Reviews

REVIEWS

REASONS FOR NOT LEAVING THE GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND . A Reply to the self-styled and self-appointed Masonic Union ot Victoria . A . H . Massina and Co ., 2 G Little Collins-street East , Melbourne .

' 1 Ins little pamphlet is issued "by authority" from the acting District Grand Master of Victoria , Dr . H . St . John Clarke , and addressed to the Freemasons of the English Constitution there . It is a lucid and well reasoned out and seasonable publication , lt expqses ably the alleged idle demand for separation , and encounters the professed reasons for a demand for an independent Grand Lodge xvith marked force . The truth is that the xvhole movement

appears to'us to hinge upon personal considerations , xvithout any rational basis or valid necessity ; in fact , in that prevalent general fidgettiness of viexvs , and those aspirations of special advancement xvhich do such harm to contemporary Freemasonry . There is not the slightest pretence for saying that there is any inconvenience or unsatisfactoriness of official arrangements , or difficulties xvith the Grand Lodge at home . Had ive space xve xvould print the

whole pamphlet " in extenso ; " as it is xve can only conveniently find room for the folloxving effective passages , and xve commend them and the entirety of the pamphlet to the attention of any xvho might be disposed , " a priori , " to think that there is something in the movement . "In Victoria there are three Constitutions , xvith a District and txvo Provincial Grand Lodges . Of these the English has 70 lodges , the Irish 15 , and the Scotch 10 . Surely , if

a change xvere required it should come from the most influential section ! Yet in the history of this agitation , xvhich dates back over 20 years , the proposal invariably proceeds from the minority , viz ., the Irish and Scotch Constitutions . The reason the English Masons have held aloof , and so far prevented the formation of a Grand Lodge , separate from the mother country , is that they have not only been satisfied xvith , but proud of , their position . Their grievances have

been invariably remedied , and their wants supplied ; they have found themselves welcome visitors all over the xvorld , and not only received xvithout suspicion , but xvith marked honour . That the members of other Constitutions have not been so happily situated is no argument that xve should give up our valued privileges . " To meet a favourite "fad" of some good brother colonists , the xvriter says ably , " Loss of Energy , Remitting Money ,

& c . —Large sums of money are not remitted by the English Constitution , for which there is no return , the only sums sent being ( 1 ) a fee of 2 s . 6 d . for registration , xvhich entitles colonial brethren , equally xvith Masons in England , to a participation in all Masonic benefits , viz : —The Boys ' and Girls' Schools , the Benevolent Institution , and the Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence ; * and ( 2 ) the fee for registration , including certificate , ? s . 6 d ., which barely

covers the actual cost , is 20 s . less than London lodges , and gs . fid . less than English country lodges , pay for the same privileges , f These are not annual payments , but only made when a brother joins the Constitution , or a candidate is initiated . All other moneys are spent at the discretion of the District . Certificates , registrations , & c , are not delayed in the English Constitution , the District Grand Master or his Deputy having poxver to supply a certificate

at once in case ot emergency , or even ita brother demands it . + Such certificate may at any time be changed for one duly signed by the M . W . Grand Master of England and Grand Secretary without further payment . The appreciation of certificates signed by the M . W . Grand Master of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , is shoxvn by the brethren almost invariably electing to wait for them , and ,

if they cannot wait , by changing the colonial for an English certificate at the first opportunity . On these grounds it is proved that the District Grand Lodge is put to no expense for maintenance under the Grand Lodge of England , neither is there any xvaste of energy or prevention of united effort , but rather the reverse , our benefits far exceeding our payments , and all laudable undertakings being xvarmly supported by the most influential Grand Lodge in the world . "

A FEW WORDS CONCERNING A GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF VICTORIA . Published by authority of the Masonic Union , & c . " Audi alteram partem" is an old Cosmopolitan and Masonic adage , and as this pamphlet is an " expose " of the vieivs of those officially who xvant to sever themselves ' torn their old mother country Grand Lodgewe feel bound

