Correspondence.

Correspondence .

Wc do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but wc wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

THE NEW ZEALAND QUESTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I regret being compelled to address you on the above subject , but I cannot allow Bro . T . B . Whytehead ' s sweeping condemnation of the District and Provincial Grand Masters of this Colony to go unchallenged .

I have certainly read in your columns , from time to time , a few somewhat vague and self-sufficient letters from the brother in question , whose self-assurance is so very pronounced on this occasion , and whose identity , as one of the wc ' s of Grand Lodge , is now made manifest . Judging from his remarks , he must be possessed of a fund of information ,

and no brother should accuse him of a want of modesty in publishing his weighty opinions to the Masonic world at large . At any rate , he should—if he is a brother capable of recognising his solemn obligations—pause ere he slanders the good name and fair fame of brethren whom , presumably , he does not know , holding high and responsible positions in the Craft for many years , and whose ruling has never been questioned in the discharge of their important Masonic duties .

It is all very well for Bro . Whytehead , in his aggressive spirit , to prate about Masonry in New Zealand , and pronounce judgment thousands of miles away on mere hearsay and ex parte evidence . In his strong partisanship he has evidently forgotten the first principles of common honesty and fair play , apart from the higher considerations appertaining to Freemasonry , in arriving at conclusions without having heard the other side of the question , or on doubtful and imperfect data .

If he really is desirous of ascertaining the truth , let him table a motion in Grand Lodge for the production of the several reports from the District Grand Masters on the condition of Freemasonry in New Zealand—reports furnished at the request of the Colonial Board—and then have those reports , together with Bro . Letchworth ' s letters , read in Grand Lodge for the information of the brethren in England .

Bro . Whytehead also seems to be very much exercised in his mind as to the significance of the word " loyal "—as applied to Masons . He is pleased to term the Masonic secession in New Zealand " the miserable squabble . " Well , let an analagous case , for the sake of the illustration , arise in England in any of the

large Masonic divisions , and let a " miserable squabble" be led by ambitious malcontents and Masonic socialists , claiming a right to establish a Grand Lodge of their own , and accentuating their discontent and rebellious tendencies by hurling defiance at the Most Worshipful Grand Master and the edicts of Grand Lodge .

I now ask Bro . Whytehead ( without evasion or equivocation ) to define " the relative titles applicable to such a condition of things . ' I venture to think that nine-tenths of the true Masons of England would conclude that there is but one interpretation , viz ., " disloyalty versus loyalty "—despite all Pharisaical reasonings , and the very awkward acknowledgment of the position . Call it by whatever

name you like , methinks that if there is anything sacred in the beautiful teachings of Freemasonry and the solemn engagements entered into , that it will take a higher power than Bro . T . B . Whytehead and the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland to absolve these brethren from violated obligations . If not , then our professions are mere hypocrisy in the light of reason and the judgments of honourable men .

Owing to the lapse of time , it is just as well to reproduce a portion of Bro , Whytehead ' s letter , for the greater convenience of my review of his charges . He says : " Those who know anything at all about the real cause of the miserable squabble in New Zealand , now so happily ended I trust and believe , are well aware that the whole trouble ori ginated with Bro . Graham ( i . e . the Dist . Grand Master

of Otago and South / and ) and his allies , who by their dictatorial and unmasonic course in their provinces prevented an almost unanimous movement for a local Grand Lodge . It would seem that these brethren have not altered , and do not intend to alter their tactics , for anything more unmasonic than some of the sentiments and expressions used by them I have never read . So far as the Grand

Lodge of England is concerned , however , we have nothing to do with this , and our brethren across the sea must settle their own disputes . " Precisely sol Then why , may I ask , all this virtuous indignation , and meddlesome interference on the part of Bro . T . B . Whytehead ? In conclusion , I now challenge Bro . Whytehead to prove the following :

s . That the whole trouble originated with Bro . Graham and his allies—or in other words , the District and Provincial Grand Masters of New Zealand . 2 . That the District and Provincial Grand Masters by their dictatorial and unmasonic course prevented an almost unanimous movement for a local Grand Lodge .

