MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 770, 3 December 1886, Page 6

MASONIC.

Having re-opened the Masonic column in . the Mail,, under, the supervision of a Master in ’’ the Craft, we shall be glad to receive from . Secretaries of Lodges , mid brethren generally , ■ short reports of Lodge meetings and Masonic events of ail 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 CORRESPONDENTS. N.Z.C. —We are much obliged for your kind suggestion. i G.L. —The Ttem-plar Degrees are only considered as allied bodies to Craft Masonry. ’ A.G.C.N.. —The French Ritual is quite different from ours. As you are aware the formula 1.T.N.0.T.G.A.0.T.U. is not adopted by the Grand Orient of France. Alpha..—Yes, read 4 The Revelations of a Square’ by the Rev. G. Oliver, D.D. Craftsman. —The library of the Grand Lodge of New York contains 310 volumes. W..W.X.—Yes, the Rites of Mizraim and Memphis originated many centuries ago in Egypt.. They were introduced into Europe in 1770. FAVORS RECEIVED. Masonic Chronicle, Hebrew Leader, La Acacia (Buenos Ayres), London Freemason, Kevista Masonica del Peru, (Lima), Fran Masoneria para los Profanos, (Madrid), and Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Brazil. NEW ZEALAND PACIFIC LODGE. An emergency meeting of .this Lodge was held on Monday," 22nd, November to initiate Messrs William James Graham ; Mr Herbert Baillie and MrT. Franklyn Daniels. The W.M. Bro. Young performed his work in a very able manner, and a word of praise is also due to the S.W. Bro. Lyon for the perfect manner in which he rendered the Charge in this Degree and the lecture on the Tracing Board. A committee consisting of the W.M., S.W., J.W., and Bros. Mackenzie, P.M. ; Robertson, Hamilton, and Robinson were appointed to discuss the arrange, ments for the approaching installation night, and as there was no further business on the notice paper the Lodge adjourned at 10.15 p.m. ST. ANDREW S LODGE. The regular monthly meeting of this Lodge took place on Thursday 25th ultimo, and there was a large attendance of members and visiting brethren. Bro. W. Stuart was elected as R.W.M. for the ensuing twelve months, and as we cannot obtain further information to-day, we will inform our readers in next week’s issue as to the other brethren who were elected to offices on the same evening. Hearty good wishes were tendered by the visiting brethren, and the Lodged closed at 11 p.m. WATERLOO ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER.?. A special convocation of the Chapter took:-: place on Friday, 26th November, and therewere about fifteen Companions present. Th" balance sheet of the Chapter was read and! adopted, and so was the auditor’s repont. We are glad to see that the Chapter is in # prosperous condition. A PALPABLE ABUSE. The following is from the 4 Masonic Chronicle,’ and is well worth reproducing for the information of the Craft in New-Zfea-land, as there i 3 no doubt that titles not-per taining to Masonry should not be paraded in our Lodgerooms, as they sometimes are.: * Did it ever strike a conscientious Mason of the Blue Degrees, that persistence in designating either grand or subordinate lodge officials with titles not appertaining to the degrees of Masonry, constitutes not only a breach of good taste, but a violation of the unwritten law. Upon crossing: the. Lodge threshold, a brother leaves behind Him all vestiges of his social standing among the profane, or of his professional occupation in the world without, the entire fraternity having been declared by the- ancient constitution of Masonry to exisbupon a level of common equality. In Europe this divesture of worldly titles is scrupulously insisted upon, as for example k no. soldier would be allowed within a lodge- garnished with a military decoration or equipment, and much-, less would his army rank be paraded annexed! to his Masonic, signature. In this demo, cratic country our official documents go forth to the world as endorsed by the ‘ Rev. Bro. this One,’ 4 Hon. Bro. That,’ or * Col. the Bro. Thingumbob* while no newlyfledged sawbones can consider himself to be a. full dignitary without styling himself an M.D. in addition to his Masonic title. Now, we conscientiously object to this dragging of the shop into the Temple, as it is manifestly unfair to allow one set of brethren to advertise their trades while denying a similar privilege to another. If it be net contrary to the spirit of Masonry to allow a parson or a physician to ventilate his profane dignity upon Masonic parchment, vshy should a. sexton or an apothecary be deprived exercise of a self-same vanity ? W. Bro. Jones, M. D., may look better in type, than W. Bro. Smith, parent pill vendor ; still, clandestine advertising of either is equally repugnant to Masonic etiquette. EXPULSION, We notice that in the masonic column which appears in an American contemporary, publicity is giveu to the names of Brethren, who, by their unmasonic actions, or by their non-compliance with the dictates of truth, honor and honesty, have merited expulsion from all the rights and privileges of Masonry. In fact, although we are apt to look upon America a 3 a country where much is tolerated and overlooked, it is pleasing to note that the Masonic authorities are firm, and mete out punishment to those who do not act on the Square,

