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Article CONTENTS. Page 1 of 1 Article UNITED GRAND LODGE. Page 1 of 1 Article NEW LODGES. Page 1 of 1 Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS. Page 1 of 1 Article ST. ALBAN'S RESTORATION COMMITTEE. Page 1 of 1 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE. Page 1 of 1 Article FREEMASONRY IN AUSTRALIA. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
United Grand Lodge S 3 New lodges 5 5 St . Alban's Restoration Committee 525 Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Gloucestershire $ 2 $ Roval Masonic Institution for Girls S-S Freemasonry in Australia 5 2 5 Freemasonry in New Zealand 5 Order of Memphis 5-G
Hosicmciaw Society 5 J 6 R EPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 5 = 6 Instruction S 9 Royal Arch 5 2 9 Mark Masonry 5 ^ 9 Ucd Cross of Constantino . 52 9 Ancient and Accepted Rite 52 9 Scotland S-9
Obituary S 3 Masonic Notes and Queries , S 3 C Reviews , S 3 1 Masonic and General Tidings , $ 31 LEADERS 53-Answers to Queries 533 C ORRESPONDENCEGrand Officers 533
Hro . Dr . Goss Crucclix S 33 Red Cross of Rome and Constantine 534 A Query 534 Lodge of Industry , No . 48 534 Saved by a Sign . " 534 The Number of Metropolitan Lodges 534 Literary , Art , and Antiquarian Notes 534 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 534 Advetisements I .. II ., III ., IV ., V ., VI .
United Grand Lodge.
UNITED GRAND LODGE .
The following- is the agenda paper of the business to be transacted at the United Grand Lodge to be held on Wednesday , December tst : 1 , The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the
1 st September , 1 SS 0 , for confirmation . 2 . Nomination of a Grand Master for the ensuing ; year . 3 . Report of the Committee appointed by Grand Lodge 3 rd March , 1 SS 0 , on the purchase of property adjoining ' Freemasons' Hall .
4 . Election of a member of the Board of General Pur poses in the place of Bro . Frederick H . McCalmont , W . M No . 394 , deceased . 5 . Appointment of a President of the Lodge of Bene volence .
G . Election of a Senior and Junior Vice-President of the Lodge of Benevolence . 7 . Election of twelve Past Masters to serve on the Lodge of Benevolence for the year ensuing . S . Report of the Lodge of Benevolence for the last quarter , wherein the recommendation made on the iSth August last for a grant of £ 150 to a brother of Lodge No .
1321 ! , having been referred back b y Grand Lodge on the 1 st September for reconsideration , is cancelled , except so far as the £ 10 already paid on account of such recommended grant . And recommendations are made for the following grants , viz .: — £ s . d The widow of a brother of St . James' Lodge , No .
44 S , Halifax , Yorkshire 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Royal Brunswick Lodge , No . 732 , Brighton 50 o o 1 he widow of a brother of the High Cross Lodge , No . 754 , Tottenham 50 o o A brother of the Capper Lodge , No . 1076 , London 50 o o A brother of the Windsor Castle Lodire . No .
771 , Windsor , 00 o 0 A brother of the Portsmouth Lodge , No . 487 , Portsmouth 100 o c the widow of a brother of the Wellington Lodge , N 0 . 7 S 4 , Deal 50 o c " brother of the Nyanza Lodge , No . 1197 , Uminster woo 1 he widow of a brother of the St . John ' s Lodtre .
