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E ^^^ g ^ SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 29 , 1900 .

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

U is with very sincere regret that we have heard ol the approaching resignation by Bro . D . Murray Lyon ot the ollice ot Grand Secretary ol the Grand Lodge ot Scotland . This ollice he has held for the greater part of the last ouarter of a century , and the ability ,

Masonic Notes.

tact , and judgment he has invariably exhibited in the discharge of his many and arduous duties have won for him the esteem and respect of the whole body of Scottish Masons . He was elected to o ffice at a time when the affairs of the Grand Lodge of Scotland were

utterly disorganised . Now its condition , humanly speaking , is one of assured prosperity . In the work of educing order out of chaos Bro . Lyon has played a leading part , and now that his health has given way

and he is no longer able to stand the wear and tear of ollicial duty , he finds it necessary to seek in retirement a repose which all his Scottish brethren will hope may bc prolonged for many years .

it is to be regretted that Lord Blythswood Past Grand Master Mason of Scotland , in his capacity of Prov . Grand Master of East Renfrewshire , was unable to perform the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new parish church of Rutherglen , of

which a full account appeared in our last week s issue . However , his lordship ' s place was ably filled by Bro Major Allan , his respected Deputy , and as the weather was beautifully fine , those who had the privilege of witnessing the unusual spectacle must consider

themselves highly favoured . There was a large attendance of the brethren , of members of other societies , and of thc general public , and the whole thing passed off in a

manner that left nothing to be desired . Wc congratulate the Province and Bro . Major Allan on the success of the proceedings . * * »

We most cordially agree with Bro . Hughan as to thc merits of "The Masonic Guide to South Australia . " It is undoubtedly one of the best calendars of its class , be they home or colonial , which have come under our notice . The Grand Lodge of

South Australia , by virtue of its earlier constitution , takes precedence of thc other Australasian Grand Lodges , but though the senior in respect of age , it is far from being thc strongest numerically . However , according to thc " Guide , " reviewed by Bro . Hughan

last week , it now has 43 lodges on its register , with close on 2500 members , and under the government of Bro . the Right Hon . Sir Samuel James Way , Bart ., who was elected and installed its first Grand Master in lSS < 5 , was M . W . Pro Grand Master during thc Grand

Mastership of Bro . the Earl of Kantore , and on his vacation of office was again elected , and still is M . W . Grand Master , there is every reason to hope and believe that thc Grand Lodge of South Australia will continue to prosper . Bro . Sir S . Way , as Lieut .-

Governor and Chief Justice of the Colony , is a man of influence ; as a Mason he is both beloved and respected . Hence our anticipations that thc Grand Lodge under his auspices will go on and prosper . * * *

But this is not thc only point in which wc find ourselves in agreement with Bro . Hughan . He strongly advises thc Duke of Leinster Lodge , No . 363 on the Register of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , which is the only lodge that has remained in its old allegiance , to

lose no time in casting in its lot with the rest of thc lodges in thc Colony and placing itself under thc banner of the Grand Lodge . His arguments arc precisely similar to those we used in thc case of the Anglo-Montreal lodges . No reasonable objection can bc taken

to the Duke of Leinster Lodge with its Royal Arch chapter and Mark lodge remaining under thc Irish banner ; they have a perfect right to do . so if they wish . But the cause of Freemasonry ns a whole will be materially benefited when the whole of thc lodges in South

Australia are ranged under one Supreme Authority . Moreover , wc are of his opinion that the present time is favourable for such a union . Bro . Sir S . Way , as

we have said , is beloved and respected by thc whole Craft of Masonry in the Colony , and it would , indeed , bc a compliment to so eminent a brother , if the union he suggests were effected curing his ( irantl Mastership .

