PERVERTED SYMBOLISM.
———<>———
N a most interesting paper on "Symbolism," printed in last month's "Craftsman," Bro. L. R. R. Denny
quoted from Lewis Mumford's book, "The Culture of Cities," on the dangers of political symbolism. "Men
have been encouraged to project upon their nation or the State godlike attributes," so ran the quotation.
'Symbols like Fatherland, Il Duce, the Old Flag serve to unite in compulsive automatic behaviour people who
might, in relation to everyday realities of the common life, exercise rational judgment and good sense." The
quotation illustrates the power for evil that may lie in symbolism if it is perverted to serve an evil cause.
Symbols are rarely associated with the individual or individualism. Even when an individual adopts a form
of dress or a badge to achieve or express a personal distinction (as Wilde is said to have worn a sunflower in
his buttonhole) it quickly becomes the badge or symbol of his followers. From earliest times uniforms,
badges, flags and similar symbols have been used to indicate common membership of a nation, a society, a
regiment. Besides indicating common membership, symbols help to promote it, Uniform is the beginning
(though not the end) of the difference between a mob and an army. A flag shows that a number of families,
tribes or clans have achieved unity in a nation. The fellowship thus expressed may have great ennobling in-
fluence. The Scotsman wearing a distinctive tartan feels that he has the honour and reputation of the clan in
his keeping; the old school tie, though often ridiculed, has maintained high traditions.
But evil minds have ever been quick to discern that forms and things which are effective for good when the
aim is pure, may be made powerful for evil. Fellowship among men of good will strengthens and ennobles; it
deepens personality by eliminating selfishness, promoting consideration for others, and creating the
conditions in which charity may develop and bear fruit. But even fellowship may be perverted when the aim
is evil and the underlying teaching false. In Nazism and Fascism fellowship has had its strongest and, at the
same time, most evil exemplification. And this for two reasons: that the aim of the association is aggression
and domination, and that the worth of the individual as against the State is denied. A great religion
proclaimed a great truth, that man as man was cared for by God — that the individual, no matter how lowly,
had a personal worth. On this great truth—the worth of human personality—is based most of what is good in
humanitarian advancement. Its denial, in the elevation of the State and the leader of the State to a superior
position, has threatened the survival of all that is best in civilisation. Associated with this evil teaching is a
false symbolism—the fasces, originally showing simply the strength that lies in unity, but in Fascism
perverted to mean that the individual has no worth or rights as against the State; and terms such as those
cited by Mumford—the Fatherland, Il Duce—made to express similar beliefs.
In Freemasonry we have great truths expressed in a wonderful system of symbolism. Our form of association
is one of the oldest in the world, derived from a system of association designed to meet the needs of men
combined for creative work and craftsmanship. Truly understood and rightly practised, the system teaches us
how men may work together with good will, maintaining equality and respect for the rights of others, yet
accepting freely an orderly means of government. Yet even in Freemasonry it is necessary to bear in mind
that it is the individual who is all-important. Certainly there can be no dictatorships with us—our system,
unique in its democratic method, guards against that. Authority there is, but it is authority given by the
members, and it may be exercised only in accordance with the aims which our organisation exists to
promote. Our rulers are constantly reminded that their powers depend upon their mindfulness of the source
from which their authority is derived. They are in the position of a constitutional ruler, a position finely
expressed in an old prayer for the King: "duly considering whose authority he hath." Dictation is thus
avoided. But dictation is not the only danger. In many voluntary organisations to achieve political or
economic aims, a form of mass dictatorship is built up through a demand for an excessive loyalty and an
I
unquestioning obedience that submerges personality in the mass. Nazism used this method, and used it very
effectively, aided by all the forms of powerful symbolism, for Nazism in its beginnings was voluntary. And
even in our own democratic society similar methods are sometimes employed. A society or other body is
given an importance exceeding that of the individuals who comprise it. This is a denial of personality, a
denial of the very principle which free fellowship is designed to promote. In Freemasonry we achieve
harmony by charity, by intelligent and unselfish co-operation. Such a harmony can never be exchanged for
the unintelligent moulding of a mass mind.
——————————
FREEMASONS' HALL, LONDON.
———<>———
It may now be mentioned that the Memorial Building in Great Queen Street, the headquarters of the Craft,
was most providentially spared from serious damage during the war and more especially of the recent new
danger from flying bombs, although it was straddled by two of these deadly missiles, which, in the space of
but two or three days fell within a short distance, causing comparatively slight damage to some windows and
doors, internally, but without necessitating any interruption on this score. A large piece of one of the bombs
was recovered from the roof of the building and from the adjoining one of the Connaught Rooms, showing
how close was the danger and miraculous the escape.—"The Freemasons' Chronicle," 11th November, 1944.
——————————
SUPREME GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER.
———<>———
Owing to the uncertainty of travel facilities it has been decided that the Annual Convocation of the Supreme
Grand Royal Arch Chapter of New Zealand, which was to have been held at Auckland on Wednesday, 21st
February, will now take place on Wednesday, 21st March next.—F. J. Rea, Grand S.E.
——————————
We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Western Australia for the
period ended May, 1944. The Grand Master is M.W. Bro. Dr. J. S. Battye.
——————————
SUPREME GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF
NEW ZEALAND.
———<>———
The Fifty-third Annual Convocation of Grand Chapter will be held at the Masonic Temple, Auckland, on
Wednesday, 21st February, 1945, at 10 a.m.
The Business Session will commence at 10 a.m., and the Installation of the First Grand Principal-Elect and
Investiture of Grand Officers will take place at 7.15 p.m. Morning Dress will be worn at the Business
Session.
Convocation postponed until 21st March.
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 1, 1944.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
To Stock, 1/12/1943 .. 221 3 3
„ Salary, Office and Clerical .. 300 0 0
„ Printing .. 109 11 9
„ Advertising 0 0
„ Audit Fee .. 10 10 0
„ Postages and Telegrams .. 25 15 9
„ Insurance 1 7 1
„ Stationery 16 9 11
„ Bank Charge and Sundries .. 8 19 9
„ Exchange .. 0 15 0
„ Convocation Expenses .. 28 17 8
„ Rent 1 10 0
„ Depreciation—
Furnishings .. .. 5 2 3
Regalia .. .. 3 16 6
8 18 9
„ H. J. Williams's Annuity .. 21 0 0
„ Travelling Expenses — North
Auckland NE, Auckland Nil, Hauraki
£10/17/6, Taranaki Nil, Hawkes Bay
£5, Ruapehu £811816, Wellington Nil,
Nelson & Marlborough £3, Westland
£2/15/4, Canterbury £5/1/1, Otago
(1943 and 1944) £9/10/-, Southland Nil,
Grand Scribe E £30/10/8
75 13 1
„ Excess Income over Expenditure 275 11 4
£1,114 3 4
£ s. d.
By Charter .. .. 5 5
„ Patents of Office .. .. 36 15 0
„ Royal Arch Diplomas .. 165 17 6
„ Principals' Certificates .. .. 33 15 0
„ I.M.M. Certificates .. 7 12 6
„ Red Cross Certificates .. .. 16 10 0
„ Ark Mariner Certificates .. .. 37 15 0
„ Cryptic Certificates 32 15 0
„ Constitutions 30 10 0
„ Rituals 113 12 6
„ Dispensations .. 36 4 6
„ Demits and Sundries 1 17 0
„ Interests 97 3 4
„ Registers 1 5 0
„ Members' Fees .. .. 231 9 0
„ Stock, 1/12/1944 265 17 0
£1,114 3 4
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 1st DECEMBER, 1944.
LIABILITIES.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
Benevolent Fund .. 121 8 9
H. J. Williams Memorial 500 0 0
Representation Fund .. 1,160 1 8
Jubilee Memorial, 1943 .. 1,831 13 5
Plus Donations, 1944 .. .. 31 15 5
„ Premium .. . , .. 67 16 9
1,931 5 7
Jubilee Scholarship Council , . 668 6 4
Interest .. .. 58 0 0
Plus Collections 286 11 7
1,012 17 11
Regalia Replacement Fund .. 100 0 0
Accumulated Fund .. 1,653 3 1
Plus Excess Income .. 275 11 4
1,928 14 5
£6,754 8 4
ASSETS.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
Balance Bank of New South
Wales .. 708 0 0
National Savings Account .. 100 0 0
P.O.S.B. Account ..1,916 5 10
————— 2,724 5 10
Government Stock .. 3,206 13 3
Plus Premiums 63 6 9
„ Additions 300 0 0
————— 3,570 0 0
Accrued Interest 66 6 0
Due from Chapters .. 9 3 0
Stock in Hand .. 265 17 0
Regalia and Jewels .. 76 9 6
Less Depreciation .. 3 16 6
————— 72 13 0
Seals and Office Appliances .. 51 5 9
Less Depreciation .. 5 2 3
46 3 6
£6,754 8 4
EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF SUPREME COMMITTEE.
In Memoriam
M.E. Comp. J. H. Moir, Grand Z.; M.E. Comp. G. Barclay, P.G.Z.; M.E. Comp. J. R. Dreaver, P.G.Z.; M.E.
Comp, E. D. Dunn, P.G.Z.; R.E. Comp. G. E. Charlton, P.G.H.; R.E. Comp. W. F. Irvine, P.G.H.; R.E.
Comp. T. B. Salmon, P.G.J.; R.E. Comp. A. W. Chapman, P.G.J.; R.E. Comp, M. Blair, P.G.J.; R.E. Comp.
J. Bissland, P.G.J.; R.E. Comp. J. J. H. Dumsday, P.G.J.; R.E. Comp. E. Senior, P.G.Supt.; R.E. Comp. E.
Jackson, P.G.Supt.; V.E. Comp. G. Urquhart, P.G.S.N.; V.E. Comp. A. Taylor, P.G.Supt.Wks.; V.E. Comp.
A. G. Mackay, P.G.Supt.Wks.; V.E. Comp. T. H. Boustridge, P.G.Swd.Br.
The Supreme Committee met on four occasions.
Foreign Representatives of Grand Chapter were appointed near them as follows:—Mississippi, Comp. W.
Carl Seab; State of Ohio, Comp. G. Morrison; State of New York, Comp. Joseph H. McCarthy.
The following members of Grand Chapter were recommended for appointment near it to represent the Grand
Chapters named:—R.E. Comp. E. Rackley, New Brunswick; R.E. Comp. A. F. Fisher, South Australia; R.E.
Comp. A. Burns, Jun., Arkansas; R.E. Comp. J. Armstead, Wyoming; R.E. Comp. W. Reynolds, Ireland;
R.E. Comp. A. E. Davies, Florida.
The recommendations are that the rank of Past Third Grand Principal be conferred upon V.E. Comp. T. J. V.
Dunlop; and that the rank of Past Second Grand Sojourner be conferred upon V.E. Comp. J. J. B. Blakemore.
The H. J. Williams's Annuity was renewed in favour of the present annuitant, who is very grateful for the
assistance received.
Our First Grand Principal was called to his long rest on the eve of setting out to visit each of the districts in
the North Island. During the year the Depute Grand. Principal paid official visits to the Nelson and
Marlborough, Hauraki, Ruapehu, Auckland, and Wellington Districts, and he reports that the various
Chapters visited are displaying enthusiasm and that their work is of a very high standard.
The chairman (R.E. Comp. T. A. Wilson) of the Jubilee Scholarship Council reports as follows:—On behalf
of the Scholarship Council I beg to report that no applications for a Scholarship have been received from any
past or present inmates of the Kirkpatrick Masonic Institute. The Board of Governors, in reporting that they
have again no recommendation to make, state that in past years the Institute has had children who would
have been very suitable candidates for the Chapter's generosity, and they feel that it is only a matter of time
before they will again have suitable candidates for assistance.
