Masonic Notes.

At the monthly meeting at the Masonic Hall , Sydney , on the 26 th June last , of the Board of General Purposes for the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales , a letter was read from the Grand Lodge of Scotland

recommending Bro . Lord Saltoun as representative of New South Wales near the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and nominating Bro . Lord Carrington as representative of Scotland near the Grand Lodge of New South Wales .

In consequence of the sub-division of Dakota into two separate States , respectively designated as North and South Dakota , a Grand Lodge of North Dakota has been established , with the consent of the Grand Lodge of Dakota , with Bro . James W . Cloes as M . W .

Grand Master , and Bro . David S . Dodds as Grand Secretary . A circular , dated the 26 th June last , has been addressed to all Grand Lodges , praying that the new body may be recognised .

According to the latest returns there are 8524 subscribing members in the lodges under the Grand Lodge of Vermont . The Grand Master for the current year is Bro . George W . Wing , Bro . L . M . Read being the Grand Secretary . By the way , we rejoice to say that

the difficulty heretofore existing between the neighbouring Grand Lodge of Connecticut and its senior lodge—Old Hiram , No . 1—which helped to constitute

it , are at an end , the lodge having returned to its allegiance , and taken part in the proceedings of the centenary celebration , at New Haven , Conn ., on the 10 th July last .

As a matter of course , this centenary anniversary was turned to excellent account by our Connecticut brethren , who spared no pains to make the proceedings worthy of so rare and so momentous an occasion . The

chief public feature ot the proceedings was a grand procession of over 5000 brethren , who were reviewed by the officials of New Haven , while the chief Masonic feature was the address delivered by Bro . Joseph K . Wheeler , Grand Secretary of Connecticut , who gave a

concise and able sketch of the rise and progress of the Craft in Connecticut from its introduction to the establishment of the Grand Lodge in 1789 , and then from the latter event to the present time . Those who may wish to study this article will find it in the current

number of the Voice of Masonry . * * * It is difficult to understand wh y American Grand Lodges are so fond of framing laws for the government of the Craft in matters of such trifling value as to be hardly

worth noticing . It is a self-evident proposition that Freemasonry is nothing if not free . Candidates seek admission into our ranks of their own free will and accord , and the Craftsmen are free to elect or reject them as they please . Our lodges are free to act as they

think proper ; they frame their own laws , elect their principal officers , and dispense their own funds , the only restriction imposed upon private members being

that their acts shall be in accordance with their lodge by-laws , and of private lodges that their laws shall be in accordance with the laws of the Grand Lod ge of which they are constituent parts .

When , however , we take up the annual report of some American Grand Lodge , we are certain to find either in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge itself , or in the Report on Correspondence , which is almost invariably

appended , that the Grand Lodge , or Grand Master , or it may be a Grand Committee , has enacted or recommends the enactment of a law relating to some trumpery matter , which , as we have said , is hardly worth the trouble of noticing . Masons are men of full age . On

their introduction into our Society they are presumed to be in respectable circumstances . The majority of them are engaged in some business or profession , and we may reasonably suppose they have in them a certain

sense of responsibility . Is it just , is it desirable , that such as those , whom they have enticed , or propose to themselves to enter into Freemasonry , should find that they are hampered at almost every turn b y some petty restriction ?

* * * As a pointed instance of this excessive zeal in legislating for everything and everybody , we cite a comparatively recent decision of the Grand Master of Canada , who lays it down that " the limits of municipal

corporations are not to be considered in determining the question of lodge jurisdiction . The jurisdiction of a lodge extends to half between it and the next lodge

in any direction in a direct or air line . The distance is to be measured from the residence of the candidate to the lodge room , and not to the limits of the municipality in which the lodge is held . " Surely the Grand

Masonic Notes.

Master of Canada cannot mean by this that , when a man desires to become a Mason , and there are two lodges , one lying half a mile east of his residence , to

whose members he is not known , and the other three quarters of a mile to the west , to whose members he is known , he is under compulsion to join the former and not the latter .

