GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 916, 20 September 1889, Page 19

GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND.

TO THE EDITOR 03? IHB NEW ZEALAND MAIL. Sir, —I read in the public press of the Colony reports of a convention of a number of members of the society of Freemasons, held in tho Empire City, fur the purpose of establishing a Grand Lodge of New Zealand. As they themselves give public prominence to the resolutions arrived at, I presume 1 shall not be out of place in offering a public comment on their acts. Ido so for the purpose of warning all those members of (he craft, who wish to act in conformity with their duly, against deciding too hastily iu this mat tor. The convention have determined on the 9th of November next to set up and establish a Grand Lodge in this Colony, and as soon thereafter as may be convenient to elect a Grand Master. Now, this Grand Lodge, if set nt> on the date referred to, must be (MasonicalJy speaking) an illegal body, and must remain so until legalised by the recognition of the proper authorities, viz., the Grand Lodges of England, Scotland and Ireland, and all the lodges or individual Masons who join such a combination, by that act put themselves outside the legitimate pale of Freemasonry, and stand attainted of disloyalty to their mother lodge, and to the constitution under which they hail. Under certain circumstance- —for example, where almost perfect unanimity prevailed in favour of the new movement —it may be argued that this is a technicality that in the meantime can bo risked ; even then it would be a very unwise agreement applied to a very unnecessary proceeding ; but when we find a very powerful minority standing aloof from the action of the Masonic Convention, we may be sure that this question is not likely to be settled by the aforesaid authorities in a hurry, find it may bo that those who set up this pscudo-Grand Lodge may have to pull it down again nr remain outside the pale, as aforesaid, for a considerable lime. If the Convention had not acled in such indecent haste this difficulty need not have arisen. Had they post-dated their establishing of the Grand Lodge Ur, say, six months, and in the meantime have communicated with the authorities aforesaid, placing the situation honestly before them, there would have been time for a reply and the necessary advice for future action to have reached them, but this does not seem to have suited the t unper of those heading the movement, and an attempt is to be made to “ force the hands” of tho constituted authorities in the manner above noted. A further intimation of this is given in dropping the word “United” out of the title of the so-called Grand Lodge, thus admitting the fact that the craft in tho Colony are anything but united on the question. As I have stated before, there is a very, large minority against ib, and as it has ever been the} policy of the Grand Lodge of England to respect the right, privileges and wishes of minorities in matters of this kind, that body is not likely to depart from such a policy on the present occasion. Indeed, it would be stultifying themselves to do so. The minority in each lodge in the Colony have only to place their wishes before their Grand Lodges, stating how many there are anxious to retain their present allegiance, and their requests will be attended to, so that no brother can say ho has been ooeraed by a majority into joining an organization of doubtful standing. All those who wish to be true as Masons will do this at once. —lam, <£?c.. Lux.