Grand Lodge For Australia.

we believe it does from the Scotch—for amongst all his faults no one will accuse Bro . Gray Clarke from a want of attention to the correspondence of his office , if sometimes he does not write a little more than may be altogether discreet and desirable . The Grand Master truly says : — " He has no legal

means , and does not desire any , to compel the allegiance of those who desire to secede . He can only trust to their fidelity- —to their obligations—and to their honour as men . " But we cannot but feel that this appeal to obligations and honour sounds

somewhat sadly when put in juxtaposition with the closing paragraph of the letter , which we think so far as regards the greater part of it , had been better omitted . " Finally , the Grand Master begs that you , as the District Grand Master , will give no countenance or

support to the contemplated movement for the formation of an independent Grand Lodge of Victoria ; but urges you to stimulate all good Masons to discountenance it , enjoining you to animate them to preserve their fidelity , and to use every means ivhich a kindly Masonic spirit can dictate , to bring back those who are progressing in a wrong direction . But that

failing , you are to put in force against them all the powers with which you are armed by the " Book of Constitutions , " as the representative of the Grand Master , in the full confidence that you will have the support both of the Grand Master and of the Grand Lodge of England . " Certainly tbe latter sentence

looks too much like a threat to find a place in an argumentative letter—as these powers are very doubtful , so far as we read the " Book of Constitutions" — and we are sure that no harshness will find a response in the Grand Lodge of England , that will not be

speedily put down by the good sense of the majority of its members . We see that , acting on the letter , the Provincial Grand Master has forbidden the discussion of the subject in " open lodge , " and here we must express our opinion that he is wrong , as nothing tends

to injure a cause so much as the endeavour to prevent its being fully discussed and ventilated in the most open matter—with such discussion may an apparent grievance become dispersed , which quietly brooded over , may assume an importance—the result of which

it is impossible to foresee . The following is the letter of the M . W . Grand Master -.

—Freemasons Hall , London , W . C . July 16 th , 1863 . Right Worshipful Sir and Brother , —By command of the M . W . Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland , I have the honour to inform you that he has very carefully considered your letter of the 21-th of April last , with its enclosures , and the report of

the proceedings that took place on the 18 th of April , at the Duke of Rothsay Hotel , Melbourne , and I am to express to you how deeply his lordship regrets to hear of the very ill-advised steps taken by a few of the brethren in Victoria .

The Grand Master is of opinion that so far from enhancing the position of Masonry in Victoria , the formation of an independent Grand Lodge in that colony would tend to lower it and bring it into disrepute . The course proposed to be taken by the brethren in Victoria might , with equal propriety , be taken in New Zealand , New South Wales , Tasmania , and other colonies , and thus there might be a Grand Lodge in each .

Nothing in the Grand Master ' s opinion is more mischievous , nothing tends more certainly to lower the character and influence of Freemasonry , and nothing leads more to destroy the universality of our degrees than the multiplication of Grand Lodges .

The Grand Master believes tbat the complaint that large sums are remitted to this country , and thus tbat Masonry is impoverished in Victoria , is unfounded : the only payment made to the Grand Lodge of England being seven shillings and sixpence for each member initiated , which payment includes the Grand Lodge certificate .

It is perfectly true that the Grand Lodge of England has a very large fund at its disposal for the relief of brethren in distress , but it is entirely maintained by the brethren here , although brethren from the colonies are freely relieved from it , though they in no way contribute to maintain it . The same remark holds good of our charities ; and there is nothing to prevent the brethren of Victoria and other colonies having such charities of their own .

The pecuniary benefit arising to the Grand Lodge of England from its lodges in the colonies would not weigh for one instant with either the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in determining the advisability or otherwise of colonial lodges maintaining their allegiance . The Grand Master did undoubtedly in a graceful manner

recognise the Grand Lodge of Canada , but the circumstances there were widely different . There had been put forward grounds of complaint which do not exist in the case of Victoria ; and in that case , where a complaint in reference to feessimilar to that alleged by the brethren in Victoria—was made , the Grand Master disposed of it by showing that the sum total paid by the lodges in Canada was utterly insignificant .

The Grand Master observes that the sum total received from Victoria has amounted , during twenty-two years , to less than £ 1 , 400 . * He desires to observe that the power of electing their own Grand Master is one of very doubtful advantage in newlyformed Grand Lodges , and leads not unfrequently to great

internal division and dissension . He has no legal means , and does not desire any , to compel the allegiance of those who desire to secede . He can only trust to their fidelity—to their obligations—and to their honour as men . They , and especially all Masters and Past Masters amongst them , have solemnly sworn to support and uphold the

Grand Lodge of England . The Grand Master trusts that this contemplated step has only been joined in by a few of the unthinking members of lodges , for he cannot believe that right-minded and honourable men , who have reflected upon the subject , will be found willing to join it .

The Grand Master does not deny that circumstances may arise where lodges in distant colonies may , from their distance , their number , their antiquity , and other causes , be justified in asking to be permitted to found , an independent Grand Lodge ; but he is entirely of opinion that no such causes exist in Victoria , and he is quite satisfied that so far from any advantage or honour being derived from it , it must end in disaster