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which distinguished the handicraft of the great Architect of the Universe , preparing the stones , which , as if by magic , were at a given time to be gathered together and erected into the Temple of Solomon . They could , in imagination , stand by with bated breath and reverent silence , watching them put one stone upon another , without sound of axe or hammer , for they were

told" No sound of axe or metal tool through all that time was heard , No Craftsman broke the harmony with one discordant word , For so the work was portioned out by Solomon the Wise , From corner-stone to capital no discord could arise . " As if by the gradual growth of

nature"Like some tall palm the noiseless fabric sprang . " After all was built , and the Temple had been dedicated to the worship of the Great Jehovah , they could in imagination wander about its sacred courts and contemplate the marks and signs of their Craft . They could be present when the smoke of sacrifice and the fragrance of incense ascended from the sacred altar , and hear the chant of psalms in autiphonal measure . Further than that , in

imagination they could see their ancestors taking part in the proud ambitious attempt which led to the building of the Tower of Babel , and feel themselves secure with them as on the ark they rode safely amidst the tumult of many waters . But they do not need to throw the fanciful rays of imagination around their history . They might well be satisfied to take their stand on the more certain foundation of its historic and approved truths . They could go back

to the time when the world was much younger than it is now , and when to be a clever and cunning Craftsman was to be one of the foremost men of the day , to be the chosen companion of Princes and necessary appendages of royal courts . At a time when Craftsmen banded themselves together and took a real pride in their work and in lhe dignity and importance of their avocation , it was pleasing for them to think that a variety of circumstances

combined to give importance and influence to those Craftsmen who were skilled in the handling and setting of stones . As great cathedrals and churches and many important buildings sprang up in different parts of the world , the services of the most skilful were anxiously sought after . Masons from many quarters flocked to the spot to take part in the work , living in camps and tents beside the building upon which they were engaged . Over this group

a Master presided , and every tenth man was a warden having surveillance over the rest ; and it then became desirable and even necessary that means should be devised by which a person once a member of the Fraternity might be universally accepted as such , without requiring wherever he went to give fresh evidence of his skill , or having to undergo a renewed examination as to his qualifications . Thus there sprang into existence a series of symbols , in

which every Mason was instructed , and which he was bound to keep secret ; and this not only enabled him to find work , but , in pursuit of it , it enabled liim to claim hospitality of his brother Masons . Such are the foundations of modern or speculative Masonry , and they have reason to be proud of them . The purpose for which , as a body , they now existed—now that they no longer engage in the erection of material edifices , but occupied themselves in

spiritual buildings—is the practice of moral and social virtue ; and' the distinguishing characteristic of their Order was charity , in its widest and noblest sense . The precepts which they inculcated were brotherly love , relief , and truth . They had a beautiful system of morality , founded on the teachings of religion , about which there ought to be no question , and there is a charity about which there could be no dispute . In the words of the

poet" In faith or hope the world may disagree , Mankind ' s concern is charity . " It is the crowning glory of the Masonic Institution that , above all the din and confusion of earth it so clearly soun Is forth the watchword of human brotherhood and flies the white banner of love . " Ours are the ample views that , unconfined , Streich to the utmost walks of human kind ; Ours the spirit that , with widest plan ,

Brother to brother binds , and man to man . When the fleet vanities of life's brief day Oblivinn ' s hurrying wing shall sweep away , Each act by charity and mercy done High o ' er the wrecks' of time shall live alone , Immortal as the heavens , and beauteous bloom In other worlds and realms beyond the tomb . " As it was written in their ancient chronicles , so would he re

peat the sentiment as a fitting legend for that occasion" Love to God , sweet peace and charity to all men . " He called their attention to their high calling and vocation as Masons , and extorted them to walk reverently toward God , and lovingly toward men , thus reflecting the true glory of their ancient institution , and making this world something the brighter and better by their having lived in it . If their practice should be commensurate with their professions , and if

they honestly endeavoured to act upon the principles which they had sworn lo maintain , then Masonry must become a real blessing to any community , and everything , such as the establishment of their District Grand Lodge , which tends to consolidate and strengthen it , must conduce in some degree to the true and existing prosperity of the colony . Let each

individual Mason feel the responsibility which rests upon him . Let him know that it maybe his part to bring honour or dishonour upon his Craft , and let them all be found in the straight path of integrity , honour , and virtue : " United then and for these ends , Let scorn deride and envy rail ; From age to age the Craft descends ,

