Consecration Of The Temple Mark Lodge, No. 322, Wilmington Kent.

" The Visitors , " who received a hearty and hospitable welcome , was acknowledged by Bros . VV . P . MOAT , P . G . M . O . Auckland , New Zealand ; the Kev . THOS . RUSSELL , Prov . G . Chap . Devon ; and others ; while Bros . Cori'CRRELL , S . W ., and LAKE , J . W ., replied for " The Officers of the Lodge . "

The procee . lings concluded shortly afterwards and the brethren dispersed after having passed a most enjoyable day . VVe can only express the hope that the temple Lodge , No . 322 , which has thus entered on its career under such auspicious circumstances , may have a long and happy future in store for it .

A London Mason's Visit To Canterbury.

A LONDON MASON'S VISIT TO CANTERBURY .

COMMUNICATED . Staying in the ancient city which gives to the Primate his title , 1 made it my business to enquire how the Craft is represented there , which I always do when I travel . From experience I have generally found that one learns something

by visiting lodges or hearing about them in places at which onemaybestaying , which may be taken home to use in one ' s own lodgeorelse take warning from . In the city of Canterbury Masonry flourishes I am gla S to learn . There are several lodges all in a healthy state , some with chapters attached , whilst the higher—sometimes called the fancy—degrees are also in active operation . But as no lodges happened to

meet whilst I was there , I had not the pleasure of seeing their working ; but feel sure , from what 1 heard and from what I saw , and shall presently describe , that the degrees must be worked in a most efficient manner , there being a lodge of instruction held every week all the year round . It seems quite in accordance with the history of

Canterbury that the Craft should nourish there , even in these degenerate days . For does not Canterbury possess one of the finest and noblest works of the hands of our ancient brethren which are to be found in many places in this country and on the continent ? I may say 1 am one of those who believe that the magnificent buildings studded over the land and dedicated to God's service are not the work of casual artisans ,

but were built and designed by those who were in possession of great and valuable secrets , by which they were enabled to erect stately edifices for the glory and for the worship of the Great Architectof the Universe . Onesometimes feels almost inclined to believe they are the work of superhuman hands . One thing is certain , that we cannot emulate their works in these days . The art has passed away from us . But still

we possess many of the secrets ol our ancient brethren , even if we have lost the art of putting them into practical use . VVe are now free and speculative rather than operative Masons , and we apply the tools they used to our morals . But the Canterbury brethren have not been content with raising Masonry to its highest pitch in their working . They have built a handsome hall in which to hold their lodges

and so separate them from the hotel or public-house . Three of the lodges combined some few years ago to erect a commodious hall , the United Industrious , 31 , which wears a centenary jewel ; St . Augustine , 972 ; and Royal Military , 1449 . By thekindnessof Bro . VV . M . Donaldson , Steward 972 , a brother whom I found spoken of everywhere with the greatest respect , I went to see the Masonic Hall . It is

situated in Westgate-street , and built at the back of a private house , which doubtless cost less money than if the frontage had been brought to the street . There is a spacious room for lodges of instruction , a banqueting-room , lavatory , and every accommodation which may be required by lodges . The large-room in which the lodges usually meet is at the rear of all these . In its four walls , which

are oblong , there are no windows save two , at the east and west ends high up . The walls are painted a neutral tint . From the centre of the roof is suspended a handsome corona , by which the room is lighted . The furniture of the room is of the richest description . On either side of the room some oak stalls with canopies have been erected . They are given by members of the

lodge and remind one of the stalls of the Knights of the Garter , at St . George ' s Chapel , Windsor , or the Knights of the Bath in Henry the Seventh ' s Chapel . Each brother will have his own coat of arms over his own stalls . The carving is very beautiful , and suits well with the new carved oak stalls in the cathedral hard by . I understand that the cost is £ 20 each and that the brother who undertook the

carving is a loser by the business , but has made it a labour of love . Over the Master ' s chair a canopy will later on be erected . No doubt in course of time the oak stalls will be extended down the room until the walls are covered , by new members presenting a stall . I almost envied my brethren in Canterbury having such a beautiful lodge room to meet in .

