South Australian Grand Lodge Of Freemasons.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GRAND LODGE OF FREEMASONS .

THE annual communication of the Grand Lodgo of South Australia , marking tho beginning of the fifth year of its existence , was held on Wednesday evening , 18 th April , in the Freemasons' Hall , Flinders-street , Adelaide . Tho occasion was honoured by the largest attendance of brethren who had ever assembled together in

the Lodge Room , excepting when Lord Carnarvon and Lord Carrington were formerly welcomed by the Masons of South Australia . Tho M . W . the Grand Master ( Chief Justice Way ) presided . The Board of General Purposes reported : — "The Grand Lodge of Idaho and Florida having requested the interchange of

representatives , the Board suggest that the names of Bros . J . Le M . F . Roberts and David Morris be suggested for election . Tho Board have to congratulate the Craft upon the satisfactory finanoial position of the Grand Lodge and the prosperous condition of tho several Lodges . Although the returns show a slight diminution iu the number of

members , this is not to be deplored , as the reason for this is shown by the number of non-paying members whoso names have been erased , consequently leaving the Lodges in a far healthier position . Permanent Benevolent Fund . Although returns of subscriptions from but very few Lodges have as yet been received , the amount of

£ 694 lis to the credit of the fund may be considered satisfactory A very large number of subscriptions have been promised , but are not yet paid . The claims for the past year upon the available Benevolent Fund have been less than previous year , consequently the balance to credit has been increased . Bro . H . C . Mais P . G . Trea .,

prior to his departure from the colony , presented the Grand Lodge Library with a number of volumes of valuable Masonic works . The B mrd feel sure that t'i 9 Grand Lodge , and tho Craft generally , will much regret losing Bro . Mais as a Grand Lodge Officer , and will gratefully remember his many good services to the Craft . The M . W .

the Grand Master has caused to be prepared , and forwarded to tho Gratid Master Mason of Scotland , a despatch and copy of all correspondence in reference to the withdrawal of recognition by tho Grand Lodge of Scotland of this Grand Lodge , and doubtless the result will be a speedy return of friendly relationship and fraternal

correspondence . The financial statements were satisfactory , and showed that as the Grand Lodge is overcoming its iuitiatory difficulties it is giving

material a-sistanee in benevolent enterprises . The report of the Board of General Pnrposes was adopted , and Bros . Morris and Roberts were formally welcomed in their now representativH capacity .

Special interest was felt in the election of Grand Lodge Officers for the present year , on account of a competition for the second position i ¦ ihe Craft . M . W . Hon . S . J . Way , Chief Justice , was re-olectod Gr md Master without any opposition , amidst many hearty demonstr . itions of approval . Thanking tho brethren for the renewal of

their confidence , he gave an interesting review of the history of his connection with the South Australian Grand Lodge , with whose foundation work he had been so promiueutly associated . Ho said that the perfect unanimity of his election and the complete harmony of the members of the Grand Lodgo were especially gratifying . Tho

record of the period under review was a record of great extension and continuously growing strength and influence . The South Australian Constitution had been recognised in all parts of the world , and that Grand Lodge had already received visits from brethren representing tho highest and most honourable positions iu Masonry

iu England and elsewhere . He hoped the harmony of the past would equally cl a iicterise the future . Personally he disclaimed any desire to monopolise the Grand Master ' s chair , and he had only taken it now afier consultation with some of the most experienced brethren in the Craft . His best services were at the disposal of the Grand

Lodge so long as he continued to enjoy their confidence , and when a change might seem desirable he would welcome his successor with as great enthusiasm as the warmest supporters of that successor could show . The office of Deputy Grand Master was contested by the retiring D . G . M . Bro . H . E . Downer , M . P ., and the retiring S . G . W . Bro . P .

Sansom . Bro . Downer was declared elected , and both successful aud defeated candidates spoke later with special earnestness in reference to the contest . Bros . Harry Turner and J . G . Jenkins , M . P ., were

elected S . G . D ., defeating Bro . J . Cornish . An election for J . G . D . was made unnecessary by the retirement of Bro . VV . J . Sowden , the positions thus falling to Bros . T . De Ceau and A . Kemp . Including the other elections which affected the offices of Board of General Purposes and Grand Stewards , the list of Officers for the year is as follows : —

H . E . Downer , M . P . - - Deputy Master Dr . J . A . Cockburn , M . P . - Senior Warden F . H . Wigg - - - Junior Warden Rev . J . W . Owen , B . A . - - Chaplain Saul Solomon . M . P . - - Pres . Board Gen . Purooses

F . W . Bullock - - - Treasurer W . B . Webb - - - Registrar J . H . Cunningham - - Secretary Frank Olifent - - - Inspector of Lodges Rev . Canon Poole , M . A . - . Lecturer

Harry Turner - - - ) a . ^ T n T i it -D r Senior Deacons J . G . Jenkins , M . P . - - ) A . Kemp - . . . ) T . T . DeCeau - . . j Junior Deacons j ot

n . JU . mestayer , . r . - - superintendent Works G . C . Kni « ht ... Director of Ceremonies W . Catejun . - « - Deputy D . C . J . Le M . F . Roberts - - Assistant D . C . J . T . McLean - - - Sword Bearer

T . JJe Uean - - - 7 „ , . - T ) H . Hampson - - . j Standard Bearers Jan e 1 Shakespeare - - Organist J . E . Thomas - - - Assistant Secretary

South Australian Grand Lodge Of Freemasons.

