FREEMASONRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2983, 17 May 1911, Page 5

FREEMASONRY.

GRAND LODGE SESSION. (From Our &»«cul Correspondent.l CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. - Once only in the course of each year are the general public outside the " mystic circle " vouchsafed a glimpse at the work that is being done by the national body of the Masonic fraternity in New Zealand., Such an occasion is by the annual communication of "the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, which opens in Christchurch to-.morrow afternoon. The information disclosed by the reports of the various boards is such as to indicate that the craft is doing by stealth a large amount of benevolent work in the Dominion, and incidentally by the assistance it affords to its afflicted and indigent members, relieving the State of a con- j siderable burden that would otherwise fall upon it. Whatever else may be secret concerning' Freemasonry, there is no mystery about the fact that one of its principal functions is the inculcation and practice of the spirit of benevolence primarily, and chiefly to the bereaved and suffering within its own ranks, but by no means confined to them. It was mainly for the furtherance of this object that the Grand Lodge of New Zealand was 20 years ago separated as regards management from the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland, and Scotland, and its efforts ever since have been directed towards the creation of Masonic charities in the Dominion that should emulate on a smaller scale the splendid institutions "of the parent bodies in the Old Land. How far it has progressed in the matter let the contents of the board's reports for this year show. ! THE ACCUMULATED FUNDS. | First and foremost as a means to the effective attainment of its end. Grand Lodge has applied itself to building up central funds. The accumulation of thesa funds was at first a slow process, but as years went on and new lodges were iounded, or old ones gave in.their allegiance to the national constitution, progress became more rapid. Of late years the normal accessions to the total funds, after providing for all current charitable work. have been at the rate of from £2OOO to £3OOO a year, with larger sums in years of special effort. The amount standing to the credit of Grand Lodge at the 31st March was - £24,439, divided amongst the funds as follows: —General fund, £3148; 1 fund of benevolence, £4381; widows and ■ orphans and aged Masons' fund, £14,854; circular appeals, £1621. THE ANNUITY SYSTEM.

Instead of waiting till its financial position should enable tne erection of Masonic and benevolent asylums, the form wu-ch the institutions of the craft take in iiritain and America, the New Zealand Grand Lodge some years ago instituted a system of annuities for widows and orphans and aged Masons. Every year the list beneficiaries is being ex- | tended. Four new annuities have been granted during the past 12 months, while one recipient has died. There are at pre- j sent 24 individuals or families on the an- | nuity list, receiving sums ranging from ' £l2 to dbJ26 a year, according to their needs, with one allowance of £45 in the case of an orphan girl. The increase in the capital of the fund during the year was £i4ls, comprising contributions from lodges and individuals, interest earned by the general and benevolent funds, and special donations. An important feature of the report of the Board of General Purposes is a proposal to transfer a sum of ±;2000 .from the fund of benevolence to the widows and orphans and aged Masons' fund. This will provide an additional £B3 per annum for the creation of new annuities. It is pointed out, however, that the proposed method of increasing the fund is only a temporary expedient, and some more satisfactory process must be evolved to meet the growing demands upon the favourite fund of Grand Lodge. BENEVOLENT FUND. The fund of benevolence is the branch from which all casual relief is dispensed, and cases of serious distress within the Dominion are provided for. The amount thus expended during the year, apart from the assistance given by the separate lodges, was £l5B. Besides this eight funds have been created by means of circular appeals to the lodges to meet the needs of special cases. The amounts thus raised are in most instances £2OO and upwards, which are held by the Board of j

Benevolence, and administered as the needs of the beneficiaries demand. One of this year's appeals, for instance, was made in the interests of a member who was permanently crippled while felling bush to clear his farm section. The members of his lodge have undertaken to clear and fence his land, sow it down in grass, and stock it with cattle. Another was on behalf of a young widow and her three children, and the proceeds are to be used in purchasing for them a cottage. Yet another appeal sets up in a small business the family of a disabled brother. Another reduces the debt of a widow on her late husband's property. Others again will go to the purchase of annuities for people who prefer relief in that form. Altogether there are at present 15 of these circular appeal funds in the hands of the Grand Lodge, their aggregate amount being £1621. MISCELLANEOUS. For the office of Grand'Master M.R. Bro. C. J. W. Griffiths (Blenheim), the present G.M., stands unopposed. Other officers will be elected to-morrow. The amount of business arising out of the report of the Board of General Purposes is not extensive. As to the progress of the craft, it is shown that 12 new lodges were opened within the year —namely, Ruataniwha (Takapau, Hawke's Bay), Waro (Blackball, West Coast), Mataura (Mataura, Southland), Waimarino (Raetihi, Wellington), Waiwheta (Lower Hutt, Wellington), Naumai (Taumaruhui-, Auckland), Manga Te Weka (Mangaweka, Wellington), Waipu (Waipu, Auckland), Owaka (Owaka, Otago), Ahurewa (Dunsandel, Canterbury), Onewa (Northcote, Auckland), and Clinton (Clinton, Otago). The board remits to Grand Lodge for consideration the question of abolishing the system of lodges to recommend candidates for the office of Provincial Grand Master, and returning to the system which left the selection entirely within the prerogative of the Grand Master. It expresses the unanimous opinion that the present system is detrimental in its results.

