MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1367, 12 May 1898, Page 12

MASONIC.

GREAT GATHERING OF THE WAIRARiPA LODGES. Special to The "Mail. Carterton. M*y 5. To-day w-is a reJ--.tai.er iUy m the history of Fmr.uasonvv in <hu Wairarapa, the occasion being the pint installation of the five lodges working uDder the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. Lodge St. Mark was opened at 2 p.m. in due form by Bro. W. Moore, Worshipful Master.

Amongst the visiting brethren were : The M.W. Grand Master, Bro. the Right Hon R. J. Seddon, P. 0., LL.D.; R.W. Bro. H. J. Williams, P.D.G.M., Grand Superintendent Wellington District; R.W. Bro. F. W. Francis, P.G.W.; R.W. Bro. T A. Peterkin, P.G.W.; R.W. Bro. J. G. Cox, P.G.W.; V.W. Bro. Geo. Wilson, P.G. Treasurer} V.W. Bro. Rev T. Porritt, P.G. Chaplain ; V.W. Bro. H. J. Freeman, P.G.D.; V.W. Bro. N. Grace, P.G.D. ; W. Bro.|R.;Mothes, P.M.; W. Bro. A. Smart, P.M.; W. Bro. M. A. Benny, P.M.; W. Bro. A. Booth, P.M.; W. Bro. F. H. Wood, P.M.; W. Bro. W. Moore, P.M. After the minutes of the different lodges had been read and confirmed and the visitors admitted, the chair was occupied by V.W. Bro. N. Grace, who announced i that the business to be performed was the installation as Worshipful Master for the 1 various lodgefe of Bro. U. A. PownaU (Mas-

terton Lodge, No. 19), Bro. Adam Donald (Lodge St. John, Featherston, No. 37), [ Bro. Adam Ayles (Lodge St. Mark, Carterton, No. 53), Bro. Neff King (Lodge Greytown, No. 74), Bro. Henry Edward Roberts (Lodge Eketahuna, No. 92), and the investiture of officers. The M.W. Grand Master and Grand Lodge officers having been announced they were admitted in due form. The Worshipful Masters-elect having been presented they were duly obligated. A Board of Installed Masters was then formed, and Bros. C. A. Pownall, P.M., Adam Donald, Adam Ayles, Neff King and Henry Edward Roberts were duly installed as Worshipful Masters of their respective lodges for the ensuing year by theRW. Grand Superintendent, Bro. H. J. Williams.

! The following officers were invested by Bro. W. Clement Cargill, P.M., Bro. Pownall investing Bro. Cargill as I.P.M. of Masterton Lodge:— Lodge Masterton, No. 19.—1 P.M, Bro. W. Clement Cargill, P M.; S.W., Bro. W. H. De Lisle ; J.W., Bro A. R. Waterhouse ; Secretary, Bro. A.J. Hathaway ; Treasurer, Bro. W. Dougall; S.D., Bro. W. Sellar; J.D, Bro. W. J. Smith ; 1.G., Bro. H. M. J. Hoffeins ; Tyler, Bro. E. S. Richards. Lodge St. John, No. 37 (Featherston).— I P.M., Bro. TV J. Hodder, P.M.; S.W., Bro. S. Cundy; J.W., Bro. C. J. Kent Johnston; Secretary, Bro. Rhv T Porritt, P.M.; Treasurer, Bro. G. Reynolds, P.M.; S.D., Bro. J. S. Cundy; J.D., Bro. J. T. F. Hutton ; 1.G., Bro. W. Fife. Lodge St. Mark, No. 53 (Carterton).— 1.P.M., Bro. W. Moore, P.M.; S.W., Bro. J. G. Oates; J.W., Bro. J. Moncrieff, junr.; Secretary, Bro. W. J. Lindop; Treasurer, Bro. C. S. Skelley, P.M.; S.D., Bro. J. S. Pepper; J.D., Bro. R. Wilkie; 1.G., Bro. S. A. Dumbleton; Tyler, Bro. J. Stevens. Lodge Grey town, No. 74.—1 P.M, Bro. C.Rogers, P.M.; S.W., Bro. J. H.Richards; J. W. Bro. C. J. Beard; Secretary, Bro. R. Wylie ; Treasurer, Bro. H. S. Tzard, P.M.; Chaplain, Bro. F. H. Wood, P.M.; Organist, - * Bro. J. J. Boden Blakemore; S.D., Bro. W. E. Axup; J.D, Bro. H. W.J||Duff; 1.G., Bro. E. J. Playlo; Tyler, Bro. J. Hewson. Lodge Eketahuna, No. 92. 1.P.M., Bro.

R. J. Juggins, P.M ; S.W., Bro. A. W. Herbert; J.W., Bro. T. Lewis; Secretary, < Bro. W. B. Craighead; Treasurer, Bro. E. O. F. von Redan; S.D., Bro. F. D. Polling ; J.D., Bro. C. Albertson ; 1.G., Bro. S. Marengi; Tyler, Bro. W. M. Wilson; S.S., Bro. F. Bright; J.S., Bro. W. H. Chitty. The proclamations were delivered by V.W. Bro. Rev T. Porritt, P.G.C., the addresses by W. Bro. Izard, P.M, and the working tools were presented by W. Bro. H. Johnson, P.M.

During the ceremony Y.W. Bro. Geo. Wilson, P.M., ably rendered the solos " Charity " and " Lord, Remember David." Atthe request of the officers and brethren of Lodge St. Mark, the Grand Master, in a few complimentary words, presented Bros. W. Moore, P.M, and J. Bairstow, P.M., with handsome Past Master's jewels, manufactured by Bro. H. J. Freeman, of Wellington. Bros. H. Johnson, P.M., W. Clement Cargill, P.M., were also the recipients of P.M. jewels. Bros. Moore, Bairstow, Cargill, and Johnson thanked the brethren for the very handsome presents they received. Before the M.W. Grand Master and Grand Lodge officers retired, Bro. Seddon in a few brief remarks, congratulated the brethren of the Wairarapa on what he believed was an unparalleled event in the history of New Zealand Masonry, viz., the joint installation of five Worshipful Masters and investiture of their officers at the one time. Congratulations having been received from the visitors and Isome routine business conducted, the lodge adjourned. THE BANQUET. A banquet was afterwards held in the Agricultural Hall, at which the following toasts were duly honoured: —"The Queen and the Crafr," proposed by Bro. Ayles, W.M.; " The Grand Lodge of New Zealand," proposed bv Bro. Izard, P.M.; "The Newly-installou Worshipful Masters," proposed by R.W. Bro. H. J. Williams, P D.G M.; " The Installing Masters," proposed by Bro. Moore, P.M.; " The Visitors," proposed by Bro. N. Grace, P.M.; " Tyler's Toast," proposed by the Tyler. THE BALL. At the conclusion of the banquet the hall was cleared for dancing, the floor of which was taxed to the utmost. There were over 200 couples present. The catering was in the hands of Mr White, and * gave entire satisfaction. The music, which was contributed by the McKenzie family, was first-class. A word of praise must be given to the Committee of Management for the way in which they carried out their duties, and y also to Bro. Lindop, under whose guidance the d*»eoraii< ns of both halls were executed.

Tho next joint installation will take place at Masterton.