The Grand Lodge Movement In South Africa.

THE GRAND LODGE MOVEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA .

An important meeting was arranged to be held in Kimberley , South Africa , during the latter half of last month , which all Master Masons were invited to attend , for the purpose of discussing the question whether a United Grand Lodge should be established for South Africa . We shall know what has passed at this meeting at an earh * date , and whether matters

are ripe enough to carry the project into execution with anything like a reasonable prospect of success . In the mean time , we are in a position to judge of the spirit in which the proposal will be considered , copy of an article which appeared in the Diamond Fields Advertiser about two months since having been kfndfy forwarded to us bv one of our

correspondents who takes a deep interest in South African Freemasonry . From this article it is manifest that the promoters of the movement for establishing a local Grand Lodge are anxious that everything should be done openly and above board , and that no pressure of any kind should be brought to bear upon the brethren with a view to unduly influencing public Masonic opinion

in behalf of their scheme . Master Masons in actual membership of some lodge or lodges are invited to attend " whether they sympathise or not with the Grand Lodge idea . " An abstract resolution in favour of the union of the lodges holding under the several Constitutions will be proposed , seconded , and discussed ; and in the event of its being carried , a series of resolutions

will be submitted as a " basis of union . " These resolutions are as follow : " I . The United Grand Lodge of South Africa shall , until it has framed its own Constitutions , be governed by the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge

of England , so far as applicable . " 2 . All Present and Past District or Provincial Grand , or Grand Officers , shall receive Past rank in the new Constitution corresponding to that to which they would be entitled in their own .

" 3 . At the earliest possible period , the new Grand Lodge shall divide i . s jurisdiction into at least six Districts or Provinces , with District or Provincial Grand Lodges possessing similar powers to those held by the corresponding bodies in England and Scotland . " 4 . The Grand Lodge shall be peripatetic and shall not meet in any one District on two consecutive occasions .

" 5 . At the earliest possible opportunity after the formation of Districts , Grand Lodge shall constitute itself on a representative basis , the said Districts being the electoral units . " 6 . All Lodges which shall have been in existence for five years previous lo the Union shall be allowed to continue whatever ritual they may be

practising at the time of thc Union , notwithstanding the future adoption of any uniform ritual by Grand Lodge . This reservation shall not , however , necessarily entitle them to the wearing of any other clothing than that adopted by Grand Lodge , or to the appointment of any officers other than those provided for by the Constitutions of Grand Lodge .

" 7 . It shall be clearly understood that no United Grand Lodge shall be proclaimed until at least three-fourths of the Lodges working within its proposed jurisdiction shall have given in their adhesion to the movement , the opinion of each Lodge being taken to be that of a majority of its subscribing members .

8 . In the event of a Grand Lodge being lawfully proclaimed , such Lod ges as may elect to adhere to their old charter shall be accorded the utmost fraternal recognition , provided always that their Grand Lodges

^ cognise the South African Grand Lodge . " 9 . For all purposes connected with the Grand Lodge , Past Masters of "ie Dutch Constitution shall be held to have the same status as those of Scotland and England .

10 . All lodges joining the United Grand Lodge shall be numbered according to the dates of their original Warrants . " hi the event of the foregoing resolutions being adopted , with or without amendment or addition , we are told the promoters of the contemplated Union will regard them as the basis on which they will rest their appeal

¦ or support to the Craft generally ; and , in order to carry out the scheme as convenientl y as possible , a strong Committee will be formed with branches ' different localities , which , when it has obtained sufficient support , will be called together for the purpose of framing a final " Basis of Union " upon which the new body will be proclaimed . On the other hand , if the meeting

"Klines to accept " the principle of a Grand Lodge , " the promoters of the ^ neme reserve to themselves full liberty to take such steps as they may "ink proper in order to further their views and secure , if possible , the j u bmate acceptance of their project . j . " ere , then , we have before us the method of procedure which those in avo » r of establishing a Grand Lodge for South Africa are prepared to " . and , it is needless to say , we are awaiting with more than ordinary

The Grand Lodge Movement In South Africa.

