Installation Of The Provincial Grand Mark Master Of New Zealand South.

"The Newly-advanced Members" was proposed in an eloquent speech by the W . M ., and responded to by Bros . L . A . BERESFORD , E . NATHAN , and the Rev . B . LICHTENSTEIN . "The Officers of the Hiram Lodge , " was proposed by Bro . C . DE LONGUEVILLE GRAHAM , W . M . 2 G 1 , and responded to by Bro . C BRAID , Master Overseer .

The W . M ., Officers , and Members of the Zealandia Marine Lodge " was proposed by Bro . S . T . KERR , R . W . P . M ., Scottish Constitution , who passed a high culogiumon the Master and officers , . to which Bro . GRAHAM gave a brief reply . "The Health of the Visitors , " coupled with the names of Bros . W . C Ball , I . C ., and 1 . W . Small , American

Constitution , was proposed by the Rev . Bro . B . LITCIIENSTEIN , who expressed his gratification at being present on so auspicious an occasion . Bros . W . O . BALL and Captain J . W . SMALL , of the American barque Minnie Allen , responded in feeling terms .

During the course of the evening several excellent songs were contributed by Bros . Riedle , Berresford , Braid , Ross , Forrest , Marsden , and others ; and Bro . E . Nathan , prior to the closing , delivered amost eloqucntand feelingaddress to the brethren , who , at his request , drank in solemn silence "The Immortal Memory of Bro . George Smith , P . M . and

P . D . G . S . W ., E . C . " ¦ The Tyler's toast terminated a most agreeable evening . We had almost omitted to mention that Bro . J AMES GORE , P . M . S . C ., proposed "The 'Masonic Press , " coupled with the name of Bro . R . Cumming , New Zealand Freemason , and in the course of his remarks referred to a former Masonic paper of great merit , which had been produced by Bro . P . M . C . de L . Graham .

PORT CHALMERS . — Cargill Kilwinning Lodge , S . C . ( No . 632 ) . —At the installation meeting of this lodge there were a large number of visitors , amongst whom were Bros . Beresford , of the Melbourne District , E . C , l . C . and S . C . ; Murray , P . M . of the Port Chalmers Marine ; and J . A . D . Adams , W . M . Lodge of Otago . After the usual routine business had been disposed of , a Board of Installed Masters was formed , and Bro . G . L .

Asher duly installed as R . W . M . The following brethren were then invested , viz ., Bros . A . Perry , R . W . D . M . ; R . Sutcliffe , S . W . ; J . Baird , J . W . ; S . Perry , Treas . ; R . Mitchell , S . D . ; A . Pickard , J . D . ; G . T . Smith , I . G . ; J . Dickson , Tyler ; and D . Miiler , Steward . The ceremony was performed by R . W . P . M . Bro . W . Caldwell , assisted by the officers of the Otago Kilwinning and Celtic Lodges . Bro . Ferguson presided at the organ . Refreshments were partaken of at the Port Chalmers Hotel .

Grand Lodge Of Texas, U.S.A.

GRAND LODGE OF TEXAS , U . S . A .

We are always glad to note a kindly feeling between our Transatlantic brethren and the Craft at home , and we are pleased to find a well-known brother honoured by a foreign Grand Lodge . The following is a copy of a letter addressed to Bro . Emra Holmes , who has contributed for many years to these columns and to the " Masonic Magazine , " by the M . W . Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas , U . S . A . : —

" Austin , Texas , "May 23 rd , 1 SS 1 . " Dear Sir and Brother , — " 1 have this day forwarded to Lient .-Colonel Shadwell II . Clerke your commission as Representative of the Grand Lodge of Texas , near the Grand Lodge of England . "Through reading your works , which have ' . riven me

much pleasure , and knowing your brother , 1 feel as if I personally knew you , and that the interests of our Grand Lodge are safely committed to your hands . The instructions I now give you are most simple : Act on behalf of our Crand Lodge so that the interests of universal Masonry will be furthered to the utmost ; and if you do this , as I know you will , you will give the Brotherhood over whom I have the exalted honour to preside full and complete satisfaction .