3 , To publish the unmasonic sentiments and expressions used by me , at any time , in connection with the question , and to state where he has read them . 4 . To prove that all that has been done by the District Grand Masters , in up . holding the honour of Grand Lodge , has not been done under a strong sense of duty in a strictly judicial and fraternal spirit , under the direction of , and with the full knowledge and concurrence of , the Colonial Board of the Grand Lodge of England .

Let Bro . Whytehead now substantiate his grave charges , or henceforth stand self-condemned before his brother Masons . —Yours fraternally , J . BEVAN , District Grand Master , Westland , N . Z . February 6 th .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , A letter has appeared in your columns of 5 th December , signed by a Bro . T . B . Whytehead , of so extraordinary a nature that I trust you will in all fairness allow me through the same channel the opportunity of reply .

The writer in question takes the liberty of using my name and holds that the whole trouble " originated with me and my allies , who by their dictatorial and unmasonic course in the provinces prevented an almost unanimous movement for a . local Grand Lodge . " This is such an unwarrantable statement , made utterly without foundation , that I call upon Bro . Whytehead , in support of it , to give his and authorities to readers that

proofs your so they may judge of the truthfulness or otherwise of Ihe charge . Like many other Masons at home he shows a lamentable ignorance as to Masonic matters in this colony and only writes to intensify feeling . I can well understand from his style of expression that were he entrusted with authority we might possibly find him dictatorial indeed . For the information of Bro . Whytehead and of his correspondents , let me clearly state that only for the just and firm attitude taken by all the Provincial and

Correspondence.

District Grand Masters of New Zealand true Freemasonry through the ill-advised and improper action of the seceders would have collapsed and proved a by-word . The brethren who committed the sin of adhering to the English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions looked to their chiefs for protection , and at this date , after living for so many years in peace and harmony together , they bear towards their District Grand Masters a respect and esteem which no writing of such brethren as Bro . Whytehead can affect or remove . For the good of Freemasonry in general

the taunts and personal insults of the seceders were borne unheeded by those worthy rulers of the Craft , and the soiled linen washed at home . No offence was offered by the brethren of the British Constitutions save that of preserving their own opinions and attending to their own business , and they accordingly now view with some alarm the invasion into their peaceful lodges of men as visitors whom they thought they had got rid ot and do not want to sit with again ; this I am sorry to say cannot be contradicted . The Grand Lodge of England , the guardian

of the rights of her loyal brethren here , seems to consider between 40 and 50 lodges numbering some 1500 members ( perhaps more ) a minority (!) Be it so . As her Steward I bow to her decisions at all times . It is strange , however , that at such an important meeting as that of 26 th July so few took any interest in the debate , and though the Board of General Purposes , in reply to their own inquiries , had fullest information of the feeling—not of the District Grand Masters but of the brethren in New Zealand—upon the subject of recognition , yet the presiding officer never asked what it represented . The Grand Secretary never brought it

forward or referred to it . It was was nobody's business to consider or give a thought to it . When all was over the common courtesy of advising the District Grand Masters of what had passed was departed from . They might secure the official intimation any way they liked and impart it in a similar manner to their brethren . Bro . Lord Onslow was misled when he said the warrants surreptitiously removed by the seceders had been returned , and a Bro . Dargaville ( since passed to his rest ) represented no English Mason whatsoever by any credential , and in the South Island I may fairly say even by name he was unknown !

Bro . Whytehead attempts a sneer at some correspondent in your paper over the question of loyalty , and pretends not to comprehend what the term means . Honourable Masons understand it to be a faithful discharge of their solemn obligations to their Grand Lodges , and firm support of her Laws and Constitutions . The seceders in New Zealand have failed in both these respects , and been regarded by their respective Grand Lodges ( according to written instructions ) as thoroughly disloyal . No quibbling over a word alters the position , and I much fear the cap

fits uncomfortably . Should Bro . Whytehead make the amende honorable , I may then consider the propriety of submitting for his perusal copies of correspondence from Grand Lodge , suggesting at different times my taking very stringent steps indeed ; had they been adopted , an excuse might have been raised for his remarks ; but seeing I acted all through , so as to avoid scandal and publicity , the remarks of Bro . Whytehead affect me and my District Grand Lodge in _ no wise , but are yet manifestly uncalled for and untrue .

