Grand Lodge Of South Australia.

GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA .

A QUARTERLY Communication of this Grand Lodge was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Plinders-street , Adelaide , on Wednesday , the 17 th October . After the confirmation of the minutes of the Communication of Grand Lodge held on the 18 th July , and the receipt of the Report

of the Board of General Purposes , the Most Worshipful Grand Master ( the Hon . S . J . Way , Chief Justice , & c . ) called attention to the observations of the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , the Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master of England , with respect to South Australian Freemasonry in the Grand Lodge of England , at its Quarterly Communication in June last , and moved : —

. 1 . That this Grand Lodge whilst affirming its independent and sovereign Masonio jurisdiction within the country nnder its government , deems it desirable that the privilege shonld exist of vesting in H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , as Grand Patron of the South Australian Constitution , the final decision of such appeals as may be

referred to him with respect to any difference arising between this Grand Lodge and any other Grand Lodge or Grand Lodges , or with respect to any differences in regard to the Antient Landmarks arising within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of South Australia ,

snch appellate jurisdiction only to arise in the event of any such dispute being referred to H . R . H . the Grand Patron , with his permission , by resolution of this Grand Lodge and of any other Grand Lodge concerned , and with the consent of the Grand Master for the time being .

2 . That the Grand Master be requested to bring the foregoing resolutions nnder the notice of H . R . H . the Grand Patron , and in the event of H . R . H . graciously consenting to undertake the jurisdiction above referred to , the General Laws aud Constitutions be amended so aa to give effect thereto .

These two propositions having been unanimously agreed to , some other matters of business were considered and Grand Lodge was closed .

Another Masonic Manuscript.

ANOTHER MASONIC MANUSCRIPT .

THE "THOMAS W . TEW MS . " BRO . WM . WATSON , of Leeds , has sent me for transcription another copy of the " Old Charges , " by desire and with the consent of the R . W . Bro . T . W . Tew P . G . D ., the esteemed Prov . G . M . of West Yorkshire . This parchment roll was presented in October last to the Masonic Library and Museum formed in that Province , by Bro . . J . W . Cocking W . M . 2035 , in whose family the

document has been preserved for several generations . It is composed of three strips of parchment of over six inches in width , two being long and' of about equal length , and the third , forming the concluding portion , being much shorter . The whole extends to some six and a-half feet in

length , and is well written , only at times not easily decipherable , as the roll is considerably worn or rubbed in some parts . Its age apparently is about two centuries , and the text is mainly of the ordinary kind ( save as to several

original additions and alterations ) until the conclusion is approached , when numerous departures may be noticed , and entirely fresh matter and new regulations are introduced , quite new to me , and making this valuable MS . a

suv generis . In consequence of this latter facfc Bro . Watson has obtained tho approval of the Prov . G . M . —after whom , and in whose . honour , by desire of the donor , ifc has been most

appropriately named—for its publication by me in the Christmas number of the Freemason , in which paper I feel assured it will be a mosfc attractive feature , and be welcomed by the ever-increasing band of Masonic students .

lam now carefully collating it with the other MSS ., and hope to announce its peculiarities and distinctive character in time for the reproduction , so thafc the value of the " T . W . TEW MS . " may be fully appreciated , especially by the thousands of brethren in West Yorkshire , where the

R . W . Bro . Thomas W . Tew is beloved and respected . W . J . HUGHAN

The Rate and Tax Payers' Assessment Protection Association has been registered under the Provisions of the Limited Liabilities Act , the object of the company being to protect its shareholders against the excessive valuation of

any property liable to be assessed for rates or taxes , and to perform all matters relating to the equalization nf taxe' . The objects are no doubt praiseworthy , but is it possible to do all that is promised or even nrpfed in thp prnspnetn . s of tlio Association :

Complimentary Dinner To Brother J. L. Mather.

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO BROTHER J . L . MATHER .

ON Saturday a number of brethren assembled at " Ye Cheshire Cheese , " Addle-street , E . G ., for fche purpose of giving a complimentary dinner to Bro . John L . Mather Past G . A . D . of C . The chair was taken by Bro . Fredk . Binckes P . G . S . B ., who was supported by Bro . James Terry P . G . S . B . in the Vice-chair , and the following brethren : —W . Roebuck , C . F . Hogard . J . Larkin , W .

