The Exclusion Of The Hebrew's.

Freemasons , assembled under the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of England , with every feeling of fraternal regard for their brethren in Germany , hereby enters its niost solemn protest against any law which prevents any properly qualified person from joining the Order on account of his religious belief , such exclusion being , in the opinion of this lodge , contrary to the fundamental niincipals of Freemasonry .

2 . That with a view of obtaining the repeal of what appears to be a most obnoxious law , a petition be prepared for presentation to the Grand Lodge of England asking them to take such steps in the matter as in their judgment they may think advisable , and that such petition be first submitted to the various lodges in Great Britain , requesting their co-operation .

3 . That a Committee of six be appointed for the purpose of carrying out the above resolutions , and that the sum of £ 3 is hereby voted for defraying the preliminary expenses . That the Committee consist of Bros . Victor Myers , W . M . ; Gulliford , S . W . ; Lazarus , P . M ., J . W . ; S . V . Abraham , P . M . ; Pollitzer , P . M . ; Lewis Jacobs , Treas .

Matthias Levy , Hon . Sec . The following is a copy of the petition : — To the Most Worshipful H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c , Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Eng land ; The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Prov . Grand Master ; the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , Deputy Grand Master ; ' the Present and Past Grand

Ofiicers and Members of the Grand Lodge of England . We , the undersigned , Masters , Wardens , Officers , and Members of the various Lodges , make declaration as follows : — That it has come to our knowledge , that certain lodges under the Constitution of the Grand Lodges in Germany , held at Berlin , exclude from the benefits of

Freemasonry all persons except those professing Christianity . And it appearing to your petitioners that many good and worthy men are thus necessarily debarred from entering into the Order or enjoying its advantages , and that the Craft is likewise deprived of the assistance and usefulness of many intelligent and influential persons :

Your petitioners beg to call the attention of Grand Lodge thereto , and most earnestly and respectfully solicit that Grand Lodge will take thc same into their serious consideration , and will use such means as may be deemed by them most advisable to secure a permanent and satisfactory alteration of the laws of the said Grand

Lodges of Germany , which laws , your petitioners humbly submit , are in their present rendering contrary to the first principles of Freemasonry . Signer ) , W . M ., on behalf of thc Lodge No . March , 1877 .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The Committee of this Institution held its monthly meeting on Wednesday last , in the Board Room , Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Col . Creaton , V . P ., presided . There were also present Bros . Raynham W . Stewart , Griffiths Smith , Thomas W . White , Hyde Pullen , John G . Stevens ,

S . Rawson , E . J . Barrow , Charles Lacey , William Hale , A . J . Duff Filer , A . H . Tattershall , William Stephens , George Bolton , G . M . E . Snow , H . G . Warren , H . Browse , Thos . Cubitt , , | . Levy , F . Adlard , Joshua Nunn , Benj . Head , Joseph Smith , E . C . Woodward , J . M . Case , John W . Dcnnison , Charles G . Hill , J . Newton , L . Stean , Charles G . Rushworth , A . A . Richards , Wm . Hilton , John

Constable , J . A . Farnfield , H . Massey ( Freemason ) , John Bellerby , R . W . Little , Dr . Erasmus Wilson , Dr . Jabez Hogg , J . R . Gallant , William F . Nettleship , and James Terry , Secretary . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , Bro . Terry reported the death of three annuitants , Bro . Richard Graves , London , after having received £ 6 (> annuities , Bro .

S . M . Shrubsole , Faversham , £ 333 , and Mrs . Morton , London , £ 80 . It having been reported that the recent heavy rains had materially damaged the buildings at Croydon , the House Committee inspected and reported upon the same , and alter some slight discussion it was resolved that the repairs be done at once .

One widow ' s petition for the grant of half of her late husband ' s annuity was accepted , and thc prayer thereof acceded to . The following report of sub-committee appointed on the 14 th February , 1877 , to inquire into the duties and emoluments of the future collector was then put in and taken as read : —

Your sub-committee beg to report that in pursuance of directions given to them at the last meeting , they met on the 20 th February last , and carefully considered the question as to the appointment of a collector , and his duties and emoluments ; and they unanimously agreed to the following : — 1 . That a collector should be appointed . 2 . That he must be a Master Mason .

3 . 1 hat his age should not exceed 40 years at the time ° i his appointment . 4- —That his duties be to collect all the annual subscri ptions and donations remaining unpaid upon the Steward ' s lists at thc Anniversary Festivals , and to give recei pts for the same .