No . 279 , Leicester 75 o o ft brother of the Royal Sussex Lodge of Emulation , No . 355 , Swindon 100 o o 'he widow of a brother of the Wellington Lodge , No . 54 S , Deptford " ... ' 75 o o p . REPORT OF THE BOARD OK GENERAL PURPOSES . . to the United Grand Lodce of Anrienr Fmo nnrl
A « eptcd Masons of England . the Board of General Purposes beg to submit a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts , at the meeting of the mance Committee , held on Friday , the 12 th day of Nov"nber mst ., showing a balance in the Bank of England of M 573 12 s . 1 id . ; and in the hands of the Grand
Secrecy lor petty cash £ 75 , and for servants' wages £ g 6 15 s . „ ( Signed ) J B . MONCKTON , ' reemasons * Hall , London , W . C ., President . M 16 th November , 1 SS 0 . Br ., ? ? ° J ~ bretl , rer ' nominated to fill the vacancy on the Ward of General Puraoses :
PMM nry Harben > P-M- No- 92 ; Bro . John Messent , ' 2 3 ° f BciTeTOhf Pa St Mastcrs "O ^ natcd to serve on the Lodge P . M ° ! r £ T ; % L "' . P-M- lS 3 ; Walter T . Christian , KM , sr -iT ' - Collier , P . M . GG ; John Constable P . M " , „ . VI ft l ? iu y' P-M - > 4 > ; Henry Garrnd , '" 749 ; Charles K Hogard , P . M . 205 ; John M . KIcnck
P . M . 16 S 6 ; William Mann , P . M . iSG ; Henry Massey , P . M . 619 ; William H . Perryman , P . M . 3 ; William Stephens , 14 S 9 ; and no more than twelve were nominated .
New Lodges.
NEW LODGES .
List of lodges for which warrants have been granted by the M . W . Grand Master since the last Quarterly Communication o £ . Grand Lodge—Lodge 1 S 77 , Ashley , Rangiora , Canterbury , N . Z . „ 1 S 7 S , Northern Light , Kawa Kawa , Auckland , N . Z . „ 1 S 79 , Lord Warkworth , Amble , Northumberland . ,, 1 SS 0 , The Goulbourn Valley of St . George ,
Shepparton , Victoria . „ 1 SS 1 , Neptune , Melbourne , Victoria . „ 1 SS 2 , St . John of Rochester , Rochester , Victoria . ,, iSS' „ William of Wykcham , Winchester . „ iSS ' 4 , Chine , Shanklin , Isle of Wight . „ 1 SS 5 , Torridge , Great Torrington , Devon . „ 1 SS 6 , St . John ' s , Kokstad , Griqualand .
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
The General Committee of this Institution met on Thursday afternoon , at Freemasons' Hall , Col . ^ Creaton , Grand Treasurer , in the chair . There were also present Bros . E . Lctchworth , I' \ Adlard , ] . J . Berry , W . Stephens , A . J . Duff Filer , E . ISpooner , W . F . C . Moutrie , C . G .
Brown , A . E . Gladwell , 1 ' . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting , the minutes of the House Committee were read for information . Col . CREATO . V said there was one recommendation arising out of the House Committee's Report , which would have to
be considered by the General Committee , and that was the appointment of Mr . T . A . Howell as Honorary Assistant Medical Officer to the School . Mr . Howell was the son of Dr . Howell , the medical officer of the Institution , and as the School was now getting very large it was thought advisable to have an assistant . Dr . Howell had been good enough at different times to employ his assistants in watching the health of the pupils ; Mr . Howell was now an
assistant to his father . I he House Committee thought it would be well to appoint Mr . Howell assistant medical officer to the Institution . On the motion of Bro . LETCIIWORTH , seconded by Bro . FILER , Mr . Howell was appointed assistant medical officer . Petitions for placing four candidates on the list for election in April were read and examined , and the candidates were p laced on the list . The Committee then adjourned .
St. Alban's Restoration Committee.
ST . ALBAN'S RESTORATION COMMITTEE .
A meeting of this Committee took place on Tuesday last at Freemasons' Hall , when the reportof the Sub-Committee was unanimously adopted , and the design of a Reredos approved of , and the tender for £ 490 accepted . Orders were also given to commence the work .