In one of the other rooms portraits of several brethren who are and have been connected with the city lodges are hung , as is also a photograph of the ceremony of the laying of the foundation-stone in 1 SS 0 by the late Bro . Hemery , and an engraving ot the Hon . Kirs . Aldworth , the lady I ' reemason . In the doors of the two lodge rooms are gratings of oak for the use of the Inner Guard when

challenging reports . I understand that each lodge has its own wine cellar and the dinners arc cooked on the premises , so that the Canterbury lodges are independent of all external caterers , having everything they want of their own , and I venture to say many enjoyable evenings are spent by the brethren in labour and refreshment , and I should add instruction . The Cathedral is connected with Masonry by

the Organist , Dr . Long , being a member of the United Industrious Lodge . I could not help thinking that in London we are very badly off for Masonic halls . Out of the great number of London lodges , only a few can meet at the hall in Great LJueen-street . I should say it would be a good speculation it several lodges meeting in the same neighbourhood joined together and built a hall of their own containing lodire and

banqueting rooms and all other necessary offices . Many L " u J r wou , d te S'ad t 0 present an oak stall to his lodge which during his tenure in the lodge should be his own stall as in ecclesiastical edifices . Ihe rooms might be let out , as is done at Canterbury , to other lodges on nights when t » ey are not required by the lodges who are the lessees of ¦ " l > ro Pcrty . Surely what is a success at Canterbury would and It S ° '" Londnn - A Past Masterof the Armourer erort if'Prs Company is engaged in a practical scheme to no hail c 1 . c " leBscoi those City Companies which have nan ot their own . Masonic rooms might well be included .

Australia.

Australia .

THE VICTORIAN GRAND LODGE QUESTION . VVe have been asked to print the following correspondence which has appeared in the Melbourne Argus , addressed to the editor , and we do so the more readily , as the matter in controversy has a very deep interest for all members o * the Craft , and more especially for those brethren residing in our colonies .

FREEMASONRY IN VICTORIA . Sir , —At the present moment there are two sections of Freemasons in Victoria , viz : 1 , the so-called Grand Lodge of Victoria ; and 2 , the District Grand Lodges under English , Scottish , and Irish Constitutions , the former illegal , the latter legal . By reporting the small successes of the Grand Lodge of Victoria your paper

inadvertently assists in its illegal work , unless it also contains reports from some So lodges throughout the colony that are passing resolutions to continue their allegiance to the recognised authorities at home . This would mean flooding yourcolumns forsome weeks with Masonic reports , which we consider highly undesirable , and the public would scarcely appreciate , although it is only fair they should

hear both sides , and not be led to believe that a handful of Masons are coercing the whole Craft , when it is not so . Each section publishes a weekly journal of its own , where all Masonic news can be obtained by those who wish it . I would merely ask that you publish reports from neither side , as anything like a public discussion would be unmasonic , undignified , and unnecessary . I am merely the

mouthpiece of many influential Masons , who consider that this matter has only to be brought under your notice to be dealt with . Should your require any further information I shall be happy to supply it . —Yours , & c , July 9 th . JULIUS J . E . WILLMOTT . * [ We cannot consent to omit from our columns reports of any public proceedings which we may consider likely to interest our readers . —ED . A . ~ \

Sir , —Having recognised the " Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Victoria , 1 icgret to read that in your report of the Board of General Purposes of the English Constitution in this day ' s paper that it was agreed " that Masons who have identified themselves with the irregularly formed Grand Lodge of Victoria , or assisted in any way in its formation , are not allowed to enter a lodge working

under a Grand Lodge of England . " As I am in search of lig ht upon this important subject , will you kindly permit me to ask brothers who passed such a condemnatory resolution in what respect the formation of the Grand Lodge of Victoria is irregular and by what authority they have taken such an extreme step?—Yours , & c , July 10 th . MASONIC PROGRESS .

