Freemasonry In South Africa.

FREEMASONRY IN SOUTH AFRICA .

On St [ .. hit ' s d . iv . the festival of tin Patron Saint of Freemasonry , the members of the Craft , including those belonging to the two lodges in Grahamstown , the Albany and St . John ' s , and others not affiliated with either lodge , assembled

in the lodge-room fcv the installation of the Worshipful Masters of the two lodges , ami for the investiture of the office-bearers of each . The Albany Lodge , No . 389 , assembled at eleven o ' clock , when Bro . A . Brittain , Into . Senior Warden of the Lodge Good Hope , Purl

Elizabeth , was installed into the Master ' s chair by Past Masters Bros . R . Curv ' m , H . Linton , and P . H . Solomon . The newly installed W . M . then proceeded to invest his office bearers for the ensuing year , as follows : — Bros . W . A . Smith , S . W ; O . Lester , J . W . j A . W . Allcock ,

S . D . j G . Goodwin , J . D . : J . Viall , Sec . ; J . S . Wilcox , Treas . ; J . Everley , and G . Goodwin , (\ uditws ; T . Sheffield , and W . I ' avsnnv ,, Stewards ; J . Quail , I . G . ; A . Will , Ty ler . Previous to the installation of the W . M . fleet , the retiring W . M ., Bro , R . Currin , was presented

b y Bro . W . A . Smith , acting S . W ., on behalf of office-bearers and brethren of the Albany Lodge , with a beautiful Past Master ' s jewel , and in doing so briefly expressed the p leasure such a pleasing task gave him . The following address , which was very

elegantly engrossed , and tastefully embellished in colours with Masonic emblems , b y Bro . J . Viall , was read b y the Secretary , and presented with the jewel : — " To H other Past Master and Worshipful Master Richard Currin , of Albany Lodge , No . 3 So , of

F ' ree and Acce p ted Masons . "Worshipful Sir and Brother . —We , the undersigned , Wardens , Officers , and Brethren ol the Albany Lodge , No . 389 , desire to convey to you , on the expiration of your term of office , our sincere esteem and hearty appreciation ol

your invaluable services as presiding Worshipful Master since September , 1871 . We cannot allow this opportunity to pass to-day without expressing our grateful acknowledgements that your presidency has been marked with the most beneficial results in promoting the welfare ol

Freemasonry at a sacrifice ol no small comfort to yourself . Your early career in the Craft evinced a devotedness to a life of Masonic usefulness , matured and full y developed in process of time as ever lo sccarti the approbation of those brethren who first placed you in the east in 1863-4 , and since that time up to the present vim have

\» o . shi pful Sir , brightly shone conspicuous in he exercise ol an energetic and successful elrbrt not onl y to restore the ancient prestige of the oldest lodge in the Eastern Province , hut in guiding its actions over the temporary darkness which overshadowed our Temple during a period of alleged departure from the landmarks of our Order .

" B y the unanimous vote of the lodge we are called upon to perform an agreeable and p leasing duty . We have wow the pleasure , Worshi pful Sir , to present lo you , as a small but affectionate token of our brotherl y love , the accompanying Past-Master ' s Jewel , with the hope that il

may ever remind you of the great truths it has been your happy lot so frequentl y to inculcate to others May it ever remind you that since you were first initiated as a . brother of this lodge in 1859 j-oii have ever honourabl y and zealousl y fulfilled the various duties by worthy , upright

and conscientious conduct , which you have from time to time been called upon to perform , which has not only secured the good will , respect , and brotherl y love of the brethren of your mother lodge , but of sister lodges in the town and country .

" May you , Worshi pful Sir , now and for many years to come , enjoy as much as any or . e dare to expect of unalloyed personal , domestic , and social happiness , is the earnest prayer of the brethren of the lodge . " Signed by the members of ' Albany Lod"e '

No . 3 89 , at Grahamstown , Colony of the Cape ol Good Hope , South Africa , on the Festival of St . John the Baptist , the 24 th day of June , Anno Domino 1873 , and Anno Lucis . 5873 . " The jewel is of silver-gilt , and upon the face

Freemasonry In South Africa.

