MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 852, 29 June 1888, Page 7

MASONIC.

Hawing re-opened the Masonic, column in the Mail, under the supervision of a Master in the Graft, we shall he glad to receive from Secretaries of Lodges, and brethren generally, short reports of Lodge meet mgs and Masonic events of all kinds likely to be of interest fg nembers of the craft. All correspondence for this column to he addressed to the Masonic Editor, New Zealand Mail.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. P, P. L- —Your particulars are very interesting, aud we are much obliged to yon. Lodge (Gisborne). —I b would certainly look more appropriate. G. H. T. (Invercargill).’—Bro. Neill, Rattray street, Dunedin, will give you the desired information. Visitor. —Unfortunately we have nothing of the sort here, but if you will send your address, we will gladly do what we can for you. FAVORS RECEIVED. Victorian Freemason, Die Bauhutte (Leip»ic), The Keystone, Maeonie World, The Liberal Freemason, and Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey.

LODGE OF SORROW. A Lodge of Sorrow, in memory of Bro His Imperial Majesty Frederick 111, Emperor of Germany, aud Deputy Protector of the Grand Lodges of Prussia, was held by the Wellington Lodge, No 1521 E.C., on Friday, 22nd instant, at the request of German Brethren in the Lodge who had expressed a wish that some mark of respect should be shown to the memory of their late Emperor. The Masonic Hall was appropriately draped in black for the ceremony. All the Brethren present wore white gloves and black neckties, besides crape rosettes on their aprons. S - Above the W. M’s. chair was a portrait of the late Emperor, which was heavily craped and surrounded by a wreath of cypress, and on either side were the British Royal Standard and the German Imperial Flag. In the West ,were the German arms, also draped in black, while in the South a life-size portrait of the Emperor William 1., also surrounded by cypress, was bung over the J.W.’s chair. Masonic emblems in black hung from the festoons on the walls, and the whole room presented a very solemn ap. pearance. In the centre of the hall a catafalque was erected, three feet high, and on this the coffin was laid, covered wrth a rich velvet pall, on which wore placed Masonic regalia, and emblems worked in white flowers. The catafalque was surmouuted by'the Imperial Crown, and at each corner a German brother stood holding the palm of peace over the coffin.

After the Lodge was opened and visiting Lodges and Brethren had been introduced, the W. M., Bro George Robertson, said, «Brethren, we have met together in this solemn manner to-night to honor the memory of one of thd greatest men of this century, who has just passed away, leaving behind him the record of a valuable and wellspent life. I allude to our illustrious Bro Frederick, Emperor of Germany, Deputy Protector of the Grand Lodges of Prussia, aud who, like his father, was a staunch supporter of Freemasonry and its principles. The last fow months of his' life have been passed in greaj; suffering, borne, however, with fche patience and resignation of a brave and good man, and while we all should have liked to see bin* reign for many years over a happy and prosperous people, yet in view of his sufferings we recoguise how merciful the G.A.O.T.U. ha 3 been in removing him from this world of pain. We are therefore assembled to mmgle our sorrow and show our sympathy with our German brethren and with the German nation in their hour of sorrow. ” The ceremony was then proceeded with, the Memorial Oration being delivered in a masterly manner by Bro. Edward Wakefield, who tyaced the history of the Graft in Germany, the persecutions it had been subjected to from its earliest date, and its gradual rise to the important place it now occupies in the Fatherland. He also spoke of the interest which the late Emperor and his father had evinced in Masonry before and especially after they had joined tho Fraternity, and referred to the incalculable good both, had done in furthering the oharitable aims and objects cf the craft, und their influ. enee in raising it to the enjiuence it has now attained. He then traced the Emperor Frederick’s life, and spoke of his mony qualities as a soldier and a statesman, and in Appropriate terms referred to his sad illness aud untimely end. Before closing one of the best addresses ever given in a Lodge in New Zealand , Bro. Wakefield expressed his sorrow for the German Craft and nation in thoir severe loss, stating however that tbe memory of such a brave and worthy man was a heritage of which they should justly be proud. During the ceremony the Masonic orchestra, under Bro. Mosoh, performed Beethoven’s Funeral March on the death of a Hero and another piece specially written for the occasion by Bro. C. S. Thomas, both selections being capitally rendered. All the W.M’s of City Lodges, and of the Ulster Lodge, Pitone, were present with the officers and members of their respective Lodges, and there must have been fully one bnpdrcd brethren present. Before thp proceedings closed Bro Kphn on behalf of himself and Ppher GArzqdn members of the Craft thanked the W.M. L fop phe mark of respect he had shown to the memory of the late Emperor in calling the Lodge of Sorrow, and be also expressed thanks to the meeting for the sympathy shown to the German nation'by their large attendance. As the hope yeas expressed that some souvenir gf the solemn ceremony should be kept, it has been decided to publish Bro. Wakefield’s oration at ap early date,

EARNESTNESS. Every true and worthy member of our time-honoured Fraternity must be continually stirring himself up to greater earnestness in every good work, to a more perfect discharge of every duty. Who does not feel that, without detriment to himsejf and his family, ho could do more for his brethren than h/s has eye? done yet. lit may be in tfeo way of giving, to relieve their wants, and to help thorn i n fcho time of distress; it may be in showing "sypppq,tqy . wfeioh often cheers the fainting .heart and eneowr»g<es PhP man ready to succumb to despondency, po .(fresh, »nd .hopeful and' successful exertion ; it may he in any one of a thousand various ways, for there is no end to ,the variety of ways in which’ brotherly love may be displayed. But let us see that it dwells in pur hearts, and that wo cherish it, and are governed by it, giving it free course to go forth to all our brethren, and in all pur words and actions. And well may we rejoice that we are members of an Order whose Jpws enjoin it so strongly, whose teachings do so much to cherish and promote it. apd whose arrange, menta and working afford so much opportunity for its practice. NOTE IT. Men ■ not belonging to the organisation must got an unfavorable idea pf the Masonic

Fraternity when they hear one member abusing another, reflecting upon his character, motives, etc., and seemingly disposed to represent his brother in the worst possible light. If Masons have prejudices strong dnd bitter against some who are associated with them at the lodge ; if they think they have sufficient cause to criticise adversely these brethren that they do not much like, they ought still to think that it is better not to go about manifesting publicly their ill-feeling and pouring out their. vials of wrath upon the offending Craftsman. Frequently there is a spice of malice which exaggerates minor faults and defects into grave offences ; sometimes’ there is a disposition to slander and abuse, than which nothing can be more unworthy the character of a true Mason.

RESOLUTION. Good-by to dreams, for the time has come That comes to every heart, When I hear the roll of life’s battle-drum, And must bravely act my part. Like wavering mists the shadows roll From the future dim and gray, And I welcome meet, with dauntless soul, The limitless, glad to-day. There is never a good so vast so grand, That I may not make it mine. God aids the blow of the N honest hand, And wp strive with a strength divine. What man has done, that I can do, If I only dare begin ; There are heroes now as when earth was new, And as royal crowns to win. Though jagged aud fierce the peaks that ris Against fche frowning sky, I cap measure their height with unfalterin eyes, I shall scale them by-and-bye. And the gulfs that ya vu in my onward course, Digged deep for unwary feet, When once i have crossed, with restless force Will bar one from retreat. Have I fallen ? E.ch tingling pulse aver 3 It shall only the prelude b i To the triumph-song in my soul that stirs The herald of victory. Ror the end is sure if the \yill be strong, Temptations flee away, And the serried hosts of sin and wrong ' Strike tents in wild dismay.