New Grand Lodge.

NEW GRAND LODGE .

/ £ / GRAND \ C \ LONDON , SATVMDAT , JLTX : E % , 1 S 63 . " \ £ \ W' - . Q EH

We last -week published tlie proceedings of an important meeting at Victoria , Australia , of Freemasons holding under the three constitutions of England , Scotland , and Ireland , at which it was resolved to petition the parent Grand Lodges to allow them to

withdraw their warrants , and form a Grand Lodge of their own , and thereby secure uniformity of working throughout the colony , which it is impossible under the present arrangements . Nothing can be more reasonable than this request ,

and we trust—indeed we feel assured so far as the Grand Lodge of England is concerned—that no obstacle will be thrown in the way of the brethren of Victoria in carrying out their wishes , which they have so reasonably and so moderately put forward . We

feel with them that to have three jurisdictions within one district was to prevent that harmony and cooperation which should always exist among Freemasons—and , that though we believe that a certificate from the Grand Lodge of England must carry a

weight greater than that of nuy new Grand Lodge , we can well understand that within the colony itself , it is most desirable to establish a unity of action . There is one mistake , however , which some of the speakers at the meeting appear to have fallen into , and which we feel bound to correct . It is assumed

that we draw money from the colonies which is spent for English , though Masonic purposes , Nothing can be more incorrect— -the fees drawn from the colonies barely pay the expenses of correspondence and certificates— -and in some instances they do not do even

that ; there being no annual payments towards the Fund of Benevolence , though should colonial brethren need assistance here , their cases would be as fully and liberally considered—if not more so—as though they were members of the list of English lodges . The

Grand Lodge of England does good to Freemasonry , by granting warrants to colonies in their infancybut when they are sufficiently strong to take care of themselves , if they wish to separate from her , she has no objection , when properly appealed to , to wish them

God speed in their future career . One thing only we we feel assured will the Grand Lodge of England stipulate for , that those lodges who wish to remain under her sway shall be allowed to do so , and receive full recognition from any new Grand Lodge that may

be formed . Even now , so far as England is concerned ( we speak not for Scotland or Ireland ) , the colonies are virtually independent , the Provincial Grand Master having , for some years past , heen appointed on the recommendation of the various lodges within the

New Grand Lodge.

district , whilst , in order to avoid delay as regards certificates they are sent out to the Provincial Grand Masters in blank . Yet we still admit there is a difficulty as regards the action of conflicting jurisdictions within one colony , which it is most desirable to

get rid of , and we wish that some arrangement on uhe subject could become to between the Grand Lodges of England , Scotland , and Ireland .

Proposed Union Of The Early Grand Of Scotland With The General Grand R.A. Chapter Of Scotland.

PROPOSED UNION OF THE EARLY GRAND OF SCOTLAND WITH THE GENERAL GRAND R . A . CHAPTER OF SCOTLAND .

( From a Scotch Correspondent . ' ) Several months ago , the leading members of the unrecognised body of R . A . and K . T . Masons known in Scotland as the "Early Grand Encampment , " were waited upon in Ayr by the Depute Grand First

Principal of the "General Grand Eoyal Arch . Chapter , " and invited to join that newly-formed body . The matter having been brought before the several encampments in Scotland holding of the Early Grand , preparatory to its consideration by the

Mother Encampment , was finally disposed of at a meeting of that court held at Kilmarnock on "Wednesday week . Depute-Grand Master ( Bro . William Martin ) presided , and made a statement relative to what had transpired at the interviews he and others had had

with Bro . Campbell regarding the contemplated union on the Arch degree of the Early Grand with the General Grand . The latter body , which had but recently seceded from the Supreme Grand Eoyal Arch Chapter of Scotland , offered to grant E . A . charters to Early Grand Encampments for 20 s . each , and admit

their existing members on payment of Is . each- —• leaving the present encampments to work the K . T . degrees as at present ; aud as the Grand Priory of Scotland was nearly defunct , and the Glasgow Sir Knights meditated the erection of a Grand Priory in connection with their new Grand R . A . Chapter , there

was every prospect of an amalgamation of the Early Grand with the General Grand K . T ' s . That was the substance of what had been held out by Bro . Douald Campbell and others as an inducement to the members of the Early Grand to join issue with the Grand

Chapter recently formed in Glasgow ; and with the single remark that he was personally opposed to any such union as that sought to be brought about by the heads of the General Grand , he ( the Chairman ) would be glad to hear the Sir Knights then present

give expressions to the views on the subject entertained by the encampment from which they were delegated . In response to Bro . Martin ' s invitation , several brethren addressed the meeting on the special business for which they had been brought to-