Chinese Masonry.

appointed as ambassadors to some foreign Court in order to get them out of the way . Chin Lin Pan , the first Minister to the United States , was one of these , and if the truth were known I would not be surprised if every Minister since was a Chinese Mason or a member of the Che Kung Tong , as the Society is called . You will gain some idea of the strength of this organisation when I inform you that the great Tae Ping rebellion of ' 57 was

brought about by its leaders and fought by its soldiers . The famous armies known as the Black Flags and Yellow Flags , which performed such bloody work in Tonquin during the recent war with France , were also composed entirely of the members of the Che Kung Tong , and led by its officers . The headquarters of the Order are in the district of Quong-Ton , or Canton , as it is known to us . It is from there the edicts are sent which so vitally affect the policy

of the Chinese Government , and which in time may overturn the throne and establish a new dynasty . The cue worn to-day by the Chinese people is a symbol of their bondage to the Mongolian Emperor , and is . a constant reminder to them of their subjection . The rites of the Society ? Yes , I know something of them , though there are so many , and in such infinite variety that my knowledge of them is necessarily limited . There are thirty-three oaths to be

taken , and regular cast-iron ones , too , before an applicant can become a fully constituted member of the Society . He can , however , withdraw before taking the last oath , providing he promise eternal secrecy about what he had previously seen and heard of the ritual . If this agreement should be violated , or a member of the Order should in any way disgrace himself in the eyes of his brothers , punishment swift and terrible is meted out to

him . In China it is death , but in this country that is impossible , though they all go through the formula of an execution without the final culmination . The accused is always allowed a trial , but is seldom acquitted . The wise men and patriarchs of the Order assemble together upon that occasion in some one of their Joss houses , and there the accused and accusers are brought before them . The latter step forward first and , prostrating themselves upon

the floor at the feet of the oldest of the wise men , they present their charges . The accused then prostrates himself and places the foot of the wise man upon his neck as a sign of submission . After this he tells his version of the story , still flat upon his stomach on the floor . When this is over the head man announces his decision in a long and impressive speech , which is interrupted at the end of every sentence by the others prostrating themselves and uttering

words of assent . The judge next claps his hands and in comes the executioner with a long sword and wooden bowl , the latter being for the purpose of catching the blood that is not spilled . Going up to the condemned man , who is still lying face downward upon the floor , the executioner raises him to his knees and bares his neck for the fatal blow . "Three times the sword is raised and brought down

with terrific force until within half an inch of the kneeling man ' s neck , where it stops . This concludes the ceremonies , but the victim ' s punishment is not yet over , if he happens to be so fortunate as to live in this country . Great placards announcing his disgrace are posted on all the dead walls throughout the Chinese quarter , and as soon as the news becomes known the guilty man is completely ostracised , by his old associates , and , in fact , by all the society . He can get no work from his own people , and if he goes into

business for himself he will get no customers . His lot then is hard indeed , and according to our views his punishment is greater than his crime . Of the three who have been so served in the United States , one committed suicide , another is insane , and the third is a fugitive murderer , who took to a life of crime after his disgrace , and went from bad to worse . Where he is now no one knows . " But there , that is enough for this time . Come again some other day when I am at leisure , and I will tell you another story . "

A General Benevolent Fund For New Zealand.

A GENERAL BENEVOLENT FUND FOR NEW ZEALAND .

Again we make an effort to stimulate our brethren to united action for the institution of a Masonic General Benevolent Fund for this Colony , and , if anything were needed in addition to the repeated applications of poor widows and distressed brethren fcr relief , of late , in support of our assertions respecting the necessity for the adoption of this

course , it has certainly been supplied by the deplorable loss of life in Australasian waters , the sad events being intensified by the terrific eruptions in the Auckland province . Scores of widows and orphans have , within the last year , been left unprovided for , while depression in trade has proved the means of drawing poor but respectable families into a state of destitution . To these facts our brethren cannot close their eyes—the

appeals of the unemployed have been heard in every large centre in this Colony , and there is no doubt that many poor persons—too proud to make known their destitution—are dragging out a most wretched existence . And while our fellow-creatures are suffering the pangs of hunger—while poor little orphans cannot obtain sufficient clothing and nourishment to shield and strengthen their attenuated frames against the winter's chilling blasts , much parade is

being made in some quarters of the glorious principles of Masonry . We do not say that any brother would willingly permit a poor widow or orphan to experience the pangs of hunger ; we do not contend that our brethren are actually responsible for all the suffering that exists at the present time in this Colony ; but we may assert , without fear of justifiable contradiction , that the institution of a General Benevolent Fund would be the means of aiding materially

in lessening the deplorable amount of want now being endured by helpless people in many places in these islands . Shall it be said , then , that the sin of omission is to remain a charge against the New Zealand Masonic body , when united action on the part of our brethren would speedily wipe out the stigma ? Will not influential brethren adopt the suggestions repeatedly made by us for the institution of a General Benevolent Fund ? Brethren , do you desire

to draw into your fold more men of refinement and kindly feeling ? If so , you have only to unite in carrying out the good work we advocate the adoption of , and your lodges would very soon become attractive to worthy men , and worthy men alone , while many more poor widows and orphans could not but have cause to bless the Fraternity that has for its guidance the glorious principles of " Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . " —New Zealand Freemason .

