Freemasonry In New Zealand.

FREEMASONRY IN NEW ZEALAND .

The doubly interesting ceremonies ot the consecration f a new lodge-room and the installation of the new W * M for the ensuing year of the Mailborough Lodge of Ilnanimity , No . 12 * 6 , took place on thc 21 st November 1 st exactly two years after the building , in which the lndsre was formerly held , vvas destroyed by fire . The LaL h-ivine met anil opened in the Three Degrees , the

members had , some of them for the first time , an opportunity of looking roun ( 1 the ncw room , which has been specially constructed , and furnished vvith very great thought and care , and at considerable cost , as nearly as could be contrived after Dr . Oliver ' s valuable suggestions in his book of the lodge . The handsome veil of the three ht from the chill

appropriate colours , shutting out the lig y north ; the Ionic pilasters- on the other sides ; the rich care net and tesselated pavement ; the canopy in the East ; thprincipal chairs with their massiveness anil comfort ; form but part of a pleasing and harmonious whole . The W . M ., Bro . B . O . Waddy , having in front of him the Three Great Lights , the warrant of constitution , and the vessels

of consecration , iose , and gave an exordium on Masonry as follows : —He said that we were met together that evening on a very solemn and interesting occasion , that of opening and consecrating our new lodge-room . As Master of the lodge the honour of conducting the ceremony , an honour which he should remember as long as he lived , fell upon him . It was an honour which very rarely fell to the

lot of Masters of lodges , as the ceremony was usually performed by Grantl Officers . As , however , wc were directly under the Grand Lodge of England , there was no Masonic authorities in this country to whom we owed allegiance , and , consequently , the ceremony must be performed by ourselves . Before commencing , or rather , perhaps , as part of the ccicmony , it was usual for some remarks to be

made on Masonry in order to prepare the mind for the after ceremonial , antl he thought it woultl be as well to explain the necessity of consecrating the lotlge at all . He would have to tell them—what , indeed , they already knew , and few of his remarks could teach them what in one form or another had not been taught them already—that lodges are consecrated because the floor of the lotlge

represented holy ground . It represented the spot on the top of Mount Moriah where the three grand offerings wire made ; the first , that of Abraham , of his son Isaac ; the second , that of David , to stay the pestilence which WJS raging amongst his people ; and the third , that of Solomon , at the dedication of the Temple . Indeed , one of our customs would , but for the dedication , have no meaning . It was well knovvn

that in the East—and most cf our practices and traditions came from the East—it was the custom , on entering a sacred edifice , to take the shoes Irom off the feet , a custom the nicessity of which vvas at certain Tunes insisted on in our lodges , as would be remembered by all present . In endeavouring to prepare the minds of the mem ers for the appioiching ceremony , he thought he could not do better than call their attention to thc consideration of some of

the symbols by which they were surrounded , after t ' oiug which he should bring his remarks to a close . To commence with , thc lodge-room itself vvas a symbol as much as the furniture it contained . It was a singular circumstance that thc greatest Masonic monuments existing in the world had been built by despots—by those who had almost supreme power over the bodies or over the minds of

men . In a free country the buildings generally , both private and public , are good , but the public buildings , as monuments , are far inferior to the magnificent structures of tyrants . No one who knows anything of the history of the human race can look upon the Pyramids of Egypt and doubt for a moment that those gr . ind and useless structures were built by slaves to the glory of some potentate ,

and no one can tloubt that under their vast shadows were hovels full of squalor antl wretchedness . 'To come to modern times , the magnificent jialace of Louis XIV . atVersailles was built at a time when the French people were starving , antl this and other instances of reckless extravagance in wealth and in human life led to the feaiful retribution of the French Revolution , when thc people rose like a wild beast

in us fury , and tore into tatters , and ruins , antl death the good with the bail , the sacred with the profane . Thc object of Freemasonry is not to erect buildings such as these , but it looks upon them in a speculative manner . When a candidate is made he is placed in the N . E . part of the building , and is told that he represents a stone , a foundation stone , on which he is expected to raise a

superstructure , perfect in its parts and honourable to the builder . He is also told , in the explanation of the tracing board , that a Freemason ' s lodge is as high as the heavens , proving that our lodge rooms are tt'garded as merely tempoiary and emblematic , and that we are all supposed and expected to form living stones of a temp le which was commenced long ages ago , and is still

being raised , willingly antl freely , to the glory and honour of T . G . A . O . T . U . Inside the lotlge , he continued , are other emblems , but he could not refer to all . On occasions of this sort it was necessity , of course , to consult authorities , and we were told that at the ceremony of dedication the three great lights were to be displayed . 'They * - * v ° lume of the sacretl law thc and * u ^ vj * w

