To compile any history, there are three essentials required.
Complete records, a love of the work, and the ability to execute the same, but when the first is incomplete and the third lacking, the second is scarcely sufficient to do more than warrant the hope that the attempt will meet with the forbearance of the brethren. Anyway you asked for it.
It was in 1908 that the question of forming a lodge was first discussed. But is was not until 1910 that steps were taken to form a Lodge. Wor. Bro. Gardiner P.M. Lodge Rawhiti No 66 convened several meetings of brethren residing in the district, and finally on the 13th July 1910 it was decided at a meeting held in Gardiners Hall to form a lodge provided sufficient funds were forthcoming to make the venture a success financially. The amount required was estimated at £80 and was to be raised by debentures.
A committee consisting of Wor Bro Gardiner, Bros Gordon, Laird, Thwaites, Rigg, Wright, Wallen, Brown, Winter and Ward was set up, and is was resolved on August 10th that a Masonic Lodge be formed in Taumarunui to be called Nau Mai Lodge. The name was adopted on the suggestion of Bro. the Rev. Ward, it’s meaning being welcome.
An election for the first Officers of the Lodge was held on a show of hands and resulted as follows. W.M. Wor. Bro. Gardiner, S.W. Bro.
Rigg, J.W. Bro. Thwaites, Treasurer, Bro. John Brown, Secretary, Bro. Laird, S.D., Bro. Allen, J.D., Bro. Winter, I.G., Bri. Thorpe, Between that meeting and the opening of the Lodge Bro. Rigg was transferred to Mokau and Bro. Wallen was elected as S.W. in his stead.
Another Bro., Bro. Cate joined the founders and took up his share of debentures and was elected as Organist. The annual subscription was fixed at £2 2s in advance and the initiation fee at $7 7s.
Wor. Bro Gardiner and Bro. Laird were set up as a finance committee and Bros. Winter, Wallen, Le Lievre and Coutts as a Social committee.
Wor. Bro. Gardiner and Bro. Rigg attended Lodge Plunket to request their support to the Petition to Grand Lodge for a Charter to open a Lodge.
On 8th November the Lodge was solemnly consecrated and dedicated by M.W. Bro. Oliver Nicholson assisted by R.W. Bros. Kearsly, Allen, Powley and Bartlett, V.W. Bros. McFarland, Page, Warren and other numerous Grand Lodge Officers.
The following Lodges were also represented: Ponsonby, Plunket, Victory, Scinde, Waipa, St. Augustine, Piako, Uninimity, Te Aroha, Waimarino, Felix United Services, Sir Walter Scott, St. Johns, Ruahine, Dunedin, Ohinimuri, Franklin, Taupiri, St. Bride and Zenith.
It is interesting to note that the collection taken that evening
totalled $3 16s 6d.
The three sets of working tools still in use in the Lodge were presented to Bros. Spurdle, Meuli and Muir, and it was decided to have their names inscribed on the tools and letters of thanks be sent to the donors, It was decided by resolution that 25 per cent of the total revenue of the Lodge be placed in a special fund to be called the Lodge Nau Mai Benevolent Fund. Five appeals were received from Grand Lodge during the year and a guinea was voted to each.
It was decided that the Lodge should adopt the alternative or
Scotch working for the third degree ceremonies.
Bro. J. Endean of Auckland, presented the Lodge with the three
Tracing Boards now still in use.
In appreciation of the efforts of the Ladies in carrying out the catering arrangements for the installation and subsequent meetings it was decided to present them with souvenirs at a cost not to exceed £20.
Bros. F. Smith, Howard and Laird were appointed Lodge Trustees
and it was resolved to procure a section for building purposes.
During the first year eighteen meetings were held. Eighteen
candidates were initiated and two affiliated.
This in brief covers the first year of the Lodge’s history.
Bro. Wallen having been duly elected as W.M. for the following year he was duly installed on the 1st November 1911 by R. W. Bro.
Allen, assisted by R.W. Bro. Wallace who travelled from Auckland to conduct the ceremony. It was the custom then for the Master to appoint his officers and Wor. Bro. Wallen appointed the following for his year of office: Bros. Thwaites S.W., A. S. Laird J.W., E. Simmons Treasurer, E. O. Hughes Secretary, H. O. Hanby Chaplain,
- A. Winter S.D., W. Thorpe J.D., J. Coutts I.G., S. Bone Tyler.
The collection on this occasion amounted to £4 11s 6d.
Under Wor. Gardiner’s guidance the Lodge meetings were looked forward to with great pleasure by all the brethen and the Mystic tie was in truth a bond of brotherhood and it can truthfully be said that Wor. Bro. Gardiner laid the foundations of our Lodge well and truly on the principles of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
The second year’s work under Wor. Bro. Wallen was also one of progress and at the December meeting it was resolved to purchase a section at Rangaroa at a cost of £100.
The I.P.M. Wor. Bro. Gardiner presented the present W.M. Chair to the Lodge, expressing the hope that so long as a stick of it held together it would do good service in the cause of Freemasonry.
The first Lodge of Instruction was set up in January 1912.
A Building Committee was also set up and Wor, Bro. Wallen appointed to attend the annual Communication which was held in Dunedin.
On September 3rd the Chaplain, Bro. Hanby, was severely injured by an accident on the Taringamotu Coy’s tramline, one leg being amputated.
The year closed with the election of Bro. T. C. Thwaites as W.M.
for the ensuing year, he being duly installed by R. W. Bro Allen.
