Masonic Notes.

In the speech in which Bro . Mclntyre thus advised Grand Lodge he said : " It did seem to him , looking at the Book of Constitutions , that before a brother can be elected Master he must have regularly served as a Warden for one year . The words are not ' having been

appointed to the office of Warden , ' but they are ' that he shall have served regularly for one year . '" Having quoted the article in the Book of Constitutions , he then proceeded : " The question for Grand Lodge to determine is—had this brother served the

office of Warden for a year ? It struck him that he had not . " Bro . Mclntyre concluded thus : " It appeared to him that Grand Lodge must come to the conclusion that regularly serving the office of Warden means what

it says , regularly serving the office of Warden for one year , and without that a brother is not eligible to be elected Master . " These , then , must have been the grounds on which the late Bro . Hervey gave the decision referred to in his letter by " R . W . O . "

* # # Weare very pleased to congratulate our indefatigable Bro . George William Speth on his election to honorary membership in the , " Masonic Veterans' Association " of Illinois , U . S . A .

There are now several members in England connected with the " Veterans " of Pennsylvania , New York , and Illinois , and we understand Bro . W . J . Hughan , who

is one of the oldest members in this country , is thinking of starting a similar Association for England , possibly under the wing of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , London .

The installation of a brother for a sixth time into the chair of his lodge is an event of rare , if not unprecedented , occurrence , but that honour fell to the lot of Bro . Major George Lambert at the Percy Lodge , No . 198 , on Tuesday last . The activity and

zeal of our worthy brother is well known , but it is doubtful whether he could have been persuaded to undertake the duties again but for the fact that at the celebration of the centenary of its existence it was

considered desirable and fitting that one who had done so much for the prosperity of the lodge during a period extending over nearly 50 years should , on this important occasion , be associated with it as its Worshipful Master .

* * An interesting feature in the day ' s proceedings was the presence at both lodge and banquet of the venerable and greatly beloved brother who

had some 46 years before initiated the present occupant of the chair . We refer to Bro . Dr . Robert Cross , whose presence amongst them was gladly welcomed , and who was the subject of many sincere and hearty congratulations .

* * * The South Australian Freemason , which is a wellwritten and well-edited paper , in bidding farewell to Bro . Lord Carrington on retiring from the Governorship of New South Wales , pays a very hi gh compliment

to his lordship for his valuable services to the Craft in Australasia . " His record of successes , " it declares , " has been so eminently brilliant , and the services he has rendered to the Craft—not only in the Colony which he governed for five years with such signal

abilit y , but on every occasion outside his own province , when and where his personal efforts and presence could bear testimony to his devotion to our interests—have established such a claim on our grateful and lasting remembrance that his worth cannot possibly be

overrated . And again : Whatever may be the future of our noble brother , whatever career his own inherent talents may command , or the appreciation of his Sovereign may confer on him , his name will ever be held in the highest honour by those among us with whom he has

laboured , and his work in the direction of Masonic autonomy will form an imperishable memorial graven on the hearts of his own generation of Australian

Masons , and serve as a notable example to all succeeding ones . " What so greatly enhances the value of these compliments is that the statements they contain are true to the very letter .

* * * The New Zealand Craftsman for October last devotes a considerable amount of its space and not a few of its leading comments to what has appeared from time to time in these columns on the New Zealand question .

It is evident from the latter that our worthy contemporary takes such different views upon the recent establishmentof an irregular Grand Lodge in the Colony that ,

for a time at all events , we must content ourselves with agreeing to differ . We cannot approach each other more nearl y in our opinions , and therefore we must remain as we are .

Masonic Notes.

The Craftsman , for instance , says in one of its leading paragraphs : . " We notice , however , that our contemporary never lets slip an opportunity of reminding the promoters of the Grand Lodge that it is their fault . If the peace and harmony had not been disturbed

there would have been no French lodge . " It certainly is our belief that the action of those brethren who are responsible for the Grand Lodge movement is at the bottom of the present disturbed state of Freemasonry in the colony . We suppose our contemporary will

allow that before the Grand Lodge movement was set on foot the Craft in New Zealand under the several Constitutions was fairly prosperous and fairly harmonious . Little differences no doubt arose from time to time , and every now and then , perhaps , there

was a certain amount of friction between the English and Scotch or the Irish and Scotch brethren . But these were no more than family jars , which came no one knew how or whence , and disappeared no one knew how or whither , leaving behind them no soreness , no

evil influences whatever . There were no doubt , also , many brethren who believed and hoped that a time would come when New Zealand would have a separate and independent Grand Lodge of its own . But though

they may have desired this much , they desired still more that Freemasonry should continue prosperous and happy , and , therefore , they repressed their legitimate aspirations .

But can our contemporary , or any one else who has knowledge of what is passing in the Craft in New Zealand , venture to assert that at this present time Freemasonry is prosperous and happy ? Is a house

divided against itself in that state ? yet if ever a society was in a disturbed condition , that of Masonry in New Zealand just now deserves to be so described . There were three Constitutions , and there are now five . The former were harmonious in their relations , the

latter are all at loggerheads , the New Z ' ealanders on the one hand , and the English , Irish , and Scotch on the other , abusing each other in the roundest terms

possible , while both sides abuse the supporters of the French lodge , and are in turn roundly abused by the latter . We ask our contemporary in all seriousness if this is not a true bill ?