Hirst , J . B . Terry , T . Cubitt , T . H . Miller , J . Lichtenfeld , G . Kenning , George Gardner , R . Baker ( Hon . Sec ) , John Barnett jun . ( Hon . Treas . ) , J . A . Berther , W . Maple , T . Griffiths , John G . Stevens , J . Daley , G . P . Gillard , Thomas , J . S . Richardson , W . W . Morgan , & c . The guest of the evening — Bro . J . L . Mather

occupied the posfc of honour on fche Chairman ' s right , and met a hearty welcome at the hands of his friends . At the conclusion of the dinner the Chairman proposed the toast of the Queen . He referred to fche visit to this country of the widowed Empress of Germany , and felt assured that the solace and commiseration she

would receive at the hands of her countrymen wonld have a tendenoy to console her in her great sorrow . The health of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and other members of tha Royal Family was next given . Bro . Binckes referred to the great popularity of the Heir Apparent , which was greater than that

enjoyed by any one who had ooonpied a similar position in days gone by . In proposing the toast of fche evening , fche health and prosperity of Bro . Mather , the Chairman said he did not intend to go through any stereotyped form of expression , but rather to call for a hearty outburst of sincere enthusiasm .

The roof fchey were that night under—fche old Cheshire Cheese —conld not boast of the palatial proclivities of other establishments in this great metropolis . Consequent on its limited accommodation the invitations issued for tbe present gathering had been necessarily restricted , and but for this he was convinced a mnch

larger assembly could have been brought together to do honour to the occasion . Even the few invitations ifc had been possible to send forth , and which had been accepted , had not in every case produced a representative—illness and an impending domestic calamity had militated against a full assembly ; still he mighfc claim

for those around him that they were a sturdy band of tried friends who had gathered round Brother Mather to support him in his new venture . So much for the roof under whioh they were assembled ; now for a closer relationship . Bro . John Lawrence Mather had gone through some hard work in

Freemasonry , that had tended to gain for him the esteem in which he is now held . Doubtless at the present time he had many difficulties to contend with , but it was the fervent wish of his friends—absent as well as present—thafc he should have health and strength to surmount those difficulties , and that his present undertaking might result in a

satisfactory manner . The toasfc was heartily received , and Bro . Mather , in reply , expressed the gratification he felt at the reception accorded him that evening . It had been his greafc aim , both within and outside the circle of Free * masonry , to gain the approbation of his fellow men . He trusted that to some extenfc he had succeeded . Ifc would be an incentive to him

when he knew thafc he had so many well wishers . He saw around him friends wifch whom he had been associated many years . Bro . Terry and he had worked together for the pasfc twenty-five years ; with Bro . Binckes he had been closely associated for twenty years ; while Brother Richard Baker had ever proved himself a true

and sympathetic friend ; bnt it would be unwise to still further particularise ; all ho could hope was that he mighfc long enjoy and deserve the friendship of those who had that night assembled to do him honour . " The Corporation " was replied to by Bro . T . Hastings Miller CO ., and then Bro . Roebuck proposed the health of Brother

Binckes , the Chairman , and that brother having acknowledged the toast , that of the Hon . Secretary and Treasurer was given , Bro . Barnett replying . The Masonic Press was coupled with the name of Bro . W . W . Morgan , who duly responded , shortly after which the proceedings were brought to a conclusion .

A Disclaimer.

A DISCLAIMER .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DKAR SIK , —It having come to our knowledge that a Mr . F . Johnson , styling himself the Founder and Honorary Secretary of the National Refuge Harbours Society , has widely circulated appeals for monev , issued from 22 Charing Cross , and distributed at

the Life Saving Appliances Exhibition ac the Alexandra Palace , of which he has been advertised as Managing Director , and elsewhere ; such appeals setting forth that the said Society is under our patronage , we wish ifc to be as publicly known as possible that such nse of

our names is not only without our sanction , but in some cases contrary to our direct orders . We further wish it to be nnderstood that we are not desirous of assisting Mr . F . Johnson in any of hid undertakings , which , in our opinion , are unworthy of public support .

Your obedient Servants , GEORGM HAMILTON , First Lord of tho Admiralty EDWARD STANHOPE , Secretary of State for War . HARTINGTON . LATHOJt , Lord Chnmberlain . M . E . HICKS BEACH , Ptesidenfc Board of Trade . LONDON , 24 th Nov . 1838 .

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FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended in London and Country , by Bro . G . A . HUTTOKT , 17 Newcastle yt . reol , Strand , W . C . Monumonts erected . Valuations made .