MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 769, 26 November 1886, Page 6

MASONIC.

Having re-opened the Masonic column in the Mail, under the supervision of a Master in the Graft, we shall be glad to receive from Secretaries of Lodges, and brethren generally, short reports of Lodge meetings and Masonic events of all hinds 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 CORRESPONDENTSN.G. —The form of a Lodge is an oblong

square. Masterton.—lf you turn up page 65 in the E.C. Ritual you will find the Charge you inquire about.

M.M. —There are several Masonic papers in Canada, one of the principal being ‘ The Canadian Craftsman.’

Mark.—Yes ; the ‘ Zealandia Marine Mark Lodge ’ meets at the Masonic Hall, Port Chalmers, on the last Tuesday in each month.

Apprentice.—We are not permitted to give the information you require. Foxton. —The fee is usually £6 6s, but some Lodges change less. Affiliation is only £2 2s.

Gavil.—Yes ; there is a Masonic Benevolent I Fund. The Secretary to the Benevolent Board is Bro. Clothier, who will inform you. FAVORS RECEIVED. London Freemason, Masonic Chronicle, Sydney Freemason, Voice of Masonry, Rivista della Massoneria Italiana, Cadena de Union, La Acacia, Masonic World, Kneph, and Luce e Concordia. NEW ZEALAND PACIFIC LODGE. The regular monthly meeting of this Lodge took place on Monday, 15th inst., and there was a very large attendance <3f members and visitors, including the R.W.M. of the Waterloo Lodge, and the W.M.’s of the Wellington and Leinster Lodges. Bro. J. A. Heginbotham was raised to the sublime degree of a M.M., the charge in this degree being ably rendered by the S.W., Bro. Lyon. Brn. Young was elected W.M. for the ensuing twelve months, and Bro. Heginbotham was also chosen to fill the Treasurer’s place for the second time. Bros. H. M. Lyon, P.M., Bros. Robertson and Robinson were elected auditors, and after transacting soma further business, the Lodge was closed in accordance with ancient custom at 10 p.m. LEINSTER LODGE. An emergency meeting of this Lodge was held on Tuesday, 16th instant, and there was a good muster. Three brethren were raised to the Third Degree, Bro. Ellison, the W.M., officiating in his usual efficient manner, ably assisted by the I.P.M. Bro. Patterson. WELLINGTON LODGE. This Lodge met on Friday, 19th instant, the attendance, however, being below the average. As there was no Ritual work to be performed, Bro. Robertson, the S.W., at the request of the W.M., repeated the lecture on ‘ Music,’ which was given in the Instruction Lodge last week. The discourse was divided into three parts, viz., 1. ‘ The effects attributed by the ancients to music 2. ‘ A definition of melody and harmony,’ and, 3. * Music employed by the ancients in their mysteries.’ The subject was treated in a very interesting manner, and at the close of the lecture a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Bro. Robertson, on the motion of P.M. Bro. Gibbes, seconded by the W.M:, Bro. Drury. Hearty good wishes having been tendered by the visiting brethren present, the Lodge was closed in love, peace, and harmony at 10 p.m. MASONIC READING. ‘ There are very manv valuable Masonic newspapers published all over the world. There is much printed and sent broadcast regarding Masonry, in book form. There are a number .of histories of the fraternity. There are voluminous proceedings of Masonic Grand Bodies. The world is full of hooks on the subject of Masonry, yet there is very little known of the true essence of the Craft.teachings. The fact is, there is very little Masonic literature that is read. A Mason thinks -because he is a Mason he must have some history of the Order in his library, just as he thinks he must have some diploma or Masonic chart framed or hung over the mantle in the front parlor. The book adorns the shelf as the picture adorns the wall, a matter of ornament merely, not to be consulted for information. And then some Masonic widow or orphan comes around with * Adison’s Knights Templar,’ ‘ Mackey’s Cyclopaedia,’ or some other good work, and out of sympathy and may be, a real desire to help a worthy sister, or what is more likely, just to get rid of the agent, he buys the book, never opens it, except to read the title page, puts it away and forgets it.

