MASONIC HALL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5316, 19 April 1884, Page 2

MASONIC HALL.

The consecration ceremonies of the new Masonic Hall wore too long for us to give anything like a full account of them in our yesterday's issue. The internal arrangements were complete, seats being placed for the P.M.'s at the east end of the building, where a raised dais had been erected. The chair was occupied by Bro, the Rev. B. W. Harvey, P.G.C., S.C., who had been deputed by Bro Sir F, Whitaker and Bro Toxward, District Grand Masters, for the North and South Islands to act a? representative of the Grand Lodge] on this occasion.

Seats for the ladies were placed at the opposite end of the? room, and two of the raised seats along the walls were also placed at their disposal. The sitting accommodation for the lady visitors waß barely sufficient, as there were 'nearly 100 present. Bros Pownall and John Stevenson acted as organists, and a choir of seven boys, under tho^ direction of Bro Holdeni Choir Master, were* present to sing the anthems. The Masons on entering the buildin^filed right and left, taking up the seats round the building which had been left for them. 'There were present fully 150, including visiting brethren hailing from all the lodges on the Coast from Taranaki to Wellington.

After the Grand Master had been conducted to his seat by Bros Bush and Watt, as stewards, Bro the Rev C. Nicholl, as Chaplain, offered the prayer of Benediction . After the response, Bro B, N. Mauley, P.M., addressed the Presiding Officer as follows :—: — Right Worshipful Sir, — I rise with hearty gratitude for the purpose of discharging a pleasing duty, which devolves on me as one of the Trustees appointed by Government for the section of land on which this edifice stands ; likewise as the chairman of the building board, and as the immediate Past Master of the lodge. As Masons we all feel a deep interest in the welfare and prosperity of the order, of the antiquity of which, Sir, you are already aware, for it has withstood the wreck of mighty empires," and the destroying hand' of time; and the secrets of the order have been Btrictly preserved even through the dark ages, and are now handed down to posterity inviolate. But Masonry, like all other institutions, has had its ebbs and flows, and depressions, at one time perhaps arising from the want of proper zeal of it 3 members, and from the dictum of Kings and Emperors, or of Governments who understood not the noble and sublime truth on which the order was founded. But lam happy to add that from all its reverses it has ever risen with renewed vigor. And as it is with the), Masonry in general, so it is with the individual lodges in particular. We have assembled here today for the purpose of assisting at the consecration of this our new lodge. I will as concisely as possible give you a retrospect of the work done in connection with its erection. Some" ten or more years ago the Provincial Government made the promise of a grant of a quarter of an acre of land to our order, but from one cause or other the grant was delayed and time rolled on. apace. One reason may have been that the Provincial Government was done away with, and their undertakings therefore merged into the General Government. It was only a short 8 months ago that the grant was completed, and signed by our present Governor. Simultaneously a meeting was held by the Masons of this town, and after much discussion it was unanimously resolved that £1000 should be raised by £5 debentures, repayable in 14 years and bearing 8 per cent interest. £200 was at once subscribed in the room, and by the evening of the next day debentures to the value of £750 had been taken up. A building board was formed, plans were submitted by Bro Young, of Messrs Young Bros., and the design of the present building chosen. Tenders were received, and that of Brother Spurdle for £899 was accepted ; other portions of his tender being held over for a time, but eventuallly exacuted. I may here observe that the ' building, as it it now stands, has cost close on £1125, and the furniture £150. The balance of the money over £1000 has been generously given by the members of the craft in connection with the lodges. Let me add that the architect (Bro. Young), the contractor (Bro. Spurdle), the sub-contrac-tors (Bros, Home and Hughes) have one and all carried out there respective parts with a true sense of their responsibility, and with a love for their work, and in a manner that none but skilled craftsmen could, When laying the foundation stone on the Ist of October last, and while the collection was being made, I made use of the words, or rather quoted those of our late Bro. Robert Thos. Cruciflx, " The stone is laid, the temple is begun ; help and its walls will glisten in the sun." You brethren have well helped, and it may be said that its walls now § glisten in the sun. The earnest manner, however, in whielSfethe undertaking was from the first taken up, is a sufficient evidence that whenever heartiness of purpose and determination of will are brought to , bear, nothing is impossible amongst men, and i especially amongst Masons. It shows that the same power is still inherent in "the craft which has wrought such i mighty wonders in this past. Besides I may say that the " points of fellowship" which have^ been intended to promote ! " brotherly love, relief, and truth," have i been well adhered to throughout the progress of the work, in other words the Commiteee chosen to carry out the resolution to erect the Freemason's Hall have from the first worked with unanimity of purpose, and the result is to-day that we have a lodge, which I feel satisfied will compare favourably with others in the larger centres of population in New Zealand and which we as a body may be proud of. Look around, my brethren, and I think you will agree with me that much "wisdom, strength, and beauty" have been expended before such a magnificent edifice could have been comj pleted, I will not detain you longer, but will simply say that, although the building is finished according to contract, yet there remains much to, be done. And may the same "faith, hope, and charity," combined with " virtue, honour, . and mercy," be amongst us as heretofore; The Architect, (Bro Young) was then introduced to the Presiding Officer, and delivered the .following address : — Right Worshipful Sir.— Grateful for the honor conferred upon me when I was chosen to be the Architect of this new Masonic Temple. I have respectfully to inform you that the work is now completed, and in returning to you the implements entrusted to me when the corner stone was . laid, to express the hope that the designs upon the trestle-board will he found to have been faithfully carried out. It has not been for us to build a temple ol enduring stone enriched with precious materials aud wrought with cunning workmanship ; but we have done our best with the means and materials at our command, bearing in mind that all true craftsmen must carefully design and well and truly carry out such work as is given them to do. But while this solemn ceremony brings to mind the noble temple of remote ages and the magnificent edifices of the present day consecrated to Masonic rites, we must not think of these with regret or envy, but rather turn our thoughts to those lodges meeting in peril and discomfort, and we may feel thankful that the Great Architect has laid our lines In pleasant places, in freedom and security, and that the craft here has a home and temple sufficient for the time and place. As the brethren will observe, there still remain many things to be completed in this building and its appointments, but these things which have been left undone can be done at a more convenient time, and however desirable, are neither of pressing importance nor within our present means. I have very great pleasure in testifying to the praiseworthy zeal arid faithfulness with which my efforts have been, seconded by Bro. Spurdle, the contractor' for the works, whom I have the pleasure of presenting to you, and by Bros. Horn and Hughes in their respective vocations. To the Chairman, all members of the Building Board, and to brethren generally my thanks are due for the confidence reposed in us, for the great interest they have taken in the work, and for the time and gifts that they have so freely devoted l to it. It is 'my earnest hope that you may be spared to witness within these walls an increasing Freemasonry, that the legends on the frieze may be more than emblazoned ornaments, and that the blessing of the Great Architect may continually rest on our labours i