* * * But if our contemporary is fain to admit that our pictures of Masonry as it was in New Zealand and Masonry as it is are true , how else can we account for the change than by attributing it to the Grand Lodge

movement . We . say , as we have said before , that the aspirations of the New Zealand Craftsmen for a Grand Lodge of their own are perfectly legitimate . The difficulties in the way of establishing this Grand Lodge are greater in New Zealand , owing to the configuration of

the Colony , than they were in South Australia , New South Wales , Victoria , and Tasmania , but these difficulties are not insuperable , and we repeat our belief that a separate Grand Lodge of New Zealand will be established sooner or latter . But the mistake the

promoters of the recent movement made was in pressing the question to an issue at all hazards when they found there was no chance of the Craft being unanimous in its views and wishes . There was no necessity for any hurry . The Colony is young and strong , and has before

it no doubt a long and promising future . The promoters might have tried the experiment of waiting , and while waiting have done their utmost to convert those who differed with them to their own views . Does our

contemporary think that such a course would have been undignified , or that it would have been less successful in winning adherents to their cause if the promoters had adopted this course ?

* * * But if the promoters of the movement were free to disregard all considerations of wisdom and expediency , they had no right to imperil the interests and fair fame of the Craft , as they have undoubtedl y , in order to

force forward their pet policy . Freemasonry deserved better at their hands than to be subordinated to their petty ambitions . In short , the immediate result of forcing their movement forward at all hazards has been to throw the New Zealand Craft into a state of the

direst confusion . Freemasonry indeed in this colony is just now in precisely that same condition which the late Earl of Carnarvon found prevailing in New South Wales when he landed in S ydney , and we are indebted for this , not to the abuse which is being so liberally

flung about by the partisans of the different policies , but to the establishment of the Grand Lodge , which has set them all abusing one another . The cause of the present disturbed condition of Masonry in the colonies is the setting up of this Grand Lodge ; the effect is witnessed in the abuse .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . " ] WARDENS AND MASTERS .

To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Our thanks are due to you for your comments hereon and to " R . W . O . " for his quotation of cases . I think he hits the nail on the head when he says " a somewhat similar case . " Just so ; " somewhat

similar , " but not necessarily exactly similar . As to Bro . Hervey ' s ruling , you correctly point out we do not know the grounds of his decision . It may have been on " A Student ' s " point , that appointment by proxy prevents the service commencing till actual personal investment . As to this I would suggest that the N . B . to the Law 2 ( p . 62 ) in the Constitutions of 1871 is not

a part of the law , and may be read merely as a strong recommendation to prevent such questions as the one mentioned by " A Student" from arising , and to insure as far as possible that those who take office should be present to support the W . M . who appoints them ; and to hear their duties laid down , at the time that they and their fellow officers undertake the duties of their

respective offices . Taking first " A Student ' s " point , I cannot but think that the service as Warden must commence from the appointment . Law 136 says that "upon his installation the Master shall appoint and invest his Wardens and other officers , and shall invest the Treasurer , who

shall be annually elected , " & c . It can hardly , I think , be contended that the non-investiture of the Treasurer should he unfortunately be absent at the day of installation would leave the lodge without a Treasurer till he had been invested—usually afresh ; and a Warden may have duties to perform between his appointment and

the next meeting , as in the case you suggest . As to the ruling of the Grand Registrar , that seems to be upon another point , viz ., the completion rather than the commencement of the full term of service at the end of the term , and here the ground seems to be a desire to read the law in a liberal sense ; either , as

you say , to consider the election incomplete till the nig ht the election is confirmed , or to read the law as if it stood , " who have served or will prior to the installation have served for one year . " If this were not so a brother placed in the S . W . 's chair without having served one year as J . W . would never be elig ible for the

W . M . 's chair , except in another lodge , till he had occupied the S . W . ' s for two years or had stood aside for a year , which cannot , I think , have been ever intended . The Grand Registrar's ruling seems , therefore , the most natural and common-sense view , and I

would point out that it is not only a more recent , and as coming from the Grand Registrar , a more formal , and therefore more authoritative ruling , but it received the sanction of Grand Lodge as a correct interpretation . —Yours fraternally , LEX SCRIPTA .

P . S . —In justice to " A Student" I should add that since writing the above , I have found passages in Mackey , Oliver , and Robertson strongly supporting his view to a certain extent , though I have not sufficient

time to analyse them at present , and whilst I still hold to my views as above , I should certainly hesitate to act on them without consulting the Grand Secretary . Will not our Bro . Gould give us his views ? They would , I am sure , be most valuable .

A QUERY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , An " Old Provincial" is rather too hard upon " A Student " for endeavouring to satisfy himself upon points that puzzle him , especially in his imputations . In some lodges it is not unusual to appoint as Stewards a P . M . and the youngest member of the

lodge , and as the Stewards duties are outside lodge work I have known E . A . ' s appointed . As to the Wardenship , has not " Old Provincial " written his last sentence rather hastily ? Do not the Wardens terms necessarily expire with the year of office of the Master who appoints them ?—Yours fraternally , L . S .

ROYAL ARCH COLLARS IN CRAFT LODGES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Brother '' Prov . G . H . " in his letter in your issue of the 27 th December , reminds us of Royal Arch Regulations 98 , but this only provides for wearing a

miniature copy of and not the actual jewel of office , both he and " P . Z . " ask " if collars are allowed , why not sashes '* * " Simply because it is a question of how and where certain jewels may be worn that require collars to carry them , sashes are not used for the

purpose . May I remind your correspondent , " F . S . S ., " that the universality of Freemasonry does not allow us to copy the mystic significance of any particular church , as his analogy would appear to suggest . The " tinsel and tawdry" of what he considers " spurious Masonry , " I I presume , refers to the " higher" Degrees , if so , he