FREEMASONRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 191, 22 December 1868, Page 2

FREEMASONRY.

Yesterday the important ceremony of installing a Provincial Grand Master was celebrated by. the Freemasons, and attracted a large attendance of brethren from al{ Lodges in the province. A large number of spectators attended that portion of it open to public view, and altogether a very considerable interest was taken in the proceedings. Brother Donald, the master elect, has been prominently connected with the Order since its first establishment in the province, and has ever possessed the regard of his fellow-craftsmen. He lias held the position of deputy from the time the office became vacant — some three years ago— and the permanency being conferred upon him has given general satisfaction, the brethren having been unanimous in recommending him for the appointment. . ""*The last event of similar importance to that of yesterday was upwards of nine years ago, when the Provincial Grand Lodge was first constituted, and Mr J. C. Watts Russell was installed as Grand Master. This ceremony took place in Lyttelton, the then head quarters, as it were, of the Order, and the progress which has been made in the interim was shewn by the large muster of brethren belonging to the older Lodges and the appearance of an additional one in the procession. The assembly yesterday was fixed for two o'clock, at the Lodge of Unanimity, Hereford street, and at a little beyond the half hour the head of the procession filed out of the Lodge yard into the street and proceeded in the following order direct to St. John's Church: — ••*■ Three Tylers, with drawn swords. Brethren not attached to any local Lodge. Brethren of the Canterbury Lodge. "■■''' Brethren of the Southern Cross Lodge,

Kaiapoi. V Z z Brethren of the St Augustine Lodge. Brethren of the Lodge of Unanimity. GRAND LODGE : The Grand Tyler, with his drawn sword. Officers of the Grand Lodge. The Grand Secretary, with Book of Constitution. The Grand Chaplain, Preceded by a Past Master carrying the Bible, Square, and Compasses. The Grand Pursuivant. The Deputy Provincial Grand Master Elect. W. DONALD, Esq., Provincial Grand Master Elect, Supported by Brother Lazar, Installing Master. Tylers, with drawn swords. Advancing towards the church, the procession formed a very impressive spectacle, whilst the large assemblage of persons keeping pace with it, and the fine summer weather, further tended to form a most pleasing and enlivening picture. There were upwards of one hundred and thirty brethren of the order, attired in full masonic costume, with the officers bearing the symbols emblematical of their respective positions, or referring to the mysteries of the craft, and a new banner, which had been specially prepared for the occasion. To describe individual adornment from the plain insignia of the younger members to the rich decorations of the officers in immediate attendance upon the Grand Master elect, would be impossible, but we may notice those of Brother Lazar, the Installing Officer. His breast and apron were one mass of gold lace, medals, and other decorations, and indeed it would have been difficult to count the numerous marks of distinction which he wore. He walked on the right of Brother W. Donald, who also, by virtue of his position, possessed a large number of decorations, and, indeed, the circle of officers at this part of the procession were more or less attired in the rich insignia peculiar to leading members of the Order. The banner also claims attention as forming one of the distinctive features of the procession. It was composed of purple silk, and suspended from an appropriate pole with gilt ornaments. The heraldic bearings of the general masonic body are quartered with those of the Grand Lodge. In the first the field is Oxiles, with three castles Argent, a chevron Or with a pair of compasses extended thereon Azure. The second is quartered by a cross Vert voided Or, the first quartering is Azure a lion rampant Or, the second is Or a bull Sable, the third is a man proper, with arms extended upon a field Or; the fourth is Azure a spread eagle Or. The above quarterings were severally borne upon the standards of the four principal tribes of Israel, viz., Judah, Ephraim, Reuben, and Dan. The shield is surrounded by a circle, in which is inscribed, in gilt letters. " Canterbury, New Zealand." Captain Wilson was in charge of the whole assemblage, and marshalled the brethren into order. On arriving at the church gates, the head of the procession halted, and the two ranks opening out and facing inwards formed a passage, up which the Grand Master elect aud his attendant officers passed into the building, followed by the others in order of seniority. A large and fashionable congregation had already collected in the sacred edifice, but a portion of the seated accommodation having been set apart for the brethren of the Order, no confusion occurred. All the seats were filled when the service commenced, and many persons were compelled to stand at each doorway. Prayers were said by the Rev. J. 08. Hoare, the prayer used "in time of war and tumults" being introduced. The 104 th Psalm was chanted by the choir. Ihe first lesson for the day, St 1 horaas,' was read by the Rev. F. Knowles, and the second by the Rev. VV. J. G. Bluett. The Anthem taken from the 133 d Psalm, " Behold how good and joyful a thing it is, brethren to dwell together in unity," was beautifully given by the choir, Brother Waddington presiding at the organ. After the 174 th Hymn had been sung, the Rev. W. J. G. Bluett preached the sermon, selecting as his text the 16th verse of the 28th chapter of the Prophecies of Isaiah — " Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation stone, a tried stone; a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation.*' He remarked that that man was indeed to be pitied who had no foundation stone upon which to build his hopes of a future life. A foundation stone of some kind was a necessity of our spiritual being, for no one can divest himself of his responsibility, and must have something upon which to build his hopes. But unfortunately many men pass their lives in building upon false and vain foundations, in fact upon any foundation but tlie right one. Some trust to their freedom from gro-s vice, some upon the blamelessness of the ordinary course of their lives, and others upon their benevolence and good and amiable qualities. Others again, though living in sin, have some vague and undefined hope of God's mercy at the last. But all these foundations will be found unavailing, for every man's work will be proved, and that which is not built upon the Rock of Ages shall be finally overthrown. So deceitful is the human heart, and so beguiling is sin, that many a man passes his life, lulled into a false security, until he is moved by the Holy Spirit of God to abandon his plan of building upon a sandy foundation, and a goodly building is placed upon the true foundation stone, and rises higher and higher still, until the top-stone is laid upon it, amid a cry of " Grace- — Grace unto it." May we. pass through life, trusting on no other foundation than the true and precious one, Christ Jesus. Always bearing in mind that we, too, haye a great Master in Heaven, and praying Him to use ' lis as the building materials of the eternal edifice, the only one which the Great Architect will deign to bless, and this feeling will induce a feeling of real lasting spirit of brotherly kindness and forbearance towards one another.

The Old Hundredth Psalm was sung, and the offertory, which was devoted to the building-fund of the church was collected. The whole of the musical arrangements were under the able direction of Brothers M'Cardell and Waddington. The offertory amounted to £14. Having left the church, the procession formed in the same order as before and returned to the Lodge, where the ceremony of installation took place. A commemorative banquet was also given in the Town Hall in the evening. *, ' After the installation, the Grand Master appointed the following brethren to fill the j respective offices attached to their names : — C. W. Bishop, Deputy Provincial Grand Master ;. C. B. Grierson, Senior Warden ; H. Thomson, Junr. Warden; RevW. J. G. Bluett, Chaplain ; C. W. Bishop, Registrar ; A. F. N. Blakiston, Secretary and Treasurer ; — Mansfield, Senior Deacon ; H. W. Nalder, Junior Deacon ; J. T. Rouse, Superintendent of Works.; A. Duncan, Director of Ceremonies ; J. Graham, Sword Bearer ; J. Waddington, organist ; — A ngus. Pursuivant; G. Dorset, Tyler. "'■''■