MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 932, 10 January 1890, Page 7

MASONIC.

Having re-opened the Masonic column in he Mail, under the supervision of a Master m the Graft, we shall he glad to receive from Secretaries of Lodges, and, brethren generally, short reports of Lodge meetings and Masonic rvents of all hinds 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. X.X. (New Plymouth).—The New Zealand Pacific Lodge, No. 517, E.C., is without doubt the oldest lodge in the Colony. A.G. —The M.W.G. M. is the Hon. Sir W. J. Clarke, Bart. FAVOURS RECEIVED. Australian Keystone, Victorian Freemason, South Australian Freemason, and The Kneph. RITUALISM. Prior to 1717 the only ritual known to Masons was obligation, with a word of recognition. In 1729 a catechism, as a test of membership, was in vogue, of so unmeaning a character that sensible men endeavoured to change it to something more reasonable. Henco to the time of Preston continual changes were made, when he revised and added to it such measures as would commend it to men of culture and education. About the middle of the last century Dermott formulated a ritual different' from that of Preston, which was adopted by the so-called * Ancient Lodges.’ At the union of the two English Masonic factions early in the present century a ritual was formulated which is essentially the same as that practised by the Grand Lodge of England ac the present time. Some of the first Lodges established in America were authorised by the Ancient, or Dermott branch of the Order, notably Pennsylvania, which still holds to the same ritual, and call themselves ‘Ancient York Masons.’ The ritual in use in England at the present time is greatly different from that in use elsewhere. That generally adopted for the use of the various Grand Lodges of the United States was formulated by Webb, and is used in no other country. The only landmark of Masonry in any way connected with the ritual is the naked and unadorned Hiramic legend. PAST MASTERS. The office of Worshipful Master is the highest honour that a lodge of Masons can bestow upon one of its members. It is the post of honour in the lodge, and elevates the brother occupying it to a position of great dignity and importance among his brethren, and also as the recognised representative of Masonry in the community where he resides. Appreciating this fact, Worshipful Masters, as a rule, endeavour to maintain the dignity of this exalted station by proper discharge of the responsible duties connected with it. Thsre are no emoluments to strive for save those of honour and reputation, and all the instincts of man’s nature prompt him to use his best efforts to make these worthy of being transmitted to his posterity. There may be a lack of ability to do this in some instances, and failures occur probably mere frequently from this cause than from a lack q£ zeal, so that lodges generally have but little cause to complain of the efforts made by Worshipful Masters to promote their best interests. When 0, Worshipful Master retires from his official position, at the close of his term of office, he carries with him the rank of Past Master. He will always retain that title as an honourable mark of djsfcinctiqh among his brethren. If he was a competent Worshipful Master, while in office, he is now qualified to become one of the most useful of the floor members. He has a thorough knowledge of the business aud work of the lodge, and in the absence of any officer can fill his place. Such opportunities frequently occur when his services are needed, and his presence enables the work to proceed when it otherwise might have been delayed or not done at all. Every Past Master owes something to his lodge for the honours that have been conferred upon him. It has been very truly said that, 1 A Mason’s allegiance to the lodge is best tested when he is Past Master.’ This test may be shown in many ways, but in none with greater significance than in his attendance at lodge meetings. If ho is always or frequently present his loyalty need pot be doubted, and his willingness t°

instruct candidates and do any committee work give assurance doubly sure. On the other hand, if ho then becomes a nonattendant, except on festival occasions or when he can show off as installing officer, it must be evident that his Masonry is only skin deep, or at best more iu the head than in the heart. But when we see a Past Master ask for a dimit, and forsake the lodge that honoured him to save the small amount or annual dues, we are fully persuaded that he was never first prepared to be made a Mason. The lodge is quite as well off without him. We are happy to say that instances of this sort bnt seldom occur. Past Masters, as a rule, remain active, working members of lodges, and when one of them enters a lodge he is entitled to recognition by an invitasion to a seat in the East. Young Worshipful Masters should be cnrefnl not to foiget this courtesy, is we have seen frequently done by them, when a visiting Past Master enters the lodge.

FREEMASONRY FOUR HUNDRED AND SIXTY YEARS AGO. Bishop Chicheley. In the year 1414, the benevolent and munificent founder of All Souls’ College, Oxford, England, was raised to the Archiepiscopal See of Canterbury ; and iu the year 1429, four hundred and sixty years since, he (the great Archbishop Chicheley) held a lodge of Freemasons in that ancient city, and presided at its meetings, his grace being at that period the Grand Master of the Order. At a lodge held in the year named, Bro. Thomas Staplyton was the Master, Bro. John Morris the Warden, and there were present fifteen Fellow Crafts and three Entered Apprentices. At this distant period Masonic lodges were, for a temporary season, regarded with considerable dread and alarm by the sovereign, and laws were enacted for the r suppression. The good Archbishop, however, fully cognizant of their moral and philanthropic objects, did not hesitate to give them the eclat of his name and influence, by accepting the supreme head amongst them, and to consort with them in their periodical assemblies. By an act of parliament of the third Henry VI., cap, 1, a.d. 1425, Masonry was much persecuted from the ignorance of its benevolent purposes; and it was declared felony to convene and meet in chapter and congregation, under the pretence that such meetings were in violation of the good cause and effect of the statnte of labourers. The Archbishop, however, continued hi? sanction of the Order, and frequently met the brethren in open lodge; and the effect was, in spite of the tyrannical edicts, Freemasons’ lodges were established in various parts of the kingdom. In many the principles of science, alike in theory and practice, were cultivated; in others, and which system the modem Masons have universally adopted, the implements and instruments of labonr were converted into emblems of social and moral virtues, and other uses applied to the inculcation of moral apd religious duties, Notwithstanding the resistance offered in the early part of Henry Yl.’s reign, that monarch himself joined the Order in the year 1442, and was indefatigable in obtaining a perfect knowledge of the art; and he at great pains revised the charges and constitution of the Order. A record of the reign of Edward IV. runs thus: ‘The oompany of Masons, being otherwise termed Freemasons, of ancient standing and good reckonage, by means of affable and kinde meetings, dyverse tymes, and as a lovynge brotherhood used to doe, did frequents this mutiiale assembly in the tyme of Henry VI., in the twelfth year of his most gracious reign, a.d. 1434,’ and the same record prooeeds to state that the charges and laws of the Freemasons ‘have been seen and perused by our late sovereign, Henry VI. and by the Lordes of his most honnerable Councille, who have allowed them, and declared that they be righte, goode and reasonable to be holden, as they have been drawne out and collected for recordes of ancient tymes,’ etc. Many extensive and important alterations were made in the Cathedral of Canterbury under the superintendence of Archbishop Chicheley, and which the duly versed Mason readily discovered by their accordance with the established laws and rules of the Order.