OFFICIAL VISITS.

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HERE is an Eastern proverb which runs: "Hast thou a friend, visit him often, for thorns and brushwood

obstruct the road which no one treads." This is sage advice, but it applies to visiting in a particular and

not in a general sense, and by no means implies that one's friend is to be visited to such an extent that he can

rarely find a seat at his own table, or that he is to be kept so busy receiving and returning calls that he is

unable to give his domestic affairs the attention they demand and should receive.

In the ancient East the traveller was regarded as one to be pitied and kindly treated, and the different peoples

endeavoured to deserve kindness by showing it to all such who came their way. There were, however, certain

limitations to their duty of hospitality which had been consecrated by religion and immemorial usage. For

instance, the guest's right of entertainment generally ran to three days, after which his host could put him to

work and no guest of honour would stay to the inconvenience of his host. This sentiment has found the

fullest expression in Freemasonry from time immemorial. It is the proud and justifiable boast of Lodges

throughout the world that every visitor is received hospitably, and that the example set by our brethren of old

is followed. Still, some distinction could be made as regards promiscuous visiting, which would in no way

infringe the rights of either travelling brethren or local residents. During recent years it has almost become an

established custom for Lodges in this jurisdiction to frequently interchange "official visits," when the W.M.,

officers, and as many brethren of each Lodge, without restriction as to number, who can find it convenient to

join the fraternal band, proceed to visit their immediate neighbours. This practice is followed throughout the

year, and, no doubt, does much to foster and promote the growth of a warm fraternal spirit between the

Lodges and their members, and for that reason, if for no other, is commendable. On the other hand the

opinion is somewhat freely expressed that the visiting habit is becoming a little tiresome, and that

disadvantages are manifesting themselves which sooner or later must bring about a curtailment. The rapid.

increase in Lodge membership is necessitating some such reform in connection with the wholesale visiting

which now takes place. Nevertheless, we should very much regret to find New Zealand reduced to the

position which obtains in some of the older countries, where Lodges meeting under the same roof seldom

display the slightest interest in each other. One result of the present system is to be found reflected in the

balance-sheets of many Lodges, which indicate that the demands upon Lodge funds for entertainment

purposes are growing out of proportion to the annual income. The frequent calls made upon the brethren to

accompany the W.M. in his round of visits are also said to be having a detrimental effect upon their

attendance at their respective Lodges. Whilst the general attendance at Lodge meetings is good, the

attendance of members of individual Lodges falls far short of the number on the Lodge register. At the F.B.

it is not unusual to find, when the toast of the visitors is honoured, that their entertainment has devolved upon

the W.M., officers, and comparatively a very small number of brethren. This is not to be wondered at, as it is

only natural that brethren should sometimes prefer the role of visitor to that of host, when their own Lodges

are overcrowded, and the possibility of social intercourse with their most intimate friends in Masonry is

reduced to a minimum. The term "official visit" appears to be erroneously applied to these visitations;

formerly it was understood to mean the attendance, on invitation or otherwise, of the Prov.G.M. or G.L.

officers of high rank, with definite responsibilities attached. The "principal officers of a Lodge," which is

understood to mean the Master and Wardens, are enjoined to visit, and it is customary to extend them an

invitation to attend installation meetings as a matter of courtesy. Many Lodges, however, include the officers

and brethren in such invitations, and the tendency appears to be to treat ordinary meetings similarly. This

imposes a tax which many of the smaller Lodges find difficulty in meeting without a special levy, to which

their members submit rather than have it said they am lacking in hospitality. Individual Freemasons have an

undoubted right to visit, which they can establish on producing proof of membership by submitting

documentary evidence as well as undergoing the necessary examinations, and it is the duty of every Lodge to

fraternally welcome them., but this right of visitation only covers ceremonial work such as is common to all

Lodges. Desirable as it may be to maintain the closest possible fraternal touch between Lodges, it must be

remembered that bulk does not always mean strength, and a largely attended meeting does not afford a true

indication of the Masonic strength of the Lodge under whose auspices it is held. Is the Lodge spending too

T

much on entertainment and too little on benevolence, and do the Lodge members attend regularly and take an

active part in its management and the purposes for which it was chartered? They have a duty to the Craft in

general and to their own Lodge in particular. At present the inducement to adequately discharge the latter

duty is seemingly lessened by the fact that time which might be profitably employed in the interests of their

own Lodges is now more or less wasted in paying social calls, which are being given an importance they do

not deserve, and in some instances are quite improperly regarded as a qualification for office. The average

Freemason who faithfully attends his Lodge and Chapter duties, and discharges his obligations to his family

and connections, is a fairly busy man, and it seems clear that those duties and obligations cannot be

adequately met if he is expected to become an "official" visitor.

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News and Notes.
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The opening of the Awatea Lodge at Palmerston North passed off most successfully on 28th January. In the

absence of the G.M., M.W. Bro. Michel, Pro-G.M., was commissioned to perform the ceremony, and he was

accompanied by R.W. Bro. G. Barclay, G.Sec. A number of other distinguished brethren were also present

on the occasion.

M.W. Bro. Oliver Nicholson, Prov.G.M. of Auckland, has been commissioned to open two new Lodges in

his district—viz., Kaikohe, No. 255, on the 21st February; and Te Puke, No. 261, on 27th February.

Upon the invitation of the members of the Wanganui branch of the N.Z.E.F. Masonic Association, Colonel

Barclay attended a special meeting at Wanganui last month. Colonel Cunningham, the chairman of the

branch, presided, and extended a very warm welcome to their guest. A couple of hours were pleasantly spent

by those present.

A petition is now in circulation in Christchurch for a warrant for the erection of a Lodge for the St. Albans,

Richmond, and Shirley districts. It has been decided that the Lodge shall meet for the time being in the

Church of England Schoolroom in Hill's Road, and that it shall be known as "Lodge Shirley "

The new Lodge which has been authorised for Oamaru, and which will be known as "Lodge Oamaru, No.

260," will be consecrated by the Pro-G.M. on Tuesday, 25th March.

The M.W. the G.M. (H.E. Viscount Jellicoe) has consented to lay the foundation stone of the new Masonic

Temple at Blenheim on the afternoon of Wednesday, 5th March.

The address given by the G.Sec. at the consecration of Lodge Awatea, No. 258, Palmerston North, was much

appreciated by those present, and R.W. Bro. Barclay received many expressions of approval from the

brethren.

Steps are being taken in Christchurch for the formation of another R.A. Chapter in that city.

The G.Sec. of the G.L. of New York, has advised the chartering by that G.L. of three Lodges in the Kingdom

of Roumania.

The M.W. the G.M. has recommended the appointment of W. Bro. Louis Calame as the G.Rep. of the G.L.

of New Zealand, near the G.L. Alpina of Switzerland, and of W. Bro. A. E. F. Junod as G.Rep., near the

G.Orient of the Netherlands.

W. Bro. Thos. Newburgh, F.P.A., has accepted the appointment of auditor of G.L. for the current year.

The G.Sec. has been advised by the G.L. of Porto Rico of the formation of an irregular G. body in that

territory.

The brethren of the West Coast are looking forward to receiving a visit from the M.W. the G.M. in March. It

is hoped that His Excellency will be able to visit both Grey-mouth and Westport.

For the sixth year in succession R.W. Bro. J. Goulson, of Sydney, holds the office of Dep.G.M. of New

South Wales. We understand Bro. Goulson was born in Hokitika, and is a brother-in-law of a well-known

Wellington business man.

Amongst the visitors to Palmerston North upon the occasion of the opening of the new Lodge were M.W.

Bro. S. C. Bingham and R.W. Bro. G. Russell.

R.W. Bro. A. G. Creagh, P.G.W., is to be the first W.M. of the new Lodge in Camara.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of an invitation from R.W. Bro. Stewart, G.Sec., to be present at the

installation of M.W. Bro. His Excellency Colonel the Right Hen. the Earl of Stradbroke, K.C.M.G., C.B.,

C.V.O., C.B.E., A.D.C. to His Majesty the King, as G.M. of Victoria, in the Town Hall, Melbourne, on

Wednesday, 26th March, 1924, at 7.30 p.m.

Wellington brethren were pleased to again meet their old friend, R.W. Bro. Peterkin, P.Dep.G.M., who

journeyed from Auckland to be present at the consecration of Lodge Jellicoe and the installation of its first

W.M. in the person of his old friend, W. Bro. R. W. McVilly, whom he initiated into Freemasonry many

years ago. The veteran delivered the address to the newly-installed W.M. with much feeling.

In connection with the consecration and dedication of Lodge Jellicoe, very handsome foundation jewels were

presented to the M.W.G.M., the Prov.G.M. (R.W. Bro. Russell), and the newly-installed W.M. (W. Bro.

McVilly), as tokens of esteem and appreciation of services rendered in connection with the erection of this

Lodge, which commenced its career under the happiest of conditions, and already gives promise of becoming

one of the strongest Lodges in the territory.

As a ritualist and speaker the M.W.G.M. has established a reputation which is almost unrivalled. The recent

ceremony of consecrating and dedicating the Lodge which bears his distinguished name was most

impressively conducted, being without flaw or blemish. His clearly delivered address upon the practical and

universal application of the principles and tenets of Freemasonry was much appreciated.

We continue to receive some unsigned Lodge and Chapter reports, and would again point out to

correspondents that such cannot be accepted for publication.

A correspondent writes:— "May I, as a P.M. of forty years' experience, congratulate you upon the excellence

of the articles contained in your February issue. I have been a constant reader since the "Craftsman" was first

published and do not remember reading a better or more informative selection. A copy should be in the

hands of every member of the Craft, more especially the younger men,"

At the consecration of Lodge Awatea, No. 258, Palmerston North, R.W. Bro. R. W. Eastwood, Pres. B. of

B., made an eloquent appeal to the brethren on behalf of the W. and O. and A.M. Fund, and as a result a very

handsome collection was obtained.

A noteworthy coincidence occurred at the January meeting of Lodge Rotorua, No. 153, in that the visitors

included representatives of the three oldest Lodges in the Dominion. After the W.M. rose for the third time,

R.W. Bro, Frank Wiseman, D.D.G.M. of I.C., offered H.G.W. on behalf of Lodge Ara, No. 348, I.C. (the

parent Lodge from which Ara, No. 1, N.Z.C., hived off as the first Lodge of Auckland District). Then W.

Bro. P. W. Weston presented the greetings of Lodge N.Z. Pacific, No. 2, Wellington, the first Lodge to work

a Masonic degree in New Zealand. Right upon his heels cause V.W. Bro. C. Flavell, P.G.D, of C., with

similar message from Lodge Unanimity, No. 3, the pioneer of Freemasonry in Canterbury. The "Craftsman"

wonders whether any such chance meeting of representatives of the fathers of the Craft in the territory has

ever occurred before.

In the United States there are 15,459 Lodges and 2,549,911 Masons. In the Dominion of Canada there are

1,117 Lodges and 152,484 Masons. These figures are based on returns up to January, 1923.

With the accumulation of wealth by many Lodges in the United States there has been a growing tendency

toward extravagant ideas at Masonic, social functions. This has led a number of G.Ms. in their annual

addresses to call attention to these conditions. One G.M. states that the records show that in quite a large

number of Lodges in the Jurisdiction, that five times more was expended for social functions than charity. He

then puts this pertinent question for serious thought: "Do these conditions harmonise with a desire for

knowledge and a sincere wish to be serviceable to our fellow men.?"—"Masonic Tidings."

To initiate the candidate and teach him the work is not enough. He should have placed before him in

unmistakable fashion the great truths by which Freemasonry is sustained and retains its vigour and interest of

the worthy man. He should be made to realise that he is an integral part of the great whole, that his character

and understanding and effort effect the progress of human society towards a higher and better plane.—"New

England Craftsman."

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SOUTHLAND NOTES.

——<>——

Lodge St. John, No. 94, N.Z.C., now operating in Invercargill, was originally attached to the S.C. working by

the authority of warrant or charter No. 610, S.C. In 1894, when this Lodge came over to the G.L. of N.Z., the

old charter was returned to Scotland. Recently G.L. of S. sent this charter back, and it was handed over to the

Lodge as a relic of the past by R.W. Bro. W. A. Stout, Prov.G.M. of Southland.

The two Lake Lodges, Nos. 85 and 86, hold their installations in February. Lodge Tuatapere, No. 210; hold

their annual meeting the same month.

