District G. Lodge Of Tasmania.

proceeded with in dne course , and previous to closing the D . G . Lodge , the following proposition pat by Bro . F . H . Wise , who acted as Deput y D . G . M ., was carried unanimously , " That the Members of this District Grand Lodgo , in D . G . L . assembled , desire to record their grateful acknowledgments and cordial thanks to the R . W . tho

District Grand Master , Bro . W . S . Hammond , for the great and untiring interest manifested b y him for the welfare , advancement , and extension of our Order , and for his liberality , conrteousncss , and valuable assistance , which has so materiall y aided in placing the Masonic business of the District in its present satisfactory state . "

District G. Lodge Of Otago And Southland, New Zealand (E.C.)

DISTRICT G . LODGE OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND , NEW ZEALAND ( E . C . )

WE learn from tho New Zealand Freemason that , at the May Communication of this D . G . Lodge , held at Dunedin on 13 th May , the D . G . Master took the opportunity of congratulating the brethren on the prospect of their being able to meet in a hall belonging to the Craft .

A suitable building had , he said , been purchased almost in the centre of the city , and he hoped the project would meet with the support it merited . A notice of motion was given by Bro . Fish D . D . G . M . —who at a later period expressed his

intention of himself taking twenty-five shares : — " That the D . Grand Lodgo vote £ 25 towards shares in the Hall Company . " In commenting on the project , that brother expressed a hope that the brethren would not attempt more

than they could do , and that they would borrow as little as possible . It appears that the purchase of the synagogue , the building proposed , was to be effected the following clay ( 14 th May ) , so that we may look forward speedily to hear of the arrangements being completed .

Masonry And The Indians.

MASONRY AND THE INDIANS .

THE reproduction in these columns of an article or story from those of an American or other Masonic publication , does not , as a rule , stand in need of any preface ; but to the interesting story bearing the above title is attached a little history . It seems that it was published ,

thirty years since , in the Masonic Review , then the property of , and edited by , that able and veteran Masonic journalist Bro . Cornelius Moore . As our readers know , thirty years is the period of time allotted to a generation , and many people may have imagined that the writer of this story

had long since passed away . At all events the Hebrew Leader would appear to have laboured under that impression , and with such alterations as are necessary in order to give an air of originality to the appropriated article , to have reproduced it without one single word of

acknowledgment . Bro . Moore , however , we rejoice to say , is alive , and as hale and hearty as ever , and has " spotted , " and with becoming , yet not undue , severity commented upon this unacknowledged appropriation of one of his own experiences . We can cordially sympathise with Bro . Moore , and fully endorse his criticism .

The city of Cincinnati in 1859 -was visited by a party of Indian chiefs and warriors from the northern part of Wisconsin and around Lake Superior , on their way to Washington City , on business with the government . The company remained there several days , giving exhibitions of Indian dances and other things peculiar to their race .

They were attended by a half-breed as interpreter , by the name of John B . Kartell , a gentleman residing at the Sault Ste . Marie , and holding a military commission under the State of Michigan . Among the company was an old chief by the name of Ka-shee-yasb , of the Vieux Desert Band , a fine intelligent looking man , who had breasted

the storms of many a northern winter . This old chief was taken ill while there , and our good Bro . Dr . J . S . Unzicker was called in to prescribe for him . During the doctor ' s visit one of the chiefs waa busy arranging some articles in a trunk , and a large piece of birch bark , covered with hieroglyphics , which he had laid on the floor , caught

tie doctor ' s eyes . Some of the delineations on the bark being of a Masonic character , induced the doctor to make inquiry concerning it , and was informed that it belonged to the Mit-talt , or Masonry , held so sacred among the tribes of the North-west ; that the old chief ho was then attending was the Grand Master of the Order among them , and

, that without the knowledge of the interpreter , he had brought the article with him , not being willing to risk its safety at home while he should be absent at Washington . Bro . Unzicker immediately called on the writer aud related liis discovery , when we waited on the aged chieftain . We were received with dignity , but courteously , and

Masonry And The Indians.