5 . — I o attend at the office on Tuesdays and Fridays throug hout the year , between the hours of 11 and 2 , to see 'be subscribers and donors . u - —To keep thc alphabetical register of the subscribers and donors , as well as of lodges and individuals . 7- —To attend the office and render assistance when re-

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

quired by the Secretary , and the state of the collection will permit . 8 . —To give security for £ 500 in some approved Guarantee Society . 9 . —To be paid a commission of 4 per cent , upon all sums actually received by him—and not upon any amounts received by the Secretary .

vour Sub-committee accordingly recommend the foregoing for the favourable consideration of the Committee , with a view to its adoption by them . J CREATON , V . Patron , Chairman . All the clauses of this report were then discussed , and the only material alteration made in it was the fixing of

the collector ' s commission at 3 per cent , instead of 4 per cent . The elections then took place . There were seven candidates , but the choice of the brethren unanimously fell on Bro . George Knill . Bro . George Snow asked the chairman whether he had received any lottery books containing shilling tickets for

life-governorships . He had received them , and he thought it was a very derogatory practice to adopt , and hoped it would be put a stop to . On the motion of Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , it was decided to have the usual Stewards' Festival at the Asylum at Croydon . Bro . Joshua Nunn moved , according to notice , "That

the sum of £ 100 be paid to the widow of Bro . William Lane , late collector . " In addition to what he bad said in Bro . Lane ' s favour at the last meeting , when he gave notice of this motion , he said in form that he thought that two years ago Bro . Lane , of his own free will and at his own suggestion , benefited the Institution to

the amount of £ 170 by giving up two per cent , of his commission on certain amounts of subscriptions . He was entitled to five per cent ., and he took only three per cent . The action of Bro . Lane ' s widow since her husband ' s death had been such as to meet the high approbation of the brethren , and any good they could bestow on her was well merited .

Bro . Raynham W . Stewart seconded the motion , which was put and carried unanimously . On Bro . Farnfield ' s report as to the difficulties being thrown in the way of the Institution with respect to acquiring the piece of ground in front of the Asylum at Croydon , the brethren resolved to abandon the idea of taking it . A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings .

Presentation To Bro. J. Hannah.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . J . HANNAH .

On Friday , the 9 th inst , an interesting meeting of the Freemasons of Warrington was held at the Lion Hotel . The chair was occupied by Bro . John Bowes , P . M ., P . Z ., P . J . G . W . of Cumberland and Westmorland . The following brethren , forming the Testimonial Committee , were present : —Bros . Thomas Tunstall , W . M . 148 ; Charles

Crosier , W . M . 1250 ; W . S . Hawkins , P . M . ; W . Richardson , P . M . ; D . W . Finney , P . M ., P . Z . ; W . Woods , P . M . ; R . Brierley , P . M . ; Joseph Pickthall , S . W . 148 j John Armstrong , S . W . 1250 ; S . R . Young , J . W . 148 ; Galloway , S . D . 1250 ; Thos . Sutton , Treas . 1250 ; S . E . Johnson , and James Hannah . After a substantial tea , the loyal and Masonic toasts

were duly honoured , after which Bro . Bowes made the presentation as follows : —Brethren , —I am charged with a very pleasurable duty this evening . I believe I have received the compliment on the ground that I am the oldest Mason present . In any case , and whatever may be the reason of the selection , I very willingly undertake the pleasing task . Brethren , we have in our midst

tonight a brother whom we one and all wish to honour . True , that brother is not of rank and opulence , but he is a brother who has done his duty , and we wish to prove to him that in the eyes of Masons there are occasions when all are equal if they deserve to be so . Acting for the then W . M ., Bro . Hepherd , well do I remember admitting our friend James Hannah to Masonic light . In due course I

passed and raised him , and from that time to the present he has deserved well at our hands . Faithfully and zealously he served us in the humble , but highly important , capacity of Outer Guard and Janitor ; and now , when his ordinary avocations press so heavily upon him that he feels he can no longer serve us with credit to himself , like a good man and true he resigns into the hands

of the rulers of the Craft his emblem of office . As a man and as a Mason , Bro . Hannah has won the good opinion of us all , and we are determined , therefore , that he should not sever his official connection with us without some mark—some substantial mark—of our sincere esteem . The feeling is spontaneous and general , and does not emanate from individuals , but collectively from brethren in

a corporate capacity . Bro . Hannah , I know you will believe me when I say it affords me extreme gratification to be the mouthpiece of the brethren on this occasion , and also the medium of handing to you this handsome and costly gold watch , bearing the following inscription : " Presented to Bro . James Hannah by the Freemasons of Warrington , in

recognition of many years' faithful service as Tyler and Janitor . —William Sharp , Z . 148 ; W . H . Robinson , W . M . 148 ; Chas . Crosier , W . M . 1250 . " May you long be spared to wear it , and when time with us shall be no more , may we all meet together in the Grand Lodge above , where the world's Great Architect lives and reigns for

ever . The chairman ' s remarks were endorsed and echoed by thc brethren present , they one and all testifying to Bro . Hannah ' s obliging manners and gentlemanly bearing . Bro . Hannah , with evident emotion , acknowledged the handsome testimonial at length and most feelingly . He assured the brethren that hc was deeply grateful for the many kindnesses hc had experienced at their hands . He

Presentation To Bro. J. Hannah.

had always striven to do his duty , and he was trul y thankful that in his endeavours he had met with the approval of the brethren seated round that table . Some of those present had come some distance to take part in the proceedings of the evening , and however much he tried he should utterly fail to express in words his deep and heartfelt gratitude to them , one and all . It would be invidious

to mention friends individually when hc had so many , but he knew they would excuse him if he singled out the chairman . Again and again thanking them , and in the heartiest possible manner , for thc handsome and costly gift they had that night presented to him , he sat down amid general cheering . After a number of personal toasts had been proposed and duly honoured , the brethren separated in harmony .