W. Bro. N. J. Brokenshire, P.M. and Sec. of Lodge Victoria, was recently presented by the brethren of his

Lodge with a mark of esteem on the eve of his departure, with Mrs. Brokenshire, for a holiday in Australia.

At the regular meeting of Lodge Victoria in March the P.Ms. will conduct the Third Degree.

The month of February has been remarkable for the number of E.As. passed to the Second Degree in

Invercargill. Lodges Southern Cross, No. 9, and Waihopai, No. 189, handled five each, and Lodge Victoria

13, making 23 in all.

On 13th February the W.M. of Lodge Waihopai, No. 189, accompanied by several of his officers, paid an

official visit to Lodge Fortitude, No. 64.

At the social gathering held after the January meeting of Lodge St. John a special toast was proposed in

honour of W. Bro. E. H. Whitmore, who had just celebrated his 82nd birthday.

Several of the charges given in the Mark Degree at the January convocation of the Southern Cross R.A.

Chapter were delivered by the junior officers.

Southern Cross R.A. Chapter, No. 3, was represented by M.E. Comp. W. Smith, P.G.Z., at the recent G.

Chapter convocation in Auckland. R.E. Comp, W. Irvine, G.Supt. of Southland, was also present. R.E.

Comp. T. M. Rankin, well known throughout Southland, was installed as G.H. at this meeting. V.E. Comp.

Clapp represented Wallace Chapter.

Lodge Wairaki, at their January meeting, had the pleasure of a visit from R.W. Bro. W. A. Stout, Prov.G.M.,

who delivered a lecture entitled "Robert Burns and Freemasonry."

Murihiku Rose Croix Chapter, No. 36, held a very successful meeting on 25th January. E. and P. Bro. A.

Scott was nominated for the position of M.W.S. The installation will probably be in March.

The Orange Lodges of Invercargill recently acquired possession of the Masonic Hall, Forth street,

Invercargill. In commemoration of this the Orangemen held a largely-attended dedication service on 4th

February.

In future Lodge St. John, No. 94, will not meet for instruction purposes on Monday nights owing to the hall

being otherwise occupied.

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NORTH CANTERBURY NOTES.

——<>——

W. Bro. Black has a splendid team of officers, who are in good form for the busy time ahead of Acacia.

Bro. G. Truman, W.M.-elect of Lodge Cheviot, intends keeping up the reputation of "The Big Four."

Bro. E. Keppler has recovered from his recent illness, and has resumed his position of D. of C. at Acacia.

Lodge Amuri is coming down to Acacia in full force in March, and a real "big night" is assured.

W. Bro. L. B. Hart has made a handsome donation to Acacia building fund, which will be a great help.

W. Bro. T. Lindsay is to be accorded a special night shortly, as something very pleasant has happened, which

will help to swell the ranks of Acacia later on.

Bros. Geeson and Childs, of Lodge Cheviot, and W. Bro. Billens motored ninety miles to Lodge and back

the same night, which proves the keenness and energy which is given by T.G.A.O.T.U. to all good Masons.

The new furniture presented to Acacia by St. Augustine, No. 4, Avon, No. 185, and Amuri, No. 184, is now

in position, and, being made of solid oak, gives a nice finish to the interior. The Master's chair presented by

St. Augustine, No. 4, is of dark oak, and tones beautifully with the handsome decorations of the building.

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THE HIGHER DEGREES.

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The Mawheranui Rose Croix Chapter, Greymouth, has selected Bro. R. H. Richmond as M.W.S. for the

ensuing year. At the annual meeting special reference was made to the services which had been rendered to

the Chapter since its inception by Bro. J. E. Wade, and a vote of thanks was ordered to be placed on the

minutes.

It is proposed to form a Conclave of the Order of the Secret Monitor for the City of Christchurch. The

proposal has received the approval of the parent Conclave (Aotearoa) in Wellington, and a petition for a

Charter is now in circulation.

Bro. Dr. McKillop, who has shown great energy in the various branches of Freemasonry, is the choice of the

members of the Sphinx Rose Croix Chapter, Dunedin, for the office of M.W.S. for the ensuing year.

A special meeting of the Prov.G.L. of the R.O.S. was held at Christchurch to meet R.W. Bro. the Earl of

Cassillis, who is an Officer of the G.L. of the Order in Edinburgh. There was a large attendance, and the

distinguished visitor was much impressed with the progress which had been made in this Dominion.

Bro. S. B. Sims has been selected to succeed Bro. W. J. Andrews as M.W.S. of the Waikato Rose Croix

Chapter.

Bro. Rusden will be succeeded in the chair of the Murihiku Rose Croix Chapter, Invercargill, by Bro. Arthur

Scott.

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Chips from Many Ashlars.
(With as many acknowledgments.)

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When you are entertaining the the G.M., or any member of the G.L., or a distinguished visitor, you should do

everything possible to look after his welfare. The G.M. has to be entertained three and four times a week at

dinner, and it is just possible that he is a little tired, so a little attention to proper Masonic etiquette will be

appreciated by him. One serious error that we notice in so many places is this: The G.M. is brought into the

dining room first, and then all of the guests come in. It takes them ten or fifteen minutes to get to their proper

places. The proper way is to have every guest in the dining room at his place before the G.M. is brought in

and escorted to his place of honour. He is the last person to enter the room, and as soon as he reaches his

chair the Chaplain invokes the divine blessing and everyone is seated. No waiting around, Just give a little

attention to these things, and you will be pleased with the success of your evening.—"American Tyler-

Keystone."

We pride ourselves sometimes on our antiquity, our history and our traditions. We should have the greatest

reverence for the past record of Freemasonry, but we should not in any measure make ourselves slaves to this

past record. Benefit is to be gained more often than not by forgetting the past and considering the problems

of the present. It seems to me that in the days soon to come our main duty should be as to how we can assist

in making life better worth living by promoting justice and peace among men.—Percy E. Kellett, in "The

Fellowship Forum."

Fifty-one of every thousand Canadian men are Masons, while the proportion in the United. States is

something over 70.

The G.M. of Minnesota ruled that a Lodge cannot legally make an appropriation for a picnic, holding that

"this is not a Masonic purpose."

In Prince Edward Island there are 17 Lodges, with a total membership of 1,085.

Some very strange jewellery is often in evidence at the installation meetings of Craft Lodges. Jewels

pertaining to degrees not recognised in the B. of C. should not be worn on such occasions.

The G.M. of Nebraska showed his courage and unflinching sense of duty when he suspended the Charters of

several recalcitrant Lodges, whose officers were either indifferent or too lazy to learn the work of the

degrees.

Dual membership is claiming the attention of several G.Ls. There are some advantages in favour of dual

membership, but most G.Ls. have adhered to the single membership. Any member who devotes his time and

talents in promoting the best interests of his Lodge won't have much desire for the advocacy of dual

membership.—"Masonic Tidings."

In the G.L. of Ireland all the G. officers, including the G.M., are elected annually by G.L. The Dep.G.M.

alone is not elected, but appointed by the G.M.

You shouldn't blame a successful man for bragging a little; you don't see a man with a good catch of fish

going home by way of the back alley.

The real Mason does not lose his interest in Masonry, or his interest in his brethren. Age, position, wealth—

these do not deaden his Masonic ardour.

An ape in silk is always an ape. So, no matter how uniformed, a man is just as ignorant as if he wore

overalls. The Mason decorated in all the jewels and robes of a high office is yet nothing but a plain workman

in the quarry, and his adornment nothing beyond or above the lambskin apron.

The chief need of Masonry is not to advance the moral standard of Masonry, but to bring the morals of

Masons up to the moral standard of Masonry.

Freemasonry to Masons has no religious significance, but it is a feast dedicated to freedom and the right to

worship T.G.A.O.T.U. according to the dictates of our own consciences, in which good men of all creeds and

faiths may join without the relinquishments of the essential doctrines of their own religion. It is this liberality

that gives Masonry its character of universality. — "The New Age."

No attempt should be made save "by the regularity of our own behaviour" to popularise the Craft. We want

no members who do not come of their own "free will and accord, uninfluenced by mercenary motives or the

improper solicitation of friends." The greatest danger against which its sages and leaders have given warning

from time immemorial —too much popularity. Petitions should be investigated carefully and material

selected judiciously. Freemasonry can only be torn down from within.

"I cannot help but view with much apprehension the introduction, growth, and expansion of the many orders

that profess the furtherance of Freemasonry as their prime objective, and who are often called 'Masonic

organisations' by both public and press, but whose only kinship in reality lies in the presumption to

membership of the M.M. degree. I have made a careful survey of their workings this year with relation to

Ancient Craft Masonry, and I believe I am justified in saying that whatever district I have visited this year

and found none of these so-called 'side orders' in operation, there I have found Masonry on a higher, more

orderly, and more dignified plane. I believe I may safely prophesy that, if these bodies are not curbed by

other means, it will eventually be necessary for this G.L. to enact some form of legislation looking toward

the control or retirement of these extraneous organisations."— M.W.G.M. of California.

If there be some weaker one,

Give me strength to help him on.

If a blinder soul there be,

Let me guide him nearer Thee.

Make my mortal dreams come true

With the work I fain would do;

Clothe with life the weak intent,

Let me be the thing I meant;

Let me find in Thy employ

Peace that dearer is than joy;

Out of self to Love be led,

And to heaven acclimated,

Until all things sweet and good

Seem my nature's habitude.

—John G. Whittier.

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CEREMONY IN HOTWATERLAND,

——<>——

TRIBUTE TO ROTORUA'S WORK.

———

"P.M. of 25 Years' Standing" writes:—"Recently it was my privilege to pay a visit to Lodge Rotorua, No.

153. Does it occur to the brethren of New Zealand that it is particularly important to the Craft in the

Dominion that the Lodge of our principal tourist resort should be well officered, seeing that in the busy

season it receives more visits from brethren on tour from Australia, the Old Country, and America than

probably any other two Lodges? Whether or not it is that the Rotorua brethren, in recognition of their

responsibility, have risen to the occasion, I am unable to say, but as one always interested in ritual work I am

pleased to be able to testify that the Rotorua exemplification of the Second Degree was equal to anything I

have witnessed in Auckland or Wellington Lodges, and superior to most. I was afterwards informed that the

work was below the standard to which the Lodge usually attains, and that there were various points upon

which the Preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction, W. Bro. Pakes, intended to take his officers to task at their

next meeting for instruction. That being so, I can only regret that, if what I heard was Rotorua's worst, I

should dearly like to be present when the same officers were in their best form."

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Correspondence.
———————————————————————————————————————————
We welcome correspondence on Masonic subjects, but are not responsible for the views expressed. It must he clearly

understood that all letters must be couched in courteous and proper language, otherwise they will be at once declined.

The Editor distinctly reserves the right not to publish, or only publish part of, any letter he may consider inimical to the

best interests of The Craftsman.

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ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

——<>——

P.M.—We are of opinion that when a Lodge is convened for the purpose of the funeral ceremony, regalia

should be worn, in which case a dispensation is necessary. Clause 3, page 127, B. of C., refers only to

the service without regalia at the grave-side.

Ceremonial.—(1) Usually in New Zealand the T.Bs. are placed in the N.E. Occasionally they are placed

thus: E.A. in S., F.C. in W., M.M. in E., signifying the various Masonic steps. In some constitutions

they are placed flat on the pavement. (2) Perambulation in a Lodge can be overdone. If the door is in

the correct position, and after saluting a brother desires to sit in, say, the S.W., it seems unnecessary to

traverse three sides to do so. If, however, he wishes to be seated in the S., east of the J.W., he should

then traverse the N., saluting the E. a second time.

Calumet.— The Hebrew meaning of the second word is "firm" or "stability," so you are literally correct. We

would, however, advise adhering to the Emulation or N.Z. ritual, which reverses it.

No. 78.—(1) Whilst being addressed or addressing the W.M., the brother should remain at salute. This is,

however, frequently relaxed during debate. (2) No. (3) Only momentarily, whilst Ws. are giving 5 P.,

they then walk up N. side at salute, the J.W. remaining so whilst S.W. communicates S. They then

both give the P.S., returning (still at salute), the J.W. standing beside his pedestal until S.W. is seated.

J.McI.—Scarcely a matter for publication in this journal, but will, however, make enquiries privately.

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W. AND O. AND A.M. FUND.

