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NOTICE . In consequence of Friday next being Good Friday , the " Freemason" will be published on the evening of Thursday , the 12 th inst ., instead of Friday , as usual .

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i ^Hsssss SATURDAY . APRIL 7 , 1900 .

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

Wc deem ourselves fortunate in being able to place belore our readers a further communication relating to the work of Masonry in Natal during the war . For this , which will be found in our correspondence columns , we are indebted to the courtesy oi the Dist .

Asst . Grand Secretary , Bro . F . C . Lovey , whose letter is the more interesting from the fact of its corroborating sundry of the " Jottings" sent us by Bro . Capt . Hearn , P . G . S . B ., and also because it shows the influence which Freemasonry is capable of exercising , and has again and again exercised in a time of war ,

Masonic Notes.

when the passions of men are stirred to the utmost and brethren in the ranks of opposing armies are brought into conflict with each other . Their sense of duty compels them to uphold the honour of their flag , but Masonry has taught them that it is possible to discharge that duty and yet prove themselves amenable to the dictates of humanity .

••* Moreover , we have during the progress of the war heard a great deal about the wanton destruction by thc Boers of the private properly of British Colonials , and the inhumanity shown by them towards our women and children , who have been driven to seek refuge in other parts of British South Africa , or compelled by

circumstances to remain in districts occupied by the enemy . It is , therefore , with all the greater pleasure we publish Bro . Lovey ' s letter , which furnishes more than one instance of the kindly influence that Freemasonry is able to exert in times of war in assuaging the bitterness of hostilities without detriment to the cause of either combatant .

# •* * One of the most successful among what are known as " Class" lodges of recent formation is the Guildhall School of Music Lodge , No . 24 ^ 4 , which was warranted in 1892 , and has already become strong in numbers and as influential as it is strong . That such a lodge after the lapse of a few years should find it

necessary to have a Royal Arch chapter attached to it was inevitable , and we are glad to know that a Guildhall School of Music Chapter , with the same number as its parent lodge , has just been consecrated by the Grand Scribe E ., and that it starts on its career under the auspices of Comp . W . H . Cummings , P . M . No . 2454 , Past G . Organist , as its first M . E . Z . The new chapter has our best wishes for its success .

» * * We shall publish next week a full report—for which weare indebted to the columns of the West Australianof the establishment of the Grand Lodge of West Australia , and thc installation of His Excellency Bro . Sir Gerard Smith , K . C . M . G ., Past Grand Warden of

England , and late Dist . Grand Master of W . Australia under the English Constitution , as its first M . W . Grand Master . The ceremony was performed by the Right Rev . the Bishop of Perth—Bro . the Right Rev . Chas . Owen L . Riley , D . D ., Past Grand Chaplain of England—nor does there appear to have been any

thing left ui . done which could in any way have added to the solemnity of the occasion . Grand Officers were appointed and invested , and the Grand Master delivered an able and eloquent address , in the course of which he reviewed the circumstances which had led up forthe formation of the Grand Lodge , and the

constitutional character of the steps that had been taken to give effect to the wishes of the brethren for independence ; concluding his remarks by expressing a fervent hope that the Grand Lodge then inaugurated might in time be in a position to change its designation to that of the United Grand Lodge of West Australia . * # #

It must be remembered that the circumstances connected with the formation of this new Grand Lodge are unprecedented in the history of British Colonial Freemasonry . To begin with , it is the first occasion on which such a body was inaugurated since the laws sanctioning the discussion of such a question by our

lodges was adopted . On all previous occasions the establishment of independent Colonial Grand Lodges was carried out in spite of the law , and was in itself a revolt or secession from United Grand Lodge , though our lodges were actuated by no feeling of disloyalty to

the parent G . Lodge , their one desire being to manage their own allairs . In the case of West Australia , the necessary preliminary steps have been taken under the sanction of the law , and all that has been done has been done in a strictly constitutional manner .

