Consecration By H.R.H. The Duke Of Connaught Of A New Rose Croix Chapter At Meerut.

CONSECRATION BY H . R . H . THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT OF A NEW ROSE CROIX CHAPTER AT MEERUT .

The consecration of the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn Chapter , Rose Croix , took p lace at Meerut , on Friday , November 7 th , by Very 111 . . Bro . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , K . 6 ., 33 , honorary member of the Supreme Council , assisted by III . Bros , the Hon . Henry T . Prinsep , B . C . S ., 32 ; Thomas William Rawlins , B . C . S ., 32 ; Major Lewis William Taylor 31 ; Col . George Benjamin Wolseley , 30 ° ; Col . Edwd .

, L . S . Sandford . 30 ; William R . Barry , B . C . S ., 30 ; Brigade Surgeon K . Prescott , 30 ; Boyle Travers Hill , 30 ; Bros . Hon . Major Henage Legge , 18 ; Col . E . E . Lushington , 18 ; Col . E . Plowden , 18 ; Major E . J . Fell , 18 ; and 111 . Bro . Surgeon-Major James Lane Notter , 1 S . The chapter having been opened by his Royal Hig hness at noon punctually , the followintr program me of the ceremony of consecration was carried

out : The brethren being assembled in the Hall , formed an Arch of Steal , his Royal Hig hness and the members of the 33 , 32 ° , 31 ° , and 30 entered in order , and passed three times round the Hall , after which his Royal Highness assumed his seat , and addressed the chapter . The officiating Prelate offered a prayer . His Royal Highness called on the officiating Recorder to read the warrant , and the warrant of the Duke of Connaught

and Strathearn Chapter having been read , his Royal Highness gave declaration of constitution . His Royal Hig hness then passed round the chapter three times , sprinkling com , and pouring out wine and oil . The officiating Prelate passed round the chapter with the censer of incense and lighted the altar , his Roval Hig hness sprinkling roses , and giving the consecration and

distribution address . The officiating Prelate opened the stone ; the officiating Grand Marshal proclaimed that the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn Chapter , No . 100 , had been duly consecrated , and the ceremony , which was mobt interesting throughout , was brought to a close . The chapter was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of this Institution met for the first time in 1885 on Saturday last , Bro . Raynham VV . Stewart , P . G . D ., in the chair . There were also present Bros . R . Berridge , A . Williams , C . F . Matier , John L . Mather , W . Maple , F . Adlard , James Mason , L . Ruf , C . H . Webb , Wm . Roebuck , Arthur E . Gladwell , Frank Richardson , H . Massey , H . Hacker , the Rev . Richard Morris , Head Master ; Horace Brooks Marshall , Grand

Treas . ; G . P . Gillard , W . A . Scurrah , Henry Venn , W . H . Saunders , J . M . Stedwell , and F . Binckes , Secretary . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the December , 1884 , meeting , and the reading ol those of the House Committee for information , the salary ol the Organist at the School was , on the recommendation of the House Commitiee , raised from £ 25 to £ 30 per annum .

Bro . VV . ROEBUCK , V . P ., on behalf ol the House Committee , gave notice of a motion for the Quarterly Court next Monday , to alter Law 52 , by making the age of a candidate for admission to the School , at which a petition can be presented , six years , and the age at which an elected can be admitted to the School seven years , instead of seven and eight , as now . This recommendation was made in consequence of the expected opening of the Preparatory School next autumn .

Petitions on behalf ol 10 boys were examined , and nine boys placed on the list of candidates lor the April election . One petition was rejected . A grant of £ 40 was made to an ex-pupil , who is studying for the Church , and ^ 10 was voted to another pupil who has just left the School . The extra salaries of the Secretary and clerk in the office , voted in consequence of the extra labour entailed by the works of the Preparatory School , were agreed to be continued lor another 12 months .