And what we build shall never fail . " If they succeed in their endeavours , who could tell the amount of pleasure and profit which might result . The labours of this regular communication of the District Grand Lodge of Natal having been begun in order , and the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe having been invoked on their proceedings , might they be continued in peace , and closed in love and harmony . So mote it be !

At the conclusion of the address , the District Grand Lodge proceeded to discuss the draft bye-laws , and passed a number of them provisionally . There was besides sundry other business which was brought before the lodge . The following brethren were appointed District Grand Stewards : Bros . VV . A . Smith ( Natalia Lodge ) , Peter Flett ( Carnarvon ) , T . Cook ( Port Natal ) , W . F . Stanton ( Umlazi ) , W . H . Kinsman ( Addington ) , and R . VV . Horsley ( Skelmersdale ) .

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The District Grand Lodge was then closed in due form , and in the evening the brethren assembled again at a sumptuous banquet provided by the three Pietermaritzburgh lodges , at which R . W . Bro . Finnemore and the officers of District Grand Lodge from Durban were entertained as guests . VVe shall report the proceedings in a future number .

Australia.

Australia .

THE VICTORIAN GRAND LODGE QUESTION . ( Correspondence from the "Melbourne Argus" re the above question , continued from last week . ) Sir , —1 he letter which appears in your issue of to-day , signed " Constitutional , " and the circular letter of Julius Willmott referred to by " Masonic Progress , " deserve notice , because the former is erroneous , and therefore

misleading , and the second because it is unmasonic in more senses than one . "Constitutional" is clearly , by his own showing , no authority with regard to facts . He states , with regard to the Grand Lodgeof New South VVales , that "some three years ago " it was formed , whereas the time should have been nearer seven years . Writers who set themselves up as authorities should first of all be accurate in their facts .

Then , again , he is wrong about the Victorian Lodge being formed on an " American basis . " It is nothing of the sort , but follows the grand example ( noted below ) of the four lodges which , when Masonry was at a low ebb in England , as it is now here , formed the Grand Lodge of England . His extract from the Book of Constitutions , 1763 , is altogether misleading , and for his information , as well as to remove some of that dense ignorance which unfortunately

exists in the minds of many of the Craft as to the early history of Freemasonry in England , I will , with your permission , in as terse a manneras possible , relate what actually took place . My authorities , let me state , are standard works . I shall commence with the establishment of Masonry in York in 926 A . D ., when Masons met under the special protection of King Athelstan , who granted them a charter

which formed the Grand Lodge in York . This is the origin ofthe " Antient York Rite . " The Abbey of Kilwinning , in Scotland , was raised by this fraternity in the thirteenth century . The Grand Lodge in York exercised Masonic jurisdiction over all England until 1567 , when the Masons in the South elected Sir T . Gresham their Grand Masier . ( Please note this landmark ) . In the beginning of the eighteenth century Masonry in the South of England—as is now

in the colony of Victoria—was in decay . In 1717 four lodges in London met at the Apple Tree Tavern , Covent Garden , and formed themselves into a grand lodge , and Mr . Anthony Sayer was the first Grand Master . In 1738 several brethren seceded from the Grand Lodge , and formed themselves into York Masons , and later on into " Ancient York Masons , " and established themselves into a " Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons , " and were recognised by the

Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland . There were now two grand lodges in England . In 1 S 13 an understanding and a union was brought about between the two rival lodges by their respective Grand Masters , the Dukes of Kent and Sussex , and now exists under the title of the Grand Lodge of England . A comparison of the above historical account of early Masonry , with " Constitutional ' s" extract from an old Book'bf Constitutions , will show how utterly misleading he is .

