THE MASONIC SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13210, 22 June 1906, Page 6

THE MASONIC SERVICE.

A LARGELY-ATTENDED

CEREMONY.

One of the most striking tributes to the memory of the late Premier, Mr. Seddon, was the Masonic memorial service which was held in the Pitt-street- Methodist Church, in the presence of a very large assemblage of members of the craft and the general public. The deceased was a, member of the New Zealand Constitution, arid wa*i a Past Grand Master in that body. The service was arranged and carried mil by the members of that, constitution, with the assistance of the members' of the other constitutions, who had been invited to take part. All the various lodges in the city and the surrounding districts were largely represented, and there were also present several members of country lodges including the following: Star of the North (Whangarei). Sir Walter- Scott (Thames), Ohinemuri (Paeroa), Franklin (Pukekohe). Beta (Hamilton), Huntly Waihi, Tauranga, and others. The members of the various lodges, who were in mourning regalia., each wore the customary sprig of acacia. The body of the church was reserved for the Masons, who were nearly sufficient to till it, there being about 800 member's of the. craft present. Tim public filled the remainder of (lie space in the. church and* the galleries, and as in the case of the other services many were unable to obtain admission to the building.

The Grand Lodge officers': and brethren assembled in the Wesley Hall, and inarched into the church in procession a few minutes before half-past two. As they entered the church, :'* Chopins "'Funeral March" was played by the organist, (Mr. Harold l.ii/ht). The service was conducted by V.W. Bro. Rev. J. A. Luxford, Past Grand Chaplain, N.Z.C., and the other Grand Lodge officers taking pari were:, R.W. Bro. 0. Nicholson. Grand .Superintendent of the Auckland District N.Z.C.; V.W. Bro. Josiah Martin' D.G.S.W., and Rev. E. J. McFarland, P.D.G.C.. representing the English Constitution; R.W. Bro. MtCullough (Scottish Constitution) and R.W. Bro. W. J. Rccs (Irish Constitution). Among other representatives present were: P.D.G.M.'s Bros. A. Bartlett. Wetherilt, and Rowley; R.W. Bros. Murdoch Mclean. Past Grand Superintendent; H. C Tewsley. .T.G.W. ; : and S. D. Hanna, P.G.W: R.W. Bros. F. Kearsley and T. W. AlJen, P.G.W.'s, acted as directors of ceremonies. , • ;.',' \. : , After the singing of the hymn, "0 God, Our Help in Ages Past," Bro. Luxford offered '■prayer. ' , GRAND SUPERINTENDENT'S- AD- • ' ; 'DRESS, ■ ■■-" ■ Brother Nicholson;.' Grand Superintendent, then delivered an address, which was attentively listened to. The late Bro. Seddon, he said, had lived and died a true patriot, honoured and regretted alike hv : our Gracious Sovereign, as by the Empire and the country in which lie 'laboured and whose people he loved well. During his period of office as Grand Master, he had done, yeoman service towards the material advancement and prosperity of the craft in this territory. He was loyally devoted to the principles of Freemasonry, a „d his ideliLy to its highest teachings of fralerna love and helpfulness was marked in all his actions. He never lost a.n op-port-unity of impressing upon the brethren in that clear and deceive manner so particularly characteristic of him their duties as brethren towards their fellow men. Tim last Masonic gathering which he attended m--tttu. colony was that connected with the installation of Brothei Lord P.unket as Grand Master. This was held in Ohnstchurch some three days before hi* departure on his Australian tour, from live tJT, ! eSfmed mVGF (0 «*»™ alive. Ihe brethren present (M that occasion oU id a ways. remember the cordial aternal greeting, and , iMrt ]m^X frmn their late brother. .1 tie did they think that, would be the Ufc brotherly greeting received from £ whose loss they now mourned. £] honours, and crowned with the logics o Lie people amongst whom he laboured fbeir beloved and distinguished broS Si^^ WU> reSt i «« M kind, bring £ Gol' a id 7" 'f , and true " HelovS retK o S the mystic <™»ti-T. and m nretmeu of the mystic tie. Strong in -me mighty in il>lellect and %°$ 1, '/■- a '.?'" leader of men. He was . true philanthropist, a man of noUe in of' te T" «««* - P i a- " o and tL t*T l » m F ««'«hoc;i of •lith w a if* b ™ h *'' hood of man, *»<* .hi» at 7**« So ahVC a quality within him Tlu < iUS UmdMt f»«W(f!i life. He stout heart was now stilled, and the busy brain was at res but the irnprc- <" hw individuality would ever remain in our colonial and Masonic institution Z then lasting benefit. Their Gloved and honoured brother had passed .through the wleDlporl.hr. and awaited their coming i„ a land whose standard of rank was that of him who best served and best loved hi* fellow man. ■.■■■■..

