The Mark Benevolent Fund.

which should be prominent in every manager and official concerned in the distribution of the funds supplied . It is not to be expected that we can now return to the primitive methods of our predecessors in affording relief in connection with the Craft Charities , but we do

earnestly hope that the General Board of the Mark Degree will never listen to any proposition for the provision of special establishments for the reception of its wards or annuitants . If they do , they must say " goodbye " to their " four per cent , only" deduction from

receipts ; but whilst they do not the fund will deserve and will be sure to receive , as well from the three degree Masons as from their own body , the utmost support . It is a most satisfactory thing to note in its lately published Calendar , the year by year increase of the Benevolent

Fund from £ 50 at its first festival to £ 2 , 115 and £ 1 , G 38 respectively in 1887-8 , and seeing what good has been done with the contributions it has already received , Ave

sincerely hope that even these larger figures may be exceeded in the return of the Stewards' lists by the Secretary , at the call of Bro . Sir Lionel Darell , on the 24 th prox .

Colonial Items.

COLONIAL ITEMS .

WESTERN AUSTRALIA . —ANNUAL COMMUNICATION OF THE DISTRICT GRAND LODGE . —After the grand Masonic function that took place at the Freemasons' Hall , Perth , on the 4 th inst ., nothing can possibly be wanting to prove conclusively the firm hold the craft has on the community of Western Australia . It was a brilliant and representative gathering , attended by brethren

representing every lodge in the colony , as well as the Colonial and English Lodges , His Excellency Bro . Sir F . N . Broome , P . D . S . G . W ., also being present . During the ceremony a communication was read from the District Grand Master in which concise and well compiled epistle the present state , both numerically and financially , of the District Grand Lodge was clearly set forth . The number of

initiations during the year , being 88 , shewed a most satisfactory state of things . Two lodges were consecrated last year , and it is expected two more will be consecrated during the present year . No call has been made on the benevolent fund during the past year , which fact speaks well for the social position of the brethren ranged under the Masonic banner in the colony , and one we venture to

think unique m the whole world . The communication was listened to with much attention by the brethren . After the proceedings in the lodge had terminated , the brethren proceeded to the St . George ' s Hall , where a very excellent banquet had been provided . His Excellency , in proposing the toast of the evening , " Success to the District Grand Lodge of Western Australia . ' '

remarked that the District Grand Lodge , though only a year in existence , was already a success for the very good reason that , as far as he knew , Masonic Institutions always succeeded wherever they were established all over the world , but more especially in the British Dominions . Why did masonry succeed ! Simply because it was a healthy organization , which could not help flourishing and

growing . We heard a great deal of " The secrets of Freemasonry , " but the chief secret of our craft , was this secret of its success , which we could tell to all the world without violating any obligation whatever . Organization , Discipline , Liberty—these are the grand secrets of Freemasonry . The interior administration of the lodge , its relations with other lodges , all its business and affairs of every

sort , not forgetting the arrangement of this excellent and agreeable feast , were minutely regulated , and provided for . Each designated officer has his duty to do , and knew it , and did it . So much for organization . With regard to the next secret of the craft , discipline . Masons well knew that they ha' to obey those set in authority over them . No Mason ever disputed in a factious

manner with his superior in the craft . When the Master , in lodge , gave a decision , all were silent . Masons still remembered a truth , which some outside social and political systems seemed now-a-days rather in danger of forgetting , that it is a privilege and not a degradation , to obey those to whom obedience is due . But the greatest secret of our craft is its liberty . The entered apprentice

had a right to raise his voice in lodge . The honours and dignities of Masonry were not reserved for the favoured few . The craft is ruled by no jealous oligarchy . Everyone had their turn and opportunity of power and place , and it was impossible to imagine any profession or system in which a career of distinction was more widely and freely open on terms of perfect equality to all who

desired it . Nothing was more prized by Freemasons than the liberty which , in the fullest sense , they enjoyed . AVith such secrets and watchwords as these—organization , discipline , liberty—how could Freemasonry in general , and this District Grand Lodge in particular , fail to be a success ? His Excellency ' s speech was

delivered in his happiest mood , and was listened to with the greatest attention by all present . The whole proceedings from commencement to finish were of a highly satisfactoiy character , and too much praise cannot be given to those brethren who had charge of the arrangements which mark an epoch in the history of Freemasonry in Western Australia . —Extracts from Western Mail , Perth , 20 / 4 / 89 .

PERTH . —ST . GEORGE ' S LODGE , NO . 21 G 5 . —W . Bro . E . Scott , 3 I . L . C , and Mayor of Perth , was installed W . M . of this Lodge , in the Freemasons' Hall , Perth , W . A ., on the 18 th April last , by the D . G . M . Bro . J . A . Wright , in the presence of a numerous gathering of members of the Lodge and visitors , amongst whom were Bros , Sir Frederick N . Broome : Congdon , D . D . G . M . ; Michael Samson

Colonial Items.

