GRAND ORANGE LODGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 65

GRAND ORANGE LODGE.

PALMERSTON N., April 7. The seventh annual conference of the New Zealand Provincial Grand Black 2hapter (Orange Lodge) opened on Saturay. The Grand Secretary's report showed that there had been an increase in membership in every lodge. The preceptories had increased from five to 15 during the past six year®. Mr Thos. Davidson (Hastings) was elected R.W.G.M.R, and Mr Johnston (Dunedin) G.D.M.R., and Mr Melkeham (Gisborne) Grand Chaplain. Resolutions of loyalty to the King and the Protestant Crown were passed, also expression of heartfelt thanks to the Unionist MP.'s for opposing the Home Rule Bill, and sympathy with the brethren in Ireland in their fight. A church parade was held to-day. April 8. The Orange Grand Lodge continued ita sessions to-day. A cablegram wa6 forwarded to Belfast tendering greetings to the great Orange meeting to be held there to-morrow, and urging the Irish Orangemen to stand to the principles, and promising financial assistance in their struggle against Home Rule. A resolution was also passed protesting against the Ne Temere decree, which the conference considered destructive of the religious harmony it desired to promote, and it considered also that interference by any Church with civil law should be followed by prosecution and imprisonment, as had been found necessary in Roman Catholic countries. A copy of the resolution was ordered to be forwarded to each member of the Cabinet, with the request that they prohibit the publication of the decree in the Dominion. Mr E. U. Budden was re-elected R.W.G.M., and Mr William Hunter D.G.M.