Twenty candidates were balloted for during the year.
A committee was set up consisting of Wor. Bro. Gardiner, Bros.
Winter, Howard, Smith and Simmons to consider the question of
building a Lodge room. As a result the section on Rangaroa was sold and the land on which the Temple now stands was acquired. On the 4th June 1913 plans were prepared by Bro. A. S. Laird and were approved by the Lodge.
Tenders were invited and that of
Bro.
Galloway being accepted, the price being £800. The foundation stone was laid by Wor. Bro. Gardiner on the 6th August 1913 in the presence of a large number of the brethren who marched from the old Lodge Rooms (Gardiner’s Hall), in procession to the ceremony.
On October lst 1913 a resolution was passed that the annual subscription be increased to $2 15s 0d: Country members $1 12s 6d; the increase of revenue so obtained to take the place of the annual installation levy.
It was fitting that the architect who designed the building
should be the first Master installed in that building, and that so happened, as Bro. Laird was installed as Master on the 4th Novem-
ber 1913 just three months after the laying of the foundation stone.
On the 3rd December the Grand Lodge Trustees Act was adopted by the Lodge and the first Trustees appointed were Wor. Bro. Laird and Bros. F. Smith and Cowley.
During the year gifts of furniture were made, by Wor. Bros.
Thwaites and Laird, and Bros. Lelievre, Winter, Combs, McVilly, Mattar and Strang. Bros. Combs and Coutts presented a large number of books and Bro. Grinlinton was appointed librarian. It was interesting to note that the treasurer’s balanve at this date was £709 13s 3d.
M.W. Bro. Oliver Nicholson was present on the 4th November 1914 to install Nat Winter as W.M. We note in these days the members were not just content with the working of degrees. At the March meeting 1914 we find the evening was taken up by a series of lectures.
Wor. Bro. Winter taking as his theme the 47th proposition, 1st book of Euclid; Wor. Bro. Gardiner, Symbolism; Wor. Bro. Thwaites the Third, Last and Grand Reason; and Wor. Bro. Laird Masonic Loyalty.
Wor. Bro. Knutt of Auckland, presented to the Lodge the rough
and perfect ashlers still in use.
It was resolved to go ‘dry’ for the duration of the War but that decision did not last very long, it being rescinded some three months later.
As in most organisations finance is a continual bugbear, another committee was set up during the year to investigate and report back to the Lodge, and their report which was received and adopted was that the bank overdraft be reduced by $50 per annum. particulars are given, except any deficit in any year be made good by levy.
Wor, Bro. E. T. Hughes was the Master during this term, and it was during thin year that the Lodge decided by resolution that “All officers of the Lodge be elected annually, a system that has been in operation ever since.
We note that our present practice of the P.M. working the degree at the December meeting had not yet been adopted by the Lodge au during this year they worked their degree in October.
R.W. Bro. Murdoch McLean visited the Lodge In November 1918 to install Bro. F. Fanthorpe as Master. We can note here either the debasement of the currency or the extra geenrosity of the brethren by the collection for the W.O. fund as at this year’s installation it amounted to 89.
During this year the by-laws of the Lodge were revised and a request from brethren residing in the Ohura district to open a Lodge of instruction was granted under the supervision of Wor. Bro. E. T.
Hughes. Bro. Bob Ross presented a framed photograph of M. W.
Bro. R. J. Seddon to the Lodge.
On the 10th June 1917, it was decided to liquidate the Lodge
debt by means of the issue of debentures.
On the 7th of November that year Bro. Strang was installed as W.M. by M.W. Bro. Oliver Nicholson, assisted by his usual team of Grand Lodge Officers.
On the 6th of February 1918, it was decided by resolution to strike a levy to replenish the Lodge funds which had been depleted by assisting a distressed brother but it was expressly agreed that this should not be regarded as a precedent.
At the April meeting the W.M. Wor. Bro. Strang announced the death of Bro. Hesebeck, killed in action in France and the Lodge went into mourning for a month.
The Lodge Bank balance about this time was aproximately 9450 in the red. On 4/9/18 it was decided to obtain new guarantors at the Bank of A/Asia for an amount not to exceed more than $250 and that debentures be again be offered to Lodge members. Also at this meeting Bro. J. I Monfries was duly elected W.M, being regularly installed into the chair by V.W. Bro, Leighton, Ast., Prov. G.M.
Wor, Bro. A. S. Laird presented the Lodge with the five debent-
ures taken up by him.
At the March meeting, the Ohura Lodge of instruction worked the second degree, Wor, Bro. Hughes the preceptor being in the chair.
At the regular meeting it was resolved to make on annual levy
on the members of 2s 6d to create and maintain a Regalia fund.
Wor, Bro. Winter presented six books to the Library and Bro.
Croft two, On the 4/6/19 it was agreed to support the petition of the Ohura brethren to open a new Lodge.
On 0/8/19 Wor, Bro. Monfries, presented the Lodge with a silken banner commemorating the brethren who lost their lives in the War.
At the October meeting Bro. Ray Beeche was elected as W.M.
and Wor. Bro. Laird was elected as treasurer, an office he was to
hold for some 15 years.
M.W. Bro. Nicholson was again in attend-
ance on 6/11/19 to conduct the ceremony of installation.
On 4/2/20 a levy of £1 on members residing within a radius of 100 miles and 10s on all members outside that radius to cover cost of installation and presentations.
