EVENTS

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Appointment of Provincial Deputy Grand Master

In October I asked RW Brother George Drury to accept the office of Provincial Deputy Grand Master and he agreed to the appointment.
It was my intention to promulgate the decision now and invest and proclaim George at the Provincial Half Yearly Communitions in Thames in March 2011.

George has just returned from an official trip to Hong Kong and Singapore where he attended, on my behalf, the installation of the PGM of the Far East (Hong Kong) and the Special Communications of the PGL of SE Asia (Singapore). The Grand Master and the Grand Secretary attended both events. I took the opportunity to ask the Grand Master if he would obligate, invest and proclaim George as the new PDGM while he was there. This was done personally by the Grand Master in Hong Kong on the evening of Wednesday 17th November.

RW Brother George Drury is therefore officially appointed from that date and his installation at Thames in March will not now be necessary.
I am sure that you will join me in congratulating George on his appointment to this important office in the Province.

R. J. Whyte
Provincial Grand Master

William George Garrod Gough
3 February 1933 - 9 September 2010

It is with great sadness that we report the death of our Provincial Deputy Grand Master and Past Grand Deacon Right Worshipful Brother William George Garrod Gough (Garry) ceased labour early on 9 September after a long fight.

His funeral was held held on 13 Seotember at the North Harbour Chapel of Dil's Funeral Services, Schnapper Rock Road Albany.

Our Provincial Grand Master Right Worshipful Brother R.J. Whyte delivered a eulogy. A video of this can be viewed by clicking below.
Low Quality - 128kb/s
High Quality - 384kb/s

VISIT TO STARDOME OBSERVATORY

On the evening of Sunday 22 November the Lodge made a visit to the Stardome Observatory in One Tree Hill Domain.

We met as a social broup before the show and had drinks and food.

After our refreshments we went to the Stardome Theatre where the night sky was projected overhead. We received a very informative and most interesting explanation of the sky by night and the various constelations including the constelation Ara which is an alter.

DEFIBRILLATOR C.P.R. MACHINE

The Lodge has purchased a defibrillator machine, to assist Lodge members to resuscitate anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest. While we hope that it will not be required, we never know when it maybe.

Training was given by Tony, from First Aid N.Z. on the 7th of October. He gave extensive training in the most up-to-date method of delivering C.P.R. as well as how to use the defibrillator machine.

The machine is very simple to use (idiot proof) and instructs you how to set it up and use it. It talks to you and tells you what to do, where to attach the pads, if pads are correctly attached, and when and if the electric shock should be applied.

We will keep the machine on the kitchen wall near the liquor locker.

Provincial Grand Lodge 150th Anniversary celebrations

While a definite date and year can not be confirmed for the 150th Anniversary of Provincial Grand Lodge, we celebrated on Saturday 19th September 2009, after the Annual Communications of Provincial Grand Lodge, at the Lodge of Light at Thames.

The ceremony opened with a welcome from Lodge of Light delivered by their Worshipful Master James Crawford.

During the dinner V. Wor. Bro. Geoff Grenfell proposed a toast to Provincial Grand Lodge and gave a time line of the last 150 years of P.G.L. including an explanation of the uncertainty as to the official Anniversary date.
The Ara Lodge No. 348 petitioned Grand Lodge on 2nd August 1858 for a Provincial Grand Lodge in New Zealand.
Grand Lodge issued a warrant on 3rd of February 1859.
The brethren of Ara Lodge were advised on 6th June 1859 that "Wor. Bro. Cormack Patrick O'Rafferty had been appointed Provincial Grand Master".
By this time Wor. Bro. O'Rafferty had left our country for Australia.
On 6th April 1863 he appointed Wor. Bro. Henry de Burgh-Adams Provincial Deputy Grand Master.
O'Rafferty finally relinquished his warrant by way of resignation which was received at Ara Lodge on 3rd November 1864. Presumably he returned his warrant to Ireland. Sometime in July/August 1865.
Henry de Burgh Adams was confirmed Provincial Grand Master by Grand Lodge [date unknown] as he then called the first Meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge on 9th November 1865. He proved to be a very worthy man for the position.
Hence we have a choice of several dates for the Anniversary.