A very beautiful design for the Reredos by Mr . J . O . Scott was exhibited , and which , as has just been said , was accepted in its general idea ; but it was also unanimousl y decided that the sculptures should he purely Masonic . After much interesting discussion and consideration of estimates , the following two resolutions were also unanimously adopted :
1 . "Resolved , that if a further sum of 4350 can be obtained , this Committee is clearly of opinion that the design of the proposed reredos , which is so artistic and effective in itself , and which has been unanimously accepted b y the Committee , ought to be completed by the filling in or the panels with sculptures , and that subscriptions be requested from lodges and brethren to render the work a
complete work , and a satisfactory offering , on behalf of English Freemasons , to the Cathedral of St . Alban ' s . " 2 . " That in the event of the additional amount being raised , the sculptures be filled with Masonic subjects ; the representation of Alban and Amphibalus , Solomon and Hiram in the Temple , in the centre ; Moses and Aaron on Mount Hor , with a view of the Tabernacle , the faithful
sojourners restoring the walls of Jerusalem . We may add that the ultimate selection of the sculptures is not yet made , that the above suggestions are only tentative , except thatallsuch must be Masonic , and that Bro . C . E . Keyser , Merry Hill House , Bushey Walford , Herts , will gladly
receive suggestions , give information , and receive subscriptions . Any brethren or Secretaries of lodges wishful to have the printed circulars , can obtain them by applying to Bro . C . E . Keyser , and all subscriptions promised , but not yet paid , it is requested may be sent to him . Any new subscriptions will at once be announced in the Freemason .
Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Gloucestershire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE .
The Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire Mark Master Masons held a meeting at the lodge rooms , Cheltenham , on Saturday , the 20 th inst . The Ri ght Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Rev . C . R . Davy , Past G . C ., presided , and he was supported by the Very Worshipful the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . John Walker , M . A ., and the Baron dc Ferrieres , M . P ., G . M . O . There
were also present the Worshipful Bro . Geo . Rennie Powell , G . S ., P . G . S . W . ; the Worshipful Bro . Jas . Robertson , P . P . G . S . W . ; and Bros . W . L . Bain , P . G . Treas . ; lames Payne Curtis , P . G . Sec ; T . Brooke-Smith , P . G . S . O . ; Henry Jeffs , P . G . M . O . ; W . ' M . Lowick , P . G . J . O . ; F . G . Roberts , P . G . D . C .: Thos . Parker . P . G . I . G . ; Joseph R .
Monks , P . G . S . ; J . Stephens , P . G . S . ; W . C . Ferris , P . G . A . D . C ; H . Phillips , P . G . T . ; J . Naysmith , James Newman , R . T . Hughes , George Norman , Charles lies , and others . The business of Provincial Grand Lodge having been despatched , the brethren sat down to an admirably served banquet , the Right Worshipful P . G . M . presiding .
Freemasonry In Australia.
FREEMASONRY IN AUSTRALIA .
From the Australian Freemason for October Gth , 1 SS 0 . To a brother who , until his arrival here , has spent his life in England , the " battle of Constitutions " appears exceedingly curious . John Bull is far too apt to believe that the whole system of our universe is centred in Great Britain , and in no class of society is this more apparent than amongst the great rank and file of Freemasonry . To
doubt that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales is not only Grand Master of England , but the sovereign ruler of Freemasonry in every Degree throughout the whole civilised world , would be , by thousands of our English brethren , considered rank heresy , and the reasons for this belief are not far to seek . The members of lodges are never taught that there are many jurisdictions—not even informed that there are other Degrees beyond those of the M . M . and R . A . until
they find out , usually in a casual , and always in a gradual manner—lirst , that there are many different Orders to which entrance can only be gained through the Craft , and secondly , that Scotland and Ireland have separate Grand Lodges . Even then , it is by the greater moiety of our English brethren believed that if England has allowed them a kind of "home rule , " the privilege is merely permissive , and applies only to matters of local or internal
importance . To dream that foreigners can have entire control over their Masonic affairs , or that America is not subservient to the mother country , so far as regards our Institution , is quite out of the question . We do not mean to state that every brother in England is so ignorant of the extent of Freemasonry , or of its subdivision for the purposes of government , but we challenge contradiction from any competent authority upon the fact that the great
masses of our brethren are so little acquainted with what in America and the colonies is perfectl y well known to every brother , with but rare exceptions . Even the London Freemason , the only Masonic newspaper in England of any importance , "hardly ever" adverts to the affairs of Freemasonry outside England and Wales , the references to Scottish and Irish occurrences being few and far between , and to colonial , American , or foreign matters , fewer still .
