Craft Masonry.

marble dining-room clock to Bro . Rudrum , P . M ., as a mark of respect trom the brethren , on the occasion of his second marriage . Bro . Rudrum , who was completely taken by surprise , warmly expressed his thanks to the lodge for the handsome gift , which would be as highly appreciated by his wife as it was by himself . Amongst the toasts was that of "The Secretary , " Bro . G . A . Eustace , who , in response , mentioned that this was his iSth year in that position , and though he

sometimes felt it difficult to continue in office on account of the distance at which he resided from the meeting place of the lodge , yet he was constrained to accept office aeain from the great interest he felt in the lodge , and the fact that his late lamented father was its first VV . M . Amonpst the visitors present were : Bros . Railing , Prov . G . Sec . ; the Rev . Donald Gotto , W . M . 1024 , P . P . G . Chap . ; F . H . Bright , P . M . 1024 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Edmund Cowers , P . M . 1024 , P . P . G . Treas . ; J . T . Bailey , P . M . and Sec . 6 97 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; and a brother from the Province of Lincolnshire , a P . M . of the lodge in which the outgoing W . M . was initiated .

The Influence Of The Masonic Press.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE MASONIC PRESS .

Much has been said and written at various times as to the influence of the fraternal press in guiding the destinies of the Craft , but in too many instances the intentions of various writers are not productive of any outward or visible sign , but may be regarded as " bread cast upon the waters , which may return after many days . " That this is so is not altogether a matter of surpiise when it is considered how small the proportion of reading Masons is to the whole , and what an infinitesimal fraction it is wherewith to leaven so large a mass .

On the other hand , there are instances of the lessons sought to be inculcated not being taught in vain , and it is to our own experience in this direction we shall now very briefly refer . During the short existence of this journal opportunity has been taken lo " point the moral which should adorn the tale" on certain abuses of Masonic etiquette , and sometimes law , which have in some instances

degenerated into custom , and were being perpetuated as Masonic practice . Amongst the foremost of these we may mention the " Wearing of Masonic C othing in Public , " " Reporting Masonic Proceedings in the Profane Prets , " " Applause in Lodges , " and the " Passing , Raising , and Reducing of Lodges . " Five years ago the practice of the above eccentricities was common custom , almost regarded as inherent right . To-day those lodges

that still cling to any of the above-named peculiarities are in a decided minority , and are regarded by their more thinking brethren with quiet amusement . The wearing of Masonic clothing in public is discountenanced by many Masonic jurisdictions , and may be regarded as obsolete in the larger cities of this colony . In some country districts a mania still continues for Masonic funeral displays , but this will soon die out , if some such rule as the following is incorporated in the revised Constitution in October

next-: " Dispensations may be granted for wearing Masonic clothing at the fur . ealof a deceased brother , and such clothing is hereby defined as an apron of white lambskin unadorned , and no other decoration shall be Wul 11 . "

This is the practice in some American States , and if any insignia is to be worn , none can be more fitting . If there is any Masonic ceremony which we should approach with all reverence and humility , it is the one that brings us face to face with the leveller of all human greatness—Death . An appropriate occasion , not for the display of tinsel and bauble , but rather as a lesson of our own insignificance and of the lleeting vanity of all worldly objects and ambitions .

The pure white apron of the skiw of the lamb is a fitting reminder that pure lives and actions can alone fit us to form part of the spiritual edifice , "The house not made with hands . " It may be an uncharitable thought , but we cannot help thinking that under the above conditions fewer dispensations would be applied for .

It is most gratifying to us to know that our strenuous protests against the publicaticn of Masonic reports in the newspaper press have been productive of the best results . In Wellington and Christchurch the practice has almost entirely ceased , while in other centres it is reduced to the smallest limits . We hope ere long this practice will have entirely disappeared .

The applause in lodges , which was at one time such a shock to the nerves of the intelligent visitor , in now in all well-regulated lodges a thing of the past . Only once in the course of some months have we heard any attempt at ( his deplorable and senseless erstwhile custom , and then , though led by a P . M ., who from every reason should have known better , was the failure it deserved .

The halo which apparently surrounds the mystic " passing , " " raising , " aud " reducing " of lodges , though utterly incomprehensible to the reasoning Mason , is still visible to the leaders of a few lodges , but fortunately this unmeaning craze is now honoured in thc breach rather than the observance , and invariably provokes a smile from some present who have reasoned out the absurdity . Yet a few years ago it stood prominent on nearly every installation programme .

Aj . ai . st the whole of the foregoing practices , which , as stated , had dcgeneiaied into custom , we have argued for the past few years . In some inslai . tcs we have received the assistance of distinguished brethren , who

The Influence Of The Masonic Press.

have ably seconded our efforts on every possible occasion . While even many of those who have passed hence have left an example behind by requesting that no display of Masonic finery be made in paying the last sad office of respect to them . Officers of Grand Lodge have a duty cast upon them in matters of this kind , and a few words " spoken in due season " would in time produce the best results , and would be immeasurably superior to the platitudes usual at official visitations . —New Zealand Craftsman .

