Independence For Western Australia.

INDEPENDENCE FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA .

THE half-yearly Communication or the District Grand Lodge of Western Australia ( E . G . ) , took place in the Masonic Temple , Freemasons' Hall , Perth , on the nth ult . His Excellency Sir Gerard Smith P . G . W . Eng . District

Grand Master presided , and nearly 200 Brethren were present , including the District Officers , and representatives of nearly all the thirty-four Lodges under the jurisdiction ofthe District Grand Lodge .

The usual business in connection with the District having been concluded , the special business before the meeting was taken into consideration . This was the recommendation

from the Board of General Purposes that the Lodges comprising the District Grand Lodge of Western Australia under the English Constitution declare themselves a Sovereign Grand Lodge . In the history of Freemasonry in the colony no other question has arisen arousing the interest of the Craft

to such an extent . In December the District Grand Master , responding to a common desire for the formation of a Sovereign Grand Lodge , addressed a circular to the Lodges , enclosing copies of the new rules in the English Book of Constitutions , with a direction as to the manner in which the question was to be submitted to the members of the Craft .

The circular also stated that from the Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England a communication had been received to the effect that if the steps taken by the Brethren in the colony to give effect to their wishes were of a constitutional character , neither the Grand Master nor tbe

Grand Lodge would raise any objection to the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Western Australia , provided that the rights of those . Lodges which might desire to remain under the English Constitution were reserved and respected . Subsequently to the receipt of the correspondence from the

D . G . M ., the question was discussed by the thirty-four Lodges , and their , decision taken , the result being that thirty-three Lodges . declared themselves in favour of the formation of a Sovereign Grand Lodge for the colony , and one Lodge against the proposal . The Board of General Purposes , in

making their recommendations to the District Grand Lodge , pointed out that the circumstances under which it was proposed to form a Sovereign Grand Lodge were unique in the history of Masonry , inasmuch as the Grand Lodge to which they at present owed allegiance had granted them the privilege

of discussing the question , and establishing themselves as an independent body without committing any act of discourtesy , dislo }* alty , or rebellion . After fully considering the recommendation of the Board , the District Grand Lodge affirmed

the principle of the formation of a Sovereign Grand Lodge , and the Lodges in favour of the proposal , b } ' virtue of resolutions already carried , declared themselves as a Sovereign Grand Lodge for Western Australia .

A Committee , consisting of the District Grand Master and the principal Officers of the District Grand Lodge , together with a representative for each consenting Lodge , was appointed to draft a Constitution and make all necessary arrangements for inaugurating the new Grand Lodge .

Bro . His Excellency Sir Gerard Smith District G . M . was elected Grand Master . Bro . J . W . Hackett D . D . G . M . was appointed Pro Grand Master , and Bro . J . Arthur Wright P . D . G . M was appointed Deputy Grand Master . The

present D . G . L . Officers , it was resolved , should hold office until the installation of the Grand Master and investiture of the new Officers , which it is hoped will take place in the early part of next year .

A petition was adopted for presentation to the Most Wor . Bro . His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England , praying for the recognition of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Western Australia . The petition will be forwarded through Sir Gerard Smith . —" West Australian . "

Church Services.

CHURCH SERVICES .

AT St . Paul ' s Church , Devonport , on Sunday afternoon , OL 5 th inst ., the eighth annual service for Freemasons of the Three Towns and neighbourhood took place . There was a large congregation , the Lodges of the district being well represented . The service was conducted by the VicarBro .

, the Rev . A . J . Hamlyn , assisted by Rev . L . G . Cawkes . Bro . the Rev . Frederick King ( Vicar of Southmolton ) preached the semon , and pointed out that the lack of subscriptions to the hospitals of the district was no doubt due

Church Services.

to ignorance of the grand work being accomplished by those institutions . During the service Bro . J . W . Wingate played Vieuxtemps ' s " Reverie " on the violin in a masterly fashion , accompanied by Bro . G . Hele jun ., who presided at the

organ . Bro . Philip Wright sang " The Shepherd of the fold" with much ability . There was no procession or demonstration this year . The collection was devoted to the funds of the Royal Albert Hospital .

ON the occasion of the recent presentation from the Brethren of Warwickshire to Lord Leigh Prov . G . M ., as already reported in our pages there was a special service at St . Mary's Church , Warwick , the sermon being preached by Bro . Rev . H . L . Pearson Prov . G . Chaplain . The preacher devoted his sermon to an explanation of some of the objects

of Masonry . He took his text from the following words in the first Epistle of Timothy : — "Study to show thyself approved unto God , a workman that needeth not to be ashamed . " Firstly , said the preacher , there was the devout recognition of worship from The Great Architect of the

Universe . Secondly , there was a setting forth , as far as might be , of the righteousness of Freemasonry , the purity of its aims , the beauty of the ideal life it set before the Brethren . Thirdly , there was the fullest realisation of the force and

solemnity of their vows , which were covered by such terms as faith , hope , charity . Many of the misapprehensions and misconceptions which had arisen in regard to the Order could hardly be explained away by a Master Mason to the uninitiated .

While the well known saying was true that no man could be a good Mason and a bad man , it was most true that with all the care exercised in reference to new members , unworthy . men did gain possession of their secrets . These and others who had fallen from the dignity of the virtue they possessed

when they were admitted into Masonry , had caused outsiders to form a wrong estimate ; but as right minded men did not reject Christianity on account of a Judas , neither did they reject Freemasonry because some had proved false to their solemn obligations and vows . There was nothing in its tenets

which the inspired Moses or the divine Christ would not allow . Those who presided at its initiation must be deceived by others or betray their obligations if any member was admitted who was a bad husband , an unworthy father , a discreditable son , a dishonourable neighbour , or an unpatriotic citizen .

Another point in all her innumerable lines , squares , and circles was the love of God . Upon this point she pinned her faith , from this point she derived her hope of glory . He did not claim for Masonry , indeed , that it was the religion of Christianity under another name . Rather it was a high social

institution which appealed for moral and social virtue , and lifted its true disciples along thepa . th of virtue and science till they trampled under their feet the king of terrors and lifted their eye to the bright morning star which brought peace and salvation to the human race . It went further than a mere

system of morality . It presented to the earnest searcher a bright gleam of hope , which arose amid the gloom of death . The lofty purity it held up forced the Mason to feel that if he was to acquire this excellence he must seek the aid of one stronger than himself , and the example was ever set before

him in the prayer for wisdom and guidance and power offered up at every stage of- their proceedings . At every stage the Mason was taught to look to God . His helplessness and his poverty in his entrance into the Brotherhood were the symbol

of his own weakness . Surely the man who was thus taught to acknowledge the Almighty as the source of power would not be likely to undervalue the revelation He had given of Himself or to despise the counsels given to His creatures .

The earnest Mason was taught to live as one who must give an account of his conduct , and his life must be loved not only for his own advancement but also for the enrichment of others ; he was taught in his prayers to daily remember

the wants of others , in his work find time to help the weak , and in his joys to comfort the bereaved and sorrowful , to exercise self-denial and live a righteous and sober life . Could any ideal be higher than that , or any teaching nobler ?

Were the high principles for which their Order was established , continued the preacher , out of place at the end of the nineteenth century ? Was their Craft to be cast aside into the limbo of things forgotten ? Surely while they saw

so much to be done for freedom in this world , man denying man that liberty which he enjoyed himself , amidst this war which placed in their midst weeping widows and children , surely their Craft showed itself to be no mere antiquated pageantry or parading of curious and effete customs , no mere