It is pleasing to be able to report that an application has been lodged by the Chairman of the Committee of
Management of the Papakura Masonic Boys' Home, M.E. Comp. 0. Nicholson, on behalf of the present head
boy.
It is recommended that the Representation Levy for 1945 be fixed at 2s. 6d.
Supreme Committee recommends that the Annual Convocation for 1946 should be held in Christchurch.
It is with pleasure that Supreme Committee reports that Opunake Chapter, No. 78, was consecrated on 10th
June, 1944, when owing to the death of our First Grand Principal, M.E. Comp. W. H. Sandford, I.P.G.Z.,
conducted the ceremony, and if enthusiasm and zeal are any indication, there appears to be no doubt that the
new Chapter will be a success.
A perusal of the reports of the Grand Superintendents indicates that the Royal Craft is making substantial
progress, and it is pleasing to note that this is the eighth year in succession that we have shown an increase in
our membership, the gain for this year being 207.
As reported last year, the Installation Ritual was almost out of print, and Supreme Committee took the
opportunity of consulting the various Superintendents on the subject. Their suggestions were submitted to
M.E. Comps. E. Lane, Sir Stephen Allen, E. C. Smith, and the chairman. Certain minor alterations and
corrections have been made, and the Committee also approved of addresses to the Superintendent of Works
and Stewards.
From time to time we have received reports from R.E. Comp. C. E. Russel Rendle, P.G.H., concerning this
Chapter, and it is hoped that in future we will be able to furnish to Grand Chapter a report of their activities
during the year.
As will be seen from the last Agenda, Southern Cross Council, No. 3, forwarded a remit, "That the office of
Thrice Illustrious Master may by special dispensation be filled by a Companion (not a First Principal or Past
First Principal) who has been honoured by the rank of W.M. of a Craft Lodge, and has rendered outstanding
services in the cause of his Cryptic Council," and on this being placed before the other Cryptic Councils, all
agreed that the remit be not approved.
The generous references made by the various Sister Grand Chapters throughout the world to our proceedings
are greatly appreciated, and we would ask the companions concerned to accept our fraternal greetings. It is
most interesting to see ourselves as others see us.
It will be noticed that R.E. Comps. P. C. Purvis, F. W. Herbert, D. Andrews, W. W. Thomson, and W. J.
Girling are retiring from the office of Grand Superintendent, and the sincere thanks and appreciation of
Grand Chapter are due to these Companions who have so ably carried out their duties.
It will be the duty of Grand Chapter to elect an Auditor for the ensuing year, and Supreme Committee
submits for consideration of Grand Chapter the name of Ex. Comp. K. Thomson.
We desire to place on record the courteous and efficient manner in which the Grand Scribe E. has carried out
his duties. His knowledge of the affairs of Capitular Freemasonry is a great asset to Grand Chapter, and
Supreme Committee is greatly indebted to him for his devoted service and valuable advice.
This Committee was greatly perturbed when a short time ago it appeared that 'pressure of business might
cause him to ask to be relieved of his duties, but we are happy to be able to say that arrangements are now in
train by which it is proposed that he will be granted leave of absence for a period of twelve months from 21st
February, 1945. It is hoped that at the expiration of this period of leave of absence his services will again be
available to Grand Chapter. During the period of leave of absence the Committee recommends that the duties
of Grand Scribe E. be carried out by our present Auditor, V.E. Comp. E. Cannons.
The recommendations for Grand Chapter officers appeared in our November issue.
——————————
FIFTY YEARS IN FREEMASONRY.
———<>———
R.W. BRO. W. W. THOMSON, P.D.PROV.G.M., I.C.
—————
A large and representative gathering, including R.W. Bro. McAllister, P.D.G.M., and R.W. Bro. Barclay,
P.P.G.M., and three sitting Masters, attended the Christmas meeting of De Burgh Adams Lodge, 446, I.C., to
commemorate the long life of 50 years in Masonry of a popular member of the Craft, R.W. Bro. W. W.
Thomson. The work of the evening was to initiate a son of W. Bro. W. James, with R.W. Bro. Thomson in
the chair and Past Masters occupying the respective offices. At the conclusion of the ceremony V.W. Bro.
Hammond gave a resume of the Masonic life of R.W. Bro. Thomson, who was initiated in Taringatura
Lodge, S.C., at Lumsden in 1894. This Lodge is now No. 100 on the register of Grand Lodge of N.Z. After
many transfers, due to his occupation on the N.Z. Railways, he eventually settled in New Plymouth, devoting
his time and talents to public and semi-public organisations, as well as to his Masonic duties. His zeal and
assiduity were rewarded meantime, and in 1936 he was appointed Deputy Prov.G.M., I.C., occupying this
high position for three years. At present he holds the exalted rank of Grand Supt. of the Supreme Grand
Royal Arch Chapters of N.Z., Taranaki Province. "The attainment of such eminence was due to the
popularity of our worthy brother," said V.W. Bro. Hammond, who presented to R.W. Bro. Thomson a
modern grandfather clock, suitably inscribed, as a mark of appreciation from the members of De Burgh
Adams Lodge.
In the refectory the toast of the evening was proposed by R.W. Bro. Barclay, who spoke of their long period
of friendship and association on public bodies and in Freemasonry. In reminiscent mood, R.W. Bro.
Thomson referred to his earlier life and tendered his warmest thanks to all for their gesture of goodwill.
Instrumental and vocal items and carol singing brought to a conclusion a memorable evening.
A complimentary Ladies' Night was held the following evening. During an interval the Master of the Lodge,
W. Bro. Spedding, made a presentation to Mrs. Thomson of a silver teapot. In a bright and witty reply, Mrs.
Thomson referred to her many lonely hours of vigil keeping the home fires burning whilst her husband was
away on Lodge business.
——————————
ROYAL ORDER OF SCOTLAND.
———<>———
Advice has been received from R.W. Bro. A. G. Cairns, Grand Secretary, Edinburgh, that the M.W. Bro.
Lord Elgin, Grand Master of the Royal Order of Scotland, has appointed M.W. Bro. George Russell to the
important office of Provincial Grand Master of the Order in New Zealand. The appointment dated from 22nd
November, 1944.
——————————
ENGLISH FREEMASONRY.
———<>———
THE SECRET OF ITS PRESTIGE.
————
An Address given to the Czechoslovakian Lodge in London: "Comenius in Exile."
————
By W. Bro. J. Heron Lepper, P.A.G. Reg., G.L. Librarian.
The following Address, which will be found to embody with such ideal and arresting penetration the
fundamental principles and aims of English Freemasonry which have so materially contributed to its
unassailable greatness, was delivered on the occasion of a meeting held on Friday, 27th October last, of the
Lodge "Comenius in Exile," which meets by the courtesy of our Grand Lodge at Freemasons' Hall, London,
under the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Czechoslovakia, in Exile, formed here during the present war,
in order to keep burning the flame of Freemasonry until it can be rekindled in that sorely and tragically tried
land. The meeting commemorated the 26th anniversary of Czechslovakia's Independence, which had also
marked the re-birth of Freemasonry there.
In a few words of introduction to his address, W. Bro. Heron Lepper, deploring the fact that he had never
visited their beautiful and historic land, nor spoke a word of its tongue, recalled how he had always retained
a warm corner in his heart for both ever since, many years ago, two of his daughters, travelling alone in
Central Europe, had been most hospitably befriended by a Czech gentleman and his wife, simply because
they were the children of a Freemason. He felt himself, therefore, that evening, among real friends as well. as
Brothers.
You have asked me to say something to you tonight about English Freemasonry. During the past few years
you have of course had every chance of seeing and learning about it for yourselves. So I can only suppose
that this flattering invitation to speak to you is because you would like to hear from one who has been in a
small way a historian of the Craft his ideas why the Grand Lodge of England, the Mother of all Grand
Lodges, after more than 200 years of active life, and still very far from showing any signs of weakness in her
advanced age, continues to be respected by her children, even though so many of those children have set up
houses for themselves, in which their venerate(' parent has no wish to interfere, so long as they continue the
practices of good housekeeping as originally taught them and still practised in the Old Home of Masonry.
I can offer you one or two points among many which we, in this country regard as corner stones of our
success. The first of these is the presence of the V.S.L. in all our ceremonies. From the moment it was
translated into the vulgar tongue, the word of the G.A.O.T.U. has become such a part of our national life that
even those who neglect its precepts make use of its phrases in everyday conversation, and even those who
care for none of these things study the book for its style, which is English of a perfection that has never been
surpassed. Long before we had a Grand Lodge in this country it had become the custom of the Freemasons to
obligate their initiates on the Holy Bible, as a sign that no man, but one who recognised his duty to his
Creator, was worthy of being admitted to serve his fellow creatures in the circle of the elect. Thus from the
very dawn of our history we have demanded from those willing to serve with us that they should possess a
faith in that Being who is eternal Justice as well as eternal Love. In simpler words we demand a belief in the
God who made us, who upholds us, and who has given us strength to endure.
A second weighty matter of obedience which the Grand Lodge of England has always demanded, not only
from its own private Lodges, but also, I may add, from any foreign Constitution which wishes to retain our
recognition, is that no matter concerning religion or politics shall ever be debated in a Lodge or a social
gathering of Freemasons. As regards religion we give perfect freedom of conscience to all our Brethren, and
expect the same freedom in return; therefore no case can possibly arise to make argument on such a matter
needful or desirable among us.
As for politics, we are bound by time-immemorial teaching not to engage in any plot or conspiracy against
the State; if we as individuals wish to bring about changes in the laws of the land, there are open ways of
doing so, for we are still, under the blessing of Providence, a free country. In the whole history of British
Freemasonry there has not been one successful attempt to use our Order for political purposes, much less for
plotting or treason.
The English Lodge happily remains a place where men of good will, who vary from one another in political
aims, can yet meet on the common ground of loyalty to their native country, service to their fellow-men and
pleasant social intercourse, undisturbed by any poison gas of political conflict. In short, our doors are tyled
against politics; and we pride ourselves in never having been one of those bodies, oath-bound and working in
darkness, which can become a menace in any State, mid for which there should be no place in a State as
ours, and such as yours will become.
These are two matters which, as a student of history, I consider have helped to win a good name for the
Grand _Lodge of England, and now as a student of human nature I should like to mention another I consider
of importance almost as great. I refer to the decency and solemnity with which our ceremonials are practised
in the Lodges. Every one of us has his favourite ritual; but there are numberless rituals, and each one of them
as good as the next in teaching the newcomer what he has to know. Forms of words matter not at all, or at
any rate very little. What does matter and matters tremendously is the effect the ritual has upon the person
who is hearing it for the first time.
What I wish to argue is this: that even as many roads lead to one town, so every version of Masonic ritual
should lead to only one centre, that of convincing the initiate that he is passing through a very serious and a
very important event in his life. I claim with confidence that this fact is fully realised in English
Freemasonry. We still take, as for generations past we have taken pride, in doing the work in Lodge as
perfectly as constant practice and personal study can make it. Every brother who shares in it is expected to
do his best.
To hit the mark we aim at, everyone must speak his part from memory. We simply do not acknowledge the
existence of a printed ritual inside a Lodge at labour.
So, as a student of human nature, I think we, in England, owe a great deal to our tradition of demanding the
spoken word and rejecting the printed page; no matter how beautiful the voice or impressive the tone, the
words lose effect unless the eyes of the speaker are directed on the candidate and not on a book. There is also
a symbolic lesson to be learnt from this English custom. To have memorised the words of the ritual before
delivering it, is truly a sign of service, indicating that the speaker has shirked no trouble in making himself
worthy to pass on a noble message in a manner just as noble as he himself received it. You will agree, if we
have any secret worth the imparting, it should be given as forcefully and as gracefully as we know how.
