The Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumberland.

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTHUMBERLAND .

The proceedings at the recent annual meeting , at Hexham , of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland appear , from our report of last week , to have been in all respects of a most gratify ing character , and Bro . Sir M . WHITE RIDLEY , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . M ., who presided in person , must have been more than

p leased by the reception he met with , and the flourishing condition of the lodges under his authority , as disclosed by the various reports and particulars which were submitted to the brethren for their consideration and approval . As regards mere numerical strength , Northumberland is by no means as strong as some other

counties of about the same population and industrial importance , the number of its lodges at the beginning of the current year being only 22 , of which one-half are located in the city of Newcastle ; nor with the exception of its senior lodge—the Newcastleon-Tyne , NQ . 24 , which was warranted by the " Antients" in

1752-3—can it boast of any lodges of earlier constitution than the year 1828 . Its brethren , however , perform their appointed duties with exemplary zeal and ability , the condition of their lodges is as prosperous , in proportion to their means and numbers , as could well be desired , while from time to time we

read of the province as a whole playing a very conspicuous part at the festival of one or other of our great Masonic Institutions , and generously helping by its contributions to provide the necessary funds for its maintenance and support . That the province should be in so flourishing a condition is not surprising . Its interests were well cared for under the late Bro . the Rev . E . C .

OGLE , who was Provincial Grand Master from 18 4 8 till 186 9 , and under whose auspices the roll of lodges was increased from six to eleven . Under Bro . Earl PERCY , who presided as Provincial Grand Master from 186 9 to 1886 , there was a further increase from 11 to 21 lodges , and under the present ruler , Bro . Sir M .

W . RIDLEY , one lodge—the Ridley , No . 2260—was consecrated at Newcastle last year , while the charter for a second lodge , to be located at North Shields , has already been granted , and when that has been duly constituted the province will muster 23 lodges . Thus at the recent meeting the Provincial

Grand Master had nothing but congratulations to offer to the brethren , who had assembled in considerable force , as well as to the Albert Edward Lodge , No . 1557 , which had left no stone unturned in order to give a right hearty and loyal welcome to its ruler and his officers . Moreover , the proceedings included a

procession to the Abbey Church , which , as Bro . Sir M . W . RIDLEY pointed out , is " one of the most interesting specimens of mediaeval church architecture in Northumberland , and possibly in the United Kingdom , " and as the service was admirably rendered , and the weather was beautifully fine , the brethren had every reason

to be pleased . The appointments to Prov . Grand Office for the new year were likewise favourably received , and the banquet in the Corn Exchange , when the business of the day hacl been disposed of , harmonising as it did in tone and character with what had gone before , formed a fitting conclusion to one of the

Wost successful gatherings which has taken place in this Province . We heartil y congratulate the Provincial Grand Master and all concerned on their recent communication , and trust that in future pars the annual gatherings of our Northumbrian brethren may : > e a'ways attended by circumstances equally pleasant and equally worth y of being remembered .

The New Zealand Question.

THE NEW ZEALAND QUESTION .

We have already examined , categorically , the principal e asons which have been urged by New Zealand brethren in ay our of establishing a United Grand Lodge for that colony , , ' vve have shown that the evils or hardships they allege to be Ue to the present system of concurrent jurisdiction as exercised y the Grand Lodge of the United Kingdom are either greatly T Xa ggerated , or exist in the imagination rather than in fact .

eed , the more narrowly we inquire into these reasons the . 0 r e convinced are we of their fallacy or exaggeration . Thus , , the forefront of the list of grievances , for which the svstem concurrent jurisdiction by the Grand Lodges of England ,

The New Zealand Question.

Ireland , and Scotland is alleged to be responsible , are the " disadvantages of being governed from a distance instead of by a local governing body . " As regards all the matters which now involve correspondence with the home authorities , we admit that a local Grand Lodge would be able to settle them more promptly than

under the present plan , though , even in this case , owing to the facilities which exist for rapid communication between the colonies and the mother country , we are inclined to think the advantages are over-estimated . But we have very grave doubts as to whether the local Grand Lodge would be more " fully acquainted with all the circumstances of each case brought before it for

decision , and could deal more intelligently" with such matters than the District and Provincial Grand Lodges , which now administer the affairs of the brethren in New Zealand , and which , in all matters essentially affecting their welfare , are practically independent . It is true that under the Book of Constitutions , an appeal lies to the home authorities in cases where a brother considers

himself aggrieved by the decision of the local governing body , but with all due deference- to the brethren who are exerting themselves for the establishment of a United Grand Lodge , this appears to us to be an advantage rather than a disadvantage , especially in cases where local feeling runs high , and an unbiased

judgment becomes difficult , if not impossible . Those who are clamouring so loudly for Masonic " Home Rule " in New Zealand , appear to forget that , as matters stand now , the District or Provincial authorities are practically independent of the home authorities , and that whatever the former see fit to recommend

is acquiesced in almost as a matter of course by the latter ; while as regards the interior management of their affairs , the occasions are singularly rare in which a reference to the Supreme power becomes necessary . It seems to us , indeed , that an English District Grand Lodge has all the advantages of being independent without the accompanying responsibilities .

Again , it is said that in the amalgamation of the three Constitutions and the substitution of a local United Grand Lodge for the present concurrent jurisdiction " lies the only hope of stimulating and fully carrying into effect the Charity of the Craft , " A more

unfortunate asseveration—for those who make it—can hardly be imagined . We are aware that a somewhat similar reason has been cited on many previous occasions in favour of the present movement for establishing a Grand Lodge of New Zealand . We believe also it has been claimed for our District Grand

Lodges that the large sums they are required to remit home have prevented them taking anything like effective steps for establishing local Charity Funds . However , it has been over and over again demonstrated—and by colonial Masons themselves , more frequently than by English , Irish , or Scotch brethren—that the

sums thus remitted are by no means excessive ; that they consist only of fees for warrants and registrations ; and that , whether great or small , they secure to our colonial brethren , or such of them , at all events , as are under the English Constitutions—the same rights and privileges in connection with our Fund of

Benevolence , our Schools , and our Benevolent Institution , as are enjoyed by the brethren at home . But the most effective weapon for demonstrating the weakness of this argument in favour of a local Grand Lodge will be found in the tabular statements compiled and published by the very Committee which is moving

heaven and earth to bring about the separation , Masonically , of New Zealand from the United Kingdom . Assuming the figures supplied us by this Committee are correct , we find that the aggregate income for 1888 of the nine District and Provincial Grand Lodges in New Zealand , including the balances brought 10

forward from the previous year , amounted £ 0 ^ 3177 s . iod ., while , as regards expenditure , £ 297 4 s . 9 d . was remitted home , £ 147 14 s . iod . was spent on benevolence , and £ 9 81 18 s . 3 d . on the District Grand and Provincial Grand Lodges , the total thus disbursed being £ 1426 17 s . iod . Thus—and it is well to note

this important fact in connection with this particular argumentthere remained in hand at the close of the year no less than ^ 1750 13 s . To state the case still more concisely—out of

receipts amounting to & 3177 , there was remitted home less than £ 300 ; the sum spent on benevolence was less than £ 150 , the amount spent for general purposes was less than ^ 990 , and there remained in hand at the close of the year £ 1750 . Perhaps this