, to notice it also as sent to us . We are compelled to remark anent it that it possesses little in it to recommend it to the thoughtful acceptation of Freemasons , either in style or matter . It is both jejune and feeble-forcible in idea and expression , abounds in fallacious suggestions , and , above all , unwarrantable inferences . Be it remembered there are 7 ° English , 15 Irish , and 10 Scottish lodges in Victoria , with 5 poo present members , an i a probable yearly increase of

aoout 500 . The great preponderance of Freemasonry is therefore English , though this movement is , xve are assured on good authority , not English at all , but mainly arising irom a foreign element and un-English Masons . Under these circumstances xve feel sure that it is is alike P , renjature and unsound , and destined to collapse , and that the English lodges . and brethren xvill stand firm in their tn adhercnce . t 0 their mother Grand Lodge , as that they have no grievances to redress , 110 anomalies to smooth * ayand they xvill be in and lasting jt —j ii \ 11 ii ijr /

, every xvay grave -. » - . . . . .. . , . , JJ , ; , , ,, ajjjjia ... unu luouiij , . ? sers 4 r hy the separation . In fact , they are only made tne cat ' s paxvs" of a fexv bustling and ambitious Personages . Hardly a month passes but what the oard of Benevolence in London makes grants , and large p ^"' ! to enable those in reduced circumstances to return f » J Antipodes , and if our good brethren in Victoria xvill falu r ° ir kindly . advice they xvill give no heedtp "hi g h be * " ° ffrievance-mongers , but their motto xvill > As you were . " We confess xve do not profess to

Reviews

understand hoxv the District Grand Secretary of one jurisdiction need be the District Grand Treasruer of another ; surely there must be among the large number of English Masons " 500 good as he . "

THE VICTORIAN MASONIC JOURNAL . We have received three Masonic papers from the Antipodes . The lirst is a new Masonic literary venture , named as above , No . 1 ., vol . ! ., and is apparently very ably conducted and full of information ( solely Masonic ) for the Craft . Bro . Lamonby's letter is very much to the point , indeed , and the journal in itself , to which we wish all success , seems ably xvritten , and moderately , and sensibly , and Masonically expressed .

THE VICTORIAN FREEMASON ( No . 2 , vol . ? ., ) is also a nexv movement . It leans to the so-called Masonic Union and New Grand Lodge . THE FREEMASON ( Sydney ) , as was to be expected , is hot for another secession , and a companion in its " peculiar venture . " Undoubtedly unrecognizable in Great Britain on Masonic grounds of laxv , order , and precedent , it naturally xvishes its peculiar position , if possible ,

strengthened by a neighbouring body . So far , as it seems to us , the English lodges are xvisely holding aloof from a very questionable movement , xvhich is supported by some Scottish and Irish Masons , and a foreign element . We have never departed from the ground originally taken in the Freemason in respect of this controversy , and the more xve think about it the more xve see that that viexv xvas sound , Masonic , and common sense .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

212 ] A MASONIC TOKEN . The token referred to by your correspondent , Past Master 2 S 1 ( N . and Q . 207 ) , does not appear to be scarce ; I have one in excellent preservation . The xvords round the

outer edge read " Sit lux et lux fuit , and that on the rim " Halfpenny , payableat Black Horse , Toxver-hilI . " From this xvording it xvould seem that the boniface of the Black Horse xvas a Craftsman , and to show his loyalty to the Prince of Wales as Grand Master he issues this token to ansxver a double purpose : the first to honour the Prince , the second to answer as a trade or business token . D . GLENN .

213 ] THE MASONIC HYMN . By the kind assistance of a correspondent at Durham , I am enabled to give a form of the xvords of the Masonic hymn which Mr . Dixon says in his volume of "ancient poems , & c , is " very ancient . " It is , as xvill be seen , alike Mystic , Hermetic , and Christian . If it is as old as Mr . Dixon seem to think , it raises some \* ery serious questions . I may add that Mr . Dixon finishes his note xvith these

xvords , p . 39 : " the late Henry O Brien quotes the seventh verse in his essay on the ' Round Toxvers of Ireland . ' He generally had a copy of the hymn in his pocket , and on meeting xvith any of his antiquarian friends xvho xvere not Masons , xvas in the habit of thrusting it into their hands , and telling them that if they understood the mystical allusions it contained , they xvould be in possession of a key xvhich xvould unlock the pyramids of Egypt . The tune to the hymn is peculiar to it , and is of a plaintive character . " MASONIC STUDENT .

