Australia.

unfavourable to confirm the proceedings of a section of the Masonic body , AVIIO appointed that committee Avhiie brethren unfavourable had no opportunity of expressing their opinions . Bro . JOHN AA ' UXTE , P . M ., as a point of order , Avould suggest that the question before the meeting Avas , Avhether the report should be adopted or not . Tiie meeting Avas not called to discuss the propriety of establishing a Grand Lodge , but simply to receive or negative a report of a committee appointed at a former meeting .

Bro . LEMPRIERE , P . M ., thought that those unfavourable should Avithdraw , as no opportunity had been afforded to them to express their opinion , and should not remain to sanction by their presence any act hostile to their Constitutions . The AV . M . of St . Clair Lodge thought the question of doing any act hostile , or otherwise , Avas not before the meeting , but the consideration Avhether a report should be received or not . Bro . the Rev . 31 . RINTEL ivould ask Bro . Lempriere Avhat

other course could be adopted by the meeting . If the report Avas not adopted , the proceedings should terminate , and he would bo glad if Bro . Lempriere could state wdiat other course could lie adopted than moving the reception of the report . Bro . BRADSII . VW , P . M ., suggested that the brethren attended not to discuss the propriety of establishing a Grand Lodge , but to receive a report ; and hoped that the labours of the .

committee would not be negatived by any brother who did not choose to attend when that question was discussed . Bro . JAMES , P . M ., called Bro . Lempriere's attention to the fact that when the consideration of forwarding a memorial to the Grand Lodge Avas before the meeting , that AVOU ' KI be the proper time for any remark he might choose to make against further proceedings .

Bro . TAATCG said great difficulties appeared to him to exist against creating a Grand Lodge of Victoria . The Grand Masters arc opposed to it , and he did not see his Avay to create the Grand Bond of Union alluded to in the report . The theory Avas agreeable to his Masonic feelings , but he could r . ot see his way to arrive at so desirable an end without severing the ties of Masonry .

Bro . LEMPRIERE rose to propose an amendment , and informed the brethren that they had acted illegally in addressing the various lodges Avithout the consent of the Prov . G . M . 's . ( Laughter . ) Bro . JOHN AVUYTE , P . M ., proposed , "That the report of tbe Committee Avhich had just been read should bo adopted by the meotins-. "

Bro . REED , P . M ., seconded the proposition , which ivas carried —sixteen voting for and nine against the resolution . The CHAIRMAN , before proceeding to tiie next business for Avhich tho meeting was called , wished to explain , that the action take by the Committee was not illegal , because there is a clause in the Constitutions Avhich permits members of lodges to correspond with lodges without addressing the Prov . G . M . 's ; nor Avas there anything illegal iu the request made bthe Committee .

y They did not ask any lodge to throw up their Avarrant , or to cast off their allegiance ; they only asked them to express their opinion on the advisability of establishing a Grand Lodge for the information of the G . M . 's ; and , on these grounds , he maintained that tho Committee had adopted the only course they could consistently follow . He AVOUICI now call upon the Secretary to read the memorial proposed to be sent to the Grand Masters .

The memorial was then read . Bro . the Rev . M . RINTEL proposed that the consideration of the memorial be postponed until a more numerous meeting of the fraternity could bo obtained . Bro . J . ILICKETT , P . M ., was in favour of the movement , but , in consequence of the thin attendance , thought that the memorial should not be hurried through Avithout due consideration .

Time should be given ; many things in the memorial might be opposed , some things might bo added or improved ; he therefore seconded the proposition for postponing the consideration of the memorial . Bro . BRADSIIAAV , P . M ., Avished to speak to the amendment . The memorial would be printed and sent to every lodgo in the colony . It AA-as not required to send it at once to the G . M . ' s ;

the meeting might be adjourned and adjourned , but a full meeting might never be obtained . The non-attendance of brethren Avas not the fault of the Committee ; they desired a large attendance , and it Avas problematical if any future meeting would be more numerously attended , and even then tho Committee might be met with another motion of adjournment . The very parties Avho spoke now of the illegality of the proceedings of the

