Masonic.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1056, 26 May 1892, Page 8

Masonic.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

G.Y. —It is obtainable in any of the principal cities. Such works are not nearly so scarce out here as they wore. United. —The paper referred to is issued in Germany. There requires to be a regular system of communication with these different countries. We know and care too little about each other, although in these days of rapid and inexpensive means ef exchanging views, it should not be long before a fraternal correspondence is officially conducted, which will at length bring about greater harmony and a better understanding. FAVOURS RECEIVED. The Australasian Keystone ; Now Zealand Craftsman ; London Freemason. The Pro. Grand Master of South Australia, Chief Justice Way, lias just roturued to his homo from an extended journey through Europe and America. As an enthusiastic Mason, he visited many lodges during his travels, and has been giving his Adelaide brethren the benefit of his observations. Bro. Way was prosent in the Grand Lodge in England, and was deeply impressed by the manner in which its business was conducted. He says ‘lt is impossible for any visiting brother to bo present at a communication of the Grand Lodge of England—the mother Grand Lodge of the woild—without profound emotion. On the dais and on the floor you see some the most distinguished Masons in the world ; the portraits of great leaders of the Craft who have passed to the Grand Lodge aboro, look down upon you from the walls, while the diguiby and decorum of the proceedings are commensurate with the prestige of the assenr ly.’ Ho speaks in the highest terms of the English Charities. He was particularly impressed with the surroundings of the girls’ school, which he describes as ‘ the most lovely flower of English Masonry, whether you consider the beauty of the building, or the brightness and hopefulness of the scholars, who are 264 in number, or the thoroughness and excellence of the training they are receiving for the duties of life,’

The Grand Lodges in America take a closor supervision of the working than we do. There is a Grand Masonic Temple at New York, rivalling that of Philadelphia, erected at a cost of .between £30,000 and £40,000, which has all been paid. It contains many lodge rooms, one of which seats 1000. The rentals from the basement and the lodge rooms reach the sum of £IO,OOO, every penny of which is available among the Masonic charities. At Utica they have established schools for boys and girls, and a home for distressed brethren, the building being worth from £30,000 to £40,000 all paid for.

The necessity for discharging the duty of charitable assistance to needy brethren is recognised by Bro. Nicoll, G. M. of the New Zealand Grand Lodge, as will bo remembered by those who read the speech delivered recently at Auckland. Much is being done in tile way of benevolence by Australian brethren. At a Masonic service held at Sale, Victoria, recently, Bro. the Rev. E. A. Thomas, P.M., preached an eloquent sermon on the text ‘ Let all your things bo done with charity.’ In the course of his address, he said, we.quote the Keystone :—There was one way in which the brethren must quit themselves like men, and that was * Let all their doings be done with charity.’ The strong man was a pitiful man. The strong man was a courteous man—a man ready to protect the weak. Charity and benevolence wore amongst their watchwords, and they were taught to succour those who required it far as practicable. Those who read the day s papers would see in them the report of the Grand Lodge, which showed that no less than £oooo had been voted from the funds of the Order to relieve distress, and ho was prepared to believe that w&i a small sum compared to that which had been given by private Masons, who had been spurred on to do so by the principles of the Order. He was glad to know that the offertory that evening was to be devoted to the funds of the local Ladies Benevolent Society. They could not have chosen a nobler object. He was, of course, unable to Bpeak of the local society, but he knew that he could always rely on a kindred society in Melbourne to relievo cases of distress when brought before them. A dark cloud was now over our laud. Whore he came from children needod broad. He was not exaggerating in saying so. He knew where the eldey child ia a family went round