We presume that a man seeks to join a lodge as he seeks to join a club , firstly , because he has a high opinion of the body he desires to join , and secondly , because he knows or is known to some of its members , the latter being often the more powerful reason of the

two . But if the strict letter of this Grand Master ' s decision is to be observed , the candidate we have cited will be obliged to join the lodge to which he was not known , because he happened to reside within its jurisdiction . * * *

Possibly in Canada , when a man wishes to become a Mason , he calls on the road surveyor to determine which of , it may be , the three or four lodges in the city or town he resides in includes his residence within its jurisdiction .

But here is another case which shows that , in British Columbia , at all events , but little heed is taken of the dictum— " de minimis non curat lex . " The Grand Master of this Grand Lodge recorded in his address last year , that he refused ( 1 ) an " App lication

toreballot foracandidate on account of supposed nearsightedness of a member casting his ballot "; and ( 2 ) an " App lication to ballot for a candidate at an emergency meeting . " Are the lodges in British Columbia composed of such stupid people that they cannot determine for themselves such paltry questions as these ?

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

THE CHARITY JEWEL . To the Editor of the " Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , I have read your suggestions re the Charity Jewel connected with our Institutions . To a certain extent I agree with you , but wish to offer a suggestion . In the first place , do not alter that which is , and has

been for a long period , the recognised reward of merit . Do not charge the brethren who have worked well to deserve that reward . Give it to them from the funds of the two Institutions of which they have qualified themselves to wear it . Then let it be presented at the Festival to which the individual brother has completed that qualification , and I venture to say this procedure will be appreciated . —Yours faithfull y and fraternally , Sept . 17 th . GEO . GARDNER . THE PROPOSED GRAND LODGE FOR NEW ZEALAND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , A movement for the formation of a United Grand Lodge for New Zealand ( similar to those now possessed by the Australasian Colonies ) is now approaching consummation . I , with many other English Masons who

have been initiated at home , have given our cordial support to it , through finding it utterly impossible in our past state of derision and jealousies caused by the lodges working under the English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions to carry into practical effect the grand principle of our Order—Charity . As we shall at once

proceed to start local Masonic Chanties , that may in some measure remove this present discreditable state of affairs , may I ask , for our guidance , the various Secretaries of the London and Provincial Masonic Charities to forward to me their last balance-sheets , bylaws , and any other information that may be of use and assistance to us .

By this post I forward a copy of the basis of the union and circular to the lodges , which , though necessarily based on mutual compromise , will be found strictly broad and liberal in its views , and will , we trust , meet with approval from the Craft generally . —I am , yours fraternally ,

W . H . COOPER , P . M ., P . Z ., D . J . G . Warden ( E . C ) . Auckland , New Zealand , August 12 th . BRIEF ESSAYS ON CURIOUS SUBJECTS .

To the Editor of the Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I am much interested in the series of articles entitled " Brief Essays on Curious Subjects" lately published in your columns , and it may be interesting to " C . A . M . " to know that with reference to his remarks

in the article in your number of the 10 th ult , regarding the opened out cube in the form of a Latin Cross , with a face depicted on the second hi ghest square , representing the Osirian Neophyte , in the small secret chamber of Osiris at Philae , near Assorian , where the death , piecing together , and raising of Osiris are fully represented on the walls , amongst other quaint sym-

Correspondence.

bols is one identical with that described by " C . A . M . " namely , a Latin Cross with a face depicted just above the cross bar , not at all unlike a rudely carved crucifix but without any body , arms , or legs being represented

This can now be easily seen by tourists , as the roof of the little chamber fell in about two years ago , thus allowing the full li ght of day to illumine all the various emblems delineated in it . — I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally ,

