The New Zealand Craftsman Wellington, New Zealand, June 2, 1913

PEEPS INTO GRAND LODGE.
————

The Auckland Communication was undoubtedly the most brilliant yet held by G.L. As to attendance there is
no doubt on this point. Neither will it be questioned that there was more floor space for the ceremonial work
than usual. And as to musical effects, the magnificent accompanying power of the organ was thrilling.

Y Y Y
M.W. Bro. Thompson increased, if possible, his popularity with the members of the Craft. The G.M. may not
be a heaven-born orator, but in urbanity in the chair he proved himself the equal of any of his distinguished
predecessors.

Y Y Y
While the Town Hall proved itself so admirably adapted for ceremonial work, it certainly had the drawbacks
incidental to most large buildings when only half-filled as regards the deliberative portion of G.L. work. Its
acoustic properties in this respect were execrable. Unfortunately, the smaller concert hall was not available,
as it is booked up for entertainment purposes from now to the end of 1914.

One noticeable feature of the gathering was the splendid muster of P.D.G.Ms. No fewer than twelve were
presents, including some of the most venerable promoters of G.L., and the present incumbent of the D.G.M.
chair made up thirteen. Additional to M.W. Bros. Burton and Griffiths, who have since passed on to higher
office, the Past Deputies present were R.W. Bros. Kaye, Fewids, Bartlett, Michel, J. M. Brown, M. McLean,
Withers, Ross, Pewley, and Kearsley.

Y Y Y
Another rare event was that all the senior officers of the past year were in attendance—the G.M. the Deputy-
G.M. (R.W. Bro. Kearslev), and the S. and J.G.Ws. (R.W. Bros. Nash and Frostick). Truly, it was a record-
breaking Communication.

Y Y Y
Auckland's advantages in the matter of entertaining visitors shone out brilliantly—its fine Town Hall (not
forgetting the all-important organ), its harbour scenery, and the hospitality of its inhabitants. Incidentally, the
promoters of the coining Auckland Exhibition were wise in their generation in giving the Masonic visitors
special facilities for viewing the Exhibition Buildings, in order that they might advertise to their Southern
friends the elaborate scale on which preparations are being made. And as to the hospitality of Auckland
Freemasons—well, ask any of their Southern guests, that's all.

Y Y Y
M.W. Bro. Burton enhanced his reputation as the arch-humorist of G.L. His incidental comments while
investing the elective officers were quite a relief to the monotony of pure ceremonial work, and happy
without infringing the rules of good taste. Unfortunately, the acoustic defects already mentioned caused his
quips to be lost upon many of the brethren at the hack of the hall.

Y Y Y
Another incident in the way of " light relief " was the amusing way in which one of the Ds. of C. " boxed the
compass" in one of the proclamations. Evidently, he didn't know for the moment "where he were"—whether
in the east, west, or south, for each point of the compass had its turn.

Y Y Y
The surprise of the meeting was the way in which those brethren who aim at restricting the prerogative
powers of the G.M. were worsted. After years of effort to transfer some of those powers, with respect to the
appointment of Prov.G.Ms. to the Craft Lodges, the net result is that the G.M. has greater power to-day than
ever before, the Lodges have relinquished the privilege of making recommendations, and the G.M. has not
even the necessity of asking the sanction of G.L. to the appointments he may make.

Y Y Y
W. Bro. Whiteside, of Christchurch, holds more securely than ever the title he won at Dunedin last year, of
Leader of the Masonic Opposition.

Y Y Y

The venerable Prov.G.M. of Canterbury was much missed by his old friends in G.L. They are, however,
looking forward with hope to seeing him in his best form as the head of his Prov.G.L. when they visit
Christchurch next year.

Y Y Y
It was almost like painting the lily to shower compliments upon M.W. Bro. Niccol for his able management.
of G. office. But, in spite of the illustrious brother's blushes and modest disclaimers, those compliments were
heard at various periods in the discussions, and they were crystallised into an enthusiastic resolution of
appreciation before the brethren parted.

__________________________

GRAND LODGE COMMUNICATION.
————

THE PROCEEDINGS AT AUCKLAND.

