Thomson, Henry (1827-1903)
April 28th, 2010 by Alexandra
|
Inscription
ERECTED
BY THE FREEMASONS OF
NEW ZEALAND
TO THE MEMORY OF
HENRY THOMSON
THEIR FIRST GRAND MASTER
1890 TO 1892
DIED 13TH SEPTEMBER 1903
Plinth:
BROTHER HENRY THOMSON WAS INITIATED IN THE
N.Z. PACIFIC LODGE WELLINGTON, ON 22ND OCTOBER
1857, AND FOR FORTY-SIX YEARS HE WAS A ZEALOUS
AND DEVOTED FREEMASON.
THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANISATION OF THE
GRAND LODGE WILL STAND FOR ALL TIME AS A
MONUMENT TO HIS COURAGE, ZEAL, FIDELITY, AND SKILL,
AND HIS NAME WILL EVER DWELL IN THE LOVING
MEMORY OF HIS GRATEFUL BRETHREN.
Headstone Description
refer to photograph
Plot location
Block 14 Plot 4
Individual History
Henry Thomson was the first Grandmaster of the Freemasons of New Zealand (1890-92) and according to the inscription on the monument he was initiated into the New Zealand Pacific Lodge in 1857 in Wellington and was …”for forty-six years a zealous and devoted freemason.”
Henry probably arrived in New Zealand in 1853 aged about 26, so although not on one of the first six ships, he may have arrived on a return voyage of one of the first six Canterbury Association chartered ships.
The monument, set on a chequerboard tile and symbolic of that in a Masonic Lodge is one of the most unusual in the cemetery and is positioned atop the hill with a clear view of Christchurch. It is obvious from the monument that Henry Thomson was held in high regard.
|
