Masonic.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1060, 23 June 1892, Page 11

Masonic.

.FAVOURS RECEIVED. Australasian Keystone, London Freemason, and Masonia Chronicle (New York). SUPPOSED FREEMASONRY IN THE SOUTH SEAS. FURTHER REMARKS BY BRO. JOHN GAGGIN. We have received the following extract from Bro. John Gaggin, of the Doric Lodge, N.S.W., which may be considered a supplement to his very interesting lecture published in last issue :

Since writing the above I have made a few extracts from recent works, which seem to me to bear on the subject. In Woodford's book ‘ Among the Head Hunters ’ (in Solomon’s) page 182 he remarks, Tindals is a sacred emblem, it is a ‘Gela’ word (i.e. Florida) ; ‘ Tindio ’ on Guadalconar, and ‘ Mandole ’ on Snvo (page 26). ‘ I was the witness on two or three occasions of offerings of the first fruits of crops being made to the * tindio ’ presiding over them, the natives refusing to eat them until the ceremony had been performed.’ (Page 30): ‘The men frequently wear a mop-like wig, whitened with lime.’ (Page 149): ‘ On the shore close to the jetty is a peculiar looking object, and upon my first visit,here I wished to approach it to make a more minute examination, but the natives opposed me so strenuously that I desisted ; it is apparently a sorb of shrine, a small roof is built over it, and some sacred emblems are placed round it ; on tbe ground is a heap of dry skulls ; it is regarded with the greatest veneration, no woman may come anywhere near it. , . Every village in the lagoon has a corresponding creation, but they do not all take the same form.’ The Picturesque Atlas of Australasia (pago fiSO)' speaking of the Duke of York Islands, near New Britain, says : ‘ The Due-due house into which no woman or uninitiated dare go, and a “malira” or spell house. . .’ The Messrs Chalmers and Gills’ recent book ‘ Work and Education in New Guinea ’ page 138, we read, in speaking of the Gulf of Papua: ‘ Gatfcing ashore and the boat going off into deep water, we were led through the village or collection of villages, and at last up and on to the platform of a large temple, sacred to Semase ; no woman has ever enterod that lempl.e or stood on that plat- | form ; hanging high up over'iead is a repro- i sentatiou of a mermaid, half Osh and half human ; it looked old, certainly, as if not made in recent years. We asked them what it represented, and were told they appeared sometimes on the sea opposite. Inside the temple were sleeping benches running dowu both sides, and at each post an idol—the figure of a man representing Seinese. Turtlenets were kept inside, sticks with bunches of empty nuts attached, used in dancing, and drums were hanging about. There were no windows, and only one door opening in from the platform.’ Page 151 ; ‘Their priosts are sacred and their temples; no females or youths are alio wed near. ’ Page 230 : ‘During that time the men remain in the temple for five moons, but no woman must bo seen, and no children dare {approach ; thoy lnivo food brought and left outsiefb, and when the porters bringing it have retired, it is carried inside. In two of the temples were a number of lads from 10 to 18 who were supposed not to be seen by their parents or their friends When they entered their heads were shaven, aud they remain until the hair grows thick and bushy.’ - Y Mr A. C. Haddow, in Lippincott’s Magazine, speaking of the Torres Strait Islanders, ■ays :— ‘ Supposing our lad to belong to that. division of the western tribe of Torres Strait which is known as the ‘ Kalkalaig, 1 the subse-

quant proceedings will be much as follows The lads are handed over to their uncles, or some other respectable person, by their fathers, who thou cease to have any intercourse with them. They are conducted to the open space sacred to the men where no woman or child over ventures, and which henceforth for them has many deep rooted associations. . . . Their instructors watch and teach them, the traditions are then communicated rules of conduct laid down, information in all branches of native lore is given, and thus generation after generation the things of the fathers are transmitted to the sons. . . .’ Now turn to Herbert Ward’s ‘ Five Years with tlit Congo Cannibals,’ and see what he says. Page 54: ‘Principally among the Bakongo tribes exists the ceremony of the “ Nkimba ” —a masonic order entitling the initiated to certain privileges over “ Mungwata ” or the uninitiated. All the lads of 10 or 12 years of age are eligible, and the majority of them pass through the educational course which lasts from six months to two years, according to the tribal custom; during all this time they are not permitted to wash themselves. They smother their bodies with various coloured chalks, and wear a costume made of gruss. The women and children of the towns are in continual fear of the “ Nkimba ” who are allowed to parade through the villages at any time of the. day or night. Any article of food or clothing can bo appropriated without question, if only the things belong to a “ Mungwata ”or uninitiated person. At the iuduction ceremony the candidate is required to drink a certain potion which renders him insensible. He is then declared to be dead and is carried into the forests whore the operation of circumcision is performed. After a while he is restored, and by the simple village folk ho is believed to be raised from the dead. He then receives a new name, and he professes not to be able to remember liis former tribe or parents. The “Nkimba” declare the rainbow is their father, which they say appears in the heavens upon each occasion of the enrolment of a brother initiate. They also adopt a new language which is of a mysterious character, and though taught to the males is never disclosed to the females. . . .’

