GOVERNOR INSTALLED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20116, 29 November 1928, Page 13

GOVERNOR INSTALLED.

APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED.

ADDRESS TO THE ASSEMBLY. HIGH IDEALS OF FREEMASONRY. [by telegraph.— press association.] DUNEDIN. Wednesday. Tho reinstallation of Sir Charles Fergusson as. Grand Master took place at a very largo gathering of Freemasons this evening, and II W. Bro. Watts was inducted as pro-grand master. Following upon his installation tho Grand Master announced his appointment of tho following officers, most of whom were present and were duly invested:— Deputy-grand master: R.W. Bro. Charles J. Ronaldson, of Christchurch. Provincial gra:id masters: Auckland, M.W, Bro. O. Nicholson; Wellington, R.W. Bro. E. J. Guinness; Otago, R.W. Bro. J. 11. Moir; Southland, R.W. Bro. Alex Derbie; H.iwke's Bay, R.W. Bro. J. W. Ritchie; West Coast, R.W. Bro. E. Dacra Dunn; Nelson and Marlborough, R.W. Bro. W. J. Girling; Taranaki, R.W. Bro. G. W. Rogers; Ruapehu, R.W. Bro. A. J. Graham. Senior grand warden: R.W. Bro S. T. S. Martin, Wellington. Junior grand warden: R.W. Bro. F. W. Herbert, Auckland.

Strengthening Spiritual Side. The Grand Master, in his address from the throne, spoke eloquently of the need for maintaining high ideals in Freemasonry, tind especially for strengthening tho spiritual side of the institution, and as evidence ir> these respects keeping ever in view the systematic support of the craft's benevolent institutions.

The afternoon sitting was taken up mainly with tho consideration of amendments to Grard Lodge laws. For upwards of an hot r discussion ranged around two different methods of providing for the constitutor of the new body to give advice on questions of Masonic law, custom or procedure. One scheme submitted by the Board of General Purposes provided foi a judicial board of three, with tho grand registrar as its chairman. The other proposed simply a juridical committee, whose opinion would bo sought by correspondence when required. Tho juridical committee scheme was eventually adopted.

Orani Lodge Office. Discussion took place on the question of fixing tho lccation of the Grand Lodge oliico in one centre, in lieu of the peripatetic system of the past 38 years, under which the graid secretary ha 3 his office for periods of two years in each of the four centres in turn. The Board of General Purposes submitted a recommendation in favju] of the choice of a permanent resting place for the office. It proposed that tho incoming board should be instructed to authorise the craft lodges throughout the territory to vote for 01 against centralisation, asking each lodge to indicate which centre in its opinion should bo chosen.. In the event of a two-thirdii majority deciding upon a permanent home for the office tho necessary amendmerts of tho constitution were, it was proposed, to be submitted to the Grand Lodgo next year. It was, however, intended to adhere to the present system of holding the annual communications in each centre in rotation.

.An amendment in favour of referring tho question to the incoming board, with a view to investigation, was negatived, and the recommendation in favour of referring the qiestion to thp lodges was agreed to. As business still remained on the agenda paper it was decided to sit again at 9.30 a.m. to-morrow.