Freemasonry In Queensland.

FREEMASONRY IN QUEENSLAND .

WE have been requested to publish tbe following letters : —

To tho Editor of the Brisbane Courier . SIB , —The artiole reprinted in yonr journal of 29 th June , headed as above , may lead to considerable error in tho minds of the public , and , possibly , of some of the members of the Order , if the statements and assertions in the artiole are permitted to be regarded as

altogether trnthfnl and a fair statement of tbo facts of the caae . Ifc is evident that the writer of the article believed all that was said by the speakers at a meeting of the District Grand Lodge of the English Constitution , held at the Masonio Hall on 6 th March , attended by some 20 or 30 persons , the Proceedings being printed and

oircnlated tho following day . Strange to say , all tho speeches on one side were read from printed slips , and it ia stated that thoy wore all written by the same hand , and distributed amongst those willing to take charge of them . Tho great similarity of style gives BOUIO force to this statement . This goes to show the opposition to the movement

was carefully pre-arranged somo time before tho meeting was called . But even at the meeting of the English District Grand Lodgo , the expression of those present was far from being unanimous , as some of tho oldest and most respeoted members differed altogether from their colleagues ; bnt their speeches not having been prepared

beforehand and printed , may not have run so smothly as those on the other side . It is evident that the Editor of the Freemason ( the paper from whioh the extract was taken ) arrived at his conclusions solely from an ex parte statement ; or it is quite possible that the artiole may have been written by the same hand which iB supposed to have cou .

cocted the speeches . Be that as it may , it was manifestly unfair to come to any conclusion or to express decided opinions before hearing what was to be said on the other side ! Now , what are the facts . On 7 th March ( ono day after tho District Grand Lodge met ) the most numerous and influential meeting

of the memberB of the three Constitutions ever held in Queensland took place in the MaBonio Hall , having been called by publio advertisement , and open to all who wished to attend . The actual nnmbor of those 'who signed the attendance roll was as follows : —There were 63 of the English , 69 of the Scotch , and 84 of the Irish

Constitution—216 in all . Of this number only seven voted against the establishment of a Grand Lodge of Queensland , aud one of those was not an English Mason , so that really 63 of the 69 English Masous present were

in favour of the new Grand Lodge ; and when it is considered that strong efforts have been made to prevent tbe attendance of the English Masons , the result of the voting shows what the real opinion of those present was .

The Grand Lodges of South Australia , New South Wales and Victoria were at once recognised by the Grand Lodge of Euglaud . The highest and most influential Mason iu England , or perhaps in the world—the Prince of Wales—has most unhesitatingly expressed his approval of the formation of Grand Lodges in the Colonies ,

believing that they would greatly extend the influence and power of the Order ; and it is manifest that those who oppose hia wishes disobey the supreme authority of the English Constitution . It would appear from the tone of the utterances from tboBo opposed to the Queensland Grnnd Lodge , that the English

Constitution is the principal representative of Queensland Masonrv . Figures prove the opposite . There are not more than 32 Masouic bodies holding authority under English warrants , including the higher Degrees ; while there are 45 under tbe Scotch und Irish Constitutions . The actual number of members of the two Constitutions ia

supposed to be nearly double that of the English , so that so far aa numbers go an overwhelming majority is in favour of the proposed change . Much more could be said ou the subject , but I fear to make this

letter too long . Lastly , all discussion has been forbidden in tbe English Lodges ou the subjeofc of the Queensland Constitution , showing the fear which exists of tho matter being fuirly and openly discussed . I am , Sir , & c , MASTER MASON .

To the Editor of the Brisbane Courier . SIB , —It is not my intention to reply fully to the statements made by " Master Mason " on the above subject in this morning's Courier , as I do not thing the public print the proper place to conduct such a controversy . There are , however , one or two statements of fact ,

or want of fact , which might be drawn attention to . " Master Mason" says that at a meeting held on 7 th March there were present 63 English , 69 Scotch , and 84 Irish Masons ; and that , because when the vote was taken , only seveu Musons were against the change , thorefore 63 ( sic ) English Masons were in favour of the same . In

this calculation the fact is lost sight of that , after tbe fin-t hour , the English Masons were leaving the rcom by dozens , and that when the vote was taken , certainly not more than 15 remained ; the eight who voted for the resolution representing the prime movers , & o . " Master Mason " goes on to say that there ere

only 32 Masonic Ledges in tbe colony holding English Warrants , against 45 Lodges holding Scr > tch nnd Irish Warrants . But in this calculation is included higher degrees , which form uo part of the present agitation . They bold Warrants from different governing bodies altogether . The scheme under view is that of having a Grand

