Freemasonry In New Zealand.

FREEMASONRY IN NEW ZEALAND .

WE have been permitted to make the following extracts from a letter written by a member of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , which are interesting as showing the feeling of our Antipodean Brethren at the delay in officially communicating the recognition of Grand Lodge , but of course

without in any way supporting the opinions of the writer . As our readers are aware , we have expressed ourselves strongly in the past as to the un-Masonic spirit displayed in regard to the recognition of the Brethren forming the Grand Lodge of

New Zealand . The perusal of this letter , and a consideration of the statements it contains , as to the course adopted previous to the formation of the Independent Grand Lodge , not only confirms the opinion we had previously formed , but goes far

to prove that the spirit of Freemasonry has been conspicuously absent in connection with this question , although it is very difficult to imagine who has felt it worth while to oppose

what appears to be the natural course of events , or why so much disregard should have been shown to the wishes of a very large section of the Colonial Brotherhood . Even now it would seem the breach has not been healed , else official

notification would have been sent from England as to the decision arrived at in Grand Lodge , and , one would have thought , the right hand of good fellowship would have been extended to our New Zealand Brethren long before the date

of the letter we now quote . The subject , from the beginning , appears to us to have been associated with such a display of un-Masonic feeling as to be really a disgrace to those who

have kept up the grievance . The opposition may have been perfectly regular from a legal point of view , but as a display of Freemasonry , with its boasted principles of Brotherly Love , it has been a distinct and utter failure—little less than a

scandal and a disgrace to Freemasonry , that must have been very hurtful to many of its truest members . The mystery to us is how Brethren can have continued preaching the lessons

of the Graft and at the same time keep up what , after all , was but a sentimental grievance , in regard to the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand .

Dunedin , November 1896 . DEAR BROTHER , —I am glad to receive the FREEMASON ' CHBONICLB of 13 th June and 25 th July , and also the Agenda paper of the United Grand Lodge of England for 29 th July , and

note that part of the business is to receive a message from the M . W . Grand Master re the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand . As the Grand Lodge of New Zealand takes in both the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE and the " Freemason" we

have seen that " the message " was carried , and the minutes of that Special Meeting were confirmed at the Quarterly Communication on 2 nd September . Although we are very glad that we have obtained this Kecognition yet we are not going to gush over

it nor kill the fatted calf . We do not intend to rush into the arms of our quondam Brothers who have for the last six years and a half kept us at a distance , aud whose Officers—especially in the District Grand Lodges—have heaped upon us all the most

opprobious and un-Masonic epithets they could conceive . We have not retaliated , we knew that our cause was just , and therefore we could afford to wait until the tide turned , when we knew that we should be held to be justified in our actions

Freemasonry In New Zealand.

during the past eight or ten years , for it is nearly this time since the initial steps were taken to inaugurate the Grand Lodge of New Zealand . So now in our success we say " No Cards , No Cake , No Fuss . " Our doors have always been open to our Brothers , many of whom have consorted with us all through , though they did not join us .

As we were very anxious that our Brothers everywhere should know what action we have taken , this seems a fitting opportunity of letting you know how we acted . 1 . Meetings of the Brethren were held in all our large centres of population as well in other smaller towns . Each Constitution was represented , English , Irish , and Scotch . The

whole matter was discussed from every point of view . Masonic Unions were formed in Auckland , Wellington , Christchurch , and Otago , all of which kept in close touch with each other . Every Lodge in the country was consulted , short pamphlets and letters were addressed to all Secretarys and W . Ms . Eventually a resolution , agreed to by all the Masonic Unions , was framed and

sent to every Lodge in the Colony , asking the Lodge to reply to the Central Union at . Wellington ,. in order that they might focus the question and take steps accordingly . ' " The answers re ' sulted thus—For a Grand Lodge of New Zealand , 92 Lodges—Against , 21—No action , 35—making a total of 148 , the number of Lodges then in the Colony .

A conference of Past Masters was held at Wellington , on 11 th and 12 th September 1889—about 120 Past-Masters being present—apologies being sent for the unavoidable absence of thirty-five Lodge representatives . Between the years 1876-1889 the subject was debated from every point of view . Some thought the Grand Lodges of England and Scotland should be

consulted before taking action , but it was clearly shown that those Grand Lodges had previously affirmed their inability to form a Grand Lodge , or to give their sanction to such step being taken—that the proposal and its accomplishment must come from within—that the right to form a Grand Lodge was inherent in the Order alone—and in other cases they declined

to advise . Notwithstanding this there are still those who to this day assert as a reason for not joining with us—that , we should have asked the advice of our Mother Grand Lodge . We held that ninety-two Lodges in favour of autonomy and the foundation of a Grand Lodge was a sufficient majority . Of the

twenty-one who voted against its formation there were several who said that if a Grand Lodge were formed they would re-consider their action . Of the thirty-five who took no notice of the resolution , it may be very safely affirmed they were not opposed to the formation of a Grand Lodge .

2 . Our next action was to call a Convention of Lodge Delegates to meet at Wellington , when the whole subject was gone over . A Basis of Union , which had been sent to every Lodge , was considered . A few unimportant alterations were made . Perhaps the only mistake we made was in offering the position of First Grand Master to the Governor , B . W . Bro . Lord

Onslow , with 100 Lodges . His lordship asked for 120 Lodges . We were quite sure of having 100 Lodges with us , but to ensure twenty more out of the other forty-eight was not so certain . As Lord Onslow ' s decision was considered in the light of an Ultimatum the Conference instructed the Executive to carry out its resolution by proclaiming the " Grand Lodge of New Zealand , " under the Grand Mastership of B . W . Bro . Henry

Thomson , at that time District Grand Master of Canterbury , E . G ., an old , active , and experienced Mason , who had not committed himself to our action . The history of that period shows that Bro . Thomson neither sought the position nor desired it , and it was only after repeated requests from the Executive that he at last consented to accept the office . On 29 tn April the Grand Lodge was inaugurated , and on the 30 th the first Grand Master was installed .

[ Here follows a scathing criticism on the action of certain distinguished New Zealand Masons which , ior obvious reasons , we deem it inadvisable to print . ] The United Grand Lodge of England extended recognition to us on 29 th July , the Minutes of that meeting were confirmed