Inauguration Of The Lodge Of Harmony.

INAUGURATION OF THE LODGE OF HARMONY .

The following address was delivered at Holy Trinity Church , Otahuhu , by Bro . the Rev . E . H . GULLIVER , M . A ., D . G . C ., on the occasion of the inauguration of the Lodge of Harmony , May 26 th . RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR AND BRETHREN , There are certain occasions on which an address seems more suitable than a formal sermon , and I venture to think the present is one of such .

When , a century ago , like the first murmur of the coming storm sweeping through the trees of the forest , the forebodings of the great Revolution made themselves heard over the length and breadth of France , there were three words that forced themselves into somewhat unwelcome notoriety . They formed , as it were , the text of the great movement that was then convulsing society . The words were Liberty ,

Equality , and Brotherhood . Men looked upon them , not unnaturally , with suspicion , for they had been wrested , some of them , from their first and fairer meaning , until they had come to the mere justification of deeds of violence and wrong . Liberty had degenerated into license , because it had grown emancipated from the retaining influence of law . It had been

overlooked or forgotten , that , on the life of man , as on the firmer constituents which build up this solid world , God has stamped His great sign manual of law . and that all things are and must be circumscribed by the healthy restraint of law , without which the fair harmony of life degenerates into discord , and becomes , like sweet bells , jangled , out of tune , and harsh .

JEquality , again , was an attractive watch-word , to sway the rude passions of an undisciplined mob . It caught the morbid imagination of men , though they saw it written , as in letters of blood , across the sky which hung outstretched o ' er France . Yet , in their calmer moments , men felt it but a wild and frantic dream . Nature ' s great law of inequality still held good , as it ever must do . It matters not how or in what light we regard our fellows ;

inequality is the verdict of our examination . Here , for example , is one on whose face the Ten Commandments seem written ; we cannot withhold our trust , it is won from us by the unconscious goodness which is charactered in his whole bearing . Another , again , we needs must doubt . There is something about him which puts suspicion on her guard , and we watch his actions in obedience to a kind of warning voice which bids us—beware

One man is richly endowed with the gifts of physical strength and endurance—of massive bulk and conspicuous vigour ; he towers above his fellows—a Saul , taller by the head and shoulders . Another is frail and delicate , so that he scarce can bear the burden of life . One stands forth with the stamp of genius on his brow—mental gifts of highest worth are his , eloquence , imagination , logical power , memory ; with another all these

things are wanting—his wits are homely and his talents few . Even in Masonry we recognise this law , which lies writ on all around us . Although we admit equality to the extent that every brother has a fair field , and lowly birth , or humble origin , in no wise bars the road to recognition of merits and to promotion—yet do we also admit differences of capacity . In the traditions of our ancient Craft many a name is seen of the good and wise .

Pythagoras and Solon , Plato and Confucius , the Grand Masters of the vanished past , are dear to the heart of every true Mason , an d to them we give , ungrudging , the honour which is sooner or later the meed of a life spent on the lofty heights of wisdom . With reason , then , might distrust and suspicion hang around the words which were heard so often amid the wild cataclysm of society in that

revolutionary time . Liberty deformed into unholy license , equality but a delusive dream ; yet over it all , like a gleam of light flashing through a darkened room , passed the fair influence of Brotherhood . Here no delusions found room , no distortions were possible ; amidst the clash of jarring elements , in the fierce fever throes of revolution , the thought of Brotherhood could still exist , telling men of one great family , in which they , one and all , had share , wherein the difficulties of social differences might be forgotten , and the

varying conditions of human life reconciled and made one . As men rose to the realisation of the majestic and all embracing thought , it was seen that the direst hindrances to human fellowship and agreement must flee before it , as the morning mist disperses before the rays of the rising sun ; and that no mightier power could be found to influence human society for good than that which placed its dependence on the great Brotherhoo ' d of Man .

