Grand Masonic Function In Queensland.

GRAND MASONIC FUNCTION IN QUEENSLAND .

Towards the end of last October , the City of Brisbane , capital of the l , ii - i'e and important Colony of Queensland , was the scene of a Masonic function such as few , if any , of the brethren in that rising district of Australasia have ever been privileged to witness , unless , indeed , they had the good fortune to be present at the installation cither of Bro . Lord

C ARRINGTON , as the first Grand Master of tne I nited Grand Lodge of New South Wales , or of Bro . Sir VV . J . CLARKE , Bart ., as the first Grand Master of Victoria . On these auspicious occasions there were gathered together in Sy dney and Melbourne , the respective capitals of the two Colonies , some four thousand brethren , and in point of solemnity and grandeur , the scene at

either ceremony can only have been surpassed by that which took place in the Royal Albert Hall , South Kensington , on the day his Royal Highness was installed as M . YV . Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England . Oueensland , however , is a more recently-established home of Freemasonry than the other Australasian Colonies we have mentioned , and

though the Craft within its borders is well set and fairly prosperous , it could not hope to vie with its elder sister-Colonies in that numerical strength which adds so greatly to the impressiveness of our Masonic ceremonials . But it did well nevertheless . Nearly 700 Masons assembled together for the purpose of taking part in the installation of one of them in the exalted

office of Provincial Grand Master , while the mere lack of numbers was amply atoned for by the earnestness and enthusiasm which characterised the proceedings . We have said the occasion on which this grand meeting was held was the installation of a new Provincial Grand Master . A short while previous ,

Bro . the Hon . THEODORE O . UN . MACK re-igncd his post of P . G . Master under the Irish Constitution , and our Irish brethren at once formulated a request to Bro . the Duke of ABBRCORN , Grand Master of Ireland , that he would be pleased to appoint Bro . Sir SAMUEL GRIFFITH , the Chief Justice of the Colony , to the vacant office . The request was acceded to , and no

sooner had the patent of appointment arrived in the Colony , than steps were taken for the installation of that distinguished brother . Invitations were issued to about a thousand brethren , belonging indiscriminately to the Irish , English , and Scottish Constitutions , while endeavours were made to secure the services of- some eminent Australasian brother as the Installing

Master . In these . efforts our Queensland brethren were unfortunately unsuccessful , Bro . the Hon . Chief Justice WAY , Pro Grand Master of South Australia , being prevented by his official duties from leaving home , while Bro . Dr . TARRANT , Pro G . M . of New South Wales , though he accepted the invitation , found himself at the last moment prevented

by the sickness unto death of an old friend from fulfilling his engagement . I ndcr these circumstances Oueensland had nothing to do but to fall back upon its own resources , and the ceremony was performed by the retiring P . G . M ., Bro . I ' . VMACK . He , however—and the statement must be held to be used in more than a mere conventional sense—appears to have fulfilled

his duty with great tact and ability , and amid a display of enthusiasm , which speaks well for the heartiness of Queensland Masonry , the Provincial Grand Lodge ( I . C . ) being , as a matter of course , very numerously represented b y its Present and Past-Officers , while the District and Acting District Grand M . isters under the English and Scottish Constitutions , Bro . the Hon . A . C .

GitF . GoRY , C . M . G ., and Bro . THOS . MYLNE respectively , were present , each at the head of a large following of Present and Past District Grand Officers . In the course of his address , the Installing Master congratulated his Irish brethren " on the happy choice that had been made of Prov . G . Master on the occasion . " "When , " said he , " they looked at the sterling character , the

honourable conduct , the industry and zeal of the Right Worshipful Grand -Master , when they looked at the numerous hig h and important , in fact , the lii ghest and most important positions , which he had filled so creditably that even her Most Gracious Majesty the OUEE . V had thought fit to bestow upon him a particular mark of honour , when they looked upon all these points

they could only congratulate themselves that they had been favoured with the selection of a Provincial Grand Master who occupied such a high position ; they cuild but come to the one conclusion that he above all others would be of the greatest assistance in developing Masonry and bringing it t' » the greatest state of perfection that it had ever attained in the Colony . ''

Subsequentl y Bro . U . VMACK referred to the past and present condition and future prospects of the Craft in Oueensland in the following terms : '' Although they were at the present time , and had for many years past been , working under three different forms of government in this Colony Masonically—formally they were called three different Constitutions—it must be admitted , and it was admitted , that during all the years these three

Grand Masonic Function In Queensland.

