A Step Towards Unity.

A STEP TOWARDS UNITY .

EEFERRING to the Special Grand Lodge to be held on Wednesday next the " Evening Standard " says : Freemasons all over the world are Brothers , and they include the initiated of the United States—a very powerful and energetic phalanx—in that fraternity . Between Brothers , however , even the most affectionate , small misunderstandings arise , and such may well be the case among the Freemasons of the Antipodes . They will be easily adjusted when a single

body authorised to arbitrate and command has been established . The growth and development of British Freemasonry are welcomed by all men of sense who know anything of it . The Pope himself would withdraw his anathema if he understood the difference between our form and that prevailing abroad . British and American prelates of his faith do understand , and the reasoning men among them abstain from cursing

Freemasonry at large . The conditions are very different elsewhere . That hatred of bigotry , persecution , cruelty , and injustice which is inculcated with the principles of Masonry , drove the French and Italian disciples into revolt against a hideous Government and a foul Church . When these were reformed , the old rules and ideas fell into a dormant state for awhile : but

when the Bourbons came back , and the Holy Alliance was founded , Continental Masonry resumed all its old ideas with a fiercer spirit . Persecuted savagely , it added more and more subversive articles to its creed , until , at this time , the Grand Lodge of England declines to co-operate with the Grand Orient of France . But there are a thousand excuses for Continental Masonry .

This is an outside view of Freemasonry , and , as we have said before when speaking of the New Zealand split , it is a matter of surprise to outsiders how a difference can be possible among members of the Mystic Tie . Let us hope this question will be amicably settled next week , and that all other matters where the fullest unanimity does not exist maybe equally set right .

New Masonic Hall.

NEW MASONIC HALL .

SINCE early in the last century Masonic Lodge 276 has been working in the district of Sbraid , and for a long time the want of proper rooms suitable to the requirements of Masonry has been felt . About twelve months ago the erection of a new hall was commenced , and on Saturday , 4 th inst ., the members

of the Lodge had the pleasure of witnessing the fruition of their labours , when the hall was opened and dedicated . The building is a handsome two-storey structure , built of stone from the neighbouring quarries to plans and specifications prepared by Bro . W . J . Tyrrell , of Clifton Park Avenue , Belfast .

The members of Provincial Grand . Lodge and Officers of Lodge 276 repaired to the old Lodge Room , where Bro . Thomas Valentine D . P . G . Master was presented with a key to perform the opening ceremony . A procession was formed under the supervision of Bro . Hy . J . Hill P . G . D . C , and proceeded to the new hall , where the

dedication ceremony was performed by Bro . Thomas Valentine , assisted by Bros . Hilton P . G . S ., Rev . H . Woods P . G . C ., Leighton P . S . G . W ., Wallace P . J . G . W ., Campbell P . J . G . D ., Baines P . G . S ., Robinson P . G . S . B ., Morrison P . G . Organist , Stevenson and Robinson representatives of the Grand Lodge of Ireland .

A pleasant feature of the occasion was the presentation to Bro . Tyrrell P . M . and P . K . of a handsome gold chronometer and a beautifully illuminated address for his gratuitous services in dra-wing plans , and also for superintending the building and work of the hall . The D . G . Master complimented Bro . Tyrrell

in the highest terms on the taste and ability he had shown in the work , whereby a place had been provided suited in every way to the requirements of Masonry , and possessing a degree of comfort and compactness rendering it second to none m the Province .

Bro . W . Redfern Kelly then took photographs of several groups , alter which the Provincial Grand Lodge and other friends were entertained to dinner . The members of Lodge 276 are to be congratulated on the possession of such a building . — " Carrickfergus Advertiser . "

N.S.W. Freemasons Orphan Society.

N . S . W . FREEMASONS ORPHAN SOCIETY .

THIS Institution was formed on 23 rd July 1868 , the Freemasons' Orphan and Destitute Children ' s Society being merged into it , and its funds , some £ 220 l f being handed to the Treasurer of the new Society , Bro . W . H . Simpson , who was also one of the Founders , having for his co-workers Bro . John Wilson and late Bros . Arthur Todd Holroyd , and E . O . Smith .