About this time a practice of blackballing crept into the Lodge and the Standing committee withheld the holding of ballots until some enquiries were made which appears to have met with success, as shortly afterwards ballots were resumed without any further cloudy ones.
Bro. Monk made a gift to the Lodge of his five debentures.
On 2nd of June 1920 a Lodge of Sorrow was held and the remains of our first Master Wor. Bro. Gardiner was laid to rest with full Masonic honours. At the June meeting it was resolved to present Lodge Ohura with a set of working tools by subscription of members of Lodge Nau Mai not also members of Lodge Ohura.
At the July meeting Bro. Short made a presentation of a large
number of books to the Library.
On the meeting held on 4/8/20 it was decided to raise the init-
iation fee to €10 10s.
An “At Home” was held on 28th August and a levy on all mem-
bers of 5/- was made to cover the most of same.
Whilst at a sub-
sequent meeting a further levy of 10s was made to cover the cost
of the installation.
Owing to the illness of the W.M. of the new Ohura Lodge,
the
Master and Officers of Nau Mai travelled to Ohura to initiate the first two candidates of that Lodge.
Wor. M.W. Bro. Oliver Nicholson was again in the attendance to
install Bro. W. C. Wilson into the Chair of K.S.
During Wor. Bro. Wilson’s year the front of the Lodge was laid in lawn and trees were planted on the boundaries, and to assist in the payment of costs Wor. Bro. Wilson presented his debentures to the Lodge as did Bro. R. Taylor, the amounts being $5 and $4 respect-ively.
In this year the levy for the At Home expenses needed was 10s.
Nov. 2nd 1921 M.W. Bro. Nicholson was again in attendance to in-stal Bro. R. Taylor as Master, the collection at that installation amounted to £11 10s, quite a sum for those days.
The records show that during this year the commencement of the granting of honorariums to the Secretary commenced, a sum of £20
being voted at the December meeting.
A postal ballot was held during this year to decide whether the regular meetings should be held on the first or second Wednesday
the ballot favouring the first Wednesday.
Bro. W. Girvin was our next Master he also being installed by M.
- Bro. Nicholson the collection for the W.O. being £11 16s 3d
During this year electric lights were installed in the building.
For the first time we find a charge being made for the At Home the charges being 15s for a double tickets and 5s for extra tickets.
During the vear the Lodee was honoured by a visit from the Grand Master who at that period was the Lord Jellicoe. During the evening Lord Jellicoe was presented with a gold replica of the Lodge
seal.
At the meeting held on 7/11/23 at was decided to advance $50 in order to secure a house for the Widow of one of our late brethren, and later at the same meeting M.W. Bro. Nicholson installed Bro. F.
- Otto into the Chair of K.S.
A levy of 10s was struck to cover costs of installation.
On March 24th 1924 a Lodge of Sorrow was held to pay the last respects to Wor. Bro. Wallen, who died very suddenly at a comparative early age. His early demise was a distinct loss to the Lodge, and District. $25 was voted for immediate assistance to the Widow and young Family.
From a ritual point of view the year was anything but a slack one,
for the records show that during that period nine
were initiated,
fourteen were passed to the second degree and ten were raised.
In November 1924, Bro. G. F. Thompson was installed by M.W.
Bro. Nicholson.
This year a levy of 15s was struck to cover the cost of install-
ation.
The question of acquiring the freehold of the Section on which the Lodge stands was refered to the Standing Committee.
Bro. Ross was installed as Master on the 6/11/25 by M.W. Bro.
Oliver Nicholson.
During this year the present practice of taking up a collection
each Lodge meeting was adopted.
We also find recorded in the minutes of May 5th of that year that permission was granted to those
members desirous of forming a
Royal Arch Chapter to use the Lodge. Obviously that project must have fell flat at that time.
Wor. Bros. A. S. Laird, R. Beeche and Wilson were elected Trustees to open and operate a Post Office Savings Bank Account.
Bro. R. Bullians was duly installed as Master by M.W. Nicholson
on 3rd November 1926.
During this year a
grant of $25 was made to a brother in the
Auckland hospital and £10 to the widow of a brother Brader, and a building committee consisting of Wor. Bros. A. S. Laird, R. Beeche and Bro. George Cross was elected.
Bro. Alec Johnson was installed by our old friend M.W. Bro.
Oliver Nicholson on Nov. 3rd 1927, and we are now reaching a period covered by the writer’s own experiences.
Every Master who has
occupied the chair, has, I am sure, had some special object to strive for during his term as Master, and I know that is was Wor. Bro. Johnson’s
ambition to see the overdraft with the bank liquidated
during his term. The debit balance at the bank when he was installed stood at £125.
Wor. Bro. Johnson had the satisfaction of
achieving his object and until quite recently when the building was renovated, the overdraft was not used again.
The 8th Nov. 1928 saw M.W. Bro. Nicholson again in attendance to conduct the ceremony of installing Bro. Seddon Hills as Master of the Lodge. For many years past it had been the custom for Nau Mai to pay regular visits to Lodges Plunket, Waimarino, Ngauruhoe and later Ohura. Wor. Bro. Hills cast his net a little further and commenced during his year to visit Lodge Otanake, which entailed at that time travelling by train to Te Kuiti, thence by special bus to Pio Pio and returning in a similar manner.
Yet musters of twenty
or more members on such visits were common.
Wor. Bro. Hills was a very keen student of masonry and during his year it was an invariable practice to give some interesting talk in the refrectory, and, that such a course was popular with the
brethren the records will show for during his year of office the average attendance was close on the 60 mark.