"I am , courteously and fraternally , " J . II . MCLEARY , Grand Master . " Bro . Emra Holmes . " M . W . Bro . McLeary is not only eminent as a Mason , but holds the responsible post of Attorney-General for the State of Texas . Bro . Holmes is Representative also of the Great Priory of Canada at the Great Priory of England , and is an Honorary Provincial Prior of Canada .

Dervish Freemasonry.

DERVISH FREEMASONRY .

Interest in the Masonic discoveries lately made in connection with the obelisk that is to be moved to New York has not yet ceased . Mr . Ralph Borg , British Vice-Consul here , and Worshipful Master of the English lodge , recently made the following statement to your correspondent : " In 1 S 6 4 I was present in Cairo at a working Masonic lodge

composed ot Egyptian dervishes , whose traditions purport to emanate from the most remote period of Egyptian antiquity . These traditions are , however , unfortunately oral — they have been handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation—for dervishes know of no other form of record or tradition . 1 obtained admission to this lodge in the following manner : One of these dervishes was

an intimate friend of an English Freemason , resident at the time in Alexandria . The dervish one day , much to the Englishman ' s surprise , invited him to visit his lodge . The Englishman , who was perfectly familiar with the Arabic language , made three visits to the lodge , but solemnly pledged himself never to reveal anything about it to anybody , because the other dervishes were not at all pleased

that one of their number had spoken upon the subject to the Englishman . Subsequently the Englishman asked permission to bring one of his countrymen to the lodge . This permission was at length granted most reluctantly , and upon condition that the new comer should be blindfolded coming and going . The Englishman invited me to

accompany him . I was most carefully blindfolded . After proceeding on foot for over an hour and a half , the lodge was reached . It seemed to be in a sort of stone cave or underground temple . From the nature of the ground passed over I should judge that it was situated in the desert near Mount Mokattom . The rites employed were similar to those

Dervish Freemasonry.

employed in European lodges . The dervishes said that this was only a branch of their Grand Lodge , and that their traditions related back to time beyond memory . Upon my suggestion that they might have originated from some one of the numerous Masonic lodges established in Egypt by the French in 179 S , the dervishes said that they were entirely independent of those lodges , and that we were the first Europeans who had ever been admitted to their lodge . "—New York Herald .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft JirXasonrjj .

NEW CROSS LODGE ( No . 1559 ) . —The W . M . of this lodge evidently means going in for a busy year of office , since On Saturday last the members metfor the fifth time under his presidency , which dates only from the beginning of February . The muster at the Ship Hotel , Greenwich , was , however , but a small one , many of the brethren excusing themselves on the score that Bank

Holiday afforded them the opportunity of snatching a few days at the sea side . The W . M ., Bro . Ernest E . Smith , was supported by Bros . E . H . Thiellay , P . M ., P . G . S . B . Middx ., Treas ., as S . W . ; Walter Simmonds , P . M ., Sec , as J . W . ( these two brethren being in their original positions when the lodge was first consecrated ) : A . G . Thiselton , S . D . ; Cash , I . G . ; Church , Tyler .

The lodge having been opened in due form , Mr . Carlo Grassi , proposed by the W . M ., and seconded by Bro . Bertini , was elected a candidate for initiation , and the ballot was then taken for a joining member , Bro . A . J . Thiselton , of the Skelmersdale Lodge , proposed by the W . M ., and secondsd by Bro . Hayes , the ballot being unanimous in his favour . Bros . Edmonds and Bertini were then raised to the