——<>——

DEAR SIR AND BRO.,—Your article appearing in the February issue leads me to suggest the time has arrived

when we should find out if the fund is or is not solvent. An actuarial valuation based on past experience

would disclose the ability of the fund to meet its future obligations. The moral obligation to render assistance

to our widows and orphans and aged Masons of the future to a similar extent to that which the Board has

rendered in the past is undoubted. The past year's experience discloses a large increase in the number of

applications to the Board. We dare not rest contented because the income for the year is £8,017 and the outgo

£4,447. The question is: What is the liability for the year?—i.e., 21,169 of a membership have become one

year older, and reduced by one year that period over which the percentage of future applicants may

contribute to the fund before becoming beneficiaries. An actuary is the only person who can tell us what our

liability is likely to be as time goes on, and if we are to be sure of dispensing relief to our widows and

orphans and aged Masons of the future as we have in the past, "let there be light" on this important matter.

The Board's suggestion of a levy is the most equitable method of keeping the fund solvent. Under the present

system the money is principally found by a small percentage of the total membership. While it is very nice to

be able to say the money is found by voluntary subscription, it is more fair to affirm the money is found by

the whole of the brethren. That contributions are made at installation meetings is an established practice,

which is not far removed from taking a collection at the door on entering. May the practice of taking up the

collection at installation meetings ever continue, but give every member an opportunity of doing something

towards helping the widows and orphans and aged Masons by having a levy upon him of a shilling half-

yearly as well. Influencing the establishment of a right to benefit does not enter into the question. Members

have full confidence in our Board seeing to it that the fund is used only to that extent to which it is at present

applied. If our fund is scientifically administered, there is no danger of those in immediate need being

neglected or stinted; they would receive their quota, as those contributors to-day who may fall on evil days in

the future will receive theirs. Unless the science of the actuary is introduced there is the danger either of

being too liberal to-day, or stinting deserving cases to-day and finding the fund able to do much more in the

future. It is not sufficient that a steady and proportionate growth of the fund to the growth of membership is

taking place. Let us ascertain if the growth of the fund is in proportion to the growth of the membership into

the category of aged Masons and deceased Masons leaving the widows and orphans from whom we must

expect to draw an ever-increasing percentage of applicants.

"To feel secure is better than to be in fear."

Therefore let us discover: How many of our members are going to die? At what rate per annum are they to

die? What percentage of those dying are going to leave widows and orphans requiring assistance according

to the Board's method of classifying them as being eligible for assistance? How many aged Masons will

become eligible to receive the Board's benevolence? And when? The actuary is the only person able to give

this detail. He will advise you as to the number of loaves likely to be available on a given contributing basis,

and the number of people likely to require assistance on a given method of classification as to who should

receive assistance.—Yours fraternally, A. AISLABIE.

[If the G.L. of New Zealand exercised the functions of a benefit society or superannuation fund, under which

definite results could be guaranteed in return for certain payments, an actuarial examination would be

necessary. As it is, the question appears to be solely one of administration. The "liability" takes the form of

an annual distribution of the earnings of the fund and the amount voluntarily provided for the purpose, and

its limit is easily ascertainable. There is a marked difference between the privilege enjoyed by beneficiaries

and a right established by the payment of premiums, which the present Lodge subscriptions would by no

means cover.—Ed. C.]

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HERALDRY.

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(A lecture delivered by Prater J. Courtney Greer, Dist.G. Org., at the annual meeting of the Dist.

G. Priory of Knights Templar on 27th November, 1923.)

————

In an age where reading and writing were not common accomplishments, establishments were often known

by the signs placed at their doors. Perhaps the most common of these were taverns, with regard to which the

practice still obtains. We have all seen the sight of the White Hart, the Red Lion, and read in Masonic history

of the Goose and Gridiron. Even the red and white spiral barber's pole is a survival of the days when that

tradesman used also to practise the art of surgery, his sign being a red pole wrapped in spiral fashion with a

white roller bandage. Then, when warriors of old came to be clothed from head to heel in armour, this

principle was applied to distinguish one knight from another, and his shield was found the most convenient

of his accoutrements on which to display his cognisance. The crest, worn over his helm, was, likewise, a

distinguishing mark on the field of battle. When the warrior retired to his tent or lodging he usually displayed

his shield at the door, where it answered the purpose of a name plate. It is perhaps not too much to say that

every person of rank was known by his shield in a manner only second to his name or title. We may also add

that anyone who claimed to have any knightly standing was thoroughly acquainted with the laws of heraldry

and 'blazon." By 'blazon" we mean the art of putting into proper words an heraldic composition, or

conversely, identifying or drawing a composition from a verbal description.

It was often necessary, however, in the case of a knight, noble, or prince in high command that his tent

should be distinguished at a distance. A shield large enough for this purpose would have been unwieldy, so

the banner was used instead. It bore exactly the same device as the shield, and as it was the function of the

banner to proclaim the presence of its owner far and wide, valuable space was not taken up with other matter.

Regarded from this point of view the practice of drawing the shield itself, with its accessories, on the banner

is quite wrong. The purpose of the banner is to exhibit the main device, and that on as large a scale as a given

size of the cloth will permit. There is, of course, no harm in having a banner which is intended to hang from

the chief, or top, made more or less in the form of a shield, but a shield ought never to be drawn as part of the

design on the cloth.

Another important rule, as regards colour or tincturing, has a significance in the same direction. It being

necessary that a shield should be read at as great a distance as possible, a device in metal must not be

charged on a metal field, nor colour on colour. That is to say with a field of, say, red no device must be in

blue, black, green, or purple, but in gold or silver. I am leaving out of the question furs like ermine and so on.

Nor may a silver device be charged on gold. Metal on colour or colour on metal shows up at a distance very

mueh more effectively. This is one of the strictest rules of the art. So when our brother and Knight Templar

Sir Walter Scott published the description of Lord Marmion's banner:

"A falcon soared sable on an azure field"

—i.e., a black falcon on a blue field, his friends asked an explanation of the false heraldry. Scott was one of

the first heraldic students of his day, so he took refuge behind the "poet's license." I have always thought he

made a slip of the pen, and intended to write argent (silver) instead of azure. A black falcon on a silver field,

or soared sable on an argent field, would have sounded quite as poetic and would have been good heraldry. I

will refer to just a few quaint descriptions which are occasionally met with. 'The Sun in his splendour," "the

Moon increscent," or "decrescent," are self-explanatory; "the Peacock in his pride" means with tail expanded;

and those who have a certain high degree will, of course, know that the "Pelican in her piety," the crest of the

Pelham family, has reference to that bird in the act of feeding her young with her life blood.

In a paper of this small scope it is impossible to give even an outline of the grammar of heraldry. A few hints

as regards blazon, however, may perhaps be of interest. The colours red, blue, black, green, and purple are

known respectively as gules, azure, sable, vert, and purpore, and on a black and white presentation of a

shield, the direction perpendicular, horizontal, and so on, of the shading lines indicates the colour. The

metals gold and silver are called "or" and "argent." Right and left are called dexter and sinister, but it should

be noticed that they always refer to the bearer of the shield, which is the reverse of a person looking at it. If I

am looking at a shield the dexter is on my left. The top and the bottom of a shield are referred to as the chief

and the base. If a shield is divided perpendicularly it is described as per pale; likewise, horizontally, it is per

fosse. If divided by both these—that is, into four—it is said to be quarterly, and the quarterings 1st, 2nd, 3rd,

and 4th. These are in order of the places of honour, the first being the highest; respectively they are dexter

chief, sinistex chief, dexter baser and sinister base.

As our own Royal Arms are familiar to you all, I shall close with the blazon, and a short comment thereon,

of this splendid composition. A blazon always begins with the division (if any) of a shield, then each division

is dealt with, the colour or metal of the field being first mentioned. The Royal blazon begins as follows:—

Arms. Quarterly, 1st and 4th gules three lions passant guardant or in pale.

That is, a red field with three golden lions walking and watching you, one above the other.

2nd or, a lion rampart within a double tressure flory-counter-flory gules.

The Scottish lion is in the act of springing, and, not being described as guardant, his head is in profile. Note

the description of the border, which, I may say, is rarely drawn correctly.

3rd azure, a harp or stringed argent.

The order of honourable place is thus—England, Scotland, Ireland. This is as used in England. In Scotland,

however, as in all Government matter emanating from Edinburgh and the Royal Banner, as used at Balmoral,

the Scottish quartering appears 1st and 4th.

Supporters. Dexter. A lion rampant guardant or languid gules.

The last two words denote a red tongue

Sinister. An unicorn, argent.Imperially gorged- and chained or.

Note the description of the collar formed after the diadem or circlet of the Imperial Crown. In Scotland the

supporters are reversed, the Unicorn being placed in the position of honour.

Crest. A lion statant guardant crowned or.

It is usual to encircle a shield with any knightly ensign, to which the bearer is entitled. This does not appear

in the written blazon. His Majesty's shield is always encircled with the Garter,

Since reading the above before Dist.G. Priory, Frater Greer has added the following:—

Where a lodge or other institution has obtained permission from the owner of a Coat-of-Arms to bear that

composition, care should be taken, on the part of the recipient of such a favour, that no more shall be used

than the institution is entitled to bear. For instance, if the permission be obtained from a knight, no knightly

insignia must be used, because the institution has no knighthood. Similarly supporters, the right to bear

which is a high honour granted by His Majesty, ought to be removed before the shield is assumed by another

party. An institution ought never to blazon its arms with a helm, and should "ensign" its crest with a "mural

crown." To shortly explain this I may say that the ensign is the device which supports the crest, and it is

according to the rank of the bearer. Thus a squire ensigns with a wreath—a twisted cord often seen just

below a crest—a knight with a cap of estate, a noble with the coronet pertaining to his rank, a high naval

officer with a naval crown, and the King ensigns with the Imperial Crown. An institution, having no rank,

ensigns with a mural crown—i.e., a crown of battlemented stone work; in any case not an inappropriate

device for a Masonic Lodge. It is thus clear that though the owner of a Coat-of-Arms may be graciously

pleased to permit a Lodge to use his bearings, such permission by no means applies to the emblems of his

own rank. Only the shield, crest, and motto may be used, the mural crown drawn as resting on the shield and

the crest rising therefrom.

————————

CONSECRATION AND DEDICATION OF LODGE JELLICOE, No. 259.

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The M.W.G.M. consecrated and dedicated Lodge Jellicoe, No. 259, in the Hinemoa Temple at Wellington

South on the 5th February. Amongst the past and present G.L. officers who assisted in the ceremony were

M.W. Bro. Michel, Pro-G.M., R.W. Bros. Peterkin and Essen, P.Dep.G.Ms., Russell, Prov.G.M., Ellison,

P.P.G.M., Veitch and Seaton, P.G.Ws., Barclay, G.Sec., and V.W. Bro. Teagle, G.D. of C. The attendance

was large, and the ceremony was most impressively conducted by the consecrating officer, who was well

supported throughout.

The Prov.G.M. installed W. Bro. R. W. McVilly as the first W.M. of the new Lodge, other officers being

invested as follows:—D.M., W. Bro. A. G. Steffensen, P.M.; S.W., Bro. G. Wilson; J.W., Bro. J. W.

Longman; Chap., W. Bro. A. Greening, P.M. ; Treas. Bro. W. S. Gillbanks; Sec., Bro. A. E. Ffrost; D. of C.,

V.W. Bro. H. G. Teagle, P.M., G.D. of C.; S.D., Bro. J. R. Robertson; J.D., Bro. A. May; Org., W. Bro. R. A.

Scott, P.M.; I.G., Bro. A. E. Whitman; S.S., Bro. W. Welsh; J.S., Bro. F. E. Seed; Tyler, Bro. E. G. Harris.

The W.M., Wardens, and brethren were addressed by R.W. Bros. Peterkin and Ellison and M.W. Bro.

Michel respectively. Founders' jewels were presented to the M.W.G.M., M.W. Bro. His Excellency Viscount

Jellieoe, to the Prov.G.M., R.W. Bro. Russell, and to the newly-installed W.M., W. Bro. McVilly.

————————

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS.

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Communications regarding business matters must be addressed to the Manager, and literary matter intended for

insertion to the Editor, Box 8, P.O., Wellington. Post Office Orders and Cheques should be made payable to

JAMES W. JACK,

Secretary, N.Z. Masonic Newspaper Company, Limited, Wellington.

————————

GRAND CHAPTER CONVOCATION.

