Quarterly Communication Of Grand Lodge.

about four years ago a compact was entered into between the Lodges under the English Constitution , Nos . 666 and 257 under the Irish Constitution , not to recognize and acknowledge the said St . Andrew ' s Lodge till they had written authority in answer to a communication sent to the G . L . of Scotland respecting the same , as to their application for a warrant which was generally-supposed to have been signed by unauthorized parties not recognized by any other Lodge . In due course an answer was received by the P . G . M . from the GLof Scotlandthe particulars of whichhoweverwere

. . , , , never disclosed . Eight months have elapsed , during which period we have made repeated applications to the P . G . M . and his Lodge for the letter alluded to or a copy thereof , but we have received no answer whatever . Surely in common courtesy , if not by right , we were entitled to expect a reply 1 We were made a party to the affair , and wc have as much respect for the judgment and discernment in our Lodge as in any of the English Lodges . This conduct on their part is notin our opinionat all according to Masonic

, , usage . Eight months having elapsed , and no answer having been returned , our Lodge passed a resolution appointing a Deputation of its members to inspect the Documents of the aforesaid St . Andrew's Lodge , and if found correct to acknowledge and fraternize with them ; and the Lodge proving properly constituted , this was accordingly done . The English P . G . L . now laid hold of this proceeding to debar any and all persons under the Scotch and Irish Constitutions ( except No 267 ) from visiting their Lod and

. ges , refused all communication with us . And further : they passed a resolution that any Brother visiting us should be suspended by them . The St . Andrew's Lodge has recently made an application to this P . G . L . to form a Committee to inspect its Documents , which the P . G . L . declined to do , on the plea that it has written home , and could not interfere till an answer is received . Such is a plain , unvarnished statement of facts which we wish to lay before the Board of General Purposesin order that they make

, may a Communication to the G . Lodges of England and Scotland , and ask their advice and assistance . We may as well state that some of our Brethren have been told verbally that the answer of the G . L of Scotland , was no answer , " & c . ( Signed by the W . M , and Wardens ) .

Bro . Dobie said this was entirely a question of Colonial jurisdiction , and , as such , should be referred to the Colonial Board to discuss and report upon . As to the general principle , he was of opinion that the W . M . of a Lodge had power to refuse a visitor if he thought proper . It was monstrous to suppose that a convict , for instance , or other known bad character , could claim admission into a Lodge of gentlemen . ( Hear , hear ) . Ashe believed the W . M . and Wardens had a right to admit whom they would , he should , to save the time of the Lod move a resolution affirming that

pringe , ciple , which he concluded by doing . Bro . Aria dissented , and referred to the Prussian G . L . which excluded certain Brethren upon other grounds than those which had been referred to by the Grand Registrar . If such powers of exclusion were to be allowed there was no telling what abuses might creep in . As Masonry was universal , nothing but certain known facts against his character should exclude any Brother . Nothing should exclude a Brother from a Freemasons' Lodwhich

ge would not exclude him from any other Society of gentlemen . He trusted that this communication would receive due attention at the hands of G . Lodge . Bro . Williams , D . P . G . M . from Sydney , was not very audible in his observations ; but we understood him to say that the Lodge referred to had received Brethren suspended by the P . G . L . for unmasonic conduct , and he thought that was sufficient reason why they should hold no communication with it . Besides which , men

guilty of certain offences * * * * were admitted into those Lodges which complained of being cut off from communication with the others . ( Hear , hear ) . The Rev . Brother Portal : As G . L . is still very imperfectly informed as to the details of this case , let it be referred to the Colonial Board . ( Hear , hear ) . Bro . Dobie and Bvo . Aria assented to this proposition . BroHavers saidthe RWthe DGMfor Sydney was about to

. , . . . . . return to that country , and it was , therefore , very desirable that he should carry back with him some resolution of G . L . upon this subject . There could , therefore , be no objection whatever to Bro . Dobie's motion ; it bound G . L . to nothing , and only expressed a principle which must m ' ectwith universal approbation . ( Applause ) . Bro . Aria had tried to lead them away from the real question by referring to a case in Prussia which was not at all analagous to the present case . ( Hear , hear ) .

Bro . Binckes said it was no use to attempt to shirk specific case of difficulty merely by affirming general principles . Bro . Newmarch contended that it was the duty of the Tyler to admit all Masons on proof ; but this was assailed by cries of "No no ! " from all parts of G . L ., and in fact it raised such a storm of disapprobation that the Bro . sat down and made no further observations . TheM . W . the G . M . read the law , '' No visitor shall be admitted into a Lodge unless personally knownrecommended well

, , or vouched for , and after due examination by one of the Brethren present ; and during his continuance in that Lodge he shall be subject to the by-laws of the Lodge , and the Master of the Lodge is bound to enforce these regulations . " Bro . Goold said this was not a mere Colonial question . He disapproved of the course pursued by the P . G . L . of Sydney . A man proving himself to be a Mason ought not to be refused admission . The W . M . who refused such a Brother put himself in the position

of a Court to try the Brother ' s character , and that without the Brother being heard in his own behalf . This was contrary to the spirit of Masonic law . A man once a Mason , till under some Masonic suspension , ought not to be refused admission . ( Loud cries of " Oh ! oh ! " and various demonstrations of disapprobation from all parts of G . L . ) . Bro . Roxburgh said it could not be tolerated that any man whatever his characterwas to come to the door of Lod

, your ge and demand admission whether you would or would not . ( Loud applause ) . A man might be a good Mason at one period of his life , but afterwards he might commit himself . ( Hear , hear ) . The Rev . Bro . Westall thought the Scotch and Irish were not sufficiently particular . He had been P . G . Treasurer , and had found hundreds of pretended Masons who made a trade of it and lived by it , and out of all the oases he had known of these itinerant Masonic imposters , only two had English diplomas . ( Applause ) .

Bro . II . G . Warren asked the G . M . if this was not such a motion as required notice to be given of it ? The M . W . the G . M . said , No , as it was simply in answer to the communication from the G . L . of Ireland . It was desirable that the opinion of G . L . should go forth at once to the Colonies , assuring them that G . L . justified them in refusing to receive Brethren of known bad character . ( Applause ) . The resolution was put in the following terms : —

" That it is the opinion of this G . L . that it is in the power of the W . M . and Wardens of any private Lodge to refuse admission to any visitor of known bad character . " Carried unanimously , and ordered to be communicated to Lord Naas .

This was the end of the orders of the day , and G . L . was about to proceed to the notices of motion , but it was eleven o ' clock , and the G . M . enforced the by-law that after that hour no new business can be proceeded with . Considerable amusement was caused by the Brethren , some of them disputing the time and declaring it had not struck the hour , and ergo Bro . Portal was entitled to proceed . The minute or two spent in this way put the question beyond any doubt , so that when Bro . Portal at length rose it really had struck the hourand theMWthe GMon being appealed todecided

, . . . ., , that G . L . must be closed . Bro . Aria said he hoped the G . M . would call a G . L . of Emergency to go on with the arrears of business . The M . W . the G . M . said he would think of it , but made no promise either way . The G . L . was then closed in ample form with solemn prayer .

Ar01501

LOST , on Wednesday livening , 3 rd Dec , between the hours of 8 and 11 , on the Dais of G . L ., some TEMPER , much ARGUMENT , and all PRETENCE to IMPARTIALITY and LOGIC—Whoever will restore the missing valuables will be duly REWARDED with OFFICIAL FAVOUR . —Address , GKAND REGIS .-

TBAE ' OFFICE . N . B . —The Articles in question will be easil y recognized by a plausible but rather flimsy appearance .