Freemasonry In 1900.

as they are assigned places on the Register , whose numbers are vacant instead of being added as fresh numbers at the end , but we have , noticed some half-a-dozen , which we doubt not will prove worth y of the privileges tbey are permitted to enjoy . THE COLONIES . & c .

Tbe principal event of thc year has been the formation of an independent Grand Lodge of West Australia , but tbe circumstances attending this formation are ; somewhat unusual . Thc other-independent Grand Lodges which have been established in our Australasian Colonies during the last 15 years , namely ,

those of South Australia , New South Wales , Victoria , Tasmania , and Ne-w Zealand , have in each case been composed of lodges of the English , Irish , and Scottish Constitutions , while in New South Wales and Victoria , Ihc local Grand Lodges also took part in the establishment . Hut in West . Australia , tlie lodges of

Scottisb and Irish origin have held aloof from the movement altogether , and though the time will no doubt come , when thc whole body of West Australian Masonry will be ranged under the banner of one United Grand Lodge , the present organisation is composed entirely of lodges formerly on the English Register ,

together with such lodges as may have been warranted since b y the new Grand Lodge . However , there is no need to g ive a full account of the circumstances . The English Craft in thc Colony were practically unanimous in their desire for independence , and on thc 27 th February , Bro . Sir Gerard Smith , Last Grand

Warden of England , District Grand . Master of West Australia , was formally installed in oflice as MAY . Grand Master , the ceremony being performed by the Lord Bishop of Perth , Bro . the Rig ht Hon . C . O . L . Riley , D . D ., Past Grand Chaplain ( Eng . ) , and at the Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge on

the 7 th March , recognition was accorded to lhe ncw body , which even at this early stage' of its existence has had its share of good fortune . In Queensland , which is now the onl y Australasian Colony that retains its connection with the Grand Lodge ;* of the United Kingdom , progress has been the order of thc day , but

this has been evidenced not so much by the constitution of new lodges , of which only one or two have ; been aelele'd to the roll , as b y the ( greater care that is being taken in the administration of District ( irand Lodge and the stride ; , " observance of tin * law . There is , however , one * very serious loss the District has sustained !

through the death of that highl y respected Mason , Bro . John Kenwick , who had fulfilled lhe arduous duties of District Grand Secre'lary fur fully a quarter ofacenlury , and in rSijj , in ivspe-cl of his great services , was honoured with the hrcve-t ol Past A . G . D . C . Happily , an able successor to him has been found in

Bro . E . 11 . Courtenay Luck , I ast I ) . G . W ., who , even in the- short lime he has been in barne-ss , has cslablislu-d himself in the ; o-oodwill of the * draft . As for the' veteran District Grand Master , Bro . the - Hon . Aug . C . Gregory , CM . G ., who is far-and-away the

se-niorof our District Grand Masters—having been appointed over 3 S vears ago—lie * appears lo be as lull of vigour anil activity as ever . Masonry has also dour well under the Irish and Scottish Constitutions .

In South Africa , the ; War has necessaril y had a de-pressing effect upon the work of Masonry , which is essential )} ' a peaceful organisation . In the- District of the- Transvaal , which , until tlu *

outbreak of hostilities bad been making such progress undi-r its able- chief , Bro . George * Richards , Disl . G . M ., tin- lodges have suspended work , nor can vve look lor any great re-vival ol activity until peace is restored' and people- have once' again

settled to their old habits of life . In Natal , which has also suffered terribly by the * military operations that have been carried on for the * greater part of the * year , things have ; not been much belter ; bul meetings were held in Ladvsmilh and Maleking even during ( he time they were be ; ing besieged by the Boer armies ,

but the . proceedings were bv no means tree Irom danger , as Ihc ; re-ports have shown which it has been our privilege to publish from time ; to time in our columns . Nor , we are ; p leased to sav . has the influence which Masonry is able to exercise even in time ol war , been ineffectual in saving bloodshed , and though the

Boers looted and destroyed properly of all kinds , vet more than one instance has been recorded in which buildings known to be devoted to Masonic purposes have been saved from destruction and guards placed over them lo prevent them from being pillaged . Necessarily too , the Eastern Central , and Western Districts of

Cape' Colony have ; also suffered , though to a lar lesser extent . In M'AV , a Masonic service was he-Id in St . George ' s Cathedral , Grahamstown , in which the English Lodges , Albany , No . 3 8 9 , and St . John ' s Lodge , No . 828 , and the St . Andrew ' s Lodge , No . 651 , under the Scottish Constitution , ( 00 k part ; while early in

