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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 14

News and Notes

page 350

News and Notes.

The editor and manager of this Magazine has had but very indifferent health during the last month, and many letters of a business character and otherwise have been left unanswered. The indulgence of brethren in this regard is asked for. During the month of March we hope to be able to pull up lost ground, and get ourselves straight with our constituents. This is no easy matter when we have first of all to attend to the daily bread-winning. It takes all the poetry out of it. The same reason will account to a great extent for a lack of original matter in this number. This, however, by some of our readers, may be consdiered not altogether a loss.

Masonic.—Occidental Lodge, No. 40, A. F. and A. M., elected officers last evening (January 5th, 1885), as follows: W.M., W. L. Milligan; S.W., Thomas C. Fullerton; J.W., Wm. H. Stead; Treas., H. C. Nash; Sec., A. M. Hoffman; Tyler, Alex. Hanna. The senior and junior deacons, stewards and chaplains are to be appointed by the W.M. This being the 39th annual communication, the W. Master, W. L. Milligan, delivered an able and eloquent address on the early history of Occidental Lodge, of defining the duties of the brothers to the lodge, to each other and to themselves. He recommended that a memorial be presented to the Grand Lodge of this State, praying that body to endow a home for widows and a school for orphans of all Masons in Illinois. The address was well received, and the recommendation as to providing for widows and orphans highly approved and a committee appointed to act in the premises.

We should be wanting in the proper feeling did we not specially acknowledge fraternal correspondence when coming from a long distance. We have before chronicled with pleasure the receipt of a letter from W. Bro. W. L. Milligan, of Ottawa, Ill., U.S.A. We are now favoured with a second letter from him, dated January 9th. Bro. Milligan has been the recipient of the highest honours within the gift of his brethren. He says: "I have held the office of H.P. of my Chapter four consecutive years, and was recently elected for the fifth year. And, as an evidence of their further appreciation of my labours, they have re-elected me, W.M. of my Lodge, H.P. of my Chapter. Thrice Ill. M. of my Council, and promoted me to the office of Generalissimo of my Commandery of K.T.; and I am the recipient of a certificate of honorary membership in Fortitude Lodge, No. 42, La Grange. Ky., my name having been proposed by my esteemed and venerable brother, the Poet Laureate, Dr. Rob. Morris. You may have thought it strange that one so far away, and unsolicited, should subscribe to your valuable Magazine; but let me tell you, in all sincerity, that next to God and my little family, I love the grand old society of free and accepted Masons. My devotion is universal, and not confined to the narrow limits of my own vicinity or country. I love to receive "glad tidings of great joy" from the faithful craftsmen who are labouring in the great quarries of brotherly-love in the Old World and the Isles of the Sea. Permit me to congratulate you on being able to present to the Craft such an able and intelligent literary production as the Craftsman. That "God may speed thee on thy way" is the earnest prayer of your "Distinguished brother of the Great Republic of the West." On the receipt of the November number, I forwarded my subscription, and requested you to forward back numbers of Craftsman, and receipt my subscription from date of first number. Wishing you a Happy New Year, I remain, fraternally thine, W. L. Milligan, 32.° P.S.—In your complimentary note you mentioned my father's name, W. R. Milligan (all honour to his silver locks). I am first Deputy-Sheriff in his office.

A Babylonian Expedition.—Dr. Ward, editor of the New York Independent, and several Oriental scholars, have just left America on an expedition to the lower valley of the Euphrates for the purposes of exploration. The whole expense of this expedition to Babylonia is being borne by a lady named Wolfe, whose name the expedition bears, and the object is to discover some records of a people who were contemporary with Abraham.

The Grand Lodge of England, with that stubbornness that characterises it, and which promises to endanger its relationship with Masonry in the colonies generally, has met the again repeated request of Quebec to withdraw the three Lodges under English rule in Quebec with a refusal. It would be a graceful act on the part of such a powerful body as the Grand Lodge of England to concede the—to it—trifling affair, but which is to Quebec an all-important matter. The American Grand Lodges are pledged to support Quebec.

page 351

The Grand Master of South Australia, Chief-Justice Way, is at present in Melbourne on a visit, and it was the intention of the Grand Master of Victoria, Bro. Hon. George Coppin, M.L.A., to have given a Masonic banquet in honor of the occasion to welcome the representative of the sister Grand Lodge. In consequence, however, of the recent death of Bro. Way's father, and at his request, the idea of the larger gathering has been abandoned; and Bro. Coppin has merely asked some dozen of the leading officers of his Grand Lodge to dinner at his private residence, Pine Grove, on Tuesday next, to meet the distinguished brother of S.A. Doubtless some interesting Masonic subjects will be discussed.

