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Article THE NEW ZEALAND QUESTION. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE NEW ZEALAND QUESTION. Page 2 of 2
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The New Zealand Question.
number of the brethren present , " those who may determine upon the latter course to be recognised by the Grand Lodge , while no censure shall be visited upon brethren in respect of the course they may think fit to adopt , or for " any part" they may have
taken " on cither side , in thc formation or establishment of the new Grand body , " There is also a provision to which wc attach importance , namely , that neither the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , nor its Grand Master , shall " grant any new warrant for any
Lodge out of the five districts referred to , or the Co ] ony . ' In other words , the jurisdiction of the new Grand Lodge shall be exercised within the territorial limits of the Colony , but not outside them . We have before now had cases in which a Grand
Body in our Colonics has granted , or proposed to grant warrants for the . constitution of private bodies outside thc territorial limits of the Colony in which such Grand Lodge was established ,
but by the inclusion of this additional provision among the terms of recognition , the likelihood of such difficulties as have arisen on this point with other British Colonial Grand bodies occurring with the Grand Lodge of New Zealand is prevented .
It only remains for us to express our thankfulness that the difficulties by which the Craft in New Zealand has been hampered for several years past are now removed , and we trust that henceforth Freemasonry in this Colony will go on increasing
in prosperity . We trust also that when the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand by our Grand Lodge is an accomplished fact , his Royal Highness , our M . W . Grand Master , will see his way to accepting the position of Patron of this new British Colonial Grand Lodge . Thc following are the documents as taken from the pages of the New Zealand Craftsman :
TERMS OF RECOGNITION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND BY THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND AND CORRESPONDENCE RELATING THERETO .
Grand Ledge of New Zealand , Grand Secretary ' s Office , Dunedin , January 20 th , 1 S 9 S . Wor . and Dear Brother , I am directed to send to you , as a member of the Board of
General Purposes , copies of a communication received from the United Grand Lodge of England on the subject of recognition , and to inform you that at a meetingof the Board , held 19 th inst ., the M . W . the Grand Master was recommended to agree to the terms without alteration , and to cable to that effect . I am , Wor . and D .-ar Brother , yours fraternally ,
WILLIAM RONALDSON , Grand Secretary . [ COPY . ] United Grand Lodge of England , Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , London , November 30 th , 1897 . To the Most Worshipful
the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand . DEAR SIR AND Mosr WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER , —In reply to the application made by the Grand Lodge of New Zealand to the Grand L odge of England through a letter ofthe Most Worshipful Brother H . D illon Bell ( then Grand Master , of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand ) on February 25 th , 1896 , for recognition as a constituted Masonic authority , I
h ave the honour to transmit to you the following copy of the resolution come to by the Grand Lodge of England at a special Grand Lodge held July 29 th , 1896 , and to inform you that the same was duly confirmed at the next meeting of Grand Lodge : " That , taking into consideration the message from the Most Worshipful Grand Master , Grand Lodge requests that His Royal
Highness will be pleased to take such steps for the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand and for the establishment of fraternal good feeling with our New Zealand brethren as he may consider consistent with the honour of this Grand Lodge , and with just consideration for those Lodges which may desire to retain their connection with the Grand Lodge of England . "
At the time ot the confirmation of the resolution to which I have referred , certain alterations in , or , rather , additions to , the Book of Constitutions dealing with this same subject and intended to meet future cases were in contemplation , and , after much consideration and a reference to a strong committee , these proposals were adopted by Grand Lodge on March 3 rd , 1897 , and , havirg been duly confirmed , now form part of the general laws of the Craft .
For your information I enclose you a copy . The Most Worship ful Grand Master felt that , in view of these contemplated additions , it would be better to defer formulating the terms upon which he is , under the resolution of July 29 th , 1896 . prepared to recognise the Grand Lodge of New Zealand until the outcome of the discussion was seen and he could form a judgment how far either in principle or detail it would be desirable to proceed on similar lines .
I am now directed to state that , having regard to all the circumstances , the Most Worshipful Grand Master is prepared to accord the desired recognition upon the terms which I now enclose , and which it is believed will effectually carry out the intentions and wishes of both the Grand Lodges concerned , with due regard to the interests and self-respect of each , as well
The New Zealand Question.
as ensuring those desirable objects of Masonic harmony and union so appropriately stated in the letter of your Past Grand Master . I shall be glad to hear from you when you are in a position to reply to this communication , and when I hear that the terms are finally settled copies interchangeably signed will be exchanged with your Grand Lodge as a
permanent record of the arrangement come to , and the District Grand Lodges will be officially communicated with . Adverting to the request of your Past Grand Master that the Most Worshipful Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , would become Patron of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , I do not think there will be any obstacle so soon as the terms of recognition are arranged .