This , brethren , it is which forms the central truth of our fair and ancient Craft , on it as on a corner-stone we build up our lofty temple , and extend the hand of brotherly welcome alike to Jew or Mussulman or Christian . Realising this truth , we do indeed feel that touch of nature which makes the whole world kin ; we come to see that we are in very deed members of one great family , placed on this earth with common wants and ties and

sympathies , and that our life is in accordance , and , at touch , with God , only in so far as we recognise and respond to those claims of our brother man . It is a keener recognition of this truth—a stouter and more singlehearted endeavour to carry it into practice that is needed now . We hear on all sides confused and broken words of complaint and dissatisfactionsociety seems sick at heart , and the social fabric at times tottering to its fall ; yet could we apply to the troubled elements of modern life the lofty

influence which flows forth as we act in obedience to the claims of human brotherhood , the pain , and strain , and suffering would be diminished that are now so sadly common amongst us . Selfish rights would merge in unselfish duties . The misunderstandings and contests that arise , as labour asserts its claims against capital , or capital against labour , the strife between poverty and wealth , or weakness and superior strength , would pass away in newer , fairer modes of life .

Let us then , one and all , as Masons , with such force of intellect or character as we may possess , seek to impress on the world the high teaching of our ancient Brotherhood , helpingit forward by wise and kindly sympathy and above all , by noble life , until at last our work is done and we join the Grand Lodge of God .

Grand Royal Arch Chapter Of Scotland,

GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF SCOTLAND ,

A Quarterly Communication of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter H nr Vj . was beld on Wednesday , the 15 th inst ., in the Freemasons ' Mall , Edinburgh , Comp . W . Mann , Depute Grand Principal , presiding . 1 he other chairs were filled by Comps . Webster and Melville , and amongst ine Urand Officers present were Comps . William Edwards , Grand Scribe P V « ' u , r £ ' ^ Scribe N " Alex < Ha y « Grand Recorder ; and f . T . S . Llhot , First Grand Soj .

Grand Royal Arch Chapter Of Scotland,

On the motion of Comp . E . DALRYMPLE DUNCAN , seconded by Comp . WILLIAM COWNIE , it was resolved that a Committee be appointed to consider the present position of the Mark Degree in Scotland , and report thereon to the next meeting of Supreme Chapter , and that it be an instruction to the Committee to communicate with the Committee recently appointed for the same purpose by Grand Lodge , and , if possible , co-operate

wilh that body in a joint recommendation which may have the effect of elevating the condition of Scottish Mark Masonry . The following were appointed the Committee : Comps . Lord Kintore , W . Mann , Jas . Webster , Dr . Dickson , James Dalrymple Duncan , R . S . Brown , Capt . Stirling , James Melville , and Duncan , convener . It was resolved to grant the sum of £ 25 to the Grand Chapter of Charleston for behoof of the sufferers from the earthquakes .

Bro.The Right Hon. Lord Arthur Hill, M.P., Prov. G.M. County Down (I.C.).

BRO . THE RIGHT HON . LORD ARTHUR HILL , M . P ., PROV . G . M . COUNTY DOWN ( I . C . ) .

Wakehurst , the ancestral home of the Sussex Culpepers , who did good service in their generation at Harfleur , Agincourt , and the battle of Spurs , has , as yet , escaped unscathed from the invasion of railway speculators . The hedges of hazel , privet , and thorn , the cornfields , and the undulating pasture-land have undergone no perceptible change since Walter Culpeper and his five archers sallied forth from the lordship of Ardingly to join Sir

William Bourchier ; the modest lodge is half buried in a clump of chestnuts and Scotch firs ; and you have scarcely entered the park , studded with oaks and elms , before you see the old gray house , with its roof of Horsham flags , its crocketed gables and pinnacles , its tall chimney-stacks and its mullioned windows . A modern billiard-room and a small chapel have been built on either side of the entrance ; but the innovation is already concealed

beneath a luxuriant growth of ivy , and the porch itself is in the early summer-time almost covered b y the white blossoms of a famous Gloire de Dijon . The time has passed away when Lord Arthur Hill was able to direct in person the affairs of his home-farm in Sussex . He is now , for the second time , the official channel of communication between the Queen and her faithful Commons ; the Comptroller of the Household is one of the

Government Whips ; and the Lord Chamberlain ' s office at St . James ' s , as well as the Whips' room at Westminster , has of necessity paramount claims on his attention . He is already an adept at " putting- up " speakers , regulating debates , " pairing , " and " door-keeping , " and in " the small hours of the morning assists at the mysterious council of four , which decides the momentous question of the number of lines to be affixed to the missives

which interfere so sadly with the innocent amusement of members during Session . As Deputy Grand Master of Irish Orangemen he must frequentl y visit his constituents in County Down ; and so it has come to pass that , between Hillsborough and a pleasant pied-a-terre in Belgravia , Wakehurst sees less than ever of the master who always regards it as his home .

