Masonry In The Diamond Fields.

which we have been favoured , a great success . Brethren were in attendance from different parts of the Colony , from Capetown , Port Elizabeth , King William ' s Town , Barkly West , East London , & c , and when the hour arrived for the ceremony to begin , the principal hall was filled in every part , the number estimated as being

present being about 400 , and we are told that " the gathering was voted by many old Masons present to be one of the most imposing ever held in South Africa . " The ceremony itself was entrusted to Bro . D . J . HAARHOFF , Chairman of the Building or Executive Committee , who played his part admirably , and was ably

assisted by Bro . the Ven . Archdeacon GAUL , S . W . Cosmopolitan Lodge , No . 1409 , Bro . TREGARTHEN , who presided at the organ , and Bros . YOCKMONITZ , BEATON , LAWRENCE ( Mayor of Kimberley ) , and PETERS . At the conclusion of the dedication , the opportunity was taken to present Bro . GEORGE RICHARDS ,

P . M ., P . Z ., & c , who had been the heart and soul of the project for erecting the Hall , and who was on the point of leaving the colony , after a residence in it of 17 years , with an address of congratulation and thanks for his services and the success which had attended his plans for the new Hall , as well as of regret at

his departure from Kimberley . This address , which we publish elsewhere , together with the reply of Bro . RICHARDS , having been gracefully acknowledged , the proceedings terminated , and refreshments were served in the side rooms , due honour being paid to the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , but particularly to

those of Bro . HAARHOFF , who had acquitted himself so well as Consecrating Officer , and Bro . RICHARDS , to whom , as we have seen , the Craft in Kimberley is so largely indebted for its present

degree of prosperity . We congratulate our Kimberley brethren on the signal success they achieved on this occasion , and we trust the Hall which was then solemnly devoted to the purposes of Masonry will witness many scenes of equal brilliance .

What Is Free And Accepted Masonry?

WHAT IS FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONRY ?

[ Extract from an oration delivered by Bro . A . B . King before the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Liberia , St . John's Day , December 28 th , 1888 . ] I desire to give a short public exposition of the design and real meaning of the Institution . And as on this day we leave

our secret conclave to mingle openly with the world , I would like particularly to address my remarks to that class in the community who deride the Order , and who seem to fancy themselves above the Masons because they are not Masons—or rather who , it seems to me , compliment themselves with a kind of

self-complacency on their possession of hard , good , solid , common sense , because they are not Masons ; and on that account are a kind of superior order of men—different from that kind at least who are so weak and so simple—so green—as to become Masons . Yes , that is it , so weak as to become Masons . But , on the other

hand , they are the strong , the self-reliant , the independent men , and the poor Masons are the weaklings , who seek to band themselves together in Societies and lodges because they are too weak

to stand alone . Indeed , when I reflect on all that I have seen , heard , and read on this subject , I think of the Parable of the Virgins—five were wise and five were foolish . Of course , the latter class include the Masons .

I never was more struck with an exhibition of this spirit in my life than when , during the present year , I attended a series of popular religious meetings , and I heard an educated preacher in the midst of a very fine religious discourse fly off in a tangent at the poor Masons . I was struck with amazement . I

could not realise myself listening to the man before me . Surely that could not be Rev . Liberia College in the pulpit ! In the 19 th century , when Masonic literature is as plentiful and as accessible as that on any other science \ For I must say to that class in the community that Masonry is both a science and an art .

Much has been written for and against the system under which secret societies are formed , and it is probable that the question will for ever continue unsettled . That many societies of this character have existed , of a highly objectionable description , cannot be denied ; but their existence , on the other hand , has been

justified by many of the facts of history , and political conditions at various periods of civilization . Where an inefficient police , and an unsettled state of society existed , it is by no means extraordinary that confederations of this description should obtain ; but in modern times , and in states where security of life and

property prevails , they become superfluous . We have not at the present clay to dread the unauthorised intrusion of lawless classes , but we still have to encounter the subtle and sapping influences of the priesthood of Rome , with their train of crafty reasoning

and soul-killing arguments . To oppose these' and other evils , secret societies still continue , as a necessity ; and while scientific and social objects can be safely pursued in the broad light of day , it is still necessary to combat the influences of darkness and

What Is Free And Accepted Masonry?

night by less open means . But , in one sense , Masonry is no longer a secret society at all ; any man of good character is admissible to its lodges , and is entitled to participate in its secrets , its Charities , and its mysteries ; and no true Mason need be ashamed to confess that he is a brother of the mystic tie .

