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Charles Richard Alder Lendrick Maclean

Charles Maclean was born in St Stephens Green, Dublin in the year 1829. His Father Samuel was a dentist and his Mother’s name was Catherine. Charles was educated at St Columba's College Dublin. In July 1847, at the age of eighteen, he was accepted for ‘The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth’ (Trinity College). He obtained a Bachelor of the Arts in 1851 and passed his divinity test in 1854.

In the latter half of 1854 Charles took up a position as the Curate of for Parish of Killyman. On the 19th November 1856 in the small church of St Marys, Armagh Charles married Catherine Marie Kidd, eldest surviving daughter of Williams Lodge Kidd MD and Sarah Kidd (nee Patton) Charles And Catherine had three children following their marriage, Jessie Georgina Maud Maclean in 1857, Charles William Lendrick Maclean in 1859 and Helen Elizabeth Maclean 1860. Poor Jessie passed away on the 9th November 1860, age 3.

New Zealand In May 1863 after having been offered a sponsored position by the members of the Church of England, to act as assistant curate in the New city of Nelson and the suburbs, New Zealand, Charles, and his family left Ireland behind for the new world. The stipend he was offered was a sizable 250 pounds Stirling per annum. (Nelson officially became a city in 1859). The position was vacant due to Rev. H.M. Turton being arrested and charged with a crime. Following their arrival in Nelson, Charles took up the position in the parish looking after Nelson and the suburbs, but all was not well within the church in Nelson, because before Charles arrived an unfortunate indication of Bishop Hobhouse’s narrow-mindedness appeared in the · Examiner newspaper. A letter to the paper suggested that there was an impression that the private spiritual services of the Church of England were to be withheld from all persons who were not recognized members of the church. Also, there were those that thought that there was a picture of ungodliness and indifference in Nelson.

Nelson College After less than a year Charles looked to teaching at Anglican Nelson College on the Waimea Road site. It was there he joined the staff as an assistant Master under Mr. Greenwood, teaching mathematics and modern languages. It was whilst at the college Charles had taken training for the legal profession. In 1866 following the death of Mr. Greenwood, Charles became the fifth Head Master. Charles was employed on a salary of 160 pounds per annum, but this was reduced to 140, as he was living in with his family on the college grounds, which was unprecedented for a married Principal. Charles also continued with the clergy where he conducted morning services at the Oddfellows Hall, until a full-time clergyman could be employed. Chares would often deliver lectures at the temperance hall on such subjects as Geology. In 1864 Charles was the occupier of 17 acres at Hampden Street, College Hill, in 1865 it was advertised to LET or Lease from the college.

Freemasonry  In May 1864 Charles also embarked on his Masonic journey by being initiated into the Southern Star Lodge No. 735 UGLE. *The Southern Star was consecrated in 1853, and to this day remains a member of UGLE. Southern Star is the largest and the oldest Lodge in the District of South Island New Zealand. The Lodge tyles at 7.30pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month except December. The installation meeting is in October and it is usual to obtain a dispensation to hold this meeting on the third Saturday. Visitors are welcome.

Solicitor In November 1867 Charles place an advert in the local newspaper which read; “Gentlemen, having now resigned the Head Mastership of Nelson College, I beg to offer myself as the post of Governor of that institution. A public school and university education coupled with five years experience of the workings and wants of the college are the grounds on which I solicit your suffrages “ The local press said:

“''We trust that we are divulging no secret in advertising to the fact that the late and present pupils of Nelson College purpose offering to the Rev. C. L. Maclean, the Head Master of that institution, whose resignation takes effect at the end of the present quarter, and also to Mrs. Maclean, a very gratifying and substantial proof both of their esteem and affection, and of the regret felt by them at the approaching termination of the relations which have subsisted between them. This will take the form of a handsome tea and coffee service, which has been specially ordered for this purpose from the establishment of Mr H. Drew, of Trafalgar street. We understand that it is intended that the presentation shall take place at a farewell party to be given at the College, to the Head Master and Mrs Maclean on Tuesday evening next, for which upwards of 200 invitations have been issued, and which promises to be a very brilliant affair”''

So, in 1868 Charles started a law firm working in partnership with Mr. H.V. Gully. Charles became the Registrar to Nelson Supreme Court and Member of the Provincial Council for Buller (1873 -75). For a short while Charles was also editor of the Colonist Newspaper. Charles was so obviously an active member of Nelson society, Freemason, Director of the Caledonian Society and newspaper editor of the Colonist, and Captain in the Nelson City Rifles. In 1873 Charles was invested as Master of The Southern Cross Lodge. The Lodge honors board can still be seen today. In the evening about fifty Brethren, amongst whom were some of the Brethren of the Nelson Lodge of Mark Master Masons, EA & FC down to an excellent dinner prepared by the host, Brother Tregea. A very pleasant evening was spent, and the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were drunk.

Bankruptcy With things going so well we are unsure what turn of events caused Charles such hardship in that on the 5th of March 1875 an announcement was made in the newspaper that he had claimed bankruptcy in the courts? We do know that during the gold rush Charles was advertising ‘money to lend, 2,000 pounds in sums of 50 pounds upwards, upon freehold security, 7% interest. We can only surmise a que of bad debtors and non-payment of loans.

Move to Rangitikei In 1875 the Maclean family had moved from Nelson and now were residing in the Lower Rangitikei town of Bulls. Charles was practicing law in partnership with a Palmerston North lawyer William Sydney Straite until December 1878 when the partnership was dissolved. We do know at this time Charles had purchased 220 acres of the Midhurst Settlement in the Taranaki District. 1879 Charles unsuccessfully contested the Rangitikei seat against Major William Jarvis Willis. Willis defeated MacLean but because of poor health he resigned early in 1880, he died at the age of 44. Editorial Talent Charles continued with his interest in newspapers and as Editor produced two hand written irregular, sometime humorous newspapers, The Bulls Roarer and the Tutaenui Skunk! Both contained advertisements for local businessmen, politically articles, notices and articles of interest, such as the ‘ Veni, Vidi, Vici’ (I came, I saw, I conquered) column.

Horticulture Charles was President of the Bulls Horticulture Society.

The Beginning of Freemasonry in Bulls, Rangitikei On the 6th May 1880 Charles met five other Freemasons in the Criterion Hotel, Bulls •	J.L. Stevens, Senior Warden of the St. Andrew and Kilwinning Lodge No. 481 Scottish Constitution, Whanganui New Zealand. •	T.T. Kerslake, Master Mason, Plattsville Lodge No. 178 Canadian Constitution. Plattsville Ontario, Canada. •	G.A. Holland. Master Mason, Witham Lodge No. 297 English Constitution, Lincoln, Lancaster, England •	Dalziell an Entered Apprentice •	S. Hill Senior Warden, Hugh Lodge No. 1386, Lincoln, Lincolnshire The purpose of the meeting was to establish a Masonic Lodge in Bulls. It was thought desirable that the Brethren present exert themselves with a view to ascertain who are Masons in the district, in addition to those already mentioned, and that, this meeting be adjourned until Friday next at 8pm. Resolved that the secretary call a meeting of all known Masons in the District for Tuesday the 11th at 8pm. The Ceremony of Dedication was conducted in Bulls Town Hall on October 25th 1880, with W. Bro Cooper DDGM residing. The installing Master was W.Bro. T. King, from the United Manawatu Lodge