Our Weekly Budget.

two Grand Masters to the State Grand Lodge , viz .: Bro . Abel C . Pepper , who served the office in 1829 , and Bro . A . C . Downey , who was elected in 1851 , 1852 , 1855 , 1856 ,

1859 and 1860 . The latter , who is one of the Supreme Judges of the State , is still alive . Of the original Charter Members , Bro . Daniel Tapley , S . W . in 1819 and W . M . in 1820 , 1823 , 1824 , and again in 1844 , survives , at the ripe old age of eighty-five . He took a prominent part in the

reorganization in 1842 . On quitting the chair of K . S ., in May 1844 , Bro . Tapley was elected treasurer , and with the exception of four years has been annually re-elected till the present time . Bro . Tapley was born at Danvers , Essex

County , Mass ., on 14 th July 1791 , and migrated to Indiana in 1816 . He has been a member of our Society for nearly fifty years , and is highly loved and respected by the Craftsmen .

According to the Neiv York Courier Arkansas has 70 Chapters , and 1256 Royal Arch Masons . The same journal likewise announces that a new Masonic Hall is about to be

built at Springfield , Illinois , and that Bro . James Lick , the Californian millionaire , is about to erectat a cost of 20 , 000 dols ., a Masonic monument , in Lebanon County , Pennsylvania , to the memory of certain of his Masonic ancestors .

A Correspondent of the Ballarat Star writes as follows : — " The Buninyong Masonio Lodge was the scene of a most disgraceful tumult , on Wednesday evening last . It appears that some months Bince a person was proposed for initiation , who received , on the occasion , a plentiful amount of black balls . Dr . Hallett , who is a

member of the Lodge , also an old Mason , was not then present , and consequently could not have voted . He was , on the above-named evening , the subject of a gross assault . Previous to the opening of the Lodge , and after waiting an hour beyond the usual time ( seven o'clock ) , the cause of delay being then unaccountable , he was called

out of Lodge by the late Master on a very idle pretext , and was no sooner out than the Lodge was at once opened in form ; and on returning , after an absence of a very few minutes , the Doctor was informed that the Master had ordered that he should be refused entrance , although he had already signed the book kept for

registeriug the names of all present at Lodge . Ho protested against such unprecedented and tyrannical treatment , and while doing so was seized by a member of the Lodge ( much taller and stronger than himself ) , and dragged forcibly from the door of the Lodge , to the serious damage of his right hand . The cause of this outrage was

the fear of his black balling the very man whom so many others had previously so treated . The Master of the Lodge is the most intimate friend of the candidate alluded to , and attributing to the Doctor the intention of opposing hia admission for initiation , grossly committed himself as described . "

r _ We can only say that such behaviour as is described in the foregoing extract is not only un-Masonic , but ruffianly in its character . We consider it is the duty of the aggrieved member to bring the matter at once under the notice of the District Grand Master .

Assuming the description to be correct , we consider the member who is described as " much taller and stronger " than Bro . Dr . Hallett , and who " forcibly dragged" the latter from tho door of the Lodge , should be expelled with ignominy . —ED . FKEEJIA son's CHRONICLE . ]

We are pleased to note a review of the reprint of our " Masonic Portraits" in the last issue of our notorious contemporary , the Saturday Bevieiu . Its scorn is almost

too lofty for words ; but as we have long regarded praise from that quarter as fatal to the ultimate success of its unhappy proteges , we rejoice that the struggling throes of criticism have , in this case , found expression .

At a meeting of the Falcon Lodge , No . 1416 , on the 14 th inBt ., after the ordinary business had been transacted , some observations were made as to the importance of architectural study , and the special advantages possessed by the brethren of the Falcon Lodge , resident as they were in the midst of a district remarkable for the abundance and

richness of its antiquarian objects . It was also suggested , as being worthy of consideration , whether the formation of an Archaeological section in connection with the Lodge would not conduce to the edification of its members , and likewise serve a useful purpose in putting on permanent record

many interesting facts . In the immediate neighbourhood of Thirsk there are not less than one hundred churches , abbeys , castles , and historic sites worthy of examination , each possessing special features of interest . These might

m turn be visited and described , with the additional advantage of having their more remarkable details sketched and indicated by professional gentlemen who are and may be members of the Lodge . We commend this project , and tender its promoters our hearty good wishes .

An Independent Lodge For South Africa.

AN INDEPENDENT LODGE FOR SOUTH AFRICA .