The question is , have we , or have we not , Masonic right to do as we have done in forming a Grand Lodge of Victoria ? I maintain we have . VVe have , because Masonic tradition says we have . If four lodges in London could meet and legally form a grand lodge , why should 15 in this colony be debarred from exercising the same right ? We have the right , I say again , because other Masons seceded from the Grand Lodge of England in 1738 , and they were

recognised , and were therefore legally justified . We have the right , I maintain , because Canada did exactly what we have done , and are doing , and was recognised—at last . At last ! but after suffering delay and the bitter persecution of those whose vanity had to be gratified in being made officers in the District Grand Lodge of England . We have not only the light , but it is our duty , in the interest of Masonry , to form a grand lodge here . If it was

necessary in Canada , how much more necessary here , where we are 40 days' sail from England , and Canada only six ? If it is necessary to have a grand lodge in Ireland , only 10 hours from London , also in Scotland , same distance , how much more necessary here ? What is the condition ot Masonry in these colonies ? Why , for years it has been a bye-word . Need there be any stronger confirmation of this than that miserable pile

of buildings in Lonsdale-street known as the Masonic Hall ? Though " Constitutional " talks so glibly about the 95 lodges , what are they as regards attendance ? Would it not be better to have fewer , as under the New South VVales Constitution , where some number over 300 strong ? What is the cause of the lethargy ? Why , sir , it is the old story— " United we stand , divided we fall . " We have no less than three distinct grand lodges ,

and so far as Masonry is concerned neither is any good . I ' ve been a Mason over 20 years , a Past Master , and a member of the District Grand Lodge , E . C ., and I have no more idea of what the Deputy District Grand Master is like than I have of flying . How often under this vaunted English constitution have the members of the various lodges been visited by the District Grand Lodge Officers ? Seldom , indeed .

So far has this decay of Masonry in the colony been recognised , and for so long , that on more than one occasion have many of the most prominent Masons set their hands to documents , declaring that , in their belief , the time had come ( the last was about six years ago ) for the establishment of a Grand Lodge of Victoria , on the very lines we have acted . And now ( why it is quite laughable ) , where are these "illustrious names on the scroll of fame ?"

Must 1 write their history also ? Well , "they put their hands to the plough , and have looked back . " As they neared the time when they should take the decided step , their courage oozed out of their finger-nails , and they are now our loudest opponents . Just one word for Mr . Willmott . The above history ( which cannot be controverted ) shows at least that whether we are right or wrong it is open to a deal of argument , and

Australia.

being so—as Mr . Willmott ought to have known—how dare he charge those who happen to differ from him with "acting in defiance of all Masonic honour and duty ?" Who made him a judge over us , and whence his infallibility ? His " Masonic honour and duty , " let me tell him , is to speak kindly of his brother Masons , to " neither revile them himself , nor permit others to do so , " in terms of his oath . Go toMr . Willmott , and become again an Entered

, Apprentice , and learn to be a Mason . I almost forgot to notice the tenour of Mr . Willmott ' s circular letter , which simply is to stifle discussion , and it was thecarrying out of this plan , probably , which prompted that extraordinary request for you to close your columns against us . Many thanks to you , sir , for the foot-note to his letter . But if he carries out this " stifling process " in his lodge , what a farce it is for him every night , before

closing the lodge , to rise and solemnly ask , Has any brother aught to propose for the good of Freemasonry or this Iodge in particular ? " If the matter cannot be discussed in the English lodges , no wonder the English ^ Freemasons have not come with us to that extent , but which we hope now they will do . In the course of a little while Queensland , South Australia , New Zealand , and Tasmania will follow suit

and have each a Grand Lodge . Then , in the early future , instead of being divided into colonies and sub-divided into English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions , we can take one more step towards the federation of the colonies , and form a Grand Lodge of Australia , one fold under one shepherd , bound together in the bonds of brotherly love , relief , and July 13 th . TRUTH . Sir , —A very lame attempt is made by " Constitutional "