Coloured Masonry.

COLOURED MASONRY .

Grand Master Clark , of ; the ( Coloured ) Grand Lodge of Ohio , concludes an address entitled " The Negro Mason in Equity , " with the following appeal for recognition to the white Grand Lodges of America and other countries : But this is why we demand it : We have always been taught that Masonry is universal in its character ; that neither creed debar from entrance

race nor can one an therein ; that the beggar and the prince are alike equals within its closely tiled doors , and that its " central idea is the 'brotherhood of man because of the Fatherhood of God . '" Because of all these things ; because we desire that the stigma of hypocrisy , deceit , and injustice shall be for ever blotted out ; because we desire that our ancient

and noble and grand Institution shall have a name honoured of all men and of all nations , in all countries and in all climes , of all creeds and of all faiths ; and because we desire that our Institution shall be as beauteous and glorious as the noonday sun at meridian height , darting its rays to the north and the south , to the east and the west , bathing all humanity in a glorious flood of the sunshine of

peace and goodwill , is why we demand that you bury your prejudices and prove yourselves Masons indeed . We have nothing to gain in your legal recognition of us as Masons ; the gain is all for you and the Institution of Freemasonry . That we are just and legal Masons is so well established that it is now beyond the power 0 ? man to controvert it . For more than one hundred

years we have existed as Free and Accepted Masons ; we have now commenced the second century of our existence as such ; from the lowest round of humility we have climbed far up the ladder of fame ; from the small beginning of fifteen black men , scoffed at , sneered at , insulted , and ridiculed , we have grown to grand proportions , until

to-day we command the respect of Masons in all parts of the world ; what we are to-day has been accomplished by our own exertions , isolated and rejected as we have been ; if , by own exertions alone , we must build our second century , we will make it more illustrious than the first ; we will proudly hold aloft our heads , and courageously fighting our battles , we will neither give nor ask quarter . —Masonic Token .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

GRAND COMMANDERY OF MINNESOTA . The twenty-first Annual Conclave of this Grand Commandery was held in Ovvatonna , on Thursday , the 24 th June last . Sir Knt . W . D . Cornish presided , and there was a good attendance , all thecommanderiesin the jurisdiction , but two , being represented . In the course of the proceedings , which were chiefly of local interest , the following were

invested as Grand Officers for the ensuing year , namely Sir Knts . H . Birkett , G . C . ; Thomas Montgomery , D . G . C . ; Thomas Fee , G . G . ; J . A . Schlencr , G . C . G . ; P . P . Hubbell , G . Prelate ; C . A . Hubbard , G . S . W . ; C . L . Spauldiner , G . I . VV . ; J . G . McFarland , G . Treas . ;

A . T . C . Pierson , G . Recorder ; A . Z . Levering , G . Std . Br . ; C V . Ferguson , G . Swd . Br . ; and M . E . Powell , G . W . The members of Cyrene Commandery , under whose auspices the meeting was held , hospitably entertained the visiting sir knights . Lake City was chosen for the next annual conclave .

GRAND COMMANDERY OF VERMONT . There was a full attendance of Grand Officers , representatives of subordinate ' conclaves . and visiting sir knights at the forty-fourth Annual Conclave of theGrandCommandery of Vermont , held in the City of Burlington , under the auspices of Burlington Commandery , No . 2 , on Tuesday , the Sth June last , Sir . Knt . Thad M . Chapman being in the

chair . Grand Conclave having been opened , it was announced that Sir Knt . Charles E . Roome , acting Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of the United States was in attendance , and a deputation was thereupon appointed to introduce that distinguished frater into the assembly , and Sir Knt . Roome having been accorded the honours due to his rank , returned thanks for the cordiality

of his reception . Business was then proceeded with . The Grand Commander delivered his annual address , and the reports of the Grand Treasurer and Grand Recorder were submitted , and referred to the proper Committees . The following were installed in office by Sir Knt . Roome , assisted by Sir Knt . George O . Tyler , Past G . Commander ,

as Grand Marshal , viz .: Sir Knts . George W . Wing , G . C ; D . M . Bacon , D . G . C . ; C . J . Jones , G . G . ; W . F . Lewis , G . C . G . ; Rev . F . S . Fisher , G . Prelate ; Chas . E . Campbell , G . S . W . ; John R . Pilling , G . J . W . ; Frank H . Bascom , G . Treasurer ; Warren G . Reynolds , G . Recorder ; G . H . Kinsley , G . Std . Br . ; K . Hyskins , G . Swd . Br . ; George W . Spiners , G . C . of G . ; and Martin C Healey , G . W .