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The 32nd annual convocation of G. Chapter was held in the Masonic Temple, Belgium Street, Auckland, on

30th January, M.E. Conip. E. Lane, G.Z., presiding and opening G. Chapter in ample form. The attendance

was noticeably representative, all executive officers being in their places and all G.Supts. of districts being

present with one exception. Subordinate Chapters were also well represented. Amongst other apologies, the

G.S.E. read one received from the Earl of Cassilis, the let G.Prin. of Scotland, who had arrived in the

territory the previous day, and, in response to a letter of welcome inviting him to be present, regretted that

prior engagements precluded him from accepting. He returned his personal greetings to G. Chapter.

Accounts.—After completion of the roll-call and disposal of the minutes of the previous convocation, the

statement of accounts and balance-sheet were considered and adopted. They disclose assets totalling £7,577

3s. 7d., including cash at bank £452 6s. 2d., and on deposit £603 l1s. 6d. During the year £40 4s. 6d. had

been contributed to the Williams Annuity Fund, which, with £437 5s. 9d. subscribed in the previous year and

£22 9s. 9d. found out of G. Chapter funds, making a total of £500, had been paid over to G.L. for the purpose

of an annuity. Sup. Committee had nominated the widow of the late M.E. Comp. H. S. Williams as the first

annuitant, and the annuity of £32 10s. was to be paid to her for a period of five years for the education and

benefit of her youngest son, aged 11. The statement of receipts and expenditure on analysis showed that

actual expenditure exceeded receipts by £43 8s. 9d., including, however, a balance contributed to the

Williams Annuity, expenditure on new regalia, and cost of printing rituals and constitution and laws (items

non-recurrent).

Nominations.—The nominations of G. Chapter officers submitted to the convocation were accepted, and the

candidates nominated were elected.

Report—The annual report of Sup. Committee presented by the Chairman, M.E. Comp. J. J. Essen, was

considered clause by clause and adopted. Therein reference was made to the passing of M.E. Comp. J.

Moncrieff, P.G.Z., and RE. Comp. F. C. B. Bishop, P.G. Supt., and the adoption of the particular clause

referring to these deceased companions was carried by the convocation rising and voting in silence.

Documents issued during the year included 297 R.A. diplomas, 150 Prins.’ certificates, 103 Ark Mariners'

certificates, 66 Red Cross certificates, 23 patents of office, 35 chair certificates, 203 R.A. rituals, 241 Bs. of

C., in addition to dispensations and other documents. Sup. Committee recorded its satisfaction at the steady

progress evinced in the territory, the membership on the rolls of subordinate Chapters having been more than

maintained, and two new Chapters (in Wellington and Auckland respectively) having been opened, and a

third having been chartered to work in Auckland. All Chapters and Mokoreta Mark Lodge were working and

progressing, with the solitary exception of Inangahue, No. 19, on the West Coast. Several vacancies in the

list of G. Representatives' and appointments necessitated by the extension of reciprocal ties had been filled

and made, RE. Comp. W. M. Hindmarsh being commissioned by British Columbia, V.E. Comp. C. W.

Perrin by Nebraska. V.E. Comp. S. McLachlan by California, RE. Comp. S. J. W. White by Arkansas, RE.

Comp. C. H. Critchley by Saskatchewan, and R.E. Comp. G. T. Bull by West Virginia. The correspondence

between the G.S.E. of G. Chapter and the Scottish G. Chanter was set out in full, the last communication

from New Zealand reiterating the contention that Scotland's reservation of the right to issue fresh Charters in

connection with Scotch Lodges was incompatible with an expressed willingness to grant recognition. In

connection with installation rituals, the report sought authority to procure a fresh supply, and suggested that

the opportunity be taken to revise and amend the work per medium of a small committee to be set up.

Referring to the period of mourning that should as a regular rule be observed, it recommended that, in the

case of a P.G.Z., close mourning for one month be required, with the exclusion of refectory proceedings. The

desirability of amending the Constitution was affirmed, in the first place to specifically and in explicit terms

declare against a candidate being balloted for in one Chapter and exalted in another, to prohibit collective

balloting, and to restrain the issue of a demit to a member resigning from a Chapter while retaining

membership in another, Attention was drawn to the practice followed in some places of nominating

candidates for G. Chapter office generally, instead of limiting a nomination to a specific office, and it was

pointed out that the latter course was the proper one. The thanks of Sup. Committee to the retiring officers,

elective members of Sup. Committee, and to the G.Supts., concluded the written report.

In the discussion of the report M.E. Comp. S. C. Bingham took exception to the Committee's objection to

general nominations for office, and considered that Chapters should be permitted to follow that method.

After discussion of the point the report was, as previously stated, adopted as presented.

The rank, "honoris causa," of P.G.J. was conferred on V.E. Comp. W. M. Duncan, P.G. Soj. of Timaru, for

long service and zeal in the interests of R.A. Masonry.

LEGISLATION.

On behalf of Sup. Committee, the Chairman moved some amendments to the Constitution, designed to

rectify some laxities observed in practice. He moved to amend Rule 75 by adding the words: "Collective

balloting shall be illegal. Each candidate must be separately balloted for." M.E. Comp. H. J. Harkness moved

as an amendment "that a collective ballot may be taken, provided that before such ballot is taken the V.E.Z.

announces that, should even one black ball appear, each candidate must be separately balloted for." The

amendment was carried, and then accepted by the meeting as the substantive motion.

The Chairman moved to add to Rule 75 the following addition: "75a. No candidate may be exalted in a

Chapter other than that in which he has previously been proposed, balloted for, and accepted as a candidate."

This proposal, although, as clearly explained, declaratory, of the law, drew considerable opposition and was

vigorously debated. An amendment was proposed to add to the motion the words, "except at the request of

the Chapter which balloted for him," but this was withdrawn. The motion was lost, and so, as a net result, the

procedure referred to in the motion remains as before, unconstitutional and ultra vires, without, however, the

saving grace of an explicit provision in that connection which he who runs may read.

A motion to amend Rule 97, preventing the issue of a demit in cases of plural membership, by substituting

for the word "following" the words "appended hereto," and adding "unless he is at the time a member of

"another Chapter, in which case no demit shall be issued," was carried.

DIVISION OF AUCKLAND DISTRICT.

On the motion of R.E. Comp. S. S. Allen, the convocation agreed to the following proposal:—

That Sup. Committee be and hereby are authorised:—

(1) To consider the division of the Auckland District into two separate districts.

(2) If, in the opinion of Sup. Committee, such division is desirable, to take such action as may be
necessary to effect the same.

(3) To appoint a G.Supt. of any new district created in pursuance of this resolution.

AGAIN THE WORSHIPFUL MARK MASTER.

V.E. Comp. A. N. McKelvey (Auckland Prov. Chapter, No. 9) moved:—

"Rule 100. Delete the words, 'Provided, however, that no person other than the companion elected at the

stated period to the office of 1st Prin. for the year shall be eligible for election to the office of W.E.M. for

that year,' and add the words, 'Provided, however, that no person other than an Installed Prin., who is also an

Installed Master in Craft Masonry, shall be eligible for election, at the stated period, to the office of W.E.M.

for the year.'

"Rule 109. Delete the words, 'Provided, however, that no person other than the companion elected at the

stated period to the office of 1st Prin. of the Chapter for the year shall be eligible for election to the office of

W.M.M. for that year,' and add the words, 'Provided, however, that no person other than an Installed Prin.,

who is also an Installed Master in Craft Masonry, shall be eligible for election, at the stated period, to the

office of W.M.M. for the year.' "

The motion was seconded by M.E. Comp. H. J. Harkness, who considered that, as the law stood, H. and J.

had practically no work to do, and afforded no practical assistance to the 1st Prins. After further debate the

motion was carried by 36 to 24.

REPRESENTATIVE TAX.

On the motion of the G. Treas., seconded by the Chairman of Sup. Committee, the representative tax for the

year was fixed at 2s. 6d. per member.

The convocation then adjourned, and resumed at 7 p.m.

INSTALLATION AND INVESTITURE.

On resumption, the ceremonial side of the proceedings were taken in hand and completed before a large

gathering in the same hall. V.E. Comp. C. M. Gummer, P.G.D. of C., acted as G.D. of C., and V.E. Comp. R.

N. Renaud as G. Org. After M.E. Comp. E. Lane, G.Z., had addressed the companions, giving an account of

his movements and stewardship during the year, the G.S.E. read the warrant of election of the incoming G.Z.

and the list of executive officers. The retiring G.Z. ob., invested, and installed R.E. Comp. S. S. Allen as 1st

G. Prin., who installed and invested the remaining officers. The officers of G. Chapter for the year are:—

G.Z., M.E. Comp. S. S. Allen; Dep.G.Z., R.E. Comp. G. Russell; G.H. and G.J., R.E. Comps. T. M. Rankin

and G. J. Wallace; G.S.E., R.E. Comp. C. W. Nielsen; G.S.N., V.E. Comp. T. W. Lee; G.Treas., R.E. Comp.

A. Veitch; G.Reg., V.E. Comp. R. H. Webb; G.Chanc., V.E. Comp. W. Brown; 1st G.Soj., V.E. Comp. A. A.

Andrews; 2nd G.Soj., V.E. Comp. J. R. Foster; 3rd G.Soj., V.E. Comp. A. J. Turville; G.Supts. of W., V.E.

Comps. J. Furneaux and E. L. S. H. Skilton; G.Ds. of C., V.E. Comps. R. Tracy-Inglis, J. L. Ching, J. W.

Elliott, and E. C. Smith; G.Sd.Bs.. V.E. Comps. W. J. Andrews and J. B. Bird; G.St.-Bs., V.E. Comps. J.

Stone and J. Ritchie; G.Org., V.E. Comp. M. A. Cheek; G.Supts,, RE. Comps. G. T. Bull (Auckland), C. H.

Critchley (Hawkes Bay). S. T. S. Martin (Wellington), G. G. Bullock (Ruapehu), W. M. Hindmarsh

(Canterbury), H. W. S. HeRyer (Otago), W. F. Irvine (Southland), M.E. Comp. J. Harkness (Westland);

Elective Members of Committee, M.E. Comp. J. J. Esson (Chairman), V.E. Comps. J. Rod, J. McLachlan, P.

C. Watt, G. F. L. Lenzini, and J. C. Riddell. After the G.Z.'s address, and tendering to him by G. Reps. of

foreign jurisdictions of their compliments, G. Chapter was closed in ample form, and the companions

repaired to the refectory, where they partook of the hospitality provided by the Chapters of the district.

The newly-installed G.Z. addressed the companions at the conclusion of the installation as follows:—

"It has become the custom for the newly-installed 1st G.Prin. to address G. Chapter on some Masonic

subject. The custom may be a bad one, because all those who have already passed the chair of necessity have

had more experience, and are better fitted to give such an address. To-night I comply with the established

practice to the best of my ability.

"I suppose Freemasonry is much what we each make of it for ourselves. It attracts different individuals in

various ways. To some it appeals by its deep moral teachings, to some by the beauty of its ceremonies, to

some by the high antiquity of its origin and the air of mystery that surrounds it, to some by its ritual, and to

others, perhaps, by its high-sounding titles. For some it comprises only a series of unmeaning rites, but these

brethren are the unfortunate ones in Freemasonry. To-night I want to dwell for a little on the effect of our

ancient institution in teaching discipline, obedience, and reverence—an aspect of the Craft to which less

notice seems to have been given, but one that must appeal forcibly to many of its members.

"It is said that the colonial character, as contrasted with that of those living in older countries, is lacking in

the spirit of discipline, obedience to authority, and reverence. Whether this is so in reality I cannot profess to

judge. It may be simply that in older countries the mind is more apt to take for granted every tradition than in

these lands, where there are none of the memorials of age to impress us. The man who is brought up among

those whose place in the world, like his own, is almost fixed from birth, is naturally more prone to

submission, respect, and belief than one whose environment is modern and constantly changing. So it may be

that a failure to accept dogmatic teaching without proper enquiry into the principles on which it is based is

mistaken for a want of reverence. However this may be, it is certain that Freemasonry does possess qualities

which tend to inculcate discipline, obedience, and reverence among its members. This is true, of course, in

any well-ordered society, in which there must be those who rule as well as those who learn, submit, and

obey. In our institution, though, these qualities and characteristics are a part of our teaching, and form the

substance and essence of the Craft itself.