Wor. Bro. Hills was followed by Bro. Z. Simcock and M.W. Bro.
Nicholson carried out the ceremony as only he could. Wor. Bro.
Simeock had the unfortunate experience of having three changes of secretary during the year.
Bro. Joe Walker leaving the district
shortly after the installation, followed by Wor. Bro. G .F. Thompson who died suddenly, shortly after taking over the office from Bro.
Walker. Bro. A. Wilson succeeding Wor. Bro. Thompson. His year was also made more difficult by the fact that his occupation at that time took him to Ohura but in spite of these extra difficulties he carried out his task in true Nau Mai tradition.
Bro. P. W. Reardon was duly installed by M.W. Bro. Nicholson on 12th November 1930, and very early in the year was visited by the W.M. Lodge Ngauruhoe, who was none other than Wor. Bro.
Rowlands, who now is also a P.M. of Nau Mai, a mere interval of thirty years.
This period was of course the beginning of what is often referred to as the great slump, but that did not prevent the brethren from voting the sum of $50 to the Napier earthquake fund and commencing the Building Fund which was opened in the P.O.S.B. with an annual grant of £25.
At the same meeting as that fund was established, a brother was
excluded for un-masonic conduct.
At the request of Lodge Pacific No. 1453, a Lodge of Sorrow
was held for a Bro. Dennis of that Lodge.
At a meeting held on the 5th August 1931, Wor. Bro. W. C.
Wilson who had been transferred after many years as Headmaster of the Manunui School was presented with a Grand Steward’s Jewel, he having been elected to that Office at the previous Communication.
Wor. Bro. Girvin was elected Trustee in place of Wor. Bro.
Wilson, who resigned, and Wor. Bro. A. S. Laird P.G.S. and Bro.
Joe Walker were
elected Life Honorary members.
November 4th 1981 saw Bro. Jim Brown installed. The economic blizzard that was sweeping the world at this time, is easily discern-able in a perusal of the minutes covering this period. Early in 1982. the Lodge decided by resolution to give power to the Standing Com-mittee, to deal with the various cases of outstanding dues. hundreds of pounds were remitted during the next. few years to the numerous brethren, who responded to the appeal of the Standing Committee to place their case before them, whilst it became necessary to exclude quite a number of brethren who entirely ingnored repeated letters and verbal appeals to do so. During these enquiries into outstanding dues we found quite an interesting case. It was discovered that a Bro. Harston took his first and second degrees here before embarking for services overseas in the first war. the end of hostilities this brother decided to remain in England.
The Lodge had paid Grand Lodge dues for this brother from the end of the period he was initiated but not having taken his third degree or because the Lodge exempted brethren going overseas he was never debited for any dues to the Lodge, a matter of some 15 years.
In an effort to make it possible for members to continue membership the annual subscription was lowered to two guineas per annum. During this year Wor. Bro. Monfries was elected a Life member. As no need had been found for the use of the bank over-draft, it was decided to cancel all arrangements for the same with the Bank of Australasia.
During this year 10 members resigned, 6 were excluded N.P.D.
and 4 had their dues remitted.
November 1932 witnessed the installation of Bro. Ernie Pearson as W.M., and as the economic conditions of the country continued to decline the conditions were reflected by the small numbers attending the meetings. Even so, though times were pretty rough, the usual contributions were maintained to the W.O. fund, several circular appeals subscribed to, a widow of a deceased brother was assisted by a grant of 10/- per week and two grants of $5 each were made to two brethren in distress. Nine members were lost by demit or resignation.
1933 saw Bro. A. Wilson installed into the Chair and Wor. Bro.
- S. Laird was presented with a Treasurer’s Jewel in recognition of, not only his many years as treasurer, but for his long and unbroken years of service as an officer since the Lodge’s inception.
A Lodge of Sorrow was held and Bro. R. McBride, a Life mem-
ber, was laid to rest with full masonic honours.
Bro. Roy Rennie was our next Master, being installed by then R.W. Bro. C. L. MeDiarmid, Prov. G.M. Unfortunately Wor. Bro.
Rennie was drowned whilst on holidays in the following January.
Wor. Bro. Rennie was one of the Lodge’s most outstanding younger brethren, and much was expected of him. Wor. Bro. Reardon carried on for the remainder of the term.
It was during this year that dissension began to make itself felt in the Lodge which had for so many years been carried on with such uninimity and concord. In accordance with its usual custom, a
notice of motion was moved to strike a levy to defray costs of installation. For the first time opposition was shown to the motion, and although the motion was carried by a large majority, this sig-nalled the beginning of a period of discord that culminated in an enquiry by the Grand Registrar, as will be shown later.
It was during this year that M.W. Bro. Oliver Nicholson was made a Life member of every Lodge in the old Auckland provincial Grand Lodge area.
Whether it was because Nau Mai was the most southern in his territory, or as we like to think, M.W. Bro. Nicholson held a special warm spot for this Lodge, for except in case of illness, he always carried out the installation here although his assistants often carried out the ceremony in other lodges. His photograph which he kindly presented to the Lodge recall to we older members who knew him, many happy memories.
During this year, a notice of motion was moved “that no intoxicating liquor be paid for out of Lodge funds until the financial affairs of the Lodge improved.” Although the motion was defeated, this added to the feeling of bitterness at the time.
