Correspondence

CORRESPONDENCE

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We car . not undertake to return rejected communications . AU Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

THE NEW SOUTH WALES SCHISMATIC GRAND LODGE .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAK SIR AND BROTHER , —Tour very able and sensible article on this unfortunate subject is well timed , and deserves universal thanks . You have hit the right nail on the head when you say that the occasion of this schism is the * ' selfish greed for tho tinsel of Freemasonry " of a mere handful of brethren in that Colony . Wo have

been in thehabitof priding ourselves as Englishmen on our self-reliant habits , and have often commended our fellow countrymen at tho Antipodes for tho spirit of independent enterprise exhibited by them when occasion demanded , but it would seem that this spirit may degenerate into a want of true honest principle , and result iu something very like disaster . A somewhat parallel instance of Masonic , or rather

un-Masonic , misdemeanour was exhibited in New Zealand a short time ago , ¦ when a spurious Supreme Grand Council 33 ° was formed there , and had a brief though unrecoguised existence ; but I sincerely hope that our New Zealand brethren will avoid falling into the same error as some of their brethren iu Australia , although I notice a paragraph iu one of tbe New Zealand papers to the effect that somo New Zea .

land brethren in Sydney had been making inquiries with a view to establishing a Grand Lodge for New Zealand . As a New Zealand Mason I may perhaps be allowed to express an opinion on this subject . I have always believed that the establishment of a Grand Lodge of New Zealand in a proper and legal manner , and ¦ with the hearty and unanimous desire of the brethren of all three Constitutions

in that Colony wonld prove beneficial to the progress of Masonry in thoso islands . Bnt at present opinion is divided on this point , and only by the last mail I had a letter from one of tho most prominent Masons in the North Island , in which he alludes to the matter , and says that he does not think tho time is yet ripe for the movement . Many Masons under the English Constitution in New Zealand consider

that tho status of the Lodges holding under the Grand Lodge of England is much higher than it would bo if they were governed b y a " mushroom" Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and there is also , they think , the great difficulty experienced iu new countries of obtaining rulers for the Craft , who are by educatian , position and surrounding circumstances , perfectly free from local and deteriorating influences .

There arc also the difficulties of locomotion aud inter-communication , which would probably have the effect of making the offices in Grand Lodgo a monopoly amongst tho brethren of the locality where the Grand Master resided . Another New Zealand Mason , a rising Craftsman , writes me— "The dignity of any office incur District Grand Lodge holding under England I should esteem far greater than that

of the Independent Grand Master of New Zealand . " As far as I can see , the advantages of the possession of an Independent Grand Lodge ¦ would bo found iu obtaining a uniformity of working and of Constitntions , and a narrower inspection of the manner in which Lodges are conducted . However , it is perfectly evident that at present the brethren in New Zealand are not agreed on the question , and I am

sure that those under the English Constitution , at any rate , are far too loyal and true to take part in any movement for the formation of an illicit Grand Lodge . I am informed , and I trust the information is correct , that no Lodge under the English Constitution has joined in this illegal New South Wales schism , and it is to be hoped that those Lodges which have sinned , perhaps from lack of knowledge and proper

thoughtful consideration , may see tbo error of their ways , and make the amende lionorable without delay . To Masonry at large , as you very truly observe , the vagaries of a small section can make little or no difference . The good old Crait has suffered far worse buffetings iu our father ' s days and in the old time before thorn than it is suffering or likely to suffer now , and has come forth from her furnace of affliction pure and unsullied as we shall hand her dowu to our sous . I am , yours fraternally ,

T . B . WHYTEHEAD , P . M . 1611 , Prince of Wales 1338 , Auckland , N . Z . York , 7 th January 1879 .

Things One Would Like To Know.

THINGS ONE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am obliged to Brother Smallpeice and to yonr other correspondents who have replied to my queries relative to the status and privileges of an honorary member of a Lodge . I thank Brother Smallpeice especially for the extracts he gave from tho

Book of Constitutions , confirmatory of his view of an honorary member ' s status , bis views regarding the privileges attached to the compliment paid to a Brother being evidently incorrect , at least I gather as much from the information given by your other

correspondents . The npshot is this , that unless Lodges are prepared to free their honorary members from charges when attending their Lodge banquets the members should be chary of conferring the honour . I should indeed be glad to he favoured with replies to my former que .

Things One Would Like To Know.

ries : —( 1 ) Whether a Master can compel hia Wardens to stand whenever he ( theMaster ) rises tonddresstheLodgo , whatftvermay bo the occasion , or howsoever frequently ho may do so ? ( 2 ) Whether a P . M . orO . h .-er of one Lodgo when visiting another Lodgo is justified in wearin » his collar of office ? I havo known instances at installation meetings where the practice of doing so has led to some inconvenience .