> f it are the words ; " Jttdi , l ^ ide , Face . " On the reverse side it bears the inscription —• " Presented to Bro . P . M . RICHARD Ct'RRix , by Albany Lodge , No . 380 , as a token of their esteem for

his services as W . M ., 1863-64 , . 1871-72 , and 1872-73 . " The jewel is suspended with blue ribbon , and on the clasps , in elegant characters inlaid in white enamel , are the words , " Albany Lodge , No . 389 . " The retinnp - W . M . thanked the . brethren in

the following terms : — Brethren , —in looking at the inscription on this jewel , it calls to my mind years that have passed and gone . I recollect many years ago , seeing the same inscription : ''•Audi , Vide , Tace , " with the All-seeing Eye in

the centre , on a tombstone . I was then in company with our late esteemed brother , E . K . King , who was for many years Secretary of the Albany Lodge . He told me those words signified '•' Hear , see , l >; silent . '' T thought , at first sight , it would have been a " . rood text for me , as I am

not m the habit of making a speech . But f feel on the present occasion , that 1 cannot sit down without saying a few words . Brothers Senior and Junior Wardens , Office-bearers , and Brethren a !) I I return you my most grateful thanks for the wry handsome present 1 have

just received at your hand : ? , and for the very flattering address presented with it . 1 am afraid you have coloured my humble sen ices loo highly , for had it not been for the able support I hau : received from the office-beavers 1 could not have performed the duties of the office so well as 1

have dom \ I have done no more than what every Master of a lodge tries to do : —I hawdone my best . During the long period that I have had the honour of presiding over this , my mother lodge , — I speak it with pride , if I may use that expression— i do not recollect one

single unpleasant event within the walls of the lodge , although I must say , it has not been altogether a bed of roses , for on one or two occasions 1 have had an unpleasant duly to perform , but 1 have always managed that : ; titside the walls

of lhe lo . lge , so as not to disturb its harmony , in looking at litis magnificent jewel , it reminds me of various things—the first is , that I possess the goodwill of the brethren , and if 1 have merited so handsome a testimonial of their

icspecf , I must have given them general satisfaction . I am now advanced in years , and I find that my memory begins to fail me . It is time for me , therefore , to take oil" this badge of office , and place il on some one younger , better able , and more competent to lill lhe hi gh office

But if it should be the will ol the Great Architect of the I ' niwrse to spare me in health anil . -irengi-h , I hope J shall always be found ready and willing lo lend assistance if required ; and when lie shall see lil lo call us from this

sublunary abode , 1 hope we shall one anil all of us be wearing that jewel that will admit us into the Grand Lodge above , where the World ' s Gveat Architect lives and rciens for ever . So mole it be !

At . hi gh twelve the installation of Bro . W . Waller . P . M ., as W . M . of St . John ' s Lodge , No . SeN , commenced , the officiating Past Masters being Bro . 11 . Linton , the retiring Master of the Lodge , and Bros . A . E . C . FicLlen , K . Currin , and P . II . Solomon . The

\\ orshi pful Master elect then proceeded to . in vest his oliice-bearers for ensuing year , as fol lows : —Bros . Jas . E . Everley . S . W . ; A . E . C Fieiden , J . W ; F . Flemying , P . M ., Treasurer T . H . Addison , Secretary ; 1 ) . Samnson , S . D .

T . Holliday , j . ! . ) . ; H . Kennell ,, Inner Guard : II . Will , Tyler . In the evening lhe brethren of St . John ' s Lod ge gave a grand Masonic ball , to ' whieh about 3 . 30 invitations had been issued .

Pour ELIZAJIKTH . —The annual meeting of lhe Lodge of Good Will , No . 711 , look place on Tuesday , the 24 th J line , at the Masonic Temple on the 1 lill . Bro . S . Bain , W . M ,, presided , supported bv Bro . W . | . Nettlelon , P . M ., Bro . I .

