India.

-candidate shall only profess a pure belief , but shall at once ancl abruptly break" with all the customs and usages of his family and his class , ancl draw down upon himself that bitterest of all persecutions—social and domestic martyrdom ? " In a question of this kind , I think , wo cannot do better than refer to precedents . In the last number of the Indian Freemasons' Friend I see recorded tbe views of two eminent Masonsthe late Duke of Sussexwell known wherever Masonry

, , flourishes , and our late Prov . G . M ., Dr . John Grant . The Duke of Sussex ' s opinion was entirely in favour of the admission into Masonry of natives of this country . Dr . Grant , in his address to the District Grand Lodge some years ago , is reported to have said : ' You will readily understand how necessary it is to the keeping of a secret , that he to whom it is to be entrusted is a good man and true . Am I not justified , then , in particularly

putting you on your guard to seek beforehand for satisfactory testimony that the native ' whom you are called upon to propose or to recommend for Masonry is under the tongue of good repute . ' Xow , brethren , it is really with some astonishment that I have hoard the authority of Dr . Grant invoked as of one ¦ conscientiously opposed to the admission of natives of this country into Masonry . That he was opposed to their indiscriminate admission I freely concede ; but who would contend for

the indiscriminate admission of ung class of individuals into Masonry . Dr . Grant addresses himself not to lodges but to the proposers and seconders of candidates ; ancl so far from suggesting to them that thoy are to reject all native candidates , he wisely and properly enjoins them to seek for satisfactory testimony of their worthiness . That great caution should bo exercised in the admission of candidates into the Craft no one denies , and it is equally undisputed that tho caution must be still greater when the candidate belongs to a different race and

creed from ourselves , ancl when therefore we have less perfect means of ascertaining his antecedents . "I would go even farther -. I think it would be unfair to ask the brethren to vote for the admission of a candidate on the testimony of any one not himself a member of the Craft . But I submit that no such innovation has ever been contemplated ; certainly , no such innovation has ever yet been carried into effect . In the case of Bro . Khetter Mohnm Gangoolthe

y , only Hindoo who has yet been made a Mason , and whom I hacl the privilege to propose , no test either of his antecedents or of his religious belief was omitted . I had known him for upwards of two years ; for the last year I hacl boon in almost daily intercourse with him , meeting him both in the Court in which we both practise , and in the Bar Libraries . I had , in my humble belief , ample opportunities of forming a fair estimate of his

character , ancl the opinion I had formed of him was that he was a thoroughly upright man , as incapable from deviating from the strict path of honour as any brother now seated before me . Such being my opinion , I had no hesitation to vouch for him as a good and worthy man at Lodge St . John , whore ho was seconded by the Senior Deacon , a gentlemen in the same profession with myself . Before his name was submitted to the

ballot , the Worshipful Master , as he has told yon , put himself into communication with him and questioned him strictly as to his belief . Unless , therefore , we are to say of a whole nation that no individual comprised iu it , however excellent his character , and faultless his antecedents , is ever to be trusted , who can say Bro . Khetter Mohim Gangooly was not properly admitted ; and if he was properly admitted , why may not others bo again so admitted under similar circumstances ? Our Order is composed of worthy men of many various races ; what reason has been given to call upon us to put a brand on one particular race .

' ¦ And now , brethren , I have only to thank you for the patience with which you have listened to me . If I have trespassed on your time , it is because I have felt and feel strongly on the subject , and because , while prepared to bow to your decision , whatever it may be , I felt it due to myself and to the lodge to which I belong to lay fully before you the grounds upon whicli we have acted . I regret that the views we entertained should for an instant have caused anything like a division in our

Order ; but I for one trust that the spirit in which this discussion has been conducted may long continue to shed its influence over us , and that no difference of opinion , however distinctly entertained , will ever lessen the good will aud friendliness and good fellowship which , at all our assemblies , make us feci that we are indeed among brothers . " Bro . ABBOTT maintained his objections on social grounds as a member of the District Grand Lodge . He hacl for twentv vears

India.

been meeting Hindoos , ancl hacl found many of them to be good men . " I know ono , " Bro . Abbott continued , " who has been serving in my office for forty-six years , and has always borne a good character ; yet he is a Hindoo while I am an Englishman , his tastes are not my tastes , his habits are not my habits , his God is not my God . Without any feeling of antagonism against tbe Hindoos , therefore , I feel that there are few points of sympathy between us , and many grounds for misunderstandings , ancl

that I could not have social intercourse with them . " Bro . ROBERTS proposed that the question should be adjourned ; but tho Prov . G . M . was of opinion that the District Grand Lodgo could come to an immediate decision . AVithout intending any disrespect to the Duke of Sussex , the Provincial Grand Master did not hesitate to state , that such extraordinary instances had come under his notice of the ignorance which prevailed in England on Indian subjectsthat he attached very

, little importance to the opinion of His Royal Highness , or of any one unacquainted with the country , on questions relating to India and the people of India . The Prov . G . M . also attached little value to a declaration made by a Hindoo , that an obligation taken by him on the Bible would be binding on his conscience . The Bible to a Hindoo , who did not reverence it as the inspired AA ord of God and the only guide to salvation , could be nothing better than any other book containing moral precepts . The

Prov . G . M . was therefore of opinion , that Hindoos were not eligible for admission into Masonry , and moreover , that it was not desirable , with reference to social considerations , that they should be admitted ; and so long as be held a veto under the By-Laws , ho would exercise the power rigidly and with the utmost caution .

A vote being called for , the result was unfavourable to the initiation of Hindoos . In pursuance of a notice of motion given by him , Bro . AA . BOURNE , Prov . G . S ., moved— "That , with reference to the near approach of tho time for repairing Freemasons' Hall and the rumoured intention of the owners to increase the rate of rent on the completion of such repairs , immediate steps be taken to obtain a lease of a suitable Hall , and that a Committee be

appointed by the Prov . G . M . to make avrangmeiits for the same . " Bro . Bourne remarked that , in his opinion , preference should bo given to some house at the west end of the town ( that is , not inside the river , but towards the south ) . Tho proposition was seconded and carried , ancl tho Prov . G . M ' . appointed the following brethren to be the members of the committee : viz ., the present members ofthe finance committee ,

the masters of tho lodges , the chairman ofthe Grand Stewards ' Committee , and the Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary . The Prov G . AI . observed that it was absolutely necessary that something should be speedily done , as the lodges had received a notice to quit the present building . Bro : BOURNE also moved— " That , in the event of any procession taking place on St . John ' s Day approaching , some more

convenient spot he selected to march from than the Freemasons ' Hall . " The Pnov . G . MASTER stated , that it was his own wish that the next procession should be to St . Paul ' s Cathedral , from some suitable house in the neighbourhood ; but if that should not be practicable , and service should , as usual , bo held at St . John's Church , he was desirous that the brethren should march front tho Town Hall . The Lodge was then close ! in due form .

Poetry.

Poetry .

THE BRAVE OLD CRAFT . By Bro . T . It . HOI'X AND , Preston . Air—The Brave Old Oak . A Song to the Craft—the brave old Craft , That hath rul'd in the world so long , Here's success to the Art—the time honoured Art ,

And its pillars so fair ancl strong . O . i its fame and renown , the sun ne ' er goes down , But shines ever clear and bright ; The East and the AVest have its glory confessed , And the Xorth and the South own its might . Then sing to the Craft—the brave old Craft , That hath rul'd in the world so long ; And still may its worth illumine tbe earth , AAlieu ten thousand years are gone .