Severity A Mistake In Masonry.

one be at the pains of making it clear to their minds tha the grievances from which they insist they are suffering exist only in their own imagination , and Bro . BERRY believes that their return into the Masonic fold is merely a question of

time . As for those who are actuated by selfish motives in taking their ( limit , or ^ who retire when they find the burden too heavy to bear , yet are glad to return when their circumstances have sufficiently improved , Bro . BERRY thinks there are few instances

in which brethren suspended for non-payment of dues reinstate themselves in membership after remaining out for io or 20 years , because they feel " age or ill-health coming on . " But whatever happens , it is the mild , not the severe , legislation which

tells in the long run . Man , as Bro . BERRY puts it , " will not submit to be bullied . Let it be understood that if a man wishes to go out he can go freely . If he elects to support a part and not the whole , allow him to do so . Let him understand that ,

while he cannot claim the privileges he has renounced , he is still near and dear , and he will still be a moral support and a distinct advantage to the Fraternity . " We shall be . curious to learn what , if any , notice is taken of these generous views in

those jurisdictions where the non-affiliate , instead of being regarded as " a moral support and a distinct advantage to the Fraternity , " is looked upon very much as if he were a criminal to be punished , or , at all events , as a nuisance that must be got rid of at all hazards .

New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND .

The New Zealand Craftsman for last month contains a very interesting account of a lodge meeting in Wellington , which was attended b y Bro . BELL , Immediate Past G . M ., who , in acknowledging the toast of his health , gave very full particulars of a

recent visit to England and the steps he had taken with a view to securing , if possible , the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand by the United Grand Lodge of England . Bro . BELL , in his speech , very modestly disclaimed having done anything

that would justify his being—to use his own expression—" put on any pedestal . " Indeed , he seemed to ascribe " the ultimate success of the application " for recognition to the" influence of Bro . ARKWRIGHT , Dist . G . Master of Wellington ( North Island ) ,

who was in England at the same time . At all events , Bro . BELL acknowledges with gratitude the exceeding courtesy with which he was received by the Grand Secretary and other Grand Lodge Officers , and the compliments he received from the Pro . G .

Master , Deputy G . Master , and others , when , at his own request , he attended a meeting of our Board of General Purposes , and the support he received from the Earl of ONSLOW and Sir JOHN E . GORST , Q . C , M . P ., Past G . W . He further stated that in

making his application for recognition , he " undertook , on behalf of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , that it would recognise the existence of the District Grand Lodges still represented in the Colony , and would und ertake that all their

rights would be conserved , " except , of course , that of warranting new lodges . He had no doubt , he added , " that the Grand Lodge of England would properly require that his undertaking should be confirmed by resolution of the Grand Lodge of New

Zealand , or that the latter would " pass such a resolution . When this had been done the whole thing , in Bro . BELL ' opinion , would be arranged , and harmony once again restored among the brethren connected with the various Constitutions established in the Colony .

We have staled onl y the more important matters referred to by the I . P . G . M . of New Zealand , and notwithstanding his disclaimer , we consider that Bro . BELL has deserved well of the Craft , botli in the Colony and in England ; nor can we imagine , if

the negotiations with the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland go as smoothly as they are reported to have done with our Grand Lodge , that there will be the slightest difficulty in putting to an end , once and for ever , the difficulties which have been the

unfortunate lot of our brethren in New Zealand during the last half dozen years . In all probability with the New Year , a new era of peace and harmony among all the brethren in this distant Colony will be inaugurated .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT returned , to town early this week on the completipn pf their Continental trip .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WILTSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Devizes , on the 7 th inst ., when Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Radnor , presided , supported by Bro . Charles N . P . Phipps , Deputy Prov . G . Master , and a large and influential number of Present and Past Prov . G . Officers and brethren . The members of the Prov . Bjard of General Purposes met at the Parish Rooms . The P . G . M . conferred the rank of

P . P . S . G . W . on Bro . Captain Chaloner , M . P ., in commemoration of the 21 st anniversary of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ' s rule as Grand M \ ster , and appointed and invested his Provincial Grand Officers for the year as fellows : Bro . W . C . Powning , 586 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ R . W . Merriman , 1533 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W .

„ Rev . S . T . Wood , 632 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . ,, H . Bevir , 355 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Hon . T . Ulric Thynne , 147 S ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ J . Parker , 626 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ H . J . Johnson , 663 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ John Chandler , 355 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C .

