Masonry On The Rand.

MASONRY ON THE RAND .

TUESDAY , 14 th September , marked an important epoch in the history of Freemasonry in Johannesburg , to wit , the dedication of the new Masonic Temple , erected conjointly by the Golden Thistle ( S . C ) , Johannesburg ( E . C . i , and Star of the Rand ( NIC ) Lodges , which' have hitherto carried on their work in the old Masonic Temple in Eissik Street . The ceremony was

attended by one of the largest and certainly the most representative gatherings of Masonic Brethren ever witnessed in the Transvaal . Altogether fully three hundred members of the mystic Craft assembled , and these included not only large deputations . - from all the local Lodges , but representatives from almost every country in the world .

The ceremony was ably conducted by the Officers , Bro . J . Waldie Peirson delivering the Oration on the objects of Freemasonry . By direction of fche presiding officer a special vote of thanks to . the builders was recorded on the minutes .

From the Lodge room the Brethren adjourned to the banqueting hall , where an excellent cold repast was served . Bro . J . E . Harrison D . D . G . M . ( S . C . ) presided , supported on the right , by Bro . P . van Os , and on the left by Bro . H . F . E . Pistorius . There was again a very large attendance .

The toast of His Honour the President , the Queen , and the Graft , was given from the chair . Bro . J . Eotbkugel proposed . the Grand Masters . Bro . Alf . Dawe was called upon to respond on behalf of the Scotch District Grand Lodge , as , owing to indisposition , the chairman did not feel equal to . the task . He remarked that it

was just ten years since the Golden Thistle Lodge , the first atarted in Johannesburg , received its Charter , and as they were aware the Lodge was of a thoroughly cosmopolitan character . Within the last two or three years there had been a , decided leaning towards unity on the part of the different Constitutions

represented in Johannesburg , and that spirit would prevail still more when the work of the District Grand Lodges was carried on in the same form as the District Grand Lodges of England and Scotland were at present . He hoped that the time was not far distant when the Netherlands and Irish Lodges would be represented by Districts of their own .

Bro . P . van Os responded for the Grand East of the Netherlands , remarking thafc Bro . Lewis , the Deputy Grand Master in Capetown , had asked him to represent him there , and it would afford him very great pleasure to tell him what had taken place .

Bro . Pistorius , in responding for the District Grand Lodge ofthe Transvaal under the English Constitution , said the various District Grand Lodges performed their duties impartially , as in all Masonic Institutions should be done . The harmony which existed among the Lod ges of the various Constitutions had increased since tbe establishment of the District Grand Lodge .

They had represented there Lodges working under the Scotch , English , Netherlands , and Irish Constitutions ; and probably among the Brethren present there were representatives from Lodges all over the world . That showed how cosmopolitan Freemasonry was , and how broad was the platform upon which

they stood . Let them remember they were all working for the one object—Brotherly love , relief , and truth ; let them inculcate that lesson in all their work , and prove in their own daily life and actions the beneficial effects of Masonry and that they were not only prepared to show charity towards their distressed Brethren , but to any person who needed their assistance .

Bro . Pistorius , in proposing the toast of fche evening , " Success to the New Temple , " said there was not a Brother present who would not join heartily in this toast . As they were well aware , the new Temple had been erected under the auspices of the Scotch , the Netherlands aud -the English Constitutions . That in itself was sufficient indication of the broad lines upon

which they , as Masons , were established . They had met there thafc evening to consecrate the Temple to Freemasonry , and he hoped that the principles of the Order would continue to be inculcated and carried on from generation to generation in that building . The success of Freemasonry depended not upon the number of Brethren they initiated into the Craft , but upon their

seeing that they got brethren who would make respectable members , not only of the Craft , but of the community . That was the way in which they would make nofc only Masonry , bufc that Temple , prosperous , and the great object of the three united Lodges who had built that Temple was to see that end achieved . They had made a very good start . They , had that evening , he

supposed , one of the finest meetings of Masons that they had ever had in Johannesburg , and he hoped that in the future the building would see many such gatherings , and that the Brethren would all unite to make that Temple as prosperous as all Freemason institutions should be . He called upon them to drink prosperity to the new Temple . Bros . G . Eideal and P . Van Os each acknowledged the toast in a sentence .

Masonry On The Rand.

