The Grand Lodge Of Tasmania.

S . WAY , M . W . G . M . of South Australia , who was present as a visitor , that if the Craft in this remote part of the British Empire is small numerically , its members are actuated by zeal for its interests , and endeavour fro the utmost of their ability to fulfil their duties in a manner that shall give satisfaction to the Grand

Master and his officers . There would appear , from the report of the Board of General Purposes , to be as many as three questions of importance which claim the attention of the brethren , namely , the establishment of a Grand Lodge Benevolent Fund , the revision of the Book of Constitutions , and

the settlement of a Ritual ; but it has been decidednot unwisely we think—that the . Benevolent Fund should have priority of attention . At the half-yearly Communication in July , 18 9 6 , Grand Lodge affirmed the desirability of establishing such a Fund , and delegated to the Board of General

Purposes the preparation of a scheme , the result being lhat the said Board , after holding sundry meetings , and consulting various lodges , propounded a plan which it was thought would prove acceptable to Grand Lodge , and which , we are glad to hear , wns accepted with some slight modification of the rules as originally

proposed , at this annual meeting . It is not necessary that wc should describe the constitution of the Fund at any length . Suffice it to say that it is proposed that it shall consist of contributions from lodges , which havc been fixed at three shillings per annum per member ; donations and legacies ; fees

payable by Masters and Wardens on their installation—ios . each from a Master , and 5 s . from each Warden ; and such a proportion of the Fees for registering initiates and joining members as Grand Lodge may from time to time determine . As regards its administration , the rules of the Fund follow pretty

much on the lines of our own Fund of Benevolence , the President of the Board , the Grand Secretary , and some other member having power to deal with cases of emergency to the extent of . £ 5 , and lodges in the country to thc extent of £ 1 , to be subsequently reimbursed from the Fund ,

while the Board itself has power to grant relief to the extent of £ 20 , ancl the Grand Alaster , on the Board ' s recommendation , to that of £ 40 , while to G . Lodge itself is reserved the right of dealing with all cases which appear to call for assistance in excess of the latter sum . As soon as this fund has been

established on a working basis , the question of revising the Book of Constitutions will bc taken up , but in the meantime the Board of General Purposes state in their Report that "as points upon which improvement or amendment appears desirable are brought

under notice , in the working of Grand Lodge and of the private lodges , they have been noted so that they may receive prompt attention at the proper time . " Subsequently , Bro . C E . DAVIES , who on this occasion was re-elected and re-installed in office as

M . W . G . Master , stated in the very able address he delivered that having studied the Rituals of the several Australasian G . Lodges , he was in favour of the adoption of that of the Grand Lodge of South Australia , as , in his opinion , " itap * roaches very nearly to the Emulation Lodge . " We note also , with pleasure ,

that a fund having been raised for the purpose of erecting a memorial to the late Bro . Dr . E . 0 . GlBLlN , M . W . G . M ., who died suddenly about Christmas , 18 95 , and that it has been decided that the memorial shall take the form of a tablet to be placed in the Masonic Hall at Hobart Town .

Nor must we pass over the excellent address which was delivered by the Grand Master of South Australia , who , as we have said , was present as a visitor , and who , having taken a prominent part in the inauguration of the Grand Lodge six years previously , was in a position to judge of the condition of Tasmanian

Masonry . His congratulations were of thc most cordial nature , and must have afforded immense gratification to those who had the privilege of hearing his remarks . Everything , in short , would seem to have passed off satisfactorily , and we can only hope that future annual meetings will show that the Grand

Lodge of Tasmania is as fortunate in its surroundings as it appears lo be at the present time . It has at least this advantage over its more powerful neighbours of Victoria , New South Wales , and South Australia , lhat it was established with the unanimous consent of all the lodges al the lime existing in the

Colony . Not one of them exhibited any desire lo hold aloof from its sister lodges , when the question of establishing a local independent Grand Lodge was considered , and hence it is impossible that any matter can arise which will in any way affect its relations with the other Grand Lodges with which it has formed amicable relations .

