MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 956, 27 June 1890, Page 6

MASONIC.

Having re-opened the Masonic column m he Mail, under the supervision of a Master in the Craft, we shall be glad to receive from Secretaries oj Lodges, and brethren generally, short reports of Lodge meetings and Masonic events 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. H.C. —The Rite of Memphis is practised in Melbourne. M.T.R.( Auckland).—Thanks, we have sent the information to the Grand Secretary. G. (Masterton).—Quite lu order. ■ FAVOURS RECEIVED. London Freemason, Liberal Freemason, Masonic World, La Acaoia, Australasian Keystone, N.Z. Craftsman, and Masonio Advocate. WELLINGTON LODGE. The regular monthly meeting of the Wellington Lodge, No. 1521, E.G., was held at the Freemasons’ Hall, Wellington, on Friday 20th inßtant. Owing to the fact that the Installation of Worshipful Master, and the investiture of officers was to take place, there was a large attendance of members of the Fraternity. Worshipful Bro. Frank Meadowcroft, P.G. Warden-, of Victoria, was present among the visitors, and the dais was also occupied by a great many other Past Masters of the English, Irish, and Scotch Constitutions. The beautiful Installation ceremony was performed by Bro. W. D. Lyon, 1.P.M., in his usual faultless style, and was listened to with wrapt attention by the brethren. Duriug the service some admirable and appropriate music was given by a choir lead by Bro. Hardwick, organist of the lodge, who also took part with Bro. Tallis Trimnell, P.P.G.0., in an andante by Moszkowski. A violin solo by Bro. Hotop was much appreciated, as were also two vocal selections given by Bros. Hunt and S. Robinson.

The following is the list of officers for the ensuing twelve months : —W.M., Bro. J. H. Richardson; 8.W., Bro. W. B. Hudson; J.W., Bro. A. S. Chapman; Chaplain, Bro. B. N. Manley; Secretary, Bro. H. J. Brooke ; Organist, Bro. W. H. Hardwick ; S.D., Bro. W. Jesßup; J.D., Bro. R. Moate ; I. Bro. A. G. T. Gilbert; Tyler, Bro. Eli Buck.- , • Bro. G. Robertson, P.M., performed the duties of Director of Ceremonies during the evening. Before closing the lodge, Bro. J. H. Richardson, the newly installed W.M., made a few well chosen remarks. He thanked the visitors for their attendance, the Installing Master for his kind assistance, and the members of the Wellington Lodge in particular for having placed him in the chair. He referred to the able services rendered to the lodge by his predecessor, Bro. W. D. Lyon, and on behalf of the members presented him with the following address : “To Brother William Deans Lyon, P.M. Worshipful Master of the Wellington Lodge, No. 1521 on the register ot the Grand ! odge of England.—Worshipful Master and dear Brother,—We the undersigned Past Masters, Wardens, and Feilo vs of ihe Wellington Lodge, No. 1521, E.C., desire on the occasion of your retirement from the chair of the Worshipful Master to express the feelings of affection r.nd esteem with which we regard you. Your year of office has been a prosperous one, and under your wise guidaaoe the dignity of the Lodge has been maintained and its numbers have increased. During the past year a movement in the direction of the establishment of a Grand Lodge of New Zealand has been inaugurated, and the qusatiou is one which has naturally given rise to ranch interest throughout the fraternity, and has led to some divergences of opinion. In these respects the Wellington Lodge has been no exception, but it is a matter-for congratulation that no disturbauce of the excellent relations subsisting amongst the members has resulteu there* from. We feel that this happy condition is largely due to the impartiality and tact with which you have presided over our meetings, and the ready acquiescence you have shown in giving the fullest possible effect to tho wishes of the majority of tho brethren. 'We trust that you may bo long spared to the Lodge to bo an example to its members, ami to employ and instruct the brethren in breemasonry.—We are, Worshipful Master and dear Brother, yours affectionately and fraternally.” Bro. Lyon, who was evidently not expect, ing the presentation, returned thanks in feeling terms, and assured tho brethren that he would, although no longer in the chair, continue to further the interests of the Wellington Lodge in every way. Hearty congratulations having been given by tho visitors, an adjournment was made to