September , Bro . Thomas Cook , Dist . Grand Mark Master of Natal , had tbe pleasure of consecrating the Ladysmith Mark Loelge , No . 528 , which but for thc outbreak of the War would have be'e'ii consecrated during the * autumn of 1899 . ^ an * also glad to record that three' lodges have been added to the ; roll

of ( he- Dis ( ru * t Grand Lodge o South Africa ( E . D . ) , one oi ( hem being named after Bro . Field-Marshal Lord . Roberts , and the other after her Majesty ' s High Commissioner for South Afrie * a —•

Sir Alfred Milner . We- have also had the * satisfaction of comnw . iUvig very favourabl y upon the * admirable work that has been eloiie' under the auspice's of the * Port Elizabeth Masonie ; Educational SYheme' .

In India , things have gone extremel y we'll auel notwithstanding the difficulties which lodge's experience in respect of members b y I lie sudden transfer of oflicers and members from one station to another , they seem to have' we'll maintained their strength . Bengal , which i . s ( he largest District , has had two additions sanctioned lo

ils roll in the North of Gogra and Koil Lodges , Nos . 2 S 30 and 2831 , respectively , and the Rajputana Lodge , No . 2 S 00 , has been warranted in the Bombay District , and the * Excelsior Lodge , No . 2832 , Dagshai , in that of thc Punjab . The various Educational Associations that have- been established in Bengal , Bombay , and

elsewhere , have also be'e'ti abh-bv reason ofthe generous support ( hey receive from ( he lodges and brethren , to continue the exci'lli'iit thev have been engaged in since * their establishment . We must not , however , omit lo mention that Lord Sandhurst , on e ' omjileling his term of service as Governor of Bombay .

resigned the- appointments he held as Pro District Grand Master ami Grand Master ol all Scottish Eree-masonrv in India , and having regard to the very deep interest he took in the work ofthe Craft under both Constitutions , and the services he was able lo render to them both , there is no doubt that his departure for home' was

the snbjei-t of sincere lvgivl to all the brethren !; the thanks and other compliments that were' paid him te-slifv to the lvspecl ami esteem in which he was lie-Id . However , il is some' slig ht consolation to them that bis successor in ihe Governorship of the

Pn-sidi-ne-y—Lord Northcote—is also a distinguished Mason , and has been elected his successor in Masonry under the Grand Lodges of England and Scotland . It is also worthy of note that the ne'wlv-appointe'd Governor of Madras is a Mason of high rank at home- ; we allude , of course , lo Lord Ampthill , vvho is

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J&.&^TTMTJIMLFORTCXXIESEI3XJCATI03V DEAFANDDUMBCHILDRENOFTHEPOOR. BashedowKentRoad,Surrey,andMargate,Kent.,ncoaTted This old ; md deserving Metropolitan Charily ( Ihc lirst of its kind in lirilain ) has up lo I he * present timo received and ediiculed over a .. *"' - ' deal ' mid dumb children , coming from all parts of lhe Cubed Kingdom . When ( he * Kducal ioiial Ici-m bus expired , appieuiicc fees arc granted , and during the lasl SD years upwards of 2 . 280 former pup ils haw been apprenticed lo various trades at a cost to ( he Charit y of C"JO . li . "" i 0 . lit . *) children arc now on Ihc books ol' Ihis Cli-uify . Klci-tious are held in . lune and De'cciiibcr . Life Subscriptions—1 vole al each Kleclion during life of Subscriber I ' or every , C 5 5 s . Annua ! . Subscriptions 1 vole al each Kleclion for every Ids . ( id . siil-si-rilicd annually . Voles for onc KUrt ' ion—Voles for a single Kle-e-tion limy be pnrchiiHi'il Jil the rale- of ' 1- I ' m * -. i guiiu-n . Contributions are earnestly solicited . New Annual Subscriptions are especially needed . Chccpies and Money Orders should In- made payable lo ' * 'I'he Asylum for Ihc Deaf and Dumb , and crossed " London . Joint Slock Hank Limited . Princes street . K . C and may be aeldressed to thc Se-crctary at the ( Mlicc . Ib . v . AUCVtf fi . IT . OllillS , M . P ., Ticasiirer . Oflice : !**! . C . vxN ' ux , STI ; I ; I-. * * . CITY . B . C . VU KDKH 10 If . MADPKN , Secretary .