An appeal which had been laid by a brother against the Lodge striking a levy to cover costs of installation, was upheld by the Prov. G.M. on the grounds that such expenditure was not extra-ordinary, which was the only grounds for striking under the by-laws as then existed. During this year Wor. Bro. George Manson was nominated for Grand Lodge rank, but was not successful until 1936 when he was elected Grand Steward.
1935 was the silver jubilee of the Lodge and the same was celebrated at our October meeting of that year. The proceedings were
simple although intimate plane.
M.W. Bro. Nicholson took
control of the Lodge whilst Wor. Bro. George Manson, who was P.M. of Lodge Coronation, presented the P.M.’s of Nau Mai who were in attendance in order of seniority with a “thumbnail” sketch of the Wor. Brother’s masonic history. M.W. Bro. Nicholson, who by virtue of his close association with the Lodge, since its foundation, and had a personal knowledge of the brethren so presented, addressed each one and commended them for their services.
Afterwards the M.W.
Bro. gave a most inspiring address on “Service”. During the evening W. Bro. A. S. Laird was presented with a gold mounted fountain pen as a token of appreciation for his outstanding services to the Lodge.
November of that year saw Bro. Ray Beresford duly installed as Master. During that year the Lodge received an unexpected addition to its income.
A brother who had some years before been
assisted by the Lodge returned a sum of £10 which had been granted to him. It was very pleasant for such a thing to happen.
The
amount was voted to the W.O. fund.
Wor. Bro. Nat Winter was elected a Life member.
Also during this vear the Lodge purchased a series of masonic
books entitled “A Miscellany of Masonry.”
During the year eight members were struck off N.P.D. and one
brother demitted.
The period of discord referred to earlier, was now beginning to
become more intense.
During the year complaints had been made
to the Prov. G.M. and the complainants, not being satisfied with the decision of R.W. Bro. McDiarmid carried their complaint to the Board of General Purposes.
During the year a grant of $20 was made to a brother to asssit
towards the cost of an eye operation.
November 1936 witnessed the installation of Bro. H. J. Water-
house into the Chair.
It was during this year that the Lodge
acquired by affiliation a brother who was to prove to be one of the Lodge’s most outstanding workers. I refer to Wor. Bro. Tom Lane, who was elected a joining member from Lodge United Services No. 10.
A grant of $5 was made to one of our brethren and £10 for extra
comforts for our annuitants.
The Lodge also made a gift of a Master’s chair to Lodge Tauhara, which was then being founded. Wor. Bro. A. S. Laird being the first Master of that Lodge.
During
the year it was decided to acquire the freehold of the
section.
At practically every meeting that was held during this
period some contentious and controversial motion arising out of the original appeal against the striking of a levy was brought up, and the meetings were anything but harmonious.
Each resolution and
counter resolution merely adding more fuel to the fire.
A donation of two guineas was made to the George 5th memorial
fund.
Wor. Bro. Girvin was nominated for Grand Lodge honours, but was not successful until 1940, then being appointed Grand Steward.
During this year grants were made to three circular appeals
and £20 was voted to the W.O. Fund.
The dissension that had been marring the reputation of the Lodge was finally brought to a head by the Grand Master appointing V. Wor. Bro. Baylee, Grand Registrar of Dunedin, as a Commission “to hear and adjudicate on all dispute in the Lodge.” His decision to be final.
beginning of the dispute. As the Commissioner intimated that unless his decision was accepted he would take away the Lodge Charter, the Lodge accepted his decision with as much grace as they could.
His decision was in effect to wipe out all resolutions as from the Fortunately one of the chief malcontents was shortly afterwards transferred to another district and the Lodge gradually regained that harmonious spirit usually associated with Nau Mai.
The Lodge previously having freed itself from all debts and encumbrances the Lodge was duly consecrated for pure masonic purposes on October 7th 1987 by the then Grand Master, M.W. Bro.
Viscount Galway, assisted by the Prov. Grand Master and a full retinue of Grand Lodge officers according to antient custom.
Wor.
Bro. A. S. Laird, the original architect of the building, was present and handed to the Grand Master the working tools that were entrusted to him at the laying of the foundation stone on the 6th August 1913.
The following month saw R.W. Bro. C. L. McDiarmid back in the Lodge to install Bro. Rod Jack as Master, who carried out a busy year in which Wor. Bro. Laird was recommended for and received further Grand Lodge rank, being made P. Grand D. of C. (honoris causas). Also during the same year the whole of the by-
W.O. fund to supplement the ordinary contributions. November 1938 £10 was voted to the
witnessed the installation of Bro. Claud Pearson into the Chair.
For the first time since the decision of V. Wor. Bro. Baylee, a levy was struck to help pay the cost of new regalia and other con-tingencies.
Wro. Bro. N. A. Winter presented to the Lodge the V.S.L. now in use to replace the original one which had become very delapidated with the constant use during the preceding 29 years.
A special committee consisting of Wor. Bros. Beeche, Jack and Wilson was set up to report as to the necessary repairs and renovations required to the Lodge building. The report was prepared and presented to the Lodge in August 1939, and was adopted.
The
work, which consisted of renewal of all guttering and downpipes, renewal of some of the foundation piles, the painting of the exterior of the building and other incidentals, were carried out.
On September 11th a Lodge of Sorrow was held and our late
Bro. Joe Walker, past secretary of the Lodge and a Life member, was laid to rest.
During this year the annual subscription was increased to £3 per
annum. .