A MASON ' S SONG . Come all you Freemasons that dxvell around the globe , That xvear the badge of innocence , I mean the royal robe Which Noah he did wear in the ark xvherein he stood , When the world xvas destroyed by the deluging flood . Noah he xvas virtuous in the sight of the Lord , He lov'd a Freemason that kept the secret word ;

He built up the ark and planted the first vine , Noxv his soul like an angel in heaven doth shine . The fifteenth day rose the ark , let us join hand in hand , As the Lord spake to Moses by xvater and by land , Nigh to a pleasant river which through Eden ran , Where Eve tempted Adam by the serpent of sin . O when I think of Moses it makes me to blush ,

On the Mount of Horeb where he saxv burning bush ; My staff I threw doxvn and my shoes 1 cast axvay , And I'll xvander like a pilgrim until my dying day . O Abraham was a man well beloved by the Lord , Was found to be faithful o ' er Jehovah ' s xvord ; He stretched out his hand xvith a knife to slay his son ,

But an angel appeared saying , the Lord's xvill be done . O Abraham , O Abraham , don't lay hands upon the lad , For 1 have sent him thee for to make thy heart glad ; For thy seed shall increase like the stars in the skies , And thy soul unto heaven like Gabriel's shall rise . There was txvelve dazzling knights of light xvho did me

surprise ; I listened axvhile and I heard a great noise ; A serpent appeared and fell unto the ground , With peace , joy , and comfort the secret xvas found . The secret was lost and likexvise xvas found , 'Txvas by our blessed Saviour , it is very xvell knoxvn ; In the garden of Gethsemane he sxveat the blood sxveat ; Repent , my dearest brethren , before it is too late .

It ' s once I xvas blind and could not see the light , When unto Jerusalem , oh , -there I took my flight ; They led me like a pilgrim through the wilderness of care—You may see by the sign and the badge that I wear . O never xvill 1 hear a poor orphan to cry , Nor yet a fair vigin until the day I die , Nor like the restless Jew that xvanders the xvorld round ; But I'll knock at the door where truth is to be found .

So noxv against the Turk and the infidel xve fight , To let the xvand ' ring xvorld knoxv that xve are in the right ; For in Heaven there's a lodge , and St . Peter keeps the door , And none can enter but such as are pure .

It is stated that work will soon be resumed at the nexv National Opera House on the Victoria Embankment , so that it may be completed , if possible , in time for the Italian Opera season of 1884 .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .

I he annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Railway Hotel , Parkeston ( near Harwich ) , on Wednesdaj-, xvhen the Right Hon . the Lord Brooke , M . P ., R . W . Prov . Grand Master , xvas supported by Bro . Fred . A . Philbrick , O . C , P . G . D ., Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and a large attendance of Prov . Grand Officers , Present

and Past . Amongst those present xvere Bros . Matthew Clark , P . G . D ., Past Deputy Prov . Grand Master ; Joshua Nunn , P . G . S . B . ; Lord Claud Hamilton , M . P ., Jarfies Terry , Secretary Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ; Thomas Vincent , Prov . G . S . B . Surrey ; Frederick Long ( Suffolk ); and others . Shortly after one o ' clock Provincial Grand Lod" -e xvas

opened in a room at the station , kindly placed at the disposal of the entertaining lod ge by the Great Eastern Railxvay Company , xvho , it may here be stated , had entered thoroughly into the spirit of the gathering , and had rendered every possible assistance to make it a success . After the Prov . Grand Master had been saluted , the Provincial Grand Secretary read

