A New Masonic History.*

having been , until very recent times , at the initiation of a member . The Lodge was chiefly , if not exclusively , Operative , and its records are mainly concerned with the entering of Apprentices , and " Beceiving Free to the Tread " all eligible members accepted by the brethren . England is

far behind Scotland as respects minutes of old Lodges ; Ireland possesses none before tho last century . England is , however , very rich in its collection of "Old Charges . " Wo have information relating to Lodge meetings as far back as 1646 , in which year Elias

Ashmole was made a Freemason , at Warrington , in Lancashire , with Colonel Henry Maiuwaring of Karnicham , in Cheshire . Brother W . H . Rylands declares that , so far as ho is able to judge , "there is not a scrap of evidence that there was on that occasion a single Operative

Mason present , " but there does not appear to be any absolutely confirmatory evidence in support of that opinion . To whom we owe our modern Freemasonry of three degrees and thoir additions , such as tho Boyal Arch , is practically unknown , but Bro . Hughan is inclined to credit Bros .

Desaguhers and Anderson with the honour of tho first trio , whilst Bro . Gould is not , and certainly evidence on this point is locking . - " It appears that the transactions at the inauguration of the premier Grand Lodge of the World , at London , in 1717 , were not , unfortunately , duly recorded

at the time ; " so writes our author . Whilst receiving his statement with every confidence in its correctness it cannot be other than a matter of considerable surprise , as well to our readers as to ourselves * that so important an occasion should have had no special record . However that

may be , the result is that the " book of constitutions " A . D . 1723 ( six years later ) , and the earliest minutes of the Grand Lodge of that year , with Anderson ' s account of the meeting in the second edition of 1738 , are practically all we have to guide us . Four Old Lodges for certain , and

probably more , took part in the formation of the Grand Lodge in 1717 . From that body a Lodge at York and another at Alnwick held aloof , nnd preferred independence ; afterwards , in 1725 , forming the Grand Lodge of All England , which existed for some twenty years , then fell

into abeyance , was revived in 1792 , and shortl y afterwards collapsed . In referring to the spread of specidalive freemasonry throughout tho " wide , wide world , " Bro . Haghan acknowledges the great value of tho " Military Lodges" of the last century .

In relation to the " higher degrees , " which may be summarised as those in which tho element of Christianity is moro pronounced , both as regards individual selection and forms of ritual , than iu the " pure Ancient Masonry consisting of threo degrees and no more , aud including the

Supreme Ordor of tlio Holy Royal Arch , " Bro . Hughan says that , " tho cosmopolitan basis of the Society inaugurated in 1317 does not appear to have wholly satisfied tho Brotherhood . Initiation and membership , without regard to creed , order , or clime was an

extraordinary departure from the previous Christiau foundation of the Society . Even at the present timo somo Grand Lod ges select all their members from professing Christians only , though no 8 uch conditiou was laid down on their origin . " Bro . Hughan ' s introduction of this now work ,

extending over twenty pages , and from which we have necessaril y largely , but—having regard to tho instructive character of his remarks—not too sufficiently quoted , is a most able review of the succeeding seven hundred and sixt y-four pages , to which we purpose to devote attention

m subsequent issues . It is brief in proportion to tho volumo itself , but sufficient to create a great interest in tho sevoral divisions of the work . No finer language could have concluded so admirable an exposition than the following : —

# ' Three questions naturally fall to be answered by inquirers anxious to know somewhat of our great beneficent society . 1 . Whence came Freemasonry ? 2 . What * s it ? 3 . What is it doing ? This splendid volume furnishes replies to the first and second of these queries , oat the third must le lived to be effective . Theories

prevail , more or less , as to the first two , but in relation to the last of tbe trio right or wrong conduct is involved ; and , according to the one or the other , tho world will judgo as to what . Freemasonry is , and care much

or little as to its origin . If tho votaries of the Craft Seek to become living , loving , and loyal embodiments of the humanl y perfect ideal set before them , and each individual member acts as if the honour of tbe Fraternity waa speciall y entrusted to his keeping , the continued

A New Masonic History.*

prosperity of our Brotherhood is assurod , aud widespread and popular as are its influence and philanthropic work of to-day , we aro as yet far from reaching the limits if the organisation , either as respects numbers or usefulness . "

Theso aro " golden words , " worthy of tie serious attention of every thinking ra ; in and earnest Freemason , and with this final "quote" wo terminate tho first portion of our general review of the Now History .