to show in what manner the formation of the Grand Lodge of Victoria is irregular . It has not been formed on an American basis , but upon a precedent established by the Grand Lodge of England itself , and followed by the Scotch and Irish Grand Lodges , as well as by those in the American States and British possessions . Your correspondent must know that it is not a fact that recognition by the English , Scotch , and Irish Grand Lodges follows the formation of

an independent jurisdiction by a majority of lodges . The Grand Lodge of Victoria would have just as hard a battle to fight if it had a majority of lodges as it may have now . I believe that every Grand Lodge that has been established has been formed by a minority of lodges . Certainly there can be no disputing the fact that the English , Irish , and Scotch Grand Lodges were founded by small minorities , and that they were subjected to the same persecution that

the Grand Lodges of New South VVales and Victoria have met with . The extract quoted by " Constitutional " is , 1 think , from a book that contains a great deal that is very absurd , and therefore it is not to be wholly relied on for its information . But if the statements in the extract are correct , they clearly prove that the London lodges , finding Freemasonry was degenerating , threw off their allegiance to the existing Grand Lodge at York , and established one

themselves . Is not the action of the lodges forming the Grand Lodge of Victoria analogous to that of the London lodges , which founded the Grand Lodge of England ? As to the remark of your correspondent , " that those who have allied themselves with the new movement have committed Masonic suicide , " I would like to ask him if it is not a fact that all reforms have been brought about by a few earnest and determined men , who have been compelled to suffer in their cause ?

Sir , in conclusion , I may say that but for this new movement" I know of many Freemasons who would have left it for ever , so disgusted are they with the present position of Freemasonry in Victoria , brought about by the competition that has been induced by having three Constitutions , and by the number of those who have gained admission to it solely for the purpose of trading upon its principles . — Yours . & c . V . C .

The following circular has been issued by the authorities of the English Constitution in Victoria : — " District Grand Lodge of Victoria , under the Grand Lodge of England . " District Grand Secretary's Office , " 54 , Queen-street , Melbourne , July 10 th , 18 S 3 . " Worshipful Sir and Brother , —An irregular body of

Freemasons , designating itself the Grand Lodgeof Victoria , having been inaugurated , I have been directed by the W . Deputy District Grand Master to instruct you not to allow any brethren connected with that institution to enter your lodge , either as a member or a visitor , and further , that you will point out to the members of your lodge the position they would be placed in if they in any way

countenanced or abetted the movement in question . " Not one lodge under this constitution has joined the so-called Grand Lodge of Victoria , and but very few English Freemasons have taken part in its formation , and it is with great p leasure that theVV . Deputy District Grand Mastcr is receiving intimations daily from the English lodges in this district of their devotion and loyalty to the

Grand Lodge of England . "The Deputy District Grand Master trusts that you will call the attention of members of your lodge , and more particularly the Past Masters , to the duty they owe to the Grand Lodge of England , and the obligations they have taken to discountenance the formation of any new lodge without the sanction of the M . W . the Grand Master . — Yours fraternally , "T . H . LEMPRIERE , Dist . G . Secretary . "

The following is the circular mentioned by " Masonic Progress" in his letter of July nth , which " we printed last week : " Masonic Hall , Lonsdale-street , " Melbourne , June 30 th , 1883 . " Dear Sir and Brother , —Permit me , as the W . Master of the lodge in which you are a member , to point out to you

that should you identify yourself in any way with the spurious Grand Lodgeof Victoria , it will be my duty to admonish you and refuse you admission to the lodge until you have satisfied the brethren that you are not connected with that body- , , ( I I ... _ . _ . _ . . .. nC . til .- nr . 1 _ - I * . n _> r » l . l . .. mi rr «__\ . Vl # > | PQ 1 ivai 11 ui litis ll 13 iuic

yuu , wa pu ^ juu . / inadvertently to attend a meeting or banquet without due consideration . " It is j'our duty to discountenance the movement and the movers in every way , as they are acting in defiance of all Masonic honour and duty . —Yours fraternally , "J ULIUS J . E . WILLMOTT , P . M ., W . M . 752 , E . C ( This correspondence will be concluded next week . )