The cultivation of the human heart and its fine sensibilities is the object of the Royal Art , and in the accomplishment of this task all may equally participate . The means of mutual recognition are inherently secret in their form , and to the outside

world they signify little or nothing ; not so to the Mason who , by the possession of certain signs and tokens , proclaims himself to be a man to whom special privileges , accompanied by special duties , have been granted .

The majority of the Masonic Fraternity in all lands are hi ghminded and noble men . There is a minority which shamefull y abuses the rig hts attained through initiation , but this is b y no means general . Freemasonry , as Bro . D . V . Mackey observes , " is a secret Society only as respects its signs , a few of its

legends and traditions , and its method of inculcating its mystical philosophy ; but which , as to everything else—its designs , its object , its moral and religious tenets , and the great doctrine which it teaches—is as open a society as if it met on the hi ghways beneath the sun of day , and not within the well-guarded portals of a lodge .

Freemasonry is a moral institution , established by virtuous men , with the praiseworthy design of recalling to our remembrance the most sublime Truths , in the midst of innocent and

social pleasures , founded on Liberality , Brotherly Love , and Charity . "It is a beautiful system of morality , veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols . " Truth is its centre . :

To use the words of an elegant writer , " Freemasonry is an institution , not , as the ignorant and uninstructed vainly suppose , founded on unmeaning mystery , for the encouragement of bacchanalian festivity and support of mere

good fellowship ; but an institution founded on eternal reason and truth , whose deep basis is the civilisation of mankind , and whose everlasting glory is supported by those two mighty pillows—SCIENCE and MORALITY . "

Freemasonry includes within its circle almost every branch of polite learning . Under the veil of its mysteries is comprehended a regular system of science . Many of its illustrations to the confined genius may appear unimportant ; but the man of

more enlarged faculties will perceive them to be , in the highest degree , useful and interesting . To please the accomplished scholar and ingenuous artist , Freemasonry is wisely planned ; and , in the investigation of its latent doctrines , the philosopher and mathematician may experience equal delight and satisfaction .

To exhaust the various subjects of which it treats would transcend the powers of the brightest genius ; still , however , nearer approaches to perfection may be made ; and the man of understanding will not check the progress of his abilities ,

though the task he attempts may at first seem insurmountable . Perseverance and application remove each difficulty as it occurs ; every step he advances , new pleasures open to his view , and instruction of the noblest kind attends his researches . In the diligent pursuit of knowledge the intellectual faculties are employed in promoting the glory of God and the good of man .

The Clandestine Cerneau Rite.

THE CLANDESTINE CERNEAU RITE .

The Keystone of August 31 st deals with the subject of Clandestine Rites , in the following article : — The profane press is greatly exercised over certain events which have recently occurred in relation to the so-called Cerneau Rite . Sensational headings in certain daily newspapers

announce that " Freemasons are at War , " that there are serious "Disputes in Masonry , " and " members are leaving the Order . It is apparent to any brother who scans these articles that they

were not written by Freemasons , but by profanes , who are ignorant alike of Masonic principles and practice , and of what truly constitutes a body entitled to be regarded as a constituent of the ancient Masonic Craft— -which Craft has always been held in

respect , even by the masses of the profane . Let this be clearly understood : There are no Masonic bodi eS which are at war with each other . The dispute is merely between bodies or members of bodies which are not Masonic , but whicn falsely assume to be Masonic , and bodies which are indisputably

connected with , and the ruling bodies of , the Craft . The initiativ was taken by the pretended Masonic bodies against the genum ones , and these latter , which include Grand Lodges of Free an Accepted Masons , are onl y acting on the defensive , for the p tection of true Freemasonry . It is no internecine conflict . The illegitimate , clandestine bodies are all branches of so-called Cerneau Rite , a Rite whose fragmentary histo * /' during the brief periods while its bodies were not dormant ,