At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

The formation of a Supreme Grand Lodge in Queensland and its recognition or otherwise b y other supreme bodies will , we fear , form a fruitful source of Masonic contention for some time to come , as was the case on the establishment of the Grand Lodges of New South Wales , and later that of a Grand Lodge of New Zealand . But the circumstances are widel y

different inasmuch as the brethren of New South Wales were practically unanimous in their desire to sever their connection with the Grand Lodge of England , and the New Zealand brethren were at least a substantial majority , whereas as far as the English Masons are concerned these brethren remain solidly compact in their desire to maintain the slain t / ntt .

« 5 > " 3 » > 2 > The Grand Master of New South Wales appears to consider that the action of that Grand Lodge , in so readily according recognition , needed some explanation , and on the occasion of the inaugural ceremony in which he officiated as Installing Master he delivered himself of his ajiohujia .

< 5 y > < 5 » Addressing the newly-installed Grand Master , he said :--" It may be worth while repealing it for the benefit not only of this great assemblage , but of our brethren in other parts of the world—that there was nothing savouring of undignified

haste in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales on being appealed to for recognition by your newlvestablished Grand Lodge . On the contrary , we took no steps without very careful consideration and inquiry , the results of which are on record in our published reports . When you first wrote , in March last , detailing what you proposed doing , and

applied to our Grand Secretary for advice , he gave it with full details as * to the information our Board of General Purposes would probably re . piire before they would report to our Grand Lodge . The correspondence which followed has been set forth substantially in your reports , and it was not until the 14 th of last month that the Grand Lodge of New South Wales

adopted the recommendation of the Board of General Purposes , and recognised the Grand Lodge cf Queensland as a Sister Grand Lodge .

< $ ' £ < S * " I realise fully our responsibility in so doing , for I have no doubt time will prove in this instance , as it lias already done in two other of the Australasian Masonic territories where Sovereign Grand Lodges have been established , that the other

Grand Lodges of the world will rely to a great extent upon New South Wales to have duly considered the circumstances with a full knowledge of all the facts before she granted recognition . If not incumbent on me , it is therefore at till events desirable , that I should , as briefly as possible , set forth the considerations which guided us in thus deciding . We had

to be assured that a reasonable proportion of the lodges already existing in Queensland had joined in the establishment of a Grand Lodge . How many this should be is one of the arguable points , which the circumstances of each case must decide . We should hardly have been disposed to act upon the late Dr . Mackey ' s well-known dictum that " three lodges are

sufficient , " unless , indeed , they were the only ones existing in the territory . But , o : i the other hand , we decline to agree with the assertion that there must be an absolute majority of the existing lodges in agreement to establish a Grand Lodge , and still less with the contention that there must be a majority of those holding under each constitution . The former condition would probably , and the latter almost certainly , prevent the establishment of any more new Grand Lodges anywhere .

" What we had to decide was whether , seeing that thirtvnine lodges bad actually declared the Grand Lodge formed , their proceedings bad been according to . Masonic precedent , and , further , seemed likely to lead to more complete union of the Craft in Queensland . Comparison of the facts with ox 2 ) eriences of the past bavin" satisfied us on both points , we

granted recognition , anil 1 gladly accepted your Grand Master ' s invitation to perform the duty of installing him to-night .

£ * - & 5 > "The answer from the Grand Lodge of England is not favourable : how could it be ' . ' 1 beg you not to be discouraged by the fact that the Grand Master , II . R . 'II . the Duk" of Connaughl , does not at present see lit to ask bis Grand Lodge

to extend recognition to you . The position taken by England towards Queensland is exactly the same as it was towards New South Wales over a quarter of a century ago , when the first Grand Lodge established in Australasia appealed for recognition , and the District Grand Master under the English Constitution protested . The reply he received from the Grand Secretary

of England was , ' so long as you desire it , you will receive till the support which this Grand Lodge can afford . ' 1 deduced from that at the time , and I was then and continued for ten years afterwards a loyal member under the English Constitution , that the converse held true—namely , that the moment the lodges felt strong enough to walk alone , the Mother Grand

Lodge would say , 'Go in peace , ' without attempting any restrictive measures , or resorting to threats of which nothing ought to be he : rd in Freemasonry .

• s > * < o > The case here is almost exactly parallel . The lodges under the English Constitution have , as we had in New South Wales , a venerable District Grand Master , universally respected by the craft , who is naturally not in favour of any alteration of

the staliii ijiio ; and the Worshipful Masters and members of his lodges tire equally naturally indisposed to do anything having even the appearance of disloyalty to their aged chief , whatever may be their private opinions as to the value and importance of a union of the craft . What happened in New South Wales was that the swelling tide of a brotherly

desire for unity proved too strong for even lifelong prejudice , and our old District Grand Master , the late John Williams , early in 1888 expressed to Lord Carnarvan , then Pro Grand Master of England , who was at that time in Sydney , his willingness to resign his position , which he subsequently did , hoping to be succeeded as District Grand Master by His

Excellency Lord Carrington , even though he knew that distinguished Freemason had also been nominated as Grand Master of the old Grand Lodge of New South Wales , with the expressed intention of bringing about a union of the craft , which , as you know , was consummated a few months later with even greater success , and with completer unanimity than its most sanguine advocates had ventured to anticipate .

O aj > @* We cannot admit that the comparison with the circumstance obtaining in New South Wales a quarter of a century since , holds good , and the suggestion that the members of the District Grand Lodge of Queensland only remain loyal to the English

Jurisdiction out of respect for the aged District Grand Master , will , we believe , be found wholly devoid of foundation . When they tire desirous of cutting themselves adrift , even by a bare majority , by all means let them go , but until that desire , is expressed we maintain our opinion that it is non-existant .

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