Australia.

was duly proposed , seconded , balloted for , and admitted as a candidate for initiation . The lodge was then opened in the Fellow Craft Degree , and Bros . Howingan , Phillips , and Resdaile were tested as to the proficiency made b y them in their former degrees , and , having answered satisfactorily , the lodge was opened in the third degree , and those brethren were raised to the high and sublime degree of Master Masons . Some

general business having been gone through , the lodge was closed in harmony . FOREST CREEK . —St . John ' s Tradesman's Lodge ( No . 391 , 1 . C . ) —The regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held on the 29 th July , at the Chewton Hall , Cbewton . Bros . Lucas , Pringle , and Brunier were examined by the W . M . as to their proficiency in the E . A . degreeprevious to their being passed to

, that of craftsmen . Having satisfactorily passed their examination they were asked to retire . The lodge was then passed to the second degree , when they were re-admitted , and the ceremony of passing was ably performed by the AV . M ., assisted by Bro . Ustiek , P . M . Application from Mr . A . Kerr , Oriental Bank , Chiltern , asking for clearance , granted ; the lodge unanimously expressed their regret that they had lost such a valuable

member as Bro . Kerr , and desired the Secretary to give him a recommendation to any lodge he may wish to join . MELBOURNE . —St . Clair Lodge . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Thursdaj-, the 6 th August , in the Masonic Booms , St . Patrick ' s Hall . The lodge was opened at a quarter to eight o'clock . Mr . W . M . Turnbnll , who had been duly proposed , balloted for , and accented , was duly initiated into the

ancient mysteries of the E . A . degree . The lodge ivas then opened in the second degree , and Bro . George Simpson having passed the required examination , retired , and the lodge was opened in the third degree , and Bro . Simpson was raised to the high and sublime degree of a M . M . A communication from the proposed Grand Lodge Committee , requesting a contribution to defray the expenses of that committee , was then read , and the sum of £ 2 2 s . was ordered to be paid for that purpose .

Hotliam Lodge ( No . 429 , 1 . C . )—The monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Monday evening , 10 th August , at the lodgerooms , Errol-street , Hotham , Bro . G . Davidson , AV . M ., in the chair . Mr . Henry John Bollen was then balloted for , and being in attendance outside the lodge , was subsequently admitted , and received the Entered Apprentice Degree . Bros . John Stewart , James O'Shea , and James Foot Dow , were passed to the degree

of Fellow Craft . Bro . William Henry Kiug ' was raised to the high and sublime degree of a Master Mason . COLLINGWOOD . —Combermere Lodge ( No . 1054 ) . — -The regular meeting of this lodge was held at their lodge-room , Swan Hotel , Gertrude-street , Collingwood , on Monday , 10 th August . Lodge ivas opened at half-past seven . Mr . C . Blake was duly elected and initiated . Applications for relief were received from Bro . Douglas and another brother , and both applicants were relieved . A candidate was proposed for initiation .

MELBOURNE . —Australia Felix Lodge ( No . 697 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held at the lodge-room , St . Patrick ' s Hall , on Monday , August 10 . The lodge was opened in the first degree , —Bros . Noon , AV . M . ; Delmbtt ., S . AV . ; Edwards , as J . W . A communication was received from the proposed Grand Lodge Committee . The AA . M . permitted it to be read , but would not allow any proposition to be made on the subject .

Australasian Kilwinning Lodge ( No . 337 ) . — The regularmeeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic rooms , St . Patrick's Hall , on Tuesday , the 11 th August . Lodge opened in the first degree at half-past seven—Bros . Baines , AV . M . ; Thomson , P . M . ; Elms , S . W . ; Blanchard , J . W . After the confirmation of the minutes of the former meeting , the lodge was opened in the third degreeand the ballot was taken for two gentlemen

, , who were unanimously accepted . Lodge was then resumed in tho third degree , and Mr . Hector J . Cuttford , who had been regularly proposed and accepted , was initiated into Freemasonry by the AV . M . Bro . Lynch , who had served his full time as an Entered Apprentice , having proved himself worthy of further enlightenment , the W . M . opened a Fellow Craft lodge , and Bro . Lynch was advanced to the degree of F . C .

