand Lodge officers and other brethren will leave for Wellington this morning, to take part in the annual meeting of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand, and in tho installation of Brother H. D. Bell, M.H.R. and Mayor of Wellington, into the position of Grand Master of New Zealand. Tho institution of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand took place during the r.ime Lord Onslow was Governor. Lord Onslow was then Past Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge of England, and it was thought that the occasion would be appropriate to offer him the Grand Lodge Mastership, such as had been accepted by Lord Carrington, tho then Governor of New South Wales. There was, however, strong opposition on behalf of the members adhering to the Grand Lodges of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the result was that Lord Onslow hesitated and imposed conditions which it was found impossible to fulfil. Subsequently he endeavoured to bring about a rapprochement, but without success, and the result is that although the New Zealand Grand Lodge is recognised \fi all quarters of the world, no recognition has yet been received from the three grand lodges from which the New Zealand lodge springs, and which bears their emblems on the Grand Lodge designs. Mr. Thomson, of Canterbury, was appointed first Grand Master, and he hold for a full term. He was assiduous and earnest in his Masonic duties, and devoted a good deal of time to visiting lodges throughout tho colony. He was succeeded by Brother M. Niccol, the present Grand Master, who has been in office for two years, and who has visited in that time nearly every lodge holding under the constitution from the Bluff to the North Cape, and in a great many cases, in the most out-of-the-way places, ho has personally acted as installing officer. In fact his Masonic services have been recognised throughout the colony. Amongst those who proceed from Auckland by the quarter-past ten train today for Wellington are Brother M. Niccol, M.W.G.M., who will officiate at tho meeting of the Grand-Lodge in his present capacity in the afternoon on Wednesday, and who will instal his successor, Mr. H. D. Bell, M H.R., Mayor of Wellington, in the evening. Accompanying him areßrother W. U. Cooper, P.G. W. ; Brother George Fowlds, Grand Superintendent - elect ; Brother G. H. Powley, Grand Warden; Brother A. Kidd, President Board of General Purposes ; Brother Henry Ellison, W.M., Lodge United Service. Two or three others are likely to join the party this morning, but there was no certainty as to whether they could make the necessary arrangements. The party leave by the quarter-past oen train for Onehunga, leaving the Manukau by the s.s. Takapuna at half-past eleven. They will be landed at New Plymouth, proceeding thence to Wellington by rail, and picking up the New Plymouth, Hawera, and other brethren on the route. It is expected that there will be from 600 to 700 Masons present from all parts of New Zealand at these important ceremonials. It has already been intimated that the Grand Lodge of New South Wales has sent a distinguished officer to represent the Grand Lodge of the parent colony at the installation, andheis now in Wellington awaiting the ceremony. A letter of regret for inability to attend has been received from Chief Justice Way, Pro. G.M. of South Australia. He was prevented from attending owing to his present appointment as actingGovernor, of South Australia in tho absence of Lord Kintore. Sir William Clark, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Victoria} sends a most sympathetic letter excusing his absence. It is owing to the great bereavement which he and his family have experienced in the recent death of his son, but ho forwards the most kindly expressions of sympathy and goodwill with the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, and wishes them a rich measure of Masonic prosperity- and usefulness.