In The Dark.

request and proposed deputation , but no satisfaction is vouchsafed , and they arc kept " in the dark . " We contend that this is not as it should he , and that neither they nor any other or others of our Order should be so treated . It is not in accordance with our truest

principles . In common fairness ih-y should be made acquainted with the reasons , most probably good and very sufficient , for the refusal of the B . W . Prov . G . Master for Kent to recommend their petition . The Craft , generally , cannot have much care as to whether or not another Lodge

be added to the register of the Grand Lodge , but most assuredly they have , and ought to have , an abundant care that whatever may be done in the business of Freemasonry

should bear the lkht of communication , and that what affects any portion of their body politic , and may spread to their universal detriment , should not be allowed to remain "in the dark . "

A "Soldier Mason's" Address

A "SOLDIER MASON'S" ADDRESS

To THE MEMBERS OF THE TEMPERANCE LODGE . No . 731 ) , BIRMINGHAM . —11 TH MARCH , 1889 .

( See (' orretptmdenee at payc 86 ) . fffffl ORSIIIPFUL SIR , —I have great pleasure in rising to thank I f . f I you for ihe manner in -which you proposed my health , and Hisil ' ^ kind w ;> 3 ' it was received . I can assure you , Sir , it lyiiJSI gives me very great pleasure to be among you , and to know that I am as welcome here as I have been in other parts of the world . During the last two or thn e years of my Indian service

I used to travel from Mutfcra regularly every month to attend my Craft and Mark Lodges in Agra , and on several occasions I visited " Hope "' Lodge at Me < rut , where the scene of the first outbreak of the Sepoy war was in the year 1857 . On one occasion I happened to ba there when II . R . II . the Duke of Connaught was present , on the 15 th March . 1 KK 1 . I also vi-dted Movar Gwalicr , where the

Royal Arch Degree was conferred en me in the month of March , 1888 . And durii g the twelve-months the regiment stayed in Africa on our way home in m India . I visited a masonic lodge at Princetown , Natal , and I have much pleasure in stating that wherever I have been the same fraternal welcome , and the right hand of fellowship , has been stretched out to me in greeting .

Ifc is a matter of congratulation to be able to state that : < masonry" is progressing . It has progressed , brethren , not in England alone but in the world generally , for during the last 20 years the number of lodges holding their authority from the Grand Lodge of England has nearly doubled . It is very interesting to look back through the records of an old masonic lodge , and I

have not the least doubt -that the records of this lodge contain names of many brethren who have held high positions in the estimation of the city and country—men whose energy and perseverance have assisted in making Birmingham and its district ¦ what it now is . It is also very interesting to look back through the old

constitutions published in the early part of last century ; by doing so a candid mind must come to the conclusion that to the operative masons of the middle ages is our origin due , and that those masons were banded together in a common brotherhood , and had peculiar means of communicating one with the other . To my mind an almost conclusive proof of this is given by the religious and other edifices

erected by those grand old operative masons ; for whether you contemplate some magnificent cathedral , or look at an obscure church in some remote village , the same harmony and suitability for the purpose for which each were intended may be observed , the period can be accurately determined , and the structuri s themselves show that the masons which erected the one were in communication

with , and acted m concert with , those who built the other . It was undoubtedly the custom in those days to admit into the fraternity the patrons of the art . and from this we evidently get the title of speculative or accepted masons , and as these speculative masons could not use the working tools in an operative sense , they were probably directed to apply them to their morals , and it may be that

this is the origin of our " peculiar system of morality , veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols . " On the revival of the arts and sciences knowledge became more universally spread . Operative masonry as a secret society became unnecessary- , but the moral teaching of the art has been preserved , and it is with this we now have to do . Looked at from this point of view , Freemasonry

supplies one great requirement of mankind . Society being split up into so many varied classes , sects , and parties , masonry supplies a common platform upon which all men can meet , and teaching the grand principles of the universal fatherhood of God and tie common brotherhood of man , it leads us to respect the opinions ef those from whom we differ , it tones down our prejudices and

softens our passions . Requiring from our members a belief in the Great Architect of the Universe , it rests its superstructure upon the volume of God ' s ; -a red writings , and refers its members to that book for the guidance and rule of their faith ; and whatever may be the difference of opinion as to the doctrine , this I can safely assert , that there can be no difference of opinion as to the mor ; 1

teaching of that grairl old book , and whoever confines his thoughts and actions within the circle therein described , is bound to be a go id Freemason , a respectable citizen , and a useful member to society . I thank you , brethren , for the very warm welcome you have given me , and 1 ; im very sorry I did not know about the Temperance Lo ' ge when I came to Birmingham J 1 months ago .

Colonial Clippings.

COLONIAL CLIPPINGS .

