The Confusion In New Zealand.

authority in France has been guilty of a wanton attack on the rig hts of the Grand Lodge of England as exercised from time immemorial on British territory , and-not only on those of the Grand Lodge of England , but likewise on those of the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland , as similarly exercised , as well . But it

is still more clear , on the hypothesis that the Grand Orient of France does not scatter its warrants broadcast , but issues them after petition duly presented and approved , that the Grand Lodge of England is indebted for this affront to its prestige—of which " CRAFTSMAN" speaks somewhat sneeringly—to the

action of Sir ROBERT STOUT and his brother founders of this clandestine lodge in petitioning the Grand Orient for a warrant for their Lodge , L ' Amour de la Verite . Nor can we suppose that this act was done in ignorance of the unwritten international Masonic law or usage we have referred to , at all events , in the

case of Sir ROBERT STOUT , who , as Deputy District Grand Master of Otago and Southland , and one on whom his Royal Highness the GRAND MASTER was pleased to confer the brevet rank of a Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies of England at the time of the QUEEN ' Jubilee , must have had some

idea of the insult he was deliberately offering to the English Craft in thus obtaining a warrant not merely from a foreign Masonic body , but from that particular body with which his own Grand Lodge was directly at variance . It is not for us to suggest the course which should be pursued by the authorities of

our Grand Lodge in resenting this wanton insult , but it might have the effect of discouraging other loose-minded brethren from following so evil an example , if Sir ROBERT STOUT and his confreres in this business were ignominiously expelled from English Freemasonry .

We have only this one remark to add . If the promoters of the recent movement for establishing an independent Grand Lodge of New Zealand had acted less precipitately , there would

have been no disturbance of the peace and harmony hitherto prevailing among the brethren of the three Constitutions in that Colony . How much further the confusion which they are responsible for will extend remains to be seen .

Freemasonry In Chester.

FREEMASONRY IN CHESTER .

Bro . J . C . Robinson , who has done so much towards unravelling the early history of Freemasonry in Chester ; prior to his leaving for America , managed to make a careful examination of the lists of freemen of that city during the 17 th and early part of the 18 th centuries , aided by the valuable services of Mr . Thomas Hughes , F . S . A .

He has succeeded in tracing all the names but two , recorded in one of the Harleian MSS ., No . 2054 ( British Museum ) , which contains a number of interesting documents relating to the Chester companies ; the one under consideration being of great Masonic value . Folio 34 of MS . 2054 , gives a roll of twenty-seven names , the first being " William Wade , wt give for to be a free Mason . " whose name apparently occurs twice . To no brother

are we so much indebted for important particulars respecting this old and curious MS . as Bro . W . H . R ylands , F . S . A ., whose contribution , which appeared in the " Masonic Magazine" for 1882 , has proved of especial value in relation to the general history of the Craft . Bro . Rylands traced a number of these ancient Masonic celebrities ^ through their various wills , bonds , & c , from careful transcripts made by him from the original documents preserved in the Court of Probate at Chester .

So far as Bro . Robinson has been able to detect , he has given me the trades or occupations noted of the members of this old Chester lodge , or possibly the companies to which they belonged , also the dates or years of their freedom . Of course , it will be understood that there is no absolute certainty of all the names being precisely those of the same individuals referred to in both instances .

William Wade Mason " Made free " 28 th March , 168 7 Robert Morris ... ( ^ f "" 0 ' ^ - „ 1659 ' . Glazier „ 1683 William Street Alderman ^ ... „ (• - ) jQen

John Hughes ... ... Glover ... ... ,, 1663 ... Pewterer „ (?) rftf Sam Pike Taylor „ 1612 William Harvey ... ... Aldermany ... „ 164 c

Peter Downham Mason „ j . 668 Thomas FfouIkes Carpenter ... ,, 1681 Will Hughes ... Bricklayer ... ,, , 66 3 ... Yeoman „ , 604

¦•• ••• ,, 1696 John Fletcher ... Barber ,, 16 C 7 ... Carpenter ... „ , g 8 ... Pipemaker ... „ i ^ 2 ... Mason „ 16 79 Seth Hilton Mason „ i ( , j 2

Freemasonry In Chester.

