SIR CHARLES FERGUSSON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20713, 5 November 1930, Page 12

SIR CHARLES FERGUSSON.

CEREMONY IN SCOTLAND. OPENING OF MASONIC TEMPLE. [from our own correspondent. ] LONDON, October 3. The formal opening of the now Masonic Temple, recently erected in the village of Dailly, Scotland, by Fergusson St. James Lodge, No. 566, and recently dedicated, took place some days ago, in the presence of a large number of local members and visiting brethron. The interior furnishings are perhaps the finest to be found in any building of tho kind in Scotland, says the Freemasons' Chronicle, and were a gift from New Zealand, as a tablet in bronze in the hall indicates. The inscription is:—"The furnishings of the lodge were presented by tho Brethren of tho New Zealand Constitution in recognition of the valuable services given by Bro. General Sir Charles Fergusson during his term of office as Grand Master of New Zealand, 1925-1929." The master's chair is made of wood from the pulpit of the Old Parish Church when it was reconstructed. Tho piano is also a gift from Sir Charles Fergusson, who also donated to the lodge a number of working tools made out of the finest New Zealand/wood, also symbolic emblems in metal-work presented to him on leaving New Zealand. When the brethren were assembled outside the hall, the R.W.M., Bro. McKerlie, called upon Sir Charles Fergusson formally to open the temple, and Sir Charles unlocked the door. On assembling in the hall, Sir Charles referred to tho three operations—wisdom, strength, and beauty. "Wisdom that wo may undertake the work, strength to enable us to undertake the work, and the beauty of virtue so that we might be moved to use this temple to the glory of God." In handing over the key to Sir Charles the architect, Bro. G. P. Greenlaw, spoke of tho former's worthy services as one of their greatdit soldiers and as a patriot of whom Scotland Was proud, and also of his official duties as representative of the King in Now Zealand.