interest the reports which will disclose to us the reception which " the principle of a Grand Lodge " experienced at the meeting in Kimberley last month . On this point our curiosity will soon be gratified , but whether the project is adopted or rejected , or postponed till a more convenient season , it is a satisfaction to us to know that our South African brethren have been ,

and will continue to be , deliberate and circumspect in their movements . It is evident the promoters have no intention of forcing their scheme to an issue , or of establishing a Grand Lodge , unless the general opinion of the Craft is strongly in its favour . The 7 th resolution distinctly provides that " no United Grand Lodge shall be proclaimed until at least three-fourths of the

lodges working with its proposed jusisdiction shall have given in their adhesion to the movement , " while it is contemplated that the work ofthe Committee and its subordinate branches which will be formed , if the meeting at . Kimberley has taken kindly to the principle , " will take some time , perhaps years , " ere the promoters consider the support they have obtained will

be such as to justify them in formulating a " final * Basis of Union . "' They appreciate the maxium— " Festina lente , " which we commended to their notice in a former article on the same subject . They recognise that in movements of this character Time is invariably on the side of those who exercise patience and forbearance . They have faith in the

scheme they are desirous of promoting , but if they arc beaten in their first attempt to carry it , they have not the slightest idea of accepting such defeat as final . On the contrary , they have publicly announced their intention of prosecuting their endeavours to bring about a Union of the several Masonie Constitutions in South Africa . But it is not their intention to adopt force ,

or any other objectionable , but less violent , method in order to ensure that union of hearts and interests which they hold to be desirable . In short , they have approached this question precisely in the spirit by which our South Australian brethren were actuated when , a few years since , it occurred

to them that a Grand Lodge of South Australia was the one thing needed in order to give stability and permanency to the Craft in that Colony ; and whatever the upshot of their endeavours may be , we cannot refrain from expressing our admiration for the prudence and circumspection they have determined to exercise .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

CONSECRATION OF THE LODGE OF RESEARCH , No . 2429 . The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , Halford-street , Leicester , on Thursday , the 26 th ult . There was a very large attendance both of Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers , and also of members of thc various lodges in thc province . This is to be accounted for by the fact that a new lodge , the Lodge of Research , was to be consecrated at thc close of Provincial Grand Lodge business . Bro . the Right Hon . Earl Ferrers , Prov . G . M ., presided , and was supported by all his officers .

Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , the brethren saluted the Provincial Grand Master with the honours due to his rank . Thc Provincial Grand Master first invesled Bro . E . Holmes , W . M . 279 , as Prov . Grand Secretary , in the room of Bro . the Rev . C . Henton Wood , M . A ., P . P . S . G . W ., who had resigned the office after holding it for eight years , and who was unavoidably absent .

The roll of lodges was called over , and 142 brethren , representing the 12 lodges already existing in the province and the founders of two new lodges , were found to be present . The report of the Committee of General Purposes , read by the PROV . GRAND SECRETARY , showed that warrants for two new lodges had been issued by his Royal Highness the M . W . Grand Master , thus increasing the

roll of lodges in the province to 14 . Mention was made of the resignation of Bro . C . Henton Wood , M . A ., the late Prov . Grand Secretary . The practice by some lodge Secretaries of sending out summones in unfastened envelopes was greatly reprehended . The obituary , which closes the report , is a long one , and contains the names of many brethren held in high esteem in the province . The Prov . Grand Registrar ' s report read by Bro . W . M . WILLIAMS ,

P . M . 279 , Prov . G . Registrar , showed that the lodges in the province were in a healthy state , both numerically and financially . The report stated that in some cases the minute books of the various lodges had been faultlessly kept ; but others showed that the minutes had been entered up from memory . It was suggested that a rough minute book should be kept in

which the lodge business might be put down in the order of its occurrence instead of on scraps of paper which are liable to go astray ; and further that all propositions should be handed to the Secretary in writing , as it too frequently happens that the proposition in the minute book is the creation of the Secretary rather than the brother responsible for it . Stress was laid upon the desirability of each lodge having the services of an experienced brother , well versed in the laws of the Order as permanent . Secretary .