Sir , —1 noticed a letter in TheArgusoi to-day from acorrespondent signing himself " Masonic Progress , " who says he is in search of light on the important subject of a Grand Lodge of Victoria , and wishes to know in what respect the formation of that Grand Lodge is ii regular . The explanation can be given in a very few words . The formation of the so-called Grand Lodge of Victoria was effected

on the American basis , namely , that any three lodges can form a separate Grand Lodge . Under the English , Scottish , and Irish Constitutions there must be a majority of lodges in favour of forming themselves into a separate and independent jurisdiction , when recognition from the parent authorities follows as a matter of course . Now , the situation is this . There are 95 lodges in Victoria under the

three British Constitutions , and of these only 15 , or iG at the outside , have thrown in their lot with the new Grand Lodge ; therefore , they are clearly an irregular body , and the members cannot be admitted into regular lodges . A recent illustration can be adduced in the case of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales . Some three years ago 13 lodges out of a total of S 6 thought fit to form

themselves into a Grand Lodge , and then requested recognition from the home authorities . The Scotch and Irish Grand Lodges were the first to refuse acknowledgment , and at the next quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge of England ( Dec . 10 th , 1 SS 1 , ) a similar application was received . The Grand Registrar ( Bro . Ai . J . McIntyre M . P ., Q . C . ) , who has held the responsible position of

legal adviser to the Grand Lodge of England for more than 20 yeais , moved the rejection ot the appeal lor recognition on precisely the same grounds as those above mentioned , therefore the Grand Lodge of Victoria , as at present constituted , is out of the pale , and those brethren who unthinkingly joined it have only themselves to blame . I should IiKe to mention another matter , out of which

much capital has been made by the promoters of a Grand Lodge ot Victoria . It is urged in the way of justification or palliation that the present Grand Lodge of England was formed on the same lines in the year 1717 by four lodges then holding their meetings in London ; that is to say , that those four lodges formed themselves into a grand lodge in defiance of the grand lodge already in existence .

Very lew , however , know the true facts of the case , for though " de jure " there may have been a grand lodge at that time , " de facto " there was none ; it existed only on paper . May I be permitted to quote the following extract irom the Book of Constitutions pub . ished in the year 1 / 6 3 : " In the beginning of the reign of Queen Anne the Augustan style wis everywhere most ricnly displayed , yet the

lodges were more and more disused , partly by the neglect of Masters and Wardens , and partly by noi having a noble Grand Master , as in times past . The annual assembly was for some years not duly attended , and , what was the worst of all , Sir Christopher Wren , through his great age , bodily infirmities , and retirement from the stage of business and hurry , was no longer able to preside in their assemblies , by which the . Craft suffered some detriment . After the

rebellion was over in 1716 , the few lodges in London , finding their Grand Master not able any more to attend them , thought fit to cement under a Grand Master ot their own choice , as the centre of union and harmony . " I submit , therefore , there is no analogy between the two cases , ; indeed , all things considered , 1 think the brethren who have allied themselves to the new movement have committed Alasonic suicide . —Yours , & c , July nth . CONSTITUTIONAL .

Australia.

Sir , — the thanks of our community are due to you for the foot-note to Dr . Willmott ' s letter in The A'gits of thi-i day . Ihe principle of establishing a Grand ' l . o . l-e of Victoria is not only Masonic , but it also combines the inteieating question of federation , which happily is i ; r .. wi ig in public importance . The mention of a Grand Lo l-o of Victoria has been forbidden in all lodges under the EnglMi Constitution . Dr . Willmott has also issued the en . lo-ed

threatening circular , and now wishes to silence the press . Our movement does not encourage departure from . Ma-onic principles , forms , or customs . " Nor do wc desire public discussion upon the mysteries , symbols , and obligations of the Craft . Our fraternal bonds with the old countiy arc not slackened . As a proof the Grand Lodge of Victoria has adopted the entire English Constitutions to work by , with the exception of electing our Grand Officers annually , so that every studious and industrious brother may have a chance of attaining the highest Masonic positions . The question is simply one of administration . There are upwards of Go Grand Lodges on the other side of the world that exercise separate and entire control over their own affairs . There is not one recognised Grand Lodge on this side of the world . Has not the time then arrived to cUim the same constitutional privileges that others enjoy . The Grand Lodges of New South Wales and Victoria have followed in the exact footsteps of the Grand Lodges of Canada , and are therefore justly entitled to the same recognition .

