Untitled Article

of that great moral law to which you have so eloquently called our attention . That the great principles of Freemasonry and Brotherly love may ever reign in our hearts , and that we may ever evince in our conduct that true spirit of fraternal affection for which you are distinguished in the Craft , is our chief ambition . Allow me to again thank you for this valuable mark of your esteem . "

At eight o ' clock the St . Lawrence Lodge called off from labour to refreshment , and entertained the R . W . P . G-. M . and officers of the G . L . and other distinguished Brethren of the Order to a banquet at the St ; Lawrence Hall * Nearly fifty Brethren sat down .

AUSTRALIA . Freemasonry in Victoria . —From this distant part of the world , an inci ^ pient empire , the southern cradle of civil and religious liberty , and another depository of the arts and sciences , the benign principles of our Order , founded on Immortal Truth , and as enduring as the heavens , are steadily taking root ,

and producing social results of the highest interest to every faithful Brother . It is another incentive to the intelligent Mason to perfect his knowledge of the Ancient Ark ; as he knows not where his lot may be cast among men , or the claims of duty upon him to rear the Masonic structure in distant lands , and to add another link to universal brotherhood .

Amongst the thousands who have sought the Southern Eldorado , for the realization of their highest hopes , the Brethren of the mystic tie have formed a fair proportion , and in due season have enlightened their Australian Brethren , by imparting a correct knowledge of our ceremonies and lectures , illustrating our principles , and inculcating a love for our several observances . Indeed , so complete is the illusion , that in one Lodge where a P . Prov . G . JlW . for Cheshire presides , and in another , where a member of the Board of General Purposes has just resigned the . Master ' s gavel , each surrounded by well-known faces , one could imagine we were in Manchester or London , instead of 16 , 000 miles distant .

Freemasonry in Melbourne has been eminently prosperous , as well as in the colony generally . On the first discovery of gold there was scarcely sufficient Brethren to open a Lodge , and the Master had often to send for Brethren to obtain the proper number . Now two Lodges alone number 370 members , and one , the Australian Kilwinning , No . 337 ( Scotch Constitution ) , has twenty-five candidates ( their number is not limited , as under the English Constitution ) to be proposed at its next meeting . During the past year Bro . Levick has presided over

the Australia Felix , No . 697 ( English Constitution ) , with his accustomed ability , established and conducted a Lodge of Instruction , and largely increased the number of members of his Lodge . Bro . J . J . Moody has revived the dormant Lodge of Australasia , established its working , imported the ceremony and lectures , installed Bro . M . Hall as Master , according to correct usage , acted as W . M ., in the unavoidable absence of the W . M ., and is now duly installed as his successor . Bro . Moody arranged the programme of procession , and the entire

proceedings connected therewith , on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the Melbourne Gas Works with Masonic honours . The Mayor of the city ( for the third time ) , Bro . John Thomas Smith , is again appointed W . M . of the Lodge of Hermon , No . 319 ( Irish Constitution ) , and JBros . J . F . Crauford , Isaac Hind , and John Furnival , all English Masons , respectively fill the chairs of the Australian Kilwinning , No . 337 ( Scotch Constitution ) , St . Kilda Lodge , No . 917 , and Hobsons Bay Lodge—both the latter under the English Constitution .

A correspondence , involving an important Masonic principle , took place during the past year . The Chancellor of the Melbourne University , the Acting Chief Justice , Judge Barry , solicited the Masonic Lodges to attend a procession for the laying of the foundation stone of the University . But as prayer was not to be offered up on the occasion , or the Masons either to lay the foundation . stone , or , after its being so laid by a civilian , to adjust it with the usual Masonic observances , they declined to attend , to the general satisfaction of the Craft .

There are Lodges of Instruction , and Lodges under Dispensation from the P . G . M . of New South Wales , at the several diggings , namely , Balaarat , Castlemaine , Sandhurst , and Beech worth , respectively , about seventy , eighty , one hun-