Masonic.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 978, 28 November 1890, Page 7

Masonic.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. I.—The idea h good but, unfortunately it won’t work. Craftsman (Napier).-—Yes, you can join and be enrolled on payment of 10s 6d. L.H. We are not aware by whose authority it was done. FAVOURS RECEIVED. New Zealand Craftsman, South Australian Freemason, El Siglo, and Proceedings of the Grand Lodge Alpina (Switzerland). THE GRAND MASTER. Bro. Henry Thompson, Grand Master of of New Zealand, has, on his way to Auckland to attend the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge, opened lodges under the N.Z.C. at Pahiatua and Danevirke. From private sources we learn that the proceedings passed off in a most successful manner, and great enthusiasm prevailed. He also consecrated a new Masonic hall at Napier in the presence of about 100 brethren from all parts of the province. Bro. Thompson intends to come down from Auckland by way of the West Coast. He will instal the W.M., and invest the officers of Lodge ‘ Ngamotu ’ at New Plymouth tonight, and intends of possible to pay an official visit to the lodges at Hawera, Feilding, and Palmerston North. On his return to Wellington he will perform the ceremony of installation in the ‘ St. Andrew’s ’ and ‘ Waterloo’ lodges. Our Grand Master is indefatigable'in his labours, and the Craft is justly proud of him. WELLINGTON LODGE. The regular monthly meeting of the Wellington Lodge, No. 1521, E.C., was held at the Freemasons’ Hall, Wellington, on Friday, 21st instant. There was a capital attendance of members and visitors. The business of the evening was an initiation, which was conducted in an able manner by the WM., Bro. J. H. Richardson. The W.T.’s were presented by the S.W., Bro. D. C. Innes, aud the charge was delivered by Bro. W. H. Field. The courteous and fraternal circular forwarded by Bro. the Earl of Onslow to all those lodges which have not joined the Grand Lodge of New Zealand was read by the Secretary, and the W.M. intimated that he would call a meeting of the brethren at an early date to consider the matter. Several candidates were proposed for initiation, and, after hearty good wishes had been tendered by the visiting brethren, the lodge was closed in peace, love, and harmony at 10 p.m. THE CRAFT AT THE ANTIPODES. The Masonic Chronicle says :— ‘ The establishment of a Grand Lodge in Tasmania must have been regarded as a most important event by the Australians, inasmuch as three Grand Masters, two Cf them colonial governors, and the third a titled Native of Tasmania, which he revisited after years of absence, a Chief Justice, and a host of eminent brethren deserted their official business, to make a long and most tempestous journey by sea and land in order to be present at 1 the installation of the first Grand Master. The Earl of Kintore’s party started from Adelaide on a Friday, and, although travelling by express, only arrived at their destination on Wednesday in the afternoon. There now remains but two colonies at the Antipodes, Queensland and West Australia, where independent Grand Lodges have nob been established. Masonry in the first-named province is distracted by an open feud between Masons under English and Scottish constitutions, and the spectacle of this unfraternal wrangle has served to intensify a desire to relieve lodges from the autocratic dictation of District Grand Masters, appointed for life by authorities twenty thousand miles distant from the colony. Henceforth unification of Masonry in Queensland is only a question of a few months time, and, when the proposed confederation of the colonies into a dominion, after the manner of Canada, is accomplished, the creation of a General Grand Lodge for Australia is contemplated. Our advice in this respect is to imitate iis Americana, who endeavour to avoid centralization in Masonry if possible.’ The Chronicle evidently sees whioh way the cat m going to jump in Queensland. As we mentioned before, it is amusing to notice the way in which the London Freemason butters up our brethren in that colony 30 as to prevent the inevitable separation. But it will take place all the same. CANADA. Reception of the Duke of Connaught by the Masons in Toeonto. The Duke of Connaught, third son of Queen Victoria, is an active and zealous craftsman, being a Past Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of England, Provincial Grand Master of Sussex, &c. In an extended tour recently made he has visited among other places India, China and Japan, and at each important locality where organisations of Masons are established he has received the respectful, cordial welcome of his Masonio brethren. Journeying homeward by way of the Canadian Pacific route he arranged to stop over a few days in the city of Toronto, and kindly consented to be present at a Masonio reception arranged in his honour. The reception was held on Friday evening, May 30, last., some five hundred brethren being present. lonio Lodge, No. 25, took charge of the reception,