Therefore in England we hold our Lodges of Instruction in high honour.
Again there is something symbolic in the name of two of the oldest and most famous of them : Stability, that
we pass on the secrets as we received them, without change or addition; Emulation, that in our personal
service we try to be worthy of those who taught us what we know.
I should perhaps make it perfectly clear that our English Lodges of Instruction exist solely for practising the
ritual. For discussions and exchange of opinion about other Masonic matters, or matters of general interest to
Freemasons, we have what are known as Study Circles, where the Brotherhood can congregate and express
their views. To guard against the danger of any subject being introduced there which might be harmful in any
way, each of our Study Circles is attached to a regular Lodge, which makes itself and can be held responsible
for everything that takes place in the discussions. These Study Circles have done an immense amount of
good work in spreading Masonic knowledge and increasing the usefulness of the individual Freemason.
Needless to say, they avoid any subject which touches even remotely on religion or politics.
There is only one other matter with which I shall detain your patience for a very few minutes longer. Those
of you who are interested in ritual will have noted that in our English Lodges we make a test of the
Candidate before he is permitted to receive a higher degree; and in no case, whatever his proficiency or
knowledge can he obtain that higher degree until a certain period of time has elapsed. The period varies in
different Constitutions, and I understand that with you it is very much longer than with us. Such a matter is
of course merely one of discipline, not of doctrine.
I have no doubt most of you have noticed that the test questions we put in this country are really symbolic, to
teach the duties of ministering to the wants of others, to make full use of our talents, not only for self
improvement, but for the general progress of mankind, and so forth. In many cases, I fear, we go no farther
than the symbolism, and the candidate is left without any exact knowledge of what is expected of him, or of
much other useful information about Masonry in his own Constitution or elsewhere. Such a failure to instruct
is not likely to be bettered by unduly lengthening the period of probation between the degrees. Everything
depends upon the material, the human material with which the Lodge has to deal. If the brother has learnt his
lesson already in the hard school of life, his promotion in the Lodge might become more rapid with
advantage to everyone. I am thinking at this moment of the material you will find awaiting you in
Czechoslovakia. On your return there you will have candidates coming forward who will know only too well
that the solace of one's own trouble is to help others in distress; it will be no secret to them that only by the
fullest use of one's natural talents can the existence of a community be made secure; and above all they will
be men ready to choose death rather than dishonour. There may, of course, be others of a different type with
whom you will know how to deal. But, brethren, you will have good material waiting for you beneath the
shadow of the Hradcany. I would not keep men of such knowledge waiting too long for the dignities of
Fellow and Master.
My brethren of Czechoslovakia, you have been among us for some years now, during which you have shared
our sorrows and our dangers and are about to share our deliverance from the powers of evil. Shortly you will
be going back to a country of great Masonic tradition. I cannot help wondering how many of you know that
one of the first, if not the very first Masonic Lodge to be established outside the British Isles was set up in
Praha in 1724 by a Czech nobleman, said to have been initiated in London. That Lodge was established on a
grateful soil, ' for over 20 years later members of it when visiting another Lodge in Vienna, were able to
criticise a debased Masonic ritual that had been imported by way of Germany. That is, I venture to think, a
tradition of which you may be proud. It is certainly a tradition that makes us here full of confidence in your
Masonic spirit.
And so, my brethren, since you will soon be going back to your own country, never forget that you take with
you the trust and affection of your brethren in England, together with our hearty wishes for the future
prosperity of your Lodge. Some of you are taking with you more Masonic knowledge than has yet been
carried into that part of the world. May it find a congenial soil there, as did the old Lodge of 1724. Here in
the west the sky may seem brighter, but we are still awaiting a beam of hope in the east. The time is at hand.
When that dawn comes and the sun shall arise once more over a free Czechoslovakia, when the horrors of
the years of darkness shall have been swept away with the shadows of the night, on that glorious day, we,
your brethren in England, will bid you Godspeed, good luck, and salute each and all in the Lodge of
Comenius, no longer in Exile, with a heartfelt
AVE, FRATER, ATQE, VALE.
—"Freemasons' Chronicle."
——————————
REVIEW OF PROCEEDINGS OF FOREIGN GRAND LODGES.
———<>———
(Published by the Authority of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand.)
————
UTAH-1944.
27 Lodges, 4468 members; a gain of 106.
72nd Annual Communication held at Salt Lake City, 24th and 25th January, M.W. Bro. Stuart P. Dobbs,
G.M., presiding.
In replying on behalf of the Grand Representative to the Grand Master's welcome, Bro. Harold Cline said: "It
is most fitting, with so many foreign jurisdictions represented, to mention that by reason of our brethren in
the military service intermingling with the brethren of foreign jurisdictions, both in and out of Lodges, the
universality of Masonry will have practical demonstration, and certainly Masonry will benefit thereby. Men
cannot mingle with men without sympathetic understandings resulting."
190 brethren were raised during the year, 29 affiliated and 43 restored, while 38 demitted, 84 died, and 34
were suspended N.P.D.
M.W. Bro. Sam H. Goodwin, P.G.M., who was Grand Secretary for 22 years, was elected Grand Secretary
Emeritus, and granted an annuity of $900,
The Grand Orator, W. Bro. John Stark, delivered an address on "The Outlook for World Peace," and
although he was modest in his claims, he gave a very interesting survey of the subject of international peace
proposals and efforts from 1625, when Hugo Grotius, a Dutchman, wrote a book "On the Law of War and
Peace," up to the present time. He mentioned that Woodrow Wilson is supposed to have got his ideas for the
League of Nations from Kant's essay on "Eternal Peace."
New Zealand is not included among the 163 pages of Reviews by W. Bra. Edward G. Titus.
Grand Master : M.W. Bro. Eric A. Bjorklund, Salt Lake City.
Grand Secretary: M.W. Bro. Emery Roy Gibson, P.G.M., Salt Lake City.
Grand Representative of N.Z.: W. Bro. Albert Cline, Cedar City.
Grand Representative at N.Z.: R.W. Bro. James H. Jerram, P.Prov.G.M., Wellington.
————
VIRGINIA-1944.
321 Lodges, 40,808 members, a gain of 1316.
166th Annual Communication held at Richmond, 8th, 9th and 10th February, M.W. Bro. Wm. Weisiger,
M.D., G.M., presiding.
An Emergent Communication was held in the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Buildings on
February 22nd, 1943, to dedicate the Lodge room of Alexandria-Washington Lodge, No. 22.
The Committee on Grand Charity disbursed $4664 during the year.
The Committee on Higher Education disbursed $4756.
There were 60 boys and 57 girls in the Masonic Home, and assistance was given to 24 children from the
Mothers' Aid Fund.
The Masonic War Service Commission reported that there were 1672 Virginia Masons on service, and there
were 3103 out of state Masons in Virginia camps. Masonic Service Centres established by the Grand Lodge
were very successful, one having over 100,000 visitors,
Fifty Year Emblems were presented to 54 brethren. Addresses were given by a number of distinguished
visitors from other Jurisdictions.
The Roster of Members of Lodges covers 286 pages of the Proceedings.
1864 brethren were raised, 320 affiliated and 292 restored, while 223 withdrew, 242 were suspended N.P.D.
and 2 for un-Masonic Conduct, and 684 died.
The 70 pages of Reviews do not include New Zealand. Grand Master: M.W. Bro. J. M. Stewart, Arlington.
Grand Secretary: R.W. Bro. James M. Cliff, Richmond.
Grand Representative of N Z.: R.W. Bro. M. B. Sutherland, Fries.
Grand Representative at N.Z.: R.W. Bro. Charles Grater, P.G.W., Dunedin.
————
WESTERN AUSTRALIA-1943-44.
159 Lodges, 10,795 members, a gain of 648.
Quarterly Communications held at Boulder on August 26th and at Perth on November 25th, February 24th,
and May 25th (45th Annual), M.W. Bro. Dr. J. S. Battye, G.M., presiding at each.
576 dispensations were issued during the year.
There were 772 initiations, 221 resignations, 31 exclusions, and 102 deaths.
There were 15 Lodges with a membership of 100 and over, the largest having 128 members.
Grants from the Widows', Orphans' and Aged Freemasons' Fund totalled £4368, and contributions from the
brethren amounted to £4418. Since the establishment of the Fund in 1907 £82,283 had been paid out in
annuities.
£205 was granted from the Benevolent Fund.
The funds of the Grand Lodge increased by £8019.
The Reports of the Grand Inspector of Workings and the District Grand Inspectors all speak of a very healthy
tone in all the Lodges.
The Grand Master after covering routine topics in his address at each Communication concluded with an in-
spiring message to the brethren.
Grand Master: M.W. Bro. T. S. Battye, D.Litt., B.A., LL B., Perth.
Grand Secretary: R.W. Bro. A. E. Jensen, P.D.G.M., Perth, Grand Representative of N.Z.: R.W. Bro. S. A.
Tayler, P.S G.W., Perth.
Grand Representative at N.Z.: V.W. Bro. Hon. Eliot Davis, P.G.T., Auckland.
————
MANITOBA-1944.
104 Lodges, 10,133 members, a gain of 153.
69th Annual Communication held at Winnipeg, 7th and 8th June, M.W. Bro. Ben. C. Parker, G.M.,
presiding.
A letter of apology for his absence was received from the Grand Librarian, R.W. Bro. Rev. C. E. Somerset,
who was 91i years of age, and who was re-elected.
368 were initiated, 100 affiliated, and 88 reinstated, while the losses were 118 through demits, 75 through
suspension, and 210 through death.
$5885 were granted from the Beneficiary Fund.
Veterans' Jewels were presented to ten brethren.
The Grand Master gave a very fine address on the state of the world. Other very able addresses were given
by the Grand Chaplain, R.W. Bro. Rev. J. L. McInnis, and R.W. Bro. Ven. Archdeacon A. P. Gower-Rees,
M.A., D.C.L., M.C.
The attendance comprised 464 P.Ms., 73 W.Ms., 42 S.Ws. and 40 J.Ws.
New Zealand's Grand Representative was elected and installed as Grand Master.
The Reviews by W. Bro. Hugh M. Kew include a lengthy extract from M.W. Bro. H. G. Teagle's inaugural
address as G.M. of New Zealand in 1942.
Grand Master: M.W. Bro. Samuel Burland, St. Vital. Grand Secretary: R.W. Bro. J. H. G. Russell,
Winnipeg. Grand Representative of N.Z.: R.W. Bro. Gilbert T. Bull, P.D.G.M., Gisborne.
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PAPAKURA MASONIC BOYS' HOME.
———<>———
A very enjoyable afternoon and evening were spent at the Masonic Boys' Home, Papakura, on Saturday, 9th
December, the occasion being a combined breaking-up and Christmas party.
Perhaps the party can best be described by quoting from a letter written by one of the boys. "It was a
beautiful spread. a big Xmas cake, all sorts of fancy cakes, sandwiches, strawberries and cream, soft drinks,
ice cream, jellies, fruit and lollies."
The boys were waited on by the wives of several visiting brethren, and they evinced their appreciation of the
table in true schoolboy manner.
Before leaving the table the boys showed a fine spirit of gratitude by proposing toasts, not only to those who
had arranged and assisted at the party, but by remembering and proposing a toast to the founder of the home,
the late Bro. H. A. Potter, and also by expressing their appreciation of the many kindnesses they had received
from the Chairman of the Committee, M.W. Bro. Oliver Nicholson.