"A trained and disciplined man is of greater value by far to the State than one who is not. He has become

capable of co-ordinated effort. He has been taught how to apply his labour and to think and act as a part of

the whole community. He has learnt to take broader views, to disregard trifles, to become less selfish in his

aims, and to join in the hopes and aspirations of his fellow men. By reverence a man is restrained from any

hasty effort to overthrow existing institutions and is taught to refrain from sweeping condemnations.

Reverence sees some good in all ancient institutions, and teaches us to try to wisely amend things and bring

out the good that is in them, rather than attempt an indiscriminate destruction. Obedience is a curiously rare

characteristic in every undertaking. It is a remarkable fact that it is always hard to get orders carried out just

as they are given, but I think it is the experience of every one who has engaged in any business or other

undertaking that such a difficulty exists. No matter how strict and careful are the directions given to

subordinates, an absolute compliance with them is rare, and failures are more often due to lack of obedience

than to any want of intelligence.

"On all these points I want to emphasise the value of the teaching and training of our ancient institution. The

teaching is important, but in its results probably of less value than the training. The value of the training lies

in the formation of habits which become involuntary, so that we do without thinking the things we ought to

do. The mere fact of standing to order or of giving the signs, or even of watching our ceremonies only, must

inculcate discipline and its attendant good qualities; and no one can take a constant part in our ceremonies or

attend our Lodges and Chapters without being unconsciously, but inevitably, trained in habits of reverence

and obedience.

"In order that the lesson to be learnt in our assemblies should be taught to the greatest advantage, it is

important to choose from among our number those who are best qualified to fill all offices of authority. We

know that the public reputation of the Craft will rise or fall according as the character of those who govern it

is estimable or censurable. The world will judge us chiefly by those who are known to hold high positions

among us. It is more important still, however, to remember that the moulding of the habits and character of

the members of the Craft lies, to a considerable extent, in the hands of the rulers of our various Lodges and

Chapters. We must, therefore, be careful to choose officers to preside over us who are fit for their

responsibilities, remembering always that even those who fill the lowest offices now are being trained to

follow their superiors, and in their turn will require all the same qualifications.

"The same virtues and qualifications are needed in our daily lives as in our Chapters. The training and

experience in our Chapters is also of benefit in our business and all the ordinary courses of our daily life. If

we are trained in habits of discipline, obedience, and reverence, those qualities comprise much that is needed

to make us good citizens of our State. And those qualities lead to one thing more. They bring with them

loyalty—loyalty not only to our companions and our rulers in the Craft, that loyalty which will stand by them

in good or evil and support them in all their lawful undertakings, but also that wider spirit which we Free-

masons teach, of loyalty to our King, our country, and the Craft."

———————————————————————————————————————————

RIGHTS OF ENTERED APPRENTICES.

——<>——

At one time the great body of our fraternity was comprised entirely of Entered Apprentices. They were

almost the only Masons, Fellowcrafts and Master Masons being the exceptions. The first degree was the only

one that was conferred in subordinate Lodges. The Grand Lodge reserved to itself the right of passing

Fellowcrafts and raising Master Masons. Of course, all the business of subordinate Lodges was therefore of

necessity transacted in the Entered Apprentice degree. The Wardens were required to be Fellowcrafts, and

the most expert of these was chosen as the Master. All other offices were filled by the body of the Craft, and

the business and duties of Masonry were performed by the Entered Apprentices.

November, 1725, a regulation was adopted which permitted the Lodges to assume the prerogative vested in

the G.L. of conferring the Second and Third Degrees. When this became a custom Entered Apprentices

ceased to constitute the body of the Craft, a position which then began to be occupied by M.Ms. Entered

Apprentices lost, by this change, nearly all the rights and prerogatives which they had originally possessed,

and M.Ms. have taken their places in the distribution of the labours as well as the honours and prerogatives

of the institution.

In modern Masonry Entered Apprentices are called upon to perform but very few duties. They are not,

strictly speaking, members of a Lodge, and are not permitted to vote or hold any office. Secrecy and

obedience are the only obligations imposed upon them, while the Masonic axiom "Hear, see, and be silent" is

peculiarly appropriate to them in their present condition in the fraternity.' An Entered Apprentice is now no

more a Mason than a student of medicine is a physician or a student of law a lawyer. A Mason, properly so

called, must have taken the Third Degree. It must not be understood by this to deny the Masonic character of

an Entered Apprentice. In the ordinary use of the word a Mason is one who has been admitted into the Order

of Masonry. In this sense an Apprentice is a Mason. He-is styled, by way of distinction from the possessors

of the succeeding degrees, an Entered Apprentice Mason. In the more legal employment of the title a Mason

is one who is in possession of the rights, privileges, and mysteries of Masonry, and in this sense an Entered

Apprentice is not yet a Mason. The position of Entered Apprentices in our Order at the present day seems to

be strictly in accordance with our ancient traditions. These inform us that Apprentices were not permitted to

pass the portals of the temple, but were occupied in the quarries in fashioning the rude stone by means of the

gauge and gavel, so as to fit them for the use of the Fellowcraft, and it was not until they had made due

proficiency and proved themselves worthy by their obedience and fidelity that they were permitted to enter

the sacred precincts and receive a fuller share of light and instruction.

The Masonic ritual sustains this doctrine by requiring that the candidate, as a qualification in passing

onward, shall have made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree. It was the custom at one time when

the question was asked, whether the candidate shall have made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree,

to reply, "Such as time and circumstance would permit." This answer seems rather to evade the law, which

always has required a due proficiency. No other answer ought to be given than the positive one that "He

has." Formerly, when Entered Apprentices constituted the body of the Craft, they possessed the general right

of visitation, but lost it as soon as Lodges began to confer the higher degrees. Many of our modern codes,

however, permit Entered Apprentices to visit other Lodges of Entered Apprentices, if no member of the

Lodge objects; and for that purpose he is entitled to the appointment of a committee to examine him, if no

brother can vouch for him. This is a right which should be more frequently used by Entered Apprentices, and

they should be encouraged in the use of it.

It is a mistaken opinion to suppose that when a profane is elected a candidate he is elected to receive all the

degrees that can be conferred in a symbolic Lodge. An Apprentice has no more claim to the Second Degree

than he had to the First. Freemasonry is a rigid system of probation. A second step never can be taken until

sufficient proof has been given in the preceding degree that the candidate is "worthy and well qualified." A

bad Apprentice would make a worse M.M. An Entered Apprentice has the right to apply for advancement,

but the Lodge into which he is initiated has the correlative right to reject his application.

Whatever may be the rights of an Entered Apprentice, they are liable to forfeiture for misconduct—they may

be suspended, expelled, or otherwise punished upon adequate and sufficient proof. An Apprentice may

therefore be tried, but the trial must be conducted in the First Degree. He is, however, entitled to an appeal to

the G.L. from the sentence of punishment of his Lodge, as it is the duty of the G.L. to see that the rights of

even the humblest member of the Order shall not be unjustly invaded, but impartial justice administered to

all.—"The Keystone," N.S.W.

————————

THE MASTER.

——<>——

It's really the W.M.'s fault if there is no one present when it comes time to close Lodge.

Why is it his fault!

He doesn't begin the work on time.

He allows the work to drag.

He permits trivial incidents to delay the work.

There are a hundred and one little things that need watching, and it is up to the Master and Wardens to keep

their eyes open and see that nothing holds up the work.

There is never more than a handful of brethren present for the lecture. This is because a Master waits around

for a crowd before he opens Lodge. He wastes time, not only his own, but the time of every brother present.

It will be a wonderful day in Masonry when we get Masters who run their Lodges as efficiently as they run

their businesses.

Begin on time, and the crowd will be there when you close.

We attended a Michigan Lodge the other evening that had a Master who liked to hear himself talk. He

enjoyed every minute that he was talking, but the Lodge members didn't —they suffered through it.

He had something to say every few minutes, and then he said it three or four times. We don't know why he

repeated so often.

We believe that a good Master will be seen and not heard too much.

This Master is ruining the attendance of his Lodge. The brethren say that they have something else to do

besides listening to him talk all of the time.

W.M., take inventory of yourself; you may be the long-winded repeater that we are talking about. If you are

not, this won't do you any harm.—"The Tyler-Keystone."

————————

OBITUARY.

——<>——

W. BRO. SAMUEL NICHOL.

The death of W. Bro. Samuel Nichol occurred at Bluff on 9th February. Our late brother was the

oldest P.M. of Lodge Fortitude, No. 64, being in the chair in the year 1892. In his younger days

he was a very keen worker in Masonic matters. W. Bro. Nichol was laid to rest at the Bluff

Cemetery on 12th February, a large number of Bluff brethren paying their last tribute of respect

to departed merit. The body was conveyed to St. Matthew's Church, in which Bro. Nichol had

been a lay reader. The pall-bearers were members of the staff of Messrs. Nichol Bros. At the

graveside the Masonic service was read by W. Bro. Parker. Members of Lodge Fortitude carried

the body to its last resting place.

————————

THE INTERNAL DANGERS OF MASONRY.

——<>——

(By the Rev. Hopkin O. Cady.)

In the ancient times Masons were employed mostly in building temples and mosques, and were thus in close

touch with priests, travelling from place to place as their services were needed. In this itinerant life of theirs

they felt the need of some kind of organisation, not only for their protection, but for the protection of the

priest or those that hired them. They had three orders of workmen—E.A., F.C., and M.M., and they were

very particular about men that they took in as E.A.'s, and were also very particular about advancing an E.A.

to a F.C. A man had to be a first-class workman or be proficient as a M.M., and by their organisation no

man, an E.A. or F.C., could go even to a strange place and get work as a M.M., and thus all work was done

by thorough workmen.

If you should travel in the East you will find temples and mosques that have stood for centuries; and it is said

that the mortar and cement are like the granite itself, and, in fact, have stood the weather and wear and tear of

centuries better than the granite. It has been the desire of masons for years to find out its composition. Much

money and time have been spent, but they have thus far failed, and have been obliged to confess that the

Masons of modern times cannot compete with those of centuries ago, and the question arises, Why'? To my

mind one of the reasons is this: they were more particular about workmen, whom they took in as E.As. and

whom they advanced to F.Cs. and M.Ms., and thus they had the very best men that the country could

produce. And this brings me to the thought that one of the internal dangers to Masonry in these times is that

about the men we take in.

Masonry is popular, and dangerously so. A certain German of long ago, in naming the centuries, named the

eighteenth as woman's century; and he was right, for woman never came into prominence as she did in the

eighteenth century; but I think he might have called the last decade a time of organisation, for the world is

organised almost to death. Men and women feel that they must join one or more societies, until now there are

not evenings enough in a week to attend the meetings.

With so much of this spirit in the world it is not strange that may turn their attention to Freemasonry and

apply for admittance to our Lodges, and we are in danger of getting men in who are unworthy. Our

examination of the candidates should be more thorough. We should not look at the numbers as much as at

the character of the men. I am afraid that we oftentimes let the social standing, the wealth, or the political

position of a candidate warp our judgment and influence our minds. As the ancient Masons took in only the

best, so we would aim to accept only men of high character.

Another danger may arise from our annual elections, which has a tendency to shorten the term of office and

create an unworthy desire upon the part of some to get into the line of promotion. There is no doubt some

men's greatest ambition is simply to become a P.M., and they work for that and that only; and when such

men pass the chair they vanish away as quickly as Jonah's gourd. All their interest is apparently gone. Such

people are not a help to the Lodge, but rather a detriment.

Then, again, there may be danger in selecting men for the subordinate offices. Put men in the line of

promotion, and they expect to be promoted, and all expect some time to be Master. The danger is that we do

not think of this when we fill the lower chairs. A man is a good fellow, popular in the Lodge, and of fine

form and figure, and the members say, "Let us put him in," and in he goes. They forget that a man can have

all the qualities of which we speak, and then not be the man for the place, and in this way we get officers that

are not a credit to the Lodge. Very much depends upon the officers, for they have it in their power to build

up or tear down a Lodge. In the selection of a man for a subordinate office the question should arise, "Will

he make a good Master of the Lodger" If you think that he will not, don't put him into any office. Don't say,

"Oh, he will do for a deacon." If you give him the office, you will be obliged to disappoint him by a "turn-

down" or afflict the Lodge with a poor Master.