PAST-GRAND CHAPLAIN'S ADDRESS. Brother Uxford, in his address, whirl, was a so listened to with marked attention, took for Ins text I. Sam. xx. 18, -'Thou halt be. missed." He said the men who were missed were they who hud carved memorials of themselves on the hearts of their fellow men. Referring to the late Past Grand Master, the chaplain said that in the past the colony had had able and notable i rentiers. Some of them were still with m, and their names were synonymous tor integrity and honest administration, but none had been of the people, from the ceopie, and for the people, as Mr. Sodden. V a nous causes accounted for his power Among them weie his facility of expression, his massive brain, his' constructive energy, his sanguine temperament, his genial disposition, but the principal cause of Iks influence was his intimate knowledge of the people. He was never ashamed of the comrades 01 Ids early and humbler days. "Pardon," said the chaplain, "a personal recollection." Some six or seven years since, when a branch railway win being opened from Invemugill into a bush district, MV. Seddon, with members of the Cabinet and Parliament, was present. The bushmen and mill bauds had welcomed him, and were extending rough but hearty hospitality. When in the marquee His keen eye detected an old acquaintance standing outside with other-sons of toil. He sent his private secretary with an invitation to the old friend to come in and lunch with him. Then, expressing his pleasure at the renewal of tha acquaintance. said, "I had lost the run ot you for years; what are you doing here? Where is your wife':" "She is outside," was the reply. "Go and bring her in.'" Then there was a second hearty; greeting, accompanied by the statement, "Mis. Seddon and the girls will be delighted to hear I have seen you. They, often speak of you. ami remember your kindness on the Vv'est Coast." . This .-k now led i:nieut at the festal board in the presence of

— ■ ■■■■«' ■■■ '»;■»■■ ■■■»■■■« ■ 1 1 1 1 mrnmmmmmmmmmmmmu ■ the leading men—political, professional, and '.commercial— -of the South, was not uade.for Effect. It was characteristic of the great man', it '"'as the honest recognition of well- . known but humble -friends..,, Never was a ':.■' kindness shown to him and forgotten; he returned it with good measure. ■ That day ■ business was suspended, the fires in the ' furnaces were banked, the clang of the ham- ■ mer was silent, the jarring notes of party . strife were forgotten. Standing in imagi':;','nation at the. open grave they could see . iis body lowered, and with the .mournful . strains of the " Funeral March" ringing in their ears, they looked into the memorable tomb and dropped the sprig of acacia, the ?< : emblem of their enduring faith. in the imS/v mortality of the soul Like all men, the '?.:'>' late brother had his faults. ><nere was .•;. the man without a moral blemish? "There ■ • was no man that sinneih not." As Masons,

v they cherished his memory. History would ~;do him justice. He was a man of heroic .'-■■■ courage, of constructive energy, of marvel- •;. lous endurance, of sweet and gentle kindness, loving the King, the craft, me brother, -the friend, and, above all, the Eternal God '•-. and the better land." '■/■--■ R.W. Brother W. J. Rees read the first \ : '\ lesson (Psalm xc), and V.W. Brother Mc- ; Farlaml the. second lesson (I. Corinthians xxxv. tc end). . The. other hymns sung V ' were: "Lewi. Kindly Light,'' "Brief Life / is Here our Portion,*■ and "Now the % Labourer's Task is Oyer." A strong choir ' ' was present, and the organist was Mr. -Harold Light, F.G.0.,, who impressively played "The Dead March" hi "Saul" at. « tho close of the service. • The Benediction wait then pronounced, and. after the grand i"' funeral honours had been accorded to the. ■ Iqunted brother, the service closed, the Grand Lodge, officers and; brethren . again forming a. procession as they left the' building. ~.•■■. ... • • ; ■-.