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

OBITUARY.

M.W. BRO. MAURICE THOMPSON, M.B.E., PAST GRAND MASTER
OF THE GRAND LODGE OF N.Z.

The Senior Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of N.Z., M.W. Bro. Maurice Thompson, died at his home
in Auckland on 28th June, 1946, at the age of 88 years.

Bro. Thompson was born at Brock Hall, Pendring, Essex, and came to New Zealand at the age of 24. He took
a keen interest in motoring when it was in its infancy in New Zealand, and owned one of the first cars in
Invercargill in 1904. He was first president of the Southland Motor Association. For many years he took a
leading part in public affairs in Invercargill, being chairman of the Bluff Harbour Board for a period. He was
well known in business as a partner in the firm of Broad, Small and Company until his retirement in 1911.
He was chairman of the Repatriation organisation in Invercargill for eight years, and later held the same
position in Timaru for a further seven years, after moving there in 1922.

He was also keenly interested in Freemasonry, being a member of Lodge Southern Cross, No. 9, and Lodge
Timaru, No. 196, He attained to the high and exalted position of Grand Master, holding the office for the
years 1912 and 1913. He was also an Ex. Comp. of the Royal Arch Degree.

During World War No. 1 he was actively engaged in patriotic work, raising funds for this purpose. During
this period his Masonic, civic and patriotic duties must been very exacting and onerous, but he carried them
out with distinction and credit, for which he was awarded the M.B.E., a coveted honour,

In 1930 he took up residence at 19 Kitenui Avenue, Mt. Albert, Auckland, joining Lodge Owairaka, No. 294,
where he was welcomed with all the ceremony due to his exalted rank. We shall always remember him for
his ever ready assistance and advice so freely given at all times, He was also a keen enthusiast for Lodges to
possess their own Temples, and presented a valuable site for this pur• pose on New North Road, Mt. Albert,
on the 16th February, 1939.

Our late brother has steadily and consistently made in his small garage, furniture and fittings for the
proposed Temple. This valuable help was much appreciated by the members of Lodge Owairaka and
approved by the Board of General Purposes. He has also set aside framed photographs of Past Grand Masters
of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand and many other gifts in the event of his death. He was one of the
Trustees of the Lodge, and last year was made an Honorary Member.

Even during World War 2 he was not idle, having made up to the time of his death 300 articles of furniture,
which realised the sum of £200, for Patriotic Funds. This indeed was a truly wonderful patriotic effort and
gesture.

M.W. Bro. Maurice Thompson, P.G.M., will be remembered by all who came within his sphere as a great
Mason, a good citizen, a loyal and patriotic subject, and a fine Christian gentleman.

______
A TRIBUTE.

The following tribute was paid to our late M.W. Brother by the Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. W. W.
Wright, when carrying out the cremation ceremony:—

''Once again the Grim Reaper has visited our ranks and taken away one of the bright and shining lights in
Masonry. In the death of M.W. Bro. Maurice Thompson, P.G.M., a truly good man and a distinguished
Freemason has passed on to the great beyond. We shall miss him greatly from the scenes of this earthly life,
but his name, his influence and his work for the good of Freemasonry will live in our hearts until Time with
us shall be no more, for the man who is really good and useful in this life never dies, because his works live
after him.

"M.W. Bro. Thompson was an inspiration to every Mason who had the privilege and pleasure of being
associated with him. His kindly greeting and ever ready smile will be greatly missed. He gave of himself
freely for the advancement of the Order. What he undertook to do he did with intelligence and enthusiasm.
M.W. Bro. Thompson had a wide knowledge and deep understanding of the great principles of Freemasonry,
and his chief objective was to imbue his fellow Masons with a portion of his own veneration for the
Fraternity. He not only had the esteem and affection of the brethren of Auckland, but he was loved and
admired by Freemasons throughout New Zealand, more especially in the Southland District, where he lived
during his main Masonic career. To have reached the rank of G.M., the highest position in N.Z. is sufficient
proof of his sincerity and ability. Masonry has indeed sustained a great loss in the death of M.W. Bro.
Maurice Thompson, P.G,M."