For one of the boys—Malcolm Blue, who had attained the school leaving age—it was a farewell party. It
was announced that this boy is to be the recipient of a scholarship granted from the Scholarship Fund of the
Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter, and his future will be watched with keen interest by Grand Lodge and
Grand Chapter alike.
After tea an entertainment was provided in the playroom, the first part of the programme being provided by
the boys, who each contributed an item. They were then entertained by Bro. L. Elliot at the piano, items by
Bros M. Laird and W. H. V. Taine and Mr. Alan McElwain and a picture show by W. Bro. A. Playle. Gifts
were then distributed to each boy, and a very happy evening concluded with the singing of "Auld Lang
Syne."
The whole of the proceedings were arranged by W. Bro W. Gladding and Bro. W. H. V. Taine, the former
arranging the catering and the latter the entertainment.
The Christmas cake was donated by W. Bro. J. Stormont and several other brethren generously provided
sweets ice cream, soft drinks, oranges, etc., whilst others sent along sums of money to provide extra
Christmas cheer an pocket money for the boys during the holiday period Donations of gifts or money were
also received from United Service Lodge, No. 10, Albion Lodge, No. 45, Lodge Ponsonby, No. 54, Lodge
Papakura, No. 56, Lodge Titirangi No. 204, Lodge St. James, No. 244, Ara Lodge, No. 348, I.C. and the
Masonic Club and Institute. A donation of interest was that of £1 is., received from the newly-appointed
Grand Tyler, Bro. H. Woodhead, this being the Tyling Fee payable for Tyling the Grand Lodge at Dunedin.
The visitors were greatly impressed with a display o: arts and crafts, comprising drawings, fretwork, poker
work and small woodwork novelties made by the boys. This work is one of the more recent activities of the
Home, am its success is due, in no small measure, to the efforts of W. Bro. Les. Salter, who has generously
donated tools and materials, and given instruction to the boys.
Among the visitors were two members of the Management Committee, R.W. Bros. W. W. Wright and F. G.
Alpe In thanking those who had contributed to the entertainment of the boys, R.W. Bro. F. G. Alpe referred
particularly to the efforts of W. Bro. W. Gladding and Bro. W. B V. Taine, and to all the ladies who had
given assistance a the tables. R.W. Bro. Wright said that the Management Committee were very fortunate in
having such an idea couple as V.W. Bro. and Mrs. L. Tustain managing thy Home; they had proved
themselves not only capable and efficient, but, what was equally important, they had cultivated a real homely
atmosphere which was reflected in the happiness and contentment of the boys. In reply V.W. Bro. Tustain
said he was very happy in his labour: and he was sure that all would realise that since one of their chief
concerns was to establish a "homely" atmosphere, as distinct from that of an institution, that the success of
the Home was largely due to the efforts of Mr. Tustain.
He expressed his appreciation of the kindly interest and practical assistance which had been given by many
brethren, and referred in particular to the many kindnesses he had received from his close neighbours, W.
Bro. and Mr G. Stobie and Bro. and Mrs. A. Watson.
——————————
APPOINTMENT AND INSTALLATION OF E. COMP. THE REV. A. T. A. NAYLOR AS THIRD
GRAND PRINCIPAL OF S.G.C. OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF ENGLAND.
———<>———
In succession to the late revered M.E. Comp. Canon Hubert Curtis, the M.E. the First Grand Principal, the
Earl of Harewood, appointed and installed on 1st November last, in the Freemasons' Hall, London E. Comp,
the Rev. A. T. A. Naylor as Third Grand Principal of Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of England.
Although perhaps not yet as widely known as his predecessors when succeeding to the position, the new
M.E. Third Grand Principal the Rev. A. T. A. Naylor, D.S.O , O.B.E.. MA., Assistant Chaplain-General, His
Majesty's Forces, has been very prominent in his Masonic activities for some time past, and more
particularly in connection with a number of notable Consecrations of Lodges and Chapters, at which the
delivery of his Orations, with arresting forcefulness, tempered by keen human understanding born of contact
with life at many points and under many conditions, have earned for him golden opinions and considerable
and instant popularity, among all who have met him.
That his life has been one of great and varied experience in peace and war is shown by the many distinctions
he has earned, as indicated by the letters now attached to his name, and not least among them, one which
must be rare for a clergyman, the Distinguished Service Order, conferred on him after the epic adventure of
Dunkirk, in which he was mentioned in Despatches, when Deputy Chaplain-General to the British
Expeditionary Force, first sent out to France in the early days of the present war.
Nor was it his first experience of warfare on the Continent, for as Army Chaplain he had landed in France in
early December, 1914, and he was present at the 2nd Battle of Ypres, Hill 60, Loos and the Somme, being
wounded and gassed in the first gas attack and twice mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Order of the
British Empire (Military). He has also seen service from 1926 to 1929 at Pekin and Tientsin, North China,
and from 1936 to 1937 as Senior Chaplain, 1st Division, Expeditionary Force sent to Palestine.
After the last war he became for a time, 1919-21, Chaplain at Wemyss Castle and worked among miners in
Wemyss Coal pit, but in the latter year rejoined the Chaplain Department and after serving at Knightsbridge
and Chelsea Barracks went to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, where as a significant pointer of his
virility, it is not of little interest to note, he boxed middle-weight for the Army.
It is not, however, his only prowess in the domain of athletic sports, for he was already to be found Captain
of the College boats at Cambridge University, where he was at Emmanuel College, 1908-1911, gaining in
the Historical Tripos his B.A. in 1911, and six years later becoming M.A.
Born in 1889, the son of the late Rev. A. J. Naylor, of Tunbridge Wells, he was a Foundation Scholar of
King Edward's High School, Birmingham.
His Masonic career has been no less distinguished and varied, for, initiated in April, 1914, in the St.
Laurence Lodge, No. 1330, Pudsey, Leeds, Yorkshire (W.R.), in October, 1916, he became a Founder and
first Senior Warden of a Lodge formed at Havre under the Grande Loge Nationale de France, Loge Le Havre
de Grace, No. 2, and in 1919, on his return to England, joined the Lodge of Antiquity, No. 2, of which he
became Master in 1936, having filled the office of Grand Steward in 1934.
As regards the Holy Royal Arch, in which he is now called to fill such a high and honoured position, he was
exalted in 1919, gaining the First Principal's Chair, and again in 1938, becoming M.E.Z. in the Chapter of St.
James, No. 2, attached to the Lodge of Antiquity.
In the Mark he was advanced in 1919 in Wemyss, No. 440, and Royal Ark Mariner, and became Master and
Royal Select and Super Excellent Master. In the Cryptic Council he has attained Thrice Ill. Master, and in the
Red Cross Council the rank of M.E. Chief. He is also a member of the Menatschim Lodge of Mark Masters
and of the Grand Metropolitan Chapter, Rose Croix No. 1.
He first became a Grand Officer in 1941, when appointed to the active rank of Grand Chaplain, in Grand
Lodge, but only receiving the corresponding rank of P.G.S.N. in Supreme Grand Chapter in the following
year, and it is interesting to recall in this connection that his predecessor in the office of Third Gd. Principal,
the late Canon Hubert Curtis, only became a Grand Chapter Officer 18 years after receiving his first
appointment in Grand Lodge, as Grand Chaplain.
———————————————————————————————————————————
Correspondence.
We welcome correspondence on masonic subjects, but are not responsible for the views expressed. It must be clearly
understood that all letters must he 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 Craft.
———————————————————————————————————————————
(To the Editor.)
Dear Sir,—Although your leading articles are generally couched in appropriate terms and reveal a fine
Masonic spirit, they depart from that high standard and display that parochialism which you attribute to
others when centralisation is the subject.
Whenever a casting vote is to be given by a chairman he usually casts it for the existing order. In many cases
where some really vital change is in issue (such as the licensing question), a substantial majority is required
to alter the status quo.
Similarly, there is a large body of opinion in the New Zealand Craft which considers that the peripatetic
system, to which many attribute a great part of Grand Lodge's success, should not be changed unless there is
a substantial majority in its favour.
You say in your January leader that "Northern disinclination to see Grand Lodge office domiciled at
Wellington played a material part in the discussion" and refer to "provincial jealousies."
In using those expressions I suggest that you are unfair to Northern brethren, as their opposition is not to
Wellington, but to any permanent office. If a proposal to locate the office in Auckland were put forward, a
substantial majority of Auckland brethren would strongly oppose it. You also inferentially ignore the fact
that Auckland and Waikato brethren—who, I presume, constitute "Northern brethren"—could not have cast
more than about twenty per cent. of the votes cast at Dunedin. You also ignore the fact that Canterbury, and,
except partly since the present Prov.G.M. took office, Otago, have consistently opposed centralisation of any
kind.
In reply to your final paragraph, I quote the late M.W. Bro. E. T. Gillon, the real architect of the Grand
Lodge of N.Z., who used these words in his introductory speech as Chairman at the Convention of
September, 1889 (which words were, I believe, quoted by W. Bro. T. J. Fleming at the Communication in
Dunedin):—
“ . . . . I ask you to remember this—we are not building a structure of brick and stone which cannot be
moved. Our Grand Lodge will be a figurative structure that will extend over the whole colony, which will
have its foundation in the hearts of the brethren throughout the Colony, and of which every member will be a
pillar and support."
The applause which greeted this sentiment indicated the then approval of the basic idea of the peripatetic
system, which approval has always been confirmed in later years whenever the matter has been properly
ventilated and discussed. On three or four occasions, a majority in Grand Lodge has voted for centralisation,
but a wider interest on each subsequent occasion has always rescinded such resolutions. The referendum of
1932 in which 220 Lodges voted against centralisation and only 79 for it, is the best test of the feeling of the
Craft that has ever been taken.
I suggest that no change in Grand Lodge's method of organisation and government should be made, unless
three-fifths of the Lodges confirm it. Such a safeguard would, of course, cut both ways, as if any change
were made, the same majority of Lodges would be required to rescind it, or to revert to the former method of
government.
Yours faithfully,
JAMES ARMSTEAD, P.G.Std.B.
——————————————
[While appreciating our correspondent's kindly reference to the quality of our editorial columns, we
emphatically refute his suggestion that there is anything parochial in our attitude to the problem of
centralisation of Grand Lodge office. We have always considered that the higher cultural interests of the
Craft necessitate a fixed domicile for Grand Lodge headquarters; but fully recognise that difficult problems
are involved, and that these problems are for the brethren as a whole to decide. We agree that no change
should be made until the will of the majority is unequivocally manifested.—Ed.]
——————————
THE ENGLISH LODGE OF FLORENCE.
———<>———
Interest, very considerably increased by the focusing of the world's attention and concern through the
swaying fortunes of the present War regarding the fate of Florence, perhaps the greatest cradle of arts and
sciences which made its influence felt in the cultural regeneration of Europe in the 15th century, must be
found in recent discoveries made by W. Bro. A. Heron Lepper, P.A.G.Regr., Librarian to Grand Lodge, of
new evidence concerning the existence and activities of the Lodge of English Freemasons, said to have been
founded in Florence, about the year 1733, by Lord Charles Sackville, Earl of Middlesex, and later Duke of
Dorset, and which are to form the subject of a paper of particular historical value, which he is to deliver at a
meeting in a few weeks' time of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge, No. 2076, in London.