C . Kenisley , P . M ., Bro . C . Wheelwiight , W . M . Lodge ol Good Hope , and about lifty brethren . The business of the evening was the installation of Bro . J . A . Bell in lhe chair of K . S ., who had proved his qualifications for that important office by the painstaking , earnest , and efficient

Freemasonry In South Africa.

manner in which he had discharged the duties p S . W . during the past year . The whole of t ) beautiful ceremony was conducted in a most ii pressive manner by the Installing Master U S . Bain , after which the newly-installed M .,,.. '

appointed and invested the following as \ . officers for the ensuing year : —Bros . S ]> ,, ' I . P . M . ; J . Blakeway , S . W . ; A . Hill , J . w " : Geo . Armstrong ( by proxy ) , Treasurer , - [ -J p ' Tonks . P . M .. Secretary : I . W . Riches e / r /'

] ' ) . Dyason , J . D . ; J . D . Puth , l . G . ; W . Vj ' enJ Org . ; J . F . Fertenbach and J . Morton , . Steward- ' and J . Morlej % O . G . After closing the ] 0 . ;| r . . ' the brethren adjourned to the refreshment room ' where an excellent banquet had been prenaivd 1 ™

Bro , W . Fox . of the club , to which ample justice was done . The usual Masonic and other toasts having been disposed of , and several soiv-vs mid recitations given , the brethren retired shortly a [\ e eleven o ' clock , after having spent a most mi ,,. able cvenimr .

Reading Of The Scrutures .

READING OF THE SCRUTURES .

B y ; : ii ancient usage of the Craft , the Ru ,, !; „[ the Law is always spread open in the \ i , \\\\ There is in this , as in everything else thai is Masonic , an appropriate symbolism . The Punt of the Law is the great light of Masonry . To

close it would be to intercept the rays of iliviw li ght which emanates from it , and hence il is spread open , to indicate that the lod ge is not ia darkness , but under the influence of its iilu . initialing power . Alasons in this respect ok j the suggestion of the divine founder of th ;

Christian religion , " neither do men li g ht 1 candle and put it under a bushel , but on i candlestick ; and it giveth li ght unto all that a : ; in the house . '' A close book , a sealed boo ! , indicates that its contents are secret ; and a boil or roll folded up was the symbol , says Weniv .-i

ot a law abrogated , or of a thing of no liirih ' . i use . Hence , as the reverse of all this , the Jioui of Law is open in our lodges , to teach us thai its contents are to be studied , thr t the law whirl it inculcates is still in force , and is to be " tl . ' t rule and sruide of our conduct . "

But the Book of the Law is not open at ravulmi . In each degree there are appropriate passages , whose allusion to the design of the degree , or I some part of its ritual , make it expedient that tin

book should be opened with those passages . Masonic usage has not always been consistent nor is it now universal in relation to what pir titular passages shall be unfolded in each degree , The custom in America , at least since il . !

publication of Webb ' s Monitor , has been verf uniform , and is as follows : — In the first degree the Bible is opened » t Psalm exxxxiii ., an eloquent description ' * the beauty of brother !) ' low , and hence w ^ appropriate as the illustration of a society v . n >< -i

existence is dependent on that noble pnni'V ^ lu the second degree the passage adopted 1 Amos vii , 7 , 8 , in which the allusion isevid . ntlf to the p lumb line , an important emblem " ' . <* ' ¦' degree . In the third degree the Bible is « j' - '; ! ' ' at Ecclesiastcs xiii- ~ in which the descrip' -i" ?

, , of old age and death is appropriately r . pp' . '<> : ''' the sacred object of this degree . But , as has been said , the choicest of l ' - ' passages has been selected , but always \ vit ! i gie . 1 appropriateness , as may be seen from lJ"' ' '" lowinsr brief sketch . 3 — ~ .... . ~ ..

, ; ] Formerly the Book of the Law was opene " . ' the first degree at the 22 ml chapter of y- ' - '' which g ives an account of Abraham ' s tni .- " ' 1- ' sacrifice of Isaac . As this event constaid ' the firs / grand iifcring , commemorated ' our ancient brethren , bv which the gr ""' '

iloor of the Apprentice ' s Lodge was coiiscci'au'j it seem to have been very appropriately •SL'lv ' y as the passage- of this degree . That part ol j . iSth chapter of Genesis which records J vision of J acob ' s ladder was also , wM . h e <] J appositeness , selected as the passage ol the j

degree . _ . •jj The following passage from I . Rings , W - ' . was , during one part of the hist century , «*' - the second degree : . t [ te ,: The door of the middle chamber was »» d right side of the house , and they went 'M' ^ winding stairs into the middle chamber , a " of the middle into the third . " j