FREEMASONRY AT THE FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17067, 27 July 1917, Page 8

FREEMASONRY AT THE FRONT

MEETINGS WITHIN RANGE OF THE GUNS. (From, Malcolii Ross, War Correspondent ■with the Now Zealand Forces in tlio ii icJd.J . NORTHERN FRANCE, May 4. While tho New Zealand Division was quartered in Armentierea during tho euuimur of 1916 a number of meiuDera of tho JViitsomo Order conceived tho idea of holding « gathering of Freemasons. This meeting was tho inoana of bringing together many Freemasons who had not met since leavjng tho dominion. In addition to tho other business transacted, tho brethren present at this gathering passed a resolution of greeting to tho Mew Zealand lodges. This was printed and circulated, and will no doubt be prized on account of tho somewhat unusual circumstances under which the meeting was heWr-within range of the enemy's guns, and in a building that boro traces of the ravages of war.

Several subsequent meetings of the brethren were held before the division moved to the Somme, and lectures and addresses were given. Major G. Barclay, N.Z.E., has acted as chairman, while the Kev. E. C. Maiden acted as general secretary up to the time of his departure from the division, when tho position was taken jby the llov. A. Hardie. Lately the meetings were resumed, and a movement for the formation of an organisation to bo called " r ihe N.Z.E.1 , . Masonic Association" has assumed definite shape. A constitution has been provisionally adopted, and sent to the dominion for formal ratification. It is_ intended that after the war the association thus formed shall continue its existence in New Zealand, with branches at the various centres. An unique incident in connection with the association took place recently when one of the brethren (Captain G. F. Hutchinson) was presented with his past master's jewel, which had been sent forward from hie lodge in New Zealand.