• IM square compasses . , .,, . ..,. „ .... . . u . . .... .....,, ~ . . . . .. .,...,,... „ . . „ ne sacred lav ; is to rule and govern our faith . He could ° t let the occasion pass , especially considering the late etion of the Grand Orient of France , without saying a ore about Masonic toleration . A Masonic lodge-room ^ , P'ace where all sorts of religious belief were

tolein ti ' fact | we Wtre an exam l ' le of ir * Not a word this room could be said about forms of religion without ' ¦ -cord being the result . All sorts of religious belief were " " rated in a Masonic lodge , but there must be a line "nicvvhere , and the Masonic line vvas drawn at unbelief , asonry requires an acknowledgment from a candidate of

Freemasonry In New Zealand.

his trust in God , and it teaches him later the grand doctrine of the immortality of the soul . Do away with those two landmarks , and the lodge-room is at once and for ever stripped of its glory . This first great light would then be useless , for by it life and immortality are brought to light . You may expunge that—for it alludes 10 the Grand Geometrician of the Universe . You may tear up" that

pavement , for it represents that on which the high priest walked when he went once a year to pay adoration to the Most High . The prayers in our reremonics become a farce , and the ceremonies themselves lose their meaning and are shorn of their beauty . Of the other two great lights , the square is to regulate our actions , and the compasses to keep us in due bounds with all mankind ,

particularly our brethren in Freemasonry . In other words , the first great light teaches us our duty towards God , and the other two our duty towards our neighbour . Thc disciples of Christ were to teach all nations , but " it was meet " that they should do so "beginning at Jerusalem , " amongst their own brethren . Freemasonry is similar in its instructions . It teaches us to keep in due bounds with all

mankind , particularly with our brethren in Freemasonry . This , brethren ( he said ) , is what wc have to remember . It is " one another first , the world afterwards ; " and if Freemasonry has not taught each of us at least this , it has failed as far as wc are concerned . In conclusion , he sincerely hoped that thc opening of the new lodge-room would be the commencement of a better and more united feeling .

We might congratulate ourselves on having a suitable and handsomely furnished room , and must look forward to its being protluctive of social pleasure and other benefits to ourselves in the first place , and eventually a blessing to the town in which we lived . At the conclusion of this address , the officers of the lodge were formed in procession , under the able direction of the P . M ., C J . W . Griffiths ,

and the W . M . spunkled salt , with the usual invocation . The procession then moved rountl , when Bro . P . M . J . T . Robinson strewed corn , giving the invocation . The secontl time round Bro . Griffiths , P . M ., sprinkled wine and gave the invocation , and thc third time the W . M . anointed with oil and gave thc closing invocation . The proceedings

being entled , most of the brethren then adjourned to partake of a supper , at which much satisfaction with the conduct of the ceremony was expressed , and the usual loyal and Masonic toasts drunk . At a later meeting of the lodge , a motion was unanimously carried , that an account of the opening the new lodge-room should be sent to the Editor of thc Freemason .

Consecration Of Two New Lodges At Napier, New Zealand.

CONSECRATION OF TWO NEW LODGES AT NAPIER , NEW ZEALAND .

On Friday , the 27 th of December , 1878 , the Masonic Hall , in Munrce-street , of the Victoria Lodge , English Constitution , was the scene cf an exceedingly grantl ceremony , that of dedicating antl consecrating two new lodges —the Abercorn , of Waipavva , and the Heretaunga , of followed bthe installation of the officers of

Hastings— y the Victoria Lotlge antl of the two new lodges . The ceremonial of dedication and consecration was ably conducted by Bro . Nicholas Marchant , P . M ., District Grand Superintendent of Works , ami acling by special dispensation as Deputy District Grantl Master . The duties devolving on thc Grantl Chaplain were performctl by Bro . the Rev .