Sublime Degree of M . M ., and Mr . Carlo Grassi was initiated into the secrets and mysteries of ancient Freemasonry . This concluded the business on the agenda paper , and the brethren thereupon took boat to North Woolwich , where Bro . William Holland , P . M ., had a recherche dinner in waiting for them . Bro . Dr . Joe Pope , P . M ., made a material addition to the ranks , and supported the W . M .

on his left , Bro . Holland being at the left of the S . W ., and in convenient proximity to the door , to enable him to attend to the extensive Bank Holiday attractions . The brethren were loud in their praises of Bro . Holland's superior catering . "The Health of the W . M . " was proposed by Bro . Thiellay , who said they were under a debt of gratitude to Bro . Smith for his arranging a series of summer visiting

banquets , such a thing having never been done m the New Cross Lodge by any of its preceding Masters . Their W . M . was full of Masonic zeal , energy , and activity , but no matter what shape his energy took , he was certain to score a success , and his selection of Bro . Holland's charming retreat for that afternoon's dinner was a proof of his good judgment . The W . M ., in the course of his reply , assured the brethren that when be had arranged the summer tour

in his own mind , North Woolwich was down in the list a month or two later on , and Purfleet and Gravesend occupied places on the fist . However , having reached North Woolwich he did not care to venture further down the river , and should show his appreciation of Bro . Holland's catering by repeating the visit in July . The W . M . then proposed " The Health of the Initiate , Bro . Grassi , " who suitably replied , and "The Visitors" brought forth amusing speeches from Bros . Dr . Pope and W . Holland .

BLACKPOOL . —Blackpool Lodge ( No . 1476 ) . — The installation meeting of this lodge was held at the Clifton Arms Hotel , on the 17 th ult . The following brethren were present : Bros . F . Pattison , W . M . ; T . Blane , S . W . ; H . Gardner , Secretary ; J . Wray , Treasurer ; E . Leigh , S . D . ; J . S . Todd , J . D . ; G . Beneke , I . G . ; T . Gregory , Organist ; A . Wade , Tyler : V . A .

Wartenberg and i " . W . Dickson , Stewards ; E . Gregson , D . C . ; E . G . Stead , I . P . M . ; R . W . Braithwaite , P . M . ; S . P . Bidder , P . M . ; W . B . Richardson , L . Whittaker , and A . J . Holloway . The following visitors were present : Bros . A . H . Whitehead , P . M . 113 , P . J . CD . ; Robert Butterworth , P . M . 29 S , P . P . G . P . E . Lane ; J . Walker , P . M . 934 ; J . Hopwood , P . M . 703 ; ] . A : Orr , P . M 950 ;

B . Hainsworth , W . M . 950 ; R . N . Horsfall , J . W . 950 ; II . II . Ormsby , P . M . 950 ; J . F . Perkins , W . M . 10 G 1 ; R . Dottie , 1161 ; and John Grime . The minutes being read and confirmed , Bro . S . P . Bidder took the chair , to whom Bro . Pattison presented Bro . Thos . Blane , W . M . elect , for the benefit of installation , the ceremony being gone through with every satisfaction . The

W . M . then appointed and invested the following brethren his officers : Bros . Pattison , I . P . M . ; J . Wray , P . M ., Treasurer ; H . Gardner , P . M ., P . G . S . B ., Secretary ; A . Moore , S . W . ; E . Leigh , J . W . ; J . S . Todd , S . D . ; T . Gregory , J . D . ; Wartcnberg , I . G . ; Dickson , Organist ; Richardson and Marsden , Stewaids ; R . W . Braithwaite , D . C ; and A . Wade Tyler . Bro . Bidder addressed the

W . M ., and Bro . Pattison the Wardens , after which " Hearty good wishes" were expressed from Lodges P . G . L . of W . L . and E . L ., 113 , 29 S , 934 , 703 , 950 , 11 5 0 , 10 G 1 , and uGr . The brethren then adjourned to the dining rooms , where —after refreshment—the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and drunk with enthusiasm .