Ihe funds of the Society at the last annual audit , in January 1895 , amounted to £ 20 , 921 , and are vested in three Trustees , Bros . W . H . Simpson , F . A . Wright and R . Anderson , who invest the same under the direction of the Committee , which

consists of all Life-Governors and Masters of Lodges contributing to the Funds oi the Institution ( a contributing Lodge pays four shillings per annum for each of its members ) . The Committee meets four times in the year , and can appoint sub-Commitfcces

N.S.W. Freemasons Orphan Society.

and call a Special General Court at any time . A General Court is also held twice a year , in January and July . There are now twenty-one orphans receiving from the funds £ 26 per annum each , the amount being paid half-yearly in advance to the W . M . of the Lodge to which the parent was a subscribing member .

The W . M . makes periodical payments to the foster parents , the responsibility of seeing that the money is properly used being on bis shoulders . It is further the duty under the By-laws of the Members of the Committee to visit the children , to see that they are properly maintained and cared for , and to inquire into their conduct .

There are now some fifty Lodges on the list as contributing , but some of them are in arrears , as by the balance sheet money is acknowledged from only forty-one . The By-law requires that an applicant ' s parent must have been a subscribing member to one of the contributing Lodges for five years prior to his death , the term being reduced to three years in exceptional cases .

When the child reaches the age of fourteen years the payment from the Fund ceases . The By-laws are strict in their provisions and conservative in their action , and attempts have been made on various occasions to induce the Committee to reduce the subscription fees , but without success . We cannot blame the Committee for so acting , the members have an Institution which they have carefully guarded for nearly thirty

years , and they can with pride point out that one of the objects they started to accomplish has been gained , that is the amassing of a capital sum of twenty thousand pounds as a practical endowment of the Institution . It is not to be expected that , having done so much , they would willingly open their doors to a number of new members at a lower rate of subscription , but with equal powers to their own , but it is on the other hand most desirable in the interests of the Craft in New South Wales that

this Institution should be as widely popularised as possible . Much has been said as to the method in which a large portion of this capital was procured at the winding up of the affairs of the District Grand Lodge of England , but just as much might be said as regards the funds held by Lodges Australia , Harmony , and others which participated in that division . Those funds

were secured from the Lodges which subsequently divided the surplus , and it would manifestly have been uniair that Lodges of other Constitutions should receive equal shares when the United Grand Lodge was formed . Similarly the funds which passed to the originators of this Orphan Society in New South Wales were the special privilege of the occasion .

It is thought rather hard that children of ' parents who are members of Lodges which do not subscribe , or others until they have subscribed for five years or paid up five years' subscription , should be debarred from the privileges offered by this Society , but it must not be forgotten on the other hand , that any Lodge coming in now as a contributor to the fund really reaps the

benefit of these accumulated funds m the increased power of the Institution to do good work , and . it would be unfair that some regulations should not exist to prevent unjust claims . We think the Committee of Management might perhaps consider the propriety of permanently settling its present assets in Trustees , so that neither time , circumstances , nor change of management

could weaken them , and then consider whether some special inducements could not be held out to make all New South Wales Lodges participate in the good work of supporting this Orphan Society , and in extending its good work to those in need who are debarred . We fail to see that any charge of selfishness or exclusiveness can stand so long as the Lodges contributing at

present hold no place of vantage in benefit from the funds over those who wish to come in on even terms of subscription ; on the other hand the Society is much to be commended for having carried on so good work in the past and in the extension of the benefits it confers upon any terms so liberal as those suggested . But possibly we may suggest a variation in its present rules

which would greatly popularise it , viz ., that if any new subscribing Lodge receives within five years the benefits of its funds for a child or children of its members , it shall in that event contribute a double contribution for one year for each such ward . This would prevent Lodges subscribing specially to receive immediate benefits . It is sad , but almost inevitable , that some Lodges should cease to pay contributions , but even in such

cases we think the right of participation should be indefeasible so long as any funds contributed in the past be still unabsorbed by previous claims upon the Society from children of members of such Lodges as are in default , and each member should be of course privileged to maintain his own status , which should be by affiliating with a financial Lodge . — " Masonry . "

ON and from the 13 th inst . " Great Thoughts " will give a £ 200 insurance for Cyclists , in addition to its former coupon of £ 2 , 000 insurance against fatal and other accidents by train , steamboat , omnibus , tramway , or cab . It is not necessary for subscribers to sign the coupon week by week , provided the subscription has been paid to his or her newsagent . Fuller particulars as to this new scheme aro to bo found in " Groat Thoughts " of 18 th inst .