And thc course which lie ami \ vi- have xuggesli r ! in this particular case-and also in that of the three English lodges in Montreal , 111 ly with cp-l propii _ ty In : adopted in the other Australasian ColJnies by lolges which have elected to remain in their old allei'ianc . r ,

that is , in allegiance to the Grand Lodges which granted thein their respective warrants of constitution . In the old days , when wc strenuously upheld the rights of English , Irish , and Scottish lodges In continue working under their origin il warrants , there

were not a lew of cur Colonial contemporaries who charged ns for so doing with the commissi J . I of all kinds of high crimes ami misjcincaiiu ' . ir . s . ' . gainst the majesty of Colonial Masonry , as well as with entire ignorance of thc tendency ul Colonial Misja . c

Masonic Notes.

opinion on the advisability or otherwise of founding independent Colonial Grand Lodges . But we have never deviated from the opinion we formed when the question of establishing independent Colonial Grand Lodges was seriously raised , namely , that though

lodges of English , Irish , or Scottish lodges had an absolute right to continue working under their original warrants , it was to the best interests of Masonry in

those Colonies w iere the Craft was practicall y unanimous in its desire for independence , that all private lodges should cast in their lot with the proposed n-sw Grand Lodge . And this is the opinion we still hold .

Thus there is a lodge in Victoria which has elected to remain under the English Constitution , and there is another in New South Wales , which has adopted the same course . No one can question their perfect ri ght to act as they have done , and we trust the number is ' very

limited of those who would suggest any interference with the exercise or any curtailment of that right . But after all the interests of Freemasonry as a Society are paramount , and it will conduce more to the promotion of those interests if in those of our Colonies , which

have Grand Lodges of their own , whose independence has been recognised by the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland , the local Grand Lodges exercise supreme authority over the whole body of Craft Masonry .

Bro . T . Sherlock Graham , Dist . Grand Master , presided at the annual Communication of the Dist , Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland , which was held at Freemasons' Hall , Dunedin , on the 19 th June last . Before the regular proceedings commenced the

Dist . Grand Secretary read the letter which the Dist . Grand Master , on receipt of the news of the attempted assassination of the Prince of Wales , had ordered to be sent congratulating his Royal Hi ghness the M . W . G . M . on his providential escape . This having

been done , Bro . Graham invited the brethren to join in a prayer of thanksgiving for His great mercy in preserving the life of his Royal Highness . The Board of General Purposes called attention in its report to the amount of dues and fees of honour that were

outstanding , and expressed the hope that in future there would bc an improvement in this respect . The matters referred to by the Dist . Grand Master in his review of the past year were , for thc most part , of local interest , nor did anything of great importance

present itself during the proceedings . Though thc District is greatly reduced in strength , the meeting was fairly well attended , and the Dist . G . Treasurer had the satisfaction of reporting a satisfactory balance to the credit of the General Fund .

Let those who may be weak enough to attach any importance to thc virulent attacks which every now and then arc made upon Freemasonry by thc Romish priesthood or in the organs of Roman Catholic opinion in this and other countries , read the short

account wc quoted a fortnight since from a Madras contemporary of the address delivered at Simla , on the -5 " > July , by the Metropolitan of India—Bro . the Rev . Dr . Welldon—on " The Grave and Gay Side of Freemasonry . " More especially do we urge upon

them to read , mark , and inwardl y digest the full significance of thc declarations made ' by Bro . Dr Welldon as to the nature and objects of Freemasonry , and if they do this , we think any weakness of faith in the meritorious character of our Society will disappear at once and for ever .

1 here cannot be much to lind fault with in a Society which thc Roman Catholic priest habitually denounces when a learned divine of the Anglican Church , who is also one of us , rem irks .- "To myself , though the most earnest of Christians , the opportunity of

meeting men of other beliefs than my own upon the common ground of faith in God and immortality has been a privilege of great utility and pleasure . So long , " said Bishop Welldon , " as it is impossible that anyone shall become a Freemason without professing his

intellectual and spiritual adhesion to sublime religious doctrines , and so long as no one can live worthily as a Freemason without developing thc fruit of his doctrines in charity and philanthropy , Freemasonry will deserve the confidence of thoughtful and virtuous

ciii / . uus , and will play a great and salutary part in human life . '' Alter such outspoken declarations as these I ' rjiii a Bishop ot the Anglican Church , Ihere should be no misgivings 1 : 1 the minds of Masons as 10 the excelieir . character o thc Society to which they belong .