MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 934, 24 January 1890, Page 7

MASONIC.

Having re-opened the Masonic column in he Mail, under the supervision of a Master m the Craft, we shall be glad to receive from Secretaries of Lodges, and brethren generally, short reports of Lodge meetings and Masonic 'vents of all hinds likely to be of interest to nemhei s of the craft. All correspondence for this column to be addressed to the Masonic Editor, New Zealand Mail. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. X.E.N.O.—It has been decided in the manner yon mention. F. P. (Hawera). —Wait until the result of the meeting on the 24th instant is known. G. (Greymouth), Communication re. -eeived, many thanks. FAVOURS RECEIVED. London Freemason, Australasian Keystone, Masonic Star, and South African Freemason. „ WELLINGTON LODGE. The regular monthly meeting of the Wellington Lodge No. 1521, E.C., took place on Friday 17th inst. at the Freemasons’ Hall, Wellington. Owing to the unavoidable absence of the W. M.. Bro. W. D. Lyon, the 1.P.M., Bro. Rober-son, occupied the chair and conferred the First and Second Degrees on two brethren; the W.T. ’3 being presented by the J. W., Pro. Inues, A vote of sympathy with Bro. P. M. Meek in the loss he has sustained by the death of a daughter was passed by th& lodge, and, at the request of the Phcenix Lodge, Westport, a presentation of a P.M.’s Jewel was mads to Bro. Haselden, P.M„ The

presentation was made by Bro. Larchin, P. M., in a neat speech, aud the recipient acknowledged the handsome gift from his lodge in a suitable manner. The Treasurer’s statement showed that the lodge was in a sound financial condition and that there was a substantial balance in the bank. Hearty good wishes having been tendered by the visitors, the lodge closed in peace, love, and harmony, at 10 p.m. CANDIDATES FOR MASON AY. Connected with the working of the institution, perhaps there is no subject that has been more often referred to in tho addresses of the Grand Masters, reports of Correspondence Committees, and tho Masonic Press, than the careful selection of material to be admitted to membership. The craft have been admonished from time immemorial how important it is that care should be taken that no one be admitted without the most careful scrutiny ; and yet iu always ha 3 been, and most probably always will be, a fact that a large share of lodge troubles arise from carelessness at this very initial step. A brief reference to this important subject, if not of interest to older brethren, will at least be of interest to those who are commencing thoir masonic life. Among tho earliest landmarks and the printed Constitution of Anderson, 1723, provides that ‘No man can be made or admitted a member of a particular lodge without previous notice one month before given to said lodge, in order to make due inquiry into the reputation and capacity of the candidate,’ from which we perceive that the craft of those early days were fully impressed with the idea that an evil tree cannot bear wholesome fruit, nor a bad man make a good Mason. The third of the ‘Ancient Charges’ declares that ‘ the persons admitted members of a lodge must be good and true men, freeborn, and of matured, discreet age ; no immoral men, but of good report.’ Wholesome as this regulation unquestionably is, it must be admitted that there has been a culpable negligence in some lodges in enforcing it. It may be true, that with the best intentions, a committee or a lodge may be imposed upon by some of the many who seek admission to our institution. But it is not only the character of the candidate that is to be inquired into, but also his capacity ; that is, we are not only to satisfy ourselves that be is of mature and discreet age, of sound body, aud of good report, but whether his mind is of such quality as not only to enable him to receive and understand the esoteric instructions of the institution, but in time to return to it, as interest for the benefit conferred on him by his admission, the result of Ids study and inve-tigatioc into the hidden arcana, its history, philosophy aud. symbolism, and the example of an upright walk and conversation.

Maamry is mure than a merely social institution, and requires of its initiates something beyond merely social qualities. As a general rule, should not devolve the whole duty even upon a discreet committee. Every brother should be a sentinel, always on duty, beyond whose sleepless vigilance none s’uonld pass but the worthy, and every committee of investigation should use the

utmost care before consenting to make a favourable report upon admissions to our institution. THE ROYAL ARCH. A grade peculiar to English Freemasonry in it-t exact position in the system, aud of English origin and growth. Some writers have declared it to he of foreign importation ; others have contended that it is of Ramsay’s manipulation, and is st 11 to be found in more than one of the foreign High Grades. Some will have it that Dermott took it from the ‘Rite de Bouillon,’ and introduced it into the system of the Ancient Masons. It was not formally adopted by the English Grand Lodge until the Union in 1813, though a Grand Chapter, in connection with the ‘ Modern’ Grand l odge, had been in existence forty-seven years previously. In our opinion, all these theories as regards the origin of the Royal Aroh are entirely erroneous. The Royal Arch Degree as we have it (we say nothing of its nomenclature or of its ritual is far older than either Ramsay or uermott. It is not the same with any known foreign grade, nor cau any veritable similarity be adduced or proved. It is, as our Grand Lodge says,, part of true and ancient Masonry, and was, though not clearly worked as now exactly, well known to tbe older Master Masons. The difference between the Moderns and the Ancients on this point was mo«;e a ‘logomachy ’ than anything else, though we quite believe that the words ‘Royal Arch’ were in themselves new to the Modern Masons, aud may have been taken from Ramsay. But if Dermott took the name, ho certainly did not boirovv from Ramsay the essential portion of the Degree ; and after many years’ patient and careful study of the question, we feel quite persuaded of this, that the Royal Arch Degree is both in form and substance of very old date, though its terminology may have been modernised, and verv properly and truly formß the conclusion of Craft Masonry. That some little identity may exist between the English Royal Arch aud some other grade we do not deny, as we have before said ; but we believe that all such grades are modifications or adaptations of the Royal Arch Degree, and not the Royal Arch Degree of them. MASONRY MULTIPLIES FRIENDSHIPS. Man’s greatest need on earth is friendship, constant, true and helpful. Masonry multiplies friendships The quality of sweet friendship, like that of her sister, mercy, is not strained. It blesses him who gives, aod him who takes, and so on to the end. Let our aim and efforts ever be to establish and maintain true and abiding friendships, and he will teem with richer blessings. MASONIC FRIENDSHIP. (By Bro. J. W. Davis, sub editor of the Victorian Freemason.) Should the chances of life evs r tempt you to roam, In a Lodge of Freemasons you would still liud a home ; There the sweet smile of friendship still welcomes each guest, And Brotherly love gives that welcome a zest. Whet/ I’m absent from Lodge, pleasures tempt me in vain, As I sigli for the pleasures of meeting again ; For friendship and harmony truly are there, Where we meet on tho level and part on the square. There the soul-binding union surely is know, Which unites both the peasant and prince on his tlnone; There the lich and the poor on the level do meet. And, as Brothers; each other most cordially greet. On the quicksands of life should a Brother be thrown, It is then that the friendship of Brothers is known ; For the heart points the hand his distress to remove ; For our motto is ‘Kindness and Brotherly Love.’ When the Master of all from his star-studded throne, Shall issue His mandate to summon us home; May each Brother be found to be duly prepared, In the Grand Lodge above us to meet his reward.