asking for what was left on the table, so that the younger ones need not go to bed hungry. Ho lived on the fringe of a poor district, and did not speak from mere hearsay, and they did well to have this fund, and this noble band of ladies to distributo it. They recognised Freemasonry as an institution that was ministering to the needs of the poor, and they should all act up to God’s own word. ‘ All men are brethren, and all men should help each other, especially those who are in distress.’ The Grand'Lodge of Tasmania, which was only established in June, 1890, has twenty lodges on its roll, the membership being under 1000. The English Fremason for April contains references to many Lodges of Sorrow held throughout the Empire in honour of the late lamented Duke of Clarence and Avondale, Past S.G.W. of England. The New York Dispatch had an interesting article, headed ‘ The Dignity of Freemasony.’ From the tone of the concluding sentences it is evident that in America, as in other parts of the world, many mon join the craft merely for mercenary purposes, and do not prove themselves worthy Masons. Our contemporary says :—We ought to recognise the dignity of our positions as Masons. The fact that a man was connected with the Institution ought to be a passport into any respectable society. Membership in a lodge ought to give a man an undoubted reputation for honesty and fair dealing. The reason such L nob the case is because we do not recognise the dignity that attaches to membership in the Institution. Men unite with it for mercenary purposes, and do not respect the principles of virtue that are inculcated. Such men are not Masons, except in name. Thoy do not possess the qualification of heart or mind necessary to fit them for the dignity of Masonry, They have falsified their very first statements. They were not ‘ prepared in heart,’ a 9 they professed to be, for the revelations of Truth that were made to them. Alas, that there are so many in the Institution whose lives belie their professions, and whose actions destroy the dignity of the name they ' bear ! The dignity of Masonry cannot be j preserved without a more careful selection of . men for members—those who will dignify the Institution and the Institution will dignify. I

A Master should not be greater or ‘ bigger ’ than his lodge. The election and installation does not make him an autocrat but simply * Master of the Work.’ He is termed ‘ Worshipful’ that he may command the respect of his brethren. It is just as easy to govern a lodge with justice and moderation as with harshness. The law that governs him, governs the lodge and the entire Fraternity. The ritual and esoteric work is the same; the same questions arise in every lodge, and we can not see why there should bo any difference in the getting along of the several lodges. Some are prosperous, some are simply holding their own, others are drooping and lagging, while some again (and we are glad they are very few) are troubled with internal dissentions. The fault lies generally with the Master. There must be a perfect unity of feeling between the Master and the members. Ho is not put there to reward his friends or punish Ins enemies, and the political cry, ‘To the victors belong the spoils,’ has no echo in a Masonic lodge. Tradition says that during the seven years of building the Temple, naught but peaco and harmony prevailed. The Symbolic Lodge should be as the actual Temple was.—The Keystone.

First impressions in Freemasonry, as elsewhere, count for a good deal, and special care should be taken to rightly impress candidates for the Masonic degrees at the outset. In order that this should be done there must be a wise selection of deacons and stewards, for these officers'are brought into close relations with candidates in the preparation room and during the progress if the ceremony. Brethren disposed to flippancy or coarseness are sadly out of place when actingin the positions named. The average man does not care to be joked with about ‘riding the goat ’ or ‘ sitting on a gridiron,’ as he i 3 waiting to be introduced into the first mysteries of the Masonic system. A dignified and considerate course of procedure at the beginning will be sure to impress the candi date favourably.—Freemason’s Repository.

Bro. Edward Letch worth, P.G.D., has been appointed Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England. Bro. Letchworth, who was initiated in 1875, is a Mason of high standing and has seen much service. He is a P. M. of several lodges. In 1877 he was appointed Prov. G. Reg. of Middlesex, and in 1884 a J.G. Deacon of England. He has also held high office in the Royal Arch ; the Mark Master Masons ; the Order of the Temple ; the Ancient and Accepted Rite; the Order of Rome and Red Cross of Constantine ; Royal and Select Masters; the Royal Order of Scotland for London ; and the Order of the Secret Monitor. He lias acted for several years on the Board of General Purposes, Colonial Board, and General Committee of Grand Chapter. He has rendered valuable services to the Boys’ School, Girls’ School, and Benevolent Institution. The appointment is likely to give satisfaction, as Bro. Letchworth is a goae business man, as well as an enthusiasti Mason. The salary is £IOOO per annum.