FREE MASONRY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 83, 14 May 1914, Page 3

FREE MASONRY.

GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND.

The twenty-fourth annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons of New Zealand was continued yesterday afternoon.

The, whole of the session was spent in consideration of the question of centralisation, and j after lengthy and thorough debate, it was decided to rescind last year's resolution- in its favour.

A motion from i Kawatiri-Westport that the central office and headquarters should be in Wellington was negatived without discussion.

Provincial officers appointed for Canterbury were:—Grand Chaplain, W. Bro. Rev; A. Mitchell; Grand Treasurer, W. Broi D."A. Baxter; Grand Registrar, W. Bro. E. I>. Moseley; President' of Board' of General -Purposes, B.W; > Bro!; S. C. Bingham; -President of Board of Benevolence, W. Bro. John Thornton; Grand Director of Ceremonies, W. Bro. Kenneth Mackenzie; Grand Stewards, W. Bros. L. A. H. Gogoll and J. Mackenzie ; members of Board of" General Purposes, W. Bros. F. C. B. Bishop, A. ; H. Hobbs; - H. Hopkinson, 5 H. J. Otley, and M. B.- Wright; members of Board of Benevolence, W: Bros. W. Brown, T. Compton, J. W. Roberts, A. 11. Webb, and W. M.- Robinson.

The Grand Master, Most Worshipful Bro. J. J. Dougall, was enthroned 5n the evening, M.W. Bro. Thompson acting as Installing Grand Master. The Grand Master, in his speech to the gathering, paid a tribute to the memory of the late M.W. Bro. A. H. Burton, P.G.M., who, he said, had made Freemasonry the chief thing in his life. He referred to -the measure of success which, had attended the work of Or rand Lodge during the year,, and reviewed the question of whether the time had not arrived to reconsider the size and limits of the various provincial districts. Speaking with regard to Freemasonry in general, the Grand Master proceeded: '' Since the inauguration of constitutional Freemasonry 200 years ago, the craft has steadily maintained an unbroken record of. dauntless perseverance in disseminating Masonic truths and preserving 'Masonic' ideals. No secular institution, on the face of the earth has preserved, its original, objects so immutably as lias Freemasonry.. The aims and principles, ideals, discipline, and pro-cedure-of to-day are as they were centuries ago. Freemasonry ; , ljas beeiip and still is, tlie pioneer of the highest, of civilisation. Equality, and fraternity are its watchwords. Within the doors of the lodge, prince and peasant meet on a common, level.. Merit, and merit, alone, is the passport of its privileges. Distinctions of social rank are abolished. It seeks to ameliorate "the condition of thWhumble and lowly; It impresses upon thfei mighty, the duty, and- obligation of the' brotherhood of man. It liberty and justice. It demands virtue, respect, and honourable conduct from its votaries. Its influence is felt in every quarter of the globe., and. that influence is invariably directed in the preservation of law, order, and sound government. Through the ages it has- never varied in its ideals. It deals not in politics, and in no way trenches upon religion; but it ever strives to mitigate or- destroy international and internal animosities, ahd: to bring jthe a peoples of the earth into closer aiid more harmonious eommuniqn with each, other. It 'is a world power whose object is peace and goodwill among men. It seeks not individual aggrandisement, but endeavours to-sow the seed of faith, hope and charity, brotherly" love, relief and truth, to spread the mantle of universal benignity and 'aid' *mah towards a nobler conception, of the duty that man owes to man. " .i'jreemasonry labours to elevate the mind lighten the soul, and institute an era of brotherly toleration. It endeavours to awaken the intelligence and broaden the view*—to fill ,up the hollows and pitfalls that catch the feet of the unwary and compel man to treat his fellow, no matter how humble he may be, as ; a sentient being. born in the image of the immortal 6'reator. A great social unrest is agitating the minds of men throughout the world, and never has JII3 .hepefieial and ameliorating iulluence of*3ft&&nic principles been more needed than in the case at the present time. The evolution of humanity is proceeding more and more rapidly. Men are striving for a higher plane of existence, and l for greater equality of opportunity. Human aspiration is soaring higher and higher, it is pulsating with .new life and new ideas, and in the consequent j

straggle many liard things are being said ami done. Would that all, men could view the social movements of the day with the disciplined equanimity of the Freemason. Would tlifit . Freemasonry could plant its faith in the Fatherly guidance of the Most High, its hope of the ultimate regeneration of mankind and its sanctifying charity of speech, of thought, and of action in every human breast. Then, indeed, would the doors, of the millennium open, and men would realise the Masonic ideal that this great world of ours is one huge cosmopolity, founded on the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man;'' * ■ THIS MORNING'S . SESSION. The conyriunieation*' of the. Grand .-iLodge . Zealand resumed this morning. ..... With the approval of .all the brethren, Worshipful Brother G. F. Whiteside praised and. thanked the Most Worshipful , the. retiring Grand Master-,. Bro. Maurice Thompson, of Invercargill. The remainder of. the morning was spent in the y discission.'fit ...a matter of \inid'er r thfevGonstitiitlon. .

! This afternoon a garden party is j;being held on the Racecourse, Riccart.oh, and to-night, there will be a ball >in the Alexandra Hall.