The Masonic Grand Lodge of Ohio have adopted a resolution that selling intoxicants is a Masonic offence, and should disqualify the offender for membership of a Lodge.

During a recent visit to Skane, Bang Oscar of Sweden initiated two new Lodges of Freemasons.

We should very much like to see a Masonic Veteran Association started in New Zealand, the early history of the Craft in this colony wants writing, for future reference, and no one can do this so well as those who were on the scene. Lodge minute books are generally meagre sources of supply for such a purpose. Will not some of our old veterans in various parts start a correspondence on this subject?

Childish Masonry.—We see it stated that the French Masons in San Francisco, Cal., of La Parfaite Union Lodge, No. 17, of that city, under the Grand Lodge of California, on November 6th inst., baptized thirty of the children of its members. Did they escape squalls? We have no patience with such a childish performance. The Orator for the babies was Jules Simon. He is beyond envy. And this was called Free and Accepted Masonry. We should like to hear from the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of California on this subject.—Keystone.

A Latin Masonic Congress.—In the official organ of the United Grand Lodge of Colon and Cuba for October 1st, appears an invitation from that body to all Masonic bodies of Spanish nationality, in America and the Peninsula, which govern symbolic lodges, to a Spanish American Masonic Congress, to settle with binding force the landmarks and certain Governing laws of Masonry, including jurisdiction. Venezuela is suggested as a central point for assembling. We cannot but too highly approve such an assembly, as it can settle at once many important points which American Grand Lodges have spent half a century in reconciling.—Masonic Token.

The centenary of the Swiss Grand Lodge, under the Scottish Constitution took place recently in the presence of a large number of Brethren and distinguished visitors. Bro. Duncommun gave a history of the progress made during the century, mentioning the dangers attending Masons and their meetings during the occupation of the country by foreign powers, when death was the penalty to Masons if found together, and ended a splendid oration by stating that Masonic funds on hand amounted to 240,690 francs, or about 9,000 pounds sterling.

The Grand Lodge of New South Wales is making great headway in the matter of recognition by foreign Grand Lodges, notwithstanding the fact that the Grand Lodge of England still withholds its countenance. Amongst the latest recognitions are Delaware and Peru.

The Grand Lodge of South Australia was recognised by the Grand Lodge of Montana on 1st October last. The Grand Lodges of Delaware and Ohio have also entered into fraternal intercourse and extended recognition. England has postponed the matter of recognition in its usual cold-blooded way.

On the 3rd December, Bro. W. J. Hughan, P.G.D., and well known as a most learned Masonic writer, was the recipient of a presentation in recognition of his great ability and his efforts in the interests of the Craft. Sir J. B. Monckton, P.G.W., took the chair at Freemasons' Tavern, and proposed the principal toast of the evening, concluding with handing to Bro. Hughan a packet containing a cheque for £364, and also a very handsome writing table.

Re the difficulty, between the Grand Chapter of Quebec and the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England, the latter body has stated its willingness to assist in every way to induce the three Mark Lodges in Quebec to come under the authority of the Grand Chapter of Quebec as soon as the Grand Chapter has placed itself in a proper position, as recognised by the Government of Quebec.

The Grand Lodge of England will not hearken either to the appeals or threats of Quebec and is determined—or perhaps it should be said its leaders are determined—to ram the British Lion down the throats of its own children. It is very bad when the lion has to roar at its own offspring. The Grand Lodge of England might have made a great point over this business, and won universal admiration by a little give.

page 352

E. A. Chips.

The mills of the gods must needs grind very slowly and grind exceedingly fine, when nine mills in this country don't make a cent.

Mr. Parvenue: "James, how many t's in Boston?" Clerk: "Only one, sir," Mr. P.: "So I supposed. Hand me an eraser."

Mrs. Partington, in speaking of her husband's humorous proclivities, says that he has lately made an attempt at a jugular vein.

A Lady, while looking at the collection of shells in the museum recently, remarked that "it must just be lovely to study shellology."

When you see a man scratching himself don't imagine that he is full of personal magnetism. It may merely be old mosquito bites.

Professor in Moral Philosophy: "Mrs. R., what end has a mother in view when she punishes her child?" Mrs. R. blushed and sat down.

A Scientific journal says that the ear of a clam is at the base of the foot. It must be funny to see a clam walk around listening for earthquakes.

Lord Lytton is said to have dressed "five years in advance of everything." This must have kept the old chap waiting a long while for his dinner.

"John, what is the best thing to feed a parrot on?" asked an elderly lady of her bachelor brother, who hated parrots. "Arsenic," gruffly answered John.