If , then , the lodges , in gp cases out of 100 , confine themselves to the routine of ritual and necessary business , and the recognised organ of the Order does not instruct its readers , how can it be expected that the great bulk of our brethren in the old country can become enlightened or fit to understand , for instance , the battle New South Wales is gallantly fighting for Masonic independence ? The foregoing remarks equally apply to Ireland and
Scotland ; and we make bold to state that the very few brethren ( in comparison with the immense number of Masons there are in the British Isles ) who take so deep an interest in the affairs of Freemasony as to become " Grand Rulers , " do not make the slightest effort to afford information , but rather sec . 11 to do all in their power to prevent subjects being ventilated which lie beyond the ordinary affairs of a private lodge .
If this were not so , and individual members were sufficiently instructed in what is going on beyond their immediate circle to be able to form an opinion , the three Grand Lodges would frequently find their actions discountenanced . Who dare say , for instance , that if the facts relating to the formation of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales were properl y placed before every private lodge at home , and discussion invited thereon , that the verdict in our favour
would not be overwhelmingly large , if not perfectly unanimous ? The wire-pullers of the Grand Lodge of England —a tribunal looked up to b y the whole Masonic world as the very embodiment of justice and impartiality—dare not —we emphatically repeat , dare not—bring our claim before that Grand Body . They have [ suppressed our manifesto , choked our application , and taken upon themselves to decide a question which the Grand Lodge in Quarterly
Communication assembled has alone power to determine . Neither they , nor their representatives in this colony , can or will meet us with fair argument . If we attempt to show them , in friendly converse and brotherly spirit , how firm our premises are , and how legitimate our action , the only answer we obtain is a reiteration of the threadbare statement that we are not recognised by the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotlandand they affect to sneer at the
, fraternal greetings and cordial welcome extended to us by American and Canadian sister Grand Lodges . The reverse of this picture is to be found in the United States and the Dominion . There we find Masonry flourishing to an extent scarcely dreamt of by those who have not visited North America , or who do not regularly peruse the
exceedingly numerous and high-class Masonic newspapers there published . Every topic which presents itself to the Masonic world is thoroughly understood by the great majorit y of brethren , and is carefully ventilated and properly discussed . One by one , as the various Grand Lodges take up the question of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales , a verdict is given in its favour . The home authori-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
United Grand Lodge S 3 New lodges 5 5 St . Alban's Restoration Committee 525 Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Gloucestershire $ 2 $ Roval Masonic Institution for Girls S-S Freemasonry in Australia 5 2 5 Freemasonry in New Zealand 5 Order of Memphis 5-G
Hosicmciaw Society 5 J 6 R EPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 5 = 6 Instruction S 9 Royal Arch 5 2 9 Mark Masonry 5 ^ 9 Ucd Cross of Constantino . 52 9 Ancient and Accepted Rite 52 9 Scotland S-9
Obituary S 3 Masonic Notes and Queries , S 3 C Reviews , S 3 1 Masonic and General Tidings , $ 31 LEADERS 53-Answers to Queries 533 C ORRESPONDENCEGrand Officers 533
Hro . Dr . Goss Crucclix S 33 Red Cross of Rome and Constantine 534 A Query 534 Lodge of Industry , No . 48 534 Saved by a Sign . " 534 The Number of Metropolitan Lodges 534 Literary , Art , and Antiquarian Notes 534 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 534 Advetisements I .. II ., III ., IV ., V ., VI .
United Grand Lodge.
UNITED GRAND LODGE .
The following- is the agenda paper of the business to be transacted at the United Grand Lodge to be held on Wednesday , December tst : 1 , The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the
1 st September , 1 SS 0 , for confirmation . 2 . Nomination of a Grand Master for the ensuing ; year . 3 . Report of the Committee appointed by Grand Lodge 3 rd March , 1 SS 0 , on the purchase of property adjoining ' Freemasons' Hall .
4 . Election of a member of the Board of General Pur poses in the place of Bro . Frederick H . McCalmont , W . M No . 394 , deceased . 5 . Appointment of a President of the Lodge of Bene volence .
