MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 970, 3 October 1890, Page 8

MASONIC.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Royal Arch.—The advisableness of uniting the RA. Chapters iu New Zealand into one Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter has not yet been discussed. T.Y. (Masterton). —The brother you mention is acting very foolishly. FAVOURS RECEIVED. - Rivista della Massoneria Italiana (Rome). Die Bauhiitte (Leipsic), and Freemason’s Repository. WATERLOO ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER. The Waterloo Royal Arch Chapter, No. 166, 5.0., met at the Freemasons’ Hall, Wellington, on Friday, 26th ultimo. There were thirty Companions present who had assembled to witness the installation of officebearers for the ensuing term. But they were disappointed in their expectations. We understand that in consequence of the position taken up by one of the Companions regarding the admission into the Chapter of brethren under the New Zealand Constitution, a lively 1 breeze ’ ensued, which resulted iu the work of the evening being postponed for a week. Until the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland considers the particular point which cropped up, and issues definite instructions thereon, we fail to see why the proceedings should have been disturbed by the introduction of a subject which at present does not, and probably may never, affect Royal Arch Masonry in this Colony at all. The time has not yet arrived for the formation of a Grand R.A. Chapter in New Zealand, but, if the admission of a member of the N.Z. Constitution into our Chapters is to create a feeling of bitterness and strife, we shall not be surprised if the majority of Companions advocate tbe immediate union of Chapters at present holding from England, Ireland, , and Scotland into one supreme body. We are all brothers in spite of difference of opinion and Constitution, and it is a very great pity that the universality of Freemasonry is not better understood. SOUND OPINION AND ADVICE. Says the South Australian Freemason in its August issue : ‘R.W. Bro. Fred Whitaker, District G.M. of the North Island, New Zealand, S.C., announced in a circular that any resolution by a Scotch lodge transferring its allegiance to a newly-established Grand Lodge is ultra vires. Our brother is a long way behind tho times. If lie read Masonic newspapers he would know that such resolutions are recognised as perfectly legitimate by tbe Grand Lodge of Scotland, which has in numerous cases signified its approval of the creation of independent Grand Lodges with the aid of Scotch lodges. In fact, the Grand Lodge of Scotland will not recognise a new Grand Lodge if Scotch lodges have been at work in the country where it is founded and do not assist in its creation.’ Commenting on the above, the Sydney Freemason recommends Bro. Whitaker to take a holiday to Australia, and undergo a course of training in Grand Lodge government, and so modernise his knowledge.” ROUGH ON THE D.G.M. The Freemason, of Sydney, one of the best Masonic papers we know of, contains the following:— ‘ The conduct of the District Grand Master of the E.C. in Auckland, New Zealand, in dealing with the newly and lawfully established Grand Lodge, is not such as will raise him in the estimation of the Craft. His latest freak is to grant a new warrant to a small minority of an old lodge which joined the Grand Lodge and place in the W.M.’s chair a brother who never served as Warden. When lie cools down and thinks over how he has trailed the dignity of his high office in the mud, we feel satisfied he will acknowledge his error with a contrite heart. He is an “ awful example ” of the evils of nomineeism.’ ABOUT THE PYRAMID 0 The Masonic Chronicle lias the following : A South African correspondent of tho Detroit Tyler indulges in some remarkable views concerning the Great Pyramids, which he endeavours to connect with the building of the Temple of Jerusalem in some cabalistic manner, discovering a key to its measuration in the Sacred Volume. The object for the erection of the Pyramids has never been satisfactorily explained, while tho connection with Masonry or with Solomon’s Temple, which was a Phoenician edifice, is ridiculous in the extreme. The colossal constructions of Egypt were neither designed for temples, inasmuch as the priests and people worshipped elsewhere, nor for royal mausoleums, as tbe mummies of the departed monarehs have been discovered in localities far distant from them. They may have been erected for astronomical purposes, but it. is far more probable that they were buiit to break the force of the winds from the desert, carrying volumes of sand, which, if unmolested, might have overwhelmed the fertile valley of the Nile, and ruined all the agricultural resources of a densely populated country. Tho Biblical account of Solomon and of the building of his Temple, as the foundation of Masonry, should be satisfactory to all intelligent Masons, who may rest assured that the Jews would never have voluntarily > imitated the habits, customs, and, above all, the roligious opinions of their former taskmasters iu the hours of Israel’s glory.

