Masonic Benevolence In Aid Of National And Special Objects.

quakes in Zante ; and in the same year £ 315 towards the rebel of the general distress caused by the floods in Queensland There are , as will be seen , sundry amounts anion"' those we haw mentioned , which were given specifically for the relief of

brethren , but they are very few in number , and of too small importance to affect our general statement , that in dispensing their Charity the Masons of England are by no means unmindful of the claim" upon their kindness of non-Masons . The total of the

amounts voted by Grand Lodge for National and Special objects is fully £ 20 , 000 , and it must be . remembered that our Grand Lodge , though it has ample funds with which to defray its own expenses , has by no means a heavy surplus at its disposal .

Freemasonry In Queensland.

FREEMASONRY IN QUEENSLAND .

There is hardly a British Colony in which Freemasonry has made greater progress , especially during the last few years , than Queensland . It was not till 1 S 62 that it was organised into a District and then there were but three lodges on the roll , of

which two were warranted in that year , the senior of the three having been warranted in 1859 . During the first 20 years of its existence 17 lodges were constituted , raising the number on the roll to 20 , but since 1 S 82 as many as 31 lodges have been

p laced on the roll , and at the present time there are 51 lodges under the charge of Bro . the Hon . A . C . GREGORY , C . M . G ., the first and only District Grand Master who has presided over the Craft in this favoured Colony . It is , indeed , under his auspices

and with the loyal support and co-pcration of such able and worthy brethren as Bro . B . L . BARNETT , P . G . D . England , the present Dep . D . G . M ., and Bro . JOHN FENWICK , District Grand Secretary , upon whom his Royal Highness , the M . W . G . M ., at

the recent Diamond Jubilee Commemoration meeting , was pleased to confer the rank of Past Asst . Grand Director of Ceremonies , that Freemasonrv in Queensland has attained its present strength

and prosperity . How great is this strength and influence was shown at the meeting of the District Grand Lodge at Freemasons' Hall , Brisbane , on the 3 rd of March last , when , from the statements furnished by the District Grand Treasurer

it appeared that dues , & c , amounting to close upon £ 1000 had been received from the lodges on the District roll , the receipts from all sources , exclusive of the balance brought forward from the previous year , being £ 1100 , while the expenditure , exclusive of

sums placed at deposit and balance 111 hand at close ol account , was about £ 900 ; the investments being upwards of £ 1400 . As regards the Fund for Benevolence , the receipts during the year amounted to some £ 310 , the balance brought forward

being over £ 400 , while the expenditure , including purchase of Stock , & c , was £ 600 ; the investments and balance at close of the account being over £ 1900 . Owing no doubt to the illness of Bro . JOHN FENWICK , District Grand Secretary , no statistics

were presented as to the roll of subscribing members , but if we take a fair average of 50 per lodge , we have no difficulty in arriving at a total of over 2500 . As regards the general business , which included

the election of a District Grand Treasurer and the appointment of District Grand Officers for the ensuing year , there are only two matters to be noticed . Firstly , as regards an appeal against a decision of the District Grand Master , which had been allowed

by United Grand f odge , steps were at once taken by the District Grand Master , after a careful consideration as to tin manner in which the thing was to be done , ( o give effect to tin ruling of the supreme authority . In the other matter , the W . M

of the senior lodge on the roll having first sought and obtained permission of the District Grand Master , mentioned that his lodge at its previous meeting had resolved " that it was desirable to celebrate the Goth anniversary of her Majesty ' s reign in

some signal manner in connection with Freemasonry in Queensland , and it was proposed to do that by the establishment of an Orphanage for the sons and daughters of Freemasons in Queensland , or by some other permanent Masonic

Charity . " The W . M . in question expressed his belief , based upon conversations he had had with different brethren , that such a project \ vou )(\ be exceedingly popular . At the same lime , he realised that it was a subject that should be freely and full y considered bv the different lodges , and he hoped that a / I would

Freemasonry In Queensland.

join in tin : movement when a decision had been arrived at , not only those belonging to the English , but also the brethren under the other Constitutions in the Colony . The District Grand Master considered it very desirable that some such idea should be

adopted , but District Grand Lodge could not then do more than express its approval of such a scheme . The Deputy District Grand Master , while he agreed that it was desirable that such a movement should be adopted , expressed his opinion in

favour of a home or hospital for aged Masons and their widows , and there for the present the matter stands . However , we have no doubt that in the interval that has elapsed since this Communication of the District Grand Lodge was held , the lodges have

taken the matter up , and we feel sure that " before the year is ended it will be found that some plan for commemorating the Oi . 'EEX ' s Record Reign will have been adopted that shall be a credit to the Craft in Queensland , as well as an honour to our Gracious Sovereign .

A Masonic Address To Her Majesty From The U.S.A.

A MASONIC ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY FROM THE U . S . A .

The following letter to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and congratulatory address to her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen were sent by post and express on June 7 th , 1897 .

The address is in 14 th century medieval illuminated text on the finest vellum , and bound in choice seal skin of " garter blue . " On the back , in letters cut out of solid gold , is the name "Victoria . "

" Chicago , June 7 H 1 , 1897 . " H . R . H . Albert Edward Prince of Wales . " M . W . Sir and Brother , " On behalf of the Masonic Veteran Association

of Illinois , United States of America , which is honored with your membership , I forward by express , a congratulatory address to her Most Gracious Majesty , on the attainment of her 60 years reign on the throne of Great Britain and Ireland , & c . ¦

'' We kindly ask that you , on our behalf , will present this token of our love and respect for so noble a woman , to your loved mother , the Queen . " Sincerely and fraternally , "JOHN CORSON SMITH ,

" Past Grand Master of Illinois , & c , & c , and " Representative of Grand Lodge of England , "Venerable Chief , " The unique address reads : "June 20 th , 1837 . June 20 th , 1897 . " To

"Her Most Gracious Majesty , VICTORIA , Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India . "The members of the Masonic Veteran Association of Illinois , United States of America , most heartily join their

brethren ' wherever they be , on land or sea , ' and the people of all civilised nations around the globe , in congratulating your Majesty upon having attained the longest reign of any King or Queen who ever sat upon the throne of Great Britain and Ireland .

" We thank our Heavenly Father , the Grand Architect of the Universe , for having , in His great goodness , spared your life to witness the most'wonderful 60 years of progress in the world ' s history . Xo like period has seen so much progress in moral and religious thought , in effective effort for the freedom of

mankind , in the advancement in industrial pursuits , in the development of the liberal arts and mechanics , the uplifting of humanity , and the promotion of the general welfare of the people everywhere . In all of this you have by constant effort , example , and encouragement borne a conspicuous part .

" Wishing to your Most Gracious Majesty continued years of usefulness and happiness , we ask your kindl y acceptance of this tribute from the Veteran Freemasons of Illinois , United States of America , representatives of that Ancient Craft whose

Patroness you have so long been , and of which your honoured father , the Duke of K ' ent , and your son , his Royal Hig hness , Albert Edward , Prince of Wales , have been and are such distinguished members . "JOHN CORSON SMITH , " Veteran Chief"