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CONTENTS . PA ° L RADERThe Western Division of South Africa ... ... — — 453 United Grand Lodge ( Agenda Paper ) ... ... ... - 454 Mark Grand Lodge ( Agenda Paper ) ... ... ... - 454 Italian Freemasonry ... ... ... •» - - 454 Craft Masonry ... — ... — — 455

M ASONIC NOTESAgenda Paper of United Grand Lodge ... ... ... — 457 Agenda Paper of Mark Grand Lodge ... ... .. 457 Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devonshire ... 457 Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire ... 457 „ ...:.... „ ... ... ... ... ... ... 45 S Reviews ... •¦• ™

... . - The September Magazines ... ... ... .. 45 « Rescue by a Liverpool Steamer ... ... ... ... 458 Craft Masonry ... ... ... — ••• 459 Science , Art . and the Drama ... ... ... ... 459 The Craft Abroad ... ... ... - - 4 ° o Masonic and General Tidings | ... ... ... ... ... 4 M

The Western Division Of South Africa.

THE WESTERN DIVISION OF SOUTH AFRICA .

We have lately received the printed report of the Proceedings of the District Grand Lodge of thc Western Division of South Africa at the Annual Communication , which was held in the hall

of thc Britisli Lodge ; No . 334 , Cape Town , on Tuesday , the 19 th March last , under the presidency of Bro . the Very Rev . C . W . BARNKTT-CLARKE , M . A ., Dean of Cape Town , Dist . G .

Master . Six of the 17 lodges on the roll of the Dist . Grand Lodge were excused from attending , but the others were represented , while of the Dist . Grand Officers there were several absent on service , who were excused attendance , and only in two

cases was the absence of the ollicer unexplained . The Dist . G . Master reviewed the principal events of the past year , referring in sympathetic terms to the loss which the Empire had sustained by the death of Queen VICTORIA , to the accession to the throne of her son as EDWARD VII ., and to the election of H . R . H . the

Duke of CONNAUGHT , K . G ., to be M . W . Grand Master in place of His Majesty the KING , who has taken upon himself the position of Protector of English Freemasonry . He also expressed his satisfaction at Ihe progress which thc Craft had

made , notwithstanding the prolongation of the war , referring more particularly to the formation of two new lodges—the Lord Roberts Lodge , No . 2827 , and the Alfred Milner Lodge , No . 2 $ 33 > the former meeting at Somerset , and having made

substantial progress since its consecration in October of last year , and the latter meeting at Mui / . cnberg , and being also well circumstanced , considering that it only started on its career on the gth January . The Dist . G . Master also referred to the

retirement from active duty of Bro . J . B . WHEELWRIGHT , 1 ' A . U . D . C , England , who had so ably discharged the duties of I'ist . G . Secretary for the last ten or a dozen years , and whose resignation would be so sincerely regretted by the brethren throughout the whole of the District .

In the critical portions of his address , the District Grand Master drew attention to what he conceived to be in the nature of shortcomings and irregularities on the part of sundry among the lodges . Thus , he pointedly deprecated " the admission of

' aiuIMates for Initiation , Passing , Raising , or Joining , who do not reside in or near the place of their Masonic candidature ; <¦' ¦ £ ., when Cape Town Lodges give facilities to , say , residents in

Simon ' s Town , or vice versa . " He further insisted on strict compliance with the District Grand Lodge Bye-Laws relating to the subject and especiall y to certain Forms enjoining " careful

The Western Division Of South Africa.

enquiry as to the character and moral and reputable circumstances of every candidate for Initiation and Joining , remarking "thatthe customary haphazard meeting of a standing committee for a few hasty moments before lodge is not a tasting of . a

candidate ' s qualifications . " A little later he truthfully says " It is spurious masonry to make very much of getting a good large number of members on the lodge roll . We want quality even more than quantity and to be eager to gather in their guineas is not true masonry but masonic money making . "

A word of advice is also offered as to " the absolute and imperative needfulness for greater caution against the admission of visitors without most diligent scrutiny and strict examination , and the more so in these evil and dangerous days . " At the

same time he urges that everything should be done by the officers mostly concerned and members " to discourage the intrusion of certain B . B ., well known by name and reputation , who are not paying members of any local lodge , and yet put in an

appearance at refreshment time , about 9 . 30 to 10 o ' clock . A Brother D . G . Master facetiously nicknames and labels them ' Masonic locusts , ' seeking what they may devour . " The Dist . G . Master brought his address to a close in the following words :

" Finally , my dear B . B ., may we live and labour together in brotherly harmony , in Faith and Hope and Charity . " May thc lurid clouds disperse and the gladsome sun-rays of happier and brighter times cheer our hearts with buoyant hope .

" May thc pestilence be stayed by the Mercy of the Most High , and Health and Wealth , and in their truest and literal and most exalted meaning , be vouchsafed to us Masonically , Politically , Physically , Commercially , and Colonially .

"May wars cease in all the land , and progress , prosperity , and peace make South Africa to be verily and truly the sunny land of Good Hope , good and true , based upon the Blessing of T . G . A . O . T . U ., to Whom be all praise and Glory . " So mote it be ! "

In the course of the further proceedings it was unanimously resolved that an address of thanks , engrossed on vellum , should be presented to Bro . J . B . WHEELWRIGHT , in recognition of the valuable services he had rendered to the lodges and brethren in

the District during the period he had held the office of District Grand Secretary ; and it was agreed that the preparation of the address , and thc details connected therewith , should be left in the hands of the District Grand Master and his Deputy .

In the Appendix are a number of Reports and Tabular Statements ,. all o which bear out the statement made by the District Grand Master as to the extent of thc progress made'b y the Craft in the District during thc past year . The Treasurer ' s

statement of account in respect of the General Fund of ihe District Grand Lodge shows a closing balance for the year of £ () § 8 s . gd ., as compared with an opening ba ' ance of £ 6 2 s . Sd . Tin : District Grand Lodge Benevolent Fund opened with . 1

balance in its favour of ^ , 435 lis . Sd ., and closed wilh one of £ 3 81 17 s . 2 d ., but the disbursements were heavier than usua ' and included 50 guineas to the South African Masonic Relief Fund and 50 guineas to the Lord Mayor ' s Mansion House Fund

for Widows and Orphans . On the Queen VICTORIA District Masonic Pension Fund , there remained in hand a bilancc of £ 1137 12 s . 5 d ., only one small pension to a Widow having been granted during the year . As regards membershi p , there weri on the Register of the District Grand Lodge on the ist January