Australia.

nearly knee deep with mud , what do I find them now ? Why the streets are as well made and equal to any in the colony ; this , I must say , speaks much for the industry of the municipal council and the inhabitants , and I trust the time is not far distant when similar demonstrations may take place for the benefit of the residents of this flourishing township . It is said that Freemasons have secrets , well I admit it , but as it is not our cu 3 toai to tell our secrets , on this occasion I will break the

rule and tell you one , to do good to all and assist those in distress . Had I but time to enumerate the blessings which are dispensed by the Masonic body , perhaps some of you would be surprised , but time will not permit . In dear old England we have an asylum for the purpose of placing our aged and decayed brethren , and giving them an annual allowance to live upon . This institution is not only for our brethren , but their widows we also provide for . We have a school for the daughters of

Freemasons , where about 100 girls are educated and fitted for superior stations in life . We have also a school for boys , sons of Freemasons , to nearly the same number as the girls , where they receive an excellent education and likewise fitted for superior offices . Irrespective of these benefits , we have our weekly and monthly boards , when those who are in distress are amply relieved to the extent of their necessities ; these are some of the beauties of our Order . Charity does not consist in mere alms giving , because if we can , by good advice , bring an erring brother back to the right path we are carrying out charity in its fullest sense .

Trusting the most High will shower down His blessings on this town and its inhabitants ; and hoping I may shortly have the pleasure of again meeting you , I respectfully , for the present , say adieu . This address was listened to with great attention and much applauded at its termination . Three cheers were then given for the Queen , three for the Governor , Sir H . Barkly ; three for the Hon . Jno . O'Shanassy , and three for success to the building .

The procession again formed and returned to Vinge's hotel , when the lodge was closed , after which they sat down to a dejeuner , provided by the worthy Bro . Vinge , for the mystic brotherhood and their invited guests . The room was most tastefully decorated with garlands , & c . About fifty gentlemen —as many as the room could comfortably hold—sat down to the tables . Bro . Levick , P . Prov . G . S ., occupied the chair , and Bro . S . W . Nicholson the vice-chair .

After dinner a variety of appropriate toasts were drunk and responded to , the company passing a very pleasant evening . At about nine P . M ., as arranged by several of the members of the masonic lodge in their private capacity , the services of the Kilmore band was secured , a grand ball commenced in one of the large rooms of the hotel . About twenty ladies , the wives , daughters , and friends of the members of the lodge , honoured the occasion by their presence , and dance after dance was kept up until an early hour on Tuesday morning . The most social feeling pervaded the company during the evening . The performance of the band gave great satisfaction .

SOUTH YAEEA . —On the 22 nd Doc . a number of brethren assembled at the ~ Sevr Bridge Hotel , to witness the interesting ceremony of forming a new lodge named the South Yarra Lodge , for which a dispensation had been granted by the Prov . G . Master . The lodge was opened by the R . W . Prov . G . Master , Bro . F . C . Standish , assisted by his officers , and after the usual preliminary business , Bro . Robert Levick , P . Prov : G . Sec , took the chair , and , in an able and impressive manner , installed the first W . M .,

Bro . H . W . Lowry . Bro . T . H . Lempriere was invested S . W ., and , Bro . Frank Day , J . W . At the conclusion of the business the brethren adjourned to refreshment , and separated about ten o ' clock , highly delighted with the proceedings of the evening . WOODEND . —Woodend was the scene of a meeting of more than usual interest in connection with Freemasonry , on Friday , 19 th December , 1 S 6 ] . A large number of the brethren , from Melbounre and from the neighbouring townships , assembled for

the purpose of opening a new lodge , to be called the Lowry Lodge , in compliment to a zealous brother of the mystic tye , who has been named—not inappropriately—the father of Freemasonry in Victoria . The usual ceremony having been gone through , the lodge was duly constituted , and the following officers appointed : — -Worshipful Bros . J . Kennedy , P . M . ; C . H . Lay , W . M . ; A . B . Hoffman , S . W . ; W . J . Lande , J . W . ; A . S . Drought , Sec ; P . Moelier , Treas . ; T . Fitzsimmons , S . D . ; H , Horneman , J . D . ; and C . Lilley , I . G . The brethren afterwards dined together at the Sydney Hotel .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

WOOLWICH . —Union Waterloo Lodge ( No . 13 . )—This flourishing chapter held a convocation at the Masonic Hall , on Wednesday , the 26 th day of February . The business of the chapter consisted of the installation of Principals and officers . The following companions formed a conclave of Past Principals : Ex . Comps . Richard Barnes , P . Z . 13 ; Jas . Moore , P . Z . 13 ; R . E . BarnesP . Z . 13 ; Col . ClerkP . Z . 13 H . Muggerid