New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND .

rriHE annual Communication of tho Grand Lodge of New Zealand 1 was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Bonlcott Street , Wellington , on the 6 th July , and waa an unqualified success . The attendance was very large , there beiog fully 200 brethren present , representing Lodges in all parts of the colony . After the minutes of tho previous meeting had been read and confirmed , tho roll of Lodges was called , and the election of Most Worshipfnl Qrnnd Master for the ensuing

term was proceeded with . Bro . Gillon here assumed the ohair , and referred in suitable terms to the progress of the New Zealand Constitution nnder Most Worshipful Grand Master Bro . Thomson . On the motion of Bro . Niccol Grand Superintendent of Auckland , seoonded by Bro . Robertson Past Grand Secretary , Bro . Thomson was re-elected Moat Worshipful Grand Master of tbe Grand Lodge of

New Zealand by acclamation . Most Worshipful Bro . Thomson , after having been duly installed , feelingly responded , and thanked the brethren for the very great honour conferred on him . The following brethren were then appointed as Officers for the next twelve months , viz .: —Broa . Maoarthar , M . H . K ., Deputy Graud Master , Niccol G . S . Auckland , Williams G . S . Wellington , Barton

G . S . Otago , Hall G . S . Southland , Powley G . S . W ., Price G . J . W ., Revs . W . E . Mnlgan , Forritt , Murray , and Yen . Archdeacon Stooker Grand Chaplains , Kaye Grand Treasurer , Joyce , M . H . B ., Grand Begiatrar , Hawkins Assistant Grand Registrar , Rev . W . Ronaldaon Grand Seoretary , Fenerty P . B . of G . P ., Maonab P . B . of Ben ., Lyttelton , Murray and Robinson Grand Deacons , Sawyer and Young Junior

Grand Deacons , Titohener Grand Supfc . Workp , Logan Grand Dir . of Cera ., Patteraon Grand Deputy Dir . of Cers ., Maokenzie Grand Assist . Dir . of Cers ., Primrose sen . Grand Bible Bearer , Clark Grand Stand . Bearer , Kirby Grand Assist . Stand . Bonrer , Henderson Grand Sword Bearer , Thompson Assist . Graud Sword Bearer , Barth Grand Organist , Walker Assist . Grand Organist , Forrest Grand Pursuivant , Haonny Ileputy Grand Pursuivant , Gatland , Bruford , Svinon , Master * , Jack ,

Walkley , Gibbons , Fisher M . H . R ., Francis , May , Hardy , J . M . Mnrray , White , Cook , Brown , Havgood , Lane , Breo , Creswell , G . lleap'p , Wundram , Earnshaw M . H . U ., Tippler , Booth aud Allen G . Stewards . The Report of the Board of General Purposes , which was a very longthy ono , was thou road , and it statod that tho funds were in a vary healthy condition , several Lodges and brethren having nind * substantial donations to the Fund of Benevolence . It was announced

that the Grand Lodi ? e of New Zealand had been recognised by tho following Grand Lodges : — 'New Sonth Walon , Victoria , South Australia , Tasmania , Spain , Montaca , Kansas , Nevada , Switzerland , Nebraska , and the Grand Orients of Italy and Belgium . A latgo amount of business was then transacted , and several resolutions of importance to the New Zealand Constitution were thon proposed aud

carried unanimously . Among the latter , tha following resolution , proposed by Bro . Robertson , and seconded by Bro . Niccol was received with tremendous applause , " That the Grand Lodge of New Zealand expresses its hearty appreciation of the energy and z-ml displayed by ita Most Wor « hipfnl Grand Master Bro . Thomson , to whoso activity may be largely attributed the sucoesufnl progress of

the Now Zealand Constitution since the formation of tho Grand Lodge . Resolutions were also passed expressing regret at the illness and unavoidable absence of R . W . Bros . Pyko and Maearthur D . G . M ., and with the family of tho late Bro . Pierce , of Auckland , iu their recent bereavement . The rank of Past Grand Warden was conferred

on Bro . Cooper , of Auckland , in recognition of his many services , hearty good wishes were then tendered by the representatives of Foreign Grand Lodges , aud the Grand Lodge was closed in ample form at ten p . m . A banquet was afterwards held , at which the usnal Loyal and Masonio toaats were duly honoured . —Wellington Times .

A well-attended and good representative meeting of Masonio brethren was held on 9 th July in tho Freemasons' Hall in response to an advertisement and circular to consider whether it would bo dosirable to havo a central room or rooms in which Masters of Lodges , Officers , member ? , or visiting brethren could assemble to discuss Masonic matters , peruse Masonio newspapers , address

correspondence from , or transact any business connected with the Craft . There were thirty brethren preseut , representing not only the New Zealand Constitution bnt other Constitutions as well . Bro . Niccol Grand ; Superintendent New Zealand Constitution was called on to preside . Some discussion took place as to the name which it was proposed to adopt for the new Institution . Somo were in favour of culling it a Masonic Club , some of calling ib a Masonic Library , bnt

finally , on the motion of Bro . Page , seconded by Bro . Hughes , it wai unanimously agreed to name it the Masonic Institute . On the motion of Bro . Benge , seconded by Bro . Fawcus , it was agreed that the MOB ' ; Worshipful Grand Master Thomson be the First Principal . On the motion of Bro . Tewsley , seconded by Bro . Hughes , the following Vice-Principals , representing as nearly as possible the varions Lodges , were elected , namely : —Bros . Russell , Niccol , Craig , EIHSOD , Lyell , Towaley , Kidd , Gray , Hardy , Chapman , Powley , Cooper , Allen .