The Masonic Mirror.

in Victoria , " that it was harsh and severe , hut he could not agree with them . He thought it was their duty to speak out openly and boldly . They were told that only 7 out of 41 lodges had agreed to this memorial , but had the same thing occurred iu London , and 7 out of 41 lodges had for years endeavoured to carry out some point , and had at last come to Grand Lodge and asked them to sanction it , would they then have met such a

proposition by a simple negative ? ( Hear , hear . ) They had a solemn duty to perform , which was to protect the interests of their daughter lodges , and if they were lukewarm on such subjects , who would be the first to condemn them ? Why their hrethren in Australia , five-sixths of whom would never accept such a severance except under dire necessity , and then it would be

deeply deplored . If they would agree to form this new Grand Lodge , it would weaken rather than strengthen their position , and , therefore , while deeply regretting that such a memorial had been presented , they ought to express their strong disapprobation . He entreated the brethren present , and hoped that his words would reach their bretliren in Australia , to look around them to seek the things which would render their present institution perfect , rather than form new ones , for the

foundation of every new Grand Lodge was a stave pulled from the fabric of Freemasonry—another door cpened for innovation , hy which the simplicity of Freemasonry would be lost . Let them remember that union is strength , and unanimity was one of the watchwords of Freemasonry . If it was separated like one great country split up into petty governments , it

would weaken that influence which Masonry exercised for the good of the fraternity and for the welfare of mankind in general . He said he would give every latitude to all colonial hrethren , and , if necessary , reduce the fees , so that they might he able to extend their power for their own sakes , but he strongly exhorted them to maintain the union , for it was no

discredit for their brethren in Victoria to be children of the Grand Lodge of England , for it had produced good fruits , and was graced hy the names of most honourable men . Let them hold fast to their institutions , and remain unchanged in their allegiance to their mother Grand Lodge . ( Cheers . ) Bro . MASON seconded the motion , and said he was sure that

any question that arose in Victoria—any question coming from those noble colonies—would be received in Grand Lodge , and well ancl maturely considered . He would for a few moments call the attention of the brethren to the memorial and the

appendix to it . On the 12 th of April the first meeting was called in Victoria to start the proposal for a new Grand Lodge . Letters were addressed to the Provincial Grand Masters for Ireland and Scotland , and the answers they received ought to have induced them not to have proceeded further . Only nineteen lodges were in favour of the proposition , and as there were forty English lodges , with an average of forty members to

each , it would be seen thatonly 280 members were in favour of the proposal , and 1 , 300 remained loyal to their allegiance . After a few other ohservations , he concluded by seconding the motion . Bro . TILL , of the Golden Lodge of Bendigo ( No . G 42 ) said he stood there , he believed , as the sole representative of the Victoria lodges , and as a P . M . of an Australian lodge , he

protested against the formation of an independent Grand Lodge in that colony . He wished it to go forth to his hrethren in Victoria that he was there that ni ght to protest against the proposition which had been made in the memorial . He was acquainted with Bro . Standish , who had been referred to , as he was a member of the same lodge , and he never knew a better Mason with a firmer mind than Bro . Standish . He was an honour to Masonry , and an honour to any body to which he might belong . ( Cheers . )

Bro . GIBB , D . Prov . G . M . of Bombay , said that when he first saw the resolution of Bro . Havers he thought the terms of it were too stringent , and he thought its terms should he modified if they wished to keep the lodges together ; hut having heard the arguments he gave it his entire concurrence . Bro . SHEPPERD , P . M . NO . 719 , Ballarat , congratulated the

brother who had taken the matter in hand ( Bro . Havers ) , who had so well represented the feelings of English Masons in Victoria . After a few words from Bro . HOETON SMITH , The R . W . G . MASTER put the motion , which was unanimously agreed to .

UNCOURTEOUS APPEAL . The next business was an appeal from Bro . Moss Israel , of the Zetland Lodge of Australia ( No . 655 ) , Sydney , New South Wales , against his suspension by the Provincial Grand Master . The G . REGISTRAR said the appeal was not couched in courteous and proper language , imputing a connivance in felony

to the Provincial Grand Master , and reflecting upon the character of brethren in Australia , wdio were not there to defend themselves , aud , under such circumstances , he moved that the appeal he not received . The motion was put and agreed to .

THE POWERS OE WARDENS . This subject was brought forward by Bro . Alfred Smith , P . M ., No . 76 , Manchester , and after a somewhat desultory discussion , a motion was carried in the following terms : —" That the Board of General Purposes be requested to consider the question of the powers of a Warden , in the event of the

absence of the Master and Past Masters of Lodge ; and to recommend to Grand Lodge such alterations in the " Book of Constitutions" in respect thereto , as the said Board shall deem necessary or advantageous to the welfare and good government of the Craft . "

BLACKBALLING MEMBERS . Bro . William Watson , P . M ., No . 25 , London , moved to amend Rule IV ., page S 3 , of the Constitutions . To erase from the third line the words " three black balls , " and insert the words " one black hall in four , " and add to the fourth line the word " three . " He said in support of this that he "belonged to a lodge where a systematic blackballing had prevailed , and his

proposition was to alter the "Book of Constitutions , " which made a positive exclusion to a member if there were three black balls , and he proposed to substitute the words one black hall in four . Under the present system , they were entirely shut up in the lodge by three individuals . The ballot was given to a lodge for its protection , and not a weapon to he

placed in the hands of brethren for its destruction . They had a great lodge , numbering upwards of 100 , and he believed it was never intended that three individuals should have the power to destroy the whole . He moved the alteration in the " Book of Constitutions , " in the terms of his motion . Bro . JOSHUA NUNN , Lily Lodge ( No . 820 ) , seconded the

motion , and regretted he belonged to a lodge in which they were similarly situated to what Bro . Watson had told them . For nine months some brethren had uniformly prevented the admission of candidates against whom not the slightest breath of calumny had ever been uttered , and there was not the smallest reason why they should be excluded , hut it arose solely from a

private pique against some member of the lodge . Bro . ABRAHAMS opposed the motion , as there were upwards of a thousand lodges , and only two of them had been found to break the law , which showed that it was a wise one . He was opposed to any one being admitted with 4 or 5 black halls , for