United Masters Lodge No 167
Research lodge for all Constitutions
Irish Scottish English N.Z.

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The Lodge Charter


This is a transcription of the charter as near to the actual format as the shape of the web-site page permits. As a research lodge, the wording differs from that of a normal lodge. The Grand Master, Pro Grand Master and Grand Secretary were Founder members.
The seal is on a black background and not clearly visible, but is here in blue as on Master Mason's certificates. In the middle of the lower part the 'Book of Constitution' is in the plural as used by the United Grand Lodge of England.
Interestingly, the last eight names on the Charter do not appear on the list of "Charter Members" on the Order of Service for the Consecration meeting.

Plunket . G.M.

To all and every our Right Worshipful, Worshipful, and Loving Brethren
We William Lee (Baron) Plunket
Grand Master
of the Most Antient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of New Zealand,
Send Greeting, Know Ye That We by the authority and under the sanction of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand vested in us
for that purpose, and at the humble Petition of our right trusty George A. Gribbin, Stanley Milroy, Philip Luckie, William Lee (Baron) Plunket, Malcolm Niccol, A.S. Russell, Oliver Nicholson, George H. Powley, Alfred Bartlett, Frederick Kearsley, Murdoch McLean, Charles Rhodes, Henry Wetherilt, G. T. Girdler, H.R. Dewsbury, E. J. McFarland, E. R. Piggott, E.G. B. Moss, William C. Rolfe, E. V. Johansen, Josiah D. Webster, Alfred A. White, Joseph Catchpole, Herbert A. Marriner, B. P. Olesen, Adam Ayles, M.A. Benney, E. H. M. Bagley, Charles Blomfield, A. P. Bowring, James A. Cooper, A.G. Lee, James Carlaw, F. M. King, T.E N. McKenzie, W. H. Patterson, F. Prime, T. U. Wells, A. W. Robertson, Robert Stopford, W.C. Nairn, F.J.H. Ellisdon, Colin R. Munro, Stephen Perrin, John S. Hope, D.S. Hyauiason, S. J. Weston, Montgomery Dilly, D. B. Wallace, Charles W. Spooner, G. W. Ravenhill, Murray Evitt, Charles M. Page, J. H. Blackwood, George Wilkinson, J. W. Jones, F. J. Ohlson, Alfred Pollard, J. W. Wiseman, Eliot R. Davis, Andrew Erickson, James McKay, John M. Morran, J. H. Greenhough, Matthew Blair, A. Howey Walker, Adam Moore, F. L. Smith, F. D. Parsons, E. E. Thomas, A.G. Baddiley, R. H. Froude, M. J. Bennett, W. H. George, E. C. Smith, J. E. Hammond, Walter Reid, George Tutt, William Laird, R. W. Gallaugher, J. R. Hetherington, Daniel Jamieson, W. H. Mercer, W. . Cousins, Ronald R. Ross, J.H. Hansch, J. S. Allan, Gilbert T. Bull, A. . Hookey, E. H. Mann, D. . Robertson, C. J. Parr, S.T. Rossiter, Herbert R. Arthur, R. S. Thorburn, George H. Pinson, Charles D. Grey, J. H. Bradney, George Gore Gillon, William Handley, J. W. Swales, H. D. Bunby, H. Benner, W.G. Nichols, M.J. Harris, T. Moresby, S.D. McMiken, J. W. Warren, M. Cobbald, C. E. Smith, B. J. Esam, G. . Plummer, C.L. MacDiarmid, J. M. Haslett, G.W. S. Patterson, William Forrest, James Coe, Alfred Herbert Jones, George McGroffie Basley, Walter Reid, Alfred Woollams, J.C. Webster, A.H. Blackburne, N.F. B. Larsen. Do hereby constitute the said brethren into a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the title or denomination of

No. 167 U N I T E D M A S T E R S
The said Lodge to meet at the Masonic Hall Auckland, on the first Friday -------- in each month or at such other place or times as may be provided for in accordance with the Constitution. And we do empower the said Brethren when duly congregated in the said Lodge to do and perform all and every such Acts and Things appertaining to the Craft as have been and ought to be done for the honour and advantage thereof And more particularly to engage in study and research regarding the history, traditions and teachings of the Craft among all Nations and in all Ages throughout the world and to practise and exemplify such Ritual and Ceremonial Work as may have received the sanction and approval of this Grand Lodge It is expressly provided that the said United Masters Lodge shall be entirely and solely composed of Worshipful Masters and Past Masters of regular Craft Lodges who are and shall continue to be subscribing members of some regular Warranted Lodge in New Zealand other than the said United Masters Lodge And further at their said Petition and of the great trust and confidence reposed in every of the above named brethren We do appoint the said George Arthur Gribbin to be the First Master, the said Stanley Milroy to be the First Senior Warden, and the said Philip Luckie to be the First Junior Warden, for opening and holding the said Lodge and until such time as another Master shall be regularly Elected and Installed strictly charging that you and they and all other the Members of the said Lodge do observe and perform and keep the Laws Rules and Orders contained in the Book of Constitutions and all others which may from time to time be made by Our Grand Lodge or transmitted by Us or Our Successors Grand Masters or by Our Deputy Grand Master for the time being.
And we do enjoin you to make such By-laws for the government of your Lodge as shall to the majority of the Members appear proper and necessary the same not being contrary to or inconsistent with the General Laws and Regulations of the Craft a copy whereof you are to transmit to Us And We do require you to cause all such By-laws and Regulations, and also an account of the proceedings in your Lodge to be entered in a Book to be kept for that purpose And you are in no wise to omit to send to Us or Our Successors Grand Masters or to Our Deputy Grand Master for the time being at least once in every year a List of the Members of your Lodge and the names and descriptions of all Masons initiated therein and Brethren who shall have joined the same with the fees and moneys payable thereon It being Our Will and intention that this Our Warrant of Constitution shall continue in force so long only as you shall conform to the Laws and Regulations of Our Grand Lodge.

Given under Our Hands, and Seal of the Grand Lodge at Auckland, New Zealand,
this fifteenth day of November, AL. 5909, A.D. 1909
By Command of the Most Worshipful the Grand Master.

M. Niccol. G.S
Oliver Nicholson. Pro G. M
Robert Fletche. D.G.M.
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