MASONIC.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3552, 26 April 1901, Page 3

MASONIC.

THE GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND. Per Press Association.

CHRISTCHURGH, April 25. ■ The annual communication of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand opened to-day, when there was a. large attendance. W. Bro. A. S. Russell, G.M., presided. A; letter was read from W. Bro. the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon who was to have presided, expressing- regret that owing. to pressing public business he was unable to be present.

The report of the Board of Benovelence was adopted. It showed that £l3O lCs lid had been granted during the year. The statement of accounts presented by the Board of General Purposes showed the amounts to credit of the funds to be :—General, £794; funds of benevolence, £2201; Masonic widows and orphans, £776; aged and indigent Masons, £242; balance of assets over liabilities, £5462. The proposal to make the Board of General Purposes colonial instead of local .was agreed to.

The matter of invasion of territory by the.; Grand Lodge of Scotland, by opening -a* lodge at Opunake, was discussed. The mat ter was ultimately left in the hands of the Board of General Purposes to m'ake'.-such representations as it sees fit. W. Bro. Alexander S. Russell, v/'as. installed as Most Worshipful Grand Master for the ensuing year. The following officers were invested: D,G. Master, R.W. Bro. C. J. W. Griffiths ; Senior Grand Warden, V.W. Bro. H. J. Widdowson Junior Grand Warden, W. Bro. D. A. Jolly. The following appointments were also made: —G.M. at Auckland, W. Bro. Murdoch McLean; Wellington, R.W. Bro. H. J. Williams; Canterbury, R.W. Bro. W. Giffkins; Otago, W. Bro. JohnM. Brown j Southland, R.W. Bro. W. Smith; Hawke's B.ay and Gisborne, R.W. Bro. W. Beilby. The duties of the G.M. for Nelson and Marlborough will continue to be performed by R.W. Bro. Griffiths, D.G.M.