Freemasonry ' At The Antipodes.

FREEMASONRY ' AT THE ANTIPODES .

If during the few years which have elapsed since the constitution of the Grand Lodges on the great Australian Continent and in Tasmania , which so successfully conduct the affairs of Freemasonry in that part of the British Empire , any doubts may have arisen as to the probable stability of our Order at the Antipodes under the new conditions of its existence , we are of opinion they will be materially diminished , if not entirely set at rest , by the two

reports we published in our last week ' s issue . One of them contained the address delivered by Bro . the Earl of KINTORE , M . W . G . M . of South Australia , svhen he installed Bto . Sir R . W . DUFF , the newly-appointed Governor of New South Wales , as M . W . G . M . of the United Grand Lodge of that colony , in succession , to Bro . the Earl of J ERSEY , while the other furnished the sermon preached by Bro . the Bishop of BATHURST , Grand Chaplain of

New South Wales , at what is described as a Masonic service , personally conducted by that prelate in the cathedral church of the city , from svhich he takes his episcopal title . Both the address and thesermon bear eloquent testimony to the prosperous condition of Freemasonry under the jurisdiction of the four Australasian Grand Lodges sve have before specified ; but , as it is only natural to expect , the testimony of the former is the more valuable . In the earlier portions of his speech , Bro . Lord KINTORE very

properly referred at some length to the events of the last fesv years , and the distinguished Masons who had borne the chief part in them . To his osvn predecessor in office in South Australia—Bro . the Hon .. Chief Justice WAY —in particular , as well as to Bros . Lord CARRINGTON and the Earl of J ERSEY , Past Grand Masters , and Bro . Dr . TARRANT , Pro G . Master of New South Wales , Bro . Sir W . J . CLARKE , Bart ., M . W . G . M . of Victoria , and Bro . the Rev . R . D . POUIVETT HARRIS , the first Grand Master of

lasmania , his lordship rendered that full measure of respect and praise to which one and all they are so justly entitled for their eminent services to our Craft . Passing from this congenial * theme , his lordship spoke of . the progress which Freemasonry had made " under autonomous government in all the four Constitutions I have named . " " In each of them , " said he , "in spite of the severe cSmmcrcial depression through which we are passing ,

united Masonry has more than held its own . It has progressed both in thc number of its lodges and its members , and it has become more widel y spread and more firmly established . This , as the Mother Colony" ( New South Wales ) , " both in the date of settlement and in the establishment of Masonry , appropriately continues to surpass her sister Constitutions in the number of its Masonic adherents , " the number of * subscribing members on

the roll of the Grand Lodge being estimated at between gooti and 10 , 000 , while the number of Masons in the Colony , including those not affiliated to lodges , is set down a : quite 15 , 000 . Later on Bro . Lord KINTORE spoke in more general terms , remarking— "It has often been said that Freemasonry is not a creed . No , but it is a faith . Our belief in the Great Architect of tht- Universe is the keystone of the

whole Masonic fabric . Thank God , that nowhere in these lands has there been any sign of perversion from this ruling principle of our Order . " Lastly , having regard to " the future with its possibilities and ils dangers , " his lordship confessed " to a feeling of satisfaction that already ''reemasonry had obtained so strong and so wide-spread a development throughout Australia . " " I perceive in it , " said Lord KINTORE ,

'influences making for stability , for patriotism , for righteousness . Religious controversies I suppose there will always be , but it will tend to prevent their being carried to extremes that our Order witnesses to our common dependence on the Great Architect of the Universe . New political Doctrines and wild and ill-considered social theories may be agitated , but ''fcemasons will ever hold fast to trood citizenship and lovaltv . Financial

¦ "traits and commercial difficulties may be encountered , but the Craft will continue to square their actions by the rules of equity and the dictates of lUsiice , " while as regards that " closer union between these great colonies , which is the ardent aspiration of many lovers of their country , " Lord KINTORE is of opinion that it " will surely be aided in no small degree by " b rotherhood of Freemasonry . " These passages sve have quoted were

""noiig * the most impressive in this able and eloquent address , and we can p " / express our belief , that while there are such as he to advise our fellow ij , . men in these jurisdictions , and while the general body of Masons " •" rein located exhibit the same willingness to be guided by such wise and a fnest counsellor ; -, it will be impossible for the condition of Freemasonry uc otherwise than prosperous . 11 ., regards the sermon preached by Bro . the Bishop of BATHURST , in

r -niirst Cathedral , on the necessity of being " Faithful unto death , " the ; , Veren d brother ' s testimony to the value of Freemasonry was in its way as , ] P : 've as thatof Lord KINTORE ' . " There was , " said he , " one great on 1 " * e that must always permeate the members of the Society , viz ., belief in e 'me and living God , " and he argued that " in these days , when there are a who would do away , in the regulation of the affairs of the universe ,

Freemasonry ' At The Antipodes.

with a Supreme Being , surely an Order svhich maintains intact this great and important truth , although it went nofurther , and whie : h taught the brethren the principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth , and also temperance , unity , and justice , ought to be a great advantage to the community in which it operated . " But we ' need not pursue the subject further . The same spirit

pervades the whole sermon , nor is the praise which the' worthy prelate bestosvs upon our Order of an exaggerated character . He takes his stand on the declared principles by which Freemasonry is governed , and , being a firm believer in the justness and uprightness of those principles , he can see nothing inconsistent svith his character as a Christian prelate in resolving to maintain and uphold them to the utmost of his ability .