Bro . B . A . Hall also replied , and in doing so said he could assure them , on behalf of the Johannesburg Lodge , that it would be the aim of every member , from the youngest Entered Apprentice to the oldest Past Master , to render the new Temple as great a house of harmony as the old Temple . He looked upon

the Temple as a splendid monument to Freemasonry . He would nofc say ifc was the best in South Africa , but he would say ifc was one . of the best in fche world , aud he knew ifc ought fco be from the amount of labour bestowed upon it . Not only was the Temple a monument to Freemasonry , but it was also , he thought , a

monument to one of the principles ot Freemasonry—brotherly love . When they met together as Masons all thoughts of differences of nationality were thrown aside , and at heart they were brothers . In conclusion , he expressed fche hope thafc now they had got a suitable home they would have more English Masons becoming affiliated with the Craft in Johannesburg .

Bro . Vogts , who also responded , said he trusted the Brethren would do all they could to make the Lodges worthy of the beautiful Temple they met in . Bro . G . Bingham replied on behalf of the Abercorn Lodge ( I . C ) .

Bro . J . da Silva , in submitting the toast of the Consecrating Officers , paid a tribute to the efficiency with which those brethren performed their duties . Proceeding to allude to one of the principles of the Craft—relief—he remarked upon the gratifying success which attended the inauguration of the Transvaal Masonic

Educational Institution—an . Institution which , he felt sure , would in the near future become one of the greatest ornaments of the Transvaal . He mentioned tbat next year ' s festival would be held under the auspices of the Transvaal . He felt confident that their work in this direction was only beginning . They had

other goals to which they hoped to lead the Brethren in the near future . One of these was the establishment of an institution for aged and distressed Freemasons . Let them npt think that those in authority were too ambitious or trespassing-too much on their generositv . It was nofc so . A small amount from each brother

would give such a sum as would uot only enable them to carry forward the Educational Institution , but also to establish a Fund for the . relief of the distressed . He merely threw , this out as a suggestion . It had already received the approval of most of the Officers of the District Grand Lodge . Proceeding , he remarked

thafc he was sorry to say that although they had , on a rough computation , some ten to fifteen thousand Freemasons in the State , there were not more than from five to six thousand affiliated with the Lodges there . He held that it was / the duty of every one of those ten thousand unattached Brethren to become affiliated

with one or other of the Lodges in the Transvaal . In one district of the Witwatersraud alone he . knew there were several hundreds of unattached brethren , who gave as an excuse that they had no Lodge in their district . He appealed to those present to urge upon such Brethren that they owed it as a duty

not only to themselves , but to their wives and families , to become affiliated with one of the Lodges , so that , if they needed ; it , they might participate in the advantages which it was intended , to provide . He called upon them to drink long life and happiness to the Consecrating Officers . Bros . Harrison , Van Os , and Pistorius replied .

Bro . J . H . Parker , in a happy speech , gave the toast of the Building Committee , and paid a warm tribute to the twelve Brethren who composed the Committee , remarking on , the fact that they had kept within the funds placed at their disposal , so that that night the Temple was practically free of . debt . This showed marvellous strength of character . It now remained

with the Committee to beautify and adorn the Temple which they had erected . In this connection the speaker remarked that Bro . G . Eideal had volunteered to decorate one of the panels in the vestibule at his own expense . Hardly had he done so , when Bro . Eothkugel asked : " What will it cost— £ 40 pi ; £ 50 ? " On receiving a reply in the affirmative , he said : "I will also do one .

Brothers Boyes , Eothkugel , and Eideal acknowledged the toast . A number of other toasts followed . Bro . Alfred Dowling , in giving that of the Architects and

Builders , spoke in eulogistic terms of the manner in which they had carried out their respective commissions . The toast was coupled with the names of Bros . W . Eeid , Lamplough , and Kerr . The proceedings terminated shortly before midnight .

THE TEMPLE DESCEIBED . Masonry , in Johannesburg in particular , and the Transvaal in general , had made such rapid strides during the past few years that the accommodation afforded by the Jeppe and Eissik Street Temples has proved altogether inadequate , and some two years

ago ifc was decided to realise on the site of the latter and erect a new hall in Plein Street . A strong working committee was appointed ; negotiations proceeded satisfactorily ; barriers were surmounted ; eventually arrangements were completed : the