New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND

I ^ ILES New Zealan d papers to hand this week contain some items of interest to the Craft . Tho Thames Advertiser of the 17 th November gives a report , extending over five columns , of the opening of a new Lodge under tho English Constitution , at the Thames Goldfiolds , of which wo give a condensed account : —

On tho lGth November , tho Corinthian Lodge was consecrated at tho Thames . The ceremony was largely attended , not only by tho Thames Masons , but by Masons from other parts of tho province . The Corinthian Lodgo is the first under tho English Constitution started at tho Thames , and the first in tho North Island province since the appointment of Bro . Sir Donald McLean as P . G . M . under

this Constitution . It was intended that tho P . G . M . himself should have inaugurated the Lodge aud installed its W . M ., but Sir Donald McLean , fiuding himself unable to attend , appointed Bro . M . S . Leers , P . M . of tho Priuco of Wales Lodge , E . C , Auckland , acting D . P . G . M . for the occasion . Tho Prov . G . M . could not havo made a better selection , Bro . Leers being an enthusiastic Mason ,

very popular amougst tho brethren and thoroughly well up in Masonic usages . Ho was accompanied from Auckland ( a distance of 10 miles ) by Bro . T . Jenkins P . M . aud Prov . G . D . C . Berks and Bucks , Bros . Rceco P . M . Ara Lodge I . C ., Dyson P . M . Ara Lodgo I . C ., G . S . Graham P . M ., Gossott , Prince of Walos Lodgo E . C , W . R . Robinson P . M . Ara I . C , Prince of Wales E . C , Dr . Dawson , Prince of Wales Lodge , Rev .

C . M . Nelson , Prince of Wales Lodgo . Visitors from Mackay town and the Ohinemuri district also attended , aud amougst these were Bros . A . J . AUom , D . H . Bayldon , J . Hayman , Ara Lodge , and W . Climo , Lodge of Light I . C . Bro . Keddell P . M . from Coromandel was also present . In fact , tho interest shown by the brethren under all three Constitutions was most gratifying . The Sir Walter Scott

Lodge S . C . and the Lodgo of Light I . C . having assembled at tho Masonic Hall , a Provincial Grand Lodgo was opened by the Dep . Prov . Graud Master , who read his warrant , under the hand of tho Prov . G . Master , empowering him to officiate on the occasion . Tho following brethren were appointed to act as Prov . Grand Officers pro tern : Bros . G . S . Graham Prov . S . G . W ., W . R .

Robinson Prov . I . G . W ., C . M . Nelson Prov . G . Chaplain , W . Davics Prov . S . G . D ., J . Recce Prov . J . G . D ., Jenkins Prov . Director of Ceremonies , A . Brodio Prov . Grand Pursuivant . Tho Prov . G . Lodgo having been duly saluted by the brethren present , the ceremony of Consecration of tho now Lodgo began , anil the choir sang an anthem , Bro . Bell presiding at the harmonium . Tho Prov . G . Chaplain read

the first seven verses of the Uuth Psalm , and pronounced an invocation to tho Great Architect of the Universo to bless the object of the present assembly . The Grand Officers and l ' ast Masters then marched round the hall ( the choir iu the meantime singing tho usual music ) , and poured out tho customary oblations of corn , wine , and oil , and the Chaplain having invoked tho Divine blessing on the

officers anil members of tho new Lodge , and on the brethren scattered throughout the world , and the usual responses aud honours being given , the Prov . Grand Director of Ceremonies , proclaimed tho Corinthian Lodge , duly constituted according to ancient usage . The Prov . Grand Chaplain then read a selection from the Sth chapter of tho First Hook of Kings ; after which the llev . James Hill

delivered an oration . Bro . E . T . Wiidnian , tho \ v . M . designate , was then duly installed into the chair of K . S ., tho acting Deputy Prov . G . M . acting as installing Master , and ho afterwards appointed and invested his officers as follows : —Bros . L . Ehreufriod S . W ., II . Goldsmith J . W ., the Rev . V . Lush Chaplain . F . R . G . Woodward Secretary , J . Osborn Treasurer , T . Bell Organist , G . Best S . D ., D . Boono

J . D ., Hopkins I . G ., 0 . Garrett Tyler . The brethren afterwards marched in procession to tho Anglican Church of St . George , whero the order for evening prayer was conducted , and the Prov . Grand Chaplain preached from Hebrew s viii . 1 , " Let brotherly lovo continue . " A Grand banquet wouud up the day ' s proceedings , this was held in the Academy of Music , where the usual loyal ,

patriotic , and Masonic toasts wero duly given and honoured , and where the brethren spent a most pleasant evening , every satisfaction being expressed at the very able manner in which Bro . M . S . Leers had discharged the onerous duties of his office . The gallery of the banqueting room was occupied by a number of the fair sex , invited by the brethren , who appeared much interested in the proceedings .

