New Zealand Again.

circumstances we hope that the latter body will firmly , but resolutely , refuse to accept the return of the appropriated warrants on any other conditions than those which are in complete harmony with the requirements of our Book of Constitutions . It is before all things necessary that a body which

aspires to rule should show itself capable of obeying lawful authority , and as far as we are able to judge , the seceding English lodges have shown from the very beginning of their separation , and indeed in the very act of separating themselves from us , the most perfect contempt for the laws of the Grand Lodge to which they owe their existence .

The Power Of Masonry

THE POWER OF MASONRY

We often hear of the mysterious power of Masonry , What is this power ? Formerly the swift vengeance on the betrayer of secrets was recognised as an indisputable fact , and believed in almost generally outside the door of Freemasonry ; now we have its still mysterious power exercised , it is said , in other and certainly more comprehensible channels .

Masonry must , of course , be a great power . Societies of much less extent , composed of classes far inferior in social status , and without the moral cement enjoyed by Masons , have been able to constitute themselves a visible power in this and other lands . But it is easy to account for this power— " Unity is strength . "

Masonry is powerful in its vast numbers , the enormous area it covers over the globe , and its humane objects . Its unity is to be attributed to the individual satisfaction generous minds feel in doing good . In other societies under the generic term of " secret , " political or religious aims are uppermost .

These require to succeed quickly , or else to have a continual inflow of funds to meet the expenses , without which they cannot exist . This very pecuniary question often destroys their unity , being the more irritable , because amongst such classes it is rarely expected .

As a power for good , Masonry has within itself every element necessary for success . Its principles incite to good deeds , not , as is widely understood , to Masons alone , but to suffering humanity wherever found . It was intended to exert this power , and no other . Whenever it has assumed other power ,

as , for example , political , or even civic influence in any form , those principles have always stood in the way , and , as at the French Revolution , have caused a withdrawal from the ranks of all the best members of lodges , and dealt the Institution an almost irreparable injury .

It is much to be regretted that of late years the " secrets " of Masonry have been invested with an " unknown power , " which must indeed be unknown to the fabricator of such nonsense . But , unfortunately , there is another power attributed to Freemasons which , although it swells our ranks , does us no good , and may do much harm . This is the belief that when a

man becomes a mason he can count upon assistance and help from every member of his lodge whenever he may require it . Of course , no man with any knowledge of the world could believe this , or expect it from any society , but somehow , when connected with the Masons , it goes down without question . Why these theories are encouraged is an enigma . Formerly a

Mason , and , indeed , a strong section of a lodge may have materially helped a worthy member seeking an appointment by their recommendations and influence , but as fellow citizens , not as brethren in Masonry ; that is to say

in a legitimate manner alike creditable to all concerned . But as such a course is peculiarly liable to abuse , it is most desirable that the introduction of anything in the nature of Masonic influence into civil matters should be avoided .

However , this entire question of benefits to be expected by candidates is one that should be strenuously exposed , and the sooner these phantom powers attached to Masonry disappear the better it will be for all affected . Whatever benefits the Mason may receive from his brethren in the Craft

must spring from his own worthiness , and their sympathy if he be in distress ; but it is contrary to our principles that a man should enter Freemasonry from selfish considerations and expectations . He would do more wisely to expect to be a giver rather than a receiver .

Presentation To Bro. Sir Augustus Harris And Lady Harris.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . SIR AUGUSTUS HARRIS AND LADY HARRIS .

On Tuesday afternoon , at the conclusion of the work of the Drury Lane Lodge , No . 2127 , during which Bro . Oscar Barrett , W . M ., initiated four gentlemen into the earliest mysteries of the Order , besides performing other duties , a presentation was made to Bro . Sir Augustus Harris , together with a further gift to Lady Harris , as a testimony of the appreciation of the

brethren of the lodgeof Bro . Sir Augustus Harris ' s many kind services , and his unfailing kindness in all matters relating to the lodge and its members . Ladies were admitted to the ceremony of presentation , and a large number of the fair sex attended . Of brethren , of course , there was a numerous

attendance , for the suggestion of a testimonial to the popular lessee of the old historic theatre had been taken up with the greatest warmth * and readiness as soon as it was started during the year of office of Bro . Thomas Catling , LP . M .

Among the brethren who attended were Bros , the Earl of Londesborough , the first Master of the lodge ; Sir Augustus Harris , the second Master ; Oscar Barrett , the present Master ; Thomas Catling , I . P . M . ; Sir Henry Isaacs , P . M . ; Harry Nicholls , P . M . ; James Fernandez , P . M . ; Wilhelm

Ganz , P . G . Org . ; Sir F . Dixon-Hartland , M . P ., Col . Wemyss , C . J . Phipps , the architect of the theatre ; Charles Coote ; J . H . Matthews , Secretary ; Herbeit Campbell , Fiederick Mead , William Vincent , and Jas . Weaver . The presentation to Bro . Sir Augustus Harris consisted of a beautifully

Presentation To Bro. Sir Augustus Harris And Lady Harris.

inscribed vellum , in Russia leather binding , with the following address " To V . W . Brother Sir Augustus Harris , P . M ., Past Grand Treasurer , Dear Sir and Brother , —The election of the Tenth Worshipful Master of Drury Lane Lodge has been chosen as a fitting opportunity to express in some slight degree the obligation the members are under for your many kindnesses ,

including the privilege of meeting in the historic theatre . On behalf of the lodge , we tender you most sincere thanks and hearty good wishes for success in all your undertakings . The brethren whose names appear with them have united in an offering to Lady Harris in the assurance of her kindl y

interest in the Craft and especially in Drury Lane Lodge . — Yours Fraternally , "THOMAS CATLING , W . M . "J , H . MATTHEWS , Secretary .