I think from the foregoing it must be admitted that most probably among the great negroitic families of men at all events, from Africa to New Guinea and all through the Pacific among the dark Melanesian people, some sort of Masonry exists, prehistoric, even perhaps antediluvian. My chief reason for wishing this matter published is the hope that brethren on the outskirts of our Australian lands, in far New Guinea, in • the wilds of Solomons, and in the countless islands of the South Seas generally, may see tins, and hive their attention roused to make enquiries of their dark friends, and even perchance after a time succeed in being admitted to the secrets of pre-Solomonite Masonry. ULSTER LODGE PETONE INSTALLATION. The installation of the W.M. and investiture of officers of the Ulster Lodge, No. 62, N.Z C., took place in the lodgeroom, Petone, last week. There was a large attendance of brethren from town, including representatives of the Pacific, Waterloo, St. Andrew’s, and Leinster Lodges, aud a number of Grand Lodge officers. The interesting ceremony was conducted by R.W. Bro. H. J. Williams, Grand Superintendent of the Wellington District, assisted by R.W. Bro. E. T. Gillon, P.D.G.M., Y.W. Bro. Hamerfcon, G.S.W. and W. Bro. Dawes, P.G.S. The Grand Lodge offices were filled ae follows :—Acting G.S. W., Bro. H. J. Freeman, P.M.; Acting G.J.W., Bro. Covoney, P.M.; Acting G. Secretary, Bro. Lindsay, P.M. ; Acting Grand S.D., Bro. Tippler, P. M. ; Acting Grand J.D., JBro. France, P.M. ; Acting Grand Director of Ceremonies, W. Bro. Dawes, P. P.G.S. The officers installed and invested were as follows:—W.M. Bro. R. Mothes, P.M. ; S.W.. Bro. R. C. Kirk ; J.W., Bro. A. Marsden ; 'treasurer, Bro. J. G. A. Castle; Secretary, Bro. J. King; Chaplain, Rev Bro. Thomson ; Director of Ceremonies, Bro. T. Oxenham; S D., Bro. J. Nicholson ; J.D., Bro. J. W. Powell ; Organist, Bro. Sherwin ; 1.G., Bro. W. G. Lodder; Tyler, Bro. S. Curtis. After the lodg9 had closed, a very enjoyable social gathering took place, dancing being carried on until an early hour. NOTES AND CLIPPINGS. The annual Grand Lodge Festival of English Freemasons was held at Freemasons’ Hall, London, on the 27th April last, over 300 brethren being present. The following is a list of the principal Grand Officers for the year:—Bro. the Earl of Lathoin, Pro. G.M.; Bro. the Earl of Mount Eilgoumbe, Deputy G.M. ; Bro. the Duke of Portland, S.G.W.; Bro. the Marquis of Granby, J.G. W.; Bro. Rev Sir W. Vincent, Bart., M.A., and Bro. Rev. H. R. Cooper Smith, !>. 1)., G. Chaplains ; Bro. J. D. Murray, G. Treasurer ; Bro. F. A. Philbrick, Q. G. Reg.; Bro. Thomas Fenn, Pres. Bd. of G.P.; Bro. Edward Lotohworth, G. Sec. The toast »f the Most Worshipful Grand Master, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, was proposed by the Earl of Lathoin, who made a suitable reference to the family affliction His Royal Highness had recently suffered. Bro. Sir W. Clarke, G.M. of Victoria, proposed the M.W. Pro. Grand Master, the Earl of Lathoin. Both toasts were cordially honoured. In proposing the toast, of Masonic Institutions, Bro. the Rev C. J. Martyu, P.G.C., referred to the fact that at the Festival of the Masonic Institution, the unprecedented sum of £60,000 was raised. Then, four years ago, when the Grand Master presided at the Centenary Festival of the Girls’ School £50,000 was collected ; and last year when the Pro. Grand Master presided at the Festival of the Boys’ School nearly £30,000 came in. The London Freemason says:—A very unusual circumstance occurred at a meeting of a lodge in the London district on Tuesday evening. A candidate, who had been elected and duly prepared and introduced into the lodge, proved on enquiry to be an agnostic. On "this the Worshipful Master refuged to continue the ceremony and the candidate waa requested to retire.