OSWALD WOOD , W . M . 1068 . Cairo , Egypt , 10 th September . A GROTESQUE MASONIC CEREMONY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In your issue of 20 th July last Bro . B . B . asks in No . S 49 of the "Notes and Queries" if the " grotesque Masonic ceremony of expelling a brother for non-payment of dues in France is an actual fact or

a Belgian ridicule of French Masonry . " Originally , the ritual mentioned was published in La Chaine d'Union for July , 186 7 , but lately it was printed in Leo Tanil ' s ( Gabriel Jugand-Pages ) work " Les Mysteres de la Francmaconnerie deiviles , " where it forms the concluding part of the first chapter , and is

accompanied by a plate , representing the burning of the expelled brother ' s name in the brazier . Tanil says that the ritual was written b y Bro . Hubert , P . M . of the Lodge Les Amis de 1 ' Honneur Francais , and editor of La Chaine d'Union , and 1 think it more probable that the Journal de Bruxelles

has taken the ritual over from Tanil ' s books , which is a recent publication , than from a number of La Chaine d'Uuion , so far back as July , 1867 . Moreover , Tanil prefaces his ritual by the remark that it is one of the first duties of a Mason to pay his contributions regularly , and that being in arrear proves wickedness ,

while not paying at all , after demand by the Treasurer and W . M ., is equal to forfeiting one ' s honour . I need not say that Tanil is a renegade from Freemasonry , and that his books are published in all languages to put the Order in a false li ght and to ridicule it . — -I remain , yours fraternally ,

H . W . DIEPERINK , P . M . Somerset West , Cape of Good Hope , 27 th August , 188 9 . THE BOYS' SCHOOL . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , At a very numerously attended meeting of this lodge held last evening , the conduct of the Secretary for the Masonic School for Boys was fully discussed , as well as the proceedings of the Provisional

and General Committee of the Institution , and it appears certain that no further subscription to that Institution will be paid out of the funds of this lodge so long as any portion of the subscriptions be applied in payment of the annuity to Bro . Binckes . The following resolution was passed unanimously ,

and it was decided that this protest should be communicated to all the other lodges in the province , so that in case they approve the action taken by this lodge , they may pass a similar protest ( to be communicated to the " Chairman of the General Committee , R . M . I . Boys , Freemasons' Hall , London " ) and thus at least

strengthen the hands of those brethren on the General Committee who , although strongly opposed to the pension , are out-voted by the brethren who are able to attend the meetings without the loss of time and expense necessaril y incurred in so doing by the brethren in this and other distant provinces . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally ,

CHAS . BECKET , P . M . 906 , P . M . 702 , P . P . G . S . B . Somerset , Sec . 906 . Royal Albert Edward Lodge , No . 906 , The Crown and Anchor Inn , Weston , nr . Bath . 12 th September , 1889 . " The following resolution , proposed by Bro . C .

Becket , P . M . 906 , P . M . 702 , and P . P . G . S . B . Somerset , and seconded b y Bro . J . H . Macfarlane , P . M ., P-P ' ' Org . Somerset , was carried unanimously : " ' Observing that the General Committee of theRoy Masonic Institution for Boys have adop ted the recommendation of the Provisional Commit * —that Bro . F . Binckes , the Secretary of that

Institution , be asked to resign , and that a pensi " of . £ 350 per annum be granted him , ' " Resolved— ' That this lodge records its protest against the funds of the Institutiombeing witn drawn from their primary object , and misapply , in payment of a pension so strongly disapp , of , under the circumstances , by the member this lodge . ' " A . WADOUX , W . M ' " nth September , 1889 . " A terrible accident occurred at the Alexandra pit ¦ VVyken Colliery , near Leamington , by which three j ' ^ , lost their lives and three others were frightfully injure ' six men , with another , who fortunately escaped by J . Jor ] ? out , on reaching ; the bottom of the shaft to sro to then «

sprang ; into some tubs , which were proceeding in t j , c direction ; but they had not been many yards betor j chain broke , and the tubs were dashed with terrible 1 ^ down the incline , with the result we have stated , tr . 1 ( s tunate miner who jumped out receiving only some sevc and bruises .