Consecration: No. 2480.

fitted up as ifc was by thafc past master in Masonic"decoration , the Tyler of the Johannesburg Temple ( Brother G . West ) who , with the Consecrating Officer , went ont by the early train on Saturday morning to assist in making all preliminary arrangements . The 1 ' 44 train from

Johannesburg took oufc a goodly number of local Craftsmen , and when the brethren assembled they made a brave display . Immediately on the arrival of the train from Johannesburg the proceedings commenced , the Consecrating Officer being

supported on the d'ias by several Past Masters . During the ceremony the following oration was delivered by the acting Chaplain Bro . J . W . Pierson W . M . of the Johannesburg Lodge , No . 2313 .

Brethren , —We are gathered together , for the third time in three monthp , for the purpose of squaring the corner stones and levelling the ground for the structure of a now Lodge , and upon these occasions our ritual prescribes that we should moralise upon the nature and principles of Freemasonry .

The nature of the occasion . at once loads us to contemplate the foundation and structure of that noble moral temple , the mind , and the manner in which Freemasonry can assint in bringing that superb edifice to its highest

excellence . Let us endeavour to use aright the skerrifc , to mark out and draw that straight and undeviafciug line for the foundation which will enable us to carry out in its fullest integrity the plan laid down , with unerring and impartial justice , by our great Creator .

May we so square the corners of all oar actions that they will bear the test of the level and the plumb , so that when we are summoned to meet our Divine Grand Master , we may do so with a firm but humble confidence that the

twenty-four inch gnage will be a faithful measure of our course through life , and thafc its moral teachings , blended with the benefits of education and the force of conscience , will enable us fearlessly to give' an account of all our actions .

In applying all tbe moral significations of the working tools of a Freemason to our hearts and minds , wo must not forget the practical side of Freemasonry—charity , and the pursuit of such of the liberal arts and sciences as may lie within the compass of our attainnaents . In our charity we

must remember that it is as greivous a breach of Masonic rule to be too lavish aa it is to be too sparing . Charity may be likened to one of the lines across the mosaic pavement , diverging neither to the whits square of profusion , nor to

the black square of parsimony , but keeping ono invisible yet truly geometrical line , having for its extremitiesjnstice to ourselves at the one point , and justice to our fellow creatures at the other .

Ifc should be the constant ; care of every Mason to keep his heart tyled against the intrusion of envy , hatred , and malice , and never to be forgot , amidst the various cares and . employments of this busy world , the valuable lessons so frequently inculcated and so strongly recommended in our

assemblies . May it be our continual endeavour to be prudent , discreet , and temperate . May we be ever read y to befriend and relieve a brother who may seek our assistance , tenderly pointing out to him his failings and aiding him in reformation , defending him if wrongly traduced , and

even when his conduct is justly open to blame , suggesting palliating circumstances in his favour . While so animated on behalf of our Order , let us extend these noble and generous sentiments to all mankind , so proving to the world the beneficial effects of our ancient and honourable

institution . Another thonghfc forcibly strikes one in consecrating a new Lodge in a country town , and that is to avoi ' d the pernicious practice of running into debt . The anxiety of good Masons to meet in a temple set apart solely for Masonic

uses is worthy of emulation ; but in a town where the population is dependent npon snch a precarious source as the mining industry , where brethren are continually changing their place of residence , ifc behoves you to be careful not to allow the prosperity of to-day to blot out visions of

the future , and to prevent you taking heed of the morrow . Nothing can more retard the future progress of a Lodge than for the brethren to find themselves saddled with heavy debts incurred in the fancied prosperity of the past

Bather use tbe superabundant resources of the present in building np a fund which may be used to give solace to tho poor and distressed , and to confer the benefits of the chisel upon your orphans should circumstances require it . To turn from this thought to one equally inter stir-gaud

Consecration: No. 2480.