Be watchful and careful of the interest of the Lodge, and see that no harm comes by the introduction of

unworthy men into the Lodge and by filling our chairs with men that are good Masons on the floor, but poor

ones in the chairs. Our institution has been through the storms and sunshine, and still it stands like the granite

hills. This is owing to the character of the men that are identified with the order. God grant that the coming

days and years will not see the standards of admission lowered.—"Square and Compass."

————————

MASONRY IN TAHITI.

——<>——

Some 3,700 miles to the southward of San Francisco lies the island of Tahiti. This tiny speck of earth is so

remote that only faint murmurs from the great outside world creep in from time to time, one would scarcely

expect to find Masonry an active and vital force. Yet such is the case. There are about 2,000 Chinese and

some 2,500 Tahitians. The inhabitants of Tahiti are a care-free lot, for in the drowsy tropics life glides along

with the smoothness of a deep river which runs without a ripple to disturb its calm surface. Therefore, the

existence of a Masonic temple in Papeete was justifiable cause for surprise, and was additional evidence of

the universality of Masonry. True, it is not an imposing structure of steel and stone, such as we find in great

American cities, but it is a building erected for the sole purpose of housing the Craft Lodge and Scottish Rite

bodies which exist on the island.

This temple is the home and property of the Veritas Lodge, No. 384, which is chartered by the G.L. of

France. Its work is carried on in English. In fact, the Veritas Lodge is one of the two Lodges chartered by the

G.L. of France, in which English is spoken—the other meets in Paris.

TWENTY ACTIVE MEMBERS.

There are 20 active working members of this Veritas Lodge. They are French, English, and American, and

they take their Masonry far more seriously than do many of their brothers in the United States and elsewhere.

The native Tahitians are seldom admitted to membership, owing chiefly to their lack of education and

experience in world affairs. Recently, however, two of the leading natives applied for admission. These men

are educated, wealthy, and influential, and stand high in the community. Their application, therefore, has

been considered.

But acceptance and initiation in the Tahiti Lodge is a long process. All candidates are balloted upon three

times. First when the application is presented, to determine if the Lodge is willing to accept the applicant. All

candidates have their application referred to the G.M. in France before the Lodge is empowered to act upon

them. After this there are two more ballots taken before the candidate is fully accepted.

TWO SCOTTISH RITE BODIES.

Once the candidate is accepted, the remainder is very similar to the practice in other Lodges. The Master,

however, sits upon a raised dais, and the Wardens sit directly opposite. It makes an unusually interesting

picture to see the officers all dressed in white, and the members of the Lodge likewise dressed in spotless

linen.

In addition to the Craft Lodge, there also exist in Papeete two Scottish Rite bodies working under the

Supreme Council of France. These consist of the Orohena Lodge of Perfection and the Fides et Justitia

Chapter, No. 443, Rose Croix. Dr Walter J. Williams is Master of the Lodge of Perfection, and Alfred C.

Rowland is M.W.S. of the Rose Croix Chapter. Both these bodies hold allegiance to the Supreme Council of

France, which was organised in 1804, and which has its headquarters at No. 8, rue Puteaux, Paris. All the

work is conducted in English.

It is well to note that progress in the Scottish Rite degrees is by no means easy in France and her colonies.

This is likewise a good custom, and one that could well be adopted in other jurisdictions. The first

requirement for Scottish Rite degrees is that the applicant must have been a M.M. for at least 18 months prior

to the time be applies for Scottish Rite honours. After he has received his 14th Degree at least six months

must elapse before he can make an application for admission into the Rose Croix Chapter.

TEMPLE ON STILTS.

The Papeete Masonic Temple is constructed high above the ground on "stilts," which enables the Tyler to

observe the approach of strangers. Incidentally, it is known among the natives as "Fare Tupapau," which

means "House of the Ghosts," and is regarded by them as a place of mystery near which they fear to venture.

There are a number of Masonic Lodges in the various remote groups of the South Seas. Among these may be

mentioned the Tulagi Lodge, No. 3,777, in the remote Solomon Islands, which operates under a charter from

the G.L. of England; also the Suvana Viti Levu Lodge, No. 1,931, in the Fiji Islands, also under British

charter. There are several other Lodges in the different groups from Samoa to the Pamoutous, and all have

done, and are doing, their appointed work of making better men and spreading the light of brotherly love and

understanding.—"Fellowship Forum."

————————

FREEMASONRY.

——<>——

1TS UNFATHOMABLE ANTIQUITY.

———

"The Constitutions of Freemasons," 1723, reproduced in facsimile from the Original Edition, with an

Introduction by Lionel Vibert. (Quaritch. 21s. net.)

"An Examination of the Masonic Ritual." By Meredith Sanderson. (Wallington Publishing Company. 4s.

net.)

"The F.C.'s Handbook." By J. S. M: Ward. (Warrington Publishing Company. 2s. 6d. net.)

————

For many years Freemasons in this country were content to regard the Craft, the constitutions under which it

was administered, its rituals and its ceremonies, as being sell-contained and complete. To their minds the

whole was solidly founded upon the V.S.L. and an immemorial tradition. In the performance of the

ceremonies prescribed for the various degrees of their mysteries they were often particularly nice, scrupulous

in being word-perfect, almost Levitical in their scrupulous adherence to traditional postures and gestures.

They were studious in their rehearsal of the allegories and of the preservation of the symbols which veiled

and illustrated the Mystery itself. But they were, it is not unfair to say, for the most part quite ignorant of the

Mystery, quite unconscious of the meaning of the signs and symbols which they had had expounded to them

by rote, and which, by rote, they expounded to their successors in turn. In some churches of Christians and

congregations of Moslems in the Near and Middle East the liturgies and public devotions are in a language

no longer understood by either priest, imam, or people—the former produces a given volume of seemingly

meaningless sound modulated and interrupted according to an ancient, but still living, tradition, and the

faithful are satisfied that the proper thing has been done in the proper way. They would be shocked at any

innovation and the intrusion of some element of intelligibility into their devotions would probably be

resented as heretical. Much in the position of these Oriental worshippers were many of our elder brethren

and there are some men of standing in the Craft who have been heard to assert seriously that the great Secret

of Freemasonry was that there was no secret.

Of late years, however, there has been a stirring in the still waters—earnest and curious questioners have

arisen demanding instruction, seeking interpretations and analogies, meanings of words, origins of gestures.

Some older brethren, having a vague remembrance that there was an uncomfortable gulf of unexplained

years between King Solomon and his Temple and the days of Anderson and the Constitutions of 1723, were

inclined to deprecate such inquisitiveness into things which for several generations had quite happily re-

mained undisturbed.

The modern school of Masonic research and investigation is sit once thorough in its work and intelligible in

its explanations. Ingenious and illuminating interpretations are advanced in the works of Bros. Sanderson

and Ward, but with a pleasing absence of dogmatic assertion which seems to imply that there is an equality

among the seekers after light, and that it is open to any one of them to read this meaning or that into what is

discovered. In few cases is one tempted to quarrel with the explanations advanced for consideration by the

present authors. Happier than some of their predecessors in the field of Masonic research whose facilities for

drawing upon the wisdom of the ancients were very limited, they have gone far afield in their inquiry, which

has been greatly assisted by the recent development of our Egyptological knowledge, by Sir J. G. Frazer's

studies embodied in the '' Golden Bough," and by the publication of many of the great religious works of the

East. Personal investigation among the customs of primitive man as still practised by certain African tribes

has yielded the happiest results; and several illuminating suggestions are made as the direct consequence of

the observation of existing rites and ceremonies in the Dark Continent.

If Bros. Ward and Sanderson succeed in impressing the Masonic student with a sense of the almost

unfathomable antiquity of the Craft, they also make it plain that some of the present-day interpretations,

thrust upon its ceremonies and symbols at the time when the Craft was fitted into an Old Testament setting at

the beginning of the eighteenth century, are inadequate and almost misleading. This pious disguise we owe

in part to Dr. James Anderson; and it is particularly appropriate that Bro. Vibert should have introduced his

bicentenary facsimile reproduction of the Constitutions of 1723 with a critical review of that worthy's literary

achievements and Masonic activities. Had the Craft been really founded—as some incurious brethren seem

to have been ready to believe—upon Anderson's Hanoverian representation of the Solomonic tradition

fortified, as Bro. Vibert shows, with occasional misquotations from indifferent historians and quaintly

bedight with pleasing classical and mediæval anachronisms, one might indeed have wondered at the amazing

fecundity and vitality of the Great Mother Lodge of England whose offspring in the Craft fill the world. As it

is, one can hardly be surprised that a system, as deeply rooted in the past of mankind as religion itself, and

sprung from a common ancestry, should flourish so strongly. For students Bro. Vibert's introduction to the

Constitutions is more important than the Constitutions themselves; and young Masons, as well as students of

mature initiation, will do well to consider and reconsider the Second Degree—regarded as disappointing and

unconvincing by many—in the light of the dormer which Bros. Sanderson and Ward have opened upon it.—

"The Times" Literary Supplement, October 25, 1923.

————————

STICK BY THE LODGE.

——<>——

The home is the unit of social life. Some men get away from home ties and do very well, but if it were not

for the homes the race would deteriorate and perish.

The Lodge is to Masonry very much what the home is to the race. Masons who get out of touch with the

Lodge assert they are just as good Masons as if they were regular attendants. It is true that, once a real

Mason, a man never ceases to feel a heart allegiance to the fraternity even if he ceases to attend the regular

communications. But such brethren must see and admit that the Lodge is the cradle and centre of Masonic

life. There they were made Masons and there must Masonry be kept alive. If the lodge were to go, Masonry

would go with it.

The fraternity is rapidly growing in numbers, and the members are undoubtedly getting more out of it. It is

becoming a greater spiritual force and exerting more influence upon the practical issues of life. At the same

time there is a tremendous waste going on all the time through the failure to stress more the importance of

working up deeper interest in Lodge life. Here is the field to work in. If attendance could be doubled it would

be worth more than to have the roll quadrupled by Masons who do not meet with the craft. In those

jurisdictions where attendance is very poor it is the rule to find the Masonic spark of life very feeble and

moribund. A healthy Lodge, kept working regularly, is necessary to the welfare of the fraternity. You cannot

always judge the quality of Masonry by the number of men in the Lodge. Some of the finest exemplifications

of Masonry are found in small groups of Masons, but more often small groups mean too little Masonry.

Of the many excellent suggestions offered for the good of the craft, none is better than the suggestion to

build up the Lodge—especially internally. The Lodge will always occupy the relation to Masonry that the

home does to the human race.—"Square and Compass."

————————

GEORGE WASHINGTON'S TROWEL.

——<>——

RELIC LENT TO G.L. OF ENGLAND.

———

The G.L. of England will shortly receive on loan the silver trowel which was used recently at the dedication

of the George Washington National Memorial at Washington, District Columbia. This is the identical trowel

used by George Washington when laying the corner-stone of the Capitol on September 18, 1793, on which

occasion he wore Masonic regalia, although at that time holding no official rank beyond that of P.M. in

Freemasonry.

This trowel has been travelling on a mission of peace and brotherhood for the past 18 years, for which

purpose it was dedicated by the G.M. of New York on 30th October, 1895. Since that date it has travelled all

over the American Continent, finally reaching the tomb of George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia. It

was sent by the G.L. of Now York, after being taken to the Lodges in that jurisdiction, to the G.L. of

California, thence to Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, an opportunity being given to all lodges to receive the

deputation to whose hands the trowel had been entrusted.

————————

DIFFERENT VIEW POINT.

——<>——

Somebody said the other day that Masonry was a thing for young men to play with and old men to enjoy.

There is some truth in this statement. The younger members of the fraternity, attracted by the glamour of the

ritual and the opportunity to discipline their minds and become expert in lodge gymnastics, very naturally

find an interest in the fraternity and very often devote themselves zealously to the mastery of the externals.;

but to the older member of the society, who has spent years in his affiliations, the forms and ceremonies

become merely a passing interest, and he finds something which satisfies his higher ideals add fills his

longing for contentment of mind and companionship. It is sometimes almost pathetic to attend a Lodge

meeting and to notice the number of old men who are present and who give reverent attention to everything

that is said and done, and who go home with souls satisfied. There is no question in the world but that to the

man, well advanced in life, Freemasonry is a wonderful factor in contributing to his happiness in his

declining years, and for this reason every Masonic Lodge ought to be thoughtful of its older members, do

what they can to contribute to their Comfort and pleasure. These men do not see, in the fraternity, the same

things that the younger and less thoughtful see. To these older men Masonry has become a part of their lives,

and they regard it as serious and of far-reaching moment.—"The Miami Valley Mason."

