MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 848, 1 June 1888, Page 10

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, and brethren generally, short reports of Ledge 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 CORRESPONDENTS. St. John— Yes. Iu 1712 (vide Yol 1. of the Masonic Review). Inquirer —We will-find out what you desire next week. Hokitika —It is not our place to give an opinion on the matter. Craft— The book isealled ‘ Speculative Freemasonry ’ and is published by John Hogg, 13, Paternoster Row, London. FAVORS RECEIVED. The Kueph, St. John’s Card from Lodge Quatuov Coronati, (Loudon) ’Voice of Masonry (Chicago), Rivista della Massoneria Itnliana (Rome), Die Banhiitte (Lipsic), El Taller (Madrid) and London Freemason. PRACTICAL MASONRY. We find in a French Masonic peiiodical an account of a most eccontric exhibition of sincere and practical Masonic charity. It would appear that, in 1536, the village of Sainte Marguerite in Normandy, containing some 300 inhabitants, was found, owing to the poverty of the place, to be without a school or a schoolmaster. This fact coming to the ear of Bro. JBion, who had for thirty years been master of a boarding school at Hermanville, more than half a league distant from the village, he at once turned over his establishment to his son and proceeded to tender hia services to thecommunalauthorities to teach the children gratuitously. By cooperation of the Scottish Olive Branch of Harve, of which the veteran pedagogue was a member, a school house was secured and properly furnished, in which, for years, the zealous instructor, making daily a league’s journey, trained with great care a class of 40 poor children. The reputation of Bro. Bion’s free school became widespread and it was visited by numbers of the Fraternity, who cheerfully contributed in alleviation of the manifold wants of the pupils aud in making provision lor their future well being. His son, likewise a Mason of the same lodge, simultaneously educated 60 scholars gratuitously at Normanville, many of whom turned out to be ornaments to their rural home. Fifty years ago education iu France w&3 in the hands of the clergy and a source of revenue to parish churches.

WHO IS OUR BROTHER. If your enemy hunger and thirst, give him food to eat and water to drink. Such is the divine command. Then how much more are we under obligation to give food and drink to a brother in need ? The obligation of a Mason is not circumscribed by the walls of his lodge or the boundary of his jurisdiction, and he can never afford to hedge the way of charity or to practically bar out one who has been nudderdy taken by a calamity, far away from home, and is unable to stand a rigorous examination. There is such a thing.as entertaining angels unawares, and we can never afford to take a step or exact a rule that leaves fraternity out in the cold. The fact is, every one in need is a brother, and the only test is, is he really in need and want? Any attempt to avoid this by direction or indirection, is not only contrary to the principles of brotherhood which is the central idea of the order, but does violence to our consciences.

" AFRICAN MASONRY. Soon after the French conquest of Algeria gome hardy explorers ventured upon researches into the African interior, among them a very persistent traveller,named Mollein, who reported that in the district of Fouta Toro, in the region of Senegambia, not far from the Desert of Sahara, he had discovered what he regarded to be a species of Freemasonry existing among a tribe he ca.ls the Foullahs. According to his account the people were of reddish black skin, very tall and athletic, very moral and industrious, and entirely insensible to the seductions of Europeans. Prior to initiation into their society the postulant was incarcerated in a small hut seeing no one but the slave bringing him the nece3sifcies of life, and therein confined fpr eight’ days. At the termination of this term of solitary probation he was visited by a band of masked m n, who put his courage to the test in-every imaginable'manner. Should the ordeal be successfully passed, the candidate was admitted into the society and entrusted with a secret, which they assured the traveller had never been revealed, as the penalty for treason would be certain death. The initiated were known in the villages, where they dwell, as the Almoussen and were consulted as possessors of knowledge unattainable elsewhere. Victor Hugo took deep interest in this curious race, which like the Mandans in the Far West, have entirely disappeared with their mysterious practices.

TPIE MASOK’S HOLY HOUSE, We have a holy house to build, A temple splendid and divine, To be with glorious memories filled ; ' Of rights and truths to be the shr>ne. How shall we build it strong and fair, This bolyhouse of praise and prayer, Firm set and solid, grandly great ? How shall we all its rooms prepare For use, for ornament, for state.

Our God hath given the wood and stone, And we must fashion them aright, Like those who toiled on Lebanon, Making the labor their delight ; This house., this palace, this God’s home. This temple with a holy dome, Must be in all proportions fit, That heavenly messengers may come To dwell with those who meet.

Build squarely up the stately walls, The two symbolic columns raise, And let the lofty courts and halls, With all their glories blaze, There in the Kadosh-Kadoshim, Between the broad-winged cherubim Where the Shekinah once abode, The heart shall raise its daily hymn, Of gratitude and love for God.