D'Arcy Irvine , M . A ., Chaplain of thc Victoria Lodge . Bros . Rudman antl Aplin conducted the musical part of the service . The installation of the three Worshipful Masters and officers of the three lodges was performed by Bro . Marchant , P . M ., D . G . S . W . The following are the names of the officers installed : — Victoria Lodge . —Bros . De Lisle , W . M . ; C . Raven ,

Treas . ; E . P . A . Platford , Sec . ; W . E . Combs , S . W . ; VV . A . Dugleby , J . W . ; J . VV . Upchurch , S . D . ; F . Bee , J . D . ; Russell Duncan , I . G . ; Motley , Tyler . Abercorn Lodge , Waipavva . —Bros . R . Karuish , W . M . ; Todd , Treas . ; A . St . Clair Inglis , Sec . ; J . Chicken , S . W . ; J . Westmoreland , J . W . Heretaunga Lotlge , Hastings . — Bros . J . M . Batham ,

W . M . ; G . R . Grant , Treas . ; W . Beilby , Sec . ; W . O . M'Lcod , S . VV . ; D . A . Wright , J . W . ; W . Y . Watson , S . D . ; Hayes , J . D . ; Chapman , I . G . After the installations , several candidates were proposed for initiation in each of thc two ncw lodges . Before the lodge meeting closed , the District Officer , Bro . Marchant , took occasion to compliment the Victoria

Lodge upon its flourishing condition , financially and otherwise , and several visiting brethren testified that they had not seen a better appointed lodge within thc Wellington Masonic District . The festival was celebrated in the evening with a banquet , held in the Masonic Hall , Munroe-strect , where a large number of members of the Victoria Lodge , and the officers

and warrant members of the two new lodges , assembletl to do honour to the occasion . The chair was occupictl by the newly installed W . M . of the Victoria Lodge , Bro . F . I . De Lisle , supported on his right by P . M . Bro . Marchant , D . G . S . W . ; Bro . Karuish , W . M . of the Abercorn Lodge , and P . M . Bro . Wundram ; and on his left by P . M . Bro .

Batham , W . M . of the Heretaunga Lodge , and Bro . H . C Pirani . Later in the evening P . M . Bro . Sutton and P . M . Bro . Koch joined the company , and were accommodated with seats on the dais . There were a gootl many visitors present , some—such as Bro . Rhodes | and Bro . Ellison—Masons who have not joined in a festivity of the kintl for

some years . After ample justice had been done to the many good things jirovidetl in excellent style by the caterer , Bro . Johnson , the toasts of " 'The Queen and the Craft , " and " The Three Grand Masters of England , Scotland , antl Ireland , " were duly honoured . The W . M . then proposed " The District Grand Lodge , " coupled with thc name of Bro . Marchant , D . G . S . W .

Consecration Of Two New Lodges At Napier, New Zealand.

Bro . Marchant acknowledged the toast at length , and afterwards proposed " Tbe Health of the Worshipful Masters of the Victoria , the Abercorn , and the Heretaunga Lodges , " to which Bros . De Lisle , Karuish , and ; Batham responded . Bro . Wundram , P . M ., proposed ' " The Installed Officers of the Three Lodges . "

I he toast vvas acknowledged by Bro . Combs , onjbehalf of himself and the other newly-installed officers . Bro . Batham , P . M ., proposed " The Outgoing Officers of the Victoria Lodge . " He had to thank them very much for their assiduous attendance . They had worked very harmoniously together , and it was a pleasure to him to acknowledge it . ( Applause . )

Bro . Carnell acknowledged the toast for himself and the other outgoing officers . Bro . Marchant , P . M ., desired to show to the brethren that while the proceedings of that day were being conducted interest was felt in those proceedings in the Wellington lodges . On leaving the hall that afternoon he received a telegram from Bro . G . S . Cooper , W . M . of the

Wellington Lodge , as follows : — " Wellington Lodge desires to congratulate the newly-constituted lodges . " He had also received a telegram from Bro . F . Binns , the W . M . of the Pacific Lodge , in which he said , " Tender congratulations to Victoria , Abercorn , and Heretaunga Lodges from Pacific Lodge . " ( Applause . ) Bro . De Lisle , W . M ., proposed " The Sister Lodges of the Sister Constitutions . "