In conclusion , I would express regret at the delay that has occurred , although it has been unavoidable , andthe hope that these carefully-considered terms will commend themselves to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and form the basis of enduring and honourable relations between the two Grand Sovereign Lodges .
I have the honour to be , dear Sir and Most Worshipful Grand Master , yours faithfully and fraternally , E . LETCHWORTH , Grand Secretary .
[ COPY . ] Proposed Terms of Recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , drafted by the Grand Registrar , and approved by his Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master . Grand Lodge at its meeting on July 29 th , 1896 , having sanctioned the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand by the Most Worshipful
Grand Master on such terms as his Royal Highness may consider to be consistent with the honour of the Grand Lodge of England , and with just consideration for those lodges which may desire to retain their connection with it , the Most Worshipful Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , has been pleased to authorise a communication being made to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand to the following effect -.
That he is prepared fully to recognise the Grand Lodgeof New Zealand , and to enter into full and fraternal relations with it as an Independent Sovereign Masonic Body , on the following understanding : That the Grand Lodge of New Zealand shall in future be the recognised Grand Lodge for the Colony , including all the five Districts heretofore holding under the English Constitution , and all other parts of the
Colony . The Most Worshipful Grand Master will in future grant no warrant for a new lodge within any of such Districts or elsewhere within the Colony of New Zealand . The Grand Lodge of New Zealand will not , nor will its Grand Master , grant any new warrant for any lodge out of the five Districts referred
to , or the Colony . The Most Worshipful Grand Master will give authority to all lodges at present holding under the Grand Lodge of England to meet and decide in open lodge whether or not they desire to tender their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand ; such meeting to be specially convened on not less than 21 days'notice , for the purpose of
determining this question ; and no other business save that , and , if requisite , of disposing of the assets and property of the lodge shall be considered at the meeting . A majority of two-thirds in number of the brethren present shall be required to enable the lodge to tender its allegiance to the Grand Lodere of New Zealand ; all other questions at the meeting shall be
decided by a majority of the brethren present in the usual way . The result of the meeting , with copies of the resolutions passed thereat , shall be forthwith sent ( in duplicate ) , verified by the signature of the Master in the chair , and countersigned by the Secretary , to the District Grand Secretary , and to the Grand Secretary at Freemasons' Hall , London .
In case the lodge shall resolve to tender its adherence to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , the Warrant of Constitution must be forthwith returned to the Grand Secretary for cancellation . The lodge has full power to dispose of its property and records as the majority decides , but the Most Worshipful the Grand Master strongly
recommends that the lodge minute books and the Treasurer ' s books and accounts shall remain with the lodge under whichever Sovereign Body it elects to continue , in order that the continuity of the lodge and the rights of members dependent on their being subscribing members should not be imperilled for want of these records on any future
occasion . The Most Worshipful the Grand Master will be prepared to consider with favour any application for the return of a cancelled warrant that thc Lodge may wish to retain as a memorial of its former connection with the Grand Lodge of England . No second meeting of a Lodge which has come to a resolution to continue
under the Grand Lodge of England can be held without the special leave of the Most Worshipful the Grand Master . The Most Worshipful the Grand Master will consider any district in which fewer than three Lodges may continue under their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England , to be ipso facto dissolved ; but , subject hereto , the Lodges under the English Constitution , both private andthe District
Grand Lodges , will continue as at present , and remain unaffected by this recognition . All brethren who shall continue members of lodges under the English Constitution shall be fully recognised by the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and no brother shall incur any Masonic censure by reason of his adhering to either allegiance , or of any part he may have taken on either side in the formation or establishment of the new Grand body . ( Signed ) FRED . A . PIIILIJRICK , Grand Registrar . E . LETCHWORTH , Grand Secretary .