The Provincial Grandmaster R.W. Bro. R .J. Whyte replied to the toast.

A letter from the Grand Master was read.

Mrs Sybil Kirkwood, the widow of R. W. Bro. Kirkwood P.A.G.M., honoured P.G.L. by cutting the 150th Anniversary cake.

Address to Provincial Grand Lodge
Annual Communications (150th Anniversary)
Saturday 19th September, 2009
Lodge of Light No. 454, Thames

Worshipful Brethren,
This Annual Communications marks the end of a year of some difficulty and disappointment, some success and triumph, and also marks the beginning of another year of interest and challenge. I take this opportunity to thank the out-going officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge for the manner in which they have all attended to their duties and responsibilities and supported the Province in all of its endeavours.

To those Provincial Grand Lodge Officers, past and present, and you know who you are; who have attended official visits of the Province on a regular basis and supported the Senior Officer representing; thank you most sincerely. A few years ago the Board of General Purposes at my insistence started to take attendance and performance of duty into consideration when deciding on Provincial Grand Lodge honours. The catch-cry Brethren, is “They profit most who serve best”.

This saying may be applied to all spheres of Freemasonry. Once in a while there are found in a Lodge those who disdain small tasks yet wonder why they have never been put in line for the larger tasks which they feel qualified to perform, or why their brethren do not think of them as important in the affairs of the lodge. Such persons, few as we hope they may be, sit in the body of the lodge and say to themselves- sometimes to others- that they could take the Senior Deacon’s part or the parts of the Wardens, or even that of the Master, as well as it is being done, or better. “Why am I not put on the ladder after all of these years?” they question. In the past we have often erred by appointing those who have never demonstrated ability in the performance of small tasks.

The kind of brother who is likely to be the kind of Master who is likely to be in line for appointment as Provincial Grand Master or to some other Provincial Grand Lodge office, is one who is ever ready to help with the small tasks. To help set up furniture, coach candidates, attend funerals, accept some little part in the degree working, learn the ritual for parts he never may be called upon to take, who enjoys assisting the Stewards or is on hand to help clean up the refectory; he is the kind of Brother who if his ability and willingness to serve are recognized by his Brethren and he is advanced to the East, is likely to make a Master who will have a lodge that the Brethren will be anxious to attend.

The Brother who makes good in the lowly positions is the kind of Brother who usually makes good in the higher positions. Let him take example from Past Grand Masters and other distinguished Freemasons who do not hesitate to take part in degrees or perform lowly tasks within the Lodge. Brethren, do not disdain the small tasks that may qualify you for higher things, but perform those tasks because you enjoy performing them.

Thankfully the Province of New Zealand is populated by Brethren who enjoy performing tasks both lowly and important within their own Lodges and within the Provincial Grand Lodge. Mostly we have members who carry themselves proudly within the Irish Constitution and we display to the onlooker an appearance of all that is good about Freemasonry. We have a reputation within the Fraternity of “punching above our weight”. We are few in number but our influence is telling and wide. In the various committees and meetings I attend the Irish are considered to have a voice that is worth hearing, a viewpoint worth considering and advice that is worth taking. We are envied for our relaxed, friendly and inclusive approach to Freemasonry. We are a body that is not consumed with rank and caste. We are more outward looking than inward looking. These are all healthy and positive attributes and we have a formula for success that many would like to emulate.

This reputation and “aura” is I believe due in part to my predecessors and to previous Provincial Grand Lodge Officers who over 150 years (give or take a few) have merged the best of Irish attitude from the Old Country with the best of the New Zealand culture and persona.

At the half yearly Communications meeting in March the Board of General Purposes spent much time talking finance and you will recall that I talked about finances and the global recession in my Address to the Provincial Grand Lodge. Not only are the Lodges in the Province affected by falling income but also the Provincial Grand Lodge itself has been feeling the effects of the recession. A recent study of our accounts tells us that we are not living within our means and in danger of having to eat into our invested capital. This must be avoided at all costs and so the discussion has turned to how we might ameliorate this state of affairs.