Randle Holme ( Younger ) ... Herald Painter ... "Made free" 1656 ( Junior ) ' ... Do . ... „ 16 9 6 Richard Taylor Glazier ,, 1672 ... Felt maker ... ,, 16 7 8 rzin * . ; a * ofitb Oct- ifiR-7

... Merchant ... „ 20 th Dec , 168 7 ... Gentleman ... „ I 0 95 Richard Ratcliffe Gentleman ... „ 1672 William Woods Mason ,, 1660

... LIO „ j oys John Parry Carpenter ... „ 1662 Thomas Morris Yeoman ... ,, 1660 William Robinson Cordwaincr ... ,, 1695

Do . Fcltmaker ... „ 1603 Do . Carpenter ... „ 1656 Do . Weaver ... „ 1656 James Mort Mason ... „ 16 79 John Lloyd Do . ... „ 166 3

Do . Feltmaker ... ,, 1652 Do . Esq . ... ,, 16 99 George Harvie Miller ... ,, 1649 Do . ... ... Linendraper ... ,, 166 3 William Tnrkson ... ... Tnnnpr * TfV 75 >

Robert Harvey Haberdasher ... ,, 16 7 6 John Maddock Tanner ... „ 16 5 6 Do . Do . ... „ 1662 Do . Do . ... „ 1679

Bro . Robinson was unable to discover any trace of the names of either Michael Holden or Thomas May . Of the most of these freemen , I think we can fairly make such a selection that will connect them with the Masonic lodge , and thus abundantly confirm Bro . Rvland ' s able article respecting their

speculative character , very few , indeed , having been connected witl the Mason-trade , besides favouring the estimate that the MS itself was written circa 1650—70 . Bro . Robinson failed to find the books of the Masons' Com

pany , but consider they are yet to be discovered . The Goldsmiths' and Masons' Companies together bore the expenses of one of the "Whitsun miracle plays" at Chester . In 16 91 the latter company petitioned for a charter , but , for some reason not

specified , they were refused . [ Hanshall ) . I am not aware of a more valuable or suggestive document concerning the Craft in the olden time , and hence am anxious to supplement , as far as possible , the researches of Bro . Rylands .

The opportunity offered by Bro . Robinson ' s notes was too good a one to be passed over , hence the present imperfect description of his examination of the Chester records . We are all , however , still unable to explain the precise meaning or value of the sums of money , varying from five shillings to a nbuhd . which

follow the several names , and those given separately at the top of the page . Bro . Gould ' s History might be consulted on the subject with advantage . W . J . HUGHAN .

Masonic Memorial Service At Cape Town.

MASONIC MEMORIAL SERVICE AT CAPE TOWN .

On the evening of the 31 st July a Mourning Lodge in memory of the Right Hon . and M . W . the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master of England , was held in the Commercial Exchange . The building had been draped for the occasion , and was filled with Masons and lady friends . The Very Rev . the Dean presided , and

delivered the opening address . Though he had been ill for some time past , as he said , he felt bound to appear during this ceremony , and he gave a powerful eulogistic address on the late Earl of Carnarvon . In the centre of the hall , facing the

platform , was a coffin surmounted by an Earl ' s coronet , and after an appropriate service wreaths and flowers were placed on the bier by the Deputy Grand Master and other officers . The musical portion of the service was wonderfull y impressive under the direction of Bro . T . B . Dowling .

The Deputy Grand Chaplain , Dr . HEWITT , of Worcester , then gave the funeral oration : —

R . W . and W . Sirs and Brethren , — " In the midst of life we are in death . " When last this District Grand Lodge met , and it was my privilege to address you , it was an occasion of rejoicing , and all our ceremonies spoke of joy , of exaltation , and of life . To-day we are surrounded b y the emblems of sorrow , of mourning , and of mortality , and we are in the presence of death . Yet even on that festal day ,

could we but have seen it , the shadow of death was hovering over our Order ; that 24 th of June was the 59 th anniversary of the birthday of our Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon ; on that day he was already laid low upon his bed of illness ; and four days later came the closing scene of his earthl y life—the day of his death—his birthday into life immortal . At the moment when we at our

festive banquets were heartily wishing him health and prosperity , the fiat had already gone forth , " Set thine house in order , for thou shalt die and not live . " And yet this is no strange thing , for is it not ever thus ? Death is busy all around , on every home his shadows fall ; and in the midst of life—life with all its joys and pleasures , life with all its energies and activities , life with all its hopes and fears , life ( must we not say it ) with all its sins and sorrows—in the midst of

life we are in death . In this life of infinite possibilities , and , therefore , of immeasurable uncertainties , this one fact alone is absolutely certain : the fact of death . For , if we consider , death is onl y the last and the greatest of that series of changes and chances which we call life . All things are changing and moving on . The whole universe is governed by this inexorable law of change . Growth , movement , development , progress , and , therefore , unresting change is the rule of this universe , of which human life is but a part .