"Do not marry a widower," said the old lady. "A ready-made family is like a plate of cold potatoes." "Oh, I'll soon warm them," replied the damsel.

Miss Brown who is no longer young, was chiding Miss Moire for her foolishness in carrying a parasol, which Miss Brown said was useless and a piece of affectation. "I never carry a parasol," she said. "No," replied Miss Moire, "people on the shady side of life have no use for them."

A Country critic at the opera: "From her clear bird-like upper notes, she would canter away down to the base racket, and then cushion back to a sort of spiritual treble that made every man in the audience imagine that every hair on his head was the golden string of a celestial harp over which angelic fingers were sweeping." "Are there any mitigating circumstances in the case of the man who is going to be hung to-morrow?" asked a stranger of the lawyer of the accused. "Yes. You see he is an unmarried man. How easy it would have been for him to have brought a wife and children into misery and distress, if he had not had consideration for them by refusing to get married."

"What are you doing, Mary?" asked a Staten Island husband, addressing his wife. "I'm sewing on a crazy quilt," she replied. "Are there any buttons on it!" "No." "I thought not," he said; "it wouldn't be like you to be sewing on anything that needed buttons," and, drawing a deep sigh, he proceeded to fasten his suspenders with a half burned match.

Our E. A flattered himself he had told that sparrow story in last month's number very nicely, but he has had the conceit taken out of him by two correspondents since, one of whom fails to see the "goak." The other indignantly writes:—"The P.M. alluded to objects to the term ' Old Growler,' he may be 'more than seven,' but he is a long way off seventy; he is neither ' bald-headed' or greyheaded, perhaps a little ' bricky,' but that's no matter."

"My Dear," said Mr. Snigginbottom to his wife one day at the table, as he valiantly struggled to carve a piece of meat, "Why do the butchers put these miserable wooden pins into the roasts? Every time I try to carve off a slice I strike on one of them." "I do not know, dear, unless the meat is more skewer that way," responded Mrs. Snigginbottom. "Maria, I think you had better see a physician at once. I am afraid overwork is affecting your mind."

A Certain Minister of the Kirk of Scotland, now deceased, had prepared with great care a series of discourses on the parable of the ten virgins, and had made use of them oftener than some of his brethren thought he should. On the evening of a communion Sabbath, when assisting a brother clergyman in the same presbytery, he delivered one of his series which his friend had heard more than once. When the service was over and the two ministers were on their way to the manse, the one said to the other, "Man, John, I really think you should give up thae virgins; ye're fairly makin' auld maids o' them!"

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District and Provincial Grand Lodges.

  • Auckland (E.C.)—G. S. Graham, Esq., Dist. Grand Master; H. G. Wade. Esq., Dist. Grand Sec.
  • Canterbury (E.C.)—H. Thomson, Esq., M.H.R., Dist. Gr. Master; G. Mitchell, Esq., Dist. Gr. Sec.
  • Otago and Southland (E C.)—T. S. Graham, Esq., Dist. Gr. Master; S. James. Esq., Dist. Gr. Sec.
  • Wellington, N.I. (E.C.)—C. J. Toxward, Esq., Dist. Gr. Master; C. P. Powles, Esq., Dist. Gr. Sec.
  • Westland (E.C.)—J. Bevan, Esq., M.H.R., District Grand Master; J. J. Clarke, District Grand Sec.
  • Canterbury (S.C.)—Rev. James Hill, Provincial Grand Master;——Provincial Grand Sec.
  • New Zealand South (S.C.)—G. W. Harvey, Esq., Dist. Gr. Master; Henry Neil, Esq., Dist. Gr. Sec. N.I.
  • New Zealand (S.C.)—Sir F. Whittaker, Prov. Grand Master;—Slator, Esq., Prov. Grand Sec.
  • New Zealand (I.C.)—George P. Pierce, Esq., Prov. Grand Master; J. Rees, Esq., Prov. Grand Sec.

Provincial Mark Masters, E.C.

  • Auckland H. G. Wade, Esq.
  • New Zealand South T. S Graham, Esq.
  • Westland John Bevan, Esq.

Provincial Grand Superintendent Royal Arch Chapters, E.C,

  • Westland John Bevan, Esq.

Provincial Grand Superintendent Royal Arch Chapters, S.C.