„ B . W . Crees , 663 ... ... ... Prov , A . G . D . C . „ F . Wyatt , W . M . 663 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . H . Bush , 663 , ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ A . P . Hall , 2227 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ J . W . Williams , 1295 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ A . E . Withy , 355 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . P .

Bro . E . B . Merriman , 1533 , re-elected Prov . G . Treas . ; and Bro . Wm . Dean , 355 , Prov . G . Tyler . The accounts of Bro . E . B . Merriman , P . G . Treas ., showed that a grant or £ s ios . had been made during the year to the R . M . I . for Girls , and that various payments had been made Irom the Charity Fund of the Province towards the relief of necssitous cases .

Bro . Alfred Plummer , P . S . G . W ., was nominated to represent the province as Steward at the next Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and a grant of 30 guineas was made to that Institution . The report of the Auditors of the P . G . Treasurer ' s accounts recommended that out ci trie balance in Viand £ 100 should be invested in Consols and added to the existing investments .

The reports of the Prov . Grand Registar and of the Charity Commi tee of the Province contained many matters of interest , but are too 1 . ngthy to be reported here . It is sufficient to say that they are of a sa'is actory character , and demonstrated that the various lodges in the province are doing their work well and that all cases needing relief have b en aided , and that there was such a sufficient balance in hand as to allow ^ roo to be set aside and invested .

Upon the proposition of Bro . J . A . RANDELL seconded by Bro . T . C . HOPKINS it was unanimously resolved that the action of the Board of Management of the R . M . I . for Boys as to the proposed removal of the Boys ' School to a more desirable locality commends itself to this Provincial Grand Lodge as worthy of the hearty and liberal support of all Subscribers to the Institution and of the Craft generally .

A vote of £ 10 10 s . was made towards the Scholarship Fund of the R . M . I . for Boys upon the proposition of Bro . J . P . MARTIN , seconded by Bro . H . J . JOHNSON . The alms collected were given to the Devizes Benevolent Society . The arrangements made by the Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , No . 663 ( the receiving lodge ) were most satisfactory , and after Prov . Grand Lodge was closed the brethren adjourned to a banquet at the Town Hall , about 70 sitting d > wn . A most enjoyable evening was spent , the toast list being concluded early .

Fifth Annual Festival Of The Kirby Lodge Of Instruction, No. 263.

FIFTH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE KIRBY LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 263 .

A very successful festival was held in connection with the Kirby Lodge o Instruction at the Midland Grand Hotel , St . Pancras , on Tuesday , the ioth inst . Bro . Edward Letchworth , P . S . A ., Grand Secretary , presided , and was supported by over 100 brethren , including Bros . R . C . Sudlow , P . G . S . B . ; R . Clowes , P . G .

S . B . ; Dr . E . M . Lott , P . G . Org . ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; and others . Bro . C . Lewis , Prov . J . G . D . Surrey , Preceptor , acted as W . M ., and the Sections of the First Lecture were worked by Bros , F . W . Ward , Geo . Rankin , J . A . Braik , W . M . ; W . R . Bennett , W . M . ; A . M . Barnard , W . M . ; M . B . Evanu , G . Stwd . ; and D . D . West , P . M .

Too much praise cannot be paid these brethren for the accuracyjjnd ability with which they carried out their duties , which reflected the highest credit on the Preceptor , Bro . C . Lewis . At the conclusion of the working , Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , proposed a vote of thanks to the Section workers for the Masonic treat given the brethren .

The proposition was seconded by Bro . R . C . SUDLOW , and carried by acclamation .

Bro . C . LEWIS , Prov . J . G . D . Surrey , Preceptor , acknowledged the resolution , and the graceful and kindly language used by the Grand Secretary . Some of them met Bro . Sudlow in another place , and encouragement and commendation from him were highly valued . They had several ideas in view in launching an affair like that . One was to endeavour , as far as possible , to extend and uphold the same high standard of work inaugurated by their late Preceptor , Bro . Kirby . If that standard had been maintained they were well repaid .

On the proposition of the ACTING W . M ,, the Grand Secretary was elected an honorary member , and the lodge was closed . After a substantial recast , presided over by the President , Bro . E . Letchworth , G . Sec , a few appropriate toasts were given . "The Queen and the Craft" having been honoured ,

The PHESIDKNT gave " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " remarking that it was a happy thing for Freemasonry when , 21 years ago , the Heir Apparent to the Throne of this country did Freemasonry the great honour of consenting to place himself at its head . During the time v / hich had elapsed since then Masonry had progressed by leaps and bounds , and he had no hesitation in saying that at no time had their Order stood higher in the estimation of the world—hs