" Drury Lane Theatre , Feb . 6 , 1895 . " Then followed the names of all the subscribers to the testimonials . The gift to Lady Harris consisted of a valuable diamond brooch . Bro . OSCAR BARRETT , VV . M ., in opening the proceedings , said he felt that it was a great pleasure , or one of those duties he had to perform to

greet ladies in the Drury Lane Lodge . It was very seldom that Masons were permitted to have the pleasure of ladies' society among them . It had been suggested by one brother that day , that as W . M . of Drury Lane Lodge , he should take that opportunity of making all the ladies Masons , but he feared that that would take too long , for from his experience of ladies ,

he was afraid if he were to initiate the ladies in a body the silence which was necessary would hardly be observed , as it was the general belief that ladies were talkers . Nevertheless , he felt it was a great pleasure to welcome the ladies in a lodge , and especially in Drury Lane Lodge , because Masonry and Drury Lane Lodge particularly owed a great deal to Sir Augustus Harris ,

and as every married man had a tender heart—and especially every married Mason—and loved his home , he considered that Drury Lane Lodge owed something to Lady Harris , lt was , therefore , a great ' pleasure to him and

all the brethren that they were there that day to prove in some simple degree to Sir Augustus Harris and Lady Harris the debt they owed to their kindness during the last 10 years . Bro . Thomas Catling had been most active in this matter , and would now say a few words .

Bro . THOMAS CATLING , I . P . M ., in making the presentation , said the secret of the day ' s meeting seemed to spring up in the hearts of the members of Drury Lane Lodge , for it was no sooner in the air than he found a response from all members . Therefore , at the outset some little variation occurred with regard to the form which their indebtedness should take ,

But the moment it was suggested that it would be acceptable to their good friend and Past Master , Bro . Sir Augustus Harris , to let it take the form of a present to his genial wife , there was but one opinion as to where the keynote had been struck . It was suggested , first of all , that the ladies should be invited to the lodge , but the

ladies must remember that the lodge was not now strictly a lodge , because the difficulty of having the ladies in lodge had been overcome , because while a lodge had secrets , those secrets had now been locked up—the red iron and the toasting-fork had been put aside , and , as to grandfather ' s clocks , he was quite sure the ladies would not use them . There was no need for him to

say what Sir Augustus Harris had done for Drury Lane Lodge ; the idea of starting it originated with him , and he had certainly done everything that was possible to foster the interests and to promote the good of Masonry . Sir Augustus Harris and every other brother would be interested to know lhat since the consecration of Drury Lane Lodge , on January 25 th , 1886 , 224

members had been enrolled on its books . Of that number 75 had been initiates of the lodge , and , for the information of the ladies , he would say that initiates were those men who felt interested in Masonry , and came within the square circle of Masonry . There were 137 members at the present time on the books of the lodge , and among them were members of

both Houses of Patliament . The brethren were delighted to see their first Master , the Earl of Londesborough , present ; they had had distinguished soldiers and sailors as members—men who had carried the name of Eng land to the most distant parts of theworld ; men alio known in literature , art , and science ; and men distinguished in one particular branch of art —musical and

dramatic art . During the last 10 years it was astonishing what stride ; Freemasonry had made . They had lived , notwithstanding the Lond on County Council , through two London County Councils . They had had >" Drury Lane Lodge also to sympathise with Sir Augustus Harris during a ''long and serious illness , and to congratulate him from the Worship 11

Master ' s pedestal on his recovery . He would now read the testimonial which would show in a briefer form than he could express , the feelings that had brought this meeting together . ( Bro . Catling read it as given above ) . Bro . Catling said he was in a diamond merchant ' s shop that morning when a Udy drove up in her carriage , and she wanted the merchant to help her > n

choosing a present , because she said it was a very difficult thing to choore one for a man . If ladies found the difficulty in finding a suitable present for a man , he could assure them the brethren had felt ten times the amount « diffidence in choosing what would be acceptable to Lady Harris . It was nj > t an easy task ; but putting the heads together of one or two good brethren '"

the lodge , he could only trust that they had selected what would meet wi '" the satisfaction of the brethren , and especially of Lady Augustus Harri *** By a pure coincidence the number of gems in the brooch very ne * " / approached the number of working members in the lodge . He trusted tats

gift would commend itself to Lady Augustus Harris , and that it W remind her of the esteem in which her husband was held by the g brethren of Drury Lane Lodge , in whose name he now had the p lea su of handing to her the brooch . On behalf of the members he wished l ° 5 life , health , and happiness to Sir Augustus and Lady Harris .