The Australian Masonic Libel Case.

THE AUSTRALIAN MASONIC LIBEL CASE .

The particulars of the action at law to which we referred in our Notes of last week as having been tried in the First Civil Court in Melbourne in May last , and in which one Mason sued another for an alleged libel , may be very briefly stated . The defendant , Bro . THOMAS SMITH , being dissatisfied with the

manner in which the hund of Benevolence was administered , gave notice of his intention to move in Grand Lodge a resolution to the effect " that detailed particulars be given and printed concerning the distribution of the funds of the Board of Benevolence , as the expenditure in the past appears to be excessive . " On this

motion being brought before Grand Lodge the plaintiff , Bro . PHILIP BLASHKI , who was at the time President of the Board , indignantly denied that there was any justification for bringing it forward , or any truth in the statements by which it had been supported . He is also reported to have accused the defendant

of being influenced , by improper motives in moving his resolution , and of having asked the Board for moneys to spend as he wished , without regard to the objects and purposes of the Fund . The discussion was shortly afterwards stopped , and Bro . SMITH , on the ground that he had had no opportunity

of replying to Bro . BLASHKl ' S allegations , addressed a letter to the Australasian Keystone , in which he reiterated the circumstances which had induced him to move his resolution , and made other statements , which , though they may not have been libellous , or intended to be libellous , were by no means

complimentary to Bro . BLASHKI . This letter seems to have been too much for the latter , and he—whether acting on his motion or by the advice of others does not appear—at once determined on referring the dispute for settlement to a court of law , at the same time claiming damages to the amount of £ 2000 .

The trial , which extended over several days , resulted , as we announced last week , in a verdict for the defendant SMITH , and Bro . BLASHKI , though he has given notice of appeal against this decision , has thus far failed in vindicating his conduct from imputations which Bro . SMITH asserts he never made and never intended to make . But this is not all . The action thus

brought by Bro . BLASHKI has proved more disastrous still . A charge was brought against him ; in the United Grand Lodge of Victoria in the month of June following of having violated the sixth of the " Antient Charges " in the Book of Constitutions—rin having , as we presume , gone to law " about what

concerneth Masonry , without an absolute necessity apparent to the lodge ; " and on this charge he has been found guilty and sentenced to expulsion from the Order by the overwhelming majority of 196 to 5 / and that too notwithstanding it was announced in his behalf that he had resigned membership of his lodge and by so doing severed his connection with

Freemasonry . It remains to be seen what will be the result of Bro . BLASHKI ' S appeal against the verdict of the jury in favour of his opponent , Bro . SMITH , but whatever it may be , we cannot hel p repeating the regret we expressed last week that a dispute

' about what concerneth Masonry " should have been referred for settlement to a court of law . In the first place , the dispute was one which there ought to have been no difficulty in settling privately . In our opinion Dr . MADDEN—though as counsel for the defendant , he must not be taken as an impartial witness—was perfectly right

in describing the action as " a trumpery one which ought never to have been brought into court , " and in this opinion vve are justified b y what Mr . Justice HODGES , before whom the case was tried , 's reported to have said while the jury were considering their

verdict , when he spoke . of it as " a two-penny half-penny libel . " | n the next place , it cannot fail to exercise an unfavourable influence among the general public , when they find two prominent

members of a Society whose purpose is to establish peace and goodwill among all orders and conditions of men unable to arrange what was originally a mere difference of opinion between them Without having recourse to the law , On the other hand , we do

The Australian Masonic Libel Case.

not hesitate to express our belief that the expulsion of Bro . BLASHKI from Freemasonry is far too serious a punishment to have meted out to him for his violation of the sixth of our " Antient Charges . " It savours more of an act of vengeance than of one of justice .

Is Masonry A Designing Imposition?

IS MASONRY A DESIGNING IMPOSITION ?

Masonry has no particular claim for her secret mysteries , . all similar institutions , both ancient and modern , have their mysteries , which convey certain moral lessons to their members , nearly all societies , not excepting the various religions of the world , cover a portion of their proceedings with a veil of mystery .

Mystery is ever attractive , and the public more rapidly pursue an evanescent shadow than the paths of wisdom ; but in this enlightened age , a particular dress even if worn by a priest , mystical forms of speech by whomsoever uttered , or symbolical rites , let them be ever so imposing , will not mislead the intelligent , and will only dupe the ignorant for a short time .

The present age demands something of more form and substance than mere mystery ; let it be what it may , it must prove of true worth , or it will soon lapse into a state of " innocuous desuetude . " Is there anything of true worth in Masonry , or is it a mere mystery , and are the rituals and ceremonials a designing imposition .

From the earliest ages of history operations of the human mind have had for their outward expression invisible symbols , such symbols are types of truth designed to be more deeply impressed upon the memory ; this we see exemplified in the different forms of dedications . The Antediluvians erected

altars upon which their sacrificial offerings were presented , and their devotions were conducted amid rites and ceremonies which impressed not only the actors , but their spectators with solemn reverence ; and it was , no doubt , due to impressions thus received that the symbolism of all the earlier religions in Egypt ,

Assyria , and other countries took its rise . The first important description we have of such ceremonials is given in regard to the dedication of the ancient Tabernacle by Moses ; the second , the dedication of King Solomon ' s Temple at Jerusalem ; later it became the custom of Christians to dedicate their houses of

worship , they , no doubt , were induced to do so from the ancient practices of the Jews . During the ministry of Moses the Israelites were required to dedicate their dwellings before they

were occupied , they also set apart vessels , implements , and priestly vestiments used in . worship , certain persons were also assigned to the priesthood , and they were solemnly consecrated to God .

Masons continue the custom of dedicating buildings , and have also a personal consecration , this is made by every Mason when he voluntarily assumes the obligations of the Fraternity ; the sense of obligation is kept alive by repeated admonitions , instructions , and persuasions in the working of each Degree .

The candidate comes with a professed desire for knowledge , and is taught to divest his mind of thc vices and superfluities of life , to be diligent and prudent , to befriend and relieve a weary brother , to remind him of his errors and aid him in reformation ; he is taught that the whole human species is one great

family , and that man's mission is to soothe the unhappy , sympathise with their misfortunes , compassionate their miseries , and restore peace to their troubled minds ; he is taught his imperfect state by nature , and the state of perfection man may hope to attain ; he is taught that moral uncleanness is the grand

agent of human degradation ; that vice is an enervating exhaustive agency , and that virtue finds her reward by transplanting waste places into the beautiful ; he is taught to be a good citizen , a loyal subject to his country , and in line to obey the laws of God and man .