Lodge Italia, N. 2687

and prosperous term in the distinguished office to which the brethren had called him , and for which he possessed so many good qualifications . The Worshipful Master , in the course of his reply , acknowledged the great courtesy there was in the words of

the proposition , and for these and the grace of its very heart y acceptance , together with the completeness of Bro Gallizia ' s service , he offered them his sincere thanks , and assured them that the high office with which they had honoured him should have the devoted interest and care that might earn their confidence and commendation at its

close . Bro . Heyner , who responded for " The Visitors , " gave an enthusiastic address , in which he recalled the reply of Bro . Horton Smith , K . C , for the Grand Lodge ; and then spoke

encouragingly of the universality of Freeinasonrv . Bro . E .. Drew , P . M ., 1602 , also addressed the brethren , and was followed by Bro . Fisher and Bro . Carvalho . In a eulogistic address , the Master proposed " Bro . _ Treasurer and Bro . Secretary , '' to which Bro . Mentaste , P . M .

and Treasurer responded ; and then the Master , with word of hope and request for continuous help , proposed his . " Assistants " in the work , mentioning them all , and naming them al ! as the officers . In the proposition of the officers of the lodge was included Bros . Mentaste , P . M . and Treasurer ; F . Gallizia , P . M . and

Secretary ; C . A . Antonelli , S . W . ; L . Bench " , J . W . ; F . Paggi ,. S . D . ; A . E . Bertona , J . D . ; C . Pavone , I . G . ; Caveliere Tito Mattei , Organist ; ___ . Dionisotti and E . Ladevc / . e , Stewards ; : A . Cogliati , P . M ., D . C . ; and John Aillud , T y ler .

Some Notes On Freemasonry In Australasia.– –(Continued).

Some Notes on Freemasonry in Australasia . – –(Continued ) .

By Bro . W . F . LAMOXHY , P . D . G . M . of Victoria , and P . A . G . D . C . of England . WESTERN AUSTRALIA .

r j " HE progress of Western Australia generally , and of J Freemasonry in that colony especially , was of the standstill and prosaic order , until the great gold discoveries of quite recent years . Up to the year 1826 there had been no occupation or settlement of that extensive portion of the great continent . In the Year mentioned , however , the Governor of New South Wales , despatched a small military force and a party of convicts to King George ' s

IPImln Killi- I ' urlmil f ' o . i COLIINK 1 . Sll ! UI . KAlil ) SMITH , K . ( ... M . ( .., K 1 I . ST <_! .. \ SII MA ST Kit OF WKSTKIIX A L'STII A I . I A . Sound , where now stands the well-known port of call , named Albany . In 1828 , the Swan River Settlement was gazetted and proclaimed , whilst in a year more the very first town was

named Fremantle , in honour of the officer who hoisted the British Hag there . The emigrants to the Swan River in these early days were generally people of substance and reputation ; and , in contradistinction to New South Wales and Tasmania , the colony did not actually become a convict settlement until 1850 , and happily , only remained so eighteen years .

It was in the year 18 42 , that the hrst Masonic lodge was opened in Western Australia , namely , St . John ' s , at Perth , the capital of the colony . Three years after another English lodge , also at Perth , named the Unity , was opened , and in 1 879 , the two amalgamated , the older lodge ' s name being retained , and it is now Xo . 1 , of the Western Australian

Constitution . The gokllields' development impelled Masonry along by leaps and bounds , indeed , twenty-six of the thirtythree English lodges that constituted the new Grand Lodge in 1899 , the year of its foundation , were warranted during the last ten years of the English suzerainty , while , to be more exact ,

ten were chartered by England in that very year 18 99 , and three the year after . Western Australia did not become a District under the English Constitution until 188 7 , and the brethren who held the office of District Grand Master were : —

Hon . J . A . Wright , M . L . C 1887 Colonel Sir Gerard Smith , K . C . M . G . ... 18 9 8 There is yet one English lodge in Albany that certainly can boast a singular exchisiveness . It is the Plantagenet , No . 1454 . That lodge declined to enter the jurisdiction of the

District Grand Lodge in 1887 , and , twelve years later , was in like manner obdurate when the Grand Lodge was founded . On financial grounds this determination to remain in direct communication with England is a substantial advantage lo the lodge in question , inasmuch as it never has had to pay District or Grand Lodge capitation fees , in fact , the only

outgoings are those of initiates' and affiliates' registration on the Grand Lodge rolls in London . The in / lux of Scottish Masonry into Western Australia was as rapid during the few years preceding the foundation of a Grand Lodge as that of the English Craft , but not , as events unfortunately turned out , with a like result , for the cogent

reason that the authorities discountenanced the movement for the erection of a supreme body , lirst of all , by prohibiting any discussion in private lodges , whereas , as regards the English and two Irish lodges , every freedom in that direction was permitted . It is significant that the District Grand Master under the Scottish Constitution , the Rev . G . E . Rowe ,

censured two Masters of lodges under his jurisdiction for speaking in favour of a Grand Lodge at a Masonic banquet . The upshot of this opposition was a wordy warfare ( hat seemed to be drifting into the interminable ; but of this , more presently . It will suffice if it is pointed out that according to

the last returns , there were thirty-two lodges under the Scottish Constitution , of which six are located in Perth , and three each in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie , the chief gold centres . No fewer than thirteen of the total were chartered subsequent to the opening of the Grand Lodge . The Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland also chartered seven subordinate chapters in the colony .

The Grand Lodge of Ireland had but two lodges in Western Australia anterior to the advent of a Grand Lodge , and has only one of them now under its jurisdiction , No . 200 , at Perth .