Of the existence of the Lodge and its activities, doubts have been entertained by some historians in the past
and even at one time they have formed the topic of interesting polemics in the Masonic journals, which
extended from January to November, 1883. Gould, the great Masonic historian, in his "History of
Freemasonry," himself expressed the view that the Lodge "probably never existed at all" and "that its
existence had only been inferred on the authority of a medal by Natter, dated 1733, which medal is almost
certainly a 'fraud perpetrated at a much later date in the interest of the Strict Observance." This medal
purported to have been struck in the honour of Lord Sack-
All the more welcome therefore in refutation of this view is the evidence now brought to light, from the
translation from the Italian made by W. Bro. Heron Lepper of a book in the possession of Grand Lodge, by
Ferdinando Sbigoli, entitled "Tommaso Crudeli e i primi Framassoni in Firenze," published in Milan, as far
back as 1884, and its special interest lies chiefly in the fact that it establishes definitely the existence of the
Lodge on the basis of the translation of a number of official State papers and edicts. Thomas or Tommaso
Crudeli, whose name is indicated in the title of this book in connection "with the early Freemasons in
Florence" (Firenze being the Italian name for the town) was a local poet of some repute, and he became
Secretary of the Lodge.
The established facts in brief are that Lord Charles Sackville, Earl of Middlesex, who resided in Florence in
1733, either founded a Lodge there, or became the leading spirit in one already in existence. Its membership
was drawn principally from English residents in Florence, but many Italians from the best Florentine families
and noted for their literary and scientific attainments joined it, and in this connection it must be remembered
what a centre of high culture was the famous city of the Medicis, which has been the birthplace of such
famous men as Dante, Boccaccio, Petrarch, Galileo, Michael Angelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Amerigo
Vespucci, and countless others whose traditions it perpetuated, attracting within its walls all the most reputed
men of their age in culture and in art, including some of the most illustrious of our English poets.
Masonic communications would appear to have been held without incident until 1737 and the Lodge to have
become noted for the hospitality and good company to be found there, so that to be admitted to the Lodge
became, in fact, a social distinction.
However, in 1737, the Jesuits began their crusade against the Masonic Order and induced the Inquisition to
approach the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Gian Gastone, the last of the Medici line, and demand of him the
assistance of the secular arm to arrest its native members, as belonging to a heretical sect, as also to expel the
foreign members from his States. The Duke, who was a man of liberal ideas for these times, though infamous
in his private life, and meant to be master in his own house, refused point blank the request of the Inquisition,
declaring that there was no harm in Freemasonry.
The Duke of Tuscany, Gian Gastone, however, died in that same year, 1737, and being the last of the
Medicis, who had ruled for three centuries, was succeeded by a foreign Prince, Francis Stephen, Duke of
Lorraine, who, the year before, had married Maria Theresa, heiress to the throne of Austria, and exchanged
the crown of Lorraine for that of Tuscany, but who, when his wife succeeded to the crown of Austria, in
1740, becoming co-Regent, spent most of his time in Vienna and governed Tuscany through the appointment
of Ministers, who were found to carry out the late ruling Duke's broadminded policy.
Francis, Duke of Lorraine, incidentally, had been made a Freemason in 1731, at a special Lodge held at the
Hague under Dr. Desaguliers, as Master, with John Stanhope and John Holzendorff, Wardens, and the Earl
of Chesterfield and others, when he was "initiated" and "passed," and made a Master Mason in England later
in the same year.
In April, 1738, Pope Clement XII published his famous Bull "In Eminenti," against the Freemasons. The
Government of Tuscany, however, refused to allow it to be published in their territory, and one may recall
that the Duke in Austria, although his ruling consort was averse to the Craft, was able to procure for it,
despite the Papal Bull, a certain amount of tolerance. This meant that the Masonic Lodge could have
continued its meetings without any interference from the authorities, but many of its Italian members, as a
result of the edict, withdrew from the Lodge owing to their religious scruples.
Lord Fane, then the British resident in Florence, approached the Master of the Lodge, who that year was
Lord Raymond, later, in 1739, to become Grand Master of England, and pointed out to him the delicacy of
the situation and the undesirability of continuing to hold a Lodge in a country where Freemasonry had been
condemned by the highest Church authority. This, comments the author, W. Bro. Heron Lepper, in his paper,
may well constitute the earliest instance, and one not hitherto recorded in English history, of Freemasonry
having caused an "international incident." On Lord Fane's representations Lord Raymond, as its Master,
persuaded the Lodge to dissolve itself voluntarily, and thus Freemasonry of the English type came to an end
in Florence at that period. The Lodge, it will be seen, enjoyed but the very brief existence of a very few
years, even though it seems to have in that short space brought so high by its reputation the prestige of
Freemasonry in a foreign land. Its short life must account for the little that has so far been preserved for us of
its history and the rather, hasty conjectures formed by some historians that it had never existed.
Well in keeping with the high repute it had earned was this wise and dignified action of the English
Freemasons of Florence, as proved by the appreciation with which it met, even in Rome, and it is made
evident from a striking allusion to the English Craft contained in a letter from Cardinal Corsini, which is
numbered among the documents which have been translated and to which full reference is made in the paper.
It must be the earliest instance of our English Craft being alluded to by a Roman Catholic opponent as
"innocuous in its aims and conduct," and coming from such a source must be held as an unbiassed tribute of
the highest value.
Unfortunately, one of the former members of the Lodge, a Hanoverian, Baron Philip von Stosch, a resident
in Florence, where he combined the occupations of selling Antiques to the wealthy English visitors and
spying on the Old Pretender (James Edward, the son of the deposed James II., King of England) and his
Court in Rome, for the British Government, continued to use the word "Masonry" for his own purposes. He
was a man of a very bad character, though a savant, and he had collected around him a following of Italian
"letterati" given to atheistical and subversive discourses in public places. This gang used to foregather at his
house, and to it he gave the name of a Freemasons' Lodge in order to cover their real purpose which was to
discuss religion and politics.
Tommaso Crudeli, to whom reference has already been made, being known to have been a member of the
English Lodge, became suspected unjustly of having attended Baron Stosch's conventicle, and false
witnesses having been produced against him, he was imprisoned for two years in the dungeons of the
Inquisition before being dismissed with what was practically a reprimand for what he had never done.
Gratitude must be felt by all earnest Masonic students to the Grand Lodge Librarian, for having rescued from
undeserved oblivion such an interesting memory of the past, even if only a comparatively brief incident in
the long centuries of our history, and all the more so that it is one which reflects pride and credit upon the
Craft, while not being without its significant moral at the present juncture of international relations and the
re-establishment of Freemasonry in foreign lands, with due regard for constituted authority and national
ethics or religious aspirations.
——————————
FROM THE GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS AT GRAND LODGE OF CANADA, PROV. OF
ONTARIO.
———<>———
The Grand Lodge of Canada, in the Province of Ontario, has commenced the publication of a Grand Lodge
Bulletin. At first it will be issued at intermittent intervals. In reporting from the Grand Master's address at
Grand Lodge the following passage occurs:—
MEMBERSHIP.
While by nature I am not a pessimist, nor do I want to appear to be cooling the ardour and enthusiasm of our
membership, I must sound a warning if I am to be true to my responsibilities as Grand Master. Let me
preface my warning by intimating that I am not alone in the viewpoint I am about to express. Grand Masters
of other jurisdictions throughout the Masonic world, in private many of them, and many in their Masonic
pronouncements, have felt impelled to make similar comment. Make certain that every applicant for
Masonry will make a real Masonic addition to the Craft. It is more than ever necessary to heed the old
injunction, "Guard well the Portals." No matter how large or how small a lodge may be, it can only make a
limited number of Masons in any one year, and if the lodge adds to its membership more applicants than it
can make Masons, it is conferring no favour on either the Craft or the applicant. Let us, this time, make
certain that there shall be no repetition of former unfortunate experiences which were foretold by Grand
Masters a quarter of a century ago when they pleaded for more care, and when their plea so often went
unheeded.
During the year, Ontario's Grand Old Man, Bro. Sir William Mulock, not only celebrated the one hundredth
anniversary of his birth, but also the seventy-fifth anniversary of his admission into the ranks of
Freemasonry, having been initiated in Ionic Lodge, No. 25, Toronto, on April 22nd, 1869. To mark this
anniversary, a suitable bar was added to his Veteran's Jubilee Medal indicating seventy-five years'
membership in the Craft.—Contributed by W. Bro. John E. Hunt.
——————————
MASONIC FREEDOM.
———<>———
Freemasonry stands for freedom: this is why despots hate it. Wherever its beneficent influence extends it re-
kasas men from bondage. It is a society of men who are free. When the candidate has been instructed in the
principles of moral truth and virtue he no longer needs to be restrained by any cable-tow: he can be trusted to
exercise his liberty for the Os. keep him in due bounds with all mankind, particularly his brethren in the
Craft. No material restraint is necessary once the candidate realises that no action of his life should be
outside the boundaries enjoined by the four cardinal virtues—prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice. .
The Freemason is free because he is not bound: he is liberated because he is obligated. When the sacred
dictates of truth, honour, and virtue are indelibly imprinted on the heart, the c.t. becomes a superfluity and is
accordingly removed.
Freemasonry stands for freedom in the sense that it knows nothing of sects, parties, and. creeds. It allows its
votaries the widest liberty of thought. Imbued with the spirit of true religion, it repudiates all sectarian
exclusiveness. Animated by the sublimest faith, it discountenances what the 18th century people called
"enthusiasm" (fanaticism). While challenging us to a lofty conception of the duties and responsibilities of
citizenship, and impressing on us the allegiance which is clue to the sovereign of our native land, it does not
require us to subscribe to any programme of social betterment or political reform. It calls on us to regulate
our lives and actions by the Divine precepts set down for our guidance in the V.S.L., the T.B. of the
G.A.O.T.U., but it leaves us free to interpret those precepts in the light of conscience and to apply them as
we are individually guided and led. As Freemasons we are pledged to certain principles, but we are pledged
to no special programme: we are pledged to no special panaceas. Freemasonry generalises our obligations: it
is for each of us to particularise them. Freemasonry has a deep reverence for the right of private judgment;
always assuming that this right is exercised with due regard for our solemn Obs.
These principles are amply illustrated in the organisation of the Craft itself. Over the whole Constitution the
Grand Master reigns supreme: his powers and prerogatives are most extensive. Yet extensive powers are
bestowed on the Master of every private lodge.
Neither the G.M, nor the W.M. can be rightly regarded as a despot: still less is he entitled to regard himself
as a despot. Distinctions among men are necessary to preserve subordination and as a reward of merit: they
find a parallel in the world of nature, inasmuch as there is one glory of the sun, another of the moon, another
of the stars, for one star differeth from another star in glory. Yet ought no eminence of station make us forget
that we are brothers, he that is the first among us is the servant of all. No Masonic ruler can degenerate into
an autocrat, so long as his hand is guided by justice and his heart expanded by benevolence. Masonic
jurisdiction is always constitutional jurisdiction: the Master's, prerogatives, are within the law, not above it.
Like every Freemason, the Master must govern his life and. actions by the precepts of the V.S.L.: like every
Freemason, he is pledged to the strict observance of the ancient landmarks. At his installation he takes a s.o.:
he declares that in the well-ruling and governing of the lodge or Craft he will maintain and uphold the
Constitutions of the Order. We yield support to the W.M. because he rules by the S.: we yield allegiance to
the G M. because he rules by the C.s. We submit to his authority because he is himself under authority. Thus
the liberty of a Master of our arts and sciences is a regulated liberty: his freedom is conditioned by his
obligations. If his rights are extensive, so also are his responsibilities. Nor are we without assurance that he
will observe the limitations imposed on the exercise of his prerogatives. His elevation has been preceded by
his occupancy of subordinate offices, in which he has proved his zeal and fidelity. He is qualified to rule and
teach, because he has learned to submit and obey.
We observe in the contemporary world a double Movement. There is a movement to the left and a movement
to the right. On the one hand there are people who would turn liberty into licence: in the sacred name of
freedom they would have us plunge into anarchy. They renounce all loyalties: they repudiate all obligations.