G . Election of a Senior and Junior Vice-President of the Lodge of Benevolence . 7 . Election of twelve Past Masters to serve on the Lodge of Benevolence for the year ensuing . S . Report of the Lodge of Benevolence for the last quarter , wherein the recommendation made on the iSth August last for a grant of £ 150 to a brother of Lodge No .
1321 ! , having been referred back b y Grand Lodge on the 1 st September for reconsideration , is cancelled , except so far as the £ 10 already paid on account of such recommended grant . And recommendations are made for the following grants , viz .: — £ s . d The widow of a brother of St . James' Lodge , No .
44 S , Halifax , Yorkshire 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Royal Brunswick Lodge , No . 732 , Brighton 50 o o 1 he widow of a brother of the High Cross Lodge , No . 754 , Tottenham 50 o o A brother of the Capper Lodge , No . 1076 , London 50 o o A brother of the Windsor Castle Lodire . No .
771 , Windsor , 00 o 0 A brother of the Portsmouth Lodge , No . 487 , Portsmouth 100 o c the widow of a brother of the Wellington Lodge , N 0 . 7 S 4 , Deal 50 o c " brother of the Nyanza Lodge , No . 1197 , Uminster woo 1 he widow of a brother of the St . John ' s Lodtre .
No . 279 , Leicester 75 o o ft brother of the Royal Sussex Lodge of Emulation , No . 355 , Swindon 100 o o 'he widow of a brother of the Wellington Lodge , No . 54 S , Deptford " ... ' 75 o o p . REPORT OF THE BOARD OK GENERAL PURPOSES . . to the United Grand Lodce of Anrienr Fmo nnrl
A « eptcd Masons of England . the Board of General Purposes beg to submit a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts , at the meeting of the mance Committee , held on Friday , the 12 th day of Nov"nber mst ., showing a balance in the Bank of England of M 573 12 s . 1 id . ; and in the hands of the Grand
Secrecy lor petty cash £ 75 , and for servants' wages £ g 6 15 s . „ ( Signed ) J B . MONCKTON , ' reemasons * Hall , London , W . C ., President . M 16 th November , 1 SS 0 . Br ., ? ? ° J ~ bretl , rer ' nominated to fill the vacancy on the Ward of General Puraoses :
PMM nry Harben > P-M- No- 92 ; Bro . John Messent , ' 2 3 ° f BciTeTOhf Pa St Mastcrs "O ^ natcd to serve on the Lodge P . M ° ! r £ T ; % L "' . P-M- lS 3 ; Walter T . Christian , KM , sr -iT ' - Collier , P . M . GG ; John Constable P . M " , „ . VI ft l ? iu y' P-M - > 4 > ; Henry Garrnd , '" 749 ; Charles K Hogard , P . M . 205 ; John M . KIcnck
P . M . 16 S 6 ; William Mann , P . M . iSG ; Henry Massey , P . M . 619 ; William H . Perryman , P . M . 3 ; William Stephens , 14 S 9 ; and no more than twelve were nominated .
New Lodges.
NEW LODGES .
List of lodges for which warrants have been granted by the M . W . Grand Master since the last Quarterly Communication o £ . Grand Lodge—Lodge 1 S 77 , Ashley , Rangiora , Canterbury , N . Z . „ 1 S 7 S , Northern Light , Kawa Kawa , Auckland , N . Z . „ 1 S 79 , Lord Warkworth , Amble , Northumberland . ,, 1 SS 0 , The Goulbourn Valley of St . George ,
Shepparton , Victoria . „ 1 SS 1 , Neptune , Melbourne , Victoria . „ 1 SS 2 , St . John of Rochester , Rochester , Victoria . ,, iSS' „ William of Wykcham , Winchester . „ iSS ' 4 , Chine , Shanklin , Isle of Wight . „ 1 SS 5 , Torridge , Great Torrington , Devon . „ 1 SS 6 , St . John ' s , Kokstad , Griqualand .
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
The General Committee of this Institution met on Thursday afternoon , at Freemasons' Hall , Col . ^ Creaton , Grand Treasurer , in the chair . There were also present Bros . E . Lctchworth , I' \ Adlard , ] . J . Berry , W . Stephens , A . J . Duff Filer , E . ISpooner , W . F . C . Moutrie , C . G .