The Annual Communication of G.L., held in Auckland TOW-11 Hall on the 14th and 15th May, was
probably the most successful gathering of the Craft yet held in the Dominion. In point of attendance there
can be no doubt on the question. The number present at the deliberative proceedings was shown by a division
to be 221. As regards ceremonial there can be no room for doubt as to its success. The ample floor space of
the hall provided liberal room for processional purposes, and when it came to the installation gathering the
use of the finest organ in New Zealand during the entrance of the dignitaries of the Craft, and in support of
the singing of the various odes, imparted a dignity to the proceedings such as has never before been attained
in our annual gatherings.

G.L. was opened soon after 10 a.m. on the 14th, M.W. Bro. Maurice Thompson, G.M. on the throne,
supported by R.W. Bro. F. Kearsley, Deputy-G.M., and R.W. Bros. Niccol, Burton, and Griffiths, P.G.Ms.,
P.Pro-G.M. Bro. O. Nicholson, and an nnusnally large gathering of P.D.G.Ms. The two G.Ws. of the year,
R.W. Bros. T. Nash (Senior) and J. A. Frostick (Junior) were also in their respective chairs. There was a
considerable representation of the Prov.G.L. of Canterbury, headed by V.W. Bro. John Thornton, Deputy-
Prov.G.M.

FUNDS AND FINANCE.

The annual financial statements were submitted by R.W. Bro. Moller, G.Treas. The cash balances of the
several funds were as follows:—

The following table shows the total cash balances at the end of each financial year since the establishment of
G.L. :—
£

At 30th April, 1891 … ... 72
At 31st December, 1891 ... ... 210
At 31st December, 1892 ... ... 462
At 31st December, 1893 ... ... 695
At 31st December, 1894 ... ... 945
At 31st March, 1896 … … 1,546
At 31st March, 1897 ... ... 1,866
At 31st March, 1898 ... ... 2,818
At 31st March, 1899 ... ... 3,247
At 31st March, 1900 ... ... 4,000
At 31st March, 1901 ... … 4,014
At 31st March, 1902 . ... 4.651
At 31st March, 1903 ... … 6.383
At 31st March, 1904 ... … 7,378
At 31st March, 1905 ... ... 8,759
At 31st March, 1906 ... ... 10,753
At 31st March, 1907 ... ... 12.425
At 31st March, 1908 ... ... 16,169

At 31st March, 1909 ... ... 19,752
At 31st March, 1910 ... ... 21,944
At 31st March, 1911 ... ... 24.439
At 31st March, 1912 ... .. 27,395
At 31st March, 1913 ... ... 30,080

The total funds of G.L. have been increased by 2,685 during the past year, and the permanent investments
have been increased from £26,000 to £28.500.

The funds of G.L. were now invested and deposited as follows :
£ s. d.
Invested in N.Z. Government 4 per cent. Debentures and Consols ... 20,000 0 0
Invested in City of Dunedin 41 per cent. Debentures ... 1,000 0 0
Invested with Public Trustee at 4 per cent. ... 7,500 0 0
In current account with National Bank ... ... 1,580 7 11

Total ... £30.080 7 11

The statements were adopted without discussion.

ELECTION OF GRAND MASTER.

The re-election of M.W. Bro. Maurice Thompson as G.M. was moved by M.W. Bro. Griffiths, seconded by
R.W. Bro. Dr. Withers, P.D.G.M., and carried with acclamation.

The scheme of distribution proposed by the B. of G.P. for the selection of the elective officers was agreed to.
Particulars will be found later on, in the account of the installation ceremony.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE.

The report of the Board of Benevolence showed that £329 10s. had been expended during the year from the
Fund of Benevolence in the relief of casual cases. There had been three circular appeals, the proceeds of
which had respectively amounted to £240, £180, and £180. This Board has in hand 18 funds created by
means of circular appeal, totalling £1,695.

The Board had considered a remit from last year's G.L. Communication to the effect : " That, with a view to
providing a regular and systematic means of augmenting the W. and O. and A.M. Fund of G.L., it be a
recommendation to all the Lodges throughout the territory that an offertory be taken up at all Lodge
meetings, to be devoted to that purpose."

