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As we may be asked by what authority we make the foregoing statements , and declare that no annual dues are payable for honorary members , we reply that sufficient justification for our remarks will be found in the report of Grand Lodge Proceedings for December 7 th , 1864 , when the following decision of the Board of General Purposes was confirmed or sustained by the members of the Grand Lodge , viz . : " When the Book of Constitutions

speaks of members , it means only these brethren who are regularly contributing members to the funds of the lodge to which they may belong . Such brethren only ought to be returned to Grand Lodge as members of private lodges . The status of an honorary member must be strictly confined to the lodge which so elects him , and can in no way give him any position in the Craft outside the door of his lodge . He cannot therefore

hold any office in the lodge , or vote upon any subject which might even remotely affect the Craft at large . In short , the status and privileges of an honorary member entitle him to attend the meetings of the lodge and partake of its refreshments without the necessity of being introduced by a subscribing member , provided akoays that he be a subscribing member to some other lodge . Honorary members have no other right or privilege whatever . "

* * * THIS decision has been abundantly recognised since the period of its promulgation , by an alteration in the by-laws of one lodge we know of , which provides that members may become honorary members of the lodge for life

by making certain payments , " but their names cannot be returned to Grand Lodge or Provincial Grand Lodge , nor will they be qualified ' to vote on any question before the lodge , except on payment of an additional subscription of five shillings annually , in advance . " Lodges would do well to adopt the regulation named , subject to local and other considerations .

* # * BRITISH Masonry , as a rule , is not ver } ' demonstrative . There is an immense amount of activity in the Craft , but comparatively little to speak of in the way of outside pomp and ceremony . Occasionally a big-wig from abroad pays us a visit . His reception is always most cordial , but the general public hears little about it . Sometimes one of our own big-wigs

pays a visit of ceremony to some city or town in the provinces , or to one of our distant colonies . When this happens , the opportunity is seized by the local or colonial brethren to present their visitor with an address of welcome . If possible , they entertain him at a banquet , just by way of showing that Masons everywhere are inspired by one and the same hearty love of goodfellowship , and that , whatever differences of opinion may actuate them , they

are always ready to practise the sacred rites of a generous and warmhearted hospitality . The most recent evidence we have had of the genuineness of this feeling is supplied by the banquet given to R . W . Bro . Lord CARRINGTON , P . G . S . W . of England , the newly-installed Governor of our great Australian Colony of New South Wales , shortly after his arrival in Sydney , by the members of the English and Scotch branches of the

Fraternity . A full account of the entertainment will be found in another part of our columns , and we think that , when our friends have read it , they will agree with us that there are few British Colonies and Dependencies that could have made a braver Masonic display—nonethat could have exhibited greater or more sincere enthusiasm . Not every British Colonial Governor is a Mason , though non-membership of our Society never has

deterred , and never will deter , British Colonial brethren from greeting him as warmly as if he were their own Grand tMaster . But when it happens , as in the case of L ORD CARRINGTON , that the representative of the Q UEEN is not only a Mason , but also a very distinguished member of one of the Grand Lodges of the mother country , then , as a matter of course , there is no end to the enthusiasm displayed . And this was the case with the

Masonic banquet given to his lordship in . Vydney . The great hall of the Exhibition Building was crowded ever > where ; the brethren , of whom there were 600 , gathered from all parts of the Colony , and representing both the English and Scotch Constitutions , being seated at the banquet tables , while the galleries were filled with a numerous and brilliant assemblage of ladies , all anxious to witness , and as far as might be participate in , the Masonic

reception of the new Governor . The chair was occupied by R . W . Bro . J WILLIAMS , D . G . M . ( E . C . ) , the guest of the evening being seated on his right hand , and R . W . Bro . Dr . SEDGWICK , D . G . M . ( S . C ) , on his left . Both District Grand Lodges , and most of the private lodges , were fully and worthily represented , and the reception given to the principal toast , that of " The Governor , " was most generous . In short , everything passed off admirably , and the event will always be a memorable one in the annals of . New South VVales Masonry .

Consecration Of The Gordon Lodge, No. 2112 (E.G.), Australia.

