MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 752, 30 July 1886, Page 6

MASONIC.

Having re-opened the Masonic column in he Mail, under the supervision of a Master in the Craft, we shall be glad to receive from Secretaries of Lodges, and-brethren generally, short reports of Lodge meetings and Masonic events of all kinds likely to be of interest to members of the craft. All correspondence for this column to be addressed to the Masonic Editor, New Zealand Mail. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. I.P.M. ‘ Cryptic Masonry ’is not practised in New Zealand. A council was formed some time ago in Melbourne to work the rite there, but its efforts were not a success. We have plenty of work before us to keep Craft Lodges going without introducing new rites, however instructive they may be. Thames —The Board of Benevolence acts under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England. At its last sitting, in May, it granted relief to the extent of £875. We cannot say whether an application for relief coming from the Colonies would be entertained. G.G.O. —It has not yet been decided when the meeting will be held. Committees have, however, been appointed in several Lodges to talk the matter over. It is probable that the alterations to the hall will be completed in August next. Plumb. —The room should be situated due east and west. Of course, the W.M.’s place is always considered to be the east. FAVORS RECEIVED. London Freemason, Sydney Freemason, Chained : Union (Paris), O Nivel (Lisbon), Rivista della Massoneria Italiana (Rome), Voice of Masonry, and El Siglo (Madrid.) MASONIC CHARITY. The ninety-eighth festival of the * Royal Masonic Institution for Girls,’ was held at the Freemasons’ Tavern (London) on the 20th of May last. There was a large and distinguished company present, and it is satisfactory to record that the subscriptions in aid of the institution amounted to no less a sum than L 13.029 3s. Among the subscriber’s names we find that of R.W. Bro. Sir W. Clarke, Bart, District Grand Master of Victoria, who is at present on a visit to the Old Country, and who contributed 100 guineas to the fund. When it is considered that the above large amount was raised by voluntary subscriptions during a time of great commercial depression, we cannot but admire the charitable spirit displayed by those who, like us, belong to the fraternity, and who have come forward so nobly in aid of one of the most useful Masonic Charitable Institutions.

Since its foundation (9S years ago) 1454 girls have been provided for, educated, clothed and maintained, and there are atpresent 243 girls receiving the benefits of the : institution.

The annual festival in connection with the ‘ Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ’ was to take place in June last, and it was expected that over L 12.000 would be collected toward the funds of that institution, which has now been 36 years in existence. AVe mayadd that since 1850 the splendid aggregate of L 235.602 has been collected in aid of this charity. When will the Craft in New Zealand unite to found some similar institution 2 Perhaps our readers are not aware that if every Mason in the Colony subscribed say ten shillings annually toward such a scheme the result would be L3OOO THE DEACON’S WORK. Asa matter materially affecting the proper ritual -working of our Lodges, we would desire to direct attention to the very great importance of the brethren acting as deacons, being fully posted up in the word required of them. Apart from the duty incumbent upon all officers of doing their utmost to bring the lodgework to the greatest possible perfection, every candidate for initiation or advancement is seriously wrongedif the ceremony isnotconducted with efficiency and impressiveness. More especially is this the case in respect to initiations. The candidate's first impress'ons of our noble order cannot fail to be great affected by the ability or otherwise with which the officiating brethren render the sublime ritual of the Craft, and next to the W.M. success or failure will more largely depend upon the efficiency or non-efficiency of the deacon than of any other officer in the Lodge. The candidate is absolutely in his hands, and whilst the Lodge relies upon his conducting him in proper'form, and correctly prompting and instructing him, the candidate equally has the right to expect that the tuition he is receiving is good and sound masonry. We have been present at initiations where, owing to a little forethought and care the work has flowed evenly, smoothly, and with perfect harmony, all the officers thoroughly educated in their work, and each performing the duty required of him rightly and at the right time. Again, we have been present when these qualifications were wanting. In the one case the neophyte feels that he is in the hands of master-masons competent and ready to instruct him in their Craft, and he is consequently enabled, nay invited, thereby to surrender himself to the spirit of the rite, and to submit himself freely and trustfully to the ceremony which is being performed. In the other case, he is like a blind man led by the blind, embarrassing and embarrassed. As stated above, we have observed that the successful working of the Lodge depends to a far greater extent on the capabilities of the deacons than is generally realised, and we trust that brethren whose masters or whose Lodges have entrusted them with such important functions will not allow a little time and study to stand between them and success. No detail should be considered too trivial to be worth attending to. Remember— * Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle.’ CREMATION. We stated some weeks ago that the Masonic bodies in Naples had met together to confer re the desirability of supporting cremation as much as possible ; and we now learn that the result of their conference has been the building of a large crematory furnace just outside the city boundary. Electricity now performs the work of destruction instead of gas, and the system is spoken of very favorably. MASONIC EMBLEMS. Another curious relic in the shape of a glass bowl has just been unearthed near the * Foro Traiano ’in Rome. On one side can be seen the ‘ square ’ over which is a * blazing sun ’an 1 the letters J.N. Underneath the square are two pillars on a Mosaic pavement. The bowl is in a splendid state of preservation, and was evidently used in connection with some ceremony closely allied to Masonry. Was it perhaps a loving cup from which our ancient brethren drank success to their Craft ’