On this question the Board reported :—" We are of opinion that it would be a mistake to introduce the
system of mechanically passing round the offertory plate at every Lodge meeting, because it is open to the
strong objection that it would press unequally and unfairly on the comparatively small section of members
and visitors who attend regularly or frequently, whilst absentees would escape from their responsibility to
contribute: in fact, it would probably act as a deterrent on attendance. Another objection that may fairly be
urged against the proposal is that constantly reiterated demands upon the purses of members would
inevitably result in their giving the smallest possible coin on each occasion, irrespective of their means or the
claims of the institution. What we think is needed is that the annual collection at installation meetings should
be better worked up in some districts, and not allowed to be taken in a perfunctory manner, as is too often the
case. The Prov.G.M. or some other brother should deliver a short address of an appropriate nature before the
offertory is taken up, and if possible an effort should be made to reach absent members and induce them to
contribute."

On the motion of V.W. Bro. Clark, President of the Board, the report was adopted.

W. AND O. AND A.M. FUND.

In its annual report this Board reported the death of three annuitants during the year, while the term of an
annuity that had been granted to a widow for five years had expired. In regard to the case of one of the

deceased, it had been decided to continue the payment of £20 a year to the guardians of her two orphan girls
for five years.

The annuities now current number 28, aggregating £635 10s.

The capital value of the Fund at 31st March, 1913, was £20,625 19s. 3d., an increase of £1,812 17s. 9d.. over
the amount at the close of the financial rear of 1912. The increase was made up as follows: —

£ s. d.
Voluntary contributions from Lodges and brethren 1,313 12 6
Voluntary contribution from Supreme G.R.A. Chapter of N.Z.... 26 0 0
Donation, per Bro. C. W. Nielsen, Wellington ... 50 0 0
Interest earned by General Fund and Fund of Benevolence ... 300 0 0
Interest earned by W. and O. and A.M. Fund £742 10 3
Loss annuities paid ... 619 5 0
123 5 3
£1,812 17 9

The income from the invested Annuity Fund for the year 1913-1914 will be about £835. The annual charge
on the Fund is at present £635 10s., so that a margin of about £200 per annum exists for the creation of new
annuities.

The table summarising the voluntary contributions to the Fund for the year ended 31st. March was as
follows:-
£ s. d. £ s. d.
Auckland District... ... 329 18 4 39 15 9
Wellington District ... ... 323 14 11 12 10 1
Canterbury Province ... 192 13 10 2 12 9
Otago District ... 98 2 3 16 2 0
Southland District... .. 84 11 11 16 5 0
Hawkes Bay District ... 92 8 4
West Coast District ... 68 5 3
Taranaki District ... ... 80 8 1 4 0 3
Nelson and Marlborough District... 33 9 7 1 15 0
Per Bro. C. NV. Nielsen, Solicitor,
Wellington ... 50 0 0
Supreme G.R.A. Chapter of N.Z.... 26 0 0
N.Z. Express Company ... 10 0 0
£1,389 12 6 £93 0 10

Of individual lodges, the largest contributor was Lodge Maungawhao, Mount Eden, Auckland, with £64 10s.
Next in order came Lodge St. Andrew, No. 8, Auckland, £38 16s. ; Loinster, No. 44, Wellington, £30 8s. 3d.;
Ulster, Petone, No. 62, £28 12s. 8d. ; Waterloo, No. 13, Wellington, £27 3s. 5d. ; Masterton:, No. 19,
Masterton, £21 13s.; Stratford, No. 75, Stratford, £28 14s: 6d. ; Scinde, No. 5, Napier, £21; Abercorn, No.
76. Gisborne, and St. Andrew Kil., No. 79, Wanganui, £20 each.

The following alterations in the Rules had been adopted by the Board, and were now reported to G.L. for
approval :—

Rule 3.—The designation of the Board has been altered to " The Annuity Board."
Rule 8.—The age at which a brother shall be eligible for an annuity has been altered from fifty to sixty years.

The proposed alteration of Rule 3 was adopted nem. con.

The amendment with regard to the ago qualifying for an annuity met with less favour, and after a short
debate was rejected by 134 votes to 87.

Subject to this alteration the report of the Board was adopted on the motion of its Chairman, M.W. Bro.
Burton.

BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES.