CONSECRATION OF THE GORDON LODGE , No . 2112 ( E . G . ) , AUSTRALIA .

The Gordon Lodge was consecrated and dedicated to the purposes of Masonry on Thursday , February nth , by Bro . John James , P . M . 530 ( E . G . ) , P . D . G . S . W . of Victoria . The founders and visiting brethren , to the number of about seventy , assembled in the Town Hall , Essenden , near

Melbourne , where it is proposed to hold the meetings for the present , soon after four o ' clock , and a lodge was opened by the Consecrating Officer , assisted by Bros . Dr . Willmott , P . M . 752 and 1222 . as S . W . ; C . H . Bayley , P . M . 727 and 1224 , as J . W . ; W . Henry , W . M . 752 , as D . C . and 1 . I . Saqui , W . M . 1881 , as I . G .

'llie founders of the new lodge , twenty-two in number , were then ranged in order , and Bro . T . H . Lempriere , the D . G . Sec , having read the petition and warrant , the ceremony of consecration was performed by the Presiding Officer , assisted by the brethren named . An oration was also delivered by Bro . the Rev . J . Caton , Incumbent of St . Paul's , Moonee Ponds ; whilst the musical arrangements were in the

hands of liro . G . H . Davis , Organist of Combermere Lodge , assisted by members of the choir of that lodge . The W . M . designate , Bro . W . F . Lamonby , P . M , 732 and 1002 , was next installed into the chair by the Presiding Officer , after which the following olTicttrs were appointed and invested with their collars and jewels

Bros . l > . Campbell , S . W . ; A . Reeve , J . W . ; Rev . J . Caton , Chaplain ; W . I . C Kelly , P . M ., Treas . ; J . L . Blanchard , Secretary ; W . SimnvindN P \ l ., D . C ; H . Browne , S . D . ; J . Swaine , J . D . ; J . CM . C ) 1 111 , I . G . ; G . E . A . Lamont and J . E . Rigby , Stewards ; and W . Funnali , l ' yler . Bro . T . Millar , P . M . 38 S ( S . C ) , also undertook to perforin the duties of I . P . M .

Consecration Of The Gordon Lodge, No. 2112 (E.G.), Australia.

Four candidates were then balloted for , and being accepted , they were admitted and initiated . On the propositions coming up , Bros . James and Davies were elected honorary members of the lodge , in recognition of their services at the opening . Several propositions for joining and initiation having been handed in , the lodge was closed in due form .

Subsequently the brethren adjourned to the main hall , where a banquet had been provided by Messrs . Shannon and Deleuse , of Fitzroy . The W . M . presided , supported by Bros . Rev . J . Caton , G . Baker , Dep . Prov . G . Master Victoria , I . C ; A .. Ellis , Prov . G . Sec . I . C ; Dr . Willmott , and others , with the Wardens in the vice-chairs . Bro . James , the Consecrating- Officer , who is iit delicate health , had to return home before the proceedings in the lodge were concluded .

After the toasts of " The Queen and the Craft " and " The Three Grand Masters of British Masonry , " Tne WORSHIPFUL MASTER proposed "The Health of the R . W . District and Provincial Grand Master , Sir W . J . Clarke , " adding that , as their

chief was now in England , there was a chance of his being called upon to preside at the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , in the absence of the M . W . G . M ., the Pro G . M ., rind the R . W . Deputy G . M . If so , Sir W . Clarke would be the first District Grand Master ol Victoria who had presided over the Grand Lodge of England .

Bro . Dr . WILLMOTT , P . M . 752 , proposed "The W . M . of the Gordon Lodge , " referring to the pleasure it afforded him in giving the toast , from the fact that they were both Past Masters of lodges in the old country , that they had both served the office of Master in the same Melbourne lodge , and that he ( the speaker ) had installed Bro . Lamonby into the chair of the Combermere Lodge .

