MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 898, 17 May 1889, Page 7

MASONIC.

Having re-opened the Masonic column in he Mail, under the supervision of a Master in the Graft, we shall be glad to receive from Secretaries oj Lodges, and brethren generally, short reports of Lodge meetings and Masonic 'vents 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. P.M.M. (Auckland).—The Royal Arch Chapter you refer to is the United Pi!» grims, No. 507. Inqutker. —The amount is vory small. FAVOURS RECEIVED. London Freemason, New Zealand Mast nio Journal, El Taller (Madrid), and Chains d’Union (Pari.). QUITE A CHANGE. The Chaine d’Union says : The Barcelona Concordia reproduces and comments upon the following passage frcm a correspondent of the Echo d’Albaceta : 4 Spanish Masonry has deposited in the hands of Maria Christina the insignia of the 33rd degree. There were present at this formality and the accompanying ceremony Dona Maria del Olvido, daughter of the Infante Don Enrique, Dona Rosaris d’Acuna, and many distinguished and elegant ladies of the Court as well as Che high dignitaries of the National G.\ O. \ of Spain.’ 4 It is difficult to appreciate the true character and meaning of this ceremony. Especially, upon recalling to mind that the Queen Regent of Spain is the excrossed and mitred Abbess of Hchradin in Hungary, and that, in discharge of her strictly monastic duties, she exhibited a certain spirit of independence,—very serious significance can be attributed to this information from the Echo d’Albacete*’ Possibly, the royal nun has become Patroness of Spanish Masonry in the interests of her infant son. FROM THE SKY. Whence came geometry or Masonry ? W e answer, from the canopy of the heavens. Our ancient brethren were wise observers of the sun, moon, planets and stars, and from tbeir movements and changes deducted aU the importaut figures and principles of

geometry or Masonry, and of architecture. Had wo not seen the movements aad changes which produce the figures and suggest the principles named, we might have doubts on the subject. A discerning eye aad years of observation will discover in the sky every geometrical figure used iu Freemasonry and Knighthood, not excepting Jacob’s Ladder, the .Ark, the Arch, the apron, the Passion cross, the Alaltese cross, and the cross of St. Androw. The triangle constantly exists, and constantly is produced. Job saw all this and hinted it strongly. Look and think wisely, brethren, ere you discard this augges. tion. THE SEVEN AGES OF FREEMASONRY. 4 All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players,’ So says our Bard, and surely ’twould be hard If Masons could not act as other players ; So your permission now I humbly crave While we may reckon what lives we have. Our hero, we will take, ju3t like the Sage’s And trace him, step by step, through seven ages. At first the 'Prentice, full of doubts and fears, And mind uncertain as to smiles or tears, With strange misgivings, yet undaunted heart, Enters the Lodge —and so he plays hi 3 part. And then the Craftsman, with true zeal in* spired, His soul with noble aspirations fired ; The Master’s precepts now his greatest care. Resolves henceforth to act upon the Square. Next Master Mason, raised to third degree, Entitled now to share our mystery ; A friend, and Brother, to the world is sent, His badge the emblem of his good intent. In office now, as Inner Guard, he stauds, And Candidates receives from Tyler’s hauds, A great ambition fills his manly breast, His lawful aim within the Chair to rest. The Deacon and instructor next wo see Leading the Novice in Freemasonry ; Signs, Tokens, Words, does he impart to each, With proper steps the Pedestal to reaoh. Still working up, he fills the Warden’s Chairs, First in the South, then in the West ap* pears ; Assisting loyally the lodge to school, The Lodge that he some day may have to rule. At length bo enters on the final stage ; But no decay is hero, nor sign of age, Full in the prio e of hi 3 Masonic years, The honoured title, 4 Master,’ now he bears ; Elected by his Brethren to the place, He rules his Lodge with courtesy and grace ; With dignity the sacred Ritual gives, So in him, once again, our Founder lives. Thus, when his year of office comes to close, He earns at last well-merited rr-pose ; And, as the sun sinks grandly in the west, So, in like splendour, goes he to his rest.