Grand Lodge For Australia.

Finally , the Grand Master begs that you , as the District Grand Master , will give no countenance or support to the contemp lated 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 which 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 tbe representative of the Grand Master , in the full confidence that you will have the support both of the Grand Master and of thc Grand Lodge of England .

I have the honour to be , Right Worshipful Sir , your faithful servant and brother , War . GHAT CLARKE , G . S . Fred . C . Standish , Esq ., Provincial Grand Master of Victoria , Melbourne .

* The following Returns show the total amount paid by each Lodge to the Grand Lodge of England , during the past twentytwo years , referred to in the above letter : — LODGES IN VICTORIA , AUSTRALASIA .

Date of Warrant . No . Place of Meeting . Payments to ° brand Lodge . £ s . d . April 2 , 1811 ... 697 Melbourne 228 11 6 July 4 , 1816 ... 773 Melbourne 87 10 0 Oct . 1318-17 ... 801 Geelong 104 13 0

, June 19 , 1850 ... 811 Portland 34 14 0 May 15 , 1854 ... 917 Melbourne , Saint Kilda 55 3 0 July 31 , „ ... 921 Williamstown ... 13 I 0 Oct . 24 , „ ... 924 Sandhurst 106 5 0 Sept . 25 , 1855 ... 956 Ballaarat 92 12 0 Dec . 3 , 1856 ... 993 Castlemaine 68 18 6

Aug . 25 , 1857 ... 1015 Ballaarat 20 0 0 Do ., „ ... 1016 Emerald Hill 18 15 0 Oct . 2 , „ ... 1018 Davlesford 10 10 0 Do ., ' „ ... 1019 Ballaarat 21 5 0 Do ., „ ... 1020 Hawthorn 12 5 0 Dec . 1 , „ ... 1029 Collingwood 33 8 0 Do ., „ ... 1030 Beechworth 53 19 0 Do ., „ ... 1031 Melbourne 20 7 6 May 17 , 1858 ... 1046 Ballaarat East ... 18 0 0 Do ., „ ... 1047 Maldon 23 17 6

Do ., „ ... 1048 Williamstown ... 17 15 0 Do ., „ ... 1019 Melbourne 12 0 0 Do ., „ ... 1050 Gisborne 20 0 0 July 2 , „ ... 1054 East Collingwood .. 28 9 0 Nov . 13 , „ ... 1064 Castlemaine 13 17 6 Dec . 21 , „ ... 1070 Sandridge 35 7 6 Do ., „ ... 1071 Maryborough 21 17 6 Do . ... 1072 Sandhurst 37 2 6

, „ June 2 , 1859 ... 1093 Richmond 25 2 6 June 20 , „ ... 1095 Tarrengower 20 10 0 Sept . 21 , „ ... 1100 Kyneton 10 12 6 Do ., „ ... 1101 Creswick 17 7 6 Nov . 27 , 1860 ... 1145 Heathcote 23 10 0 Do ., „ ... 1147 Collingwood 5 5 0 Do ., „ ... 1148 Iv ' ilmore 14 12 6

Oct . 21 , 1861 ... 1187 Merino 10 5 0 Nov . 23 , „ ... 1196 Schnapper Point ... 5 5 0 Do ., „ ... 1197 Warniambool 14 17 6 April 24 , 1862 ... 1217 Inglewood 20 2 6 Aug . 23 , „ ... 1224 Woodend 5 5 0 Sept . 20 , „ ... 1232 South Yarra , Melbourne 5 5 0 1 , 388 4 0

Freemasonry, Considered In Its Relations To Moral Sciencl.

FREEMASONRY , CONSIDERED IN ITS RELATIONS TO MORAL SCIENCL .

By BKO . "W . SINCOCK , MELBOURNE . Mariners Lodge ( No . 1049 ) , E . O . " A subject worthy the attention of the Christian and the man of science . It includes a pure system of ethics , and develops the philosophy of mind , at the same that it recommends and encourages social recreation . " —Oliver ' s " Theocratic Philosophy of Freemasonry . "

At the present time , when speculative Masonry is making rapid strides , and is , notwithstanding , so little understood , that lectures are delivered to the uninitiated , and manuals published , professing to admit them to a complete knowledge of its profound mysteries , as if it was likely that men , however fond of notoriety , would disregard the most sacred obligations , and reveal what

they had solemnly sivorn to conceal , it may be desirable to direct attention to what is justly considered the main body of Masonry : —Its beautiful system of morality , educational tendency , and theocratical teaching . Those who rightly prize whatever promotes the spread of piety and virtue , will rejoice at the existence of such an institution , and the initiated themselves will find a

pleasure in tracing the outlines of ethical science , and perceiving that not only , as they are fully aware , does every emblem and every ceremony possess a moral significance , but that the whole system of Freemasonry forms a complete body of theoretical and practical ethics . Iu endeavouring thus to lay bare the foundation , and exhibit the scientific superstructure of Masonry , I shall

set aside those spurious rituals pretending to contain full descriptions of the machinery of the Craft , and regard the society as " blending science with morals , uniting benevolence with philosophy , and as displaying au example of fraternal union , ivhich is sought in vain amidst other scenes , in these times of religious and . political excitement . "

The legitimate lectures of the three degrees contain the pure morality and philosophy of Freemasonry , and form a storehouse of knowledge for tho advanced and accomplished Mason . Fully to explore the history and

antiquities of the materials laid up here , as well as thoroughly to master their contents , in addition to the routine business and lectures of the lodge , is a worthy occupation for the leisure of the Mason possessed of the necessary industry and ability . It cannot be expected that so vast a subject can be fairly treated within the limits of a short essay . A mere

outline is all that can here be presented to the reader ; and if this should convince him that there is more in Masonry than has ever before been dreamt of in his philosophy , the end of the writer will have been accomplished . The three parts into which this subject will be divided will not exactly correspond with the three lectures in

their order . Sometimes a particular moral law will be found in one division and sometimes in another . The Entered Apprentice may be considered as the threshold of knowledge—a mere learner in tbe school of moral science . The Fellow Craft , a labourer as well as learner , adding to his morality , intellectual attainments . Whilst the Master Mason may be regarded as having arrived

at a higher knowledge , the knowledge of himself ; his relations to the Deity and his destiny , and as now become qualified to be a teacher and guide in the paths of rectitude . Throughout the whole series , however , much may be already done in the way of generalisation , moral , intellectual , and pschological truths are so intermingled that it will be better to arrange them according to a

particular system , when their mutual dependence and completeness will at once become evident , their beauty and order duly appreciated . Let us now proceed to the investigation of what is understood by moral science , as defined by a professor