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IlHJSIWIE

The War.

The War .

IN the area covered by the military operations in South Africa there are no less than ninety-nine lodges which owe allegiance to the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England , and whose numbers are borne on the register of the Grand Lodge of England , twenty-three under the Scottish Constitution , and four under the Irish , as well as lodges

holding under warrants from the Dutch Grand Lodge . Thus there are 126 lodges wherein are meeting , in bond of Masonic brotherhood , our own kith and kin . The English lodges are grouped , for purposes of local government , under five Districts . The Central Division

contains eight lodges , the Eastern Division thirty-three , the Western Division ( of which the Very Rev . the Dean of Cape Town is District Grand Master ) Diteen , Natal has eighteen , and the Transvaal twenty-live . There are also sundry unattached lodges making their returns direct to the Grand Secretary . These meet for the most part in unannexed

territories , or protectorates , as they are sometimes called . Masonicallv , therefore , South Africa is by no means the least important part of the British Empire . It may be

visionary , but who knows whether or not in the future the Grand Lodge of South Africa is destined to accomplish what diplomacy and the sword have failed in doing in that unhappy country . The experiences of our brethren must be worth telling . Nothing apparently has been allowed to interfere with the performance of duty . Displaying neither

rashness on the one hand nor fear on the other , lodges have met , candidates admitted , new lodges consecrated , and whilst Masonic Temples have been demolished by the enemy ' s shells in one town , the foundations of others have been laid with Masonic honours in another . District Grand Lodges have held their meetings and honour bestowed where honour

is due , and were it not for the increasing gaps in the ranks it could not be imagined , from a purely Masonic point of view , that there was anything the matter with the country . It is worthy of note that in the years 1899 and 1900 no less than eight new lodges have been consecrated , meeting

at Braamfontein , Somerset , Doornfontein , Indwe , Buluwayo , Burghersdorp , Muizanberg , and Johannesberg . One lodge , Ermelo , No . 2516 , which was founded in 18 94 and met in the town of the same name , was practically annihilated , every one of its officers and well-nigh every one of its members having been killed .

Many stories have come to hand illustrating the value of the Masonic tie even during the horrors of siege and battle . We all of us remember the words of die charge which was delivered to us at the opening of our Masonic career . " By an unwavering nllegkince to the Sovereign of your native land , ever remembering that nature

lies implanted in the breast of every man , a sacred and indissoluble attachment to that country from which he derives his birth and infant nurture . " These words , familiar to all , tell us of a duty which takes precedence even of Masonic obligation . And it has therefore unhappily occurred

that brother has been compelled to turn his sword upon brother . Even those who have sat in the same lodge , and been summoned to their duties by the same Hiram , have found themselves in hostile camps . But the stories that have reached us tell us how that once duty to Sovereign and country have been discharged ,

the Masonic obligation has asserted itself , and the true points of fellowship have again proved a rallying ground for tlie best and noblest human instincts . There is no need to quote any of these . Many have already appeared in this journal , and they all go to prove that there is something

in the Masonic tie which will survive a good deal of hard wear and tear . There is a grave question which will have to come into the arena of practical consideration before long .

Wherever Freemasons meet at a social board they always remember " all poor and distressed Masons wherever they may be , scattered over the face of earth or water . " To us , now , these words are fraught with special significance . There will not only be the poor and distressed brother to be remembered , but the sick and wounded brother , and ,

worse still , the widows and the orphans of those who have sacrificed themselves on the altar of their country ' s need . Dulce cl decorum est pro pa I rid mori . We may think , and not without pardonable pride , of the illustrious names in connection with the war , which are no

less illustrious in the annals of Masonry . Among these are LORD ROMERTS , LORD KITCHENER , SIR GEORGE WHITE , GENERAL HUNTER , GENERAL RUNDLE , SIR CHARLES WARREN , VISCOUNT VALENTIA , and LIEUT . NORWOOD , who received the Victoria Cross for gallant conduct during the siege of Ladysmith . There will be many more no doubt . We have

only selected a few tit random , and we would suggest to our Most Worshipful Grand Master , himself a soldier of renown , whether or not some special order of merit or some special jewel or other insignia , could not be conferred on those brethren who have conferred such lustre on the Order .

If the bare fact of : attendance at a Masonic function in a jubilee year be deemed worthy of commemoration by a special jewel , surely the present circumstances call for a special tribute no less loudly . We commend this suggestion ( o the authorities .