The principal matters dealt with in the report of the B. of G.P. were as follows :—As soon as possible after
last Communication of G.L. each Prov.G.M. was requested to submit the name of a qualified brother willing
to accept appointment as G.Lecturer, but the response was somewhat disappointing, there being only three
nominations, and all of these from the South Island. Upon the recommendation of the Board, the G.M. made
the following appointments :—W. Bro. T. W. Rowe, of Christchurch, to be G. Lecturer for the Province of
Canterbury; W. Bro. W: G. Mehaffey of Invercargill, to be G. Lecturer for the Districts of Otago and
Southland. In accordance with the expressed wish of G.L. it is intended to insert in the Annual Report of
Proceedings of G.L. such of the lectures as may appear suitable for publication.

Six new Lodges had been constituted during the year, viz. :— Otari, No. 190, Khandallah, Wellington ;
Ionic, No. 191, Green Island, Dunedin ; Morning Star, No. 192, Mornington, Dunedin ; Tirau, No. 193,
Tirau, near Rotorua, Auckland ; Installed Masters, No. 194, Wellington; and Moutoa. No. 195, Gonville,
Wanganui. Lodge Wairoa, No. 55, at Clevedon, in the Auckland district, had been removed to Ellerslie, a
thriving suburb of Auckland City.

M.W. Bro. Binns had been elected and installed as Prov.G.M. of Canterbury for a second period of three
years, expiring in September, 1915. Three of the present Prov.G.Ms. had intimated to the G.M. that they
would be unable to accept reappointment, viz. :—R.W. Bros. T. Hobson (Hawkes Bay). T. C. Fookes
(Taranaki), and Steens (Southland). The Board recommended G.L. to place on record its grateful recognition
of their faithful and zealous services.

An agreement had been arrived at with the G.L. of Scotland. and was submitted to G.L. for ratification, in
regard to the long-standing dispute as to the terms on which it recognises the supremacy of G.L. in New
Zealand. The principal clauses in the agreement, as regards conditions of recognition, are as follows:—
" (2) That any Scottish Lodges which are presently dormant or which may become dormant shall he held
as adhering to the G. L. of Scotland, any may at any time within five years from the date of the agreement, or
from the date of their hereafter becoming dormant, be resuscitated by it in the locality assigned in the
Charter.
" (3) But after the lapse of five years from the date of this agreement, or from the date of a Lodge hereafter
becoming dormant, as the case may be, without such Lodge or Lodges being resuscitated, they shall be
regarded as absolutely defunct and incapable of being resuscitated.
"Any Lodge within the Dominion of New Zealand holding of the G.L. of Scotland, with the permission of
that G.L. first asked and obtained in writing, shall be entitled to meet and decide in open Lodge whether or
not it desires to tender its allegiance to the G.L. of New Zealand; such meeting to be specially convened and
the business thereof conducted in accordance with the regulations to be laid down by the G.L. of Scotland
thereanent.
" A majority of two-thirds in number of the brethren of the. Lodge present shall be required to enable the
Lodge to tender its allegiance to the C.L. of New Zealand."

The Board recommended G.L. to appoint Bro. James brown, (N.Z.), Auditor for the year 1913-14, at the
usual fee of twenty guineas.

At the close of the financial year, 31st March, 1913, only three Lodges had neglected to send in their returns
to 31st December, 1912. Satisfactory explanations for the delay had been received, with promises to square
up before G.L. meets ; so that the G.Sec. expected to be able to report for the tenth year in succession that
every Lodge was clear on the books.

In the ordinary course of events the next Annual Communication of G.L. will be held in Christchurch during
May, 1914.

M.W. Bro. Binns, Prov.G.M. of Canterbury, in his report to the G.3I., which was appended to the report of
the Board, stated, inter alia is probable that there will shortly be an application for a Charter for another new

Lodge in Canterbury. The petition was sent to me, but as it was not quite in order it is being held up till I
receive the particulars I require Dame Rumour mentions the possibility of another application coming from
the same part, but I know nothing officially at present.

The clauses of the report were considered seriatim, and eventually adopted without amendment.

After adopting the clause in reference to the agreement with the G.L. of Scotland, it was resolved that the
G.M. should sign the agreement, and cable to Edinburgh that he bad done so.

In finally adopting the report, warm and manifestly sincere testimony was given to the admirable
management of the affairs of G.L. by the M.W.G.Sec.

AMENDMENTS OF GRAND LODGE LAWS.
PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTERS.

