The New Zealand Craftsman Wellington, New Zealand, April 1, 1946

LODGE RICCARTON, No. 276.

TWENTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY.

The Twenty-first Anniversary of Lodge Riccarton, No. 276 (the last Lodge constituted in Canterbury) was
celebrated on 30th March at an Emergency Meeting held in the Masonic Hall, Totara Street, Riccarton. The
Lodge was opened by W. Bro. C. D. Marks, 1.P.M. (Master in the 21st year). R.W. Bro. A. J. Jones,
Prov.G.M., was present, with officers of Provincial Grand Lodge and R.W. Bro. J. N. Du Feu, P.D.G,M., and
officers of Grand Lodge also attended officially.

The Chairs were filled (as far as possible) by the Foundation officers. W, Bro. Walcot Wood, P.G.B.B., the
first Master, then took the chair and conducted the anniversary proceedings. A roll call was held and a
History of the Lodge was read by the Secretary, W. Bro. H. E. Jarman.

Past Grand Officers' Regalia was presented to V.W. Bro. Pryce C. Jones, P.G.D.C., and W. Bro. Walcot
Wood, P.G.B.B., by R.W. Bro. J. N. Du Feu on behalf of the Lodge. A photograph of the officers of the 21st
year was presented by W. Bro, C. D. Marks. A cheque from the members (other than founders) was
presented by Bro. G. H. W. Gale, J.D., to be applied towards the cost of extension of the Lodge building.

W. Bro. R. J. Roberts, Master, assumed the chair for the closing of the Lodge, after which a very happy
evening was spent in the refectory.

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OBITUARY.
W. BRO. A. H. ROSS.

Rawhiti Lodge and Chapter sustained a severe loss by the passing of W. Bro. Alexander Hossock Ross on
the 11th March after a brief illness. Bro. Ross served both in the South African and the first World War, and
had been in business at Dannevirke as a master tailor for many years. He had been in indifferent health for
some time, and lack of staff during the years of war entailed his unremitting attention to his business;
nevertheless his comparatively sudden death came as a shock to his brethren.

Bro. Ross was initiated in Lodge Rawhiti in 1912 and was Master in 1926. He was, advanced. in Rawhiti
Chapter in 1915 and enthroned as First Principal in 1927.

The high esteem in which he was held was evidenced by the attendance at a Lodge of Sorrow which
preceded the funeral. Bro. the Rev. Canon G. B. Stephenson officiated at the graveside, and the Masonic
service was conducted by W. Bro. T. H. Pickard, Master, and W. Bro. Ken Gillespie, Chaplain of Lodge
Rawhiti.

The pall-bearers were V.W. Bro. F. Craven, W. Bros. W. Dobson, J. Trotter, F. 0. Devlin, W. Turner and
Bro. W. Welsh.
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ROYAL ARCH FAREWELL TO M.E. COMP.
SIR CYRIL NEWALL, P.G.Z.

On the 4th March a combined meeting of the Chapters in the Wellington District was held under the Charter
of Bledisloe Royal Arch Chapter, No. 77, to bid farewell to M.E. Comp. Sir Cyril Newall, P.G.Z.

A Royal Arch Degree was ably worked by the P.Zs., M.E. Comp. R. W. McVilly presiding.

Before the ceremony, M.E. Comp. Newall, on behalf of Comp. Lord Bledisloe, presented to the Chapter a
handsome chair in which all the Z.s of the Chapter will sit. The chair, which is made of New Zealand woods,

is a beautiful work of art, and in making the presentation M.E. Comp. Newall referred to the outstanding
work of the donor whilst he was Governor-General of this Dominion.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, M.E. Comp. McVilly, on behalf of the Companions of the Wellington
District. presented to His Excellency two beautiful bowls fashioned out of puriri as a token of the esteem and
affection in which our M.E. Companion is held throughout the whole of the Territory. The presentation was
very graciously acknowledged.

The meeting was a large and representative one, each Chapter being well represented. M.E. Comp. C. A.
Eck-ford, of Blenheim, and M.E. Comp. W. H. Sandford, of Raetihi, predecessor and successor respectively
to M.E. Comp. Newall as First Grand Principal, had journeyed to Wellington for the occasion.

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50TH ANNIVERSARY: W. BRO. A. E. V. EDWARDS.

At a meeting of the Corinthian Lodge, 1655, E.C., held at Thames on 27th June, 1945, a tribute was paid by
members of the Lodge to W. Bro. A. E. V. Edwards, Chaplain of the Lodge, who celebrated his 50th
Anniversary in Masonry in that month. W. Bro. W. H. Baker, P.D.A.G.D. of C., on behalf of the members of
the Lodge, presented W. Bro. Edwards with a Chaplain's Jewel to mark the occasion.

