Masonic Notes.

numbers , but to admit only such men as would have their heart in the work , and would reflect honour and credit on the Craft . " We commend this good advice to the notice of all our brethren .

* * * We have no intention of inflicting " upon our readers a further dose of New Zealand squabbles . They are unseemly , to use about the mildest term possible under the circumstances , and vvere it not that a sense of duty compels us to make occasional reference to vvhat is

passing in connection with Masonry in that Colony , vve should gladly omit all mention of its proceedings , at all events for the present . However , it is a satisfaction to know that steps are being taken to place matters on a clear footing and that the authorities of the

several District Grand Lodges in New Zealand , acting under instructions from United Grand Lodge , are removing from their respective lodge rolls , those lodges which four years back seceded , or have since seceded , from English Masonry and now form part of the socalled Grand Lodge of New Zealand .

* * At the Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge on the 5 th September last , on the recommendation of the Colonial Board , the warrants of 12 lodges which till their secession had formed part of the District Grand Lodge of Wellington ( N . Z . ) were declared

forfeited , the lodges themselves having under Article 106 of the Book of Constitutions been erased by order of the District Grand Lodge . Now we learn from the report of the Proceedings at an Especial Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Canterbury held in the St . Augustine Masonic Hall , Christchurch , on

the 30 th August last , that 12 lodges , formerly part of the said District Grand Lodge , were erased , and at the same time it was ordered that such erasure should be reported forthwith to Grand Lodge . Here , then , we have it authoritatively that 24 lodges heretofore belonging to the Districts of Wellington and Canterbury

have been struck off the roll , while a reference to Grand Lodge Calendar shows that there remain in each of the said Districts seven lodges . Thus there remain loyal to the power that created them 14 out of 3 8 lodges , or rather more than one-third of the whole-What proportion of the lodges—49 in number—remains loyal in the Districts of Otago and Southland ,

Westland , Auckland , and in that part of the South Island which has no district organisation , we shall learn in time ; but supposingit is about the same as in the two of which we have particulars , the number of lodges in New Zealand under the English Constitution vvill bc between 30 and 40 . * * *

Quite a number of minor attacks , such as the lesser lights of Roman Catholicism are wont to indulge in periodically , have recently been directed against our Society ; but whether owing to the dulness of the season or other similarly depressing cause vve know not , they appear to have produced little or none of

the effect on the public mind that vvas desired . Father Rivington began the series with his letter to The Westminster and The Iriuli Catholic , and other papers have diligently followed in his wake . When the Romish priesthood will see the wisdom of leaving Freemasonry alone , it is difficult , if not impossible , to forecast ; but

the sooner they adopt that course , the better will it be for the credit of their church . The only one among our recent assailants vvho has condescended to anything like argument is Canon Moyse , and what he says has been snid again and again and answered . The others , including a renegade Italian Freemason

named Morgiatta , have recourse to low abuse , vvhich is not worth noticing , much less attempting to answer . When those vvho attack us have found something new to urge against us , we will do our best to answer it . Till then , on the principle that it is no good flogging a dead horse , we remain silent .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

OLD CLO '—NEW LAMPS FOR OLD ! To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sirjand Brother , If anything can arouse Masons , surely the words addressed to the St . Oswald ' s Lodge , Pontefract , as reported in your last issue , are likely to have that effect . If ever a " man " rose quietly from the ranks and took the position allotted to him vvith dignity , and

confidence in his ability to luie a great province by true Masonry and the heart , it vvas the P . P . G . Masterof West Yorkshire . U ever a Mason stamped his own individuality upon his words , and exhibited a sincerity of purpose worthy of imitation , it has been Bro . Tew . Whilst I own that the eulogy of such a man and Mason would be a pleasing task , for which my own personal knowledge eminently qualifies me , and perhaps peculiarly fits me , this is not at present my intention .

Correspondence.