It i 3 about time that-our.f-Nfew Zealaluld Masonic authorities -bestirred themselves in <■ the same way and acted .promptly in dealing! with Brethren whose, names should! .not pollute the roll ef a Matonic Lodge. Wef are daily hearing of Brethren who have departed from the lines, of rectitude so forcibly inculcated by our Masonic teachings, yet no« > steps are taken by thoserin power to expel them from the Craft.;; their names remain, on . the Lodge books, and appear side ..by side - with those of men just, upright and true; We know of a person, who; was a prominent-: member of a Lodge in this -.district, who falsified his employer’s- .-.books,-; embezzled large amounts, and is now serving.his time■« in one of the gaols of the Colony for his. misdeeds, yet no action hasffieen taken tor cancel his certificate—it'is to all Intentsr.and ? purposes still in force-*-an&,\vhen-the felon has served his time . we. may. yet hear-of his appearing again on the tessilated pavements. If our Masonic laws, are- defective, they.should be remedied at- onoe k so as to deal effectively with -similar cases. Expulsion should be followed by publicity, to prevent' an expelled Mason from pqlming himself off: : ‘ upon the Brethren -as being tone of the fraternity, 4 who prize-, honor and 'virtue above the external.-advantages of rank and? fortune. 5

Until this is done, and. the Masonic ranks, are cleared of-., all' s who - are unworthy,, there will be-much ■ discontent; - genuine Masons will: Dot and ’cannot -possibly take any interest - in our proceedings, the outside world, wilt scoff :at our.-preten-sions to be examples of probity, and 'honor, and Masonry.-in New Zealand : will Soever? attain that high eminence, whioh "we are - taught to expect. : GLOVES.' A regulation was enacted’by the Mel-’, rose fraternity in' 1675", - requiring an ap-, - prentice at hisi 4 entrie, 5 ' and also when 4 mad frie Masson 5 to .pay a certain number? of 4 pund Scots*’.! and sufficient-gloves. . The gloves were valued at five shilling-a pair. A', similar usage prevailed in., the L'qdge of * Kelso, as can be-seen by the.-minutes for, St. John's Day, 17,Q1.! : Three dozen pairs of glclvse3- was.-bought* and distributed- when they commenced the buildings at,- the Chartreuse of • Dijqn.. Twenty-two pairs of gloves- were given to the masons. and stone-cutters who .were en«. gaged to work-:at the City of Amiens. . CHARITY WEBILPLACED-! The Grand Lodge of California recently appropriated the sum., of 1200-dols.. to -be' paid in monthly instalments of 100 dols., toone of its Past Grand Masters, who, in his old: age, has been overtaken^by..misfortune.. ONLY,' WAITING; The following beautsiaJl poem was written; by Bft>; Morris, a veteran at the. request of several members of. the-t Craft in his district: Waiting while thoughtless youth . goes, clamoring by :r_The gay and heedless throng,, With many a jesfcmnd song, Rehearsing life’s romance,in comedy*, As I, when I was young. Waiting —while.,o’-ar.-me bend the*, pictured! f - groups, . ■ ! Those tenants of. the tomb,. Who share my lonely room, And point me,to,the end of earthly hopes; »Neath yonder cedar’s gleam. Waiting while blindness,, deafness,, lamealas,

That life's long promised-rest-Should be..so little blest*, That threescore years and ten -like phonfcoexa

pass i

And leave.®*? other,-guest!’. Waiting —but hush, my soul; this, ftwward stri£&; ; Remember Him whoso-word; Eternal hopes afford, Hopes whose fruition .^.immortal’llffe My Saviour and my God ! They also serve who-cnll/ystand'amdi want! Though I would fain,depart; In patience keep my heart, To tarry, Lord, till-Thou,shaltopsaihe gate,. And-welcome me* though, l&te ! ; And. you, dear,craftsmen k whjleTMnger hero*, Be-mindful; ofryour-friend*. And- sometimes hither bend l , To. find an ,open, door-,- a- modest cheer, And (welcome* to.the- endl.