The plans having been handed over to the presiding officer, the Dedication Anthem was feung, andj the prayer of invocation was offered by the Chaplain* The responses

"All Glory be to God Most High," " Peace on Earth, and goodwill towards Men," were were sung by the brethren, each being followed by the grand bonore 'one three times. A procession was then 'ormed consisting of the following officers : — Bro. Sewell (Swordbearer) ; Bro. Watt, P.M. (corn) ; Dro. Tripe. J.W. (light) ; Bro. Nathan, P.M. (wine) ; Bro. Eotheram, S.W. (light ; Bro. Spurdle (oil) ; Bros. Paterson, Bush, Watt, and Cummins (stewards). The procession having marched .ound the pavement o cc to slow music —

Bro. Watt, P.M. scattered the corn in the centre of the building, saying "As corn is emblematic of abundance we sprinkle our Lodges with it at their consecration, in anticipation of promoting amongst its members the blessings of morality and virtue, and by an increase of the brethren to disseminate amongst mankind the benefits resulting from brotherly love, relief, and truth that society in general may pronVby an infusion of the principles of Masonry into every order of men, and introduce a better feeling into the whole mass."

The Presiding Officer then dedicated the building in the name of the Most High God to Freemasonry. The grand honors having been given again, a hymn was sung, and the procession proceeded to move round the building again. BroNathan P.M. poured the wine on the floor, invoking at the same time bounteous blessings from the Creator of the universe on the members of the order, that brotherly love _ and unity might be promoted ; and praying that the structure be used for the purposes "df Freemasonry till time shall be no more.

The Presiding Officer then solemly dedicated the building to religion, virtue, and science, and after the grand honors had been given three times the procession again moved round the building. Bro Spurdle R.W.M. poured the oil on the pavement, saying :— We annoint this lodge with oil in the hope that its members while accomplishing their pilgrimage through this transitory life, may have their sorrows and afflictions alleviated and sweetened by by the joy and consolation of the Holy One, by the feast of a good conscience, by the bread of life, the oil of gladness, and the cup of salvation full and running over. The building was then dedicated to universal benevolence j a verse having been sung, the grand honors were given five times, and the Presiding Officer addressed the brethren. He asked those present to reflect on the meaning of the ceremonial they had just been engaged in. Religion, hereminded them, was the foundation stone of the Order. They were required as Masons first, and above.all, to be religious and good fearing men. Within the lodge walk they paid no heed to i>he distinctions of creed and name, which too often cause unhappiness in the camp of the believer. Their rules would not suffer them to mention those party names which were used not as bonds of brotherhood in a common cause, but as the battle-cries of epposing factions. In ignoring these names they did not exclude any, but rather included all men, not slighting or condemning any, but rather holding all in brotherly esteem, and love. They were ready to extend the right hand of fellowship to all good men and true, who bowed with them before the Great Architect and Ruler of the Univ c, who recognised with them that the volume of the Sacred Law was the only sure basis of morality. With those who were seeking to destroy the faith they could have no fellowship, they did not condemu them, to God and not not to them were they responsible, and they must render an account to H"n. The duty of m sons in that respect was clearly marked when the Grand Lodge of England refused to recognise the Grand Orient Lodge of France, on "the ground that they had removed the name of the deity from their ritual. It remained for them to bear emphatic witness to these principles, by their lives, they must endeavor to show forth in themselves all those vitues which are charged on every true mason. After the Presiding Officer had invoked the divine blessing on their efforts the Chaplain followed with a prayer. "The anthem "Thine O Lord" was then nicely sung by the choir, and the Benediction was pronounced by the Chaplin. After "Old Hundred" had been sung by all present, the chair was taken by Bro. Borlase W.M, and the public portion was then over.

The proceedings were carried through without a hitch, and great credit ia due to Bro. Ancher, who acted as Master of Ceremonies, and also to the officers of the two local lodges for the efforts put forth by them to make the whole affair the grand success it was.