They blaspheme against God: they trample on the V.S.L.: they set at nought every tradition of patriotism:
they assure us that morality is nothing but convention. They talk at large about the right of "self-expression,"
meaning the right to do exactly as they please. These people illustrate the saying of the V.S.L—"Where there
is no vision, the people cast off restraint." Thus freedom becomes a cloak for folly and emancipation an
excuse for eccentricity. We see this tendency in much of our ultra-modern art and literature. Since all
standards of criticism are overthrown, there is no criterion by which to appreciate what is good or condemn
what is bad. This tendency has extended to the realm of morals: we are forcibly reminded of the evil period
is Israel's history when "every man did what was right in his own eyes." The unruly passions of men threaten
to escape from control and to produce universal conflict and chaos. Nor is this at all surprising. Once
religious sanctions are eliminated, it is hard to see how moral standards can be maintained. If there is no
meaning or purpose in the universe, if life be simply the accidental product of irrational and unmoral natural
processes, where are we to discover any ultimate ground for the principles of truth, honour, and virtue? All
experience proves, as all history bears witness, that the decay of faith is invariably followed by the
disintegration of conduct. It happened in ancient Greece and Rome: it happened at the Renaissance: it is
happening now. Yet life becomes intolerable without some kind of order: society must needs dissolve, if
there is no way of regulating the eccentricities of individuals. Thus the movement to the left, as it becomes
more and more threatening, naturally produces a counter movement to the right.
The rise of mighty dictatorships and the development of the totalitarian State may, therefore, be regarded as
intelligible and even as inevitable. The individual, realising through bitter experience the vanity and the peril
of unorganised and unregulated individualism, gladly surrenders liberty for the sake of security. Society can
exist without freedom, but it cannot exist without order. Distracted and disillusioned peoples see in tutelage
the only alternative to anarchy. The private man ceases to be an individual: he becomes a unit. He ceases to
be a personality: he becomes a pawn. He abandons all claim to the most elementary liberties, all right to
criticise and protest, all effort to form his own judgments and express his own opinions. He no longer wants
to think for himself: he is quite willing for someone else to do his thinking for him. He no longer aspires to
be original or creative: he is prepared to subjugate all life in the passive voice. He cannot regulate his own
life, for he has rejected all fixed principles: he is wholly unfit for freedom, for he has cast off all spiritual
authorities. Thus he has no choice but to submit to regulation from without. The nemesis of unregulated
individualism is the destruction of the individual. The condition of the modern man makes us think of the
Israelites in the wilderness. They were bitterly conscious of the miseries of the wilderness: they had lost all
faith in the possibility of reaching the Promised Land. It is, therefore, not surprising that they clamoured for
return to the flesh-pots of Egypt. This is exactly what many people are doing now. Once people have lost
faith they become unfit, for freedom. Freedom, divorced from faith, is a snare and a curse. If the inner
foundations of right and duty are dissolved there is no alternative but to sink into some ignoble servitude.
The man who refuses to say, "I ought," will soon find himself compelled to listen to the superman who says
"You must."
Now Freemasonry rescues us from the great dilemma of the modern world. It stands for freedom, but the
freedom it stands for is an ordered freedom. It stands for liberty, but the liberty is stands for is conditioned by
loyalty. It sets us free because it sets us under obligations. By stressing our duties it confirms our rights: by
insisting on our responsibilities it confirms our privileges. It is good that we should seek freedom, but it is
essential that we should first realise what freedom really is. Every game has its rules: without the rules there
would be no game. Our speech and our writing are regulated by rules. Every art has its canons. This is
particularly true of the art of building. If we would successfully build the house of life we must do it
according to the principles of the S., the L. and P.R. Moreover, the work is a co-operative enterprise: the task
of the Master is to harmonise the labours of the brethren and to see that the talents of each are employed for
the good of all. The mere individualist has no place in a lodge of Operative Masons. We realise our true
selves by a prudent and well-regulated course of discipline. We can only achieve self-expression through
self-regulation: the undisciplined life is like an unbanked river, for it loses itself in the sands of folly. The
universe in which we live is an ordered universe, marred by the disorderly passion of men. Only as these
passions are brought under control can human life become harmonious with the high purposes of the Divine
Creator. Only as we dedicate the talents wherewith God has blessed us to His glory and the welfare of our
fellow-creatures can we find freedom in their exercise. Only as we submit to His law can we achieve our
own liberty. Thus the Craftsman who is faithful to his obligation has an ideal which delivers him from the
anarchy of conflicting motives and changing desires: he finds in his ideal the principle which regulates his
freedom and makes it fruitful. He is liberated even from the bondage of death, for he knows that to the just
and virtuous man death has no terrors equal to the stain of falsehood and dishonour. He is neither an
anarchist nor a slave. Freemasonry has initiated him into that service which is perfect freedom.
—By Rev. Prin. E. S. Keik, M.A., B.D., P.G.W.
(South Australian Freemason).
——————————
TRADITIONS.
———<>———
An Address by W. Bro. the Rev. Herbert Dunnico, P.A.G.C.
————
The following instructive oration was given by W. Bro. the Rev. Herbert Dunnico, P.A.G.C., on the occasion
of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Archimedean Lodge, No: 3613, on 12th October, 1937.
"I have been greatly perplexed to-day as to the nature of the address I ought to give on an occasion such as
this. It would, of course, have been comparatively easy to have prepared a speech on the great services
rendered by Archimedes to the science of mathematics and hydrostatics. I glanced briefly into the story of
his life and found myself lost in a maze of hydrostatics, mechanics, spirals and sevens. I also gathered that he
was the first to discover the principle that a body immersed in fluid loses as much in weight as that of the
weight of the fluid it displaces.
That this discovery enabled him to discover that a crown supposed to be made of pure gold was mixed with
alloy, and that he demonstrated that things are not always what they seem, or in other words, that all is not
gold that glitters. This revolutionary discovery, I was interested to learn, came to him while bathing. He was
so overjoyed that he rushed from the bath without dressing, crying 'Eureka!'
"Now all this was intensely interesting, but I said to myself: 'What good can I do by pursuing that line of
thought?' In the first place, the Brethren of a Lodge named after Archimedes will have heard this time and
time again, and are far better acquainted with his life and work than I am. And in the second place, I think
that on the occasion of your twenty-fifth anniversary, it would be more fitting to talk to you on subjects more
closely related to our everyday Masonic life.
"On an occasion such as this, it is impossible to avoid being somewhat reminiscent. The Brother who
preceded me gave a splendid resume of the past twenty-five years in so far as this Lodge is concerned.
Perhaps you will permit me to take a somewhat wider survey of the world and the changes that have taken
place since 1912.
"I do not think I am exaggerating when I say that the past twenty-five years have witnessed greater changes
than any previous twenty-five years in the history of the world. Inventive skill and mechanical genius and
scientific research have transformed our modes of thought and our habits of life. The developing of aerial
flying and broadcasting, together with other inventions coupled with the Great War, have brought us face to
face with a new world. The Old World, in which most of us, if not all of us here to-night, were born, has
gone. Space has been annihilated. The world has shrunk to the size of a tiny village. I question if any
generation since that which witnessed the decline and fall of the Roman Empire has ever witnessed such a
time as this. This generation is standing at one of the great historic crossways in history.
It is at the end of one great historic epoch and on the threshold of another. Or, to change the figure, it is
standing between two worlds—one dead, the other waiting to be born.
"The question therefore arises: What kind of a New World are we going to build, and what part are we
Masons called upon to play in the building of this New World? Seers and visionaries in all lands are agreed
that if this New World is going to last, it must be a world in which men of various races and nations must
learn to live together in mutual co-operation and interdependence. In other words, it must become a friendly
world. Either the world must become a city of friends or it will become a city of destruction, and the
civilisation which has taken over two thousand years to build up will perish.
"Now, this generation is a rather materialistic one. It rather prides itself upon being practical. It has little time
for dreams and visions. It is rather inclined to treat them with good-natured contempt or derision. If they
make themselves a bit of a nuisance, they do not hesitate to raise the old cry, 'Behold this dreamer cometh,
let us slay him.' This attitude of mind has almost unconsciously captivated our outlook. Think how it has
affected our everyday proverbs. We are told not to build castles in the air, not to count our chickens before
they are hatched, that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, and so on.
"And yet we are pathetically and tragically wrong. The world owes far more to its visionaries and dreamers
than it does to its so-called practically-minded men. It is the dreamers and the visionaries in all ages that
have sailed the seas, explored continents, extended frontiers, broken down racial barriers, destroyed
superstition and flooded the world with larger opportunities and greater freedom, and made this old earth of
ours a purer, sweeter place to live in.
"All great pictures have been painted, immortal prose and verse written, philosophies established, religions
founded and great Empires set in motion by men who dreamed dreams and saw visions, and believed in
something beyond the immediate hour of their own little lives. 'Where there is no vision the people perish,'
said the ancient prophet, and without vision we cannot survive.
"If this be so, surely the great Order to which we belong has been called to the Kingdom for such a time as
this. Enshrined in the very heart of Masonry from time immemorial we find the ideals of brotherhood and
friendliness. No greater tragedy could befall our Order than that this hour should pass by and the opportunity
of enthroning friendliness in the heart of the world be lost.
"It is quite true that there is no place in Masonry for religious discussions, political feuds or racial hatreds.
We stand above all those things that divide good men one from the other. But that does not imply that we
should remain dumb and silent in the face of things that not only openly violate every principle we profess,
but threaten the world with ruin. Masonry demands that we apply our principles to every sphere of life. If it
ends in fine emotions and pious platitudes and eloquent sentiments, it has failed. Ideas are but ghosts that
mock us until organised in the service of truth. Ideals that simply fall from our lips condemn us unless they
manifest themselves in life and conduct.
"Let this twenty-fifth anniversary of your Lodge become a new call to consecration, a new appeal to Masonic
service. Safety first is no worthy slogan for our Craft. It has been said that the reasonable man is the one who
adapts himself to the world and its mode of life. He is likely to be popular and easy to get on with. The
unreasonable man is the one who seeks to adapt the world to his methods and ideals, and is likely to cause
little trouble to those who worship the God of things as they are. Yet all progress and every precious thing in
life we owe to the unreasonable man who has seen the vision of things as they ought to be and sets out to
realise that ideal.
"Before I close, one other word. To-day you are celebrating your twenty-fifth anniversary. Just as many
changes have taken place in the larger world outside, so many changes have, no doubt, taken place in this
Lodge. The passing years leave many gaps in our ranks. Death takes his toll. Time, like an ever-rolling
stream, bears all its sons away. When this Lodge attains its jubilee, many of those here to-day will have gone
hence. Few, if any, of those who founded the Lodge will be here then. A generation that knoweth not Joseph
will have taken our place. Now is the time to consolidate the traditions of this Lodge, to crystallise, as it
were, the aims and ideals of those who set forth this Lodge on its great venture, to keep fresh and perpetuate
the names of those whose service and sacrifice sustained it in its earlier years.
"But above all, let us keep alive and fresh the traditions of Masonry itself. The roots of our great order are
lost in the mists of the time. Since our great Order came into existence, empires have vanished, thrones have
tottered and crowns have crumpled, yet it lives on stronger, more numerous and more widespread than ever it
has been before. Let us be true to those traditions. We are living in an age that has little respect for the past.
It is a questioning age, ever seeking something new. No traditions, however hoary, are held in reverence by
many 'to-day. And yet it is by traditions we live and by loyalty to high traditions we are made great.
"I bid you, therefore, re-dedicate yourselves to-day to the service of this Lodge and the traditions of Masonry
— Brotherly Love, Religious truth and friendship, ever remembering that—
They should not grow old
As we who are left grow old;
Age will not weary them
Or the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning,
We will remember them."