••* In the next place , so far as our knowledge goes , this is the first instance in which a local Colonial Grand Lodge has been established by the lodges working under a single constitution and without thu co-operation of the lodges working under the other

constitutions exercising concurrent jurisdiction in tne Colony . We regret that the Scottish and Irish lodges in West Australia have taken no part in the movement which has just culminated in thc formation of this Grand Lodge , but now that United Grand Lodge has

recognised it , there remains for us nothing further but to echo the wish of Sir Gerard Smith , that at no very distant date—and the sooner the better in our opinion —the lodges of the three Constitutions may be found working harmoniously together under one United Grand Lodge .

Masonic Notes.

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution will hold their regular monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday , the nth instant , at 4 p . m ., when , in the

course of the proceedings , the usual Committee will be appointed to prepare the report to be presented to the Governors and Subscribers at their annual general meeting on Friday , the iSth May .

* * * Bro . Major W . Kiddle , R . A . M . C , who was murdered lately in Burmah , was a most distinguished Mason in English , Irish , and Scottish lodges . It was due to his zeal and love for the Craft that the present

lodges and chapters in various Degrees were founded in Cyprus . He regularly subscribed to all the great Charities . Whatever Bro . Kiddle undertook , whether professionally , socially , or Masonically , he was bound to excel in . He met his death doing his duty , and he

has left many friends to mourn his untimely fate . It is strange that one who never harmed anybody , but , on the contrary , who compelled love and esteem to be given him by all , should have perished in such a tragic manner . Cyprus , above all places , mourns the loss of a Christian gentleman and brother . * * *

We are very much obliged to Bro . G . Robinson P . M ., Cambrian Lodge of Australia , No . 656 ( E . C . Sydney , N . S . W ., for the anxiety he exhibits on our behalf . In the letter of his we published last week he suggests that if we modify our statement in the

Christmas number of the Freemason as to Lord Carrington having been the last Dist . G . Master o f New South Wales under the English Constitution this paper " may then be referred to in years to come as a truthful record of one of the phases of District

Grand Lodge in New South Wales . " This is exceedingly kind of Bro . Robinson , though we are at a loss to understand quite what he means by the latter part of his sentence . However , we do not think any

one will venture to impugn our character for accuracy , so far as this matter is concerned , when it is found that our statement rests on the authority of the official Calendar issued b y United Grand Lodge .

* » » If our correspondent will refer to Grand Lod ge Calendar for 1889 , he will find in the table of " Succession of Provincial and District Grand Masters , " & c , under the head of " New South Wales "—see p ,

179—that "Lord Carrington , P . C ., G . C . M . G ., 188 S , " is entered last of those appointed District Grand Masters for that Colony ; while at p . 103 he will find Lord Carrington ' s name entered on the roll of District Grand Masters , the date of his appointment being

given as " 10 th Jan ., 1888 . " We have not asserted that his lordship was installed as District Grand Master , and thereby qualified himself to discharge the duties of his office . We have quoted an announcement which appears in our 1889 Calendar , and wc do not

propose to modify a statement of fact which will beon record for all time , or at all events for as long as the archives of our Grand Lodge are preserved . As no useful purpose will be served by prolonging this discussion , il will now be closed .

* * * At the annual meeting of the District Grand Lodge of Canterbury ( N . Z . ) , which was held at the St , Augustine Masonic Hall , Christchurch , on the 18 th January , under the presidency of Bro . R . Dunn

Ihomas , District G . Master , a memorial portrait of the late Bro . Peter Cunningham , District G . Master , was unveiled , and in performing this very pleasant duty the District Grand Master spoke of his deceased predecessor in office as " one of the most single-hearted ,

kind , and liberal-minded men they had ever known in New Zealand . He added "Those who had only met him in our lodges knew him to be an able and

enthusiastic Mason , who had been an ornament to the Cralt , and had worthily and firmly maintained the position of this District Grand Lodge and of English ' Masonry in New Zealand during a very difficult crisis . " * » *

1 " rom the Statements of Account which are appended to the Report of the proceedings there can be no doubt that the Dist . Grand Lodge of Canterbury , notwithstanding it has only eight lodges on its roll , is in a prosperous state . On the General Fund , in addition

to a Fixed Deposit of £ 75 at the Union Bank , there is a cash balance of upwards of £ 75 , while the assets are in excess of liabilities to the extent of , 6438 . On the Fund of Benevolence there is a balance of . £ 392 , the assets being , 6440 , and the liabilities nil .