Local man takes up Grand Master's role

Surrounded by his ornately dressed brethren and the symbols of Freemasonry, Christchurch lawyer Stanley Barker was installed as the country's Grand Master last night.

Freemasons from across New Zealand and Australia and their families filled the Christchurch Town Hall to watch the pomp and ceremony involved in moving the role to Barker.

Wearing coats and tails, adorned with standard regalia of gold-decorated aprons, gauntlets, neck pieces and jewels, the Freemasons gave ritual welcomes to overseas guests.

While the public ceremony was mostly formal, outgoing Grand Master Barry McLaggan joked with visiting Australian Grand Masters about cricket, Qantas and inquired whether the visitors' wives were doing enough shopping to help the New Zealand economy.

The men saluted McLaggan 11 times by holding their hands above their heads and watched as Barker was invested with his new "powers and prerogatives".

Following a brass fanfare, Barker knelt on a velvet pillow, put his white-gloved hands on an antique Bible and swore allegiance to God and the Order.

- © Fairfax NZ News