Masonic.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 998, 17 April 1891, Page 7

Masonic.

ANIWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. F. A. (Masterton). You have been misinformed ; the matter is definitely settled. Craptshan (Petone). —Your clearance certificate must be pi-oduced. R.C.P.—If the brother you refer to is a Past Master ho has a perfect right to do so. FAVOURS RECEIVED. Espana Masonica, Rivista della Massoneria Italiana, South African Freemason, Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Cuba, London Freemason, and the Liberal Freemason. THE GRAND MASTERSHIP. A telegram from Christchurch, dated 9th instant, informed the Craft throughout the Colony that Bro. Lord Onslow had declined nomination as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. No reason was given at the time for this step, but the refusal was explained by His Excellency’s telegrams to the M.W., Grand Master, Bro Henry Thomson, which were read at the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge held .at Invercargill on the 10th instant. His Excellency says that, * But for the inflexible determination to take no step tending towards reconciliation exhibited by Southern Masons ’ he would have seen his way to accept the important position offered to him. This is to be regretted, as his acceptance of the Grand Mastership would have caused alarge number of lodges now holding under the Engglish, Irish, and Scotch Constitutions, to have joined the Grand Lodge, and that practical unanimity which His Excellency desires to see would have been secured in a very short time. As it is, the lodges under the New Zealand Constitution have done all they could to bring about the desired result, and His Excellency’s refusal, therefore, does not rest at their door. If Bro. Lord Onslow intends to wait until everybody is unanimous on the Grand Lodge question, he will have to return to this favoured land when certain District Grand Masters and Officers, who tenaciously cling to their collars, and, selfishly oppose everything that means progress in Masonry, have left this sublunary abode. Probably His Excellency does not know why certain Southern brethren have persistently opposed the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. If he bad, however, taken the trouble to find out the reason, we are sure he would have had no hesitation in allowing himself to be nominated.

With all due deference to Bro Lord Onslow, we certainly think that, notwithstanding the attitude taken up by the Southern brethren, he ought to have taken the lead in the interests of a decided majority now recognised by Masonic bodies all over the world. He expresses a desire to pose solely as a peacemaker, but when) there are brethern who will not have peace at any price matters assume a different aspect, and decisive action is required in order to show the opponents of that unity which is absolutely necessary for the sake of the Craft as a whole that, although they hold opinions of their own, it is unMasonicforthem,being in a minority, to try and hinder a National movement which has been, is, and will continue to be, a decided success. GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND. Invercargill, April 11. The Grand Lodge of New Zealand held the third Quarterly Communication last night, when there was a large attendance from all parts of the district. The Lodge was opened by the M.W.G.M, Bro. H. Thomson, assisted by the Acting Deputy G.M,, Bro. W. Barton. Grand Warden Bro H. Feldwick, and a full complement of acting officers. In the course of his opening speech, the Grand Master referred to the negotiations that had taken place with the view of inducing the Governor to accent the Grand Mastership. Nearly every Lodge under the N.Z.C. had -favoured that course, but unfortunately unanimity with Lodges holding under ottier Constitutions bad not been obtained. To show his Excellency’s position, he read the following telegram : - “ H. Thomson, Christchurch, (Confidential.) Yours received. Have been in communication with number of brethren in different parts of the Colony. Am hopeful of reconcilement, but cannot accept offer at present, or unless some means of reconcilement can be devised. I can never consent to head a party, and still prefer not to bo put forward in any capacity except that of peacemaker. —Onslow.” Since receipt of this the following had come to band, and he was thus enabled to read the confidential telegram jasb referred to“H. Thomson, Tapanui. —I think yon may say thnt bat for the indexible determination to take no step tending towards reconciliation exhibited by Southern Masons, I should have persevered in my efforts to bring about, suoh a Btate of affairs as would have enabled free intercommunication between all New Zealand lodges to be resumed, and my telegram of the 2nd instant is not confidential.—Onslow.” The report of the Board of General Purposes was adopted without discussion. The Board of Benevolence report showed that the benevolent fund had already reached considerably over £IOO, on which calls for oharity had been made up to date to the extent of £2O. Nominations for the election of Grand Offiaers to take place next Quarterly Communioation, were received from lodges in all parts of the Colony. The proceedings were closed in due fo-*m, and the Grand Lodge adjourned to a banquet in Johnson’s Southland Club Hotel. The Grand Master, replying to the. toast of his health, made a lengthy speech, in the coarse of which he said he was perfectly satisfied with the success so far achieved,

