MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 867, 12 October 1888, Page 8

MASONIC.

Having 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 ;oen ts of all kinds likely to be of interest to nembers of the craft. All correspondence for this column to be addressed' to the Masonic Editor, New Zealand Mail. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Z.—Yea ; you are quite in order. U.V. (Westport)—We shalloertaxnly be glad to hear from you. . Mason (Nelson) —The new Dodge is to be called ‘ Killarney,’ and the ceremony will take place some time this month. A. IST. (Masterton) — The degree is not given • in English R. A. Chapters. .. FAVOURS RECEIVED. London Freemason, Die Banhiitte(Leipsic), The Kneph (London), Boletin Masonico (Mexico), and Proceedings of the Grand Orient of Brazil, / ( WATERLOO R.A. CHAPTER, emergency meeting of this Chapter took place on Monday, Ist inst. Owing to the short notice there wa3 a small attendance of Companions. The business consisted in conferring the Excellent Master’s Degree on a candidate who was, later on in the evening, exalted to the R.A. degree. The ritua.l work was undertaken by M.E. Comp. Greig, P.Z., who performed the task in his usual able and impressive manner. LEINSTER LODGE. The regular monthly meeting of the Leinster Lodge was held on Wednesday, 3rd inst., and there was a good attendance of members and visitors. Some Lodge business v/as satisfactorily transacted, and as there was no Ritual work to do the meeting adjourned at S3O pm. - NEW ZEALAND PACIFIC LODGE. An emergency meeting of the oldest Lodge in New Zealand was held at the Freemasons’ Hall cn Thursday, 4th inst., to confer the Second Degree on two candidates. Bto. P. M. H. M. Lyon occupied the chair, owing to the unavoidable absence of the W. M., and the ceremony was performed in a masterly manner, great assistance being rendered by the S.W., Bro. J. J. M. HamiltOD. '■ ' ' ■ ' , ’ MASONIC HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND. Some of our readers may have noticed that the New Zealand Masonic Journal, published under the direction of Bro.. D. Harris Hastings, in Dunedin, intends to compile a Masonic history of New Zealand. This, when complete, will be ipoat interesting to Craftsmen, and v/e sincerely trust that the editor of the Journal will receive fraternal assistance in carrying out his work. It may be mentioned that at the last regular meeting of the New Zealand Pacific Lodge Bro. George Robertson requested permission to go through the minute books in order to collect information about 517 E.C., for the N.Z, Masonic Journal. It is needless to add that the Lodge granted the permission asked for, and Bro. P.M. Thomas McKenzie also kindly offered to give Bro. Robertson some particulars about the foundation of the Lodge in 1842. SOUND ADVrCE. The regulations of Freemasonry, require that no brother shall have a higher degree conferred upon him until he has passed an examination in open lodge in the lower. The law does not lay down any particular mode of examination, nor does it absolutely specify that, as in Education Board examinations, a certain percentage of marks must be obtained. It therefore practically lies in the discretion of the Master to pronounce the result of the examination satisfactory or otherwise. We cannot, however, but consider that Masters are generally altogether too lenient in this matter, and that the real intention of the constitution is in a multitude of oases ignored. Surely the.examination is meant to show the members of the lodge that tho candidate has some little knowledge of the teachings of the degrees he has taken, and that in order to do so it is absolutely necessary that whilst the test is being made he shall receive no assistance from any other brethren. We frequently see Masters conferring degrees on brethren whose examination has merely proved their ignorance

of those already received. Masters should forcibly impress on the proposer ana seconder of a candidate that it is their duty to see that/he is properly instructed, and if the duty is neglected the advancement of a candidate to a higher degree should be postponed.

MASONRY. Masonry is one great general family, a universality of the order is its distinguished feature and it 3 grandest characteristic. it is a universal brotherhood, and a Mason in good standing and a contributor to the support of the institution has a right to full and complete recognition from all lodges. When a man is made a Mason he has certam dut es ancl certain claims upon him ; he hasi also individual rights, amongst whi ch is permission to visit other lodges and the right to participate in the privileges attaching to membership, and this right is fundamental in the craft, and any objection thereto, unless a just one, is vital to its distinctive principles. MASONIC MARKS. The citv of Nineveh was one of the most ancient cities of the world. It is supposed that it was the first city built after the flood. Its ruins have been examined and investigated in modern times, and it is stated to lie on undoubted fact that the Builders marks found on the stones in the ruins of the ancient city of Nineveh, are identical with the Freemasons’ marks of the present time. It may, therefore, be asserted that the similarity is a strong proof of tho antiquity of Freemasonry.

MISTAKEN IDEAS OF MASONRY. The following incident is related of a widow in the State of Michigan, whose husband was a member of a lodge up the lake shore, who moved away further up and for some years paid no dues in his lodge. He finally became ill and died and was buried by the Masonic Lodge in the town where he died, and the lodge sent the bill for the expenses to the lodge where the deceased brother belonged and they paid it, never having suspended the brother for non-payment of his dues. A short time after this the widow moved back to their former home and applied to the lodge for assistance. A committee waited upon the lady and inquired what she wanted. She informed them that she thought about a 500dols would do her with what she had from J the sale of some property left her by her late husbaud, which amounted to about 4500d015, and she was much surprised when informed that the lodge could not comply with her J request. She said she supposed the lodge would, set her up in business. No lodge will refuse to help the needy, but xt is not a building society or bank. IS IT WORTH WHILE ? Is it worth while that we jostle a Brother, Bearing his load on tho rough road of life ■ , ■ Is it worth while that we jeer at each other In blackness of heart—that we war to the knife? God, pity us all in our pitiful strife. God, pity us all as we jostle each other ; God, pardon ns all for the triumphs we feel . When a fellow goes down ’neath his load on the heather. Pierced to the heart; words are keener than steel, And mightier far for woe or for weal.

Were it not well in this brief little journey On over the isthmus, down into the tide, Wo give him a fish instead of a serpent, Ere holding the hands to be and abide Forever and aye in dust at his side ?

Look at the roses saluting each other ; Look at the herds all at peace on the plain— Man and man only Ecake3 war on his brother, And laughs in his heart at his peril and pain; „ Shamed by the beasts that go down on the plaiu.

Is it worth while that we battle to humble Some poor fellow-soldier down in the dust ? God, pity us all ! Time oft soon will tumble All of us together, like leaves in a gust, Humbled, indeed, down into the dust.