Masonic Literature.

The lamentable mistakes of a few misguided enthusiasts who would fain sacrifice the first principles of Freemasonry in the pitiful longings for aristocratic exclusiveness , havo brought upon them the well merited contempt of all those , who , whilst according due respect to the

timehonoured body of Masonic Knights Templar , know hardly whether to be vexed or amused at the assumptions of the recently invented and would-be exclusive "Chivalric" United Orders of Pinchbeck Templars and Mushroom Hospitallers , whose new-born claims to legitimate

descent from anything beyond a comparatively recent source , have been completely smothered in their infancy by their well meaning advocate , whose zeal , albeit it outran his discretion , mi ght peradventure have remained uncommented upon , had he not attacked , utterly without

provocation or excuse , a confraternity of gentlemen engaged in thc unobtrusive exercise of charity and mercy towards the suffering poor . His csstigation has followed in due course , and naked and wounded he must must regret that he has injured the cause which even more able advocacy than his own would have failed to

benefit . Still , whilst the few have suffered , the many have been the gainers ; and although the ludicrous claims made by the United Orders to a chivalric origin have collapsed , the Masonic Templars and all " true blue" Masons must rejoice that truth is great and that it has prevailed .

AH honour to The Freemasou , for its manly independence , which , disregarding favour and affection , has done good service to the Craft , and to the general public , by publishing a correspondence which has proved that fanciful Masonic—¦ or rather anti-Masonic—assumptions , can never

hope to win the day against history and common sense ; which has disposed of for ever the suddenly discovered antiquity of this , the latest fungoid growth upon Freemasonry ; and which has ably maintained , against unprovoked attack and misrepresentation the legitimate claims of

the English Langue of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem . If for no other reason , your journal deserves the cordial support of a" tbocp who wish to separate the li ght from tlie darkness , and to extend " to the Brotherhood the valuable and improving influences of a sound and wholesome literature . " I am , fraternally yours , TRUE BLUE .

Spiritualism.

SPIRITUALISM .

To lite Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir , and Brother , — I do not intend to trespass any further upon your space with any remarks of mine upon this subject , but seeing that Bro . Carpenter , at page 6 9 6 , introduces tite names of Professors

Faraday and Tyndall , both of whom were decidedly against the idea fli ^ t the spirits of departed individuals took any active part in connection with thc phenomena , perhaps you will allow me to give the opinion of the latter of these distuiginshed scientists , ae contained in the

closing paragraph of the account he gives * of an examination made b y him into the subject , Professor Tyndall says "This , then , is the result of an attempt made by a scientific man to look into these spiritual phenomena . It is not encouraging , and for this reason . The

present promoters of spiritual phenomena divide themselves into two classes , one of which needs no demonstration , while the other is beyond the reach of proof . The victims like to believe , and they do not like to be undeceived . Science is perfectly powerless in the presence of

this frame of mind . It is moreover a state perfectly compatible with extreme intellectual subtlety and a capacity for devising hypotheses which only require the hardihood engendered b y strong conviction , or by callous mendacity , to render them impregnable . The logical feebleness

of science is not sufficiently borr . e in mind . It keeps down the weed of superstition , not by logic , but by slowly rendering the mental soil unfit for its cultivation . When science appeals to uniform experience , the spiritualist will retort , ' How do you know that a uniform

Spiritualism.

experience will continue uniform ? You tell me that the sun has risen for 6000 years . That is no proof that it will rise to morrow ; within the next twelve hours it may be puffed out by the Almighty . ' Taking this ground a man may maintain the story of ' Jack and the Bean-stalk '

in the face of all the science in the world . You urge , in vain , that science has given us all the knowledge of the universe which we now possess , while spiritualism has added nothing to that knowledge . The drugged soul is beyond

the reach of reason . It is in vain that impostors are exposed , and the special demon cast out . He has but slightly to change his shape , return to his house , and find it ' empty , swept , and garnished . ' " I am , yours faternally , W . P . BUCHAN .

Consecration Of A Lodge And, A Red Cross Conclave At Reefton, New Zealand.

CONSECRATION OF A LODGE AND , A RED CROSS CONCLAVE AT REEFTON , NEW ZEALAND .

In accordance with the example followed from " " time immemorial " by the members ofthe Masonic fraternity , wherever they were congregated together in sufficient numbers to constitute themselves into a regular and recognised association , the Freemasons of the Inangahua

district have , after obtaining the necessary authority , succeeded in inaugurating a lodge which , judging from its commencement , will be a credit to the Order . The promoters , who are most of them Masons of rank and long standing , have for some months been engaged in making

the requisite preparations , and when the Reefton Public Hall Company had their fine Assembly- room fit for occupation by the brethren , an agreement was entered into by which the building will be available for Masonic purposes at suitable times during the ensuing twelve

months . The announcement was made in the usual manner that the inaugural ceremonies would take place on Monday , 7 th July , and all the brethren residing in the district , as well as the members ofthe Craft living in other places , were invited to attend . At two o ' clock in the

afternoon the brethren , to the number of between thirty and forty , assembled at the Hall , and the ceremony of the consecration was shortly afterwards commenced . The Hall was prepared in a manner appropriate to the occasion , and it formed a subject of remark by the brethren of

most experience in such matters , who were present , that the decorations and emblems exhibited were peculiarly well chosen , and artistically executed . These remarks especially refer to the mosaic pavement and the tracing boards of the several degrees , which it is understood are the work of Bro . Thornton , executed from

designs supplied b y the Committee . Bro . G . W . Harvey , Deputy District Grand Master of Westland , acting under special dispensation from the District Grand Lodge , assisted by Past Masters , M . R . Gissinge and W . G . Moss , took the principal part in the ceremonies of the consecration and the installation of officers of the new lodge .