————————

OTAGO COMMENTS.

——<>——

The lecture recently given in Lodge St. Patrick by Bro. J. IL Moss on "The Ethical Significance of the

Second Degree Tracing Board" evoked very favourable comment. The subject was well handled, and the

inference drawn painted and telling.

It is pleasing to note that the interchange of visits between Lodges is receiving more attention. Its value is

undoubted, and the benefits are incalculable. Lodge Palmerston, No. 26, visited Lodge Karitane, No. 221,

and conducted the Third Degree. Lodge Port Chalmers Marine, No. 942, E.C., visited Lodge Otago, No. 844,

E.C., and worked the Second Degree. In each case the excellent working was much appreciated.

Dunedin Freemasons congratulated Bro. A. M. Rope on his transfer to Masterton to fill an important

position. As Organist of the Lodge of Otago No. 7, Bro. Hope gave excellent service, and he will be much

missed. Such musical brethren are rare.

Speaking recently, W. Bro. Jones, W.M. of Lodge St. Clair, stressed the idea that Freemasons might well

seek for and consider the needy in their own districts. Much good might be done in this direction among

those who do not belong to the Craft, but are under the shadow of the Lodge-room.

Bro. A. H. Ninnis, of Lodge Otago, No. 7, returns to England by s.s. " Corinthic" to finish the work he has in

hand. Our brother then expects to be once again domiciled in New Zealand.

———————————————————————————————————————————

Reports.
———————————————————————————————————————————

It is requested that Correspondents will be good enough to limit the length of their reports by making them as concise

and brief as possible, in order to allow more space for reading mutter of general interest, The Editor of necessity must

condense and shorten over-long reports.

———————————————————————————————————————————

[Secretaries and Scribes are requested to forward Reports.]

———

CRAFT LODGES.

———

SOUTHLAND.

Southern Cross, No. 9.—The regular monthly meeting was held on 7th February, the first for the year 1924.

W. Bro. Robinson presided over a good attendance and disposed of much important business. A special

committee was set up to very carefully consider the qualification of those likely to be proposed. The question

of handing over the Lodge's interest in the old hall to the Freemasons' Hall Company was also fully

discussed, also that of altering the regular meeting night, and it was resolved to retain the first Thursday of

the month. The Second Degree was conducted by the W.M. and his officers, the Final Ch. being given by W.

Bro. L. Padget. The customary social gathering was held after the Lodge closed. [Lodge Correspondent.]

———

St. John, No. 94.—The Lodge met on 25th January, when W. Bro. Jackson presided over a large gathering

of members and visitors. The Third Degree was conducted. The W.M. ob. the candidates and explained the

Ss.; Exh., W. Bro. J. Manson; L.M.M., Bro. Taylor; T.Hist. and Ss. further Illust., W. Bro. Fortune; W.Ts.,

W. Bro. Wilson; F.Ch., W. Bro. Jackson, W.M. After closing a pleasant hour was spent in the refectory in

song and story. [Lodge Correspondent.]

———

Victoria, No. 147.The regular meeting was held on 12th February, when W. Bro. Denton, W.M., presided

over a good gathering of members and visitors. The ceremonial work was the passing of nine E.As. Two

workings were conducted, five candidates being admitted and passed to the F.C. The remaining four then

went through the same ceremony. The W. M. ob. the candidates, S.E. Ch. by W. Bro. Fraser, W.Ts. by W.M.

and -wardens. The candidates, after receiving a "fire;" were placed in the E. and given the final address by

W. Bro. Derbie.The customary social gathering was held after the Lodge closed.—[Lodge Correspondent.]

———

Waihopai, No. 189.—The regular meeting was held on 21st January, being well attended by our own

members and a large number of visitors. We were particularly pleased to welcome brethren from Fiji,

Australia, Scotland, Wellington, Dunedin, and other districts far removed from Southland. A successful

ballot for affiliation was taken. Two circular appeals were subscribed to. The W.M., Bro. Jas. Stobo,

presided, and conducted the ceremony of initiation, five candidates coming forward. Able assistance was

rendered by W. Bro. Bird (D. of C.), also F.Ch., W. Bro. Mitchell (Ss.), W. Bro. Winter (Char.Ch), Bro.

Sydney Smith (Inv. and R. for Prep.), Bro. Wm. Copland (W.Ts.). The standard set was of a very high order,

and reflects creditably on all concerned. After closing all retired to the social room, where a very happy hour

was spent.—[Lodge Correspondent.]

———————

OTAGO.

Hiram, No. 46.—The regular monthly meeting was held om 22nd January. In the absence of the W.M., W.

Bro. Turley-presided. Owing to the holiday season the-attendance was smaller than usual. The ritual work

was the initiation of two candidates. One candidate was balloted for and elected, also one affiliating brother.

Two candidates were proposed for initiation.—(Lodge Correspondent.]

———————

CANTERBURY.

Unanimity, No. 3.—Two records were established by this ledge on the occasion of the installation of Bro. P.

N. Kerr as W.M. on 5th February. The first was a record attendance far in excess of any previous installation;

and the second a very pleasing one—namely, a substantial increase in the collection for the W. and O. and

A.M. Fund. R.W. Bro. McBride, P.G.M., and officers of P.G.L. performed the ceremony of installation.

R.W. Bro. Hindmarch, P.G.W., and officers of G.L. were also present. The W.M.-elect was presented by the

W.M., W. Bro. Oates, and was duly ob., at the conclusion of which Bro. S. Williamson sang a beautiful

sacred solo. The officers for the ensuing year were invested as follows:—I.P.M., W. Bro. Oates; S.W., Bro.

H. E. Ayers; J.W., Bro. T. Wales; See., W. Bro. Collett; Treas., W. Bro. Taylor; Chaplain, Bro. Rev. Petrie;

S.D., Bro. H. Smith; J.D., Bro. G. Dennis; I.G., Bro. S. Rowe; Asst.-Sec., Bro. Mather; Ss., Bro. G. Scott;

Stewards—Bros. Patience, Buckley, Brodie, Vidulich; D.C., W. Bro. Olsen; and our very old and esteemed

W. Bro. J. Furneaux as Tyler.—[Lodge Correspondent.]

———

St. Augustine, No. 4.—The regular monthly meeting, held in the Christchurch Masonic Hall on 12th

February, was W. Bro. A. H. Anthony's last regular meeting, and members and visitors turned up in good

numbers to mark the occasion. The agenda included the election of W.M., Treas., and 'Tyler, and a ballot for

membership. Bro. C. J. Jones, S.W., was elected W.M. for the ensuing year. After admission of visitors two

candidates were initiated, the W.M. being assisted by W. Bros. Bennett (W.M. Ionic, No. 212), Ch. after

Inv.; Kerr (W.M. Unanimity, No. 3), W.Ts.; Hadfield, P.M., N.E.; and Duff, P.M., Final. H.G.W. were

tendered by representatives of most of the city Lodges and several naval brethren. The subsequent refectory

proved interesting and enjoyable, the acknowledgment of the visitors' toast by a W. Bro. Loin Sydney and by

one of the naval visitors being worthy efforts. The toast of the candidates was in the capable hands of V.W.

Bro. T. W. Rowe, and the W.M, and W.M.-elect each reached a high standard in their respective essays.—

[Lodge Correspondent.]

———

Concord, No. 39.—The night of 23rd January was a heavy one for the W.M. and his officers and brethren,

for they tyled at 6 p.m. and the Tyler's toast was given at 11.30 p.m. Three candidates were initiated, the

W.M. being assisted by his officers and by W. Bros. W. Gasson (N.E.), R. Baldwin (R. for Prep.), A. J.

Nicholas (W.Ts.), and G. F. Drury (Ch. after I.). After resuming at 7.30 p.m., two candidates were raised. In

this degree the W.M. was assisted by W. Bro. Crowhurst (Lodge Conyers, No. 1916, E.C.), V.W. Bro. J. W.

Du Feu ("Remember Now Thy Creator" and Contd. Ss.), W. Bro. S. C. Bingham, of Lodge United Forces

(Ch. after I.), W. Bros. H. Hobbs (Lodge Island Bay), Rudd (Lodge Canterbury, No. 1048, E.C.) (Contd.

Ss.), and Crowhurst .(W.Ts.), Bro. T. Taylor (Ch. after R.). During one of the intervals Bro. Clarkson

rendered the solo "O, Rest in the Lord." It is interesting to note that the fathers of two of the initiates were

present to see their sons take the first step in Freemasonry. We were indeed pleased to have with us at this

meeting W. Bro. H. Hobbs, who was the W.M. of this Lodge during 1906-7, but who is now in Wellington.

V.W. Bro. A. H. Hobbs was unable to attend owing to illness. For musical and elocutionary items in the

refectory we are indebted to W. Bro. Crowhurst and Bros. Sutton, Johnson, Clarkson, and Boon.—[Lodge

Correspondent.]

———

Christchurch, No. 91.—The monthly meeting was held on 22nd January in the Masonic Hall, W. Bro. H. R.

Adams, W.M., presiding. After routine business two brethren were raised to degree of M.M., being ob. by

the W.M., who also communicated the Ss., explained the E. of M. and gave the Exhort.; the Ch. after Inv.

was given by Bro. E. Bell, J.W.; the T.H. by W. Bro. Lawn (W.M. Civic Lodge); T.B. by M.W. Bro. S. C.

Bingham, P.G.M.; W.Ts. by W. Bro. Crowhurst (W.M. Lodge Conyers, E.G.); the Final Ch. being delivered

by W.Bro. Torrance, P.M. A pleasant hour was spent in the refectory afterwards.—[Lodge Correspondent.]

———

St. Augustine, No. 99.—The regular monthly meeting was held on 13th February. The number signing the

appearance book was a favourable proportion of the membership. A vote of sympathy with W. Bro. J.

Manchester on the passing of his wife was proposed, and a sum of three guineas granted towards an appeal.

Bro. R. Brain, who has long served the Lodge as a Steward was granted his demit on his removal to

Dunedin. The balance-sheet was taken as read and adopted. Since our last meeting our W.M. Bro. A. J. Jones

has suffered from an indisposition necessitating his removal to hospital; he was congratulated on his

recovery. Our membership is likely to be increased by three more nominations, and several are on the

waiting list. The ceremony of initiation was carried out as follows:—Ob., A. J. Jones, W.M.; Ss., W. Bro.

Fitch, I.P.M.; Apron Ch., W. Bro. Chas. Bateman; N.E., W. Bro. J. Menzies, Org.; R. for Prep., W. Bro. C.

Manchester; F. Ch., W. Bro. Beckett; W.Ts., Bro. Watkin, J.W. The ceremony was well done under the

skilful guidance of W. Bro. A. Colville, D.C. The usual after-meeting was held in the refectory, where an

enjoyable hour was spent in song, story, and speech. — [Lodge Correspondent.]

———

Amuri, No. 184.—The monthly meeting was held on 25th January in the Lodge Room, Rotherham. The

W.M., Bro. Dr. L. Jennings, occupied the chair. The work consisted in passing a brother from Hanmer

Springs, and much of this work was allocated to the brethren residing there. The W.M. ob. and gave the Ss.,

Bro. Lahmert the address in the S.E., Bro. Chappel the W.Ts., Bro. Greaves the address after passing, and W.

Bro. Lemon explained the T.B. After a pleasant hour in the refectory the brethren separated.—[Lodge

Correspondent.]

———

Acacia, No. 209.—The regular monthly meeting was held in the Masonic Temple, Waikari, on 21st January.

W. Bro. Black presided over a large attendance. The work was two initiations, and was done as follows:—

Ob., W. Bro. Black; Ss., W. Bro. H. Billens; Ch. after I., Bro. R. Tucker; N.E. Corner,-W. Bro. Lindsay; R.

for Prep., W. Bro. Chas.Willis; W.Ts., Bro. H. Saundercock. H.G.W. were received from several Lodges.

The Lodge was then closed, and a social hour in the refectory closed a splendid meeting.—[Lodge

Correspondent.]

———

United Forces, No. 245.—The eighteenth regular meeting was held in the Masonic Hall, Christchurch, on

13th February, W. Bro. S. Canynge Bingham, W.M., presiding, when the First Degree was conferred upon a

candidate. There was an excellent attendance of members of the Lodge, including M.W. Bro. S. Clifton

Bingham, P.G.M., and R.W. Bro. Geo. Barclay, G.Sec. There was also a good attendance of visitors,

including the W.M. and brethren of Concord Lodge and several naval brethren from H.M.S. "Chatham.".