" From all parts of the Waikato , says the Waikato Times , " thero was a large muster of the brethren of tho mystic tie assembled at Hamilton East , on the 9 th November , to lay the fonndation-stono of a Masonic Haii for Waikato . At the conclusion of tho ceremony the brethren sat down to a sumptuous dinner , after which tho usual loyal and patriotic toasts wero given and responded to . "

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

FESTIVAL OE ST . JOHN'S DAY . OT , JOHN'S DAY is kept by most of tho Scotch Lodge 3 as a high O festival . They gonoially speak of " St . John ' s Masonry , " when their English brethren would describe it as Craft Masonry . From the numerous reports that have reached us wo select brief notices of some of the more important meetings . In Glasgow perhaps the most influential was that of

St . John ' s Lodge , ITo . 3 bis . —The meeting was held in the Lodgo's own hall , under the presidency of tho refiling Master , Bro . D . M . Nelson , who said ho considered it a higher honour to hare been Master of this , the oldest Lodge which had preserved its ancient records , than even that of holding tho position of G . S . D ,, to \ IJ , J

Scotland.

he had been recently elected by the suffrages of tho brethren ia tho West of Scotland . Commercial Lodgo , 380 , under the presidency of Bro . J . Munro R . W . M ., J . M . Oliver D . M ., and other officers , also held a highly successful meeting , as did St . MungO , No . 27 and St .

, Vincent , No . 553 . Space forbids our noticing other of tho Glasgow Lodges . Auchterarder . —Bro . B . Malcolm waa installed as R . W . M . and

A . G . Reid as Secretary , after which a torchlight procession waa formed through the " Lang Toun , " and although the deep snow somewhat impeded the march of tho brethren , yet it added to the effect of the torches .

Beith , No . 157 . —After electing and installing Bro 4 William Gray as R . W . M . for the ensuing year , the members dined together at tho Town Hall . Creif . —Captain Moray , of Blair Drummond , was installed as R . W . M ., the brethren afterwards holding high festival .

Dundee , with its seven Lodges , showed its appreciation of the day , by four of them supping at their respective Halls . Grangemouth , No . 391 . —Elected and installed Bros . Selkirk and Watts as R . W . M . and Secretary , and concluded their proceedings with a supper .

Hamilton and Hawick both had suppers , with P . G . Officers present . Millport , though only an island , was as demonstrative as tho main land . The R . W . M . elect , Bro . Wishart , was unable to bo

present , having met with an accident of a serious nature during a recent storm , but his place was ably supplied by tho Rev . II . H . Richmond D . M ., who has recently been appointed as Chaplain to tho " P . G . L . of Argylo and the Isles . "

Rothesay St . John ' s , No . 292 . —At tho adjacent island of Bute , tho members , under the presidency of Bro . A . Duncan , to the number of about fifty , supped together at Bro . Keeblo ' s , the Victoria Hotel . Both Lod ge and Chapter in Rothesay are in a flou . rishing position .

Stirling No . 30—Installed Bros . R . Brown and Hawkshire ns R . W . M . and Sec , and then dined together in tho Corn Exchange . Amougst the Visitors was tho Provost of tho borough and the Provincial Grand Master , General Sir James E . Alexander , of Westcrtou . No . 7 G also celebrated the day by supping together at their own hall .

Thornhill No . 252 . —Held its election during the day , and installed Bro . J . Sutton as Master . In the evening they had a supper , when the Master dwelt on the fact that they had a benefit sociefy in connection with tho Lodge , which had a rcservo fund of upwards of £ 100 , recommending other Lodges to follow their prndont example .

Tho Blair Dairy Lodgo , No . 290 , tho Molroso St . John , and several other Scottish Lodges , have also benefit societies in connection with them , the officers being elected by tho Lodges , and the membership confined to the brethren of tho Lod ge . Some think this but a sorry kind of

substitution for the English style of the Lodgo of Benevolence , and tho Institution so ably conducted by Bro . Terry , though most Lodges have a private bonevolont fund as well , which grant ' reliof in small sums to worthy brethren .

Thistle and Hose Lodge , No . 73 , Glasgow . —Held its first meeting of the year on Tuesday , the 2 nd inst ., when tho new R . W . M . opened it , with Bros . G . M . Donald I . P . M ., A . McLeod S . W ., John Kay as J . W ., in place of his brother William , R . M . Richard

Secretary , J . S . Ampleford Treasurer , and tho rest of the Officers were in their places . Bros . James Crossley and Duncan Mclntyre were raised to tho 3 rd degree b y Bro . G . W . Wheeler , after which the brethren celebrated the new year by an hour ' s harmony .

St . Mungo Encampment K . T . —Held an emergency meet ing on the 3 rd inst ., at 3 p . m . Sir Knight W . F . Shaw M . E . C presiding , there were present Sir Knight T . Clavahan P . E . O ., J

0 . Park D . C ., G . W . Wheeler Prelate , J . Ferguson T ., J . Tweed S . C , McClanachio J . C ., D . Baker 1 st A . do C , H . J . Shields 33 ° P . E . C ., Mnnnohntain Commander , J . Kay , J . B . Hardie , Reddie Carrie , and also , as visitors , Sir Knights D . Russel and D . Ramsey .

LODGE " CANONGATE AND LEITH , L . & C . " No . 5 . ODE FOR ST . JOHN'S NIGHT , 27 th DECEMBER 1876 .

Tune— "Lead kindly Light . "— Hymns Ancient and Modern HAIL ! holy Light , with five mysterious rays , Nor fierce nor wan ;

Mouarchs have fed and prophets watched th y blazo In ages gone : Hail ! holy Light , thou star of brotherhood , 0 ! bless us still , and guide us to tho Good .

Hail ! Master * bright , twice raised to yonder throne The Light shines on , Thou soul of trnth , that Love declares His own When time is gone , All joy be thine ; oh ! reign supremely blest Till angel signs shall ope the Lodge of rest .

Hail ! Wardens true , and all tho mystic tie Has bound in ono ; Behold the glorions Light that streams on hi"h , Each faithful son : In compass and on square to order stand , Till Death shall knock by the Supremo ' s command . PETER GARDNER , Poet Laureate