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

SPECIAL GREAT PRIORY . A special Great Priory of the United Religious and Military Orders of the Temple and of St . John of Jerusalem , Palestine , Rhodes , and Malta in England and Wales and the Dependencies thereof was holden at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Q ueen-street , W . C , on Thursday , the ? th instant , when there were present : The Most Eminent and Supreme G . Master , the Earl of Euston , G . C . T . ; V . H .

and E . G . Seneschal , the Viscount Dungarvan ; V . E . Provincial Priors-F . Knights Capt . N . G . Philips , G . C . T ., East Anglia ; Capt . C . R . N . Beswicke-Royds , G . C . T ., Lancashire ; Charles Fendelow , G . C . T ., Staffordshire , Warwickshire , and Leicestershire ; Major J . W . Woodall , K . C . T ., N . and E . Yorkshire ; the Right Hon . the Earl of Onslow , Kent and Surrey ; the Hon . A . de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., Cheshire ; and Col . Henry Byrde , Ceylon . Great Officers : E . Knights

the Rev . C . E . L . Wright , G . Prelate ; . R . Loveland Loveland , G . C . T ., G . Chancellor ; Col . A . B . Cook , G . C . T ., as 1 st G . Constable ; Frank Richardson , K . C . T ., as 2 nd G . Constable ; Ralph Clutton , K . C . T ., G . Treas . C . F . Matier , K . C . T ., G . Vice-Chancellor ; Charles Belton , K . C . T ., G . Marshal ; the Rev . E . Mitford Weigal ! , as Almoner ; A . W . Orwin , M . D ., G . Herald ; H . Harvey George , as S . B . ; J . W . Howard Thompson and Dr . N . Goodchild , G . Captains of Guards ; ar . d F . Bevan , G . Org .

The fullowing P . G . Officers were present : E . Knights R . Clowes , P . G . Marshal ; Maj .-Gen . J . C . Hay , C . B ., K . C . T ., P . G . Vice-Chincellor ; F . H . Goldney , Fredk . Lawrance , Abraham Clegg , Brigade-Surgeon J . Balfour Cockburn , and Major H . W . H . Elwes , P . G . Heralds ; Baron de Ferrieres and Sir George D . Harris , P . G . Std . Brs . ( Beauceant ); H . Thomas , P . G . Std . Br . ( V . B . ) Major J . R . Pearson , Captain R . Gresley Hall , Gordon .

Miller , and F . N . Molesworth , P . G . Aide-de-Camps ; Arthur H . Bowles and Jas , Hillhouse , P . G . Captains of Guards ; and S . G . Kirchoffer , E . Letchworth , K . C . T ., and Horatio Ward , P . G . S . Bs . There were also present : Kn ' ghts Harold Burke and Herbert Wright , 127 ; W . Buckler Lethbridge , P . Preceptor , J . W . Howard Thompson ; P . Preceptor , John Dimsdale , J . Badger

Claik , E . St . Clair , and E . M . Morriss , 20 ; H . Thomson Lyon , 2 nd Constable , Thcmas Frazer , and the Rev . W . Russell Finlay , 129 ; F . F . Binney , George Graveley , and John R . Carter , D ; A . Conyers Haycraft , E . Preceptor 129 ; H . W . Kiallmark , P . Preceptor , and J . Brend Batten , P . Preceptor , 131 ; Ernest H . Cartwright and W . H . Crewdson , 117 ; J . C . F . Tower , E . Preceptor , B . A . Smith , P . Preceptor , R . A . B . Preston , P . Preceptor , G . B . Preston , R . J . Carthew ,

and E . Nash , 128 ; A . F . Church , ist Constable , Major C . W . Carrell , Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale , and S . Harold Hargrove , 6 ; T . P . Dorman , P . Preceptor Shadwell Clerke ; Clement Godson , P . Preceptor Studholme ; Maj .-General E . C . Sim , Studholme ; George A . Pickering , United Ki-meys Tynte and Temple Cressinfj ; ( in the Province of Burma ) E . Garnet Man , P . Preceptor Loyal Burma ; ( in the Province of Cheshire ) John Clayton ,