Brown , A . E . Gladwell , 1 ' . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting , the minutes of the House Committee were read for information . Col . CREATO . V said there was one recommendation arising out of the House Committee's Report , which would have to
be considered by the General Committee , and that was the appointment of Mr . T . A . Howell as Honorary Assistant Medical Officer to the School . Mr . Howell was the son of Dr . Howell , the medical officer of the Institution , and as the School was now getting very large it was thought advisable to have an assistant . Dr . Howell had been good enough at different times to employ his assistants in watching the health of the pupils ; Mr . Howell was now an
assistant to his father . I he House Committee thought it would be well to appoint Mr . Howell assistant medical officer to the Institution . On the motion of Bro . LETCIIWORTH , seconded by Bro . FILER , Mr . Howell was appointed assistant medical officer . Petitions for placing four candidates on the list for election in April were read and examined , and the candidates were p laced on the list . The Committee then adjourned .
St. Alban's Restoration Committee.
ST . ALBAN'S RESTORATION COMMITTEE .
A meeting of this Committee took place on Tuesday last at Freemasons' Hall , when the reportof the Sub-Committee was unanimously adopted , and the design of a Reredos approved of , and the tender for £ 490 accepted . Orders were also given to commence the work .
A very beautiful design for the Reredos by Mr . J . O . Scott was exhibited , and which , as has just been said , was accepted in its general idea ; but it was also unanimousl y decided that the sculptures should he purely Masonic . After much interesting discussion and consideration of estimates , the following two resolutions were also unanimously adopted :
1 . "Resolved , that if a further sum of 4350 can be obtained , this Committee is clearly of opinion that the design of the proposed reredos , which is so artistic and effective in itself , and which has been unanimously accepted b y the Committee , ought to be completed by the filling in or the panels with sculptures , and that subscriptions be requested from lodges and brethren to render the work a
complete work , and a satisfactory offering , on behalf of English Freemasons , to the Cathedral of St . Alban ' s . " 2 . " That in the event of the additional amount being raised , the sculptures be filled with Masonic subjects ; the representation of Alban and Amphibalus , Solomon and Hiram in the Temple , in the centre ; Moses and Aaron on Mount Hor , with a view of the Tabernacle , the faithful
sojourners restoring the walls of Jerusalem . We may add that the ultimate selection of the sculptures is not yet made , that the above suggestions are only tentative , except thatallsuch must be Masonic , and that Bro . C . E . Keyser , Merry Hill House , Bushey Walford , Herts , will gladly
receive suggestions , give information , and receive subscriptions . Any brethren or Secretaries of lodges wishful to have the printed circulars , can obtain them by applying to Bro . C . E . Keyser , and all subscriptions promised , but not yet paid , it is requested may be sent to him . Any new subscriptions will at once be announced in the Freemason .
Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Gloucestershire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE .
The Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire Mark Master Masons held a meeting at the lodge rooms , Cheltenham , on Saturday , the 20 th inst . The Ri ght Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Rev . C . R . Davy , Past G . C ., presided , and he was supported by the Very Worshipful the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . John Walker , M . A ., and the Baron dc Ferrieres , M . P ., G . M . O . There
were also present the Worshipful Bro . Geo . Rennie Powell , G . S ., P . G . S . W . ; the Worshipful Bro . Jas . Robertson , P . P . G . S . W . ; and Bros . W . L . Bain , P . G . Treas . ; lames Payne Curtis , P . G . Sec ; T . Brooke-Smith , P . G . S . O . ; Henry Jeffs , P . G . M . O . ; W . ' M . Lowick , P . G . J . O . ; F . G . Roberts , P . G . D . C .: Thos . Parker . P . G . I . G . ; Joseph R .
Monks , P . G . S . ; J . Stephens , P . G . S . ; W . C . Ferris , P . G . A . D . C ; H . Phillips , P . G . T . ; J . Naysmith , James Newman , R . T . Hughes , George Norman , Charles lies , and others . The business of Provincial Grand Lodge having been despatched , the brethren sat down to an admirably served banquet , the Right Worshipful P . G . M . presiding .