through the interpreter we made many interesting inquiries concern . I ' ? the nature of this secret association among them , examined the mblems pertaining to it , and learned as much of its mysteries and i-eremonies as tho old man could be induced to impart to us . This intm-view and examination were particularly interesting . We found that several of tho company belonged to this ( Indian ) Mystic Order ,

and when informed that wo too wero Mit-tah , they gathered around ns with tho warmest demonstrations of delight . One grim old warrior chieftain with painted face approached ns and extended his bony hand , whilo his eyes brightened with unwonted fire . Placing his other hand uponhis heart ho turned to the interpreter and requested him to tell us " that his heart was full of it , " meaning Mit-tah

oi- Masonry . Tho old Grand Master raised his head and pointed with n solemn countenance toward heaven , at the same time giving ntterance to some exclamation in his own tongue . A young chief of the Flambeau band , by the name of O-gee-raa-gee-chig , was also present . By his position as heir to the ohieftancy of his tribe he was eligible to receive the degrees , but had as yefc only been initiated . He

approached us with the proud bearing of a young chieftain , but with the deference of a young brother , and took our hand as though he had met with a long absent friend . The head chief of the Wisconsin band was also present , a tall and powerful son of the forest , stern , haughty , and dignified . He also expressed much gratification at our interview . We received from one of these native brethren a present of a

most magnificent Indian pipe , cut from a stone of variegated colours , which is found iu some particular localities in the North-West . Another made us a present of a stem to suit the pipe , aud we have laid both away as memorials of an interview thafc will long be remembered . In return for these presents we presented them a neat little silver jewel , consisting of a square and a compass , with our name engraved

on it . We suppose it will be worn with pleasure by the donee and his successor , for long years to come . We made many inquiries of these Indian Masons ( for so we must call them ) concerning the origin and nature of their institution . We found they referred it all to the Supreme Being , and all its members were required to be obedient to His laws . They had no knowledge how or when it originated , nor by whom it was introduced among them . Several of their emblems were

similar to our own , and some of their ceremonies in conferring the degrees bore a resemblance to onrs . They had several degrees ^ perhaps eight ) , and we were able to distinguish features of legitimate Masonry up to the Eoyal Arch . In their ceremonies they use a peculiar white stone , which supplies the place of the Bible in ours , and in many respects there was a distinct resemblance between their Masonry and thafc existing among civilised men .

More than thirty years ago we wrote the above as an item of current Masonic experience , and published ifc in our then Masonic Revieiv . A few lines afc tho beginning are slightly changed to suit the purposes of the thief , but the remainder is word for word as we wrote it in detailing our interview with the Indians . We now find the article in the Masonic Advocate , credited to the Hebrew Leader . The Advocate is not to blame , but the Leader , or some other party , must have stolen

ifc , " body and breeches . " We have not the slightest objection to having our productions republished in other works , but we think we are entitled to credit . The Leader probably supposed we were dead years ago , and could no longer speak for ourselves . Other thefts of the same kind have recently occurred which we may exposein the hereafter , and by a work which has not even deigned to notice the existence of the Messenger . —ED . M .

Some Masonic Scraps.

SOME MASONIC SCRAPS .

FROM THE VOICE OF MASONRY AND FAMILY MAGAZINE .

" 1 VT Y IS IMMO : RA-1-- The Cynosure claims Masonry J LVJL to be immoral . Such a claim lays any one who makes ifc open to the charge of the grossest ignorance . No man who knows anything of its teaching , or who believes the good men who belong to the Order , could ever say anything of the kind and be on the side of

truth . Nothing has ever yefc been developed in history that even approaches to the charge . If there are immoral men sometimes in the Order that shonld not be charged against the Order as its immorality . There are immoral and inconsistent men in every society .

"Masonry ' s Influence is Dangerous to Religion , Church , and Country . "—Ifc is easy to make the charge , bufc where are the witnesses ? What church rises to-day and says it is injured ? What country can lay any of its rebellions or wars at the door of the Order ? The men who claim Masonry as a religion would not embrace a religion

of experience , even if they were free from Masonry . The histories of Religion , Church , and Country , are entirely silent as to any injury ever occurring from Masonry . The largest church in numbers , the strongest in finance , and the most prosperous spiritually , and in winning souls to CHRIST , has more Masons in it than any , perhaps all ,

others . Yet in all its history it has never laid a charge of injury at the door of Masonry . " Masonry Encourages Profanity , Fraud , and Intemperance . "—No ! for its vows are over a sacred book thafc forbids it in every form . If a few of its members are profane thafc ia not the Order , but a few thoughtless men . Prove the charge , brother . It is easier to make a

charge than to prove ifc It declaims against deception , ignores fraud of every kind , and expels for its perpetration any one . Because a few of its members drink , it is not a basis for a charge of intemperance . It retains , many'times , for the purpose of saving , and doubtless haB saved many a one from a drunkard ' s grave . And every drinker , as well as every drunkard , should be dealt with by its law . Masonic Writers are Misunderstood . —Some persons read Masonic articles which delineate tho moral elements of Masonry , and then ,