M.W. Bro. Burton moved, as an amendment of G.L. laws :—

Rule 4 (on inset of 1911).—" That the first sentence of the last clause, which now reads thus : The Deputy-
G.M. and G.Ws. shall be appointed annually by the G.M., who may annually appoint Prov.G.Ms. of Districts
created by G.L.,' shall be deleted; and the following shall be inserted in lieu thereof The Deputy-G.M. and
G.Ws. shall be appointed annually by the G.M., who shall also, subject to the annual consent of G.L., appoint
Prov.G.Ms. of Districts now existing, or that may hereafter be created by G.L.' "

Rule 14 (on inset of 1910), the last sentence.—" Recommendations for the position of Prov.G.M. are not
nominations, and must be sent directly to the G.Sec," shall be deleted.

Rule 24 (on inset of 1910).—The sentence now standing thus : " He (the G.Sec.) shall also in the month of
January of every year invite each Lodge to recommend a worthy brother as Prov.G.M. of each respective
district for the ensuing year, and shall forward such recommendations to the G.M.," shall be deleted.

The amendment to Rule 4 was taken first, and discussed at some length.

V.W. Bro. Clark moved as an amendment that the words " subject to the annual consent of G.L.," be deleted.

After considerable debate the amendment was carried by 194 to 15, and subject to the excision of the words
indicated the motion was agreed to.

Without further discussion the amendments to Rules 14 and 24 were agreed to on the voices.

The position, therefore, is that the G.M. has now authority to appoint Prov.G.Ms. without asking annually, as
heretofore, for the consent. of G.L.

THE BOARD'S AMENDMENTS.

A formidable sheaf of amendments to G.L. laws was submitted by the B. of G.P. They occupied nearly four
pages of closely printed foolscap, but in many instances were merely intended to express more aptly the
present laws, without actually altering their effect.

The first motion upon which there was any material discussion was the following :-

On the fourth line from beginning of the Rule after the word " year " insert the following : " In the month of
October in each year the B. of G.P. shall allocate to each district certain offices for the ensuing year, so that
the offices may he as equally as possible apportioned to the several districts. In the month of November in
each year the G.Sec, shall send to each Lodge a printed list showing the offices allocated to each district, and
shall invite nominations of qualified brethren to fill the offices allocated to the particular district in which
each Lodge is situated."

Delete the following words: " Any qualified brother may be nominated to any office, or generally for office,
by any member of G.L. in writing, or by resolution of any Lodge."

Insert the following words " Any qualified brother may, by resolution of any Lodge of which he is a.
member, be nominated to any office allocated to the particular district in which such Lodge is situated,-
provided, however, that nomination for the office of G.M. may be made by any Lodge or by any member of
G.L."

It was frankly stated by the members of the Board that the amendment aimed at the stoppage of the practice
of canvassing of candidates for G.L. office, and prevention of the method of influencing the Board by getting
an array of nominations from different Lodges. Under it a candidate could only be nominated by a Lodge of
which he is a member.

V.W. Bro. Clark moved, as an amendment, to insert in the final clause of the motion, after " of which he is a
member," the words " or any qualified member of G.L." This was accepted by the President of the Board.

Finally, a division was taken upon the second clause printed above, when the motion for the deletion of the
words was lost by 113 to 104.

The consideration of the amendments was unfinished when G.L. adjourned for dinner.

THE INSTALLATION GATHERING.

The re-installation of M.W. Bro. Thompson as G.M. took place in the evening when nearly, 2,000 members
of the Craft were present. M.V. Bro. Griffiths occupied the throne, and acted as Installing-G.M. R.W. Bro.
W. J. Rees, Prov.G.M. of the Prov.G.L. under the I.C., was present, attended by his officers.

The installation ceremony was carried through with unusual brilliancy. There was no choir. but the effect of
the use of the magnificent organ of the Town Hall was inspiring. It seemed to encourage the brethren to lift
their voices in the odes, with the result that there was a splendid body of sound. Added to the effect of the
organ in the marches, and its general accompaniments to the proceedings, the music made the ceremonial
one to be remembered. Bro. Harold Gregson, by the way, was at the organ stool.