COURTESY. There is really no necessity that Mason? politeness should take the shape of intim and confidence There is no obligaHofe requires it There is no principle 3 tW fraternity that makes it a duty. And vet S fact is apparent that many Masons on t ! evidence of a sign, grip or emblem, becnm! strangely familiar. Many very iindesirS acquaintances are made in this manner tW we find difficult to shake off. All wes k called upon to do is to treat the strand within our gates with hospitality and tW sort of courtesy that makes him feel at home and chase away any sense of loneliness tW may haunt him. So far as the lodge i! concerned, courtesy, about which hear so much, is really a very simple thin,/ and largely depends upon the officers The hailing brother should not be examined with suspicious rigour where other testimonial, are clearly indubitable. A brother can be turned inßide out if he is only handled kindlv Then eomo Masters make it a rule to receive visiting brothers with a few words of welcome. If neatly done, it goes a long way to' make the visitor feel comfortable. Tbe Senior Deacon may make it very pleasant in the amiable way he seats a brother in the lodge. In our lodges, whore visitations are numerous, we are liable to forget the individuality of a visiting brother, and run through the preliminary duties and guarding tests with a sort of perfunctory coldness.

THE LECTURE 3. Tho lectures of Freemasonry form a most important feature in ceremonial imtruotion and are very interesting to all Freemasons who wish to be ‘ bright,’ or seek to rise in the lodge. There are lectures peculiar to each degree, and they are orally delivered. Their history is both interesting and curious, both to the Masonic student and the Masonic archaeologist. It is very difficult to say what was the exact form of lecture in use when Desaguliers and Anderson are stated by Oliver to have revised them. The so-called lecture of tho reign of Henry VI., and of Sir Christopher Wren’s time, which Oliver fancied he had verified, turn out to be clearly only portions of the Sloane M.S. 3329, of the Grand Mystery, or of Essex’s M.S. If, indeed, the actual antiquity of the Sloane M.S. be ascertained, which Mr Wallbrau fixed, from internal evidence and verbiage, at about 1640 though its date of transcription is early 18th* wo have probably the lectures in use in the’ 17th century; though if the date cannot be carried beyond early 18tli we still have in the Sloane. M.S. probably the earliest form of Masonic catechetical instruction. Of 15th or 16th century we need hardly add that so far there is no question, as no such theory can be maintained. Martin Clare is said to have revised the lectures again in 1732. In 1770, or thereabouts, Dunckerley again remodelled' Clare’s system; and about 1755 Preston improved on his predecessors, and some say incorporated in his Frestonian lectures the views and even verbiage of William Hutchinson. Iu 1813, at the Union, Dr Hemmings was entrusted with the duty of revising the lectures once more for the purpose of uniting the ancient and the modern teaching—though the essential differences do not appear to be great which was subsequently perfected by Bro. Williams, and is the recognised working of the 1 Emulation Lodge of Improvement.’ There are some Masons who have already preferred the older working, and the Prestonian system has always had a large number of advocates. The American system, which is founded mainly on Webb’s, is no doubt, to a great extent, Prestonian. It has been said that Dermott established a system of lectures of his own; but we are not aware of any actual authority for the statement.

CANDIDATES FOR MASONRY. The man who dearly loves all humankind, And fain would see them dwell in amity, Spreading all knowledge broadcast—purity Ennobling all their actions—heart and mind Cultured in each and all; who loves his race, Wherever they around the globe may dwell; Is fit for Masonry, and none can quell It’s spirit in his bosom. His right place Is in a Mason’s lodge. He comes prepared . Right to the Tyler's hands. Little there need Be done for his reception. He, indeed, Is half a Mason ere he once lias shared

Our secrets. The portal open, welcome him within For the true Mason is to all the good akin.

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