Discussion within the Senior Officers of the Province has been going on for a few months now regarding the role of the Provincial Grand Lodge here in New Zealand and how important it is to maintain our status and position within the wider Masonic community. We have been talking about what Dublin expects of its Provinces overseas especially one as important as ours and we have been engaged in wide ranging discussion on how we might best cushion ourselves against reducing income and rising costs.

At the end of the day there is of course no other avenue open to us except to seek relief from the Lodges in the Province. How best to do this fairly and equitably has also been a topic for discussion. At the next Board of General Purposes meeting in November we will again approach this problem and hopefully make a decision which the Lodges may find acceptable. Our initial thinking is that an increase in the annual levy to the Lodges for the operation of the Provincial Grand Lodge will not produce sufficient funding to overcome the problem. It is possible therefore that we may have to make a one off levy on the Lodges of sufficient magnitude that funds will maintain us in the manner which Grand Lodge, the Lodges within the Province and of course the other Constitutions, expect of us, well into the medium to long term. We will of course consult with the Lodges on this subject.

I am very grateful to the Master, Wardens, Officers and Brethren of the Lodge of Light No. 454 for the use of the Lodgeroom here today so that the Provincial Grand Lodge could carry out its prescribed function and I would like to extend to the Lodge members my sincere appreciation and thanks for the hospitality they have shown towards us all.

RJ Whyte
Provincial Grand Master

Lodge ARA 348 September 2009 Report

The ARA Lodge No 348 is healthy and active ritually, with a reasonably full calendar of degree work.

The Lodge continues to be very supportive of various benefactors, primarily through the Steward of Charity, but there have been very little in the way of charity donations in the last 6 month period from the Lodge itself due to financial constraints.

We have however taken the steps of purchasing a Defibulator for the Lodge so that in the unfortunate occurrence of a major heart attack by any of the brethren we can increase their likely survival rate. Hopefully this occurrence never arises.

Since my installation on June 27th 2009 I have visited the following lodges:
Ponsonby No 708 SC Elder Constitution Night
Lodge of Light No 454 Installation
Ponsonby No 54 EC Installation
DeBurg Adams No 446 Installation
Lodge St Patrick 468 Installation
Eden Lodge No 1530 EC Installation
Port charmers Marine EC Installation
Corinthian No 1655 EC Installation
Prince of Wales No 1338 EC Installation
Tironui No 400 NZC Installation

I wish to thank the officers and brethren who accompanied me on these visits, and especially thank those brethren who represented me and the lodge at meetings I was unable to attend.

Prior to June, Wor. Bro. A Waller, Immediate Past Master or a representative, made the following visits.
St George No 1801 EC Installation
Manukau No 24 NZC Installation
Te Awamutu No 2221 EC Installation
St Andrew No 418 SC Installation
Rodney No 1711 EC Installation
Waitemata No 689 EC Installation
Browns Bay No 346 NZC Presentation of a 50 year Service Jewel for WB Charlie Vial
Remuera No 1701 EC Installation
Ara Taimau No 1 NZC Installation

Since the last Provincial Grand Lodge Communication the business of the lodge meetings has been as follows:
April 3 rd Degree, Bro. Oswald
May 3 rd Degree, Bro. Paris Oswald
June 2 nd Degree, Bro. Gold
July Harmony
August 2 nd Degree, Bro. Davie
September 2 nd Degree, Bro. Shires

We currently have 3 brethren awaiting raising, and 1 new member for Initiation has been proposed.

Socially the Lodge has had its normal functions, being the Ladies night in June, and has a visit to StarDome in the planning stage, plus the usual Christmas dinner.

We are also planning for the March 2010 meeting to be held on Saturday 6th March at 12 noon, hopefully an initiation, as Scinde Lodge and Lodge Woburn are planning to attend on their bi-annual visit.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank both the officers of the lodge and the brethren for their strong and continued support in particular the IPM, Secretaries, and the Wardens.