Bro . BINCKES informed the Committee that a Trustee would have to be elected on Monday , consequent on the death of Col . Creaton , and that Bro . Parkinson and Bro . Roebuck would each feel it an honour if the choice of the brethren fell upon him . The CHAIRMAN said that at the next election in April the candidates would be 47 in number , and the vacancies to be filled would be 25 .

Bro . VV . H . S AUNDERS , who held in his hands a copy of the circular issued by Bro . Binckes , which appeared in last week ' s Freemason , said he wished to refer to this circular , in order to remark that it met with his entire approval . Out of more than 2000 lodges on the roll , very few comparatively were subscribers to the Institution , and very few Masons out

of the thousands who were members of the Order contributed to the Charities . He thought they must be unaware of the existence of these Institutions , and in that case the circular just issued was a timely reminder . As was stated in the circular , every lodge might easily contribute one guinea every year , and he hoped that the circular would have due effect . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Lodge Libraries.

LODGE LIBRARIES .

The Free Press of London , Ontario , has lately revived an old suggestion to the effect that every Masonic lodge should have a library , " even ~ if it only consists of a few volumes on Masonic subjects . " Of the soundness of this proposition there cannot be the slightest doubt . It is not to be expected that all the members of our lodges should seek to make themselves acquainted with the more abstruse mysteries of our ancient Craft , but it is

not asking of them too much to learn something of its history , its distribution among the different countries of the world , and the events which will go towards strengthening or weakening the position it has succeeded in establishing . It will , perhaps , be suggested that , in supporting the proposal of our Canadian contemporary , we are actuated by motives of self-interest . But , after all , this is at be : t a very lame excuse for not listening to our advice ,

which , even if it has the demerit of being self-interested , is in accordance with the best experience obtainable in respect of all other Societies . It is given to few , if any , to obtain by intuition even a partial knowledge of current events , btu the bulk of people of all grades and classes are d .-pendent for what they know on established and periodical literature . It

cannot be thought desir . - ible that any body of Freemasons should remain in utter or comparative ignorance of the past history of their Fraternity or what is passing around them , and this ignorance can be corrected onl y by a study of our Craft literature . Thus , in advocating the establishment of lodge " libraries , the Free Press is taking no extraordinary step , that is to say , no step which has not received the sanction and approval of all sections

Lodge Libraries.

of the community ; and we , in supporting it and seriously urging it on the attention of our readers , are doing no more than advising the adoption of a course which will prove of infinitely greater service to them than it will be to ourselves . It is , indeed , impossible to overrate the advantages to a lodge which must result from its establishment of a compact but useful library of Masonic works of reference—histories of Masonry , lodge histories

, magazines , & c . —which will be easily accessible to its members . The cost would be extremely moderate , while the advantages to those who reall y care about Masonry for itself , and not for its tinsel and Fourth Degrees , must be incalculable . We are glad to see there has been during the past few years a greater desire to know more of the true history of the Craft , and

no one has the right to charge us with being self-interested , because we suggest that it will be all the better for the Masonic bod y if this desire becomes greater and greater still . At all events , we take this opportunity of commending to the notice of our friends the very sensible suggestion of our Canadian contemporary .

Grand Lodge Of South Australia.

GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA .

WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN . The report of the proceedings relative to the formation of the " Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of South Australia " is , in many respects , a most remarkable volume , extending , as it does , to some ninety pages ; and presenting what is evidently a true and particular

account 01 the elaborate means taken to secure a fair and unbiassed opinion from the various lodges situated in that colon } ' . I feel certain that a careful perusal of the report cannot fail to induce the conviction that the establishment of an independent Grand Lodge for South Australia was the desire of nearl y all the members belonging to the lodges hailing from the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland .

The first meeting to consider the question was convened for July 30 , 1883 , by Bro . H . M . Addison , P . M ., Dist . G . Treas . ( E . C ) , when 108 out of 123 brethren present formed themselves into a " Masonic Union " for the purpose of promoting the cause they had at heart . A verbatim report is

given of this meeting , and certainly the statements made , and the numerous questions asked and answered , indicated the desire of the members to have all things "done decently and in order . " The able chairman stated emphatically that "we shall not attempt to form a Grand Lodge unless we have a large majority in favour of it . "

That all mi ght know of the contemplated change , the secretary of every Lodge in the colony was requested to supply a list of its members , all of whom responded but one , but as 96 names of members of that lodge were obtained from another source , practicall y all the names were duly registered , and as duly informed of all the meetings and resolutions agreed to , as were also the Provincial or District Grand Masters of the-three Grand Lodges ,

whether favourable or otherwise to the proposal . A discreet publicity was a feature of all the arrangements . A letter was then sent to the 2 , 072 contributing members of the three Constitutions , asking each of them individually and specifically to sign their names in favour of the " Masonic Union , " and to use their best endeavours to further its objects . Of these , no less than 1564 ( 16 33 including duplicate votes ) replied , joining the " Union , " and only 39 declined . No replies were received from 392 brethren .

The next step was to officially consult all the lodges , which was done by a letter dated October 27 th , 1883 , and other communications were forwarded for the guidance of each W . M . ; such as a report of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of England , September ist , 1869 , when the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia was recognised . The Executive Committee must have been gratified at the unprecedented success which followed their appeal . SUMMARY .

"English Constitution" j -S odges unanimously joined . . 20 lodges . 1 1 lod o " adone dissentient , since unanimous . K ( . 1 lodge sent no official return . "Irish Constitution" j 4 lodges unanimously joined . 7 lodtres i ' ° ' lad two dissentients . ' ( . 2 lodges sent no official return . "Scottish Constitution" ( ,, , , „ . . , . . , 6 lodges . 1 l 0 < lges ( all ) unanimously joined .

It will be seen that even at so early a stage nearl y all the lodges agreed to form the "Grand Lodge of South Australia , " and hence the meeting of the delegates on March 24 th , 1884 ( Bro . Addison again in the chair ) , was of a most unanimous character . The report of the Executive was adopted , recommending Chief Justice Way as the first Grand Master , and Bro . Muecke , District Grand Master ( S . C . ) to be the Installing Master . I am particularly gratified to note that the delegates

resolved—That all lodges holding' warrants from the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland shall be deemed legitimate ; and if thev so elect , they may be allowed to continue their allegiance to their parent Constitutions . As it surely is both un-Masonic and unfair to coerce the brethren into submission .

Bro . James H . Cunningham , the Grand Secretary South Australia , in the Freemason for September 27 th 1884 , alluded to this important point , and stated that no obstacle would be placed in the way of any lodges desirous of continuing under their original Constitution , which says much for the kind feeling and Masonic hearts of the brethren . He also mentioned the suggestive fact that only fourteen members , hailing from nine lodges , declined to join the new Grand Lodge , and some of these had since " repented . "

Another convention was held on April 16 , when the Grand Officers were elected , as also the members of the Board of General Purposes . On the following day the " Inauguration Ceremony" took place in the presence of about a thousand members , most of the lodges being largely represented . The proceedings were of a most impressive character , and the Grand Master , having been duly installed , delivered an appropriate

address , in which he declared " he had never heard , and never expected to hear , from a South Australian Mason , one disloyal or unfraternal word respecting the Grand Lodges under whose warrants they had hitherto worked . " Though separated some 15 , 000 miles from their parent Grand Lodges , our South Australian brethren are not unmindful of what they owe Masonically to them , and desire now a kindly and hearty recognition at

their hands . I cannot remember a Grand Lodge being formed under more advantageous circumstances , or in a fairer or more Masonic manner , and , therefore , I trust that the recognition of the Grand Lodge of South Australia will soon be granted by all the regular Grand Lodges in the universe , and that our Royal Grand Master will graciously be pleased to accede to their wishes by becoming the Grand Patron of the Craft in that colony .