Our next Master was Bro. Charles Leslie, who was installed in November 1939, which as most of us can recall, more or less coincided with the outbreak of the Second World War.
It was decided that all members joinging H.M. Forces be exempt from all dues for the duration and that they be entitled as of right to resume their office as from where they left off on joining.
and that fresh valuations be made.
Wor. Bro. Ray Beeche, P.G.S., was elected Lodge representative to the special Centenary Communication of Grand Lodge.
Early in 1940 it was decided to invest the amount of £150 standing to the credit of the Building Fund in the first interest free war loan and that the usual amount of $25 annually paid into the building fund be voted to the Sick and Wounded fund. It was also decided that all Lodge documents and records be placed with Messrs’ Gordon
Nicholson and Rennie for safe custody.
Brother G. E. Gibbs was installed as Master in November 1940 by R.W. Bro. C. L. McDiarmid, who that year was Deputy Grand 1941 was from a Masonic point of view a quiet year. Brethren will remember that this was one of the darkest years of the War for our Empire.
During this year the Lodge took the unusual action
of passing a notice of motion requesting Grand Lodge to confer upon Wor. A. Wilson Grand Lodge Rank, Honoris Causus.
As Wor.
Bro. Wilson was only 46 years old and in quite good health, Grand Lodge quite properly took no action. Wor. Bro. Wilson was however, appointed Grand Steward in 1942 active rank.
During this year the Lodge voted $2 per quarter towards the costs of forwarding parcels to one of our brethren who had been taken as a prisoner of war.
November witnessed R.W. Bro. Bullock who had been appointed Prov. G.M. in place of R. Wor. Bro. McDiarmid, perform his first installation in Nau Mai, Bro. R. Kneeshaw being the elect.
During 1942 an effort was made to change the night of meeting but the motion was defeated and Wednesday evening retained.
A grant of $10 was made to one of our aged and infirm broth-
ers, and two guineas to a circular appeal.
One of the few special meetings held during the year was by dispensation to initiate Dick Bullians who was due to enter the Armed Forces.
A further grant of fl per week was made to the aged brother
previously mentioned and a grant of €5 to another brother.
Bro. Norm Todd was duly installed in November 1942 by R.W.
Bro. Bullock.
Wor. Bro. Todd’s year saw the Lodge elect to Life
honorary
membership our very esteemed brother R.W. Bro. C. L.
McDiarmid. After the creation of the Waikato district M.W. Bro.
MeDiarmid had proved to us a worthy successor to M.W. Oliver Nicholson.
His counsel to us during those years when the harmony
of the Lodge was not what it should be, was of great comfort and support to the various Masters and officers of those years. M.V.
Bro. MeDiarmid cherishes the honour conferred.
During this year two of our very worthy members Bro. Roscoe Smith and Archie Bowman had the great misfortune to each have one of their sons reported missing in.the war.
€50 was invested in the Liberty. Loan of 1943 and a grant of
€10 was made to the widow of one of our deceased brethren.
November 1943 R. W. Bullock took control of the Lodge to receive M.W. Bro. McDiarmid, the Grand Master, and during that evening Bro. Cliff Eady was installed as Master. Wor. Brother Eady carried on his year in the true Nau Mai tradition. During this year Wor. Bro. Wilson had to retire from the office of Secretary which he had served since 1981 except the years as Warden and Master.
Wor. Bro. Wilson was at a later date presented with a secretary’s jewel as a token of appreciation. Bro. James Kerr was elected to replace Wor. Bro. Wilson as secretary and did so very capably for some two years or more.
1954 was presided over by Wor. Bro. Bill Johns. This year was notable for the fact that 17 meetings were held during the year.
With the returning of our men from overseas, many were seeking admission to the Craft, and emergency meetings were necessary to prevent the notice paper from becoming overloaded with candidates awaiting admission.
Two guineas were voted to a circular and £10 voted towards the
costs of a Christmas tree for the children.
It was also decided to
present Bro. Arthur Congdon with an Organist’s Jewel.
Brother
Congdon had acted as organist on and off for at least twenty years and was always good for an item in the refrectory.
- Wor. Bullock was again in attendance at the November 1945 meeting to install Bro. Burgess into the Chair of K.S.
This was
another heavy year as regards meetings, 17 being again held during Wor. Bro. Burgess’ year. Also during this year it was decided to increase the initiation fee to $12/12/- and the annual subscription to £3 10 0.
Wor. Bro. Ray Beeche was elected a life honorary member of
the Lodge for his many years of meritorious service.
Bro. C. T. Harrigan was duly installed as Master on November 9th 1946. During this year a special committee was set up consisting of Wor. Bro A. Wilson, Bros. Rennie, Webb and Lane, to investigate the financial position of the Lodge and to prepare a report for submission to the Lodge at a later date.
On Tuesay 3rd June Wor. Bro. Harrigan had the mournful duty of presiding over a Lodge of Sorrow for our late Wor. Bro. George Manson. Wor. Bro. Manson was installed as Master of Lodge Coronation in 1908 and came to Taumarunui shortly afterwards and joined Lodge Nau Mai. During the next thirty odd years Wor. Bro.
Manson was one of our outstanding members.
At the next regular meeting V. Wor. Bro. Laird was presented with his 50 year jewel. A wonderful achievement.
