MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 946, 18 April 1890, Page 6

MASONIC.

t H,aving re-pgenyd tjiy Ma,sonic column % he M4IL, iiydpr tfye supervision "of a Master in the Craft, "ine shall be glad to reqeive /row Secretaries oj Lodges, and brethren generally, short reports of Lodge meetings " and Masonic ryents of all Jcmds likely t,o be of interest £q, nembers of the craft. All CQrrespQndence for tluiscolum.pl, to be addressed to, the Ufayoniq. Editor, Nfiw Zealand. MAip.

ANSWERS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. A..G, (Sydney).—Not in this Colony. F. (Wanganui).—Many thanks. We have noted your remarks. FAVOURS RECEIVED. Aurora Esoozzesa, London Freemason, Espana Masonica, Freemason’s Repository, and Sydney Freemason. THE K.-K.-H. From a discourse delivered by the Grand Orator of the Council des Sept Ecoosais at Paris, March I3th, 1826, we glqafi sdffiV curious information relative Iff the degree of K.-H., which * conferred, ‘ upon that oecasiop, 'upon liumerims residents of the capital, and some prominent Masons of Rheims coming to Paris expressly for its reception. The orator, as a prelude, remarked that, long before being engrafted on the A.*, and A.*. S. *, Rite, as the'3.oth grade, it had' been for years practised' in other rites. In evidence of bis assertion the orator exhibited ' an ancient manuscripij ritual, in which was given a'singular history 6f Masonry since the dayß of Adam, it'is likewise stated (hat (n thiq. degree, thq Master and Warden represented the Holy Trinity, and that ifj constituted at that tinj.e tne 25th degree o( Heredom prior to, the. adoption of the statutes, promulgated by tbfi Convention of Bordeaux in 1762.'' The word' K.-H. was. repl'Caqnted lift signify separated, in, consequence oS sanctity la life.' The naigp wqs derived from Jiftdah HakkadoQ,h x that is tp. s»y, the Saint,, who, according to the Bibliographies, was a. qjelpbratpd rabbi, renowned |oy science,, talent,, and, wealth.,, according to, fcfio Jews, the friend, and parceptos of tha Emperor Autppijius.. He compiled towards tfie middle, pf the 2nd Contrary, a collection pf tfie constitutions and traditm-- ■ ■ -* magistrates and * , —“ B of V, predecessor* ‘ -~f 18tl doctors, his {. - .. From them he composed a ..outf, which he called Mischna, divided into six partß. The first treats upon agriculture and production ; the second relates to holidays and observances of feasts ; the third, to marriages and all things concerning females ; the fourth refers to suits at law and questions of financial damage ; the fifth discusses sacrifices ; while the sixth is devoted to loyal purities and impurities. The book is the foundation of the Talmud, and forms the code for decrees and judgments delivered by ancient Jewish magistrates. Its vast extent can be judged from

the fact that a good edition of it in Hebrew and Latin, issued by Surrhenlus, with explanatory notes, comprises three folio volumes. It is to be hoped, observes the Bibliographer, that the Talmud, which is a common commentary on the Misohna, styled the Gemare, will likewise be translated into Latin, Without disputing the rationality of the origin of the word K.-H., or controverting the statements, fanciful as they are, enunciated above, touching import of the lessons originally inculcated in the degree, whioh is generally accepted in Europe as the ne plus ultra of Heredomism, we must assert that the entire spirit of K-H. underwent so radical a change in 1786, by reason of modifications wrought by the G. \O. •. of France, that it now stands a purely philosophic grade, as is illustrated by the adoption by some councils, of a banner inscribed, Yitam Impendere Vere (conseorate life to truths). THE RIGHT OF BALLOT. There is nothing in Freemasonry that is guarded more sacredly than is the right—the inherent right—of every member to cast his ballot on the petition of an applicant for the privileges of Masonry. It is his right to cast this ballot as he wills, without let or hind, ranee, and responsible only to God, Masonry, and his own conscience * and yet under the cover of this sacredly guarded right, how many wrongs are often perpetrated ? . . On the other hand, the brother, who knowing or believing an applicant to be fit material for the Masonic Temple—such a one as Masonry loves to weloomo to Its shrine, whose listening ear would catch true Masonic meanings from the instructive and instructing tongue, and in whose faithful breast the mysteries of Masonry might and would be safely lodged, such a one as Mssods would be proud and glad to call brother, and who might be a benefit and prove an acquisition to the lodge—and yet, because of unworthy motives, or from spite or spleen, or a desire, perchance, to get even with the lodge for some real or fancied slight, or for any other reason not Masonic, casts a black ball against, and thus, by his one vote, rejects such applicant —the brother so casting such black ball commits a three-fold/ Masonic offence, intensified by the fact that' it is a coward’s act, striking from ambush and jn the dark. Alas, how many wrongs have been inflioted upon Masonry by the acceptance pf those who ought to have been rejected, and the rejection of those who ought tp have been accepted ! > WELCOMING VISITING BRETHREN, Nothing makes a visitor to a lodge feel more at home than a cordial welcome. Yet, from our experience, this is the last thing they receive. At the opening of the lodge the senior deacon tells the master that it is a portion of his duty to ' welcome visiting brethren.’ But does he do it! When a visitor is announced, unless it is a ‘ brother in high degree,’ that officer sits in his place and glanoes at the atranger with more of surprise than a .look of welcome. After the visitor has saluted, he can take a seat where he may be able to find ono, so far as the senior deacon is concerned. OfteD,

the whole evening, the visitor, if a oompjete stranger, may sit alone, so far as any member of the lodge is likely to acts When the lodge is closed, the stranger goe. away disheartened and disgusted, and is not likely to visit that lodge again. Now, if the senior deacon will do his * duty ’ —and nothing more is required of him—he will advance to the visitor, and, after he has saluted, extend the hand of friendship, escort the Btranger to a seat, and introduce him to one or more of the members. The visitor will then soon feel at home, and on leaving have the desire to again visit the lodge where there is manifested so much cordial and brotherly feeling. The courtesy costs nothing but a little trouble, and pays well in the end. A shake of the hand by the junior deacon as the visitor enters the lodge room will be a far better welcome than the formal ‘Glad to Hee you; take a seat * sometimes from the east, but more often neglected. Lodges desiring the presence of visitors should give them a cordial welcome, and make them feel that they are so.

FROM THE ‘VOICE OF MASONRY.* Each waiting soul must claim its own when the archangel soundetfa, And all the fields and all the hills shall move, a mass of life ; Bodies numberless, crowding on the land and covering the trampled sea, Darkening the air precipitate, and gathered scathless from the fire ; The Himalayan peaks shall yield their charge, and the desolate steppes of Siberia, The Malestrom disengulf its spoil, and the iceberg manumit its captive ; .All shall teem with life, the converging fragments of humanity, Till every conscious essence greet his individual frame; For in some dignified similitude, alike, yet different in glory. This body Bhall be shaped anew, fit dwelling for the soul ; The hovel hath grown to a palace, the bulb hath burst into flower ; Matter hath put on incorruption, and is at peace with spirit.