A Step Towards Unity.

A STEP TOWARDS UNITY .

IT is with the greatest gratification we announce that the Grand Master Has decided to call a special meeting of Grand Lodge , for the purpose of taking the sense of the Brethren as to whether the time has not arrived for according

recognition , by the Grand Lodge of England , to the body calling itself the Grand Lodge of New Zealand ; and from the way in which the Prince of Wales himself puts the matter

before the English Craft we believe there is but one result possible—complete unanimity , and a general desire to extend the hand of Freemasonry in Brotherly fashion to the Masons of our far-off colony .

As is well known to our readers we have expressed ourselves pretty strongly on more than one occasion as to the unseemly condition of affairs existing between the Masons of this country and the Brethren of New Zealand , and although

we have been assailed for the course we have adopted , and told we were acting the part of the bird that befouled its own nest , with a lot of other equally " Masonic " argument , we take some little credit to ourselves for having hurried on what

we trust will prove an amicable settlement of a question that has for some time past proved the cause of an unhappy split in the Masonic family , and a glaring blot on the banner of unanimity that should lead us .

No doubt both sides have been in the wrong , but fco argue that English-speaking Freemasons—with their boasted principle of Brotherly Love , their preaching of doing to others as they would wish done to themselves , and the frequency with which

they are held up as examples for the rest of the world—have any excuse for continuing a grievance such as has separated the Masons of England and New Zealand is , to our thinking , not only absurd , but a scandal to Freemasonry .

New Zealand , however , is nofc the only part of England ' s colonial empire with which the Grand Lodge of England is at variance , and we can but regret the gracious message of our Grand Master does not include a proposal bo re-consider the

case of Quebec , which , in a manner of speaking , is but another instance of authorafcive old age overpowering the natural aspirations of youth . The exercise of a Masonic spirit on the part of those who know they possess the might in the one

case may prove to the other that their rights may some day come under the kind and brotherly cognisance ol the Grand Master , instead of continuing , as has long been the case ,

to be confined by the bonds of what are termed legal rights—a term that should be unknown in Freemasonry , where it is professed all are equal , and all enjoy like privileges .

It is somewhat strange we should have selected for reproduction the two items that appear on page 31 of our present issue , the one relating to New Zealand and the other fco Quebec , before we knew of the Special Grand Lodge of the 29 th insfc .,

but such was the case , and we think a perusal of those two items will afford the very best evidence it is possible to produce in favour of an early step being taken towards true Masonic "Unity . "

The Benevolent Institution And Lodge Votes.

THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION AND LODGE VOTES .

AS will be seen from an advertisement in another part of this issue , a Special General Meeting of the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution has been called for the purpose of considering the advisability of altering Law 18 , which refers to fche votes given by the Institution in recognition of the

grants annually made from Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , There is much to be said in regard to this matter , and we regret our space is so fully occupied this week that we must leave it for the present , but as the special meeting does not take place until the 28 th instant , we shall have fche opportunity of reverting to ifc next week . In the meantime

we give the Law as ifc now stands , and in its proposed amended form :

EXISTING BULB . In consideration of the grants from Grand Lodge , the Master of every Lodge shall . at every election for Male Annuitants be entitled to two votes , and at every election for

Female Annuitants to one vote , provided always the Lodge shall have paid the last year ' s contribution to the Grand Lodge ; and in consideration of the grants from the Supreme Grand Chapter , the First Principal

of every Boyal Arch Chapter shall , at every election for Male Annuitants , be entitled to two votes , and at every election for Female Annuitants to one vote , provided the Chapter shall have made its returns and

payments ( if any be due ) to the Grand Chapter for the preceding year .

The Benevolent Institution And Lodge Votes.

PROPOSED BUMS . In consideration of the grants from Grand Lodge , the M . W . G . M . or his Nominee , and every Provincial G . M . or his Nominee , shall at every election for Male Annuitants be

entitled to two votes , and at every election for Female Annuitants to one vote for every Lodge in London or Province . And in consideration of the grants from the Supreme Grand Chapter , the Grand Z . or hia

Nominee , and every Superintendent or his Nominee , shall at every election for Male Annuitants be entitled to two votes , and at every election for Female Annuitants to one vote for every Chapter in London

or Province ; the number of Lodges and Chapters for which they claim votes shall be determined by the number of Lodges and Chapters recorded in the " Freemasons' Calendar and Pocket Book " for the current year .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

A SPECIAL . Grand Lodge will be holden at Freemasons ' Hall , on Wednesday , 29 bh inst ., at five o ' clock in fche afternoon precisely , to consider fche following message from fche MOST ; Worshipful Grand Master , and fco take the sense of Grand Lodge thereon : " His Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master having considered the application for recognition by the Grand Lodge of England of the New Body called the Grand Lodge of New Zealand ,

as an independent sovereign Masonic authority , and having informed himself of the general state of Masonic feeling in the Colony , is of opinion that with a view to promote the harmony and union of the various Masonic bodies there , and to end all sources of difference , the period has now arrived when recognition may be properly accorded , and therefore desires that the sense of Grand Lodge should be taken on the following resolution :

" That , taking into consideration the message from the M . W . Grand Master , Grand Lodge requests that His Royal Highness will be pleased to take such steps for the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and for the establishment of fraternal good feeling with our New Zealand Brethren as he may consider consistent with the honour of this Grand Lodge , and with just consideration for those Lodges which may desire to retain their connection with the Grand Lodge of England . "

In commemoration of the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association having reached the twenty-fifth year of its work , a festival took place on Wednesday , in the gardens of Trentham Hall , and we are pleased to record that great success attended the meeting , the total contribution amounting to one thousand guineas . We shall give further details next week .