the banquet ball where the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were honored in accordance with time-honoured custom. The proceed* ings, which terminated close on midnight, were enlivened by some capital instrumental and vocal selections given by Bros. W. H. Hardwick, T. Trimnell, P.P.G.O. ; A. Gray, R. J. S. Todd, F. Meadowcroft, W. D. Lyon, S. Robinson, and others. We offer our fraternal congratulations to Bro. J. H. Richardson, and wish him a moßt prosperous and successful term of office. WE PREFER THE OLD STYLE. It has heretofore been customary in Weilington to give District and Provincial Grand Lodge officers the Grand and Royal Sign on entering or leaving a lodge. This part of our Masonio proceedings, especially at installation meetings, when a large number of brethren are present, was a pleasing and imposing sight; but we are to have something new in future. The District Grand Lodge of Wellington, E.C., after drifting in an aimless sort of way for over ten years, has suddenly realised the faot that perhaps it has been tacitly countenancing a practioe which is not customary at Home. Accord, ingly, the Grand Secretary was communicated with, and he has now put us right. In future Masonic dignitaries are to be received with the penal sign of the degree in which the lodge is working. This may be quite correct and constitutional, bnt it is, to our mind, highly ridiculous, as compared with what we have been accustomed to. The absurdity of the innovation was noticeable at the meeting of the Wellington Lodge the other night, when the Deputy District Grand Master left the room. We certainly prefer the old style ! MISTAKES IN FREEMASONRY. It is a mistake to suppose that a Master of a lodge can govern it with justice and equity, and creditably perform the work of the chair, without giving days and nightß to the study of the duties of his station. * A Master of a lodge should be a Solon and a Bismarck combined —in Bhort, a Solomon ; ready to hear, quiok to think, and prompt to act. He should be both a capitalist and a labourer, born to rule and educated to work, a sovereign and a subject, a judicial and an executive officer. If he lack either judgment in decision or skill in work he is so far a failure as a Master. It is a mistake to seek to become a Freemason in order to ‘win trade.’ The mercenary Mason is a signal failure. He does not cheat others as much as he cheats himself. The dollars-and-cents view of Masonry is a false one. He has no sense who looks for dollars in the oraft. It is a mistake to suppose it is easy to confer a degree. Try it. You may know it all, but that is only half the trouble. There, is plenty of gold in the earth, but the great difficulty consists in getting it out. Knowledge is golden, and you may have it in abundance, but it needs to be issued before the craft will accept it as currency for their wages. Golden knowledge is sometimes golden silence. In that case silver ia better than gold, for * speech is silver.’ It is a mistake to suppose that you can be a good Mason without being obedient. Satan was expelled from the Grand Lodge above for disobedience. The Ten Commandments ot Sinai all say, in so many words or in effect, ‘ Thou shalt ’ or ‘Thou shalt not.’ The truth should always be obeyed/ Free, masonry is the truth. It is a mistake to resign from your lodge and join the family of tramps, who have no home, no brethren, no friends. An unaffilinted Mason is a self-degraded Mason. He contributes nothing to the common welfare, and it were better had he never been born as a Mason. He will go to his own place. WORTHY OF IMITATION. The New York Board of Relief proposes to hire or build a house in the central portion of the city wherein to establish a species of caravansery with eating rooms, lodging room, and hospital combined, whereat the stranger proving his dependence upon the Mystic Tie and his worthiness and need can be oared for, after the manner of the Samaritan of old, beneath the immediate supervision of agents of the fraternity, and then depart upon his way, thankful that he has not "encountered the fate of the man from Jericho. New York Masons owe it to themselves to see that this excellent project is immediately carried out.