At the September meeting the special
sub committee that had
been set up made a very full and comprehensive report on the financial position of the Lodge, which was adopted after a full discussion, this called for, amongst other measures, an increase in the inition fee to £15 15 0. Again it was decided to hold a Christmas tree for the children and the sum of £20 was voted towards the costs
November of 1948 saw our worthy brother Tom Lane installed as Master. In keeping with one of the recommendations of the finance committee, notice of motion was given to strike a levy to
extraordinary costs of that installation. However the
minutes following does not record whether the motion was proceeded
During this year the sum of $30 was transferred to the Building
fund.
of 1948 to install Bro. G. R. McLennan into the Chair.
Wor. Bro. Gilchrist Prov. G.M. attended the installation meeting The bye-law dealing with the investigation of unenlightened
was repealed and the present rule substituted.
s15 was voted towards to the cost of an invalids chair for one our incapacitated brethren.
It was resolved to request Grand Lodge to grant some special recognition to V. Wor. Bro. A. S. Laird on the occasion of his attaining his Masonic Diamond Jubilee.
The Lodges condolences were conveyed to Wor. Bro. Bob Ross on the sudden death of his wife. Residing practically next door to the Lodge the late Mrs Ross had always been a tower of the strength to the band of Ladies, who had for years arranged the tables and prepared the food.
The sum of €10 was voted to the special appeal made on behalf of Lodge Tawhiri, who had the misfortune to have their Lodge Room destroyed by a freak tornado.
Wor. Bro. McLennan, who was a member of the Police force, was transfered away about half way through his term of Office.
- Wor. Bro. Gilshrist was again in attendance at the 1950 installation and on this occasion Bro. Gil Fisher was installed.
Bro. Bob Kelly, a life member of the Lodge passed away during this year. Bro. Kelly was one of the connecting links with our daughter Lodge Ohura, being a member of both.
Also during the year Wor. Bro. Rowlands, received his first recognition from Grand Lodge for his many years of service, being made a member of the Board of General Purposes.
Permission was granted to the proposed new
Royal Arch
Chapter for the use of the Lodge Buildings for Chapter purposes.
Also during this year a new sub committee was set up to
investigate into the matter of repairs, and renovations of the whole building and the modernising of the refrectory, Wor, Bro. T. Lane being chairman.
1950 installation saw our new Prov. Grand Master R.W. Bro.
(Father) O’Neill install Bro. Merve Coker into the Chair of K.s.
During this year the sub-committee previously mentioned presented their report on the proposed improvements which was estimated to cost approximately $1352. The report was adopted and the work
gradually undertaken, which has resulted in the Lodge
buildings as they are at present.
- Wor. Bro. O’Neill was again in attendance in 1951 to install Bro. George Kelly as W.M.
It was during this year that efforts were made to start another Craft Lodge in the town. Application was made to the Lodge for use of our building, which was declined and the matter lapsed.
On November 8th 1952 Bro. Eric Bagley was duly installed by
- Wor. Bro. Prideaux, and coincidentaly, it was during this year that Mrs Ruth Gardner, widow of our first W.M. passed on. As the wife of our first Master, of a necessity, a great deal of work fell to her lot, and the Lodge owes a lot to her efforts. Mrs Gardner retained her interest in the Lodge right up to the time of her death.
During this year much needed improvements to the Lodge
grounds were undertaken.
We were also privileged during the year to receive a visit from
the Grand Master M. Wor. Bro. Adam Smith.
A Director of Ceremonies Jewel was presented to Wor. Bro. Ray
Bereford on his leaving the district to reside in Auckland.
Wor.
Bro. Beresford had been a tireless worker and regular attender of the Lodge since his initiation, holding office practically uninter-upted since 1931.
November 1953 saw Bro. T. Waeroa, the first of
his race, installed into the Chair of Lodge Nau Mai.
During the year a donation was made to the special appeal made by Grand Lodge for the sufferers of the Greek earthquake in 1954.
Also during that year another disaster struck us much nearer home, that being the Tangiwai rail disaster.
Two of our members lost
daughters in that tragic affair, namely Wor. Bro. Pat Reardon and Bro. Ernie Lightfoot. Wor. Bro. Reardon also decided to retire from Taumarunui and went to reside in New Plymouth.
A presentation
of a P.G.B.B. jewel was made to Wor. Bro. Reardon and a travelling rug to Mrs. Reardon as a token of the appreciation of many years of unselfish service.
Wor. Bro. A. J. Prescott, Asst. Prov. Grand Master, attended
the installation in
1954 and installed Bro. Jimmy Speirs into the
Chair.
During 1955 Wor. Bro. H. R. Street qualified for his 50 years’
services jewel, which was later reecived and duly presented.
Wor. Bro. Tom Lane was nominated for Grand Lodge honours.
Wor. Bro. George Campbell having retired from the office of
Secretary was presented with a Secretary’s Jewel, our present
secretary, Bro. Ted Crabbe succeeding Wor. Bro. Campbell.
November 5th 1955, was an outstanding evening for Lodge Nau Mai, not only because of the Installation of Bro. H. G. Matthews, as Wor. Master, but also for the fact that it was at this meeing that the announcement was made that Bro. N. J. Porter, one of the oldest members, had made a gift of £1000 to Lodge Nau Mai with a request that it be credited to the Lodge’s re-building account.
Bro. Porter also made a gift to the Sandford R.A. Chapter of €2000 with a similar request that it also be credited to the same account, the only proviso being that the rent charged to the Cahpter, not to exceed the amount now being charged, namely £10 per annum.