important , I wou'd en )< 11 pon the brethren of this Lodge , from the Worshipfnl M iU : down to the youngest initiate , to bear in mind the injunction laid upon you very early iu year Masonic career , calling upon you to make daily advancement in Masonic knowledge . To do this it is

necessary you should bo reading , studious , thinking men , wcll-versod in tho landmarks aud constitution of our Order , and thoroughly posted up in all thafc is going on in tho Craft throughout tho world . South African Masons havo but little excuse for ignorance . Knowledge is brought to

their doo » -s by the two very admirable Masonic journals published in South Africa . At a very trifling cost you may receive , week by week , the publication edited by our eminent and learned brother , Dr . Darley Hartley , which is in itself a Masonic encycloptedia .

And to sum up , my Brethren , I can confidently assert that in a Lodge abounding with Masonic ornaments , where charity and learning reign , a social centre will exist which will give dignity to the Master , pleasure to the craftsman , aud instruction to fche initiate .

At . the conclusion of the consecration ceremony proper , the Worshipful Master elect P . M . Bro . Dr . Ziervogel was installed with all tho ancient ceremonial , and he invested Dr . W . B . Hall as his Senior Warden , and W . B . Ramsay as his Junior Warden , tho selection and the investiture of

the other Officers of tbe Lodge being of necessity deferred until tbe Charter members and joining Brethren had been duly elected as members . The working tools in tho different degrees were presented to the newly-installed Master , as follows : —The 3 rd by P . M . Bro . Chittenden

the second by W . M . Bro . D . McMillan ; and the 1 st by W . M . Bro . T . W . Goodwin . The Consecrating Officer delivered fche charges to the Worshipful Master and to tho Wardens , and W . M . Bro . W . H . Webster that to the Brethren generally .

Tbe collection in aid of the Benevolent Fund amounted

to £ 5 7 s . Tbe banquet in the evening was very successful , the catering being capital . —Johannesburg Star .

New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND .

'BmE patent of appointment ot Bro . V . Arkvvright as JL District Grand Master , English Constitution , for tho Provincial district of Wellington , succeeding the late D . G . M . Bro . Sir Harry Atkinson , has been received from the Grand Lodge of England . Bro . Arkwright held office in the Grand Lodge of England , is an ex-member of the House

of Conmnons , and has purchased a valuable estate near Wellington , intending to make Kew Zealand his home for tlie future . The Masonic body are to be congratulated upon fcho selection of such an illustrious Mason . Bro . Georsre S .

Graham D . G . M . of Auckland , E . G ., was asked to install Bro . Arkwright , and the ceremony was fixed to take place on the 29 th ult . It is stated Bro . Graham , owing to physical ailments , intends to resign his District Grand Mastership at tho end of fche year .

The announcement of Bro . G . S . Graham ' s retirement from his high office will cause a feeling of surprise to the brethren who have continued their allegiance to the old Constitutions . Bro . Graham ' s action has been throughout in the matter of the establishment of the New Zealand

Grand Lodge rigid in regard to the rights of the Grand Lodg ? , bufc conciliatory in regard to compromise . The cause of the retirement of a distinguished Mason who has represented New Zealand in fcho Grand Lodge of England when presided over by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , cannot be

looked upon as an ordinary event . Bro . Graham has worthily represented New Zealand Masonry in England , and with equal excellence he has represented fche Grand Lodge of England in New Zealand . Ifc is a pir . y that his useful Masonic career should be ended by an infirmity which all his brethren will reeret .

Brother Graham was installed with the late Bro . Sir F . Whitaker P . G . M . Scotch Constitution , by Bro . Lazar D . G . M ,, of Westland , on tho 30 th November 1877 ( 16 years ngo ) , since which he has installed Bro . C . J . Toxward

D . G . M , successor to the late Bro . Sir Donald McLean D . G . M . of Wellington , and assisted in the installation of the lato Bro . Sir Harry Atkinson D . G . M ., successor to the late Bro . Toxward . — New Zealand Herald .