Masonic.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 995, 27 March 1891, Page 7

Masonic.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. F. F. (Palmerston North). —The matter was decided in favour of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. G. —Not for six months. FAVOURS RECEIVED. Masonic Chronicle, New Zealand Craftsman, and Luce e Conoordik. WELLINGTON LODGE. The regular monthly meeting of the Wellington Lodge, 1521 E.C., was held at the Freemason’s Hall. Wellington, on Friday, the 20th inst. There was a capital attendance of members and visitors The business of the evening consisted of a Passing, and the ceremony was performed by the W.M., Bro. J. H. Richardson, the Working Tools being presented by the acting J. W., Bro. VV. Jessup, and the lecture being delivered by Bro. George Robertson, P.M., who, owing to the unavoidable absence of the S. W., filled that brother’s plaoe. After some farther business had been transacted the Lodge was closed in love, peace, and harmony at 9.45 p.m. THE MALICIOUS BLACKBALL. Tho rejection of candidates, proposed for initiation into the mysteries, fornu a subject for considerable correspondence in the Canadian Masonic publications, and we are pleased to notice that tho articles are written with remarkable ability while evolving numerous suggestions worthy of mature consideration. Attention is called to the alarming extent to which, under the existing system, the blackballing of candidates is being carried on for the gratification of personal spite, and of malice against the candidate or his proposer. This abuse of franchise appears to have wrought serious damage to the Fraternity in Canada, as the appearance of the solitary blackball amid a cluster of white ones has oftentimes led to the rejection of desirable material, and, in nine cases out of ten, men of reputation and influence, once rejected, will never again, from motives of self-re-spect, reapply for admission into the Craft. But the mo3t violent opposition is manifested by a majority of the writers against a propn?ed amendment to the Constitution, providing that immediate notice of all rejections, with names and particulars, be sent to the Grand Secretary, to the D.D.G M., and to the Masters of lodges, having concurrent jurisdiction with the lodge rejecting the candidate, the officers to register the same. As this notification would result in a partial publication, did it not terminate in a general publication through common talk, the prooo3ition is denounced as unmasonio, as uncharitable, and in violation of the spirit of the laws of the land. A MISSOURI INNOVATION. The Philadelphia Keystone of the 27th December contains a leader entitled ‘ For 1 the first time,’ iu which it very severely and very properly condemns an innovation which appears to have been introduced in Missouri Lodge, No 1, St Louis, in connection with the Third Degree. Tho following is a description of the meeting at which this ceremony w»3 worked under such unusual circumstances, the lodge being, vvo are told, so numerously attended that a number of the brethren were unable to gain admission, as • not even standing room was available,’ it being * for the first time in the history of Masonry in this jurisdiction the Degree was conferred in full costume.’ What this meant will be gathered from tho following account of the officers and members of the lodge as they appeared on this occasion : ‘ The Worshipful Master’s robe being of extra fine purple silk velvet, with elaborate trimmings of gold bullion fringe and gold braid. Crown gold-plated, with interior cap of purple silk riohly jewelled Sceptre goldpiated. The Senior Warden’s robe is of extra fine scarlet silk velvet, riohly trimmed with go'd bullion fringe. Head-dress richly jewelled tiara front crown. The Junior Warden’s robe is of blue silk velvet trimmed with gilt laoe and braids, with gold-plated head-dress. T> e Senior Deacon’s robe is of purple velvet trimmed with heavy satin and gilt laces, with turban of purple merino and yellow satin. The Junior Deacon's robe is thesamestyleasthatof theSeniorDeacon, but of blue velvet. The robes of the Stewards are of fine quality blue merino, trimmed with silver lace. Caps of blue merino with silver trimmings. The Craftsmen of blue sateen, with Oriental folded turban ; and the three special Craftsmen wore robes of brown sateen, with turbans similar to the other Craftsmen.’