GRAND LODGE OF VERMONT . This Grand Body held its annual meeting under the banner of Burlington Lodge , No . 3 , on Wednesday , the 9 th June , Bro . Marsh O . Perkins , M . W . G . M ., being on the throne . The Grand Master in his address referred to the difference between Quebec and England , and endorsed the conduct of the former Grand Lodge , while later in the

course of the proceedings , Bro . J . F . Walker , M . W . G . M . of Quebec , was introduced , and met with a most enthusiastic reception , his speech , in acknowledgment of the welcome , being loudly applauded . It was also resolved by the Committee on Foreign correspondence that unless the differences between Quebec and England were adjusted by the 1 st lulv—now

past—an edict of non-intercourse between Vermont and England should be issued . This will have very little weight with the Grand Lodge of the latter country , f he so-called Grand Lodge of New South Wales was not recognised . The following are the Grand Officers for the year , namely : Bros . M . O . Perkins , M . W . G . M . ; Alfred H . Hall , D . G . M . ; D . M . Bacon , G . S . W . ; George W . Wing ,

G . J . W . ; J . A . Butler , G . Treas . ; L . M . Read , G . Sec . ; J . H . Whipple , G . S . D . ; W . J . Sperry , G . J . D . ; M . W , Johnson , G . Lecturer ; Rev . Edwin Whulcock , G . Chap . ; Rev . F . S . Fisher , Assist . G . Chap . ; H . G . Sheldon , G . Marshal ; J . H . Thorp , G . Purst . ; E . S . Leonard , G . Swd . Br . ; D . C . Barber and G . F . Morse , G . Stwds . ; and A . T . Taft , G . Tyler . The communication was brought to a close on the evening of the 10 th June .

The Craft Abroad.

GRAND CHAPTER OF VERMONT . M . E . Comp . Killridge Haskins , G . H . P ., presided at the Cgth annual convocation of the Grand R . A . Chapter of Vermont , held under the banner of Burlington Chapter , No . 3 , on the 1 tth June last . There was a large attendance , among the visitors being M . E . Comp . H . L . Robinson , G . Z . of the Grand Chapter of Quebec , who was loudly cheered

on being introduced to the meeting . Comp . Haskins ' s annual address was very well received , and the reports of the Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary , which were very satisfactory , were dealt with in the usual manner . The Finance report showed a balance in hand of 1200 dollars . The following are the Grand Officers for the year , viz .: Comps . K . Haskins , G . H . P . ; Marsh O . Perkins , D . G . H . P . ; G . H . Kinsley , G . K . ; George \ V .

Wing , G . Scribe ; John A . Butler , G . Treas . ; W . H . S . Whitcomb , G . Sec . ; E . O . Hibbard , G . Capt . of H . ; S . Terrill , G . Prov . Soj . ; Frank H . Bascom , G . R . A . Capt . ; F . W . Taylor , G . M ., 3 rd V . ; M . J . Horton , G . M ., 2 nd V . ; Warron R . Dunton , G . M ., 1 st V . ; Rev . F . S . Fisher , Assist . G . Chap . ; L . C . Parkhurst , G . L . ; G . F . Morse , G . Stwd . ; A . McGaffey , G . Sent . ; E . B . Nue , G . Marshal ; and Emorv Town , G . Tyler .

GRAND LODGE OF NEBRASKA . The annual communication of this Grand Lodge was held in the Masonic Hall , Omaha , on Wednesday , the 16 th June last , under the presidency of Bro . M . B . Reese , M . W . G . M . The attendance was large , and the proceedings were of more than usual interest , the dedication of a new room in the Hall and the laying of a corner stone for

a Chamber of Commerce for the city being the most noteworthy . The former measures 50 ft . by 65 ft ., with an inside height of 20 ft ., and a gallery all round , with a banquet room 30 ft . by 50 ft ., a fire-proof chamber for the library , and a fire-proof vault to serve as a repository for valuable papers , records , & c . The Grand Master ' s address related principally to matters of local interest , among his

most important recommendations being ( 1 ) that Sooo dollars , out of the 12 , 000 dollars in the hands of Grand Treasurer , should be distributed among the lodges in proportion to their numerical strength , the money being of no good to anyone where it is ; and ( 2 ) that a custodian , who should give security to the amount of 30 , 000 dollars , should be appointed for the Orphan Educational Fund , of close on 16 , 000 dollars . The Grand Secretary ' s report showed

there were 150 lodges with a total membership of about 7000 brethren . The following are the Grand Officers for the year , viz .: Bros . C . K . Coutant , M . W . G . M . ; M . J , Hall , D . G . M . ; George B . Prance , G . S . W . ; John j . Mercer , G . J . W . ; Christian Hartman , G . Treas . ; Wm . R . Bowan , G . Sec . ; the Rev . Burgess , G . Chap . ; W . H , Munger , G . Orator ; E . A . Cosley , G . S . D . ; and W . J . Mount , G . Tyler .