T ? ROM a recent number of the Graaff Eeinet Herald we JC copy the following interesting article : — Capetown is one of the most charming places in the Colony , and its inhabitants are second to none in their genial and cordial hospitality . Attempt , however , to encroach upon what it calls its " vested interests , " to deprive it of the most infinitesimal portion of power or influence , either political , social , or Masonic , and you produce an

effect somewhat similar to that produced on a bull by the sight of a bit of scarlet cloth . Lord Carnarvon has been rousing the ire of the Masonio world in the metropolis by his decision to divide the colony into separate Masonic districts , and our articles on the subject have evidently acted as the " bit of scarlet oloth , " and aroused the venerable P . M . 's from that dormant state in which they have so long

luxuriated . The idea of any portion of that power , which they have failed to employ or appreciate , slipping from their grasp , has excited their frenzy , and remembering the old adage " divide and conquer , " they have once more thrown the old apple of discord amongst us , and raised a public cry for " an independent Lodge for South Africa . "

When , last year , a proposal was made to sever our connection with the Grand Lodge of England , and form an independent Lodge in the Colony , we , in this column , for many and good reasons , strongly opposed the movement . We shewed , conclusively , that the arguments used in snpport of it were nnsonnd , beoause they were not founded on facts . Wo denied the statements on whioh they were

based , and challenged proof of any of them . Instead of proof , we were assailed with personalities , we were told that we were " prejudiced , " actuated by " flunkeyism , " too much , given to " sermonise , " & c , & o . A very bitter feeling pervaded tb . 8 effusions of our opponents , and so we retired from the discussion , not however , before knowing that what we had written had produced tho

desired effect , and that the great majority of our Lodges had decided against the proposed movement . A year has passed quietly away , and the " small minority" are again at work , as will be seen by an extract taken over from an article " communicated " to the Cape Argus , and taking advantage of the feeling excited in Capetown by the resolve of Grand Lodge to do

justice to this part of the Colony , and create a District Grand Lodge in the East , are making another effort to promote their pet scheme , and induce us to throw away a substantial benefit for a very shadowy probability . We will not now discuss anew the question . It would be useless . The Lodges in the East have , we believe , unanimously declared in favour of tho new arrangement , and thankfully

acknowledged , by resolution and address , the action of Grand Lodge . If any argument were needed to justify Lord Carnarvon ' s pro . ceeding , it is furnished by the writer to the Argus himself . He says that " it would be unfair to suppose that the present D . G . Lodge of Capetown would submit to sink into a P . G . Lodge of the Western Province with only four Lodges under its jurisdiction !! " Only

" four Lodges in the Western Province , " the abode of the venerable founders of Masonry in the Colony , the source " from whence Freemasons have spread themselves through the length and breadth of the land ! " Truly , a change was much required . The following is the extract referred to above : — " The original foundation of Freemasons in this colony is , without

doubt , soley due to the Lodges in Capetown . That noble and venerable institution "De Goede Hoop Lodge , " with its splendid buildings and grounds , is a standing monument of the Craft in South Africa , and by this Lodge and the ' British' Freemasons have been initiated , who have spread themselves through the length and breadth of the land . With very natural feelings , the founders of the

Order in this part of the world regard any mfnngment of their dignity or position with jealousy and suspicion . It would be manifestly unfair to suppose for a moment that the present District Grand Lodge in Capetown , which has so justly ruled English Free , masons in South Africa for so long past , would be satisfied with the proposed scheme of Lord Carnarvon , and submit to sink into a Pro .

vincial Grand Lodge of the Western Province , with only four Lodges under its jurisdiction , after having held its rank as a District Grand Lodge for so many years , nor would the members of that District Grand Lodge allow even a suggestion that Bro . Southey , ranking aa he does , as ' District Grand Master of South Africa and Colonies adjacent thereto , ' should hereafter hold the subordinate rank of

Provincial Grand Master for the Western Province only , and have no higher position than the creations of to-day in the shape of the Pro . vincial Grand Masters of the Eastern Province and Griqualand West . " The time , therefore , seems to have arrived for what has long been talked about , namely , the establishment of a United Grand Lodge of South Africa , by which all local differences would be settled , and the

tenets and principles of the Craft carried out in their pristine inte . grity . It has been demonstrated that the Freemasons here are both able and willing to govern themselves without any reference to England , Holland , Scotland , or elsewhere . Numbering , as they do , many thousands of members , they are called upon to subscribe an . nually a large sum of money in the shape of fees or dues , which are

remitted to other countries , and out of which the Order here receives little or no commensurate advantage . Secure to them , say the advocates of a Grand Lodge , the advantages of united self government and the retention of their funds here , with liberty to spend them as they please , and they will prove to the world that great assistance can be rendered by them in

advancing the cause of educating , relieving distress , and conferring many other benefits which at present they are precluded from doing . Some short time since , a detailed scheme was submitted to the various Lodges , embodying the foregoing principles , but prejudice prevailed , and the project met with but poor encouragement . Recent events , however , bare altered the complexion of affairs , and