Freemasonry In Victoria (Ausfralia).

then Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire , at the request of its first W . M ., the late Bro . J . J . Moody , a Past Senior Grand Warden of that Province , and Town Clerk of Melbournestill ilourishes , its last return to England showing sixty-two subscribing members . It is true that at the outset a considerable amount of friction , ill-feeling , and trouble was

HRO . I . IEUT .-GI . XI . R .. I . SIR ANDREW CLARKE . G . C . M . G ., THE FIRST PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , 1 S . 7-S . engendered through the refusal of a strong minority of the Combermere members to become a Victorian lodge . As a matter of fact , the warrant was carried off by some of the

seceders , but the business-like promptitude and practical common sense of Sir William Clarke brought about the instant restoration of the much-coveted document before any harm could be done to it , and that under the provisions of the then Article 219 of our Book of Constitutions . The

action of Sir William Clarke was strictly in conformity with his instructions , notified to every lodge at the inception of the movement for a Grand Lodge , namely , "that on no account must any pressure be brought to bear on any member in this District . " Up to the crucial point this

incident was a reflex of the Cambrian Lodge of Australia , No . 656 , trouble in Sydney , and it must always le regretted that similar action was not taken by M . W . Bro . Lord Carrington , instead of leaving the matter in the hands of subordinates , in which case eleven years of unseemly strife , and the expenditure of hundreds of pounds in law

costs , would have been prevented and avoided . It is pleasant to recall the fact that Sir William Clarke was , whilst Grand Master of Victoria , a subscribing member of the Combermere Lodge , as also his successor , Lord Brassey , whilst there are now brethren at one and the same time subscribing members

of the Combermere Lodge and of lodges holding allegiance to the Victorian Constitution . Long may the eiilenle eordinle continue !

The installation of Bro . Sir W . J . Clarke , Bart ., as the lir . t M . W . Grand Master of Victoria , in the Town Hall of Melbourne , on March 20 th , 188 9 , will be remembered for many a day by those of the 3000 brethren still living who were fortunate enough to be present . The principal figure in the celebrations of the day was the Grand Master of New

South Wales , who performed the ceremony of induction to the throne , whilst the address to the newly-inslalled Grand Master was delivered by another Grand Master , His Excellency Chief Justice Way , of C- ' outh Australia , probably the most eloquent speaker in the " British Dominions beyond the Seas . " From this time forth Sir William Clarke threw additional energy into Masonry , if it were possible for him to

do so , and heheldolhce until 18 9 6 , when , on the appointment of Lord Brassey as Governor of the Colony , he resigned in his lordship ' s favour , but continued in harness as Pro Grand Master for one short year only , when his sudden death produced unbounded grief through the length and breadth of that country , of which he had been for so many years one

of the brightest ornaments in every walk of life . He was born in Tasmania in 1831 , and a patriotic Briton to his heart ' s core . One of the wealthiest men in Australia , his generous disposition found ample scope , and it would consume too much space to even partially recount his

princely benefactions to science , patriotic movements , art , education , and above all , the sacred cause of charity , apart from the Craft of Masonry , which he loved so well . In short , to quote the poet Tennyson ,

" He bore , without abuse , Thc jirand old name of jjeiitleinan . " Sir William Clarke was created a Baronet of the United Kingdom in 1882 , he being the only Victorian who has been so honoured . During one of his frequent visits to England the honorary degree of LL . D . was also conferred upon him

at Cambridge . Add to this , he was for many years a member of the Upper House of the Victorian Legislature . Only two years after Sir William Clarke ' s death the Grand Lodge of Victoria suffered another heavy loss in the decease of its R . W . Deputy Grand Master , Bro . George Baker , who

had ably held that office from the very commencement , and , previous to the foundation of a Grand Lodge , had for many years been Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Irish Masons , at a critical time , moreover , when his characteristic firmness and tact were of great and infinite service . Bro .

Baker was an old Irish Mason , he having been initiated in the Carlton Lodge ( now No . 19 , V . C . ) as far back as 1861 . Sir William Clarke ' s successor as Pro Grand Master was Bro . the Hon . A . J . Peacock , M . L . A ., now Premier of the Victorian State . On the return of Bro . Lord Brassey to

England , M . W . Bro . Peacock was elected , and is still Grand Master . Though comparatively young in Masonry , the present head of the Victorian Craft has proved himself able ,

HRO . JOHN __ : > I > I . M , P . G . W ., GRAND SECRETARY . worthy , and a business man , and with competent executive officers to work and co-operate with him , the continued

prosperity of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria is assured . This time last year the lodge roll numbered 18 4 , covering 8312 subscribing members , whilst the total funds ( including benevolence ) reached ^ . " 86 ^ 8 .