SANDRIDGE . — Sandridge Marine Lodge . — An emergency meeting of the Sandridge Marine Lodge , was held at the Masonic Hall , Sandridge , on Tuesday , 11 th August , at high noon , Bro . Beresford , W . M . The lodge was called for the purpose of laying the foundation-stone of the Presbyterian Church , Sanddridge , which ceremony was performed by the brethren of the lodge , assisted by upwards of fifty visitors .

Cape Of Good Hope.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE .

PORT ELIZABETH . St . John's day ( June 24 th ) was a gay and important day for the Freemasons of Port Elizabeth . A new Freemasons' Hall on the Hill , which had been for sometime in course of erection , was opened with a procession , and tho day being especially genial , a large number of the population , the fair sex

predominating , assembled all along the line to witness it . A correspondent of the Anglo-Africa , published at Grahams Town , "Who styles himself Flos Cuculi , thus describes the proceedings . This auspicious day set in with a hot sun and keen piercing wind , but such inconveniences only stimulate on this occasion the votaries of gridirons and mallets . How many anxieties

were there the previous eve , to render the celebration of this day more imposing than heretofore . Recruits were beat up from all quarters ; one ardent square worshipper purposedly travelled from outlandish regions for the occasion . Others got-themselves put through the degrees , so as to master pieces . Insignia were furbished up , aprons aired , rosettes fresh plaited . At the

mystic hour might be seen sundry black-robed members of the "Craft , " all filled with that grand principle ivhich should actuate every one , " Loving one's neighbour or brother as one ' s self . " There were grey-bearded , bald-headed , wrinkled personages , and youths with just the gloss of manhood about them , all repairing to the mysterious upstair room , so closely guarded , and therefore denominated a "lodge , " or lock-up . After due deliberation upon forms and ceremonies , the Craft in

skilfularray , headed by a hand , in front of which danced black girls , variously attired , and processed to church , there to hear the bell toll forth from the last of the prophets . " Locusts and wild honey , " " the wilderness , " how realised in a sumptuous after dinner ! But this is the . only practical way of realising the truth of an illustration , as vide our Bishops , whose scrip and staff are the substance of what in gospellie periods stood a shadow . We live in enlihtened timesand if Adam ancl Eve

g , preferred fruit , and St . John locusts , we of the 19 th century have an established preference to the solids of life , nor can we live on allegory alone . The sermon was like all such discourses , to the point , —within the circle ; parabolic sweeps were carefully avoided ; the " nines" strongly impressed , —strengthened in their inner men , the band of sworn brothers dispersed until the refectory timeto the calls of which all responded within

, its hearing . And what a sight ! those long tables set by the plumb line and square , those three branched candelabra , afterwards replaced by characteristic pillars and mundane shafts ; the wedged mallets , the plumb line , chisel , square , and the like ; the ten commandments duly labelled on the mantelpiece , as if fresh from the banks of tbe Moselle ; the platters , all marvellous to behold to Johnean eyes ; the knives and forks were

only to deceive vulgar gaze . The hour for dining arrives , each "fellow craft" girds on his apron , sticks a rosette in his breast ; now the outer doors are closed , the knives and forks are displaced , and trowels and compasses supply their want , the royal arehes ( not those of the Adelphi ) , keystones to the structure before them , strike their circles , the AV . M . just installed see all square , then

Tooth to flesh , and lips to wine , Of all joys , a good feed's divine . " Enlivened by the strains of music they drown royalty in bumpers , and float the navy in the " Bay of Biscay , " the Craft from high to low their share receive , and 'prentices are shown the virtues of a Craft that brings all men to one level . Work warms all menand in eagerness they declared they would not "

, go home till morning , " ivhich is a truth nobody can deny . With the cloth , the body removed their cloth , and as jolly bricks all keystones in their way , showed how man should love his brother as himself . Thus ended the evening of the 24 th of June , far different from that whose name it bears . His brotherhood was the universe , his craft to fit all men as bricks in the grand temple , his princile no secresy . But in the 19 th century it would be

p wrong to cast pearls—away . Knowledge is to the few ; and if Masonry , Freemasonry will make men honest in their dealings , charitable towards all , truthful in their speech , then may it flourish , may it gather strength and uproot the evil that lurketh in secret places , and may it ever enjoy the 24 tb of June .