the minutes of the last annual Provincial Grand Lodge meeting , held at Chingford in August last , under the presidency of the late Lord Tenterden , K . C . B . ; and of the especial Prov . G . Lodge held at Colchester in February last , on which occasion Lord Brooke , M . P ., the present Provincia Grand Master , xvas installed by his Royal Highness the Duke of Albany , K . G ., P . G . W . Several letters

expressing regret at inability to attend xvere announced , amongst others from Bros . Lord Waveney , Lord Henniker , T . F . Halsey , M . P ., Rev . C . J . Martyn , Dr . Wilson lies , Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , and others . On calling over the roll of lod ges it xvas found that the twenty xvhich comprise the province were represented . The amount of contributions received showed a sli ght increase

over that of the last year , xvhile the numerical strength of membership xvas declared as Sg ; against S 66 for the cor . responding period of 1 SS 2 . A balance of £ 60 9 s . was announced as to the credit of Provincial Grand Lodge . The report of the Auditors xvas unanimously received and adopted . The next feature of the day ' s proceedings xvas to receive

the report of the Charity Committee , xvhich had been prepared by Bro . DEHANE , the representative of the province and xvhich was read by that xvorthy brother as follows ; Before I enter on that xvhich the Provincial Charity Committee has done , I think the Grand Lodge might like to knoxv the voting poxver of the province for the last txvo

years , and this year as far as can be ascertained : R . M . B . I . lioxs' Girls * I- ' . M . School . School . Total 1 SS 1 Individuals 124 105 334 134 . Lodges 25 56 ryo 32 Chapters — — 6 4

3 io 43 G " 250 = 096 1 SS 2 Individuals 124 105 371 244 Lodges 25 5 C 91 5 , Chapters — — g < 5

310 47 i 301 =- 10 S 2 1 SS 3 Individuals 124 105 393 2 ( 57 Lodges 26 5 S S 3 45 Chapters — — 0 7 3 ' 3 4 S 2 359 = 1 , 14 Averaging something like one-third of a vote for each of

the brethren in the province for each of the Charities . Of course these figures do not include those brethren xvho belong to the province but reside in London . Since Grand Lodge meeting in August last year the Provincial Charity Committee has given its support to only one candidate—Frederick Charles Victor Basham—a very deserving case , son of a P . P . G . S . B ., Secretary and P . M . of the Star in the East Lodge , xvho lost his life while discharging his duties ,

leaving a xvidoxv and five children almost totally unprovided for . Unfortunately I am unable to give a tabular statement ofthe proxies sent to the committee b y the brethren in thc province , owing to the voting papers coxvxxxxg to Viand so short a time before the election days ; in fact , many did not arrive until the elections xvere over , xvhich should be obviated on future occasions . I shall therefore simply give thenumbers polled on each of the three applications , namely :

Candidates jj ° ™ Votes April 1 SS 2 213 6 7 i 5 ist successful 3002 / -. . 1 J- lSth „ 2050 October 1 SS 2 1134 6 12 ist „ 3004 , ., 12 th „ 2464 April 1 SS 3 15 S 0 65 13 ist „ 3520 ' •( til „ 254 S

Total 2927 polled for Basham ; Bringing him in 12 th on the list of successful candidates . The total number of proxies issued to the brethren in Essex for these three elections xvas 337 S . The Committee polled 2927 ; of these Lord Claud Hamilton sent 1000 , and there xvere borrowed 613 ; total , 1623 ; only 1304 being sent to the Committee , shoxving 1974 proxies xvere otherwise disposed of ; in consequence , a large number—623—had to be

borroived to secure this election . I am , hoxvever , pleased to say 471 have been repaid , leaving 194 owing , which 1 trust the brethren by their unanimous support xvill enable the Committee to pay in October ; and should there be no Essex candidate , to lay the foundation of a fund of proxies xvhich xvould be available and the sure means of carrying a candidate when taken up b y _ the Committee , this being easily accomplished by lending to other Provincial Committees , securing their confidence and keeping up the provincial prestige I may mention that I could have Borrowed