Finally R.W.B. Whyte, on behalf of Ara Lodge No 348 I pledge our continued support and allegiance to the Provincial Grand Master, Provincial Grand Lodge and the Grand Master, and Grand Lodge of Ireland.

Wor. Bro. J. N. Southwick W.M.
Ara Lodge No 348

Provincial Grand Lodge Officers 2010/11

Four Brethren have received Honorary Grand Rank

At the June 2009 Communications meeting of Grand Lodge held in Dublin the following Brethren of this Province were given Honorary Grand Rank.

RW Brother KB Gudopp, PPAGM was promoted to Honorary Past Grand Deacon.
RW Brother JFT Griffin, PAGM was given the rank of Honorary Past Grand Steward.
VW Brother RJ Foote, PPSGW was given the rank of Honorary Past Grand Almoner.
VW Brother NJ Wishart, PPDC was given the rank of Honorary Past Grand Almoner.

Provincial Grand Master's Address

Half Yearly Communications
Saturday 28th March, 2009

At Lodge De Burgh Adams No. 446, New Plymouth

Worshipful Brethren,
It is a great honour today to receive the Assistant Grand Master, RW Bro. Leslie V. Johnston to this Half Yearly Communications of the Provincial Grand Lodge of New Zealand. I know that the host Lodge, No. 446 De Burgh Adams, is very pleased that you have decided to visit both the Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge meetings here today and to give us, and them, the opportunity to meet you and your wife Florence and to welcome you to the city of New Plymouth. Thank you both for making this visit.

Visits to New Zealand by the rulers of Irish Freemasonry are rare. Being the furthest Province from “Home” no doubt accounts for this fact. As air travel becomes cheaper and faster so I expect we will get to see more and more of our Leaders and Rulers.

Assistant Grand Master R.W. Bro. Leslie V. Johnston
and Provincial Grand Lodge officers.

The Assistant Grand Master was interested to know if this Provincial Grand Lodge was celebrating in any way our 150 years of existence. And the answer is yes we will be celebrating, in a quiet and inexpensive manner, this very important milestone at our Annual Communications meeting in September of this year.

Of course we could debate the historical accuracy of this anniversary but we probably won’t deviate from the figure 150 which has a nice sound to it. The actual minutes of Grand Lodge which recommended to the Grand Master the establishment of the Provincial Grand Lodge, were dated February 3rd, 1859. Brother O’Rafferty was appointed Provincial Grand Master, but by the time the Patent of Appointment arrived in New Zealand, O’Rafferty had already moved to Melbourne so the Patent was forwarded to him there. O’Rafferty took no steps to fulfil the conditions of his appointment to establish a Provincial Grand Lodge or to appoint a Deputy to act for him.

In March 1863 Bro. O’Rafferty appointed Bro. de Burgh Adams to be Provincial Deputy Grand Master and it is at this time that the functions authorised in the original Patent became effective. In February 1865 (two years later) Grand Lodge received a letter from de Burgh Adams advising that Bro. O’Rafferty had resigned his appointment. Grand Lodge accepted his resignation and recommended to the Grand Master that Bro. de Burgh Adams be appointed to the office. This appointment was announced by Grand Lodge in April 1865. On receiving his Patent, Bro. Henry de Burgh Adams took steps to constitute Provincial Grand Lodge and this was effected on November 9th 1865. So you can see that we could actually be 144 or 146 or 150 years old this year although it seems that Grand Lodge recognises this Province as being 150 years old.

I turn now to the matter of the world wide economic recession which is deepening and shows no sign of easing. Much is written and spoken about this problem daily and there is any amount of information, factual and otherwise, communicated by the media so that we may keep abreast of developments. It seems that New Zealand has yet to experience the worst of it and best estimates are that the recession should last at least another full year or maybe two. Around us all are signs of financial difficulty and retrenchment and we will have all either experienced this first hand or have seen it in our communities.