Constitutions had been working side by side the utmost harmony , good feeling' , and fraternal love had existed among their members . ff any further proof were wanted they had it in the attendance of brethren of the three Constitutions that evening . Speaking as a brother Mason and as the head of the Irish Constitution in Queensland , he would be wanting

in his duty and in loyalty to the Grand Lodge of Ireland were he on this occasion to omit in pressing it on his ( the Provincial Grand Master ' s ) mind that the Grand Lodge of Ireland some time ago , when corresponding with the Provincial Grand Lodge of Queensland , emphasised their wish that at no distant date Oueensland Masons would follow

the good example set by the other Colonies and New Zealand (?) in establishing her independence . The Grand Lodge of Ireland had been good enough to express such a desire , and had , presuming , of course , that every step taken would have been lawfully taken , cheerfully volunteered the information that it would be ready to grant Masonic independence to the

Irish Masons in Queensland when applied for and render them any assistance in its power . " Whether it was altogether wise to refer on such an occasion and in such a presence as this to a subject on which differences of opinion among the brethren in attendance may have existed is a matter on which we offer no remark . But the newly-installed P . G . M ., as he could not

quite ignore a subject which had been so pointedl y introduced into his address by his predecessor was nevertheless far more guarded in what he said . After referring to the recent amalgamation of the three Constitutions in certain of the Australasian Colonies and elsewhere , Bro . Sir S . GRIFFITH said : " Whether it would take place in Oueensland

sooner or later or not at all , would practically be of little importance . Whether they belonged to one Constitution or another they would always work together in harmony and would always be glad to work with one another . " Such a remark as this was amply justified b y the past history of the Craft in the Colony , and so long as this state continues it does

not matter much if the brethren are ranged under three Constitutions or one . Moreover , if in the progress of this harmony , theleeling should arise that the better policy , the one more conducive to the interests of FYeemasonry as a whole , will be for the formation of the three Constitutions into one independent Grand Lodge , we dare say the three Grand Lodges of the United Kingdom

will be equally ready to accept the change , and will each of them do their utmost to promote the welfare of the new organisation . This , however , will depend on the point mentioned by Bro . UxMACK . that is , as to whether or not " every step taken would be lawfully taken ? " By this we mean not that the stupid dictum about ths regulation " three or more " lodges taking part in

the movement should be observed , but that the desire for such a change of organisation should be practically unanimous among' the lodges and brethren of the three Constitutions . When that comes to pass , Queensland , like its

neighbour Australasian Colonies , will have its independent Grand Lodge , and we , as the organ of Knglish Masonic opinion , shall be among the first to offer the new bod } ' our heart ) ' congratulations on its establishment , and our sinccrest good wishes for the promotion and extension of its prosperity .

As for the rest , the proceedings were shortly afterwards completed and concluded , and Provincial Grand Lodge having been closed , the brethren celebrated the event with a banquet , at which the newly-installed Provincial Grand Master presided , and about one-half of those who had attended

Provincial Grand Lodge sat down . Here , again , the most complete harmony prevailed , the function having been marked throughout b y a success on which we gladly take this opportunity of congratulating o . ir Queensland brethren . May it not be the last eventful day in the annals of the Craft in this important Colony !

The Traditions And Symbolisms Of The Mark Degree.

THE TRADITIONS AND SYMBOLISMS OF THE MARK DEGREE .

The following paper , by Bro . ludor Irevor , P . M . 12 , Past Prov . Grand Secretary , was read at the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of West Yorkshire , held at Huddersfield , in October last : Right Worship ful Provincial Grand Master and Brethren , — My object in addressing you on the present occasion is not , I am

glad to say , to lift , or even discuss , any portion of that vast mythical and mystical cloud which hangs around the origin of Freemasonry—a subject which has formed volumes of controversy , but rather , on my last appearance

in this Provincial Grand Lodge as your Secretary , to use my best endeavours , as far as my limited knowledge and resources will enable me , to stimulate a greater interest in Mark Masonry , feeling sure that the more it is studied , the more anxious shall we be to promote its welfare and extend