After his installation, the M.W.G.M. announced his prerogative appointments as follows :—
Deputy-G.M.—

R.W. Bro. James Moncrieff, of Carterton, Wellington.
Prov.G.Ms.–

Auckland District—R.W. Bro. Thos. W. Allen.
Wellington District—R.W. Bro. T. A. Peterkin.
Otago District—R.W. Bro. A. Stoneham.
Southland District—R.W. Bro. Wm. Timpany.
West Coast District—R.W. Bro. J. H. Harkness.
Hawkes Bay District—R.W. Bro. H. L. Harston.
Nelson and Marlborough District—R.W. Bro. W. E. Redman.
Taranaki District—R.W. Bro. R. W. Sargent.
M.W. Bro. F. C. Binns is, of course, Prov.G.M. of Canterbury Province by virtue of his election by the
Prov.G.L.

S.G.W.—W. Bro. W. Broadley, of Kaiapoi.
J.G.W.—W. Bro. Gilbert T. Bull, of Gisborne.

The Deputy-G.M. was invested and inducted by the M.W.G.M., the Prov.G.Ms. by M.W. Bro. Nicholson,
and the G.Ws. by M.W. Bro. Burton

The elective officers, chosen earlier in the day, were invested by M.W. Bro. Burton, as follows:—
G. Chaplains—W. Bro. Rev. C. E. Nicholas and Bro. Rev. I. A. Bernstein.
G. Treasurer—R.W. Bro. O. H. Moller.
G. Registrar—V.W. Bro. H. McMillan Ewing.
President of the B, of G.P.— R.W. Bro. Thomas Ross.
President of the B. of Benevolence—V.W. Bro. J. J. Clark.
Senior G.Ds.—W. Bros. D. G. Robertson and J. M. Aitken.

Junior G.Ds.—W. Bros. C. J. B. Norwood and John Scholes.
G. Supts. of W.—W. Bros. A. Veitch and Samuel W. Street.
G.Ds. of C.—W. Bros. A. W. Flett and T. R. Stanley Milroy.
G. Bible Bearers—W. Bros. Edwin Grove and J. Rennie
G. Sword Bearers—W. Bros. A. McL. Fyfe and J. E. Holmes.
G. Standard Bearers—W. Bros. G. H. Harle and J. M. Lightfoot.
G. Organist—W. Bro. A. Cookson.
G. Pursuivants—W. Bros. Jas. Rod and S. T. Rossiter.
G. Stewards—VV. Bros. J. E. Hood, W. McLean, J. W. Swales, J. H. Hansch, Thos. Rowell, Alex. Murray,

T. W. Lee, Jas. McKenzie, Jas. A. Grant, R. O, Dawkins., Ben.jamin Street, Jos. Quin.
Elected Members of B. of G.P.—W. Bros. J. T. Laing, C. E. George, D. Harris Hastings, D. C. Cameron, and

C. S. Jenkins (Otago District); A. C. Harrison and S. D. MeMiken (Auckland District); Richard Wylie
and Walter Rutherford (Wellington District); J. C. Watson and C. Campbell (Canterbury Province); J.
J. Griffiths (Southland District); Henry P. Horne (Hawkes Bay District) ; R. A. Stewart (West Coast
District); P. F. Ralfe (Taranaki District).

Elected Members of B. of Benevolence—W. Bros. T. Gallagher, R. McNaughton, J. W. Ritchie, H. E.
Miller, and O. H. Pinel (Otago District); Wm. Gardiner and Wm. S. Clark (Auckland District) ; A. .T.
Graham and H. W. Preston (Wellington District); H. D. Bettger and G. F. Allen (Canterbury Province)
; A. J. Geddes (Southland District) ; Jas. Redshaw (Hawkes Bay District); Frederick Thomas (Nelson
and Marlborough District); P. H. Hartland (West Coast District).

W. Bros. Howey Walker and Flett acted as G.Ds. of C., and Bros. F. L. Gribbin and A. White as Heralds.

GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS.

< See File TNZC1306E>
__________________

THURSDAY, 15th MAY.
———

G.L. resumed in the morning, with the newly invested officers in their places.

The first amendment to G.L. laws called on was one which proposed to add to the questions to be answered
by candidates for Freemasonry, one to the effect : " Is the candidate's life insured?" with a provision that if
the answer be in the negative a medical certificate must be produced. The President of the Board announced
that it had been decided to withdraw the amendment, as it was considered that sufficient had been done by
giving notice of the motion to ensure that due attention would be given to the necessity for some kind of
providence for their families on the part of candidates proposed.