The Board of General Purposes met today and much of our discussion and deliberation was of financial matters. Our Lodges seem to be weathering the recession well, although their collective revenues are well down on that of a year ago. The major refurbishment of our commercial building in Penrose, Auckland was completed last year and until the property is fully tenanted and some debt repaid we cannot expect any income from that source. I know that in large part Lodges 446, 454 and 468 depended on this income stream for their expenses and investment and so they will have to make do in the meantime. Lodge 348 also depended on this income as well as expecting income from their property at Manukau City and from their own car park. Both of these income sources have reduced markedly. All of the Lodges have reduced income from monies invested at the Banks and all of the Lodges will now be paying income tax to the Government from this financial year onward.

The message I am therefore sending to the Lodges in the Province today is in two parts. Firstly, financial management of your Lodge must be of the highest order. If you do not have the skills necessary for this within your own Brethren, please communicate with the Provincial Grand Lodge and this assistance will be provided. You must all look to your costs and your expenditure. Unnecessary repairs and maintenance and other acquisitions need to be postponed and all outgoings need to be investigated and if possible minimised. Until you are absolutely sure of your financial health, grants and charitable donations need to be carefully monitored. How you finance your social activities in the Lodge needs also to be reviewed. Good sound management in the Lodge was never more important than during this present situation.

Secondly, while not discouraging your usual high level of charitable work in your communities I would ask you to discuss and possibly refocus your activities. The charities are struggling as never before as their funding dries up and so they are depending on sources such as Freemasonry to continue gifting but it is now equally or perhaps now more important that you look within your own Lodge members, widows and extended families to ensure that none are in need or suffering as a result of this financial upheaval. You should be aware of your own Brethren’s needs and if necessary attend to them. We have not always done this well preferring instead to support other outside agencies rather than our “own”. There is nothing un-masonic about helping a Brother financially should he be down on his luck and certainly nothing to feel guilty about. Since it was decided by the Charities Commission that Freemasons Lodges do not meet their criteria to be officially recognised as a Charitable Organisation and thus not pay income tax, we may now disperse our funds wherever we may choose without fear or favour. Visit your widows and elderly members who do not attend regularly and ensure that they are comfortable and not in need or distressed. Encourage your Brethren to speak up if they are finding the going tough and be sure to assist them whenever possible.

In economic times such as this it is worth remembering that conservative money management at all times is critical, for the financial strength we all enjoy at the moment is little to do with our own cleverness and industry but rather more to do with the blood, sweat and tears of our forefathers who established our Lodges and nurtured them through the early years. It is incumbent on us to protect and if possible improve our financial well-being.

I am pleased to report that our fundraising here in New Zealand for the Grand Master’s Festival Appeal has totalled NZ$13,600. We have sent cheques for $6,800 to Plunket New Zealand and also to Barnardos New Zealand. The Board of General Purposes had decided to make Crippled Children one of the recipients of this appeal but we found that this organisation no longer caters for the needs of children exclusively and as the appeal in Ireland is entirely focused on children we decided to donate half of the funds to Barnardos instead. We will shortly be writing to the Grand Secretary advising him of the result of our fundraising and the actions we have taken.
I am pleased and proud of the total raised and thank all Brethren throughout the Province for their support of the Grand Master’s Festival Appeal.

Today has been a very important day for two Brethren of this Provincial Grand Lodge namely Brothers Gudopp and Smith. It is my intention to expand a little on this in the refectory where our Ladies are present but it is important that the minutes show that the Provincial Grand Lodge of New Zealand is deeply indebted and extremely grateful to RW Brother Bruce Gudopp, who as Provincial Assistant Grand Master worked tirelessly for Irish Freemasonry in this Province over the last ten years. He has done much to advance our reputation and at all times he has carried himself with great dignity and cheerfulness. I am personally pleased to have got to know him well and to count him as a good friend. I know that he will continue to give of his very best for his Lodge, his Province and the Grand Lodge of Ireland, all of which are so dear to him. I congratulate him on a job very well done.
RW Brother Murray Smith has shown by his abilities and his demeanour that he has the potential to be a very competent and able Provincial Assistant Grand Master. I know that he will quickly grow into the role and with the assistance and advice of the Senior Brethren surrounding him and in particular RW Brother Gudopp he will represent the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge of Ireland in an excellent manner. We look forward to working with him in the good management of the Province. I congratulate him on his preferment today.