In conclusion I would respectfully inform Bro . Whytehead that my only allies are my District Grand Lodge and my brethren to whom I can at any time refer with confidence ; my only desire , to see the honour and dignity of my Grand Lodge maintained , and I very much regret to find a brother at such a distance go out of his way to insult his superiors in Freemasonry . It speaks as little for the credit of our Craft teaching at home as it does for the truthfulness of the reports supplied by the seceders in New Zealand .

T . SHERLOCK GRAHAM , D . G . Master Otago and Southland . Dunedin , New Zealand , 30 th January .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , As one who , perhaps , has had greater opportunities than any other person of knowing what has taken place with regard to the recognition of the socalled Grand Lodge of New Zealand in the Otago District , will you allow me to take up what , I am afraid , will be a large space in your paper ?

1 . In the year 1890 , my District Grand Master was informed that there was a general wish of the brethren of the English , Irish , and Scottish Constitutions that they should be formed into one Constitution , to be thereafter known as the Grand Lodge of New Zealand . 2 . In furtherance of this object , a meeting of all Freemasons was summoned by various Past Masters , to be held in the Freemasons' Hall , Dunedin , and I , as the oldest P . M . of the District , was asked to preside , which my D . G . M . approved of .

3 . After long and serious consideration , I agreed to take the chair at this meeting , and then expressed the opinion , from which I have never seceded , that it would be a happy thing if all Freemasons here could be brought together " in one fold , under one shepherd , " and this could have been effected had they , in response , been unanimous . 4 , The fact of my District Grand Master having approved of my presiding at such a meeting , was to me , considering that I was his acting Deputy and District Grand Secretary , proof , that if the feeling was unanimous , he would have cheerfully accepted the position .

5 . I have acted in the position mentioned in Paragraph 4 from that time to tha present , and can truly say that , so far as my District Grand Master is concerned , he has never altered his opinion . 6 . At the meeting , above referred to , of members of the three Constitutions , a resolution was passed agreeing with the purpose for which it was called , and I was appointed Chairman to carry out the ends of such resolution .

7 . In furtherance of my duty , I called several meetings , but found that so far as Dunedin was concerned , instead of producing peace , goodwill , and happiness , the subject caused very considerable illwill , probably from the injudicious action on the part of a few over- ; : ealous brethren , and that the three Constitutions could not be brought together . In consequence , I retired from my position , after which , at a meeting of members that seceded from one of the lodges , highly indiscreet language was used , this language was afterwards known by Bro . Lord Onslow , it having been publicly reported and published ( see Dunedin Star , October 15 th , 1890 ) , and it was the cause of still further widening the breach .

8 . The movement for the formation of a New Zealand Grand Lodge has gone on , but there is still , according to the statement in Grand Lodge reported in the proceedings to have been made by the Grand Secretary , what has been termed a minority of 40 lodges under England in New Zealand loyal to their mother Constitution , not allowing for Scotch and Irish lodges . 9 . In Dunedin , the head-quarters of English , Irish , and Scotch Freemasonry for the Otago District , the brethren , notwithstanding the secession of lodges ,

have hitherto met together and worked harmoniously , not recognising the seceders in any way ; are we ( th 6 E ., I ., and S . ) now to be at enmity with each other , for Ihe only information that has yet reached the head-quarters of Scottish and Irish Freemasonry is not to recognise the members of the so-called Grand Lodge of New Zealand in any way . H . R . H ., the Most Worshipful the Grand Master seems to me to have been advised prematurely , for to save illwill there should have been simultaneous action on the part of the three Grand Lodges ; if not 1 cannot see that any good end has been served .