MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 777, 21 January 1887, Page 6

MASONIC.

Saving re-opened the Masonic, column in the Mail, under the supervision of a Master in the Craft, we shall he 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, Neve Zealand Mail. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. J.M. —Received with thanks, M.P. (Wanganui.)—Yes ; the Mark Degree uses a mystic alphabet. S.C. —Bro. Robert Burns, the immortal bard, was admitted into the R.A. Degree gratis, on aocount of his poetical genius. Craft.— You will find the required information in the September, 1886, number. Feilding. —Many thanks. We strive to do our best under the circumstances. D.R.—Yes, the Shanklin Masonic Exhibition was a great success. We don’t, however, see how a similar thing could be held here, as we have nothing to exhibit. Fellow Craft.— Yes, there was some talk about it. Probably the few books and ancient newspapers at present iu one of the anterooms constitute the library. There is a great deal in a name. FAVORS RECEIVED. London Freemason, Voice of Masonry, Masonic Chronicle, Proceedings of. the Wellington District Grand Lodge, E.C. NEW ZEALAND PACIFIC LODGE. The regular monthly meeting of this Lodge took place on Monday, 10th inst. There was a good attendance of members and visitors, and three brethren were passed to the Second Degree. Bro. Young, the W.M., performed his share of the work in a very efficient manner; and the lecture and charge in this degree were given by the S.W, and J.W. respectively. The balance-sheet and financial report were read and adopted, and we must congratulate the oldest Lodge, in New Zealand on its increasing popularity and prosperity.

WATERLOO ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER. A convocation of this Chapter was held on Monday, 10th inst., to receive an official visit from the M.E. Grand Superintendent of R.A. Masonry in N.Z. Companion Court. A good number of Companions were present, and the distinguished visitor, who was accompanied by Companion Neill, Scribe E in the Provincial Grand Chapter, was received in due form. E. Companion Eliott’s propositions ‘ That the Standing Committee revise the by-laws,’ and ‘ that the sum of £5 be voted to the Wellington Hospital fund,’ were seconded and carried, M.E.Z. Williams addressed the Companions present in a few well chosen remarks, and expressed the very great pleasure he felt in welcoming the Grand Superintendent. M.E. Comp. Court returned thanks for the kind manner in which hia name had been

mentioned, and stated that his visit, besides being one of inspection, was also in order to appoint a deputy in the North Island. He therefore asked the members of the Chapter to nominate a Companion for the honorable position of H in the Provincial Grand Chapter. M.E. Companion Powles, P.Z. was unanimously selected to fill the post, but as he was unavoidably absent a special meeting of the Chapter was held on Thursday, 13th inst., at which he was duly installed by M.E. Companion Court. ,We tender M.E. Companion Powles our best wishes.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE, E.C. The regular quarterly communication was held on Thursday, 13th inst. Bro. C. J. Toxward, D.G.M., presided, and there was a fair number of brethren present. The usual amount of business was transacted, and the balance-sheet of the D.G. Lodge was read and approved. Bro. Robertson, D.G. Organist, moved ‘ That an address be presented to Her Gracious Maj-sty the Queen on the occasion of the Jubilee, such address to be signed by the D.G. Master.and his officers, also by the W.M., S.W., and J. W. of every Lodge under the E.C. in the Wellington District.’ The motion was carried, and an influential committee was appointed to further the matter. Hearty good wishes were tendered by the D.G. Master, Auckland E.C., and by Bro. Robertson on behalf of the Grand Orient of Italy. WATERLOO LODGE. The regular monthly meeting took place on Tuesday, 11th inst. The muster of brethren was a good one, as is usual with this popular Lodge, and Bro. Harton, the R.W.M., occupied the chair of King Solomon for the first time since he was installed. Bro. M’Morran was raised to the sublime degree of a M.M., the 1.P.M., Bro. Greg ably assisting the R.W.M. in carrying out the duties. After transacting some further business the Lodge adjourned for refreshments at 10.30 p.m. GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND. Through the courtesy of P.M., Bro. Eliott, P.G. Assistant Secretary to the Provincial Grand Lodge, S.C., North Island of New Zealand, we have had the opportunity of perusing a resume of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Scotland at its August, 1886, meeting. We are pleased to notice that Scottish Masonry is prospering, and that new Lodges under its banners are being opened throughout the British Empire. There are now 737 Lodges on the roll, and the finances of the Grand Lodge of Scotland never were in a more flourishing condition. We are also glad to see that those in distress are never forgotten, £IOO having been forwarded towards the assistance of brethren in Charleston, who have suffered by the recent earthquake in that city.

INDIA. The inauguration of a new ‘ Throne ’ was the leading feature of the proceedings at the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of All Scottish Freemasonry in India, held on the 24th July last. The M.W. the Grand Master, Bro. Captain Henry Morland, presided, and there was a large attendance. . . . The following is a description of the Throne above referred to :—The throne consists of the chair and pedestal, which are constructed of blackwood picked out and enriched with gold. The five orders of architecture are worked into the chair, namely, the Tuscan, the Doric, the lonic, the Corinthian, and the Composite. The legs are of the Tuscan order. The lower rail of the entablature at the back of the chair is of the Doric, and is supported by Doric columns. The arms of the chair are of the lonic order, on each of which facing to the front i 3 a lion couehant in gold. At the summit is the entablature of the Corinthian order, which is supported on each side by two Corinthian and two Composite columns. The pediment, the tympanum of which is filled in by the Masonic emblems of the Square, Compasses, Segment of Circle, the Grand Master’s Star, and open scrollwork, and foliated work, in gold, forms a very handsome crowning feature to the structure. Between the two Corinthian columns at the back, spokenof above as supporting the entablature, are the arms of the Grand Lodge of All Scottish Freemasonry in India, and the arms of Scotland impaled with those of Grand Lodge, namely Perpale. On a field or bordered fleury, counter-fleury, gules, a lion rampant of the second, and azure on a chevron or a pair of compasses extended of the first between three towers of the second, with the motto ‘lndos ad Extremos Lux.’ The seat is of crimson velvet. The whole of the wood-work, flutings, capitals, bases, &c., are picked out and fine lined with gold. The pedestal or table consists of the entablature of the Corinthian order, and is supported by Corinthian and Composite columns. The arms of the Grand Lodge of All Scottish Freemasonry in India are between these columns emblazoned as in the throne. The throne stands on a ruby colored velvet pile carpet on cubic bases panelled, and bearing on the panels right and left two Hebrew words bordered with gold. On the pedestal and on either side right and left are two lions couehant in gold signifying 4 Strength ’ and ' Wisdom.’ Between the two bases is a crimson velvet cushion bound and enriched with gold cords and buttons.

ITEMS IN MASONIC HISTORY. The first Masonic Lodge in Saxony appeared at Dresden, in 1738; within two years thereafter two other hacl been established in Leipzig and Altenburg. The Grand Body was formed in 1812. In the year 1822 the emperor of Russia published a ukase which interdicted the meetings of Freemasons within the empire. The king of Portugal interdicted Freemasonry iu his kingdom about the year 1824. The Prince of Wales, as Grand Master of the British Freemasons, has withdrawn the patent of appointment from the representative of the Grand Lodge of England, at the Grand Lodge of Illinois, the latter having severed fraternal relations with the English Lodges of Montreal.