GRAND LODGE OF OREGON . The following brethren were invested as Grand Officers for the ensuing year at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge held in Portland , Oregon , on the 16 th June last , namely : Bros . James Crowin Fullerton , M . W . G . M . ; A . Nastung , D . G . M . ; Brenhan Van Dusen , G . S . W . ; T ^ . 17 pnt .: ^ r * 1 \\ T . I- * -- r « 111 .. 1 . '—1 r \ t" 1 Lxuuiiiauu / \ muiciuuci \

, |» M * , VJ . J . VV ., JLau * ^» ^ , J . Treas . ; F . J . Babcock , G . Sec ; Rev . J . R . N . Bell , G . Chap . ; J . C . Moreland , G . Or . ; J . A . Richardson , G . Marshal ; J . E . Bean , G . S . D . ; W . P . Condeway , G . J . D . ; N . S . Roney , G . Std . Br . ; H . C Hill , G . Swd . Br . ; H . E . Harris and John S . Vaughan , G . Stwds . ; G . VV . Percy , G . Org . ; and Gustaf Wilson , G . Tyler .

DISTRICT G . LODGE OF NATAL , SOUTH AFRICA . At the seventh half-yearly Communication of this D . G . Lodge , held at Addington , towards the close of last March , the D . G . Treasurer ' s account for the past year disclosed a very satisfactory state of things . 'The balance from the previous year's accounts was close on £ 42 , and the receipts oyer £ 140 , making a total income of nearly £ 183 . The disbursements were not much in excess of £ 113 , and the

balance remaining in hand at the close of the account exactly £ 6 g 12 s . The following are the new officers for the year ensuing : Bros . R . J . Fennimore , D . G . M . ; Wesley Francis , D . D . G . M . ; T . J . Hill , D . G . S . W . ; B . Ireland , D . G . J . W . ; Rev . A . Ikin and Ven . Archdeacon Colley , D . G . Chaps . ; S . Marriott , D . G . Treas . ( elected ); E . H . Wiltshier , D . G . Reg . ; [ . Crowe , D . Pres . D . B . of G . Purps . ; S . Hollick , D . G . Sec . '; VV . Sink , D . G . S . D .:

T . Cook , D . G . J . D . ; R . Willis , D . G . S . of VV . ; James Cottam , D . G . D . C ; W . A . Smith , D . G . A . D . C ; J . Wrighton , D . G . Swd . Br . ; W . H . Kinsman and M . H . Emanuel , D . G . Std . Brs . ; G . Pullock , D . G . Org . ; G . Leask , D . G . A . Sec . ; VV . F . Stanton , D . G . Purst . ; and J . H . Isaac , D . G . A . Purst .

MESSRS . M . C . DUFFY & SON'S WOOD BLOCK FLOORING . We have much pleasure in calling attention to the system , recently patented by Messrs . M . C . Duffy and Son , of Bermondsey , of their perfectly "Immovable Acme" Solid Wood Block Flooring , and the success it has achieved , not only over the old-fashioned boarded flooring , but

over the other block floorings which have been patented by other inventors . The great merit of Messrs . Duffy's system is that each block is firmly united with the adjoining ones by means of "dowel pins or plugs , " inserted at the ends and sides , in such a manner that it is firmly held and becomes practicably immovable . In the next place the strength , solidity , and "immovability "

of the block flooring thus obtained is further increased by the "foundational binding blocks , " which are built into the concrete and cement substratum at intervals , and to which the super-imposed flooring blocks or "briquets" are firmly secured . By this arrangement the disruption or upheaval of a floor thus constructed becomes an impossibility . From a sanitary point of view this invention is sure to prove most

valuable , as the solidity of the flooring and its freedom from interstices w-ill prevent the penetration of moisture and the accumulation of foul air or vermin . For this reason wc can recommend it to the notice of our readers , who will be better able to judge of its character by inspecting the

flooring laid on this system at the Great Eastern railway company ' s station at Stratford , also the London and Provincial Bank of England , Aldersgatc-street . We may menlion also in confirmation of what wc have said , that the inventors were awarded three gold medals , one silver medal , and one bronze medal at the International Exhibitions in 1 SS 5 for their patent . J