Bro . LAMONBY , in returning thanks , alluded to the origin of the Gordon Lodge . As Bro . Ellis had informed them , an Irish lodge existed many years previously in Moonee Ponds . Some months back he ( the W . M . ) received an invitation to attend a meeting having for its object the opening of a new lodge for the convenience of brethren residing in Essendon , Moonee Ponds , and Ascotvale . It was then decided to found a lodge under the

English Constitution . The question of officers was the nsxt consideration , and it was much to his surprise that he should have been chosen the first Mastor . After considerable discussion about a suitable title , the name of " Gordon " was at last happily chosen . Some controversy had arisen whether the late General Gordon was a member of the Fraternity , and the matter was not yet cleared up . Recently , however , those

brethren who read their London Freemason would have seen an account of the proceedings at the laying of the foundation stone of a new wing to the Royal Masonic Institution for Buys in London by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts . Her ladyship ' s address contained a remarkable allusion to the late General Gordon , and his connection with Charities of that nature , and though it was not exactly shown that the subject of her remarks was a

Mason , many would be perhaps led to infer such to be the case . At present , therefore , the question was a moot one , and would remain so tillcleared up by the Grand Secretaries of England , Ireland , and Scotland . He ( the W . M . ) next referred to the objects of the Gordon Lodge , and the favourable auspices under which it had been inaugurated . The founders were all agreed on one important point , and that was to conserve their fluids as far

as possible for the sacred and Masonic cause of Charity . And to that end it had been determined to limit their gatherings at the social board to once a quarter . Through the generosity ot the founders most of their furniture and appointments were already provided and paid for ; but in that connection it would be an omission were he not specially to mention the handsome liberality of Bro . Simmonds , who , he was sorry to say , had been forced to

retire alter the fatigues of the day . The beautiful furniture the brethren had that day seen in the lodge room was the gift of Bro . Simmonds , who had proved himself a worthy type of the great Craftsman of old , in that he was skilful to work in brass and in iron , in gold and in silver , and , if not exactly . in the cedar of Lebanon , at all events in the cedar of Australia Felix . There was one other important matier the members of the Gordon Lodge were in unanimity about , and that was they were not going into the

highways and byeways to seek for candidates . The excellent maxims and advice of those two standard authorities , Hutchinson and Oliver , were to be their guide on that head .- If these valuable lessons were deemed useful and necessary upwards of a hundred years ago , under a limited population , they must be ten times more so in the present day . It was also intended to take immediate steps to build a Masonic hall in connection with the Gordon Lodge .

The remaining toasts were " Thc Initiates , " " Ths Visiting Brethren , " "The Musical Brethren , " " The Officers , " and the Tyler's toast . The proceedings were agreeably varied by some excellent music by the choir , Bro . Davis presiding at the pianoforte . The jewels , officers' collars , & c , were provided by Bro . George Kenning , London , and have given complete satisfaction .

The Early Organisation Of The "Ancient" Masons.

THE EARLY ORGANISATION OF THE "ANCIENT" MASONS .

Bv G . B . ABBOTT . A discovery has recently been made by Bro . H . Sadler , the importance of which it will be difficult to over-estimate . Hitherto , our acquaintance with the early movements of the Masons who seceded from the regular lodges under the Grand Lodge of England , has extended no further back than the 7 th February , 1752 , when the celebrated' Laurence

Dermott was elected Grand Secretary in succession to Bro . John Morgan , one earlier fact—namely , that a general assembly of the schismatic brethren was held at the Turk's Head , Greek-street , Soho , on 17 th July , 1751—being also known to us from its being incidentally referred to in the minutes of the proceedings of the Grand Committee , at its meeting at the Temple Eating House , Shire-lane , Temple Bar , on the 14 th September , 1752 . Bro . Sadler , however , whom we must all congratulate on his discovery , has had

the great good fortune to bring to light from some hidden corner in our Grand Lodge Record Room , the Register Book , described by Dermott in his minutes oi 14 th September , 1752 , as " the Grand Registry , " and referred to by him in thc Grand Lodge Register as " Morgan's Register . " This book , which was briefly referred to by Bro . J . Lane in a letter published in the Freemason , of the iSth October , 1885 , may be summarily described as a very large folio with very little in it . There is room for the minutes of Proceedings extending over several years , but the