MASONIC CHURCH PARADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16538, 11 November 1915, Page 9

MASONIC CHURCH PARADE

A Masonic church parade was held at Becks on Sunday, when the officers and members of the (St. Bathans Lodge, 12&, New Zealand Constitution, met at the Masonio Hall and marched in full regalia to the Presbyterian Church. W. Bro. James Sheppard acted ae marshal, and all the officers of tho lodge were present, including the W.M., Bros. Thos. Sheppardl; S.W., Bro. R. Mee; J.W., Bro. R. L. Smith; secretary, W. Bro. R. Wilson, etol The church was full, and the officiating minister was the lodge chaplain (Bro. Rey. A. V. 6. Chandler), who expressed, on behalf of the church, a hearty welcome to the members of the craft. Their presence aa a body in the house of God showed they recognised the Divine Architect of the Universe, and, while the Masonic organisation did not profess to be a church, its ethics were based on the Bible, and it not only recognised the golden rule of "doing unto others as they should be done unto," ,but professed to believe that "true religion, and undefiled, was to visit the widow and fatherless in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." He trusted that the great brotherhood would ever progress in social and moral virtues, and bespoke the co-operation of the order in the church's work of alleviation of suffering, comforting the mournere, and the redemption of mankind The subject of the sermon was "Spiritual Gravitation," and the service, which was heartily entered into by the visiting brethren, was appreciated by all present.