it is announced that the new form of M.M. certificate has been finally agreed to, and negotiations are afoot for getting the plate for its production'engraved. Other questions raised in the report relate to the advisability of holding a conference of Provincial Grand Masters to consider the question of uniformity of ritual and the insurance of Grand Lodge officers against accident when travelling on Masonk business. It is proposed that the rank of Past Grand Organist shall be conferred on W. Bros. A. T. Hookey (Gisborne) and M. G. Fischer (Wellington), and that Bro. A. T. Clarke, A.C.A.,' be reappointed auditor. t A recommendation is made that tne next annual communication be held at Dunedin in May, 1912. The Grand Secretary reports that altogether the outlook of the craft is decidedly bright and encouraging. ELECTION AND INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS. CHRISTCHURCH, May 10. Every year with the growth of the institution by the formation of new lodges the Grand Lodge of New Zealand Freemasonry materially increases its proportions. The annual communication, opened this afternoon in the Choral Hail, was the largest gathering of its kind yet held in the Dominion. About 250 members were present, including the direct representatives of 183 lodges from towns as far north as and as far south as Invercargill. The Grand Master (M.W. Bro. C. J. W. Griffiths, of Blenheim) occupied the throne, supported by M.W. Bros. M. Niccol, H. J. Williams, A. H. Burton (Past Grand Masters), and M.N. Bros. C. F. Binns and 0. • Nicholson (Past Pro. G.rand Masters), and there was a large attendance of brethren who have attained distinction in the craft. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Canterbury (the only Provincial Grand Lodge in the Dominion as yet) was represented by M.W. Bros. Binns, its Provincial G.M., and provincial officers.

After the ceremonial opening the reports of the various boards of management, the contents of which were summarised in yesterday's issue, were reviewed, and after debates upon several points in their contents were adopted. The proposed transfer of £2OOO from the capital of the Fund of Benevolence to the Widows and Orphans and Aged

Masons' Fund was unanimously approved, and -it was promised that the Board of General Purposes would consider the question of devising means for regularly and systematically raising means for the augumentation for the Annuity Fund. The suggestion that the next annual communication be held at Dunedin was agreed to. Bro. Arthur T. Clarke, A.C.A., was appointed auditor for the ensuing year. ELECTION OF OFFICEES. The election of officers for the coming year resulted in the following :—Grand Master, M.W. Bro. C. J. W. Griffiths (re-elected); Grand Chaplains, V.W. Bro. Bev. W. C. Wood (Auckland) and V.W. Bro. Rev. D. Rankin (Southland); Grand Treasurer, R.W. Bro. H. C. Tewsley (Wellington); Grand Registrar, V.W. Bro. A. L. Herdman (Wellington); President of the Beard of General Purposes,' M.W. Bro. Herbert J. Williams (Wellington); President of the Board of Benevolence, R.W. Bro. Robert Fletcher (Wellington); Grand Secretary, M.W. Bro. Malcolm Niccol; Senior Grand Deacons, W. Bros. Alfred A. White (Auckland) and H. E. Moller (Otago); Junior Grand Deacons, W. Bros. Richard Mothes (Wellington) and David B. Wallace (Auckland); Grand Superintendents of Works, W. Bros. Walter Fitch (Nelson) and F. W. Wake (Taranaki); Grand Directors of Ceremonies, W. Bros. Herbert H. Seaton (Wellington) and H. Hopkinson (Canterbury); Grand Bible Bearers, W. Bros. C. E. Nicholas (Auckland) and H. W. Wicken (West Coast); Grand Sword BeareTs, W. Bros; C. H. D. Evans (Auckland) and D. A. Baxter (Hawke's Bay); Grand Standard Bearers, W. Bros. R. L. Banks (Canterbury) and A. A'. Howes (Otago); Grand Organist, Bro. A. E. Jenkins (Otago); Grand Pursuivants, W. Bros. Ernest Nordon (Canterbury) and Wm. Winton (Southland); Grand Stewards — W. Bros. G. G. Schwartz and Walter Rutherford (Wellington), J. S. Hope and T. E. N. M'Kenzie (Auckland), David Stoba and R. R. Brunton (Canterbury), •W. D. Jolly (Otago), James Boyne (Southland), F. Cook (Hawke's Bay), George J. Logan (Nelson and Marlborough), J. Harris (West Coast), and J. J. Morrison' (Taranaki)'; Elective Members of Board of General Purposes—W. Bros. J. J. Esson, J. H. Worboys, J. E. Elliott, G. E. Smith, and A. V. Knapp (Wellington), J. W. Swales and G. W. Ravenhill (Auckland). G. W. Hulme and H. R. Smith (Canterbury), J. J. Clark (Otago}, G. F. Johnson (Southland), J. R. Russell (Hawke's Bay), J. H. Scott (Nelson and Marlborough), E. J. Thomas (West Coast), and J. P. Keen (Taranaki); Elective Members of Board of Benevolence— W. Bros.- James Rod, A. Veitch, C. J. B. Norwood, T. J. Bush, and A. Neely (Wellington), C. E. Smith and C. Steven (Auckland), Rev. W. M'Kenzie Gibson and J. W. Richardson (Canterbury), Dr J. 0. Closs (Otago), J. J. Hiskens (Southland), E. Basil Jones (Hawke's Bay), G. H. Budden (Nelson and Marlborough), D. Darrach (West Coast), and W. A. Light foot (Taranaki). The remainder of the afternoon sitting was devoted to matters of purely craft interest. THE INSTALLATION CEREMONY. The attendance in the evening was considerably swollen by an influx of members of the craft from the Christchuroh lodges and those in the other towns of the o provincial district. The hall was well filled both on the floor and in the gallery when the Grand Lodge resumed. M.W. Bro. Malcolm Niccoll, Senior Past Grand Master of the Dominion, occupied the throne on the reopening of the proceedings. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Canterbury was strongly represented, and W. Bro. Matthew Brown, District Grand Master of Canterbury Freemasons under the English Constitution, was present, attended by a large retinue of District Grand Officers. The reinstallation of M.W. Bro. C. J. W. Griffiths as Grand Master was carried out with dignity by M.W. Bro. H. J. Williams, Past G.M. The musical contribution of a strong choir and orchestra materially enhanced the impressiveness of the ceremonial' work. Announcement was made by the Grand Master of his appointment of R.W. Bro. J. J. Dougall, of Christchurch, to the office of Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Bro. George Barclay (Auckland) as Senior Grand Warden, and R.W. Bro. Alfred Fieldwick (Dunedin) as JunioT Grand Warden. These several officers were duly invested and inducted. Provincial Grand