A . Simpson - - - Pursuivant John Nicholson , J . P . - Assistant Pursuivant W . Hornet - - - ^ J . C . Harris - - - j h . 11 . Laker - - - i

A . Lindsay C . A . Murphy C . L . Meyer - - - i a , -, r > T n oi . „ TT ) rStewards G . E . C . Stevens , J . I . - - , It . H . Leader . - - !

F . W . Holder , M . P . C . Hoffmoyer H . J . Bailey - - - j T . D . Do Cean - - -J N . Kildael - - - Tvler

Board of General Purposes—Seven elected new members—Bros . H . M . Addison , P . Sansom , F . Olifeut , E . Saiut , H . Turner , J . J . M . F . Roberts , and I . A . Plnmmer . Tho Grand Secretary read a communication from the Grand Lodge of Scotland stating that the whole matter of the recognition of the

Graud Lodge of South Australia would be re-opened , and foreshadowing the re-estahliahment of fraternal relations between the two Grand Lodges . Upon the motion of the G . M ., seconded by Bro . the Hon . M . Salom , M . L . C ., a resolution wns passed , expressing in highly complimentary terms tho general estimate of the valnable

services to the South Australian Freemasonry of Bro . H . C . Mais , ox-Engineer-in-Chief . A graceful enlogium was pronounced by the Grand Master and endorsed by several othor brethren upon the personal character and Masonic services of the deceased Bro . J . H . H . Vockins , who had been in England a prominent Mason , and in this

colony one of the most useful and enthusiastic amongst the brethren . It was decided to send to his widow a letter of condolence and to exhibit in more practical ways the general estimate of the value of tho labours of Bro . Vockins . After the Officers had boen invested the Grand Lodge closed in the usual form . The ceremonial was well couduoted throughout by the Director of Ceremonies .

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CHAPTER , No . 12 . rnHE first meeting of the season was held on Wednesday , 25 th J- April , at the Freemasons' Hal ! , Flinders-street , Adelaide , the occasion being the installation of the First Principal M . E . C . George Gozzard Martin , and of M . E . C . 's J . Le M . F . Roberts and G . C . Knight as Second and Third Principals respectively . The ceremonies of installation were performed by the outgoing Z ., M . E . C . Philip

Sansom , in the presence of a large number of the members of the Chapter and numerous visitors , amongst whom were Past Z . ' s W . N . Crowder , J . C . Hawker , and W . Sumsion . Apologies were received from the Supreme Grand First Principal , M . E . C . the Hon . S . J . Way , Chief Justice , who was away on circuit duties , and Past

Z . ' s H . E . Downer , M . P ., His Honour Judge Boncaut , W . Fiveash , S . Solomon , M . P ., and R . L . Mestayer , C . E . On the completion of the ceremony the M . E . First Principal , on behalf of the Chapter , presented to the retiring Z . a handsome Past First Principal's jewel , which bore the following inscription : — "Presented to M . E . Comp .

Philip Sansom P . Z ., by the South Australian Royal Arch Chapter , No . 1 , in recognition of the many valuablo services rendered as J ., H ., aud Z . during the past three years . Adelaide , April 25 , 1888 . "

Tho Officers were invested by the M . E . C , and tho Chapter then closed , and the companions adjourned to the bauqueting-room , where au agreeable repast was prepared , on tho completion of which several toasts were presented .

China.

CHINA .

ST . GEORGE LODGE , No . 1152 .

AT the Masonic Hall , Singapore , on Monday , 30 th April , tho Installation of Bro . D . G . Presgrave , as W . M . for the ensuing year , took place in the presence of a considerable number of tho Fraternity , including the R . W . D . G . M . ColonelDunlop , R . A .. C . M . G . W . Bros . Hooper , Cargill , E . A . Thompson and Jennings , Past Masters , gave their assistance in the carrying out of different portions

of the ceremony . The W . M . having been duly installed and saluted according to custom , proceeded to appoint his Officers , as follow : —Bros . Hooper I . P . M ., Braddell S . W ., McKie J . W ., Currie S . D ., Charlwood J . D ., Evans Treasurer , Sturrock Secretary , Garrard I . G ., Lannon O . G . As is usual on St . George ' s evening ,

the ceremony was followed by the regular Installation banquet , which was held at the Singapore Club , by the kind permission of the Committee . A few brethren were unavoidably absent , bnt over thirty sat down to a repast which proved to be excellent in quality and a credit to the caterer . The company assembled was

presided over by the newly installed W . M ., with the R . W . D . G . M . at his right hand , and comprised the majority of the leading brethren in Singapore , together with several of the Officers of H . M . S . Orion . Dae honour having been done to those loyal toasts which so intimately connect Royalty and the Craft , a few others of a

character peculiarly appropriate to the occasion were given , and responded to with warmth and cordiality . After duly acknowledging the toasts of " The Guests , " the company rose and adjourned to the billiard and card rooms , and after availing themselves for a

short time of the amusements provided therein , the brethren separated , well pleased at the success of the whole evening ' s proceedings , which had been eminently sociable , agreeable and fraternal .