What the Keystone thinks of this innovation may bo gathered from the following remarks of our worthy contemporary : ‘ Whenever anything is now done “for the first time” in Freemasonry, any one is justified in inquiring—ls it lawful? And the authoritative answer is certain to be—No. Wo may not, in this nineteenth century, begin auy usage in the Craft “for the first time.” Hundreds of thousands of years have determined what may and what may not be done. Freemasonry is not an undiscovered country, into which a new people may outer to crowd out the old ; into which a new civilisation may be introduced to replace one that is alleged to be effete ; into which novel ceremonies and usages may be foisted, to replace the ancient usages, customs and landmarks. Whatever is new in Masonry is more than questionable—it is evidently unlawful. The true Freemason does not inquire in the Craft for what is new, but for what is old—the old principles, the old traditions, the old usages, the old land-

marks. If any usage is new, he knows it to be not permissable.’ The article concludes thus : ‘We never saw the Third Degree conferred “in costume ” hut once, when visiting in another jurisdiction, and we never de3ire to see it again. In all earnestness we say banish from Freemasonry whatever tends to make it a mere show. Any Masonic work, correctly, intelligently, and impressively performed will command a large audience of faithful, earnest Master Masons and seekers after light. It needs not a “jewelled tiara,” or “gilt laces,” or a “turban of pnrple merino, ’' or “robes of brown sateen” to mark a Freemason. In such clothing a Freemason is disguised. It is unsuitable, unmeaning, unauthorised by any usage except the moat recent, and that only on certain jurisdictions. Our mother Graad Lodge of England knows nothing about this costuming of Masonio officers in Royal robes. We received our first lodges, and with them our Masonic principles, from her, and when we depart from her usages wo depart from Freemasonry itself. The fact that “ costumes ” have, in the few jurisdictions which admit them, bean only of late used “ for the first time,” condemns them without appeal ns unlawful and uu-Masonic. GLEANINGS. Grand Master Taylor, of Arkansas, says ; •No libertine, no scoffer of woman's purity, should be made a Mason. The true Mason not only holds the wife, mother, sister, and daughter of a brother sacred, but carefully guards the honour and welfare of all women, and delights in their chastening influence. * # * In the reading room of the Alasonie Hall at Sandhurst is a lodge warrant of the I.C. dated 1759. It was found amongst the effects of a brother who died on that gold-field many years ago. The warrant is of parchment, and is about the size of a sheet of note paper, opened out. * * * A tax of twenty-five cents is levied by the Grand Lodge of California upon all brethren returned by each lodge. The fund thus raised is used to pay the fare of one representative of every lodge distant over fifty miles from San Francisco, to attend Grand Lodge. An admirable idea. * * * The New York Despatch enumerates a number of what it calls ‘ Crevasses iu Masonry,’ as follows Carelessness in admitting applicants for initiation ; failure to discipline members for un-Masonic conduct ; introducing political methods into Masonry ; and permitting a variety iu the forms of work. Brethren, avoid all crevasses, for they are always dangerous and often fatal.’ * * * The total results of the festivals in Loudon this year in aid of tne Masonic charities was as follows :—Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution, £13,850; Royal Institution for Girls, £II,OOO ; ditto for Boys, £9500 ; total, £34,850, being aa increase iu 1539 of £I9OO. * * The true Mason is he who helps lii3 Order to effect its greatest purpose. The Order can do nothing by itself apart from its members. * * * Masonry in the State of New York was first practised by a military lodge. So it was in Australia. Out of the nine lodges which assembled to form the Grand Lodge of New York iu 1782, six were military lodges. WHAT MIGHT BE DONE. What might be done if men were wise What glorious deeds, my suffering brother, Would they unite, In love and right, And cease their scorn for one another. Oppression’s heart might be Imbued With kindling drops of loving kindness, And knowledge pour From shore to shore, Light on the mental blindness. All slavery, waifare, lios and wrongs, All vice and crime might die together ; And wine and corn, To each man born, Be free as warmth in summer weather. The meanest wretch that ever trod. Tho deepest sunk in shame and sorrow, Might stand erect, In self-respect, And share the teeming woitd to-morrow. What might be done? This might be done, And more than this, my suffering brother, More than the tongue E’er said or sung, If men were wise and loved each other. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION".) Christchurch, March 22. The Grand Nevada Lodge has duly re. cognised the Grand Lodge of New Zealand as of full masonic authority within this country.