PROPOSED GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9324, 29 March 1889, Page 6

PROPOSED GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,: reference to this matter, it is reported that the committee of management of the Freemasons' Hall are trying to stifle any discussion of the measure by objecting to the meeting, fixed for 10th April, being held there. Whether the reasons therefor are good or not, it will tend to alienate sympathy from their view of the question, as most of the brethren composing that committee are opposed to the change, and such objection comes with a bad grace from them. ' Again, at the meeting of the English 1). G. Lodge, on sth instant, the secretary was instructed to send a circular to the craft lodges of this district asking their opinion on the proposed change, and requesting a speedy reply. Up to the present he has neglected to do so, being opposed to the change. Owing to this, sundry craft lodges are unable to furnish any reply, having nothing before them, which exactly suits the opponents of the

scheme, most of whom are actuate! k purely personal motives, such i 1,1 by , office and petty dignity etc withJ? S of siderinj* the good Si tfc S' You will thus see the motives aotnJ ;

TO THE EDITOR. -Although I do not consider it ?» advisable to discuss Masonic question! through the public Press vet as the m™ ment for the formation of a Grand Lodge tor New Zealand is of a vital portance to _ the Craft throughout the colonies and it is the only means we hlv of reaching the members of the count™ lodges, and the large number of brethren who, while nominally attached to our towr lodges, have ceased to attend our or take any active interest in our Order from various reasons, but mainly „,,f! tunately .through the present ur/.atS' tory condition we have sunk into by ve 'Jt of our utter failure of being able to s'L any practical result in the carrying out J the grand principle of our Order vi charity, I am compelled to ask the u<J * your columns to show some of the rt .„ ° { that have compelled the brethren who"" 8 supporting this movement in Aupklnr,,!^ take the stand they are doing, The n•' / pal one is to endeavour to do away with"? 1 ' present friction, and in many Cac ne tagonistic views taken by the di«W' lodges by reason of their chare being from English, Irish, and w' Constitutions, and, by union, enable to be a band of brothers, united for rh* , US motion of all .Masonic charities ami „ , . Q ' which will never be done while we ex ;'.. at present. Secondly, by union to ke-n money in the colony that is at present a home for dues, and also by amal^arintii*"the three Constitutions to effect laiveL,.- 0 01 in the money frittered away by reason r n"® 8 ing three Grand Lodges in Auck land of one. As will be seen by the Toilo'S figures, taKen from the last annual „ ° sheets of the English Irish, and Scotch Grand Lodges meeting m Auckland •— Grand Paid to Ex- , ' Lodges. Sec. nouses. honv U 'f, • English .. £75 w „ £ , U«anty. Irish .. .. 30 Si is () on n a iu) 6 Scotch .. 60 Mnj) iJ,J J } 0

Total ..£155 £117 811 £0117 0 ns"l a veraye takef'' ° mUte(l l ° remit *° Charity, £13 3s ! ! and this is the result of all the money paid into our local i; r; ,n,| Lodges by the Craft Lodges of the District and this is the paltry amount -riven to the orphans and destitute of the craft in a vear of the greatest depression we. have h-td for years in the colony. Does it not make u blush for our order when we cull to mind the many helpless starving children we have had, and brethren, after vainly deling work having to leave the colony to seek a livelihood for those dear ones they have had to leave to the mercy of their neii-h----bours for want of means to take them with them. purely if this is all that comes from our teachings here, all should welcome a change that would enable us to alter this, "and which is so different to that existing in England" We can imagine a brother from here who was present at the Jubilee Meetinc of Freemasons, held at Albert Hall, "London H.R.H., our Brother the Prince of ales in the ohair. When it was announced by him that the collecting lists handed in that evening showed the magnificent sum of above £50,000 subscribed by the brethren for the Masonic Charities in London. When lie beheld the enthusiasm of the brethren present at die announcement, how his soul must have thrilled within him, and spontaneously he must have exclaimed, " This is Masonry," and fired by his surroundings and filled with enobling feelings, he must have silently pledged himself that as our colonial orphans and aged widows and brethren cannot participate in these noble charities, I will endeavour, on my return to my adopted country, to promote means that shall enable the craft in some measure, however humble, to follow the glorious example shown me tonight, and establish Masonic charities there that shall in time be worthy of our Order ; and knowing that unity is strength, and to do away with the friction, and in maminstances the antagonism, that, exists byreason of the lodges having their warrants from the English, Irish, and Scotch Constitutions, I will support, and if required initiate, a movement for combining them in one grand constitution for 'purpose. Although we have not had the great privilege of attending the jubilee meeting, yet similar feelings to these are actuating the brethren who are supporting the formation of the United Grand Lodge for New Zealand, a movement that ultimately must be successful in spite of petty opposition it is receiving from older members of the craft here, and that seems to grow in strength from the jealousy they have of the large amount of support it is receiving in other districts of the colony.—l am, &c., Past Master.