FRIZINGTON . —Arlecdon Lodge ( No . 1660 ) . — The annual installation meeting of this lodge took place at the Masonic Hall on Wednesday , the 1 st inst ., Bro . Geo . Dalrymple , W . M ., P . G . Std ., in the chair , and supported as follows : Bros . Richard Wilson , S . W ., and W . M . elect ; J . Ashworth , J . W . ; D . Bell , S . D . ; J . Banks , J . D . ; Ed . Gibson , Sec . ; Jas . Harper , Treas . ; Geo . Lowden , I . G .

13 . Craig , Tyler ; Ed . Clarke , P . M ., P . P . G . J . D . ; W . Martin , P . M . ; F . T . Allatt , J . Mc . Mullin , Ed . Barwise , J . Barr , P . M . 119 , P . P . G . S . D . ; E . Sutherst , W . M . 94 ; R . Baxter , P . M . 12 G 7 ; J . McGowan , S 72 ; J . Wilson , J . W . I 2 fi 7 ; and others . On the minutes being read and confirmed , two

candidates for initiation were balloted for and accepted . Bro . K . Clarke , P . M ., then performed the ceremony of installation , assisted by Bro . J . Barr , P . M . 119 . The new W . M . then appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . James Harper , S . W . ; J . Ashworth , J . W . ; David Bell , S . D . ; George Lowden , J . D . ; W . Martin , P . M ., Sec ; E . Clarke , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Banks , I . G . ; B . Craig ,

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Tyler ; and F . T . Allatt and J . McMullin , Stewards . A vote of thanks having been accorded to the Installing ?^ aster , it was afterwards proposed by Bro . George Dafrympie , I . P . M ., and received a unanimous vote , that five guineas ; be forwarded to Bro . G . J . McKay , P . G . S . W ., on behalf of his

Steward ' s list . On one brother being proposed as a joining member and " Hearty good wishes " expressed , the lodge was closed in form and good harmony , and the brethren adjourned for a short time to do honour to the loyal and Masonic toasts , which were heartily responded to .

INSTRUCTION . CRUSADERS LODGE ( No . 1 ( 577 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held at the Old Jerusalem Tavern , St . John ' s Gate , Clerkenwell , on the 3 rd inst . Present : Bros . Joseph Rothschild , W . M . ; G . W . Tillett , S . W .: W . C .

Y ^ i '> J-W . ; Kobe . D . Cummings , Preceptor ; Houghton , I . G . ; Harold Halliday , Hon . Sec ; and others . The lodge having been opened with the usual ceremonies , the minutes of the last lodge meeting were read and confirmed . After the rehearsal of ceremonies the lodge was duly closed .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

DUKE OF CONNAUGHT CHAPTER ( No . 1524 ) . —The installation meeting of this chapter was held on Wednesday , the Sth inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleetstreet . There were present Comps . N . Green , Z . ; T . C . Chapman , H . ; W . H . Lee , P . Z . ; II . G . Buss , Asst . G . S . E . ; W . Stephens , P . Z . ; E . Somers , S . E . ; F . Brasted , S . N . ; J . L . Payne , P . S . ; H . F . Byng , istAsst . Soj . ; W . Beasley , 2 nd Asst . Soj . ; E . Bell , W . Eldridge , and W . Funston .

Bro . T . Clark , J . D . 117 S , having been duly balloted for , and elected , was exalted into Royal Arch Masonry . Comp . T . C . Chapman ( P . Z . 192 ) was inducted into the chair of Z ., and Comp . Somers was installed as J . for the year ensuing by Comp . Lee , P . Z . The following officers were also invested : Comps . Beasley , S . E . ; Brasted , S . N . ; Payne , P . S . ; Byng , 1 st Asst . Soj . j Bell , 2 nd Asst . Soj . ; Marsh , Janitor . Comp . Brand ( H . elect ) was absent through

ill' ealth . The companions afterwards adjourned to banquet , and tne usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to ; the proceedings being enlivened by the vocal abilities of Comps . Bell , Brasted , and Funston . Comp . Somers amused the companions by an excellent recital of Hood ' s lines , " Skying the Copper . " During the evening a P . Z . 's jewel was presented to Comp . N . Green , in recognition of his services as M . E . Z . during the past year .