W. Bro. Edwards was initiated in the Corinthian Lodge on 11th June, 1895, and was installed as Master, 25
years later, on lath August, 1920. He has, since that time, held many important offices, having been Chaplain
for the last 10 years. In December, 1945, the Auckland District Grand Lodge honoured W. Bro. Edwards by
conferring on him the rank of Past Dist. Grand Senior Deacon. On 24th October, 1945, W. Bro. Edwards had
the pleasure of initiating his son, Bro. J. R. Edwards, in the Corinthian Lodge, and on 26th February of this
year he again occupied the chair on the occasion of his passing to the Second Degree.

W. Bro. Edwards' record of service is an inspiration to all the members of Corinthian Lodge, and it can be
truthfully said that he is "of good report, true and trusty, and held in high estimation among his brethren and
fellows."

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FREEMASONRY IN HOLLAND.

Bro. A. Ariens Kappers, P.D.G.M., the Grand Representative of the U.G.L. of N.S.W., writing from
Amsterdam under date 17th November, 1945, gives the following short sketch of what happened to Masonry
since 1940.

The German occupation was a series of oppressions, cruelties, thefts and devastations. Everything relating to
Freemasonry suffered.

The well-beloved G.M., Bro. M. van Tongeren, suffered, in Germany, the death of a martyr for the sake of
Freemasonry.

The Masonic buildings in Amsterdam, including two temples, were thoroughly plundered, every article of
furniture, all tools, books, a collection of rare Masonic medals, jubilee coins and some antique Staten Bibles
being removed.

The Germans arranged an exhibition in the Temple and other places in Holland. An auction sale was held,
and all Masonic articles were sold, some bringing very high prices. The building was sold at a ridiculously
low price, and, although now restored to the Freemasons, will require a large sum of money to restore the
damage.

The Masonic social institutions were deprived of their funds. Among others being the "Kinderhulp," an
association working all over the country for the education of half-orphaned, neglected and deserted children.
The writer and the late G.M. were Presidents. This association took children and furthered, not only the
happiness of the youth, but saved the human society from paupers, thieves and other menaces of social
security, a very important work, especially now, when the general morality has suffered an unbelievable
downfall.

The Lodges in the jurisdiction lost 50 per cent. of their members, and since "free" money is scarce, the
reorganisation of the Craft and social institutions will take some time.

The material restoration of the country is severely hindered by the lack of raw materials. Shops and
warehouses are practically empty. Locomotives, railway waggons, and tramcars were taken by the Germans,
factories and machinery were demolished, bridges blown up, large parts of the country flooded, and cattle
driven to Germany.

One can hardly imagine the devastation caused by a ruthless enemy.

The country, our Lodges and social institutions are in a serious position.

I think this information will be interesting to the brethren.

(By courtesy of the G.M. and G. Sec., U.G.L., N.S.W. – Editor.) —"N.S.W. Freemason."

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MASONIC NURSING HOME, LONDON.

With the outbreak of the first European War in August, 1914, the opening in 1916 of the first Freemasons'
War Hospital for the wounded of H.M. Forces, at the premises in the Fulham Road, which later, after the end
of the war, became the Freemasons' Hospital and Nursing Home in 1919, a second Freemasons' War
Hospital having been opened in the meantime in 1918, at Fulham Palace, placed at the Craft's disposal for
the purpose by the Bishop of London. Altogether, some 4000 patients from H.M. Forces were then cared for
between them.

At 237, Fulham Road, the Freemasons' Hospital and Nursing Home as such was to remain for the next 14
years, more than vindicating the highest hopes reposed in its mission, despite its limited accommodation for
some 46 in-patients only, but serving soon as a pointer to the need for a more ambitious scheme, resulting in
the purchase of the fine 10-acre site overlooking Ravenscourt Park, and the erection of what has been voted
by the medical profession as the finest and best equipped hospital in the world, which was inaugurated by
His late Majesty King George V, on 12th July, 1933, with accommodation provided for 200 patients.

It is hardly necessary to recall how at the outbreak of the war now closed, the Hospital was placed at the
disposal of the War Office for the use of H.M. Forces and eventually the Allies, the entire cost being borne
by the Craft, and how in return part of the accommodation, which had to be much extended, was retained for
the use of Masonic patients and their families, of whom more than 4000 have been treated during the war
period, alongside over 6700 cases from the Forces, down to the end of 1944, a remarkable achievement in
which the Craft has every right to feel special pride, and, not least of all, gratitude to those who by their
devoted and selfless efforts in the direction of so vast an undertaking have made it possible.