W . M . ; Humble , W . M . ; Hope , W . M . ; Hurst , W . M . ; Snook , W . M ., & c , & c . The newly-installed W . M . subsequently presided at the banquet served at Bro . Grant ' s Court Hotel . NEW ZEALAND , —AUCKLAND . —Masonic circles in New Zealand have lately been stirred by the proposal to constitute a Grand Lodge for New Zealand , which would unite the different lodges ,

instead of their being attached to the English , Irish , and Scotch Grand Lodges . A gathering of Freemasons took place at Auckland on April 10 th on the subject , presided over by Bro . Malconi Niccol , D . P . G . M ., S . C . Bro . F . Lawry , M . H . R ., moved " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable , in the interests of Freemasonry , that a United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of New

Zealand should be constituted , with the assent of a majority of the lodges now working in the colony under the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland respectively . " Bro . R . Coom seconded the motion . After further discussion . Bro . Leers moved as an amendment , " That they form a United Grand Lodge for Auckland . " New Zealand , he contended , was too large and too scattered for one Grand Lodge . The motion was carried by 75 to

17 . It was agreed that the brethren form themselves into a branch of the New Zealand Masonic Union . Since the date above-named , we learn that numerous lodges under the English constitution have sent in their adherence to the Union , amongst them being Ashley 1877 . Rangiora ( the only lodge in Canterbury ) ; Franklin 2138 , Auckland ; and lodges at Wanganui , Napier , Te Aroha , Dunedin , Ashburton , Nelson , & c . The Prince of Wales' Lodge , No . 1338 . resists the movement .

In reference to the foregoing item , the following letter , which appeared in the New Zealand Herald , of the 12 th April , will be read with interest both at home and abroad : — " re The United Grand Lodge . To the Editor . Sir , —I would have liked to have said a few words last night , but the evident desire to hurry the thing through , and my being a total stranger to 99 per cent , of

those present , must be my excuse for not doing so . I am told that those who took part in the discussion last night were all P . M ' s . This should not be ; it should have been M . M's , in whose decision the matter will rest . And now a word of warning to Masons under the E . C . I understand you are dissatisfied with your District Grand Lodge officers . If so , get rid of them ; get

them changed . You have the power in your own hands ; but surely this can be no reason for seceding from a Constitution that gives you absolute liberty ( more than ever you will get from a New Zealand Constitution ) ; allows you to keep your own quarterages amongst yourselves till , I am informed , you have quite a respectable sum to your credit , and , what is more , you have the

power of spending it as you like . Don't be deceived ; It is your representatives in the District Grand Lodge who are to blame that enough has not been spent in charity . As one speaker said , don't blame the institution for the fault of its members , as is proved by the paper put in my hands last night , showing what has been done in West Lancashire ; for let us remember , brethren , this result

has been achieved by Masons still holding under E . G ., and still paying regular dues to Grand Lodge , from which you are exempt . Brethren , no constitution will alter this . It is in your own hand . I am told that you have a charity fund formed some time since , and there are only two life members . Shame on you all as masons , and yet yon blame the Constitution ! And now a word of caution

to English Masons . You should combine and ascertain the feeling of the brethren independent of Scotch or Irish , or you will rue your apathy , as many of us do now in Australia . These bodies have all to gain and nothing to lose . I , and many others with me , only wish we could go back to English Constitution . Don't be apathetic , as we were ; take a leaf out of the book of those seeking

a new constitution . Why , sir , there must have been 250 or 300 in the hall last night , and only 90 voted for and against the resolution , and of those , I believe , only about one-fourth were English Masons , although they are twice as numerous as both the other bodies . And now , in conclusion , I warn you all to think well about the

matter , for if once the New Zealand Constitution is formed there will be no going back to the English , and when too late you will be sorry—as we are now , so I earnestly intreat you either to decide against it or go slow ; take plenty of time , or you may live to regret it , as many of us have done . —I am , etc ., Australian M . M . ( once English M . M . ) "

THAMES . — CORINTHIAN LODGE , No . 1 ( 155 . — The installation meeting of this Lodge , on the 'Jth April last , was most successful , the local sister lodges and many brethren from Auckland , Waikato , and neighbouring towns attending . Bro . Theodore Wood was installed W . M . by the V . W . D . D . G . M . Bro . Lodder . The retiring AV . M ., Bro . M . Lush , was presented with a handsome P . M . jewel of local manufacture from Thames gold and with appropriate inscription . After labour the brethren banquetted at the Pacific Hotel .

including : i 0 installed masters , and Bro . Lodder , D . D . G . M ., E . G .. and Bro . M . Niccol , D . P . G . M ., S . C . Bro . J . Coom , the retiring W . M ., opened the Lodge , and officiated in a careful , studious , and impressive manner , as installing master , and when Bro . Col . Shepherd was placed in the chair of King Solomon by the board of installed

REMUEKA , AUCKLAND—REMUERA LODGE , 1710 . —The annual meeting was held on April 8 th for the purpose of installing Bro . Colonel T . Alret Shepherd , being the largest and most representative gathering of Masons ever held within the walls of the Lodge . It included representatives of all the city and suburban lodges , many of which attended as lodges . There was a total attendance of 120 ,

masters , and duly saluted in the three degrees , Bros . Bedford , Cooper , and Hewson respectfuLy presented to him the tools of the master , the fellow-craft , and the entered apprentice degree . After appointment and investiture of officers Bros . H . R . George , B . Esam , and 0 . LaRoche delivered the addresses to the W . M ., the wardens and the brethren most effectively .