The Late Bro. Richard Seddon

The late Bro . Richard Seddon

( P . G . M . NEW ZEALAND , P . G . W . ENGLAND ) .

THE New Zealand Craftsman of 2 nd July in common with the press of New Zealand generally appears in deep mourning on account of the death of the Prime Minister of that Colony , and in an article on the deceased our contemporary eulogises him as a man , a statesman , and a brother . His personality was of that order which appeals

to all sections of the community , and we make no apology to our readers for reproducing such a warm and heartfelt appreciation in our columns : —

"Triumplio mode tam vita .. " "This shows , methinks , God ' s plan And measure of a stalwart man , Limbed like the old heroic breeds , Who stands self-poised on manhood ' s solid earth , Not forced to frame excuses for his birth ,

Fed from within with all the strength he needs . " Such a man was he for whom to-day a great people " weeps with the passion of an angry grief . " A prince has fallen in Israel—a prince not by accident of birth or the favour of a king , but by the divine right of noble manhood ,

of devoted service to his country , and of stainless honour . And the people who loved him so well , and whom he loved and served , are sick at heart with grief . A thrill of horror and despair went through " God's own Country" on

Monday , nth June , when it became known that Bi-o . Richard John Seddon had passed hence , horror at the tragic ending , and despair at the calamity that had overtaken the country by the removal of the Master Craftsman . For twenty-seven years lie had stood in the white light of Parliamentary life , and to-day his political opponents vie with

his friends in bearing testimony to his blameless life and spotless honour . Not one voice is lifted to charge him that he ever wronged any man , that he abused the high trusts confided to him , or that he used the great power he so long wielded for any other than unselfish and patriotic ends .

Surely he realised the ideal of the poet- — " Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy , Men whom the lust of office cannot kill ; Men who have opinions and a will , Men who love honour and will not lie . '

He was probably the most capable party leader and the most accomplished master of men this colony has ever know . If the popular voice was with him , well ! If it clamoured against him he was in no way dismayed , and , as an example , the manner in which he faced a hostile audience in the City of Christchurch shortly before the last general

election , and ultimately quelled the demonstration against him , will long be remembered . Though a Freemason of overy forty years' standing , he was not , in Masonic acceptation , an active member , as , though a regular attendant , he took little or no part in the

administration of the affairs of his Lodge or the Craft for a quarter of a century , and it was not until the vear 18 95 that he was installed by the writer of this article as W . M . of Westland Kil . Lodge . In 18 9 8 he was elected M . W . G . AI ., and in that capacity controlled the destinies of New Zealand

Freemasonry for a period of two years . Affairs of State naturally prevented a close attention to the duties of the office , but his general interest never abated , and the assistance of able coadjutors carried the term to a successful issue .

A brief analysis will not lie out of place here to show how our late brother carried our Masonic principles into the outside world and into his every clay life . As a husband and father his conduct needs no eulogy , as the harmonv and affection of his home life were proverbial , and in his strenuous political iife and arduous woikhe never omitted the

opportunity of rendering a faithful tribute to the services of his clear wife and companion . May God comfort her in her distress . The number who can give practical testimony to his loyalty to his friends is legion , and during his recent and

last work in Australia he was called upon to defend his Cabinet colleagues in the public press , and the whole-souled manner in which this was done indicates a depth of loyalty and friendship which passeth all understanding . His loyalty to the Throne and his acute interest in the affairs of the Empire gained for him the title of an Imperialist ,

which he no doubt counted as an honour . " Vincit amor patriae . " The love for his country overcame him , and he gave up his life for it . How better can that love be appraised when it is realised that he went to Australia for rest and relaxation , and to use his own words , he put in the

hardest month ' s work he had ever clone , to secure the future and enhance the prosperity of his beloved country . Do not all these things testify that Bro . Seddon squared his actions by Masonic line and rule , and though not on the

active list of Freemasonry , was still a Freemason all the time ? It is meet that on such an occasion we should study the lessons of the life tiiat is ended , and that we should pledge one another that this death should not have been died in vain . And yet—to slightly paraphrase the eulogy over an American President—and yet all this cannot comfort

us . Through it all we see the black trappings of a country ' s woe , we hear the knell of funeral bells and the sound of muffled drums , and in our hearts the words are saying themselves over and over again , " The Premier is dead ! the Premier is dead I " Dead at the crown and summit of his

career , when all the world seemed to wish him well , when his fellow men seemed united in their love and reverence for him , when the happiest and serenest and most peaceful years of his life appeared to await him .

" Dead , and we needed him so ; Dead , and we loved him so ! " What can we say ? Whither shall we turn for comfort ? Where , but to the Volume of the Sacred Law , wherein it stands written for a perpetual tribute and memorial to all heroic souls : " He hath fought the good light , he hath finished his course , he hath kept the faith . "

A PAST GKAXD MASTER . M . W . Bro . R . J . Seddon , P . G . M ., was a Freemason of long standing , having been initiated into the mysteries of the Craft , over forty years ago , in the Pacific Lodge , No . 1229 , E . C , Hokitika . He subsequently affiliated himself to another

Westland Lodge—the Westland Kil . Lodge , No . 4 6 7 , S . C . Of that Lodge he was a member continuously for thirty-live years . In December , 18 95 , he was elected W . M . ( the Lodge being then under the Grand Lodge of New Zealand ) , and was installed at Hokitika by R . W . Bro . H . J . Williams , of

Wellington . Bro . Seddon was a founder of the Lazar Lodge , at Kumara , and subsequently one of ils Wardens . He received the R . A . Degree in the Pacific Chapter , Hokitika , and afterwards in the Westland Kil . Chapter he took the Mark and Excellent Degrees . For many years the

distinguished brother took a very active part and lively interest in Freemasonry , travelling long distances to attend various meetings . Of later years , though his interest had not waned , his removal from his district and the pressure of State duties prevented him working as actively as formerly .

It was in Cliristchurch , on 28 th April , 18 9 8 , that Bro . Seddon was installed with great eclat as G . M . of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand . For two years from that time the Craft had the advantage of his high administrative ability , and that indefatigable energy which was characteristic of him . The

most important event of his term of office was the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand by the Grand Lodge of England .

TIIK FCXKKAI .. The assemblage of visitors from all parts of the colony desirous of participating in the last sad effices of respect