There was some discussion upon a motion to add to Rule 103 the following paragraph :—" The following
regulations shall be observed when taking the ballot—(a) Ballot balls or cubes shall be distributed by the
Deacons; (b) The ballot box shall then be placed on the altar, and the brethren form a procession and deposit
their ballot in turn, the Wardens and W.M. voting last; (c) Objection to any brother voting must be taken
before such brother casts his ballot; (d) After the declaration of the result the ballot cannot be re-opened or
challenged unless the W.M. is of opinion that a mistake has been made, when he may order a second ballot
to be taken, provided no brother has left the room in the interval between the first and second ballot; (e)
Collective balloting is illegal; each candidate must he separately balloted for,"

Ultimately, clause (e) was adopted as mandatory, and it was agreed to print the other clauses in the appendix
to the Book of Constitution as a recommendation to Lodges.

An amendment to Rule 135, the effect of which was to place in the hands of the G.M., instead of the
Prov.G.L. of an established Province, the power of appointing the Prov.G.M., was strongly opposed, and was
eventually negatived.

Another amendment affecting Prov.GLs. provided that only Installed Masters should be eligible for office in
Prov.G.L. An appeal was made at some length by a W. brother from Canterbury for the admission to the rank

of G.S. of M.Ms., but the Deputy-Prov.G.M. of Canterbury stated that the brother in question stood alone in
the district in his view of the matter. The amendment was adopted almost unanimously, subject to an
exception in respect to the offices of Prov.G.Chaplain and Prov. G. Organist.

The new Rules submitted by the Board were adopted in globo, after a vain appeal by one brother against the
adoption for new Lodges of the N.Z. Ritual.

VOTING BY POST.

A motion by W. Bro. D. B. Wallace, P.G.D., to give a Lodge that does not send a delegate or representative
to G.L. the power of voting by post, was negatived almost with unanimity, as being a dangerous approach to
the long-abolished proxy system.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP.

The motion of Lodge Hikurangi, expressing approval of the principle of life membership of Craft Lodges
was also lost, without debate.

CENTRALISATION.

Keen interest was shown in the series of motions by W. Bro. Gothard, representative of Lodge Kawatiri-
Westport, as follows :-

(a) "That the time has arrived when the Constitution should be altered with the view of making the
office of G.L. permanent in one of the four chief centres of the Dominion (Wellington for
preference, on ac-count of its central position)."

(b) "That the Communications of G.L. should be biennial instead of annual."
(c) "That the G.M. should be elected biennially."
(d) "That the present system of representation of Lodges at the Communication of G.L. is too

cumbersome and costly, and that a reduction in the number of representatives would yield better
results and facilitate legislation."

(e) "That the saving effected by these alterations, it adopted by G.L., be applied in augmentation of the
W. and O. and A.M. Fund."

The argument of the mover went on the well-worn lines of the advantages of centralisation as against the
present system of a peripatetic G.L. office. The feeling of G.L. was against debate, as it was evidently .ready
for the question.

On a division, clause (a) was declared carried by 116 votes to 93.

A ballot was demanded, and resulted in an even more emphatic carrying of the motion by 338 to 254—the
extra voting power of representatives of Lodges, of course, accounting for the difference in the figures.

It was pointed out, however, that the amendment does not become effective unless it is ratified by G.L. at its
next Communication.

The other clauses of the motion were decisively lost on the voices.

CLOSING BUSINESS.

Votes of thanks were passed to the members of the outgoing B. of G.P. for their services during the past
year, and to the Auckland brethren for their cordial entertainment of the visitors.

The sympathy of G.L. with M.W. Bro. Wm. Barron, P.G.M., and R.W. Bros the Rev. Wm. Ronaldson,
P.G.Sec., in their illnesses, was placed on record.

On the motion of R.W. Bro. Fowlds, P.D.G.M., a motion expressing appreciation of the invaluable services
rendered to G.L. by M.W. Bro. Niccol, G.Sec., was passed with enthusiasm.

After passing a vote of thanks to the M.W.G.M, for his able and impartial presidency over G.L., the
Communication was duly closed.

The further entertainment of the southern visitors included a conversazione on the Thursday evening, at
which the grand organ —this time manipulated by Mr. Vaughan Barnett, the able City Organist—was again
greatly in evidence ; and a water excursion on the following day, principally on the upper reaches of
Waitemata Harbour.