Freemasonry In Australia.
FREEMASONRY IN AUSTRALIA .
From the Australian Freemason for October Gth , 1 SS 0 . To a brother who , until his arrival here , has spent his life in England , the " battle of Constitutions " appears exceedingly curious . John Bull is far too apt to believe that the whole system of our universe is centred in Great Britain , and in no class of society is this more apparent than amongst the great rank and file of Freemasonry . To
doubt that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales is not only Grand Master of England , but the sovereign ruler of Freemasonry in every Degree throughout the whole civilised world , would be , by thousands of our English brethren , considered rank heresy , and the reasons for this belief are not far to seek . The members of lodges are never taught that there are many jurisdictions—not even informed that there are other Degrees beyond those of the M . M . and R . A . until
they find out , usually in a casual , and always in a gradual manner—lirst , that there are many different Orders to which entrance can only be gained through the Craft , and secondly , that Scotland and Ireland have separate Grand Lodges . Even then , it is by the greater moiety of our English brethren believed that if England has allowed them a kind of "home rule , " the privilege is merely permissive , and applies only to matters of local or internal
importance . To dream that foreigners can have entire control over their Masonic affairs , or that America is not subservient to the mother country , so far as regards our Institution , is quite out of the question . We do not mean to state that every brother in England is so ignorant of the extent of Freemasonry , or of its subdivision for the purposes of government , but we challenge contradiction from any competent authority upon the fact that the great
masses of our brethren are so little acquainted with what in America and the colonies is perfectl y well known to every brother , with but rare exceptions . Even the London Freemason , the only Masonic newspaper in England of any importance , "hardly ever" adverts to the affairs of Freemasonry outside England and Wales , the references to Scottish and Irish occurrences being few and far between , and to colonial , American , or foreign matters , fewer still .
If , then , the lodges , in gp cases out of 100 , confine themselves to the routine of ritual and necessary business , and the recognised organ of the Order does not instruct its readers , how can it be expected that the great bulk of our brethren in the old country can become enlightened or fit to understand , for instance , the battle New South Wales is gallantly fighting for Masonic independence ? The foregoing remarks equally apply to Ireland and
Scotland ; and we make bold to state that the very few brethren ( in comparison with the immense number of Masons there are in the British Isles ) who take so deep an interest in the affairs of Freemasony as to become " Grand Rulers , " do not make the slightest effort to afford information , but rather sec . 11 to do all in their power to prevent subjects being ventilated which lie beyond the ordinary affairs of a private lodge .
If this were not so , and individual members were sufficiently instructed in what is going on beyond their immediate circle to be able to form an opinion , the three Grand Lodges would frequently find their actions discountenanced . Who dare say , for instance , that if the facts relating to the formation of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales were properl y placed before every private lodge at home , and discussion invited thereon , that the verdict in our favour
would not be overwhelmingly large , if not perfectly unanimous ? The wire-pullers of the Grand Lodge of England —a tribunal looked up to b y the whole Masonic world as the very embodiment of justice and impartiality—dare not —we emphatically repeat , dare not—bring our claim before that Grand Body . They have [ suppressed our manifesto , choked our application , and taken upon themselves to decide a question which the Grand Lodge in Quarterly
Communication assembled has alone power to determine . Neither they , nor their representatives in this colony , can or will meet us with fair argument . If we attempt to show them , in friendly converse and brotherly spirit , how firm our premises are , and how legitimate our action , the only answer we obtain is a reiteration of the threadbare statement that we are not recognised by the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotlandand they affect to sneer at the
, fraternal greetings and cordial welcome extended to us by American and Canadian sister Grand Lodges . The reverse of this picture is to be found in the United States and the Dominion . There we find Masonry flourishing to an extent scarcely dreamt of by those who have not visited North America , or who do not regularly peruse the
exceedingly numerous and high-class Masonic newspapers there published . Every topic which presents itself to the Masonic world is thoroughly understood by the great majorit y of brethren , and is carefully ventilated and properly discussed . One by one , as the various Grand Lodges take up the question of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales , a verdict is given in its favour . The home authori-