In conclusion and on behalf of all Irish Freemasons here in the Province of New Zealand, I extend the warm hand of Masonic friendship to you Assistant Grand Master and on your return to Ireland and at your earliest convenience, request that you convey our fraternal best wishes to the Grand Master and advise him that we are in good heart here and all is well and that our love of and loyalty to, the Grand Lodge has never been as strong and that we will continue to hold the Most Worshipful the Grand Lodge of Ireland close to our hearts, even a further 150 years hence.

RJ Whyte
Provincial Grand Master

Visit to
Lodge Scinde
Sesquicentenial Celebrations

Our Lodge was represented at Lodge Scinde No. 5 New Zealand constitution, in Napier, to celebrate with them, their sesquicentenial (150th) celebrations during the weekend 11th -12th October. Six members of Ara Lodge and their partners stayed at the Edgewater Motel.

An application was made to the Grand Lodge of Ireland for a lodge to be called Scinde Lodge. (The name Scinde Island had been gazetted just three years earlier for the hill area behind the port to acknowledge Sir Charles Napier's successful Indian battle). The charter was sent to Lodge Ara No. 348 Irish Constitution in Auckland. The original charter was dated 8 October 1858 and this has been regarded as the birth date of Scinde Lodge No. 419 I.C. In 1878 Scinde Lodge sponsored the formation of Bedford Lodge No. 464 I.C. in Waipukurau. Scinde Lodge is therefore our daughter lodge and Bedford (now Woburn) Lodge our grand daughter lodge. Both lodges joined the New Zealand Constitution when it was formed in 1890. Scinde Lodge became No. 5 and Woburn No. 25 N.Z.C. Lodge Scinde No. 5 retained its 'right' in 'perpetuity' to retain all of its original Constitution and Lodge workings

.

On Saturday afternoon the ladies were taken on a guided tour of the Napier region while the men attended the Lodge meeting to celebrate the Sesquicentenial, afterwards the ladies joined the men for a snack of smoked trout and whiskey. The evening celebration was held in the Napier Cosmopolitan Club rooms with a banquet dinner and entertainment by the Napier Jazz Club. During the celebrations two cakes were cut and then sampled by all.

Sesquicentenial cakes

We had Sunday breakfast at the County Club Hotel with Lodge Scinde members. This was followed by a visit to the site of Lodge Scinde's future Lodge building guided by W. Bro. Derek Ricketts. The Lodge building will be their third Lodge building, the first was destroyed by fire in the Great Fire of Napier in 1886 and the other in the fire that followed the Napier Earthquake on 3 February 1931. They now have three blocks of commercial buildings and a large site where they have plans for a two storey building with a car park underneath.

Derek Ricketts shows the commercial buildings and the Lodge site.

We wish them a long and prosperous future.

FAMILY DAY AT ZOO

More than sixty Lodge members, family and friends enjoyed a barbeque and look at Auckland's zoo on Sunday 16th March 2008.

Grandchildren to grandparents were there, all enjoying the food and social atmosphere.

Zak Palmer the boy who the Lodge sponsored for major facial surgery in Toronto was also there with his family.

Ruapehu Weekend

A social group of Lodge members, family and their friends enjoyed a weekend (22nd - 24th February) at the top of the Bruce road Mt Ruapehu, an active volcano that last erupted in 1995.

The group aged from ten to sixty plus stayed in the Levin Waiopehu ski lodge that is well appointed with a tv room, large lounge, kitchen and spa room.
On Saturday those who wished went tramping, they had a choice of a three hour or five hour walk.

The start of the Silica Rapids track.	The walkway of boardwalks, bridges & tracks.	Rest time at the look out.
Jon, Rex and Miriam walking.	Jon, Tim & Garth cross the bridge.	They finished at the hotel that was closed.
Tim walking in the bush.	Waipapaiti Track Group	The group leaves the bush.

On Saturday night they enjoyed a delicious roast dinner and desert prepared by Lesley.
It was a most enjoyable weekend for all young and old.