MONTREAL . —The Grand Lodge of Quebec brought their annual communication to a close on te . e 80 th January last . The session was taken up discussing points of interest to the craft , and the installation of the newly-elected officers , which was performed with all due solemnity by M . W . Bro . Dr . J . H . Graham , P . G . M . The M . W . Grand Master ' s address to the Grand Lodge contained

the following in relation to the matters of difference between the Grand Lodge of Quebec and the United Grand Lodge of England : — " At the last annual communication of this Grand Lodge , a resolution was passed containing the following clause , viz ., 'Whenever the Grand Lodge of England shall propose an adjustment by conference or by mediation , or whenever a sister Grand Lodge shall

propose to mediate between the two grand bodies , the Grand Master and the Grand Secretary of this Grand Lodge are hereby empowered to consider the same , and to take such steps as may be consistent with the honour and dignity of this Grand Lodge to adjust or mediate the differences between the two Grand Bodies , subject to the approval of Grand Lodge in the premises . ' The Grand

Lodge of Canada ( in the province of Ontario ) , at its last annual communication , in a kind and fraternal spirit which this Grand Lodge fully understands and appreciates , authorized its Grand Master to offer his mediation both to England and Quebec . M . W . Bro . Walkem , Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada , accepted the position , and under the

authority of the resol . ition of this Grand Lodge just quoted , your Grand Master and Grand Sccrjtary have considered the proposition just made and have accepted the mediatorial offer . That distinguished brother hopes to visit England during the present year , and from his high character as a man and a mason , his eminent position at the bar of his province , his comprehension of the points

of difference , and his fraternal desire to compose those differences , it will be seen that no better mediator could have been selected . There is also the additional reason , not without its weight in such effort to terminate our disputes with England , that the Grand Lodge of Canada , as our Mother G rand Lodge , is the fittest mediator in this matter with the Grand Lodge of England , which was its

Mother Grand Lodge . The selection of such an intermediary is in the highest degree judicious and appropriate . In view of this offer and with a desire to strengthen the hands of M . W . Bro . Walkem in mediating , I would suggest that the Grand Lodge at this communication should authorize and empower my successor in office , the Grand Master of this Grand Lodge , to suspend or even withdraw

the edicts of this Grand Lodge against the Grand Lodges of England and its lodges whenever advised or requested so to do by Grand Master Walkem . In his judgment and good will we have a sufficient guarantee that the advisory power thus given him will be judiciously employed , and this action from us may facilitate the cffoits he may make to accomplish successfully his mission . "

SYDNEY , N . S . W . —A new masonic hall at Young was dedicated and consecrated on January 21 th by Bro . V . W . Bray , G . S ., in the presence of about 500 members of the Craft , including visiting brethren from Goulburn , Forbes and other districts . The proceedings throughout were very impressive . The lodge room is 12 ft . in length by 2 lft . wide , and the banqueting hall 21 ft . by l ( ift .

The cost of the entire building was about £ 1 . 100 . # * # Under the presidency of the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales , M . W . Bro . Lord Carrington , a handsome testimonial tea and coffee service has been presented , at a banquet held in his honour , to Dr . Tarrant in recognition of his valued services to the Craft in New South Wales .

NEW ZEALAND—NEW PLYMOUTH , ' \ VELLINGTON . —The festival of St . John was celebrated by a large gathering of local Fr emasons at the Robe Street Lodge room on the occasion of the installation service of the Ngamotu Lodge , No . 2053 E . C . The sister lodges—Mount Eginont , No . 070 E . C , and De Burgh Adams , No . ll ( j I . C . — attended under their respective masters , and visitors were also

present from lodges Nos . 2 ' . ); t , 321 , 150 , 150 , 158 , 705 , and ltiKJ E . C . Bro . Duncan McAllum was installed as W . M . for the ensuing year , the ceremonies being im ] : > ressively informed by Bro . Hoi ford , P . M ., assisted by W . M . ' s Asher and Brooking . The proceedings in lodge having terminated , the remainder of the evening was pleasantly spent in fraternal intercourse and musical recreation . * * *

The Rodney Lodge , Jso . 1711 , had a grand meeting in the Masonic Hall , Warkworth , New Zealand , on the 17 th January last , on the occasion of the installation of Bro . Somerville as Worshipful Master . A large number of brethren from Auckland attended . After the business of the lodge had been completed , a ball took place , to which the leading residents of the district were invited

by the brethren , and which proved a most brilliant and imposing event . * * * The Wellington Lodge , No . 1521 , held a most successful conversazione and musical evening at St . Peter ' s School-room , Wellington ,

New Zealand , on the 11 th January , which was attended by nearly four hundred brethren and visitors . An address by Bro . Edward Wakefield , on " The Social Side of Masonry , " was greatly appreciated and applauded . Subsequently dancing was kept up until midnight , when the most enjoyable proceedings of the evening terminated .

Press Exchanges And Books Received.

Press Exchanges and Books Received .

Latomia ; Admiralty mil Jfor . v Guar Ax Gazette ; Masonie Record of Western India ; Canadian Cruftxman ; South Africai * --Freemason ; Soeiet . tj .