The Deputy Grand Master performed his duties in a most impressive and ellicient manner , strictl y in accordance with ancient and prescribed usage . andhe was ably assisted by the Past Masters before mentioned . The lodge was named the Pacific Lodge of Reefton , under the English

Constitution , and by the affection and unanimous consent of the members , Bro . Charles Broad was elected the first Worshipful Master . The following officers were then chosen—Bros . W . Pitt , Senior Warden ; Don De Les Carreras , Junior Warden ; D . Isaacs , Treasurer ; L .

Duvies , Secretary ; W . Faler , Senior Deacon ; W . M'Lean , Junior Deacon ; James Stephenson , Inner Guard ; and J . Washington , Outer Guard . Bro . Washington was afterwards unanimousl y elected Tyler of the lodge . The rites in

connection with the consecration and installation finished , and the working of the lodge , as far as regards Craft Masonry being concluded , and the brethren of the Craft Lodges dismissed , an event tool : place which has but seldom occurred

Consecration Of A Lodge And, A Red Cross Conclave At Reefton, New Zealand.

in Australia , or indeed in the Southern Hemisphere . This was a gathering of a Conclave , No . 109 , regularly and authoritatively constituted , of the Masonic , and Military Knights of Red Cross of Constantine . Thomas Sanderson Bulmer , Esq ., M . D ., of Reefton . 'holds the apppintmentof

Representative and Intendant-Geneiril 6 f this degree forthe Northern Island , With power to create , instal , and form QbhclaVi s of Master Masons of good repute thrbu ' g Wr- A : > w Zealand and Australia , from the- Gra -: ' J . rorsjn of the Order , the Earl Bective , - ' ¦ '• -federick

Martin Williams , Baronet , Grav ,.. ¦" ' ¦ A ofthe Imperial Grand Council of . A : -: v : A Acting under this authority Bro . BuA run jr- ' j ' previously conferred the degree . < . ! . '' " -- 'Aof the Red Cross upon seven "Mas- h' * is , Ihe C-nclave met and elected ' -Sir . .: - - 'G . W .

Harvey , M . P . Sovereign ;? Sir Al ¦ Charles Broad , M . P . Eusebius j arid Sir Id -AV . Pitt , Recorder of the Degree in . this Di-,:. It may be here stated the Bro . Bulmer also Aids a dispensation under the same authorit * . , to constitute Knights of the Order ofthe Holy Sepulchre and St . John .

In the evening the brethren assembled at the Oddfellows' Hall to a banquet provided by Bro . J . Gawson , in a style which could hardly be surpassed in this part of the world . The Worshipful Master of the Lodge , Bro . C . Broad , occupied the chair , supported on the right by

Bro . G . W . Harvey and Bro . T . S . Bulmer , and on the left by Bros . Past Masters Moss and Gessinge . The other founders of the Lodge occupied places of honour at different parts of the table , and the vice-chair was filled by Bro . Senior Warden Pitt . Numerous toasts were given and

received with the usual honours , the proposers and those brethren who were called upon to respond , making suitable remarks . The following were given from the chair— " The Queen and the Craft , " " The Past Grand Master , the Prince of Wales , " " The Grand Masters of the

English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions , " "The District Grand Master of Westland , Bro . J . Lazar . " The D . D . G . M ., Bro . Harvey , responded on behalf of the G . M ., and paid a high compliment , as did the proposer of the toast , to the character and Masonic accomplishments of Bro .

Lazar . The Chairman proposed the health of "The Deputy District Grand Master , " who responded in appropriate terms . The Senior Warden proposed the toast of " Success to the District Grand Lodge of Westland , " and Bros . Past Masters Gissinge and Moss responded as

members of the District Lodge . The health of " The Worshipful Master " was proposed by the D . D . G . M . The W . M . replied in an eloquent speech . The toast of " The Officers and Brethren of the Pacific Lodge , Reefton , " was

given by Bro . Hayden , and responded to b y Bro . F . De Las Carreras . The health of "The Brethren who were visitors to the Lodge" was given from the chair , and replied to by Bro . Moss , who , as a Mason of great experience , in the course of his reply , gave the brethren of the

new lodge some sound advice as to the necessity of careful supervision in the selection and the further extension of the Order . The toast of "The Press" was proposed by D . D . G . M . Harvey , and responded to by Bro . Hayden . Several

other toasts were given , including "The Founders of the Lodge , " "Absent Brethren , " "The Ladies , " and the Masonic portion of the proceedings terminated , according to the usual observances , with the toast of " All poor and distressed Masons . "

It may be safely said that the whole of the proceedings in connection with the inauguration of this , the youngest offshoot of the ancient and honourable Craft passed off , from the commencement to the conclusion , satisfactorily , and in a manner creditable to all concerned .

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