So far our feeling has been entirely one of satisfaction at learning on such excellent authority that Freemasonry in these four Antipodean jurisdictions is so prosperously circumstanced . There is , however , unfortunately , one other jurisdiction to which the same remarks may not be applied . In South Australia , New South Wales , Victoria , and Tasmania the Craft flourishes because its leading , members have been , actuated throughout

bj * motives of prudence . But in Nesv Zealand the condition of Freemasonry is the reverse of prosperous . While the influence of ourhome G . Lodges in that colony was undisturbed , things . svent fairly well ; but in an unfortunate moment certain influential brethren determined at all hazards on establishing a local Grand Lodge and such a body was formed ,, though even , the extremest partisan of AIasonic autonomy would hardly venture to describe the movement which led to the adoption of this course as having in it the

semblance of unanimity . Since thc-n we have heard a good deal about the Craft in New Zealand , but not much in connection with its local Grand I . odge which has called forth our sympathy or admiration . We can only , hope that the time may not be far distant when there svill be an end to ' thd ' present disturbed condition of Freemasonry in that colony , and- \ yhen what ' Lord KINTORK has so eloquently said of Freemasonry in his own and certain other Australasian jurisdictions can be applied ! with equal , force nnd , truth fp the state of our Society in Nesv Zealand . ' * . '•'

United Grand Lodge Of England.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

The following is the business to be transacted in Grand Lodge on Wed- * * ncsday next , the 6 th inst . :. 1 . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 7 th June for confirmation . 2 . To consider the following notices of motion from the R . W . thc Dep . Grand Master :

1 . " That an address of congratulation be presented by Grand Lodge to the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , on the occasion of the marriage of his Royal Highness the Duke of York with her Serene Highness the Princess Victoria Mary of Teck , offering the most hearty good svishes of the Fraternity on the happy event . " 2 . " That the sum of 300 guineas be voted from the Fund of General Purposes for the relief of brethren in the District of Queensland who have suffered from the : recent disastrous -floods . " - - -

3 . Report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which there are recommendations for the follosving grants : The widow of a brother of the Ionic Lodge , No . 227 , London ... ... ... ... ... ... , £ 50 0 o A brother of the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 167 , Hampstead ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the St . Peter ' s Lodge , No . 476 ,

Carmarthen ... ... ... ... ... 75 0 o The svidow of a brother of the Phamix Lodge of St . Ann , No . 1235 , Buxton' ... ... ... ... 50 o o

4 . REPORT OF THE BOIRD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England : The Board have to report that the following presentations have been made to the Library and Museum . since the last report of the Board of General Purposes in •' May , 18 93 : ¦< ' ¦ TITLE OR OBJECT . PRESENTED BY . Co Volumes of Masonic Reviesv of , Cincinnati ... T . H . Emmons , of Boston , U . S . A . " Freemasonry at Bottoms , Eastsvood , " Yorkshire The Author , J . E . Craven , P . M . 30 S *

Centennial Medal of the Perfect Union I-odge , No . 1 R . Lambert , G . Sec . Louisiana . . Catalogue of the Library Lodge Quatuor Coronati , •* No . 2076 ... ... ' .. G . W . Speth , Secretary . History of Freemasonry in Hertfordshire The Author , G . Blizard Abbott . Portrait of the Hon . Henry Hobart , Prov . G . M . *) Norfolk , 1798-9 I Portrait of the Earl of Leicester , P . G . M . Norfolk , ]> G . W . G . Barnard , P . G , Sec . Norfolk 1818-42 ) Portrait of Lord Suffield , P . G . M . Norfolk , 1845 . 53 J By-lasvs and History of the Stewart Lodge , Kasval

Pindi Capt . J . H . Leslie , W . M . 19 ( 10 . Alphabetical List of Ollicers and Members of the Grand Chapter from 1795 to 1891 , in MS . ... W . H . R y lands , P . G . Steward . Tsvo Silver Masonic Medals J . G . Tsvinn , P . M ., Sec . 130 G . The Mason ' s Miscellany , Vol . I ., 1 S 30 W . H . Lee , P . M ., & c . By-lasvs and History of thc Carnarvon Lodge , : .

No . S 04 ¦¦¦ Thomas Francis , P . M ., & c ; The Yorkshire Lodges ... ... ... •¦•' ' ... " ) ' The Masonic Star , 1 SSS-9 S-J . H . Jewell , P . M ., & c . . Thirteen Masonic Manuals for Kent ¦¦¦) Masonic Brooch - ••Robert Grey , P . B . B . Constitutions and Centennial Medal of the National . . . . . Grand Orient of Spain ... " ... . . ' E . E . Woof , W . M . 235 , Biboa . "What is Freemasonry ? " G . W . Speth , P . M ., & c .