MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 878, 28 December 1888, Page 12

MASONIC.

Having re-opened the Masonic column in he 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 rvents of all kinds likely to he of interest to nembers of the craft. All correspondence for this column to he addressed to the Masonic Editor, New Zealand Mail. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Ashlar —There is nothing against it in the Constitutions. M. J. Yes, yon are quite entitled to wear it. C. T. (Dunedin)— Many thanks for your kind remembrance. Tracing Board, (Gisborne) —The difference is in the design only., FAVOURS RECEIVED. Victorian Freemason, Australasian Keystone, The Kneph, London Freemason, Rivista della Massoneria Italiana, Chaine d’Union and El Taller. v NEW ZEALAND PACIFIC LODGE. The annual installation of W.M. and investiture of officers of the New Zealand Pacific Lodge, No. 517 E. G., took place at the Freemasons’Hall, on Monday, 17th ult. There was a very good attendance of mem* bera and the visiting brethren mustered in full force, as is usual when an installation takes place. The Wellington District Grand Lodge, E.C.; the Provincial Grand Lodge, North Island of N. Z., S.C.; and the Pro* vincial Grand Lodge LG., were all represented, and the W.M.’s of the Waterloo, Wellington, St. Andrew’s, Ulster and Aorangi Lodges were also present, accompanied by the officers aDd members of their respective Lodges. Bro W. D. Lyon, the I. acted as Jinstalling Master, and performed his task in a most ‘efficient manner, and Bros. H. M. Lyon and S. Bro wn, P.M.’s, performed the duties of Directors of Ceremonies. The following members were invested as officers for the ensiling term, viz ; W.M., Bro. J. J. M. Hamilton ; S.W., Bro. H. J. Freeman ; J.W., Bro. E. E. Robbins; Treasurer, Bro. W. D. Lvon, 1.P.M.; Secretary, Bro. W. Heginbotham ; Chaplain, Bro. Thomas McKenzie, P.M.; Organist, Bro. H. B. Bridge; S.D., Bro. J. A. Heginbotham ; J. Bro. H. Baillie; I._G.,- Bro. A. G. E. Dixon ; S.S., Bro. D. Barr; J.S., Bro, J. B. C. McEwen. During the ceremony the Masonic orchestra, under Bro. Mosch, rendered some choice selections, and several of the brethren also contributed some appropriate vocal music. Before closing the proceedings the W. M., on behalf of the Lodge, presented Bro. Lyon with a P. M.’s Jewel suitably inscribed, and the recipient acknowledged the compliment in feeling terms. Hearty good wishes were then offered by the visiting brethren and the Lodge was closed at 11 p.m. ST ANDREW’S LODGE,; The regular monthly meeting ;of this Lodge was held at the Freemasons’ Hall on Wednesday, 19fch ultimo, and the Lodge room was comfortably filled with members of the craft, who had assembled in numbers to honour Bro. J. T. Bovis, who was to be installed as R.W.M. for the second time. Representatives, from the various. District and Provincial Grand Lodges were present, including Bro. G. S. Graham, the R.W. District Grand Master of Auckland. The City Lodges and the Ulster Lodge, Pitone, were also represented by the W. -M.’s, officers, and members. Bro. G. P. Powles, P.M. performed the ceremony of installation in a most efficient manner, and the following brethren were duly installed as officers,-viz.: —D.M., Bro. T. Hollis; S.M-., Bro. T. Nicholson ; S.W., Bro. A. Tark; J.W., Bro. H. G. Mills ; Chaplain, Bro. W. Eades ; Treasurer, Bro. J. L. Bacon ; Secretary, Bro. J. Danks; S. G. France ; J.D., Bro. S. Knapp; S S., Bro. J. Atkinson; J.S., Bro. W. Sellers ; 1.G., Bro. T. Jaffray; Tyler, Bro T. Carr, P.M. ; Bros. Bacon and Nicholson acted as Directors of Ceremonies. The Masonic orchestra was in attendance and discoursed appropriate mnsic during the ceremony. The Lodge was closed at 10.30 p.m., and. the brethren adjourned to the banquet-room, when the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured.

WELLINGTON LODGE. - This lodge held its regular monthly meeting on Friday, 21st ultimo, and the attendance was very large. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Two candidates were balloted for, and the R.W. District Grand Master of Auckland, Bro G. S. Graham, was then announced and received in due form. Two brethren were raised to the High and Sublime Degree of a M.M., the W.M., Bro, George Robertson, being assisted in hia duties by P.M.’s Lar* cbin, Manley, and Meek. Before retiring the R.W. District Grand Master, Bro. Graham, expressed the pleasure no felt in visiting the Lodge, and congratulated the W. M. and his officers on their perfect working, and requested Bro. Robertson to propose him as an affiliating member.

Some further business was then trims acted, and before closing the Lodge the W.M. wished those present a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. CANNOT BE CONTRADICTED. In the course of a Masonic sermon de. livered in New Rothesay Established Church the Rev. W. W. Tullock, of Glasgow, said he rejoiced to bring Freemasonry promt, neatly before the people of the country, seeiae that the order was a great moral force, which largely helped on the redemption of the world from evil. In its lodges the peer was on a level with the peasant, and the peasant could take precedence of the peer, if he were a better Mason. Masonry was subservient to no creed or colour, but was at work all over the world for the moral and spiritual welfare of mankind, ‘COMPANION.’ It was not until near the close of the last century that the word Companion was used to designate a Royal Arch Mason. In the records of St Andrew’s Chapter the term is first applied October 20, 1795, on which date Thomas S. Webb, of Temple Chapter Albany, N.Y., was present as a guest of_ St Andrew’s Chapter. It .was about this time that considerable ohanges in the Royal Arch Ritual and system took place cc/mge® largely due to the fashioning hand of Webb —and most likely the word Companion was then introduced to distinguish Royal Arch Brethren from Master Masons. Companion is a word of less general use and application than Brother. Dr Mackey, in pointing out the difference in the meaning of the two terms, says: ‘The latter refers tff the universal Fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man ; but the former represents a companionship or oommon pursuit of an object-—the common endurance of suffering or the common enjoyment of happiness. Companion represents a closer tie than Brother. The one is a natural relation shared by all men ; the other a connection, the result of choice, and confined to a few. All men are our brethren, but not all are our companions.’ ASK ! SEEK ! ! KNOCK 111 Ask, and ye shall receive ; Seek, ye shall surely find ; Knock, yo shall no resistance meet, If come with ready mind ; For all that Ask, and ask aright Are welcome to our Lodge to-night. Lay down the bow and spear - Resign the sword and'Bhield ; Forget the arts of warfare here, The arms of peace to wield ; For alt that seek, and seek aright, Are welcome to our Lodge to-night. Bring hither thoughts of peace ; Bring hither words of love ; Diffuse the pure and holy joy That cometh from above ; For all that knock, and knock aright, Are welcome to our Lodge to-night. Ask help of Him that’s high ; Seek grace of Him that,s true ; Knock patiently, the hand is nigh, Will open unto you ; For all that knock, and knock aright, Are welcome to our Lodge to-night.