A
joint meeting of the Lodge and the Chapter met and agreed that the total amount be credited to Nau Mai’s Building account. As a small mark of its appreciation of Bro. Porter’s wonderful generosity as well as a tribute to his other valuable services to the Lodge,
inseribed plaques have been fixed to the D.M. and I.P.M. chairs.
During the year the Lodge suffered the loss of two of its P.M.’s by the deaths of Wor. Bros. Claude Pearson and Gil Fisher also Bro.
Jock Birrel.
Our next Master was Bro. Rex Street, who was installed by Wor.
John Noble, Prov. G.M. in November 1956. Whatever may be the success or failure of our Jubilee celebrations, it will not be for the want of time, for we find in the minutes of 3/4/57, that a special committee be set up consisting of all the Officers of the Lodge plus Wor. Bro. J. Brown and A. Wilson to make arrangement for the
same.
It was unfortunate for our W.M. that early in his year of Office
he suffered an
accident which incapacitated him for some months,
the D.M. carrying on during the enforced absence of our Master.
During this year the sum of $20 was voted from the general fund to supplement the regular collections of the Lodge.
After several years of nominations, Wor. Bro. Lane was elected
Grand Bible Bearer during this year. A well earned honour.
The years seem to pass all to quickly. November 2nd, 1957 saw Wor. Bro. Street vacate the Chair and Bro. Bill Box duly installed in his stead.
Early in the year the Lodge learned of the untimely death of Wor. Bro. Ray Beresford just on the eve of his leaving for a world tour.
The Lodge’s sympathies were conveyed to Mrs. Beresford
and to his son Bro. Bernie Beresford.
During this year the Lodge commenced to nominate Wor. Bro.
Matthews for Grand Lodge Office, and as most of the brethren are aware Wor. Bro. Matthews has been appointed a member of the Boards of General Purposes and Benevolence for the period 1960-61.
During this year, Wor. Bro. Rex Street organised an appeal amongst the Brethren for a sum of approximately £300 to assist towards the cost of an operation that one of our brethren had to undergo. Although the brethren responded to the appeal, our appreciation must go to Wor. Bro. Street ,for his wonderful effort in this direction.
The sum of $10 was voted to supplement the W.O. collections.
- Wor. Bro. Noble was again in attendance to install our beloved Bro. Norman Porter into the Chair of K.S. To many of us older brethren, it was very gratifying to see him installed as Master.
Bro. Porter was practically the most regular attender that the Lodge had during its existence. For years it was our brother’s habit to always take his seat immediately on the right of Bro. J.W., and it was his invariable practice to hold the cushion with the W.T.’s whilst the J.W. presented them. Woe to the brother who inadvertently tried to occupy that seat. Even during the years when the Lodge was “scratching” for officers it never dawned on any of us to consider Norman, and to be fair to the Lodge, Bro. Porter never gave an indication that he would like to take office. It was not until 1954 that he was
nominated for Chaplain that he held any office
and proved to be one of our best officers.
Subsequent to his taking
office however, his health began to fail, and on several occasions it was a case of touch and go.
Hence the brethren’s pleasure and
delight to see him installed as Master, and for the nine months that he occupied the Chair he proved one of our most energetic Masters.
But it was not to be that he finish out his year, the Great Reaper claimed him on August 10th, 1959, and a Lodge of Sorrow was held on the 12th when he was laid to rest with Masonic honours.
Also during this year we also lost another of our most loyal and outstanding members in the person of our Brother Wor. Bro.
Girvin, after a fairly lengthy illness.
Wor. Brother Girvin was one
of the old Nau Mai stalwarts, and the Lodge is indebted to him for years of service.
The balance of the year was carried out by the D.M., Wor. Bro.
Bagley.
The two chairs now occupied by the D.M. and the I.P.M. were presented to the Lodge by the Sandford Chapter and as stated earlier each has a plate inscribed in dedication of Wor. Bro. Porter.
In view of the fact that Bro. S.W. Bro. J. Kendall was unable to accept the nomination for the office of W.M. for 1959-60, and the desire of the J.W. to fill the office of S.W. it was thought desirable to resort to nominating a P.M. for the office of the W.M. In view of the fact that Wor. Bro. H. E. Rowlands had given such yoeman service to our Lodge since joining us from Lodge Ngaruahoe some 25 years ago, it was decided to ask him to accept the nomination, which he willingly agreed to do although well over 70 years of age.
R.W. Bro. Prescott duly installing him into the Chair of this Lodge in November last. In spite of the burden of Anno Domini, he has proved as active as any of his predecessors.
His year has seen the
culmination of the efforts of the brethren of the Lodge to bring our Temple up to a standard that will stand comparisons with most country Lodges.
During the year it was decided to strike a levy of $2 on each member towards the cost of the Golden Jubilee celebrations, which was afterwards cancelled, it being decided to combine the celebrations with the 1960 installations. As a final gesture for the completion of first half century of the Lodges it was decided to carpet the floor of the Lodge at a cost of approximately £350.
And thus we come to the end of the first 50 years.
Most of this narrative chiefly mentions the P.M.’s by name, but
this is to keep the chronological sequence.
The worth and work and
love of countless brethren have been woven into the edifice that is Nau Mai and the efforts of those who have gone before should act as an incentive for us who follow in their footsteps and as we are blessed by their bequests, may untold generations yet unborn, be even more blessed by our efforts, both in and out of the Lodge by the practice of those virtues that are continually presented to us in the
Lodge.
Long may the Lodge prosper.