Lesson Of The Corner-Stone.

spiral growth year by year , until it expanded mto the completed size : and then , when its life-work was accomplished , and tho life within it ceased to bo , was loft upon tho sandy

sea-shoro , tho deserted tenement of a life , which had fulfilled its task and passed away . And , interpreting that parable as a lesson of human lifo , ho sang its sermon to his own spiritual nature .

"Build thee more stately mansions , 0 my soul As the swift seasons roll , Leave thy low-vaulted past .

Let eaoh new temple , grander than the last , Shut thee from Heaven by a dome more vaBt , Till thou at length art free , Leaving thine unknown shell on Time's unresting sea . " —Voice of Masonry

Management Of The Craft.

MANAGEMENT OF THE CRAFT .

AN Extract from a Lecture by W . Bro . E . Martin , at the St . Patrick's Lodge , Brisbane .

In introducing the Bnbject of my lecture I would state the area of Masonry is so vast that it makes it a matter of some difficulty to make a . selection . I purpose to take this evening the government of tho Order , I feel convinced that this must be interesting to all , from the newly initiated to the Grand Master . I would first direct your attention to the immensity of our organisation and the stupendous

power we possess—a power , whioh if exercised would be of suoh irresistible force as to defy the action of any other power that might be used in antagonism to it . Had I time I could give instances innumerable where Emperors , Kings and other mighty magnates had done their utmost to exterminate the Order . Their efforts have always been futile . In modern times the most notable example of

this may be addaced in the edict promulgated by the present Pope , who issued " a bull" anathematizing all who belonged to the Order of Freemasonry , and ordering all the priesthood to refuse extreme unction to such aa had not reoanted . Even this terrible threat to all of the Roman Catholio Churoh failed to effect the desired consummation , namely , the detriment of the Order . Indeed , it had an

opposite result ; for many who would not have given the matter a thought had their curiosity excited , and were anxious to learn what was that which oviderttly intimidated so great a power as that of the Churoh of Rome . That whioh is now deterrent to tho exorcise of this power is tho diversity of government , it beirjg divided under so many Grand Lodges . A feeling is now gaining ground to

concentrate tho governing body in the Old Country . There ia a spreading disposition to nuite tho throe Grand Lodges of Great Britain into ono . In America , also , the sarno tendoncy exists to make a union of all Amoricau Grand Lodges . And again follows , perhap 3 at presout tho Utopian idea of a nuiversal system of Government of tho whole Order . As things aro at prcsant ordered 3 uch i 3 an impossibility ;

still it is far from unreasonable to suppose that such » consummation is attainable . There can be no doubt that in many cano 3 thero are conflicting elements in existence among bodies undor dilleront control . For instance , that much to be deplored varianco that has just been healed , I moan the ruptnro of fraternal intercourse between the Scotch and English Constitutions in Queensland . I am glad to

say the Scottish Grand Lodgo in its wisdom deemed it expedient to order the removal of the edict issued by the District Grand Master of the Scottish Constitution in Queensland . If there had beon only ono governing body suoh a state of things wonld be simply impossible . This brings me to a subject which , in advancing , I feel assured I am in accord with at least fifteen-six teentba of the Masonic population of Australasia . It is the federation of the whole of tho Southern

Hemisphere into one Graud Lodge . Objection has been made to this , and the objection is , that so few would be ablo to obtain the high honour of Grand Lodge office . In contravention to this argument , instead of it circumscribing positions of hononr it would multiply them ; inasmuch as nnder the Grand Lodge there would have to be subordinate Grand Lodges ; Provincial Grand

Lodges for eaoh Province , such as Queensland , New South Wales , Victoria , & o . ; then District Grand Lodges , suoh as Brisbane , Ipswich , Rockbampton , and all principal districts in which population is large . And to excite laudable ambition it should be made compulsory that none but Past Masters should be members of the Distriot Grand Lodge , and none but Past District Grand Lodgo Officers should be

membera of the Provincial Grand Lodge . And again , the Past Provincial Grand Lodge members should be the only eligible ones for the Grand Lodge . This would in some measure remove the apathy that takes possession of n « arly all Past Masters . As soon as they attain the right to wear the levels on their aprons , all onthusiasui ceases and they fall out of the rank . Should , however , thero exist

the Bystem I have advanced , most Past Masters would be emulous of being members of the District Grand Lodge , and so on to the exalted position of members of the Grand Lodge , and , who knows in course of time , Grand Masters , that position being only for three years , when a change is compulsory . It is an open chance for all so desirous to strive for . I now arrive at another point of my subject , namely , that foremost of onr Landmarks—Charity , which , especially in

the Irish ritual , is so prominentl y brought before tho attention of our initiates . " If a man possess the whole world and have not Charity it is nothing worth . " The distribution of our funds for charitable purposes as at present administered is almost negative . All applications for relief can onl y be met by a small response , only ] ust sufficient for immediate succour if the amount given be £ 10 , a large snm for an individual Lod ge to give ; and even the combined action of all metropolitan and Buburban Lodges cannot exceed £ 50 .