——————————
AUCKLAND NOTES.
———<>———
The November meeting of the Manukau Chapter, No. 59, was the 20th anniversary. R.Ex. Comp. F. W.
Herbert, G.Supt., paid an official visit and was accompanied by several G. Chapter officers. Nearly every
Chapter in the Auckland district was represented, and 15 past Principals of Manukau Chapter were in
attendance. R.Ex. Comp. W. Miller, P.G.Z., and Ex. Comp. F. Bartlett, P.G.D. of C., V.Ex. Comp. A. J.
Pople, P.G.Soj., and V.Ex. Comp. H. E. Harrison, P.Z., charter members of the Chapter, were recently
elected life members. All the above Comps. were in attendance, excepting V.Ex. Comp. A. J. Pople, who
was indisposed. R.Ex. Comp. F. W. Herbert, G.Supt., on behalf of the Chapter, presented the above-named
Companions with Life Member Certificates. It was arranged that V.Ex. Comp. A. J. Pople's certificate be
presented to him at his home. In making the presentation, R.Ex. Comp. F. W. Herbert spoke of the very keen
interest the Charter members in particular had taken in the affairs of the Chapter, and it was fitting that they
(the only remaining active Charter members) should be so honoured. He congratulated the recipients of the
certificates, and also the Chapter, for the progress it had made. R.Ex.. Comp, W. Miller, in replying on behalf
of the Charter members, thanked the Chapter for the honour conferred and gave a resume of the Chapter's
activities.
——————————
HAWKES BAY NOTES.
———<>———
The outstanding meeting of the year for Hawkes Bay was undoubtedly that of Lodge Abercorn, No. 30,
which took place on Monday, 18th December. Besides being the customary Christmas meeting, which
invariably is well attended by brethren throughout the district, this December gathering was a memorable
one by reason that the first Master to be installed under the N.Z. Constitution, R.W. Bro. J. J. Pickett P.G.W.,
was invested by R.W. Bro. Thos. Hobson, P.D.G.d., as Past Deputy Grand Master, an honour richly
deserved. The investiture of V.W. Bro. E. E. Butt, P.G.Lect., as ,Grand Chaplain was also performed by
R.W. Bro. Hobson. Lodge Abercorn must feel very proud of the recognition by Grand Lodge of the services
rendered to the Craft by these two distinguished brethren. At refectory proceedings the toast to the
Prov,G,M., R.W. Bro. Hurdsfield, was ably proposed by W. Bro. Laten and suitably responded to by the
Prov.G M., who expressed his appreciation of Abercorn making possible the opportunity of carrying out the
investitures. R.W. Bro. Pickett and V.W. Bro. Bott both suitably replied to complimentary remarks regarding
their elevation in Grand Lodge rank.
The December regular meeting of Lodge Te Mata, No. 298, on 20th December, was very largely attended.
The business of the evening was a passing to the Second Degree. At refectory proceedings brethren
assembled joined in the singing of carols, and a most pleasant social hour concluded activities for 1944.
Lodge Ruataniwha, No. 172, paid an official visit to Lodge Abercorn on Monday, 15th January, when
Abercorn officers worked the ceremony of the Third Degree on a candidate of Ruataniwha Lodge,
Lodge Heretaunga, No. 73: Business for the new year opened with the regular meeting working an initiation.
During February Heretaunga will officially visit Lodge Te Mata and take with them the candidate, who will
take his Third Degree, the officers of the latter Lodge working the Degree.
The Christmas meeting of Lodge Heretaunga was brought to a very solemn and early conclusion by the
sudden passing to the G.L. above of Bro. Abbot, who suddenly collapsed when making a presentation of a
set of gavels to the Lodge. The set was forwarded by W. Bro. Abbot, of London, made from the staircase of
the London Temple, which was damaged in the great blitz. To Lodge Heretaunga and the family of the late
Bro. Abbot brethren of the whole district extend sympathy.
Bro. George Bott, of Lodge Abercorn, No. 30, is on furlough from the Pacific.
Bro. Woon, of Lodge Te Mata, is paying a visit to his home town, Havelock North, and attended last regular
meeting after an absence of about seven years.
R.W. Bro. Edgar C. Hurdsfield is spending his annual vacation at Pourere Beach; profitably, too, as many
brethren appreciate by the crayfish suppers provided at monthly meetings of some Hawkes Bay and Ruapehu
district Lodges. Lodges Lion and Rongotea were especially fortunate, and are no doubt very grateful for the
kind thoughts of our Prov.G.M.
Lodge Omarunui may be consecrated at the March meeting, and, if so, this will be an event of the year.
At the regular meeting of Lodge Lion, No. 114, in January, a rather unique and outstanding feature of the
ceremonial work was the raising of Bro. Andrew Tait, of Lodge Waitangi, No. 251, by W. Bro. Ross Tait,
W.M. of Lodge Lion, assisted by W. Bro. Frank Tait, P.M., Lodge St. Andrew, No. 32, as. S.W., and Bro.
John S. Tait, J.W. of Lodge Lion—all four brothers.
For this meeting a contingent of 25 Shetland brethren journeyed from Wellington and Eketahuna, and of
these, W. Bros. M. W. Priest, A. Izatt, E. C. Young, and Bros. P. S. Isbister, W. R. Anderson, R. W. Leask,
and L. Laurenson took part in the ceremonial work of the Degree. The attendance of brethren at this meeting
was a record one for Lodge Lion.
The refectory proceedings were enlivened by speeches and items given by visiting brethren, A particularly
pleasing, item of the refectory proceedings was the partaking of a "Scotch Bun" of gigantic proportions,
which was baked and sent up from Wellington to Ormondville by Mrs. Tait, mother of the four brothers.
Mrs. Tait is nearly 90 years of age and performed this gracious act knowing that her four boys would be
together on this occasion.
Altogether the meeting was a most exceptional one and a very happy time was spent by all those present.
The contingent from Wellington was warmly welc8raed and hospitably entertained at the home of W. Bro.
Ross Tail the following morning, before departing for home.
——————————
RUAPEHU NOTES.
———<>———
The ceremonial work at the Christmas meeting of the Manawatu Kilwinning Lodge was conducted by the
Past Masters. The W.M., W. Bro. E. J. Hicken, handed the gavel to W. Bro. G. C. Petersen, who conducted
the ceremony of "raising." After the ceremony the Lodge choir 'rendered Christmas carols and the large
number of members and visitors toasted the spirt of Christmas.
Feilding Lodge, No. 41 (W. Bro. E. B. Cook, W.M.) held the first meeting of the year on 8th January, when a
candidate was raised. The meeting was well attended, and according to their order paper the W.M. and
officers have a very busy year ahead of them.
An emergency meeting, especially in December, is a sure indication that the Lodge concerned is having a
busy time. W. Bro. W. A. Sutherland, the W.M. of Rangitikei Lodge, No. 38, held two meetings in
December, when two Entered Apprentices were passed to the Second Degree. This Lodge is to be
congratulated on its progress. Long may it continue!
Several Lodges are in recess over the festive season, hence the shortness of these notes. However, we will
soon be in our stride again, and might the writer once again remind Lodge Secretaries that Notices or items
of Masonic interest would be appreciated for inclusion in these notes? So will you please note his address—
L. Wood, 9 Kowhai Avenue, Palmerston North.
——————————
TARANAKI NOTES.
———<>———
We begin the year with a sad record of several worthy and greatly esteemed brethren who have passed away.
V.W. Bro. Charlie E. Bellringer, one of the most prominent rulers of F.M. in this district, and who not very
long ago was honoured by the mother G.L. of England, has after a brief illness joined the great majority. He
was held in affectionate esteem by all members of the Craft of each of the Constitutions.
It is with great regret that we record the death of W. Bro. W. Lambie, a P.M. of Lodge Ikaroa and a charter
member of Turu Turu R.A. Chapter. Although it is some years since W. Bro. Lambie was able to take an
active part in Masonic labour, he took a keen interest in the Craft to the last and will be always gratefully
remembered by the brethren of South Taranaki.
Another P.M. who worked for many years in Craft, R.A., and Rose Croix circles, in the person of W. Bro. T.
G. Grubb was called to higher service during the month. As an ardent Freemason he did great service until he
left New Zealand to reside in Norfolk Island. With some other brethren he endeavoured to obtain a Charter
for a Lodge in Norfolk Island, but for some reason the N.S.W. Government, who control the affairs of the
island, declined to allow a Lodge to be established. W. Bro. Grubb later returned to N.Z. and has been living
at Tauranga. A month before he passed away he revisited Taranaki and received a very cordial welcome
from brethren and friends.
Lodge Kaponga suffered a serious loss in the death of W. Bro. T. Kilpatrick. He had been a keen supporter
of the Lodge at Kaponga for many years and will be greatly missed.
As usual, Lodge Taranaki had an excellent meeting in December, when the P.Ms. raised a candidate. The
refectory proceedings were exceptionally good, and the thanks of the Lodge were to be conveyed to the
ladies who had decorated the tables.
We regret to record the illness of W. Bro. D. S. Richardson, Secretary of Lodge Taranaki, and trust he may
have a speedy and complete recovery.
Lodge Hawera held an emergency meeting on January 23rd, the business being to initiate two candidates.
At the January meeting Lodge Kaponga worked a Second Degree, the candidate being a member of a
Wellington Lodge.
Lodge Patea, No. 18, continues to make steady progress, two candidates being proposed at the December
meeting.
Lodge Te Henui raised a brother at the regular meeting in January, and a fortnight later held an emergency
meeting to pass two brethren.
The Prov.G.M., R.W. Bro. Simmons, will be busy with Installation meetings for a couple of months, and on
January 18th he was due to pay an official visit to Lodge Taranaki to invest W. Bro. Hobbs as G. Swd.B., the
latter having been unable to attend G.L. Communication.
There are not many brethren in the Dominion with a Masonic record to equal that of R.W. Bro. W. W.
Thomson, of Lodge De Burgh Adams, No. 446, I.C. He has held the highest office in the Irish D.G.L. in
New Zealand and in almost every branch of Masonry has taken a leading part. At present he holds the office
of G.Supt. of the Taranaki District, under the S.G.R.A. Chapter of N.Z.
Lodge De Burgh Adams held a special meeting recently to celebrate R.W. Bro. Thomson's jubilee as a
Mason. A presentation was made in the form of a beautiful "grandfather's clock." R.W. Bro. Hammond, the
senior member of the Lodge, made the presentation in a most eloquent and fitting address. In the refectory
R.W. Bro. Thomson's toast was proposed by the Prov.G.M., R.W. Bro. J. C. Barclay, who paid a glowing
tribute to his life and character.
——————————
SOUTHLAND NOTES.
———<>———
Masonic units of the district, which have been in recess during the past month, will resume activities for the
present year, commencing with Lodge Southern Cross, No. 9. on 1st February.
The Installation meetings of Lake Lodge of Ophir and Arrow Kil. will be held about the middle of this
month. These are the first Installation meetings to be held since the Annual Communication of Grand Lodge,
and as in previous years will no doubt attract good attendances.
These two ceremonies will be conducted by R.W. Bro. J. D. Campbell, Prov. Grand Master, and W. Bro. Jas.
Stobo, Asst.G.D.C., and visiting Grand Lodge officers.
In past years various bowling and other social activities have been held in conjunction with these meetings,
but as the result of petrol and other restrictions imposed as the result of the war, some of these will be
cancelled.
During the period of recess last month, many members of the Craft, together with their families, availed
themselves of the opportunity of holiday making at various pleasure resorts.