W. Bro. Lieut.-Col. Sir Charles Heaton-Ellis, P.G.D., retained to the last active interest as a member of the
Board of Management and Trustee of the Institution, and it was singularly gratifying to all present at the
Annual General Meeting the year before last, who were aware of the large share he had taken as the
originator of the idea which had come to such full fruition, to find him invited to take the chair in the absence
of R.W. Bro. Mr. Justice Hilbery, the Chairman.

His concluding words on that occasion, after expressing the satisfaction he felt at the success achieved, were:
"May such work continue to flourish under the blessings of the Almighty," a hope every member of the Craft
must echo, with grateful memory to its author.
—"The Freemasons' Chronicle."
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MASONIC MUSEUM, LONDON.

Many brethren who have occasion to attend at Freemasons' Hall, in Great Queen Street, and more
particularly those who are visitors from the provinces and overseas districts or the Dominions, will be
gratified to learn that the Grand Lodge Museum is once more open and that practically all the interesting and
instructive exhibits of its rich collections are once more displayed after their return from safe storage in one
of the vaults of the building, carefully bricked-up and camouflaged against possible intruders.

Very little now remains to be done, and a visit will well repay in interest the earnest Mason in search of
knowledge, both as to customs and traditions visually made available in many examples shown, together
with a number of historic relics.

The Museum is open every week-day, Sundays excepted, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but on Saturdays closes at
1 p.m.

Among recent additions of special and topical interest will be found a number of presentations received from
brethren who, during their captivity in various prisoner-of-war camps in Germany have not allowed their
hardships and misfortunes to damp their Masonic enthusiasm, but undismayed by the difficulties and
restrictions facing them have contrived to maintain contact with their brethren in a similar plight in order to
pursue their Masonic endeavours by organising Lodges of Instruction, meeting regularly within their camp,
although unknown to their guards.

One exhibit in particular will attract attention and prove eloquent of the Masonic enthusiasm of these
brethren. being a miniature set of the Square and Compasses, as also a gavel, each about 3 inches long, made
from wood taken from the camp beds, and most creditably fashioned for use at the Lodge of Instruction at
Oflag 79, known among them as the Brunswick Lodge of Improvement.

There is also shown a small triangular token, probably made of cardboard and covered over with tinfoil, and
suspended to a string, which one surmises may have served, placed around the neck of the Brother in the
Chair, as emblem of a Master, for impressed upon its surface in the centre may be seen a representation of
the Square and Compasses. — "The Freemasons' Chronicle."

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THE MASONIC ALTAR.

The position of the altar in a Masonic Lodge is by no means accidental, but is very significant. It is a symbol
of what Masonry teaches the altar should be in actual life, a centre of union and fellowship and not a cause of
division, for Masonry is neither a religion nor a sect, but a worship in which all men may unite. It does not
attempt to explain or dogmatically settle those issues by which men are so frequently divided.

In English Lodges, as well as in the French and Scottish Rites, the altar stands in front of the Master in the
East. In the York rite it is placed in the centre of the Lodge, or more properly a little to the East of the centre.
It is not merely a piece of furniture for the display of the Greater Light, but by its presence and situation it
identifies Masonry as a religious institution.

Some research students have declared as a result of their study of old manuscripts that the obligation was
formerly conferred without an altar. No doubt they are correct so far as that ceremony is concerned, but the
mistake they make was in supposing that there was, therefore, no altar in the Lodge room. Too much is
included in the conclusion; undoubtedly there were both altar and lights, but the latter never had anything to
do with obligations and have nothing now.

The custom prevalent in some localities of placing the three burning tapers or three symbolical Lesser Lights
East, West and South near the altar, is sometimes changed so that these respective lights are burning on the
pedestals of the Master and his two Wardens at their several stations.

There are four open Bibles displayed in English Lodges when at work, one upon the altar and one before the
stations of the Master and his Wardens.

Bramwell is authority that in earlier days the Entered Apprentice was obligated on a pedestal placed to the
north of the Centre, the Fellow Craft on a similar one placed to the South of the centre, and the Master
Mason on the altar in the centre. —"N.S.W. Freemason."

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REMEMBER!

Stretch forth your hands to assist a brother whenever necessary with counsel and advice.

Soothe the anguish of his soul and betray no confidence he imposes in you. Support him with your
authority—use your utmost endeavours to prevent him from falling.

Relieve his wants as far as you are able without injuring yourselves or your families.

You are connected by solemn promises—let those always be so remembered as to direct your actions—for
then, and then only, will you preserve your consciences void of offence, and prepare that firm cement of
utility and affection, which time will have no power to destroy.