DEGREES . — I his word , which properly means " steps , " from the Latin " gradus , " refers to those distinctions in Masonry which are called grades , which term is in fact synonymous . The question of Masonic Degrees is not an easy one to settle—not so easy as some writers , at any rate , seem to think . The evidence on the subject is not to our mind conclusive , for many reasons , and it must

still be left somewhat in suspense . The theory that our present Degrees arc the product of the 1717 Revival we cannot accept , though we are quite willing to admit that , owing to careless or incorrect nomenclature , it is not very easy for the Masonic student to-day to speak dogmatically on the subject . It appears to us that the Degrees as we have them now existed practically the same , though with a

little difference of ritual accessories and arrangement ; and that there alwajs was a distinction between the Master , the Fcllcw , and the Apprentice . The Scotch Lodge minutes , or the acknowledged statutes of the Craft Lodges ( 159 S ) , show two steps ( or degrees ) to have then existed . Apprentices got the "Mason Word ; " then , in the admission of " Fellow or Master , " there was some sort

of ceremony , at which Entered Apprentices should ( nay must ) be present . Subsequently , Apprentices were excluded on the admission of Fellows and Masters . The Apprentices were turned out in 1 759 . Bro . Mackey seems quite to have misread Anderson . Anderson in the Constitution of 1723 and 173 S , under the 4 th charge , uses the same words —Master , Wardens , Fellows , and Pi entices , and makes

precisely the same statement . Wc do not , we confess , understand Mackey ' s argument , as founded on some alteration in the two editions , because there is essentially none . The alterations are those of convenience alone . It is quite clear that in 1720 the three distinguishing names of Master , Fellows , and Prentices were known to the Craft . In the old and new regulations , in the edition of 173 S , there is no doubt a variation in the

context , as where , in Regulation xui ., Master Mason in 1738 is substituted for Fellow Craft in 1723 ; and in Regulation xxv ., where in 173 S "Brother" is substituted again for Fellow Craft in 1723 . But in regulation xiii ., in 1723 , the Apprentices were to be made in the private lodge , the Fellows and Masters in Grand Lodge . We may therefore take it for granted that in 1717 the same nomenclature

prevailed—indeed , Dermott distinctly states that there was a separate Master ' s Degree in 1717 , though his words require to be taken " cum grano . " Whether in those days the giadeof Master was confined to those who were Masters of lodges we are not quite prepared yet to say , but there is a good deal to be advanced in favour of such a view . In our humble opinion , the grades of Apprentice and

Fellow , and Actual Master , if you like , were distinct grades , and it is incorrect to say that previous to 1717 only one grade , that of Entered Apprentice , was known . Mackey ' s argument , as based on Anderson , is , as we have ventured to say , untenable , and we cannot , therefore , accept the conclusion to which he seems to have come . According to our esteemed Bro . D . Murray Lyon , ancient Craft Masonry in Scotland , till shortly before institution of Grand

Lodge , was composed of two Degrees— " Entered Apprentice " and " Fellow or Master . " A Third Degree was , he informs us , unknown in Scotland " pro tanto" prior to De ' saguliers ' s visit to Edinburgh in 1721 ; he might then tell the Edinburgh brethren of it , but it is several years after his visit that the first trace of it appears . We fancy that after all it is only a question of arrangement and terminology . —Kenning ' s Masonic Cyclohcvdia .

H < M . J . A . Mac Lean , editor of La Acacia , o ' , Correo , Buenos Ayres , has favoured us with a fine photograph of the facade of the Hall ( an imposing edi fice ) of the Grand Orient of Argentino .