and referred to the vigour and enthusiasm shbwn under the new constitution. DISTRICT GRAND LODGE, WELLINGTON. ... The Quarterly Communication of theDistrict Grand Lodge, Wellington, E.C., was held at the Freemasons* Hall, on Tuesday, 9th instant. There were 10 brethren present, and the Deputy District Grand Master presided. The whole of the business occupied about twenty minutes. WHERE ARE THE FUNDS COMING from ? Most of the District Grand Lodges, with J the exception of the one in Westland, have very few lodges now remaining under their jurisdiction, and it will be interesting to seo ? where the funds come from to keep the machinery going. District Grand Secretaries will expect to be paid, whether they do any work or not, as long as the District Grand Lodges exist, and rent, stationery, and postage will also have to be met. Where is the money to come from ? The auditors will have an easy time of it when the next balancesheets are examined. UNIFORMITY OF RITUAL. Grand Recorder CasweiJ, of California, in bis Foreign Correspondence report, says-: * The sticklers for uniformity who would • have every word in the ritual throughout the United States uniform and exact, are simply chasing an ignis-fatuus, a chimerical idea that can never be realised. Let two men learn a ritual word for word, and both be absolutely letter-perfect; then let them separate and go forth in different directions and teach their work to others. On comparing notes at the end of that period, they will be surprised to find how many differences of expression have crept into their cherished ritual. Such a thing as perfect uniformity in verbiage never has been and never will be accomplished. So long as the essential points in the ceremonial are preserved, every intelligent presiding officer will continue to.explain them according to his own ideas of impressiveness and propriety. These sticklers for uniformity remind us of a hide-bound brother iu this jurisdiction, who was posing as an instructor in the symbolic degrees. Being in doubt upon a certain point, he wrote to our Grand Secretary, inquiring which would be the more proper to say, “so good and great a man,” or “so great and good a man.” Bro Abel, who had a soupgon of mischief in his nature in those days, answered that he might hang himself on either horn of the dilemma with perfect propriety.’ “ ' PERSONAL CHARACTER. It is what a man is in himself that determines his true rank—his real qualities. There must be a pronounced individuality—a noble and strong character—as the essential equipment of those who are to lead the world in the beat things of human enterprise. The most attractive representatives of pur race are men who have shown a clearly marked personality, compounded of the elements of grace and of strength. The heroic life always thus presents itself. Consider the greatness of Washington—what was it that gave him pre-eminence ? What was it that contributed most to his success ? Mr Lodge, in his discriminating judgment of Washington, Says : ‘ At the time he drew his sword beneath th® Cambridge elm he stood forth as the first American, the best type of man that the new world could produce, with no provincial taint upon him, and no shadow of the colonial past clouding his path. It was this great quality that gave the struggle that he led a character it would never have attained without a leader so constituted. Had be been merely a colonial Englishman, had he not risen atone® to the conception of an American nation, the world would have looked upon us with - very different eyes. It was the splendid dignity of the man, . quite as much as his fighting capacity, which- impressed Europe. Kings and ministers, looking on dispassionately, soon realised that here was a really considerable man— no ordinary agitator or revolutionist, but a great man, on a great stage, with great conceptions.’ It was the intense individuality of the man, his well-formed character, together with hi-j earnest purpose, and large Acquirements of a varied wisdom that lilted him in an eminent degree for successful leadership in the departments of both military and civil engagement. Personal character is of the first importance. Well may we take pride in the fact that Freemasonry seeks to build on this foundation. It would have men good and true as the very erst requisite. Its precepts, ceremonies, and impressive references to distinguished personages, are intended to develop a sense of accountableness in the individual, and bring him to realise that the formation of a worthy character outranks all other duties. Craftsmen are taught to be builders in a large and glorious way, realising that they must exert an intelligent supervision over themselves in order to produce a structure of being that should be both strong and attractive, Animated by a feeling of personal responsibility they must plan and work, mindful of the fact that—- ‘ Man is his own star; and the soul that can Render an honest and a perfect man, Commands all light, all influence, all fate; Nothing to him falls early or too late. Our acts, our angels are of good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us stili.’