MASONIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8861, 19 July 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

MASONIC.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —You guve ouo sids of the question in this morning's Times: will you oblige those who believe in the other side by publishing the reply of ths master of Lodge St. Andrew, Auckland, entitled " An Important Precedent." —I am, &c, T. G. Db Kbhzy, P.M. Dunedin, July 16. AN IMPORTANT PRECEDENT.—LODGE ST. ANDREW,'4IB, 8.0. TO THE BDITOB. g lßl —Under the above_ heading a report of the proceedings at a meeting held in the Freemasons' Hall on Thursday evening receives considerable prominence in last evening's issue of tha Star, and as your information has evidently been furnished by a partisan I respectfully claim the right to sot bafors your ror.dera tha other side or the 6tory. Tha facts of (he case are briefly as follow :—About 12 months ago Lodge St. Andrew, after ample notico and full discussion, unanimously resolved to join the then projected Grand Lodge of New Zealand. Thu lodge subsequently unanimously confirmed that resolution, "and in due course, when the Grand Lodge of New Zealand had been constituted, Lodge St. Andrew recently again reaffirmed its decision, and commenced work under dispensation from tha Grand Loilgo of New Zealand. On the lastnamed occasion, Bro. the Rev. F. Gould (who presided at the meeting on Thursday evening) was present, and recorded his voto against the- resolution, his being the only adverse vote. Ali members of the lodge had full notice of these meetings, and had the oppcrtuuity of attending and exorcising thsir privilege of voting on the subject under discussion. The Provincial Grand Master, Sir Frederick Whitaker, was fully aware of what was going on, and he neither prohibited, disapproved of, nor objected to our proceedings, and we had every reason to assume, as we did, that we had his tacit consent and permission. The meeting hold on Thursday evening is Biid to have bean convened under authority from Sir Frederick Whitaker, but I am certain that oar respected brother will blush when he discovers how he has been misled as to the number Riid qualifications of those who desire to work the lodge under its old allegiance. Of those present only three are qualified to vote, and of these one at least was there, I believe, only cut of curiosity, as he has always hitherto voted in favour of joining the Grand Lodge of New Zealand; and a second has admitted ttiat he regrets signing a petition to Sir Fredsrick requesting permission to continue tha old working, having been induced to do so by misrepresentation; and lastly, tha worthy chairman himself occupies an anomalous and somewhat invidious position in relation to the lodge, as his own conscience must tell him.

Under these circumstances, sir, you will no cloubt agree with me, that to establish the precedent that the deliberately-adopted decision of a loOge or any other bsSy can be thus thwarted and rendered abortivo would be contrary to all recognised theory or practice either in law or equity. It is one of the fundamental principles of Freemasonry that the awards and decisions of the majority of brethren in open lodge' assembled shall be accepted as binding by the minority, and any departure from this custom must necessarily lead to anarchy and confusion. It is to be regretted that Sir Frederick Whitaker, with all his legal acumen and lengthened experience of life, ia blind to the fact, clearly apparent to everyone else who has looked into tho question, that he is msrely a puppet in the hands of a iew designing members of the fraternity who are pulling the strings, and who have their own purposes to serve in thus endeavouring to hinder the accomplishment of the wishes of the great majority of the craft—namely, the establishment of one strong Masonic authority in New Zealand instead of a number of incompetent and irresponsible ones.

We are informed by our opponents that letters have been received from Scotland to the effect that any extraordinary powers assumed or exercised by Provincial Grand Masters ia the present emergency will be ratified and confirmed by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, irrespective of whether their acts are legal or not. I cannot believe that any Grand Lodge would act in such an arbitrary and unjust manner, least of &\l our venerated mother of Scotland; but if it is possibly true, it surely supplies another and a very strong argument in favour of self-government by a Grand Lodge elected by and accountable to ourselves, instead of an autocratic and irresponsible body at the other side of the world, who cannot possibly know anything of our wishes and requirements. The indiscreet course sanctioned by Sir Frederick Whitaker is certain to have effects injurious, if not disastrous to Freemasonry in New Zealand; but although it may retard the full accomplishment of our work, it cannot prevent or destroy it, and it is profoundly to be regretted that our worthy and esteemed brother has been led to adopt measures which I feel convinced he will yet bitterly repent.

I have trespassed considerably on your valuable space, but the matter is engrossing the attention of a large section of the community at present, and this must be my excuse for asking that that this communication may be inserted without abridgement.—l am, &c, John Pace, R.W.M. oi Lodge St. Andrew.