Committee entertained Avhat they call illegal questions in their OAVII lodges . The amendment Avas put and lost , 11 voting for ancl 15 against it . Bro . MINTEORT thought the memorial might be made stronger hy alluding to the fact that one Constitution might initiate the refuse of another . The AA . MASTER of St . Clair Lodge stated that any person

rejected by a Constitution up-country might come to Melbourne and be initiated in another . Bro . LEMPRIERE , P . M ., thought the statements put forward misled the brethren . The first meeting ivas called of those favourable . He had been informed that the first meeting was a preliminary one , and that it would be wrong for those unfavourable to attend ; therefore , they had not an opportunity of

expressing their opinion . The two great questions raised in the memorial ivere—the fees , and the advantage of self-government . The fees received would not pay a salary to a Grand Secretary ,- not £ 100 are remitted . In years past large sums Avere remitted , but the fees are IIOAV reduced to 5 s . for certificates , and 2 , ? . Gd . for registration . The colony does not pay one farthing towards the Home Charitable Fundand home

-, pro vincial Masons pay 10 * . more than Victorians ; yet any Victorian brother going to England Avas entitled to all the privileges of English Masons . The sixty lodges in the colony do not send home £ 200 a-year . If the Masons of Victoria required an asylum , Masonic Hall , or schools , Avhy do they not put their hands in their pockets ? A Grand Lodge would not provide these . ( Laughter . ) He belonged to tivo Constitutionsand he

, looked on it as a libel to say that great dissatisfaction exists . It Avas easy to make a statement , but he Avould like to hear a single fact showing tho dissatisfaction . Ho matter ivhat change Avould be made , the most respectable of the brotherhood Avould adhere to the home Constitutions ; and if the Grand Lodge Avas established , they would have four Constitutions in A ictoria . He thought the greatest protection to Masons ivas the having a

Constitution from home . The proposed Grand Lodge of Victoria Avould be an irregular lodge , as it would not be acknowledged by the Grand Lodge of England . The CHAIRMAN would wisli to inform Bro . Lempriere that

the committee were desirous of forming no irregular lodge , but a regular one , under the sanction of the Grand Lodge . Bro . BRADSHAW replied that , Avith reference to the illegality , there can be none in petitioning the Grand Lodge to grant a favour—the Grand Lodge of Victoria petitioned the Grand Lodge to reduce the fees . Bro . Lempriere might as Avell say that ivas illegal . It could not be illegal to ask Avhat the Grand Lodge had the power to refuse ; yetif this question was illegal

, , Bro . Lempriere allowed the matter to be discussed at the South Yarra Lodge , Avhere he ivas AV . M . Our allegiance is due to the great and glorious principles of Masonry , not to a Constitution ; it is not by having three Constitutions acting , opposed to each other , that we can disseminate brotherly love , relief , and truth . Let us go on the broad principles of Masonry , and let us have our own local charitable institutions . AA e do not assert that

Ave are called upon to pay to the Benevolent Fund of home . But Bro . Lempriere does not inform tho meeting the amount paid for Avarrants and certificates ; but even if we had not more than the amount of our Secretary ' s salary , that sum Avould . form the nucleus of a fund for Masonic purposes . £ 12 , 000 haA-o been sent home to the English Grand Lodge , yet only one claim has been made on their Fund of Benevolence . AA e have

also heard of the great advantages Ave possess in having the privilege of appeal . Take an example : —Some months ago a brother made an appeal to the Grand Lodge of England . That appeal arrived in London early in May , nineteen days before the usual convocation of the Grand Lodge in June ; but because , after travelling 1 G , 000 miles to be adjudicated upon , it happened to be two clays after the time appointed for receiving

appeals ( twenty-one days before the meeting of the Grand Lodge ) , the appeal has been postponed until the September meeting , thus quietly shelved in tho Grand Secretary's office for a period of four months . Bro . JAMES , P . M ., said ,- —The memorial Avas to be sent to tbe various lodges to receive their due consideration , and to report their opinion on itand he advised his brethren to act in a fair

, Masonic manner . There should be no hesitation in stating to the Grand Lodges the numbers of those opposed to the movement as Avell as the number who have joined in it . Yet , although brethren could not shut their eyes to the fact that they Avere opposed , yet their opponents had never denied the important