Internal Dissention.

If the position of independence was being maintained by a mere handful of New Zealand Brethren against overwhelming numbers who desired to continue under the rule of the old authorities the case would

be very different , but in face of the fact that the new order of things is supported by close on one hundred different organisations in the colony there is no excuse for further unfriendliness . We do not desire that either

section of the Craft in New Zealand shall be compelled to submit to the other , but we certainly consider the time has arrived for a termination of the unseemly strife and disruption in regard to Freemasonry in the

colony , and we regard it as the duty of the parent Grand Lodge to take the matter in hand , and heal the breach in the best way possible . This , we think , can most readily be done by an early recognition of

the local Grand Lodge , for , as we have already said , that will have to come some day or other , and delay is not only dangerous , but wholly at variance with the teachings and professed practices of the Order .

We have previously expressed our views on this subject , and then suggested that the New Zealand authorities might invest some of their leading members with powers as a deputation to the home authorities

—they would not have much difficulty in finding Brethren about to visit this country fully qualified for such an office , and we can hardly believe that with the case properly brought forward by such a deputation official recognition would be long deferred .

Probably the Grand Lodge of New Zealand regards the matter much in the same light as we should—if the Grand Lodge of England declines recognition then they can go on without it , but in the interests of the

Masonic brotherly spirit that should at least be found at the head of our affairs , we hope the two sides to the disagreement will each be willing to concede something—the one so far submitting itself

as to ask for fraternal recognition , the other giving way as much as is necessary in order to accord it , without further quibbling , or professed desire to maintain the rights of the majority against the opinions of

a minority—for in this case the minority is really strong enough to be dealt with independently and entirely on its own basis , of course with the

understanding that no force is to be used to compel the opposition in the colony to submit , or act against their inclination .

We are of opinion that once the Grand Lodge of New Zealand is recognised many Lodges that now stand out against it will give in their adhesion , and

that ultimately the Craft of the colony will be united under the one system , a state of affairs very much to be preferred to the present divided and opposing condition of the Craft there .

The other day the Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Burma took place in Rangoon . One incident of public interest occurred on the day before the meeting . A peon called upon a Grand Lodge Officer for the Grand Lodge jewels ,

which are of solid silver , a few only being gold , in order to take them to the tailors to have them fastened to the new clothing . The peon also carried a considerable sum in cash and a few books . All the jewels , in a locked box , were given to the peon , and he went his way

towards another Lod ^ e Officer ' s house . He was hardly 150 yards on his way , when a Burmese highwayman attacked him , knocking him down , half stunned . The Burman made off with the cash and the box of jewels , dashing down a side lane , and all the police of Rangoon

have been unable to trace him . — " Colonies and India

Freemasonry In Pontefract.

FREEMASONRY IN PONTEFRACT .

A SPECIAL Lodge of the Pontefract Brethren was held on Wednesday , iOth ult ., in the New Masonic Hall , Ropergate , in order to transfer the

Warrant , Banner , and other insignia of the Order from the old Lodge premises in the upper floor of Mr . Arundel ' s house , to ttie New Rooms which the Lodge has built during the past summer .

There was a large number of Brethren present , and they assembled at five o ' clock in the large Dining Room on the ground floor iu order to receive the Past Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire Past Grand Deacon of

England Provincial Grand Superintendent Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P ., who , having been conducted by selected Officers of St . Oswald Lodge to the Candidate ' s Preparation Room , robed and signed the attendance book .

He was then met by a procession of the Brethren present , at the head of whom was the W . Master Bro . Ellis Foulds , who preseuted him with a silver key , and requested him to unlock the door of the new Lodge .

The Past Provincial Grand Master , having accepted the invitation and opened the door ,, the procession followed him into the room , singing " Hail , Masonry Divine . "

Brother Tew then took his seat as W . M ., the other official chairs , and the seats on the dais , being filled by members of the Lodge who are also Provincial Officers , the Warrant and furniture being all in order in their appropriate places as in the old Lodge .

The Lodge having been thus constituted , and the various formalities observed , the P . P . G . M . addressed the Brethren as follows :

Brother Thomas Ellis' Foulds W . M ., Officers and Brethren of Lodge St . Oswald , —It is not my intention to take up your time with many words this evening , but as this may be the last occasion upon which I shall have

the pleasure and privilege of meeting my Brethren of Saint Oswald in open Lodge , I should like , with your permission , Worshipful Master , to make a few observations in relation to the history and progress of this Society of Freemasons in Pontefract , in the founding and promoting of which I have taken a not inconsiderable part . Thirty-three years have now passed since , in conjunction with a few friends , I applied to the Grand Lodge of

England for sanction to open a Masonic Lodge in Pontefract . That petition , which was sent in the autumn of 1861 , was signed , in addition to myself , by William Hall , Integrity Lodge , No . 529 , Morley , Jeremiah Rhodes ,

Fidelity Lodge , No . 364 , Leeds , Geo . Wood Bayldon , J . Handby , Fred Lumb and William Statter , all of Wakefield Lodge , No . 727 . The prayer of that petition was endorsed by Geo . H . Westerman W . M . Unanimity Lodge , No . 179 , Wakefield

and by Philip Yorke Savile , Robert Micklethwaite , B . W . Allen , F . Stuart Wortley , William Wood , and Rowland Childe , all of Lodge 727 ( now 495 ) , Wakefield . Of these last-named seven Brethren , 1 believe only one , the Hon . and Rev . Philip Yorke Savile , Rector of

Methley , survives . Our prayer was heard , and in due course the warrant which bears date 14 th February 1862 was received , and on the 7 th of April of that same year I was installed by the late Brother John Gill , also of Wakefield , as your first Worshipful Master .

At the completion of my first term of office , you did me the honour of electing me to fill the chair of King Solomon a second time . Nor was this all . Some few years later , in 1868 , the suffrages of my Brethren again placed me in that honourable position , —from which

circumstances the members of more recent times may gather that during the infancy and early childhood of the Lodge St . Oswald , I was closely connected with its

concerns and deeply interested in its welfare and progress . And , Brethren , that interest has never waned . My solicitude for all that relates to Lodge 910 has increased as the years have rolled on , and—let me add

— I am proud of the very high position to which the Saint Oswald Lodge has attained . Not a few of its members havB , from time to time , been thought worthy