My object is to draw attention to a remarkable expression , vvhich , from the lips of such a man , under such circumstances , and at the present time , is entitled to have tremendous weight ; and I trust that its tones vvill reverberate and its influence be felt

"O'er land and water vvheresoe'er dispers'd . It is well known that lately a desperate panacea for lodge laxity has been occasionally aired in a half-andhalf , doubtful fashion . I have heard it styled " Caste " Masonry , but its aims are too revolutionary to be sale , and the name I give it is simply " New" Masonry ,

although I have never met vvith a single advocate of it vvho was either able to tell me why a "swell club " should be Masonic or vvhat vvas amiss vvith thc Constitutions tested over a century and a half . My revered dear old friend and brother ( like me ) is not a young Mason . He said on the occasion referred to :

" Masonry is the one grand organisation , which is in no sense self seeking . Its great purpose is to establish the brotherhood of Man and to relieve distress , whereever it may be found . " In the very simplicity of the doctrine contained in these words lies their value . It is essentially " old " and universally accepted Masonry . The new school accepted it at initiation , and although

" Some , men are nobly rich , some nobly poor , Some the reverse , " its " don ' t know you " is emphatic ; it wants to bring out a patent for making Masons all alike , and it won't work . By all means let us decrease our " shams " as much as possible , rather than fee ! ashamed of the

brother who does not quite come up to our ideas . Some of the best Masons I remember vvere unpromising initiates—some of the worst had the opposite advantages , and it is a sad reflection to make , but day by day we are all making mistakes of character , and applying motives based on others' experience , and , alas I often on others' inventions . —Yours truly and fraternally ,

CLIO . FREEMASONRY AND CATHOLICISM . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , There is one point in the remarks made by Father Rridgett , anent Freemasonry , upon which I

should like to touch . In paragraph 3 he says : "If Freemasonry teaches a morality and conduct in harmony vvith Christianity , why is it kept for a few initiates , and not taught to all ' ¦ " The whole tenour of these remarks is in condemnation of something of which the Father is ignorant ; and

to assume that it is bad is only what Protestants , who are ignorant of vvhat Roman Catholicism is , are always doing . Let Father Bridgett do as the Priests in Portugal or Brazil , or even as the " competitive Catholicks " ( as he alleges ) do . Let him be taught what Freemasonry is in the legitimate way , and then

vve shall be glad to listen to any remarks he may be pleased to make , of course , knowing very well that there will be nothing condemnatory in them . 1 have been told by a Priest that the proper place to listen to Catholic teaching is in a Catholic Church , and I am quite of that opinion . The proper place to

learn what Freemasonry is is in a Masonic lodge . Once initiated I venture to think that Father Bridgett would level his condemnation—if any—against " Freemasons—individuals , " and not , as he novv does , against " Freemasonry . " But does it not occur to an intelligent

man , such as I imagine Father Bridgett to be , that Freemasonry has nothing whatever to do with Christianity , any more than it has with Mahometanism , because , otherwise , how could our Jewish brethren or Mahomedans be initiated ?

It appears to be such a simple , self-evident fact that Freemasonry , being universal , must , of necessity be free from the particular tenets of all religious bodies , as well as of all political parties . Freemasons on the Continent are , vve are constantly told , " openly declared enemies of the Church and of all Christianity . " An

eminent brother in the Craft said to me that it was the other way about . Our continental brethren may be opposed to the Church , but if so it is in their private capacity . I am inclined to the belief that the Catholic Church has still a great deal to learn . In saying this I am not for a moment intending to say anything rude , but ,

seriously , I mean simply this , that the members of the Christian Church were to be led into all truth ; and surely it will not be contended that they have grasped the infinite yet , or that they are not still being led onwards or upwards . May it not be that they will , as the outcome ol their crusade against Masonry , be led to see its beauties , in " the expanseless light of Heaven ? " —Yours faithfully , P . P . G . D . C .

THE NORTH SIDE OF A LODGE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you be kind enough to obtain for me , through the medium of your paper , the correct style of architecture for the north side of a Masonic lodge ?

The Ionic is symbolical of the W . M . ( east ) , the Doric of the S . W . ( west ) , the Corinthian of the J . W . ( south ) . What is correct for the north V—Yours faithfull y , J . H . SALTER . November Sth .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1057 ] — A MASONIC MUSICAL " MASTER-PIECE . " A grand opera entitled " Irene , " the plot of vvhich is entirely Masonic , was composed by Gounod , and amongst other , creations of a " master-hand" are several exceptionally fine arias . This work is hard ly known to Masons in England , and very little , I find , to professional musicians ; but perhaps some brother

may be able to inform me where and when it was pro - duced—the cast if possible—and if there is any special reason why so fine a production has been neglected . (?) There is nothing strikingly religious or political in H . B . Farnie ' s English libretto , whatever may have been in the orig inal French , which I have not seen ; but there must be some powerful reason one would

suppose for the practical suppression of so fine a composition . We have not many chefs-d'oeuvre of thc kind to boast of , and there is a mystery about this which I think might be unravelled to advantage . Your Catholic controversy suggests the only possibility I can find , viz ., that because it is Masonic

