Channel Islands.

as joining members , which , in each case , was unanimous in favour of the candidate . The W . M . ' s chair was now taken by Bro . Scbmitt , P . M ., who opened the lodge in the second degree . Era . lleymann was raised to the third degree . On the re-introduction of the candidate ho was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason , the Rev . Bro . Hanan acting as interpreter of the into tlie German language , as he had

ceremony done in the former degrees . Bro . Durell , AV . M ., again took the chair , ancl Bro . Nieolle was duly raised to the sublime degree of a M . M . The lodge , was then i . ciiimed in the first degree , afterwards re-opened in the second degree , when Bros . Jones and M'AUan were passed to the degree of F . C . The lodge was finally resumed in the first degree . Owing to press of business and the lateness of the hour , consideration of

two distinct propositions , of which proper notice had been given by Bros , the Rev . Chaplain ancl the S . AV ., was deferred . -On the proposition of Bro . Binet P . M ., seconded by Bro . C . le Sueur , S . W ., a unanimous resolution was passed for the sale of the pedestals ancl chairs , with all their belongings , to the St . Aubyn ' s Lodge ( No . 958 ) , for tho sum of six guineas . Two gentlemen were proposed for initiation by the Rev . Chap , and

the I . G . The loelge was closed in perfect harmony and with solemn prayer , at a quarter to ten , anel after a long and unremitting evening's work , the brethren were glad to be permitted for refreshment . [ Wo have received a full report of the circumstances leading to the suspensions alluded to above , but having been officially requested not to publish it , as it is hoped all may bo satisfactorily arranged , we refrain from doing so . Of course , .. f tlie matter is not so arranged , it will he our duty to call attention to it . —ED . ]

Australia.

AUSTRALIA .

ATCTOEIA . PROPOSED GRAND LODGE OP A ^ CTORIA . Wo hoped that tlie July mail to England would convey a petition from the Masons of Victoria to the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , ancl Scotland , praying that a Grand Lodge might be established in A'ictoria . Twenty lodges have expressed themselves in favour of the establishment of the

proposed Grand Lodge ; only three aro opposed to it , while ten remain neutral , or have not as yet decided . But as all have not expressed their opinion on the movement , tho petition -cannot be forwarded until tho August mail . It must , however , be apparent that the great majority of the Masons of Victoria are in favour of self-Masonic legislation . Even assuming that the ten lodges remaining neutral , or undecided , all professed

themselves opposed to the movement , still the majority of lodges would be in favour of a Grand Lodge , and in their name and on their behalf we will place the wishes of tlie majority of the Masons of A'ictoria , regarding this important proposed change , before our British brethren , in order to pave the wary for the reception of tlie memorial which will be forwarded per the August mail . AVe do not seek , in establishing a Grand Lodge of Victoria ,

to withdraw our Masonic allegiance from our parent Constitutions ; on the contrary , we express our sincere desire to be permitted by our parent Constitutions to begin the world for ourselves . AA e believe we can now walk alone ; that we have arrived at the years of maturity , and , if started in Masonic life by those from whom we have existence , that we are not only capable of acting wisely for ourselves , but also of assisting in carrying out the wishes of our parent lodgesand become

, their helpmate ; and we , therefore , solicit for self-Masonic legislation for several reasons . Because it is the inherent right of every freeman ( aud none else can be made Masons ) to have the election of his ruling power . AVe do not enjoy that right ; the head of each of the Constitutions is electee ! without our consent . AVe have . no voice in the election of a Grand Master , neither have we any voice or

vote in the appointment of our local Masonic chief , hecause it is the privilege of the Grand Master ( in whose election we have had no voice ) to appoint the Prov . G . M ., under whose ruling we are placed ; and this Prov . G . M . is not answerable to any congregation or assembly of the Masonic body over whom he is placed , but only accountable for his acts to the Grand Master ivho appointed him . Thus we not only have no voice in the