Owisu to continued indisposition , Ihe Duke of Sixe-Coburg is unable to leave hsr Majesty ' s ship Surprise at present . His Royal Highness is frequently visited by hj 5 sisters , and Sir James Reid is sent daily by the Queen to report on his Royal Hig hness s progress . WITH TIIK sanction of the Marquis ' of Salisbury , her Mijesty ' s Consul at Cherbourg has appointed General Harry McLeod , R . A ., to be Vice-Consul at Granvil «¦ General McLeod was British Consular Agent at 1 ' ondicherry and Kirikal from J " /' 1 S 9 ; , to September , iSyO .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The New Zealand Question.
number of the brethren present , " those who may determine upon the latter course to be recognised by the Grand Lodge , while no censure shall be visited upon brethren in respect of the course they may think fit to adopt , or for " any part" they may have
taken " on cither side , in thc formation or establishment of the new Grand body , " There is also a provision to which wc attach importance , namely , that neither the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , nor its Grand Master , shall " grant any new warrant for any
Lodge out of the five districts referred to , or the Co ] ony . ' In other words , the jurisdiction of the new Grand Lodge shall be exercised within the territorial limits of the Colony , but not outside them . We have before now had cases in which a Grand
Body in our Colonics has granted , or proposed to grant warrants for the . constitution of private bodies outside thc territorial limits of the Colony in which such Grand Lodge was established ,
but by the inclusion of this additional provision among the terms of recognition , the likelihood of such difficulties as have arisen on this point with other British Colonial Grand bodies occurring with the Grand Lodge of New Zealand is prevented .
It only remains for us to express our thankfulness that the difficulties by which the Craft in New Zealand has been hampered for several years past are now removed , and we trust that henceforth Freemasonry in this Colony will go on increasing
in prosperity . We trust also that when the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand by our Grand Lodge is an accomplished fact , his Royal Highness , our M . W . Grand Master , will see his way to accepting the position of Patron of this new British Colonial Grand Lodge . Thc following are the documents as taken from the pages of the New Zealand Craftsman :
TERMS OF RECOGNITION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND BY THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND AND CORRESPONDENCE RELATING THERETO .
Grand Ledge of New Zealand , Grand Secretary ' s Office , Dunedin , January 20 th , 1 S 9 S . Wor . and Dear Brother , I am directed to send to you , as a member of the Board of
General Purposes , copies of a communication received from the United Grand Lodge of England on the subject of recognition , and to inform you that at a meetingof the Board , held 19 th inst ., the M . W . the Grand Master was recommended to agree to the terms without alteration , and to cable to that effect . I am , Wor . and D .-ar Brother , yours fraternally ,
WILLIAM RONALDSON , Grand Secretary . [ COPY . ] United Grand Lodge of England , Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , London , November 30 th , 1897 . To the Most Worshipful
the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand . DEAR SIR AND Mosr WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER , —In reply to the application made by the Grand Lodge of New Zealand to the Grand L odge of England through a letter ofthe Most Worshipful Brother H . D illon Bell ( then Grand Master , of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand ) on February 25 th , 1896 , for recognition as a constituted Masonic authority , I
h ave the honour to transmit to you the following copy of the resolution come to by the Grand Lodge of England at a special Grand Lodge held July 29 th , 1896 , and to inform you that the same was duly confirmed at the next meeting of Grand Lodge : " That , taking into consideration the message from the Most Worshipful Grand Master , Grand Lodge requests that His Royal
Highness will be pleased to take such steps for the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand and for the establishment of fraternal good feeling with our New Zealand brethren as he may consider consistent with the honour of this Grand Lodge , and with just consideration for those Lodges which may desire to retain their connection with the Grand Lodge of England . "
At the time ot the confirmation of the resolution to which I have referred , certain alterations in , or , rather , additions to , the Book of Constitutions dealing with this same subject and intended to meet future cases were in contemplation , and , after much consideration and a reference to a strong committee , these proposals were adopted by Grand Lodge on March 3 rd , 1897 , and , havirg been duly confirmed , now form part of the general laws of the Craft .
For your information I enclose you a copy . The Most Worship ful Grand Master felt that , in view of these contemplated additions , it would be better to defer formulating the terms upon which he is , under the resolution of July 29 th , 1896 . prepared to recognise the Grand Lodge of New Zealand until the outcome of the discussion was seen and he could form a judgment how far either in principle or detail it would be desirable to proceed on similar lines .
I am now directed to state that , having regard to all the circumstances , the Most Worshipful Grand Master is prepared to accord the desired recognition upon the terms which I now enclose , and which it is believed will effectually carry out the intentions and wishes of both the Grand Lodges concerned , with due regard to the interests and self-respect of each , as well
The New Zealand Question.
as ensuring those desirable objects of Masonic harmony and union so appropriately stated in the letter of your Past Grand Master . I shall be glad to hear from you when you are in a position to reply to this communication , and when I hear that the terms are finally settled copies interchangeably signed will be exchanged with your Grand Lodge as a
permanent record of the arrangement come to , and the District Grand Lodges will be officially communicated with . Adverting to the request of your Past Grand Master that the Most Worshipful Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , would become Patron of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , I do not think there will be any obstacle so soon as the terms of recognition are arranged .
