The Cambrian Lodge, No. 6 58, New South Wales.

THE CAMBRIAN LODGE , No . 658 , NEW SOUTH WALES .

We understand that at its last meeting the Colonial Board having taken into consideration the recent action of Grand Lodge with respect to the petition from New Zealand from lodges still maintaining their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England , resolved to recommend thc M . W . Grand Master to issue a warrant of confirmation to the brethren of the Cambrian

Lodo-e , New South Wales , to enable them to continue and work under the English Constitution , should the orig inal warrant be still withheld by the seceding members of the lodge . We trust that the friendly relationship between the two jurisdictions and the fraternal intervention of influential

brethren in the colony will facilitate the return of the original warrant to those to whom it undoubtedly belongs . The proceedings of the Colonial Board will , we think , command the universal assent of the Craft , and we hope that the question may be now considered as satisfactorily settled .

Approaching Jubilee Festival Of The Benevolent Institution.

APPROACHING JUBILEE FESTIVAL OF THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

Among the earliest and most agreeable duties which devolve upon us at this season is that of calling the attention of our readers to what , in ordinary circumstances , is one of the most important , but what in this particular instance will be the most important of the events of the year—to wit , thc jubilee Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . It is some

four or five weeks since we offered some remarks on the subject , and bnghtas was the prospect when we penned them , we rejoice to sa } ' it is brighter and still more bright just now . Then the Board of Stewards mustered upwards of 500 brethren ; now it is in excess of 900 . Then it was impossible to say who would preside on thc occasion ; now it is known lhat Bro . the

Karl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE , Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall , and Deputy Grand Master of England , has kindly consented to act as Chairman . We are full } ' justified , therefore , in our statement that very material progress has been made since we last wrote , and that even if but few above the average additions were made to the Board of Stewards between now and

the day appointed for the celebration , there arc good grounds for anticipating that the success of the approaching Anniversary will bc a phenomenal one , in all respects worth y of the Institution in whose behalf it will be celebrated , as well as of the Grand Lodge which founded it , and the Craft which so generously supports it . It cannot ,

of course , be denied that the inability of lhe Prince of Wales to take the chair is a great disappointment to many , nay , to the great majority of the Governors and Subscribers ; but our readers , like ourselves , will realise that the demands on his Royal Highness ' s time arc so many even in ordinary circumstances that he must often experience a difficulty in meeting a tithe

of them . But this year thc marriage of his son , the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , will be solemnised about the time thc R . M . B . I . Festival is due , and for weeks previous to , as well as for weeks after , that auspicious event , all the members of the Royal Family will lind their leisure full y occupied . But the Deputy Grand Master—though he may not preside in that capacity ,

but in that of Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall—will prove an acceptable and earnest Chairman , who will spare no pains to ensure the success of the Jubilee . Nor , wc may be sure , will his Province of Cornwall be otherwise than loyal in its support of his Chairmanship . Indeed , as we pointed out last week , the increase in the Board of Stewards has been so

considerable , both numericall y and in all those other respects in which it is desirable that such a body should be strong , that the point we are now considering is not whether the Festival will be a successful one , but to what extent it will prove a success . However , there are still nearly two months remaining , and in that interval there is

ample time for such further augmentation of the number of those who will assist in the celebration as will materially disturb for the better such conjectures as may be hazarded at this moment . Meanwhile , no time is being lost in pressing forward with thearrangements necessary for so large a gathering . Steps have alread y been taken with a view to obtaining a hall which will

accommodate the number who will certainl y be present , and when this matter has been settled we shall be belter able to judge of the precise date when the meeting will take place . But for these and other matters which will have lo bc considered , we must wait with such patience as wc can

command in full confidence that everything is going well , and that nothing will be left undone by the Executive Committee which can in any way add to the comfort and convenience of intending guests as well as enhance a success which it does not need much of the prophetic spirit to foretell is awaiting us .

Honorary Membership.

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP .

The Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Idaho at its annual Communication in September last contain a letter bearing date the ioth March , 1890 , from the then Deputy Grand Master and Acting Grand Master , Bro . GEORGE A INSLIK , now Past Grand Mastcr of the jurisdiction , on the subject of "Honorary Membership . " The Secretary of one of the private

lodges had addressed lo head-quarters the following query : " Does a constituent lodge have the right to elect any of its members as 'honorary members ' for good cause ? If we are vested with such authority , would wc have Grand Lodge tax to pay on such non-contributing member ? " Bro . AINSLIE ' answer to this question , or brace of questions , is a

somewhat elaborate one . At the outset he quotes a dictum from MACKEY ' work on " Masonic Jurisprudence , " to thc effect that " honorary membership is quite a recent innovation . " He then cites sundry authorities on the subject from other jurisdictions , the first of the scries being derived from the Report of thc

Committee on Foreign Correspondence of thc Grand Lodge of North Carolina in 1 S 51 . This is as follows : " We condemn this principle as un-Masonic and improper . No ancient precedent can be given , no ancient language cited , to justify it . It is following too much after the devices and delusions of the world . Wc are taught that worldly honour should not be

made to bear upon a person ' s advancement in the honours of Masonry . It is only the Masons who can best work who should be advanced and made honourable in the Order . " The Committee of Correspondence of the Grand Lodgeof Rhode Island in 1850 is quoted to a somewhat similar effect : " It is strongly objected to , and we think justly , by others "—lhat is to say ,

than thc Grand Lodges of New York and Massachusetts , which at the time ( if they do not now ) recognised it—" as an innovation and a practice incompatible with Masonry . " Bro . J . M . S . MITCHELL is cited as having said in 1855 : "I do not believe it strictly proper to make anyone an honorary member " j while a decision of the Grand Lodge of California is

g iven which lays down lhat " a subordinate Iodge may , for good reasons of its own , release a member from lhe requirements which impose upon him active duties , and release him from contribution ; but it cannot relieve itself from its own responsibility assumed in bearing his name upon lhe roll . The lodge thus expressing towards a cherished brother—its member—the

estimation in which he is held may call that act by any name he ma ) ' elect , whether honorary or not . There is nothing in this jurisdiction which justifies sucli a Masonic title . " Bro . AINSLIK , after a further remark as to the silence of the laws of Idaho on the subject , quotes—but imperfectly , or from an edition of our Book of Constitutions prior to that of 1884—the law of the Grand Lodge of England , which allows

of brethren "of eminence and ability who have rendered service to the Craft , " being constituted "members of the Grand Lodge , with such rank and distinction as may be thought proper . " Lastly , " in the absence of any authority from the Grand Lodge of this jurisdiction , " he goes on to express it as his opinion " that ' honorary membership ' cannot be recognised within this jurisdiction . I believe that the practice , if it should ever be

recognised , would lead to discord , instead ol harmony , and render lodges open to the criticism ol making invidious distinctions among the brethren . " After a few further remarks in support of this belief , lie winds up by saying thai " even if the constituent lodge had the right to elect any one as an honorary member , Grand Lodge dues are required of every member carried on the rolls of the lodge . There is no

exemption . It is clear from these remarks that "honorary membership , " in the sense which the expression is here intended to bear , finds no favour with Past Grand Master AINSLIK , nor is it provided for in the Constitutions of those American Grand Lodges lie quotes from . Similarly in thc jurisdiction of our United Grand Lodge dues are payable to Grand

Lodge , and in the case of Provincial or United Grand Lodges , which have funds of their own , to Provincial or District Grand Lodge likewise , in respect of every brother who ^ e name is returned in the list of members . We see , therelore , no objection to the opinion enunciated by Iiro . AIXSLIE , and the authorities he has quoted as to the kind ol "honorary membership" which he evidentl y had in his mind when answering

his correspondent ' s query . But there is an " honorary membership " which is tacitly sanctioned by the laws of our Grand Loilge , and to which we think no exception could be taken in the American

jurisdictions . We allude to that which is very often conferred oy private lodges on members of their own who have done them some scn-. ce , ami are about to resign as subscribing members , or on members ol olher lodges to whom they consider ihey are in some way or other indclHeil . l ' ms Runl of " honorary membershi p " entitles the recipient of the compliment to be present