P . Preceptor , and Richard Newhouse , both of Royal Edward ; Col . C . S . Dean , Grosvenor ; ( in the Province of Devonshire ) F . B . Westlake , Sub-Prior Devon , Royal Veterans ; ( in the Province of Dorsetshire ) M . Charles C . Burke , E Pnceptor Hyde ; ( in the Province of East Anglia ) Maj .-General Astley Terry , P . Preceptor Prudence ; R . Haliburton Adie and Wm . Briggs , 2 nd Constable , both of Tancred ; ( in the Province of Hampshire ) Colonel Wm . Campbell , Royal

Naval ; G . H . Macey , E . Preceptor William Stuart ; ( in the Province of Kent and Surrey ) William Briant , P . Preceptor , and Phillip Monson , both of Lullingstone ; Ambrose H . Bircham , E . Preceptor , Temple Court ; ( in the Province of Lancashire ) Wm . Tyrer and Chas . S . Brewer , both of Jacques de Molay ; Thos . Forrester , Rose of Lancaster j E . Pike , P . Preceptor , and W . Forrest , P .

Preceptor , both of Royds ; E . G . Harwood , P . Preceptor St . James of Jerusalem ; ( in the Provirce of Staffordshire , Warwickshire , and Leicestershire ) Percy Wallis , P . Preceptor Abbey Chapter ; George C . Kent , P . Preceptor Godefroi de Bouillon ; G . Walton Walker , P . Preceptor Wulfruna ; ( in the Province of Sussex ) V . P . Freeman , P . Preceptor , and Percy Clowes , P . Preceptor , both of De Warrenne ; and George Powell , Preceptor Stuart .

The kr . ig hts formed the Arch of Steel , and the Grand Mister , attended by the Great Seneschal and the National Great Officers , entered and took his seat on the throne . The National Great Pi iory having been opened in ample form , The Grand Master was saluted in ancient form . The GRAND MASTER said : Brethren , I thank you for your offering .

The Sun-MARSHAL announced that the Very Eminent Kwgtt , Sir Chas . Cameron , Gieat Chancellor Ireland , attended by other Great Officers of the Great Priory of Ireland was without , desiring admission to the Great Priory , whereupon The GRAND MASTER ordered that they be admitted and received under the arch of steel .

The following delegation from Ireland : Sir Knights Sir Charles A . Cameron , G . C . T ., Great Chancellor ; A . V . Davoren , G . C . T ., Great Constable ; J . C . Meredith ; Colonel T . C . MeCammon , Great Treasurer ; ard Rr . H . Walker , Great Vice-Chancellor , were admitted and greeted by the Grand Master , who requested them to take their places in Great Priory . The Irish brethren were then salu ed .

The GREAT MARSHAL then in like manner anrounced that the following di legates from Scoiland : the V . E . Sir Knights the Earl of Kintore , G . C . T . , * Sir James Buchanan , K . C . T . ; Lindsay Mackersey , G . C . T ., Treasurer and Registrar ; F . W . Allen , G . C . T ., Beaucenifer ; Lord Saltoun , G . C . T .,

G and Pi ior ; and Robert H . Inches , Steward , were without , and they , in nun , were directed to be received under the arch of steel , welcomed by the Grand Master , and took their places on the right of the throne , after which they were saluted . The brethren all being seated ,

The GRAND MASTER rose and said : Sir Knights of the Temple of Ergland , —1 ask you to join wilh me now in giving a cordial vote of thanks to those brethren who have taken the trouble to come from Ireland and Scotland to visit us , and to give them the assurance that lliey have a most

hearty and fraternal welcome from us . We hope as years go on and time progris . es that we shall be more closely bound to each other , and that there shall be no difference between one country and the other . I can only say to you , brethren , from Ireland , that you have come a long way to visit us , and hat we in turn desire to do our best to show you our working . To you ,