In conclusion , I would express regret at the delay that has occurred , although it has been unavoidable , andthe hope that these carefully-considered terms will commend themselves to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and form the basis of enduring and honourable relations between the two Grand Sovereign Lodges .
I have the honour to be , dear Sir and Most Worshipful Grand Master , yours faithfully and fraternally , E . LETCHWORTH , Grand Secretary .
[ COPY . ] Proposed Terms of Recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , drafted by the Grand Registrar , and approved by his Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master . Grand Lodge at its meeting on July 29 th , 1896 , having sanctioned the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand by the Most Worshipful
Grand Master on such terms as his Royal Highness may consider to be consistent with the honour of the Grand Lodge of England , and with just consideration for those lodges which may desire to retain their connection with it , the Most Worshipful Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , has been pleased to authorise a communication being made to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand to the following effect -.
That he is prepared fully to recognise the Grand Lodgeof New Zealand , and to enter into full and fraternal relations with it as an Independent Sovereign Masonic Body , on the following understanding : That the Grand Lodge of New Zealand shall in future be the recognised Grand Lodge for the Colony , including all the five Districts heretofore holding under the English Constitution , and all other parts of the
Colony . The Most Worshipful Grand Master will in future grant no warrant for a new lodge within any of such Districts or elsewhere within the Colony of New Zealand . The Grand Lodge of New Zealand will not , nor will its Grand Master , grant any new warrant for any lodge out of the five Districts referred
to , or the Colony . The Most Worshipful Grand Master will give authority to all lodges at present holding under the Grand Lodge of England to meet and decide in open lodge whether or not they desire to tender their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand ; such meeting to be specially convened on not less than 21 days'notice , for the purpose of
determining this question ; and no other business save that , and , if requisite , of disposing of the assets and property of the lodge shall be considered at the meeting . A majority of two-thirds in number of the brethren present shall be required to enable the lodge to tender its allegiance to the Grand Lodere of New Zealand ; all other questions at the meeting shall be
decided by a majority of the brethren present in the usual way . The result of the meeting , with copies of the resolutions passed thereat , shall be forthwith sent ( in duplicate ) , verified by the signature of the Master in the chair , and countersigned by the Secretary , to the District Grand Secretary , and to the Grand Secretary at Freemasons' Hall , London .
In case the lodge shall resolve to tender its adherence to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , the Warrant of Constitution must be forthwith returned to the Grand Secretary for cancellation . The lodge has full power to dispose of its property and records as the majority decides , but the Most Worshipful the Grand Master strongly
recommends that the lodge minute books and the Treasurer ' s books and accounts shall remain with the lodge under whichever Sovereign Body it elects to continue , in order that the continuity of the lodge and the rights of members dependent on their being subscribing members should not be imperilled for want of these records on any future
occasion . The Most Worshipful the Grand Master will be prepared to consider with favour any application for the return of a cancelled warrant that thc Lodge may wish to retain as a memorial of its former connection with the Grand Lodge of England . No second meeting of a Lodge which has come to a resolution to continue
under the Grand Lodge of England can be held without the special leave of the Most Worshipful the Grand Master . The Most Worshipful the Grand Master will consider any district in which fewer than three Lodges may continue under their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England , to be ipso facto dissolved ; but , subject hereto , the Lodges under the English Constitution , both private andthe District
Grand Lodges , will continue as at present , and remain unaffected by this recognition . All brethren who shall continue members of lodges under the English Constitution shall be fully recognised by the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and no brother shall incur any Masonic censure by reason of his adhering to either allegiance , or of any part he may have taken on either side in the formation or establishment of the new Grand body . ( Signed ) FRED . A . PIIILIJRICK , Grand Registrar . E . LETCHWORTH , Grand Secretary .
Owisu to continued indisposition , Ihe Duke of Sixe-Coburg is unable to leave hsr Majesty ' s ship Surprise at present . His Royal Highness is frequently visited by hj 5 sisters , and Sir James Reid is sent daily by the Queen to report on his Royal Hig hness s progress . WITH TIIK sanction of the Marquis ' of Salisbury , her Mijesty ' s Consul at Cherbourg has appointed General Harry McLeod , R . A ., to be Vice-Consul at Granvil «¦ General McLeod was British Consular Agent at 1 ' ondicherry and Kirikal from J " /' 1 S 9 ; , to September , iSyO .