Catholic artistes are forbid to take the roles . I should be grateful for the loan of , or information as to where I can see the French edition . Having the English edition , the music is not absolutely necessary ; what I want is the original libretto , and , of course , to know who was the author , with the date and place of production . J . RAMSDEN RILEY .

io S ] THE CHRISTMAS OBSERVANCE ! I have just received the enclosed circular ( printed herewith , from my friend , Bro . Stephen Berry , Grand Secretary of Maine , & c , as to the annual greeting of Knights Templars throughout the world , to the esteemed Grand Master of the American Templars , Bro . Hugh McCurdy . He is well worthy of any and

all compliments that can be paid to him , and I feel assured that there are many will unite with us in Great Britain and Ireland and the Colonies of the British Crown , as vvas done last year . Our number increases as the years roll onward , and this International Observance is now participated in by thousands of Knights , all uniting as " the heart of one man . " Brethren ! accept this invite , and may God abundantly bless you .

P . D . E . P . W . J . HUGHAN , ( Representative )

" Office of the Committee on " Christmas Observance , " Portland , Maine , October io , 18 94 . " Dear Frater : " The following toast has been prepared for the coming Christmas :

" To our Most Eminent Grand Master , Hugh Mc-Curdy ¦ . the head of American Templar Masonry , vilio holds all Templar hearts . " The Grand Master sends the following response : " To thc great heart of Templar Masonry , and to every Templar Mason's heart—one and inseparable . " ' 'Tis the heart and not thc brain ,

That to the highest doth attain , And he itilio follotsicth love ' s behest , Far excelleth all thc rest . '" " Will you join in these sentiments on Tuesday , December 25 th , at noon Eastern Standard time ( equivalent to 5 p . m . Greenwich ) , and vvill you extend the invitation to your command , as well as to all true Templars and their friends , wheresoever dispersed , on land or sea . —Courteously and fraternally yours ,

"STEPHEN BERRY , " Portland , Maine . " Pacific Standard time , 120 ° W . 9 a . m . ; Mountain , 105 'W . 10 a . m . ; Central , 90 W . 11 a . m . ; Eastern , 75 W . 12 m . ; Greenwich , o ° , 5 p . m . "

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

i H ^^ M ^^^ i

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Peace and Harmony Lodge ( No . < 5 o ) .-The installation meeting of the lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , on the : 6 th ult-Among those present were Bros . Capt . T . C . Walls , I -y * Stwd ., G . Std . Br ., W . M . ; R . Masters , P . M ., P . G . Stwd * , S . W ., W . M . elect ; W . H . Kempster , junr ., G . Stwd ., I . W . , * H . Young , P . M ., P . G . Stwd ., Treas .: F . Binckes ,

P . M ., P . G . Stwd ., P . G . S . B ., Sec ; H . J . Lardner , P . M . 1745 , P . P . G . Std . Br ., S . D . ; Cotton , J . D * i Debenham , P . M ., I . G . ; E . Rogers , P . M ., P . G . Stwd-D . C ; Polenz , Stwd . ; R . Barton , P . M ., P . G . Stwd-, Joslin , P . M ., P . G . Stwd . ; H . Slade , P . M ., P . G . Stwd- , W . H . Kempster , M . D ., I . P . M ., P . G . Stwd . Among the visitors were Bros . R . Eve , P . G , Treas . ; W . Fisher , P . P . G . Treas ., Middx . ; Lee , W . M . 212 S ; S . R . Love ,

P . M . 3 ; Bowring , P . M . 32 it Hebb , P . P . G . D . U J » x . ' . ' Debenham , P . M . 147 S ; Davidson 1929 ; and others . '" minutes of the previous meeting having been read and co - firmed , the report of the Audit Committee was received anu adopted . The W . M . then installed Bro . R . M *** ' ?** W . M ., who appointed and invested his ollicers as f ° lloW . ' Bros , W . H . Kempster , jun ., S . W . ; H . J . Lardner , - &••> | . W . j II . Young , P . M ., Treas . ; E . Rogers , I . M *; iiec . ; Cotton , S . D . : Debenham , J . D . ; Polenz , 1- ^ "