Instruction.

Instruction .

ISLINGTON LODGE , No . 1471 . The u * ual weekly meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday , the iSth instant , at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , when there were present : Bros . J . T . Perrins , W . M . S . Cload , S . VV . ; H . J . Dunaway , J . W . ; A . F . Hardyment , P . M .. Asst . Preceptor ; C . M . Coxon , P . M ., P . P . G . D . Herts , Treas . ; J . Duncan , P . M ., Sec ; W , Goring , S . D . ; C G . Zander , J . D . ; A . E . Turner , I . G . ; I . Birks , P . M . ; II . B , Harding , P . M . ; J . E . Thomas , E . Lucas , A . Williams , E . Williams , G . Popham , II . Coxen , H . J . May , A . L . Langton , A . Noel , T . Brown , W . A . Evans , W . T . Roberts , F . H . Johnson , Perrins , jun ., D . Meredew , H . Cattermole , Perkins , and C . H . Knuth .

The lodge was opened , and the minutes read and conlirmed . The ceremony of raiting was then rehearsed , Bro . Knuth being the candidate . The W . M . vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Thomas , who rehearsed the investiture of officers . Bro . Walter Perrins was elected a member of the lodge . Bro . Cload was elected W . M . for the ensuing week , and appointed his officers in rotation . The customary vote of thanks was accorded to the W . M . for his services in the chair for thc first tim ; . The lodge was then closed .

Obituary.

Obituary .

iiKO . DR . ISSACHAR ZACHARIE . It i ; , wilh sincere regret we announce the death on Sunday , the ioth instant of Bro . Dr . Issachar Zacharie , whose name must be familiar to the great majority of our reader .- ' . Our deceased brother will be remembered as one ol President Lincoln ' s greatest friends and ablest advisers in the days of the great

Civil War in the United States . In 1875 , he settled in England and soon won fame as an orthopedist . In Masonry he will be best remembered as the founder here of the Order of thc Secret Monitor , over which he presided during its earlier years as its Grand Supreme Ruler . The funeral took place at Highgate Cemetery , on Thinsday last .

Wills And Bequests.

WILLS AND BEQUESTS .

BRO . LORD KENSINGTON'S ESTATE . The gross value of the estate has been entered at . ( , 711 , 218 S . ; . , sd ., and the nut value of the personal estate at L ' 9 , 733 17 s . od ., of William , " fifth Baron Kensington , of St . Bride ' s , Haverfordwest , J . l ' ., and D . I ,., Captain 2 nd Life Guards , who was born in ( uly , 1 S 6 S , and died at Bljciiifontein on the 24 th of lune last . By his will of the 51 I 1 August last , with a codicil of thc 20 th October , 1809

the late Lord Kensington appointed as executors Thomas , Earl of Longford , . mi Algernon Francis Holford Ferguson , both of whom arc serving with the South African Field Forces , and administration of all thc estate , which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representatives of the deceased , has meanwhile been granted to his uncle , Arthur Henry Johnstone Douglas , liro . Lord Kensington was initiated in thc Household Brigade Lodge , No . 2614 , in February , 189 S .

THK HKR . MKTIC BROTHERHOOD . —There is no cx ; 'ct history of this con . fraternity , that we are aware of ( as , indeed , one hardly could be written ) ; but it seems to be a pretty general opinion that from very early times there has been a sort of Hermetic , astrological , alchemical society in tho world , which devoted itself to the " occult sciences , " ( o magical formula .-, to the Philosopher ' s Stone , to the transmutation of metals , to nativities and thc like , and that it had a sort of mystic union , and means of recognition & c .

, " Hermetic" comes from " Hermes , " the Hermes to whom was given the name of " Trismegistus , " or thrice greatest , and whom the Neo-Platonists especially looked upon as the chief of teachers in all that pertains to secret wisdom , and the mysteries of nature . The Hermetic MSS ., in the early times , were highly prized , the first printed edition of the works of Hermea being apparently at Venice , by Patricks , under Ihe title " Nova de Universis Philosophia . " These were translated into German about 17 S 1 " Hermes

I rismegists Poemander , oder von der gottlichen Macht und Weishet . " & c , and were eagerly taken up by the so-called theosophic high grades , About 15 S 9 , the alchemical and Hermetical works of Paracelsus appeared , who had apparently drawn his teaching from Hermes Trismefristus , and no douot on these works many of the high grades founded thair so-cilled Hermetic Masonry .

Up to the present time we have always considered Hermetic Masonry not to bu earlier than 1750 , or thereabouts ; but Bro . Mackey has rejently called attention to a book printed in London in 1721 , in which distinct allusion is made to hi gher grades , and to a sort of Hermetic wisdom , which necessarily gives a new colouring to the whole question . The connection as between Freemasonry and Hermeticism has yet to be accurately laid djitn . —Kaining ' s Cyclop . e . lia of Freemasonry .

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