September and the partridges are already upon us , but Parliament is still in full swing , and Irish orators seem determined to give no quarter . Saturday has , however , brought a brief but welcome rest to the indefatigable Whips , and Lord Arthur Hill has arrived from London by an early train to be present at the annual match between the Wakehurst eleven and the Sussex constabulary .

A ponderous sixteenth century door brings you into a low square hall , the timbered roof of which is supported by carved and twisted columns . Polished chests and presses , hand-beaten Flemish plates , and antlers from Scotland , break the monotony of the wainscot-lined walls , and through a gilded archway on one side you catch a glimpse of a chapel rich in stained glass and oaken figures of saints and angels from Brittany . The library ,

which you enter next , seems to stretch across the house ; the bay-window at the further end overlooks the flower-garden ; time has long since mellowed the hues of the Turkey carpet on the floor ; the great stone mantelpiece is rich in armorial shields and clumsy female figures typical of Virtue and Abundance ; an ancient iron Sussex fire-back harmonises with the quaint brazen dogs before it ; the tall English chairs are covered wilh stuff from

Levant ; the bookcases are crowned with Oriental jars ; and a cabinet is well filled with Roman , Etruscan , and Grecian pottery . Nearly all the rooms on the ground floor open on an inner hall beyond the library , from which a broad Elizabethan staircase with massive balusters and newels passes under a curious carved tester with pendants o the storey above . You have no time to look at the collection of Staffordshire pottery on the walls ,

or the bright-coloured faience which Lady Beclive brought back from Tunis ; you enter a long panelled passage , at the end of which you see sunshine and foliage through an open door , and there , just opposite an engraving of the last Irish Parliament , is the cosy ' den" of the master of Wakehurst . The Comptroller of the Household wears no gorgeous uniform at Wakehurst . He is clad just now in a serge jacket and check trousers ;

an Albanian shepherd ' s cap is tossed on a chair beside him , and an interview with his carpenter has rudel y interrupted his perusal of the Times and the Field . Next to music , Lady Arthur Hill certainly loves flowers , and the " den" comes in for more than its fair share of floral adornment . You must not disturb the discussion of projected improvements , so you look at the characteristic portrait of the " Big Marquis " amongst the Bartolozzis

and photographs on the wall , and think of all that has passed since he was the generous and athletic protector of the small boys at Eton , the terror of the bargees at Oxford , and the successful swimmer of the Hellespont . The liqueur stands on the side table with the twisted legs , the bundles of spills on either ' side of the grate , and the pile of cigar boxes tell their own tale of Irish hospitality . A fox ' s mask , which reminds Lord Arthur of a memorable run in Berkshire , is fixed above one of George Morland ' s pictures on

the little door ; some Italian plaques have been adroitly inserted in the miniature over-mantel ; and a pair of hammerless guns , just received from Mr . Braddell , of Bellast . and lying on the floor , remind you that the member for County Down is an ardent sportsman . You are looking at the painting ot Caroline Lady Downshire , the original purchaser of Wakehurst , which occupies a prominent position in her son ' s study , when Lord Arthur dismisses his factotum and offers to show you the old house , of which he is , with good reason , not a little proud .

Across the staircase-hall is Lady Downshire ' s cheerful drawing-room , opening on a conservatory where the family is accustomed to assemble after dinner . Lord Arthur Hill carved the panels for the chimney-piece of his mother ' s room with his own hands ; the pink walls are hidden by the abundance of- family pictures and miniatures , and it is here that solemn conferences take place between the Dame President and Ruling Councillor of the Wakehurst Habitation of the Primrose League . You would willingly linger over Wyebird ' s sketch of "the Fourth Marquis , " the faded