Freemasonry In New Zealand.

FREEMASONRY IN NEW ZEALAND .

At the annual meeting of the Southern Star Lod ge , No . 735 , E . G ., the following members were duly installed and invested as officers : —Bro . L . Boor , W . M . ; Bro . W . Holmes , S . W . ; Bro . W . M . Stanton , J . W . ; Bro . W . B . Sealy , Treasurer ; Bro . H . M . Moore , Secretary ; Bro . J . Cann , S . D . ; Bro . M . Sedgwick , J . D . ; Bro . J . Kissel , I . G . ;

Bro . H . Hargreaves , Tyler . The brethren at a later hour sat down to a really first-class repast prepared by Bro . J . Tregea . The chair was taken by the W . M ., who , after justice had been done to the good things provided , proposed the following loyal and Masonic toasts : — " The Queen , " " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " our Most Worshipful Grand Master , and the Grand Lodge of England , " " The Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland , and the Most

Worshipful Grand Masters . " Bro . Sealy , P . M ., then proposed , " The retiring Worshipful Master of the Southern Star Lodge , Past-Master Bro , J . C . Moutray , " and this having been honoured according to Masonic custom , Bro . Squires , P . M ., proposed " The Newly installed Worshipful Master , Bro . Boor , and thc Officers invested this day , " a toast that was enthusiastically received .

Bro . W . M . Stanton proposed " The Installing Officer , Bro . Sealy , " coupled with the Supreme Council of New Zealand , 33 rd Degree , of which our esteemed brother is a worthy companion . Bro . Sealy , P . M ., responded , and in so doing gave a clear and interesting account of the rise and progress of the Supreme Council of New Zealand . Bro . Lightfoot proposed " The Trafalgar Royal Arch

Chapter of Nelson , " coupled with the name of the First Principal , Bro . Squires , who responded to the toast , and thanked the brethren present for the hearty manner in which it had been responded to . Bro . Moutray proposed " The Sister Lodges of Blenheim and Wakefield—Lodge of Unanimity and Forest Lodge . " This toast was followed by " The Visitors , " " The Ladies , " "The Host , " and "All poor and distressed Masons . "

Obituary.

Obituary .

FUNERAL OF SIR DONALD M'LEAN . The funeral of Sir Donald M'Lean , which took place Jan . 8 th , at Napier , was essentially Masonic . It had been intended to give it a military character , and thc Artillery Volunteers wcrc ' ordered to assemble with gun carriage , prepared to carry the coffin , and a firing party was told off , but at almost the last moment the military display was

countermanded . The Odd Fellows walked in procession to th * cemetery , also a few Foresters , and a considerable numbe . of Good Templars and members of the Hiberian Society , bu at the gate of the cemetery they mingled with the crowd , leaving the Masons to conduct the burial ceremonies for their District Grand Master . The two lodges , Scinde and Victoria , the former of the Irish , and the latter of thi

English Constitution , met together at the Masonic Hall ,: and heard thc lodge Burial Service . About three o'clock ; they formed a procession , and marched to the late residence ; of Sir Donald . There were above 80 Masons , includin- g several Royal Arch . Each lodge formed separatel y , Thc Scinde , being the senior , went first ; but the comj Uct of the proceedings was under the care of the Victoria

Lodge , as Sir Donald held his appointment as Iyistrict *\ , Grand Master under the English Constitution . The whole was under the management of the acting W . M ., Bro . Alexander Kennedy . The body was carried in a hearse , preceded by Mason Douglas M'Lean ( Sir Donald ' s son ) , chief mourner , and among others Captain Archibald M'Lean ( Sir Donald ' s brother ) , Messrs Archibald M'Lean , Ormond , Hart , Kinross , and Gillon . A great many

Maoris , male and female , were present , amongst whom were several influential chiefs , including Tc Hapuka , Reuatu Tarehu , and others . These , as well as many Europeans , availed themselves of the opportunity to see the body , which was lying in state prior to removal for burial . There was a large concourse in the cemetery and on all the elevated ground surrounding ; it was difficult

to compute the number , but it was generally estimated at about 3000 . After an impressive service by the Rev . Mr . Sidney , the Masonic service was read by Bro . the Rev . D'Arcy Irvine , principal master of the Grammar School and the Chaplain of the Victoria Lodge . It was very solemnly rendered , and listened to with profound attention by all

present . A lambskin apron was thrown into thc grave , and also a sprig of acacia . The grand honours practised by Masons at burial ceremonies , and a hymn , were sung with harmonium accompaniment . After the concluding prayer , the Masons marched in procession back to the Masonic Hall , and dosed the lodge .