Yours fraternally , FORTE . 7 th January 1879 .

The Royal Arch Degree.

THE ROYAL ARCH DEGREE .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your correspondent , a R . A . M ., surely cannot bo a constant reader of your "Chronicle , " or he must have been made fully aware of au attempt to form a Royal Arch Chapter of Instrnction daring the past , year in tho South London District , and in conjunction with both tho Craft and Mark Degrees , under

the title of the Panmure General Lodge of Instruction , No . 720 . Your "Diary for the Week" has for many months past contained the announcement of its meeting on " Thursdays at the Antelope Tavern , Lorn-road , Brixton at 8 , " although I regret to say that if your correspondent had relied npon that announcement since August last ho would have met with disappointment ; and I'll tell

yon why—Early in Juno of last year our worthy Brother Thomas Poore , a P . M . Craft and Mark , and a Principal in Royal Arch , than whom a more able and thoroughly qualified Preceptor is not to be found in the ranks of Masonry , associated himself with mc in tho endeavour to suppl y tho want expressed by your correspondent , and the desire of numerous

Brethren and Companions who promised earnest support and attend - ance . " They wero so anxious to learn , and wonld he so thankful to bo taught ! " Tho Lodgo and Chapter of Instruction above named was therefore formed , and for the first few weeks appeared likely to succeed . But , alas , for Masonic promises ! The enthusiasm was but short lived , and before three months had elapsed those who had so

earnestly asked for tuition could not make the necessary sacrifice of other engagements , and it was found impossible to secure tho attendance of a sufficient number to work either Lodgo or Chapter . There was no help for it but to accept the result and submit to failure , and therefore the attempt was altogether abandoned . The fault is with the Brethren and Companions who solicited instruction , and not

with the Preceptor , who regularly attended to afford tnitiou , and that at considerable expenditure of both time and money . What encouragement can there be for persevering in the good work of communicating instrnction to others when such earnest and unselfish efforts are so ungenerously treated ? Nevertheless , if your correspondent means what he writes , and

can influence somo dozen others to pledge themselves to constant attendance , the opportunity is still open for carrying out his object , and neither he nor his Masonic friends need be at a loss for tho assistance of a skilled instructor . He can learn whom to address on application to yon for that purpose , and I can answer for the renewed endeavours of our Brother Poore towards the end he has in

view . Royal Arch Masonry has sustained a severe blow by tbe recent lamented decease of our greatly esteemed Companion John Boyd , ono of the principal exponents , if not in fact the chief Preceptor , of the degree , and it behoves all those who seek tho prosperity and progress of the Order to use every effort to supply the want which will now be

felt in consequence of his sudden demise . It would therefore be a most appropriate moment for the inauguration of a thoroughly sound and practical means for continuing that courae of instruction for which he was so justly celebrated , and no bettor testimony of our appreciation of the labours of our deceased Companion could probably be evinced than by promoting the establishment of such a Chapter of

Instruction as would effectually promote the dissemination of that knowledge he was ever so ready to afford us . As I have before written , the opportunity is at hand ; will R . A . M . and his friends avail themselves of it ? With my best wishes for your prosperity in the new year , believe me ,

Dear Sir and Brother , Yours very truly and fraternally , P . M ., P . Z . Clapham , 4 th January 1872 .

Order Of St. Lawrence The Martyr.

ORDER OF ST . LAWRENCE THE MARTYR .

A meeting of the Ebor Lodge of this Order was hold at York , on Thursday night , the R . W . M . Bro . T . B . Whytehead in the chair , when the election of R . W . M . for the ensuing year took place , the choice of the members falling upon Bro . G . Simpson J . W . Bro . A . T . B . Turner was re-elected Treasurer , aud Bro . J . Ward Tyler . A guinea from the funds of tho Lodge was voted to the Steward's list for the Benevolent Institution of Bro . T . Cooper . Bro . T .

Humphries ( keeper of the G . ) presented to the Lodge a beautiful emblem of tho Order , on which the Volume > , f the Sacred Law rests , of solid silver , enclosed in a velvet-lined oak case , and bearing a suitable inscription , for which Bro . Humphries received a hearty voto of thanks . Hearty good wishes from the Paragon Lodge of St . Lawrence , at Hull , were given by Bro . R . Boggett P . M ., and the Lodge was then closed , the R . W . M . announcing that tho installation would take place on the 15 th inst .