Management Of The Craft.

This i 3 no permanent relief—only temporary . Should , however , a concentration of funds and a United Board of Benevolence bo estrblished , then a donation could bo aitbrded that would be permanent in itti effect . Tho District Grand Lodge under tho EuglUh Constitution is at tho present time aftor ao many years commencing the establishment of a Board of Benevolence . This fact inu ^ t

either demonstrate that indigence must have been very scarce in Queensland , or that our English brethren were wanting in foresight , as the existence of suoh a fund is essential . Aud somu difficulty is being experienced iu the formation of tho fund so as to render it tt once efficaoious . The system of benevolence is actively agitating the attention of onr American brethren . Thoy are realising the fact

that it is almost an impossibility to give permanent relief to all who require it . In so vast a territory as tho Americas the number of poor is legion , and it would require millions to meot the demauds . The Grand Lodge of New York is in correspondence with tho other American Grand LodgeB to inangnrate snoh a unitod system , BO as to institute establishments where the poor could be received , and to

make such self-supporting . In England there are a large number of institutions for charitable purposes , suoh as alms-houses , orphanages , schools , & o . The work that these do is only comparative , aud cannot cover all the demands made upon their resources . Before leaving the subjeot of Charity , I would offer a suggestion . It is that for tho relief of those of oar poor ; and it must be borno iu mind that the

population of Queensland is increasing at a far greater rate than any of the other colonies , and bids fair in a very short time to equal if not surpass its southern sisters . This influx must of neoessity bring with it the improvident , and theso require our consideration equal with those who are impoverished through misfortune . In all cases where more substantial relief is required it should be loft to the

Boards of Benevolence , and it should be the duty of suoh Boards to most exhaustively examine into all cases that come before them , to discover as to the worthiness of the applicants . I now proceed to the government of the Lodges . This subject requires but little to be said thereon , aa the duties of the Worshipful Mastor , Wardens , and other Officers are so laid down in the installation ceremony that

there is nothing to be added . I would just observe that a change might be made in the present Bystem of election of candidates for initiation . The voting by the ballot balls is not perfect in its operation , and the question is as to how it can be altered so as to obtain a more perfect result . By the present mode , in the Irish Constitution , one , and in the English and Scotch , three members , may , should they

desire it , permanently block a Lodge ; or , from private pique , a worthy man may be blackballed . Suoh has been , and is now , and as long as voting with balls is in existence , will be possible . There is a method which might , perhaps , bo bettor , that is to give all voting members a printed form with which thoy would signify whether the

voter accepted the candidate , or , it * otherwise , tho reason of refosal , the papers to bo religiously kept in possession of tho W . M ., and , say , two other Past Masters or tho Wardens ' . This just suggested itself to me and I leave it for wisor heads to improve upon . —The South African Freemason .

Prov. G.L. Of Norths And Hunts.

PROV . G . L . OF NORTHS AND HUNTS .

XT is now several years since there was such a gathering of Freemasons tit Wellingborough as tha fc which took place on Thursday , tho 4 th inst ., on the occasion of tho holding of the annual Provincial Grand Lodgo of tho several Lodges iu tho Province of Norths and Hunts ,

under tho banner of tho Wontworth Lodgo , 737 , Wellingborough . There was a very largo attendance . The arrangements made by the W . M . Bro . H . Dainty and the Officers of tho Wentworth Lodgo wero all that could be desired , and great credit is duo to them , especially to tho vf orthy

Secretary Brother J . Slinn . Tho Board of Benevolence and Charity Organisation Committee met at the Corn Exchange , at half-past one o ' clock , when the usual business was transacted . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at half-past two o ' clock , and was presided over by the

flight Hon . the Earl of Euston , D . L ., the Et . Worshipfnl Provincial Grand Master . He was assisted by Bro . Butler Wilkins Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Past Grand Standard Bearer . Tho Lodge having been duly opened , tho minutes of the last Provincial Grand meeting wero

read by the Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . F . G . Buckle , and confirmed and signed by the Right Wor . Provincial Grand Master . Bro . A . Cockerill was re-elected Provincial Grand Treasurer , and again duly invested . The Provincial Graud Master then nominated the following brethren as tho Officers of tho Provincial Grand Lodge for the ensuing year : —

H . Dainty S . W . R . Croft J . W . Rev . Dr . Sanders Chaplain E . M . Browne Registrar F . G . Buckle Secretary R . Pavlimr S . D .

F . Willoughby J . D . E . Fletcher Sup . of Works G . Ellard Dir . of Cers . J . J . Hart Assit . Dir . of Oars . J . Paget Sword Bearer