MASONIC COMMUNICATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3215, 11 May 1911, Page 5

MASONIC COMMUNICATION.

THE ENGLISH CONSTITUTION.

ANNUAL GATHERING IN CHRIST-

CHURCH

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.!

CHRISTCHURCH, May .10,

The Grand Masonic Annual Goirununication opened this afternoon in the Choral Hall. It was the largest gathering of its kind yet held in the Dominion, and about 250 members were present, including 'the direct representatives of 183 lodges from towns as far nortjhi as MangonJui, and- as fan south as Invercargill. The Grand Master (M.W. Bro. C. J. W. Griffiths, of Blenheim) occupied the throne. The proposed transfer of £2OOO from the capital of the. Fund of .Benevolence to the Widows and Orpiians and Aged Masons Fund was unanimously approved, and tfb was promised that the Board of General Purposes woulld consider the question of devising means for regularly and systematically raising means for he augmentation of the Annuity Fund. The suggestion that-the next annual communication! be. hold at Dunedin was agreed to, and Bro. Arthur T. Clarke, nuCLA., was appointed auditor for the ensuiiiiO- year. The attendance in the evening was considerably swollen by an influx of members of :tho craft from the Christchurch Lodges and those of the other towns of the provincial district. The hall was well filled, both on the floor and in the gallery. When the Grand Lodge resumed, M.W Bro. Malcolm Niceoffl (Senior Past Grand Master of the Dominion) assumed the throne. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Canterbury was strongly represented, and the R.W. Bro. . M. Brown, Deputy District Grand Master of' Canterbury Freemasons under the English Constitution, was present, attended by a retinue of District Grand Officers. The. re-instalment of M.W. Bro. C. J. W. Griffiths as Grandmaster was carried out with dignity by M.W. Bro. H. W. Williams, Past P.G.M., the musical contributions of a strong orchestra and choir materially enhancing the impressiveness of the ceremonial. An announcement was made by the Grandmaster of his appointment of R.W. Bro. J. J. Dougall, of Christchurch, to the office of Deputy Grand Master; R.W. Bro. George Barclay (Auckland) as Senior Grand Warden; and R.W. Alfred Feldwick (Dunedin) as Junior Grand Warden. These several officers were duly invested and inducted. The Grand Master, in his address to the gathering, said the Grand Lodge had now nearly 12,000 members, and possessed accumulated funds to the extent of between £24,000 and £25,000. Without being ostentatious they might fairly say that- these facts were matters for ’ fraternal congratulations. The past year had been one of peaceful, steady, and uninterrupted ~ progress, both numerically and financially. . The opening of twelve new ledges within twelve months established a record, and the fact that for the ninth year in succession every lodge was clear on the books spoke volumes’ for the healthy condition of the craft.