After the ceremony a very pleasant hour was spent in the refectory, when a very interesting lecture on,

wireless was given by Bro. H. G. Bradley, and an opportunity was taken of saying an revoir to W. Bro. H. J.

Daltry, of Conyers Lodge, who is leaving in May next to reside permanently in England.—[Lodge

Correspondent.]

——————

AUCKLAND.

United Service, No. 10.—The first meeting of 1924 was held in the Freemasons' Hall, Princes Street, on

30th January. The attendance was not up to standard, due probably to the excessive heat which has been

experienced for several weeks. The business was to initiate two candidates. This was well carried out by the

W.M., W. Bro. S. W. Turley, and his officers. W. Bro. A. C. Hallett, P.M., gave the N.E. Corner, and W.

Bro. W. Tailby, P.M., the M. of Prep. After the Lodge was closed an adjournment was made to the refectory,

where the usual toasts were honoured.—{Lodge Correspondent.]

———

Waipu, No. 179.—An emergency meeting was held on 15th January, W. Bro. H. E. Mackay, W.M.,

presiding. The work was the raising of one candidate to the degree of a M.M. The W.M. was ably assisted by

the Wardens and several P.Ms.

The regular monthly meeting was held on 22nd January. On account of the sickness of the Rev. Bro.

Hampton there was no degree work. As we had several visitors, after closing the Lodge the J.W. invited the

brethren to refreshments, when several short addresses were delivered, and a report of G.L. annual meeting

was well received from the G.L. representative. Altogether a most pleasant and profitable hour was enjoyed.

The Lodge was opened by W. Bro. Mackay, W.M., on 26th January to pay the last tribute of respect to Bro.

John McGregor, aged 63 years, who passed to the G.L. above on 25th January. The W.M. and Chaplain (W.

Bro. Snaith) conducted the service in the Masonic Hall, after opening in the Third, and at the grave-side. The

brethren then returned to the Masonic Hall and closed the Lodge. Bro. McGregor was a quiet and

unassuming brother. Although his work led him to the kauri forests, when at home he took a great interest in

his Lodge—[Lodge Correspondent.)

———

Onewa, No. 182.—Three candidates were initiated at the monthly meeting held on 21st January. The W.M.

(W. Bro. J. M. Cassie) was assisted by W. Bros. Loekie (Ch. after I.), Verran (N.E. Corner), Stanwell (R. for

Prep.), Dickson (T.B.), and. the Wardens their respective portions. One candidate was successfully balloted

for. In the refectory a visiting brother recounted some of the difficulties the back-blocks Lodges have to

contend with.—[Lodge Correspondent.]

——————

WELLINGTON.

Leinster, No. 44.—An emergency meeting was held on 31st January. The business was to raise two brethren

to the Third Degree. The candidates were ob. by W. Bro. H. W. McCarthy, W.M., assisted by W. Bro. E. C.

Smythe (Ss. and 15 F.C.), W. Bro. Lord (Ex.), Bro. T. H. Wilson, J.W. (L. Ch. and W.Ts.), Bro. E. A.

Thompson, S.W. (F. Ch.), W. Bro. Binns, Lodge Mokoia (Ch. after R.), W. Bro. A. McLaren (T.H.), R.W.

Bro. J. W. Ellison (Ext. Ss.). W. Bro. Perry, of Lodge Mokoia, in a very fitting manner, presented the

candidate with a copy of the V.S.L.—[Lodge Correspondent.]

———

Brooklyn, No. 132.—The regular meeting of Lodge Brooklyn was held on 6th February, when the

accommodation was taxed to the utmost. There were no less than seven sitting W.Ms. present, besides a

large number of officers and brethren of other Lodges, including several brethren from H.M.S. "Chatham."

The business was to pass two brethren to the F.C. Degree. The ceremony was performed by the W.M., W.

Bro. L. H. Hartley, assisted by the following:—W. Bro. H. Parkin, Sns. and Ss.; Bro. J. I. Goldsmith (S.W.),

Inv.; W. Bro. Kennard (Lodge N.Z. Pacific, No. 2). after Inv.; W. Bro. Westwood, S.E. Corner; Bros. Able

Smelt and R. Taylor, W.Ts.; Bro. J. Parkin (J.W.), Ch. after Passing. The proceedings at the festive board

were marked by much enthusiasm, and there was a lengthy programme of toasts and items. Musical items

were rendered by Bros. Marshall, Petty, and Laycock, of Lodge Brooklyn, and the humorous stories of Bro.

Barton Ginger were much enjoyed.—[Lodge Correspondent.]

———

Tutanekai, No. 156.—The installation meeting was held on 9th February, there being a large attendance of

members and visitors. W. Bro. A. M. Mollison, W.M., presided. R.W. Bro. G. Russell, Prov.G.M., assisted

by G.L. officers, conducted the ceremony with his usual efficiency. The S.W. (Bro. Thomas Jones) was duly

installed as W.M. The following took part:—R.W. Bros. J. W. Ellison, P.Prov.G.M., and H. H. Seaton,

P.G.W.; W. Bros. H. C. Futter, G.J.D., J. P. Shand and G. F. Lenzini, P.Ms. V.W. Bro. H. G. Teagle, G.D. of

C., carried out his duties in a dignified and effective manner. The W.Ts. were presented in full by W. Bros.

Vine (W.M., Lodge Hinemoa, No. 122), Binns (W.M., Lodge Mokoia, No. 213), and Bevan (W.M., Lodge

Aorangi, No. 2300, E.C.). On behalf of the Lodge R.W. Bro. Russell presented the retiring W.M. with a

handsome I.P.M.'s jewel. Owing to W. Bro. Mollison changing his place of residence to Christchurch soon

after his installation, it had not been in his power to attend all the Lodge's meetings, although on many

occasions he journeyed from the .Cathedral City to do so. W. Bro. W. T. J. Morton, P.M., had conducted the

business of the Lodge in the absence of the W.M., and so pleased were the brethren with his work that he

was the recipient of a silver cigarette ease and also a piece of plate for Mrs. Morton. The newly-installed

W.M. gave a short and pithy address before the Lodge was closed. W. Bro. Shand invested the following

officers:—S.W., Bro. J. McIntosh; J.W., Bro. A. Barn; Sec., W. Bro. J. P. Shand, P.M.; Treas., W. Bro. J. W.

Sexton, P.M.; D. of C., W. Bro. C. W. Martin, P.M.; Chap., Bro. Rev. W. Shirer; S.D., Bro. A. E. Smart;

J.D., Bro. L. West; LG., Bro. W. Husband; S.S., Bro. S. H. Hansen; J.S., Bro. E. Howse; Organist, Bro. B.

W. Blakeley; Tyler, Bro. B. Reed.—[Lodge Correspondent.]

—————————

ROYAL ARCH CHAPTERS.

Southern Cross, No. 3—The February convocation was held on 6th February, necessitated by the fact that

the Orange Lodges are using the Forth Street Hall. In future the regular convocation will be held on the first

Wednesday, the instruction meetings on the last Wednesday of each month. Two Mark M. were

acknowledged as E.Ms. by W.E.M. Winning, ably assisted by Bro. A. Scott, 2nd Prin., and officers. The

final address was given by Bro. Sydney Smith. A social gathering was held in the refectory at the close of the

meeting.—[Chapter Correspondent.]

———

Waimate, No. 16.—The regular convocation was held on 23rd January. Incidental business comprised a

ballot for a new member (favourable), two demits (one of which covered also a remittance of dues), several

apologies, and a motion of sympathy with E. Comp. A. J. Jones, H., who was laid aside by indisposition. The

principal work was an exaltation, the ceremony being well carried out by the two principal officers, V.E.

Comp. Evans, Z., and 1st Soj. E. Comp. Watkin. The ob. was administered by V.E. 1st Prin., who was

assisted as follows:—V.E. Comp Colville, Ss.; V.E. Comp. Hoskins, W.Ts.; and V.E. Comp. Menzies, F.Ch.

The usual after-meeting followed.—[Chapter Correspondent.]

———

Celtic, No. 42.—The regular monthly convocation was held on 4th February, and was presided over by V.E.

Comp. P. J. Helean, P.Z., the V.E.Z., V.E. Comp. A. McLauchlan, being away attending the annual

convocation of G. Chapter. The business was to advance a brother, when E. Comp. J. Sparrow conducted the

ceremony, ably assisted by his officers, the Ob. being given by V.E. Comp. P. J. Helean,the lecture by V.E.

Comp. J. Moir, P.Z., and the Final Ch. by E. Comp. Scurr.—[Chapter Correspondent.]

———

Russell, No. 51.—At the regular communication, held on 11th February, after the completion of the degree

work, R.E. Comp. S. T. S. Martin, G.Supt., on behalf of R.E. Comp. G. Russell, D.G.Z., presented the

Chapter with a handsome silk banner, on which the Russell crest is displayed. The quality and workmanship

are of the best, and the donor took great pains to have the crest absolutely correct, in which the makers,

Messrs. Spencer & Co., of London, gave much assistance. V.E. Comp. Evans Jackson, 1st Prin., in accepting

the gift, thanked R.E. Comp. Russell for his great kindness, which the members greatly appreciated, and said

he understood the banner was the first of its kind to be presented to a Chapter in New Zealand. — [Chapter

Correspondent.]

——————

A. AND A. S. RITE.

Murihiku Rose Croix, No. 36.—An emergent meeting was held on 25th January, when E. and P. Bro.

Rusden, M.W.S., presided over a fair attendance. Two candidates presented themselves for perfection. The

preliminary degrees were explained by the Chancellor, E. and P. Bro. Gibbs. They were then admitted to the

Chapter, and ob. by the M.W.S., and after discovering the Prin. of the N.L. retired and discovered the S.W.

in the next Ap. Candidates were again admitted to the Chapter, and Kn. and Inv. by the M.W.S. First Lecture

was given by E. and P. Bro. Wm. Irvine, S.W.; and the Second Lecture by the M.W.S., assisted by the S.W.

Nomination of officers was received for the coming year.—[Chapter Correspondent.]

——————

ORDER OF THE TEMPLE.

A quarterly convocation of St. Augustine Preceptory was held in the Chapel, Christchurch, on 30th January.

Sir Kt. A. L. Gray, P.P., presided in the absence of Sir Kt. Eastwood, Preceptor. The special business was the

reception into the Order of a V.E. Comp. of Ashley R.A. Chapter, which was carried out by Sir Kt. Gray,

with the assistance of Sir Kts. Charlewood, Gillanders, Yemm, Hyman, Bingham, jun., and Beanland. The

offertory having been uplifted, and apologies recorded for Em. Sir. Kts. Barclay and Bingham and Sir Knt.

Eastwood and others, an adjournment was made to the refectory, where the toasts peculiar to the Order were

duly honoured.

——————

ROYAL ORDER OF SCOTLAND.

A quarterly convocation of the Prov.G.L. of New Zealand was held in the R.A. Room, Christchurch, on 5th

February, M.W. Bro. S. Clifton Bingham, Prov.G.M. of New Zealand, presiding. A distinguished visitor was

present in the person of R.W. Bro. the Earl of

Cassellis, Grand Banner Bearer of the G.L. of the

R.O.S. The ceremony was the advancement to the

Order of Heredom and promotion to K.R.S. of a

V.E. Comp. of the Prince of Wales R.A. Chapter,

No. 31. W. Bros. Gray, Gillanders, Gribble, Smith,

and Dr. Roberts assisted in the exemplification of

the two interesting grades by the Prov.G.M., who

gave in conclusion the Historical Lecture. Visitors

were present from Geraldine, Dunedin, and

Invercargill, and the evening concluded with an

enjoyable hour in the refectory. The toast of "The

G.L. and Chapter of the R.O.S." was proposed by

the Prov.G.M., and responded to by R.W. Bro. the

Earl of Cassillis, who gave an interesting address

on the work of the Order, in which he took a very

deep interest. Incidentally it was mentioned that, in

addition to his position as 1st G.Prin. of the Sup. G.

Chapter of Scotland, he very highly prized the

honour of being a P.M. of Mother Kilwinning

Lodge, No. 0. Later in the evening the

distinguished guest proposed the health of the

Prov.G.M., referring eulogistically to his services

to the Order and other rites in Freemasonry.