election of our ruler at home , but in reality we have no control over his representative placed over us here . There is not a more anomalous position than that of a Prov . G . M ., simply because his powers exceed those of the authority which created his office . He can do acts which the Grand Master cannot do . The Grand Master is accountable to the Grand Lodge for all his Masonic acts ; the Prov . G . M . is not accountable to his Provincial Grand Lodge . If a Mason is aggrieved

by any decision of a Grand Master he can at once make appeal to tlie Grand Lodge ; but there is no appeal from the decision of the Prov . G . M . to the Provincial Grand Lodge . The office of Prov . G . M . may be a most useful appointment in Britain , where the telegraph has annihilated space , and any act of injustice can be reported instantaneously to the Chief Ruler , and as instantaneously rectified ; but our British hvothren must see

that such an office is totally incompatible with the interests of Masonry in a distant colony like A'ictoria . This leads us to the consideration of another great reason for the establishment of a AHctorian Grand Lodge . \ Xa are too distant from the fount of Masonic power . An example well known to A ictorian Masons will exemplify the great evil of distant legislation . In the month of February last one of the

oldest and most respected Masons in Melbourne , on vacating the chair of a lodge over ivhich he had ruled for twelve months , deemed it his right to instal his successor . 5 vow , Past Masters of England , you are the conservators of the landmarks of our Order , pay attention . It will be for you to decide at the next quarterly communication whether he thought right or not ; but , believing himself rihtthat brother refused to give up the chair

g , of his lodge to the D . Prov . G . M ., for the purpose of that officer performing the ceremony of installation ; he refused , believing that he , as Master of the lodge , was bound to transmit the warrant of the lodge and authority of Master to Ills successor , duly elected by the lodge . The D . Prov . G . M . thought otherwise , and we agree with him , that he is entitled to take the chair of any lodge in which he may choose to preside ; hut

the brother leaving the chair thought otherwise . Complaint was made to the Prov . G . M ., a copy of which was transmitted to the offending brother , who , not continuing obstinate in his opinion , replied that if the Prov . G . M . in his wisdom deemed

that he had violated any Masonic rule , that he was prepared to make a Masonic atonement by apologising to the offended brother . It would be foreign tu our advocacy of a Alctoriun Grand Lodge to advert to the reply to this truly Masonic letter , but we will simply state that the brother was ordered in a most unmasonic manner to attend the next quarterly communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge , ancl there , in the presence of that lodgeto apologise to the D . Prov . G . M .

, The letter containing this order did not reach the brother until the morning of the day on which the Provincial Grand Lodge was held , and therefore at the Provincial Grand Lodge the offending brother requested a short time for consideration , ^ sone v , " . \ s granted , and a Masov , who had . grown old in the service of Masonry , who had held the highest positions in the Craft , was suspended from his rights as a Mason , for acting , as he

believefl , correctly . J _( O \ V , if wc had a Grand Lodge in \ _ ctoria , tbe brother could have laid his case before the Lodge , and if adjudged wrong , could have submitted , if he chose , to the humiliation forced upon him ; hut our ruling power exists 10 , 000 miles away , —to that power he appealed , and by thc March mail he sent his appeal to the Grand Lodge . That appeal reached England in Maythe Grand Lodge meeting in

, June . A letter , acknowledging the receipt of that appeal , has been received on the 15 th of this month ( July ) , and giving the valuable information that the appeal , not having been lodged twenty-one days before the meeting of the Grand Lodge , that in could not be brought before , the June Convocation , ancl should lie over until the September meeting . If no delay arises in sending back the judgmentin will be perhaps December before

, the brother can have the decision of tlie ruling powers . Brethren Past Masters of England , say is this rule or misrule ! is such a state of Masonic misrule to continue ? AVe solicit our British brethren to grant us self local Masonic legislation , in order if , unfortunately , any brother should be guilty ol any breach of Masonic discipline , that we should have the power to adjudicate on his caseand not keep , perhapsan innocent man

, , on the hook of suspense for a period of over twelve months . No remarks we have made must be taken as written against the respected gentlemen who hold the high position of Provincial Grand Masters . AVe respect them although we decry their office . Next mail we will put forward a few more reasons to