Lod ge for all the Blue Ledges , of which there are 31 English , against 28 Scotch and Irish . The English aro practically i ? : ; nuimons against a change . Certain few members are of a ditYerenb opinioD , aa there always will be amongst a large bi ly of men . VVoukl it not be better for those few to bow to tho overwhelming majority , instead of workiug up iho fooling of uueusineca

Freemasonry In Queensland.

at present existing . In conclusion , a great point is mado of tho way matters were managed in South Australin , but it hardly applies to thia colony , for in South Australia the three District Grand Lodges were unanimous—hero a very different feeling exists . I am , Sir , & c , E . C . Brisbane , 2 nd July .

Cryptic Masonry.

CRYPTIC MASONRY .

AT nino o ' clock on the morning of the 19 th pit ., tho Grand Council R . and S . Masters of Canada convened in the Masohio Hall * Owon Sound , being presided over by Grand Master Phil . J . Slatter , of Toronto . In his address the Grand Master referred to condition of tho Kite , as follows : — " While I regret that I cannot chronicle any marked progress of the Order in my jurisdiction , it is pleasant to be

able to say that there haa been no retrogression , that peace and harmony prevail , that no grievances have been brought Wore me , and that no instances of personal or Masonio disputo have been submitted to me for decision . " After referring in feeling language to the deaths of Rev . Canon Portal , master of New Kite in Englaud , and

Dr . Rob V . Morris , of Kentucky , Grand Master Slatter offered the following suggestions : — "I would strongly advise that a ritual bo authorized by this Grand Council for nse in this jurisdiction . Ab present we have none , and the work is , I know from visits made to the Council , not only this year but other years , apt to be inharmonious

and incomplete , owing to tbe lack of the necessary literature . Indeed so generally is the lack of this felt that the degree ? , owiug to the bad equipment of those doing the work , aro apt to be conferred rather than worked . I wonld also advise that this Grand Council communicate with tho Grand Priory of Canada urging that membership in the

Cryptic Rite be made preliminary aud necessary to the conferring of Templar degrees . A knowledge of the beautiful mysteries of the Masonry of the Secret Vault could not bo but au elevating and impressive introduction to the knowledge imparted ia the degree of tho Red CroBs and those of the Crosader . I have always maintained

that the Arch is incomplete without the Cryptio Rite , and the force of what I suggest should certainly be urged upon the Great Priory . " The following is tho result of the election of Officers : —David Taylor G . M ., George J . Bennett D . G . M ., David McLelhui G . T ., John Hetherincton G . L ., D . P . McWatt Grand Director of Ceremonies , 3 .

K . Kerr , P . J . Slatter , D . Spry , and J . Patton , Executive Committee . It waa recommended that the Grand Council meet at Toronto next year , on a date hereafter to be deitrmined by the Giaud Master . It

was also suggested th » t the number of Iuspectwa-Gbiieral be reduced to one , and a motion that the Executive Committee report at next meeting with regard to a revisiou of the constitution to that efteot was carried . —Toronto Daily Mail .

At the annual meetiug of AU Sands Chapter , recently held at Gainsborough , the Election of Officers took place , as follows : —Comps . Alfred Kirk P . Z . re-appointed M . E . Z ., Baiues H ., Baines J ., Buvvby S . E ., H . Wright S . N ., Liversidge P . Z . ro-uppointed Treasurer , A . Curtis Orgauist , aud Scott Janitor .

A complimentary mntinee to Sir Randal Roberts is announced , to take pluco ou 25 th September , at Terry ' s . Ou this occasion a new aud original play will be produced , the artiBtos giving their services gratuitously . Tic-koto can be obtaiucd of Mr . H . T . Briukwell , who has kindly consented to undertake tbe busiuess management .

A Masonio Educational Fund has been established , under the District Grand Lodge , Eastern Division , of South Africa , and the Board of Management meet , at the Masonic Temple , King Williamstown , to further tbe objects of tbe Instifcnfcion . We are not iu

possession of full particulars connected with the Bcheme , but we iul ' er it is limited to the children or connections of Freemasons iu that colony whose ineaus are insufficient to meet such demands . By the last report tbe Treasurer had a credit balauce in haudof « £ 13 C and the fund was being most successfully worked .

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