its Master, Bro. G. S. Byerson, making the address of welcome to his Royal Highness in the name of the Masons of Toronto. The distinguished visitor, after graceful reference to the compliment paid to him, and to the Queen, and to his brother the . Prince of Wales, Grand Master of Masons in England said that, notwithstanding his rank and position, he stood on the common plain of brotherhood with those around him and rejoiced that Freemasonry recognised this broad basis of association. CONSECRATION OF THE CORNISH - LODGE. The following oration was delivered by Bro. Rev. Studholme Brownrigg at the consecration of the Cornish Lodge, No 2639, E.C., London :—‘ It is one of the results of modern civilisation that great cities like London are attracting more and more every day the influence, the wealth, the interests, and the ability of the whole nation. In every country the metropolis is becoming more and more the centre which forms publio opinion, and directs either for good or evil the course of public events. At the beginning of the present century things were very different. Then London was isolated to a very great extent from the more remote provinces and each had to think and act for itself to a very large extent. I am not prepared to deny that there were some advantages in this. We moved, perhaps more slowly, but there was less danger of hasty and ill-advised action. However, we must take the world as it is, and have faith that an allwise Providence is making all things work together for one good. Still this very concentration of power reminds us that we are each one of us units,, more or less signifi-' cant, which make up the power and strength of the whole. If London is absorbing the provinces in one sense, tho provinces are themselves in another sense absorbing London. Their representatives here are sharing most fully the responsibility of its guiding and controlling influence. London is no longer the capital of Middlesex, but the Metropolis of the British Empire. Therefore, we welcome gladly in London the formation of any organisation which tends to preserve the individuality and the nationality of the various races which make our country what it is. Specially is it important that the ancient Britons should not lose touch with their great and glorious past. The great Celtic family has never forgotten the traditions of its ancestors. Separated into the four great divisions of Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall and Wales, centuries have only made us prouder of our origin. We claim to have given to the Saxon and to the Norman a character which they did not bring with them. Like Greece of old, we have conquered and are conquering the invaders, whether Saxon or Norman, by making them Britons. Let us ever continue this course to bring' their thoughts home to the present occasion. You are forming to-night a lodge of Cornishmenin London. See that you stand out collectively and individually in exhibiting all the Bturdy qualities of the ancient Briton, and bear your part in moulding and strengthening the national character. S.. Cadoc, an ancient Briton (not, I fear, a Cornishman), though still an ancient Britain, described some thousand years ago impatience as the characteristic of the Celtic race. Well, impatience is not always a bad thing; it is an excellent thing when used as a corrective of lukewarmness, when controlled by a highminded singleness of purpose and sense of duty- And if the Celt errs on the side of impatience, does not the Saxon, perhaps, err equally (lam inclined to Bay more) on the side of apathy ? It has been said with some truth that no one can arbitrate fairly between England and any other foreign power with whom she is at dispute, because it is impossible not to be influenced by the knowledge that England will submit to any pecuniary loss, and is not easily roused to action, and this knowledge exposes every arbitrator to the strong temptation of deciding against England. So let us not be ashamed to bear our part as ancient Britions and as Masons of bringing into the natural character some of that impatience of all that is untrue, all that is below those high ideals which we are ever putting before ourselves. Such impatience, combined with wisdom and oharity, will be an honour and not a disgrace.

FROM THE ‘VOICE OF MASONRY.’ ‘ Each waiting soul must claim its own when the Archangel soundeth, 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 seathless from the fire; The Himalayan peaks shall yield their charge, and the desolate Steppes of Siberia., The Maelstrom disengorge its spoil, and the iceberg manumit its captive; All shall teem with life, the converging frag, ments of humanity, Till every conscience essence greets its individual frame ; For in some dignified similitude, alike, yet different in glory, This body shall be shaped anew, fit dwelling for the soul; The hovel hath grown to a palace, the bulb hath hurst into flowsr; Matter hath put on incorruption, and is at peace with spirit.

THE GOVERNOR’S CIRCULAR.

(FEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.) . AUCKLAND, November 20. The Prince of Wales Masonio Lodge met to-night to consider the circular letter of the Governor relative to the United Grand Lodge of New Zealand. The following resolution was passed “ That the Worship, ful Master be inform our right worshipful brother that," while duly appro, ciating his desire to heal the dissensions at the present existing amongst Freemasons in this Colony, and while they are willing to consider any suggestions he may make to that end, the members of this Lodge have absolutely deoided nob to sever their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England under any circumstances.”