MASONIC.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6989, 18 October 1890, Page 1

MASONIC.

« GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND. Although the Grand Lodge of England has withheld immediate recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, it haa done bo in a manner which can scarcely fail to prove gratifying and encouraging to the latter body. Sir John Monckton, who brought up the Grand report on the subject, and moved that recognition be withheld, was particularly careful to state in his speech that it was not desirable "at present " to recognise the Grand Lodge, as the Craft was not yet sufficiently unanimous in the demand for self -government, or else the Governor, Lord Oaslow, -would have accepted the Grand Mastership. Sir John said it appeared that only a small majority of the Lodges in the Colony had joined the movement, and the Grand Lodge of England would not —in justice to those Lodges which had not done so— recognise the action of a bare majority. Sir Albert Woods (Garter King at Arms) in seconding the motion, expressed an opinion that the Grand Lodge should not be "in a hurry" to grant recognition. The whole of the speeches in reference to the Grand Lodges of New Zealand and Tasmania went to show that the Grand Lodge of England was quite prepared to recognise the right of the draft to self-government if anything like practical unanimitj existed amongßt the brethren in the Colony. It is evident, therefore, that the Lodges which have not yet joined the National Grand Lodge have only to do so in order to obtain full recognition for it in England as well as everywhere else. The proceedings of the Grand Lodge of England ohow conclusively that no spirit of soreness at Lodges severing their connection exists on the part of the Grand Lodge, and that Lodges changing their allegiance do 'not incur any reproach of disloyalty. In fact the whole tone of what was said was in pleasing contrast to the attitude and utterances of some of the District Grand Masters in the Colony. It is apparent that the sooner the Lodges become unanimous, the better pleased will be the Grand Lodge oE England.