, , ; ge , P . Z . 13 ; P . Laird , P . Z . 13 ; T . E . Ladd , M . E . Z . 223 ; R . Boyle , P . Z ., Melita ; G . W . Turner , P . Z . 13 ; Dr . H . J . Hinxman , P . Z . 50 and 324 ; C . R . Dean , P . Z . 745 , who , according to ancient usage , installed Comps . Jno . Henderson , as M . E . Z . ; Richard Brown , as H . ; H . J . Rogers , as J . ; R . E . Barnes , as E . ; J . M . Russell , N . ; J . R . Thomson , P . S . ; Jno Graydon , 1 st Assist . ; Jno . B . Bayley , 2 nd Assist . ; G . W . Turner , Treas . ;

Wm . Allison , Janitor . At the conclusion of the installation , the M . E . Z . informed the companions that he had much pleasure in introducing to their notice Ex . Comp . Dr . Ladd , of Chapter No . 223 , who had kindly consented to give a lecture on " The Banners and Ensigns . " Dr . Ladd then proceeded to illustrate the relative bearings of the banners , & c , also the Tau and its several combinations . Great credit was due to the Dr . for the very able and explicit manner in which the lecture was given , and the companions were highly delighted with the instruction afforded them . Excellent Commander Colonel Clerk moved

" That the best thanks of the chapter be given to Excellent Comp . Dr . Ladd for his kindness in imparting such a fund of information on so important a subject , and to mark the sense entertained by the companions of their grateful feelings for the same , that this vote he recorded on the minutes of the chapter . " All business being concluded , the chapter was closed . in due form , and the companions adjourned to the banquet . The usual loyal toasts having been given and responded tothe

, M . E . Z . proposed "The Health of the Visitors , Ex . Comps . Dr . Ladd , of Chapter No . 223 ; C . R . Dean , P . Z . 745 ; R . Boyle , P . Z . Melita ; H . J . Hinxman , P . Z . 50 and 324 . " Ex . Comp . Ladd , in returning thanks on behalf of himself and the visiting companions , assured the companions of the pleasure they had experienced in witnessing the very efficient manner in which the ceremony of installation had been performed , and the truly Masonic evinced towards them visitors

feeling as . " The Health of the newly installed jirincipals" was given , to which the Ex . Comp . Jno . Henderson , replied , and in thanking the chapter for the honour conferred upon them assured the companions it would be their utmost . endeavour by strict attention to the ceremonies to maintain that superiority of working which had characterised the chapter for so many years past . The subordinate officers of the chapter were given and responded to , and the companions parted early , having spent the evening in the true spirit of Masonry .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

WOOLWICH . —Invicta Chapter of Sovereign Princes Pose tj < . —There was a meeting of the above chapter at the Masonic Hall , William-street , Woolwich , on the 21 st ult ., when the following brethren were present : — -Col . Clerk , 33 ° ; Dr . Hinxman , 31 ° ; Figg , M . W . S ., 30 ° ; W . Smith , C . E ., 30 ° ; M . H . Shuttleworth , 30 ° ; Thompson , 18 ° ; Capt . Thompson Wilson , 18 ° ; Matthew Cooke 18 ° ; Laird 1 S ° Dr . De Normand 18 °

, , ; y , ; Lyons , 18 ° ; Carter , 18 ° ; and the Ex . Bro . L . D . Spence , of the Metropolitan Chapter . The following brethren were admitted to the degree of S . P . R . > Jf ., viz .: Dr . Hughes , E . J . Eraser , and the Rev . Dr . Richards , all of whom were received into the high grades by the M . W . S ., the 111 . Bro . Figg , who performed the duties of his office most admirably . After the chapter had been closed , the brethren adjourned to the Freemasons' Tavern

to dine . The cloth having been removed , the M . W . S . stated that he thought it would be most respectful , in her present affliction , to drink the toast of Her Majesty the Queen in silence . The next toast he had to offer them was that of " The Health of Dr . Leeson and the Supreme Grand Council , " of which body that chapter could boast having a Past M . AV . S . Dr . Leeson was indefatigable in his services to the

ritescere-, monies , and history of the order , and took great pains to place it on its proper basis . Colonel Clerk had , since they had last met , been raised to the 33 ° , and was noiv one of the Supreme Grand Council , and he ( the W . M . S . ) believed no better or wiser choice could have been made . ( Hear , hear . ) The toast was " The 111 . Dr . Leeson , G . Sov . Com . and the members of the