W. Bro. F. Bonifant, P.G.S.B., at one time a prominent member of Lodge St. John, No. 94, recently made a
short visit to Invercargill.
Southern Cross Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3, will work the Excellent Degree at its regular convocation to be
held this month.
Members of Murihiku Rose Croix Chapter, No. 36, and the Zealandia Consistory, No. 10, deeply regret the
passing of Ill. Bro. F. J. Williams, 32deg. Pending the appointment of a permanent officer as Sov. Grand
Inspector-General, Ill. Bro. A. L. Gray, 32deg., is acting as officer in charge of the district.
W. Bros. A. C. Millar and Sydney C. K. Smith have returned from Auckland after taking part in the recent
Dominion Bowling Tournament.
The death recently occurred of Bro. I. G. McLennan, at one time a member of Lodge Southern Cross, No, 9,
and headmaster of the Ryal Bush Public School.
Ex and Perf. Bro. A. W. G. McKee has been nominated as M.W. Sov. of Murihiku Rose Croix Chapter, No.
36, and will be installed into that office in March. During the past year this Chapter has experienced a most
successful period under the guidance of the present M.W.Sov., Ex. and Perf. Bro. R. H. Waddell.
Bro. Ian Campbell, son of the Prov. Grand Master, recently paid a short visit to Invercargill as one of a party
of Air Force personnel from Canada.
The death is reported of Bro. Neil Evan McDonald, son of the late W. Bro. Neil McDonald, of Lodge
Waihopai. No. 189, in an aircraft accident in England on 23rd December.
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OTAGO NOTES.
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Lodge Oamaru-Kilwinning held the last meeting of the year on 20th December, when two brethren were
passed to the Second Degree, under the guidance of R.W. Bro. Shirkey. In the refectory suitable reference
was made to the festive season, and, as with other Lodges in the district, Christmas cake was provided:
Waitaki-Kilwinning Chapter and also Lodge Oamaru have both missed a meeting owing to their dates being
so close before and after Christmas and New Year so Lodge of Waitaki, No. 11, has been the first to
commence this year with its meeting on 10th January, when, with W. Bro. H. C. Cameron in the chair, the
lecture on the First Tracing Board was given by W. Bro. R. Hill. Bro. the Ven. Archdeacon J. D. Russell paid
a visit to his old Lodge, and gave some interesting notes of his experiences since he left the district, now
being Chaplain of Lodge Aparima, No, 77, Riverton.
Owing to the proximity of the holidays, Palmerston Lodge, No. 26, held its December meeting on Saturday,
the 16th, when the work of raising two brethren was carried out by Pastmasters of the Lodge, W. Bro. Logie
occupying the chair. The visitors, who were heartily welcomed, included V.W. Bro. J. S. Duncan, Past
Asst.Prov.G.M., and representatives of 10 city and country Lodges, 68 brethren proceeding to the refectory,
where good seasonal cheer was dispensed.
January is a comparatively quiet month for meetings, a large number of Lodges being in recess for the
holidays, but nevertheless those that have met have had good attendances, there also being quite an increase
in initiates to attend to.
In so far as Prov. Grand Lodge is concerned, a start will be made with the annual installations with the usual
Otago Central tour, commencing with Mt. Ida Lodge at Naseby on 12th February, St. Bathan's at Becks on
the 13th, Dunstan, at Clyde, on the 14th, Wanaka on the 15th, Manuherekia at Alexandra on the 16th, and
Cromwell on Saturday, 17th. The first four will be conducted by the Assistant Prov.G.M. (V.W. Bro. Harold
Archbold, P.G.D.C.), and the last two by the Prov.G.M. (R.W. Bro. J. G. Dykes). The two parties will meet
at Manuherikia on the Friday evening, when it is anticipated there will be a very large attendance. The Pro
G.M. (M.W. Bro. E. C. Smith) proposes to visit the district that evening—so, Alexandria, look to your
laurels.
Lodge Clinton, 183, is having a busy and successful year. Four candidates were initiated together in October,
passed in November, and raised in December. Recently W. Bro. Patterson, with a team of Past Masters
assisting, raised two candidates to the Third Degree in a very impressive manner. The brethren were
delighted to see W. Bro. Patterson again after his long convalescence.
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CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.
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An interesting meeting was held in Canterbury Kilwinning, No. 23, on 21st December, when W. Bro. Stan.
Buchanan handed the gavel to W. Bro. J. N. Carson for the purpose of initiating his two nephews into
Freemasonry.
The unique feature of the evening was that all the Charges were delivered by uncles of the candidates—all of
them being keen Past Masters of the Lodge.
The Masters' and Past Masters' Lodge, No. 130, held its Installation meeting on 7th January, when W. Bro.
Guy Calvert, S.W., was installed as Master. The Installation ceremony was conducted by the retiring Master,
V.W. Bro. Alan Fisher, and W. Bro. C. C. Holland, Prov. G.D,C., acted as D.C. The Warrant or Charter was
presented by R W. Bro. A. J. Jones, Prov.G.M., and the officers were invested by V.W. Bro. R. B. Cape-
Williamson, P.G.Lec. Grand Lodge was represented by R.W. Bro. J. N. Du Feu, P.Dep.G M., who is a P.M.
of the Lodge. Other P.Ms. of the Lodge present with Grand Lodge were R.W. Bro. A. C. Andrews, P.G.W.,
R.W. Bro. George Yemm, P.G.W., V.W. Bro. Dr. Ross Hepburn, G.Lec.
At the regular meeting of Lodge Riccarton, No. 276, on 16th January, the Master, W. Bro. R. T. Sladen,
conducted the ceremony of initiation. This was the Master's last night and there was a very large attendance
of visiting brethren to mark the occasion.
V.W. Bro. Pryce C. Jones, who was the first Master of Lodge Tawera, No. 188 (1912), and the first I P.M. of
Lodge Riccarton, No. 276 (1924) was recently elected and invested as Grand Director of Ceremonies for the
ensuing year.
W. Bro. Walcot J. Wood, first Master of Lodge Riccarton, No. 276, is still active, and delivered a charge at a
recent meeting of the Lodge. He is also well known as the Recorder of Excelsior Rose Croix Chapter, No,
78, and the first M.W.S. of the Chapter on its re-constitution
The Lodge of Unanimity, No. 3 (Lyttelton), held an emergency meeting on 17th January, when the Third De-
gree was worked.
R.W. Bro. George Yemm, P.G.W., Prov. Grand Secretary, is the Senior Past Master of the Masters' and
Pastmasters' Lodge, No. 130, having been installed in 1919. R.W. Bro. A. C. Andrews, P.G.W., is one of the
two surviving foundation members of the Lodge still on the Roll and the only surviving Founder who is a
Past Master of the Lodge.
The regular meeting of Lodge Canterbury, No. 1048, E.C., was held on 18th January. There was a large
attendance to mark W. Bro. W. J. Cartwright's last night in the chair.
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NORTH CANTERBURY NOTES.
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Southern Cross, No. 6, has started the New Year with some work, and the new Master, W.Bro. D. H.
Tavendale, will be glad to receive visitors from town and country. There are good bus services each way and
a good welcome at Kaiapoi.
Southern Cross and Ashley Chapters received a heavy blow through the passing of W. Bro. Sam Richards to
the Grand Lodge above. Sam was a real Mason and gentleman, who lived respected and died regretted. The
North Group extend their sympathy to his relatives and to his Lodges.
The Ashley Lodge will put on a special meeting for W. Bro. Appleby's last night in the chair. He has had a
most successful year and has a record for visiting that will be hard to equal.
Mairaki Lodge had a very successful year, and W. Bro. Struthers will stage a special function at his next
meeting and invites visitors to attend in force.
Tawera had a splendid meeting in January, when V.W. Bro. Ross Hepburn, Grand Lecturer, attended the
meeting and gave a most educative and interesting address, which was greatly appreciated.
Acacia, 209, passed a brother for Cashmere Lodge recently, and the Master, W. Bro. Harry Whittington, and
his officers did the job well and truly. A special Christmas supper was greatly enjoyed by the many present.
Amuri Lodge is having a brief spell after a record rush of work, and the Master, W. Bro. H. R. Davison, Jun.,
expects to put on some exclusive functions as soon as harvest is over. The pretty trees around the Lodge
room are an attraction to the many passers by, who ease up to drink in their beauty.
The Cheviot Lodge put on a children's party recently which was largely attended and greatly enjoyed by a
large number of parents and children. The Master, W. Bro. John McPherson, spared no pains to make it a
success, and like all functions connected with Cheviot Lodge, it was cheery and full of happiness. There
were plenty of good things and presents for the children. All the brethren of Cheviot will visit Kaikoura for
the Big Night in February.
The star attraction for the Group for February is the Kaikoura Installation. Extra special arrangements are
being made to entertain the crowd expected, and there is no better place for a week-end, so roll up in force
from town and country. Write or wire W. Bro. C. A. Jensen, who will arrange accommodation. The crayfish
pots will be set in good time, and it is rumoured that several Grand Lodge officers will be going out deep sea
fishing.
Ashley, Tawera and Mairaki Lodges beg to notify their many friends that their Installations will be on in
March and April, and the dates will be supplied on application to R.W. Bro. Geo. Yemen. It is the intention
of each Lodge to make each function more attractive than usual, so please pool up on petrol and share your
coal and attend in force.
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NELSON-MARLBOROUGH NOTES.
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Your correspondent wishes to acknowledge with appreciation the many messages of goodwill and
encouragement received from brethren throughout the Territory during the Christmas period. These good
wishes are most heartily reciprocated, including the message from our worthy Editor, as printed in the
January "Craftsman."
Many of our Lodges are still in recess, but we have reports from several December meetings, also two of the
January meetings held to date.
Marlborough Lodge of Unanimity, No. 106, met on Tuesday, 12th December, when a First and Second
Notice were presented and a candidate was initiated. A special feature of the evening was the singing of
Christmas carols. R.W. Bro. Girling, D.G.M., was in attendance. The Lodge is making a special effort under
the guidance of W. Bro. A. H. Harrison to have greater use made of its excellent Masonic Library, which has
been augmented recently by additional contributions.
Lodge Havelock, No. 104, met on Saturday, 16th December, when there was no ceremonial work, but
members appreciated the opportunity of getting together for their final meeting prior to Christmas.
Wairau Lodge, No. 42, held its Christmas meeting on Tuesday, 19th December, when there was a splendid
attendance. Two candidates were initiated, and one joining and one rejoining member were received into the
Lodge. Wairau Lodge held its annual Christmas Tree Party on Saturday, 16th December, and this was
followed by the annual Christmas Tree function conducted by Marlborough Lodge of Unanimity on Monday,
18th December. Both functions were a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by the children.
Lodge Waitohi, No. 111, was the last Lodge to meet in our Territory during 1944, namely, on Thursday, 28th
December. Two candidates were initiated, the work being carried out by the Past Masters of the Lodge, W.
Bro. F. W. Booth, D.C., presiding. There was an official visit by R.W. Bro. Girling, D.G.M., and V.W. Bro.
Mogridge, Asst.-Prov G.M. W. Bro. Burrough, who was unable to attend the Annual Communication, was
invested as Senior Grand Deacon by R.W. Bro. Girling. There was a very large attendance, 12 Lodges from
various parts of New Zealand being represented.
Forest Lodge, No. 116, was the first Lodge to meet in our Territory for 1945, their meeting taking place on
Wednesday, 10th January, when Lodge Victory paid an official visit, taking with them an F.C. of the Air
Force, who was "raised" by Lodge Forest.
Golden Bay Lodge, No. 2194, E.C., held their first meeting for 1945 on Saturday, 13th January, when two
candidates were initiated.