* There are various reasons for all this. The first and greatest reason perhaps is the brother does not feel that deep interest in the Masonic fraternity that he thought he did. For, after all, the number of really interested Masons in the vast army of five hundred and ninety-six thousand that the United States contains, to say nothing of the rest of the world, is very small. They are ignorant of what Masonry has been, what it is to-day, in organisation, teaching and benefit. Many, perhaps the vast majority join Masonry out of mere curiosity, and when that curiosity is gratified by the Degrees they take, they have all they want of Masonry, never attend lodge meetings, never read a Masonic book, and never take a

Masonic journal. Others join because it has-’ pleasant social advantages, and they enjoythe Lodge, take delight in helping to c ° nf ® r the Third Degree, without realizing what thegreat, underlying, fundamental principle of the drama is. They never read, only to be posted about the ritual of the Degrees, sothat the few who remain, whose interest is sufficient to lead them to search the records and read the current literature, must support the publications themselves. «The complaint comes from all over the world that Masons do not read, that they do not support the publications of the OrderFrom India, from New Zealand, from Canada, from our own country, everywherethe same cry goes up. Th,s : of , ought not to he. Every Mason should be an intelligent Mason, and if he fails to avail himself of the many opportunities for gaming knowledge, he is culpably negligent. We reproduce the above from the New York Dispatch, and cordially endorse every word penned by the editor of our American contemporary. It is a crying shame that, asociety so widely spread and so powerful asFreemasonry should show such utter difference to literature. As with all pub.ications, there are some Masonic paperswhich are, comparatively speaking, of very little merit; but, on the other hand, there* are a vast number of Masonic periodicals--which -compare most favorably with any others printed, and yet they languish for want of support. We have often heard brethren say, ‘ What is the use of taking such a paper, there is nothing in it. They don’t, however, take the trouble of whether there is another publication ’worthy of encouragement ; the mere fact, of that particular paper not being up to their expectations condemns, in their opinion, all Masonic literature. Such a state of things ir> anything but creditable to men who band together for the good of humanity in general, and Freemasonry in particular, and yet who take so little interest in what is going on Uk their own society. W e would therefore earnestly urge every intelligent member of the Craft in this Colony to assist in the spread of Masonic knowledge, as the fraternity will greatly benefit in proportion as its members become better acquainted with itß past and present history. MASONIC GLEANINGS. Bro. D. Murray Lyon, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, is engaged in writing the ' History of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.’ A work coming from so able a pen cannot fail to be of very great interest. Twenty years ago there were but 160 Lodges in Pennsylvania, having 20,256 members, while now there are 376 Lodges with 37,175 members, the number of Lodges and of Freemasons having almost doubled in 20 years. ; . According to i La Chaine d’ Union, th& Grand Orient of France has under its obedience 313 Lodges, 35 Chapters, lo Conn*cils, in all 361, being a gain of nine during the year. • The Masonic ball lately held in Sydney has been the means of contributing the sum of L 135 to the Widow and Orphans’ Fund, while the recent Masonic Ball held in our Boulcott-street Hall, resulted in a deficit of LI 2. Success can only attend where good management prevails. A movement is on foot fo* the purpose of erecting a memorial in Westminster Abbey, to the late Bro. Sir Walter Scott, Bart. The memorial will take the form of a medallion, portrait, and it has been ascertained that the cost will be L 258 10s, of which L 157 10s will be for the portrait itself, and the rest for the fee 3 and expenses to the Abbey authorities. The Grand Lodge of Switzerland held its annual meeting in September Jast. There were 600 Masons present, and before the brethren adjourned to the banquet hall, an appeal was made on behalf of the various Swiss Masonic Charities, which resulted in over 5000 francs being collected. FREEMASONRY. The following beautiful effusion is fronts the pen of Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, an earnest Mason, and the classical author of Pompeii and Zanoni : The world may rail at Masonry, And scoff the square and line ; We’ll follow with complacency The Master’s great design. And though our sisters frown, and though We’re by our mothers chided, Could they our works and heart but know, We would not be derided ! And though the kings of .earth unite Our temple to assail, While armed with truth, and love, and light, O’er them we shall prevail. A cloud may veil the face of day,

But nature smiles at one That should adventure, bold essay ! To quench the glorious sun ! A king can make a gartered knight, And breathe away another ; But he, with all his skill and might, Can never make a brother. This power alone, thou Mystic Art, Freemasonry is thine ! The power to tame the savage heart With brother love divine.