The toast was acknowledged by Bros . Wundram , Batham , and Koch . The other toasts were " The Visitors , " acknowledged by Bros . Sutton , Pirani , Ellison , Howard , and Koch ; " Newly-Initiated Masons , " acknowledged by Bro . M'Kenzie ; " The Ladies , " acknowledged by Bro . Grace ; " The Press , " acknowledged by Bro . Pirani ; "The Chaplain o £ the Victoria Lodge , " acknowledged in eloquent and feeling terms by Bro . the Rev . D'Arcy Irvine ; "TheArmy , Navy , and Auxiliary Forces ; " " The Life Boat Crews of

England ; " "The Caterer , Bro . Johnson ; " "Absent Friends . " The following toasts were drunk in solemn silence : — " The Memory of Princess Alice , " and " All Poor and Distressed Masons . " A good many songs were sung and recitations given during the evening , and it vvas a good deal past 1 o ' clock in the morning before the company broke up .

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We observe that Bro . Henry Murray , Past District Grand Master , & c , for China , Past Deputy Provincial Grand Mark Master fnr Warwickshire and Staffordshire , is about to read " Othello " at Birmingham , under distinguished Masonic patronage . Bro . Murray comes of an old theatrical family , and possesses great dramatic and elocutionary ability . In an address presented to him upon

quitting China the brethren affirmed that " the various jiublic ceremonials in which he had taken part had received an enhancement of dignity from his impressive delivery of the ancient ritual . " His grandfather , Mr . Charles Murray , vvas an eminent member of thc Covent Garden company at the commencement of this century , while his aunt , Mrs . Henry Siddons , and his father , Bro . William Murray ,

were the famous artists under whose management the Edinburgh Theatre flourished for more than forty years . In the pages of "Waverley" Sir Walter Scott makes mention of Mrs . Henry Siddons and Bro . William Murray , as Viola and Sebastian in the comedy of " Twelfth Night . " The Earl ( afterwards Marquis ) of Dalhousie , when M . W . Grand Master of Scotland , visited the Theatre Royal ,

Edinburgh , in ample Masonic form . It may be of interest to add that Bro . Murray ' s great grandfather was a Mason who , early in the eighteenth century , took an active part in the dissemination of the Craft upon tbe Continent of Europe . The Eleventh Annual Festival of the French Hospital took place last Saturday * ! the 2 2 nd ult ., at Willis ' s

Rooms as usual . The banquet vvas largely attended by-English and French gentlemen . The Count of Montebello took thc chair , and was supported by the Lord Mayor of London and his Sheriffs . His Lordship made a very humorous sjieech , which was very much applauded . The noble Chairman also , after thc dutiful toast to " Her Majesty the Queen , the Prince of Wales , and Royal

Family , " made a very telling speech , eulogising the French Hospital , the new President of the French Republic , and saying that moderation in politics was the programme of theprcsent French Government , which elicited a thunder of applause fro . n all parts of the room . After dinner , and many good speeches by different distinguished French and English guests , Signor Tito Mattel sat to the piano and

performed his own celebrated and beautiful waltz , which was encored accordingly . Then came Signor Urio and Mdlle . De Bono , the talented violinist , the former delighting the select audience by his beautiful and pure singing , the second one by her admirable instrumentation . As soon as the entertainment was over , M . Rimmel , the infatigable honorary secretary , gave an account of the

funds of the French Hospital , thanking the learned French physicians for their great care to the patients , and the gootl it had done , not only to the French colony , but also to English poor , who partake with the French the great benefits of the hospital . Altogether it was a very enjoyable evening , antl a large sum of money was collected for the benefit of the hospital .

Constitutions of the Ancient Fraternity of Free antl Accepted Masons , containing the Charges , Regulations , E . A . Song , & c . A copy should be in thc possession of every brother . It may be obtained for 2 S . at the office of the Freemason , or will be sent post-free to any part of the Unitetl Kingdom on receipt of twenty-five penny stamps . Address , Publisher , 198 , Fleet-street , London . — ADVT .