The whole fraternity will be thankful to you , sir , for refusing Dr . Willmott ' s autocratic request to close vour columns against discussion . VVe challenge him to prove that he has any constitutional authoriiy to denounce our Victorian Grand Lodge as illegal , or that Ins dictatorial conduct is in accordance with the principles of free and accepted Masonry . —Yours , & c , July "th . MASONIC PROGRESS .

Sir , —Permit me to correct your correspondent " . Masonic Progress , " cm another important point . He asserts in a second letter in The Argus of to-day that "the Grand Lodges of New South Wales and Victoria have followed in the exact footsteps of the Grand Lodges of Canada , and are therefore justly entitled to the same recognition . " I presume your correspondent , when he uses the plural p . rase , " Grand Lodges of Canada , " refers to the Giand

Lodges of Canada , New Brunswick , Outbec , Nova Scoiia , and British Columba . If so , the whole of these colonial Grand Lodges were formed according to the reco . jnised English rule , i . e ., a majori y of lodges in each territory agieed to form themselvc-s into independent Grand Lo . lues . Having done so , they were duly acknowledged by the English , Scotch , and Irish supreme authorities , and at Ihe present day there is a mutual interchange ol

representatives . Masonic Progress " ought , theiefore , to perceive at once that the "Grand Lodges ot New South Wales and Victoria have " not " followed in the exact footsteps of the Grand Lodges of Canada , " and consequently they are not "justly entitled to the same recognition . " The more 1 see and hear of this rash movement , the more I am inclined to think that American ideas prompted its inception . —I am , & c , July 12 th . CONSTITUTIONAL .

Sir , —As you have opened your columns to the discussion of Masonic subjects , I would wish to ask somo of your correspondents who may be connected with the Giand Lodge of Victoria , of recent memory , a question that appears to have been ovcrshaded by reason of the frantic struggles that body deems it necessary to make to e . et on its feet . The question is , is the multiplication of Grand Lodges a good or evil ? When a man joins or is about to

join a lodge of Freemasons he is told that he joins an order the members of which are recognised all over the world , and that as a member of one he will be recognised and " at home" in all . Is this so ? As far as my experience goes , and it is nearly " world-wide , " it is not so—practically , a Mason is a stranger , in a more or less degree , in any lodge outside of his o < vn particular constitution . The American lodges , formed originally on the simple

plan of England , are now unrecognisable in their working by an English Mason , owing to the numerous departures from that original simplicity so much to be desired . Even the simple symbolic clothing alters itself into satin with silver bullion fringes , and so on . Again . Has the formation of a Grand Lodge of New South Wales been a benefit to Masonry in general : I trow not . The proud boast that any three lodges can form a .

Grand Lodge and when formed can claim obedience from all the lodges working in the territory at the time , .-uv . l ran also prevent other constitutions from planting their lodges there in future , is proved even in their case to be " mcie words . " The English Constitution still exis's in New Siuth Wales ; and fresh lod ges are conlinua'ly bei . ig started , and lam informed that the Grand Lod e of iSew South Wales is not in such a flourishing condition as it

would wish . At least three of its lodges S ' . ted in its short life-time have become defunct . The standa , J for admission to its arcane rites is deplorably lowered . The Hon . Mr . Parnell is reported to have said that it would not be advisable to have lodges started here under Austrian , Italian , or other Constitutions . If grand lodges under other Constitutions are not to be approved of , why make another ? Why not still remain a good branch of the

noble parent stocK ? If wego to foreign countries we may consider the action of the Grand Orient of France , which body elimin . itedfrom its documents the name of the "Great Architect or ihe Univeise , " and substituted the " solidarity of the human race' ( whatever that may mean ) , thereby causing the Grand Lodge of England , by the mouth of Lord Carnarvon , the Pro Grand Master , to solemnly exclude them liom visiting any lodge under the English Constitution , of whicli

disability we have seen several painful instances here in Melbourne . There are other considerations arising to one ' s thoughts from the action of those Masons in the colony who have formed the new movement , to which I may refer at some future time , if you do me the favour of inserting this . — Yours , & c , c . S . July 12 th . ( this correspondence will be continued in a future number . )

On Wednesday evening Bro . Sir John BemvM lectured on " Lord Brougham and his Worfc " at the ' . 1 ,. beck Institution , Chancery-lane .