Masters were appointed and invested as follows :—Auckland, M.W. Bro. Oliver Nicholson; Wellington, R.W. Bro. Jas. Moncrieff; Otago, R.W. Bro. E. W. G. H. Watts; West Coast, R.W. Bro. J. H. Harkness; Southland, R.W. Bro. F. A. Steans; Nelson and Marlborough, R.W. Bro. W. E. Redman; Hawke's Bay, R.W. Bro. Thomas Hobson; Taranaki, R.W. Bro. T. C. Fookes. The other officers elected in the afternoon were also invested. GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS. The Grand Master, in his address to the gathering, said that this being the twenty-first annual communication of the Grand Lodge, they might look back over the years that had passed and note with pride and satisfaction what had been accomplished. Twenty years ago the total number of lodges in the colony was 147, of which 85 were under the English Constitution, 15 (under the Irish Constitution, and 47 under the Scottish. To-day there were 185 lodges of the New Zealand Constitution, whilst under the other constitutions there were 40 English, 4 Irish, and 12 Scotch. The Grand Lodge had . assisted the widow and orphan, the poor and distressed, to the extent of over £20,000. It had now nearly 12,000 members, and possessed accumulated funds to the amount of between £24,000 and £25,000. Without being ostentatious, they might fairly say that these facts were matters for fraternal congratulation. The past year had been one of peaceful, steady, and uninterrupted progress, both numerically and financially. The opening of 12 new lodges within 12 months established a record, and the fact that for the ninth year in succession every lodge was clear on the books spoke volumes for the healthy condition of the craft. After reviewing the work of the Grand Lodge officials during the past year the Grand Master congratulated the Grand Lodge upon the happy and prosperous condition of the craft, and. said he felt assured that its outlook for the ensuing year was as promising of sunshine land fair weather as the most optimistic could wish. CONCLUSION OF THE SESSION. CHRISfCHURCH, May 11. The annual communication of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand was brought to >a conclusion this morning. W.N. Bro. Griffiths again presided as Grand Master. The Grand Lodge unanimously affirmed a resolution approving a proposal for the creation of an office of Grand Lecturer, whose duty it should be to deliver lectures on matters of Masonic history and ethics, and directed the Board of General Purposes to introduce the necessary amendment of the rules to provide for the appointment or election of such! officers or officer. Another resolution was passed remitting to the board the question of amending the laws of the craft in the matter of giving encouragement to the working of lodges created for the purposes of Masonic research and instruction. The rank of Past Grand Master, honoris cause, was conferred upon M.W. Bro. F. C. Binns, who during Lord Plunket's term of office as Grand Master held the office of Pro. Grand Master. Other matters discussed were purely domestic. One of them —a motion for the creation of a Board of Advice to the Pro-i vincial Grand Masters —was withdrawn after considerable debate. The Grand Lodge was then closed until its meeting at Dunedin next May. This afternoon the visiting brethren were taken for a motor drive around the city and suburbs, and a reception was held during the afternoon at the house of Mr J. J. Dougall (Deputy Grand Master), at Fendalton, and in the evening a ball was held in the Alexandra Hall.