  • New Zealand William Caldwell, Esq. (Dunedin).
List of Lodges, E.C.
Name. No. Town.
N.Z. Pacific 517 Wellington.
N.Z. Unanimity 604 Lyttelton.
St. Augustine 609 Christchurch.
Mt. Egmont 670 New Piymouth.
Waiteinata 689 Auckland.
Tongariro 705 Wanganui.
Southern Star 735 Nelson.
Southern Cross 760 Kaiapoi
Otago 841 Dunedin.
Dunedin 931 Dunedin.
Port Chalmers Marine 912 Port Chalmers.
Rangiora (defunct) 994 Rangiora.
Southern Cross 997 Invercargill.
Canterbury 1048 Christchurch.
Waitaki 1111 Oamaru.
Hiram (defunct) 1127 Dunedin.
St. George 1128 Lawrence.
St. John 1137 Timaru.
Northern Star (defunct) 1173 Leithfield.
Alexandra 1188 Alexandra.
Lake of Ophir 1195 Queenstown.
Pacific 1229 Hokitika.
Greymouth 1233 Greymouth.
Maryborough of Unanimity 1236 Blenheim.
Totara 1241 Ross.
Mount Ida 1262 Naseby.
Prince of Wales 1338 Auckland.
Masterton 1430 Masterton.
Pacific 1453 Reefton.
Tauranganui 1480 Gisborne.
Forest 1481 Wakefield.
Wellington 1521 Wellington.
Eden 1539 Newton, Auck.
Victoria 1577 Napier.
Aparima 1617 Riverton.
Sir. D. McLean 1646 Waitara.
Star of the South 1647 Whangarei.
Progress 1651 South bridge.
Corinthian 1655 Thames.
Akaroa 1666 Akaroa.
Hutt (not working) 1667 Lower Hutt.
Lazar 1689 Kumara.
Phoœnix 1690 Westport.
Remuera 1710 Newmarket, A.
Rodney 1711 Warkworth.
Grey town 1720 Grey town.
United Manawatu 1721 Palmerston N.
Winchester 1737 Winchester.
Palmerston 1749 Palmerston S,
St. George 1801 Dargaville.
Somerset 1811 Ashburton.
Heretaunga 1812 Hastings.
Abercorn 1813 Waipawa.
St. George's 1856 Temuka.
South Rakaia 1857 South Rakaia.
St. John's 1858 Ashburton.
Hercules 1875 Tapanui.
Ashley 1877 Rangiora.
Northern Light 1878 Kawakawa.
St. John's 1888 Featherston
Rangitikei 1904 Bulls.
Congers 1916 Sydenham.
Ionic 1917 Leeston.
Lincoln 1918 Lincoln.
Malvern 1919 Kowai Pass,
Concord 1925 Papanui.
Victory 1927 Nelson.
Opotiki 1930 Opotiki.
Feilding 1940 Feilding.
Reunion 1956 Blenheim.
Phoenix 1959 Akaroa.
Albion 2003 Devonport
Amberley 2007 Amberley
Hiram 2008 Green Island
Alpha 2014 Cambridge
Waitohi 2036 Picton
Ngamotu 2053 New Plymouth
Zealandia Whangaroa
St. Mark's 2059 Carterton
Duke of Albany Helensville
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List of Lodges, S.C.
Name. No. Town.
Otago Kilwinning 417 Dunedin
St. Andrew 418 Auckland.
St. Andrews 432 Dunedin.
St. Clair (defunct) 450 Dunedin.
Clutha 460 Balclutha.
St. John's 461 Milton.
Waterloo 463 Wellington.
Westland Kil. 467 Hokitika.
Dunstan 470 Clyde.
Celtic 477 Dunedin.
St. Andrew Kil. 481 Wanganui.
Charleston Kil. 487 Charleston.
Sir Walter Scott 533 Thames.
Caledonian 534 Timaru.
Cromwell Kil. 535 Cromwell.
Pates Kil. 536 Pates.
Oamaru Kil. 537 Oamaru.
St. Augustine 576½ Waimate.
Canterbury 585 Christchurch.
Manukau 586 Onehunga.
Robert Burns 604 Christchurch.
St. John 610 Invercargill.
Southern Star 619 Geraldine.
Taieri 620 Outram.
Thistle 627 Ashburton.
Cargill Kil. 632 Port Chalmers.
Arrow Kil. 637 Arrow town.
St Andrew 639 Wellington.
Thistle 647 Masterton.
Hawera 652 Hawera.
St. Clair 656 Lyttelton.
St. Thomas Kil. 659 Kaitangata.
St John's Kil. 662 Dunedin.
Wairau 663 Blenheim.
The Crown 675 Sydenham.
Manawatu Kil. 690 Palmerston.
Robert Burns 692 Reefton.
Harvey 695 Gore.
Peninsula 696 Portobello.
Te Aroha Te Aroha
List of Lodges, I.C.
Ara 348 Auckland.
Scinde 419 Napier.
United Service 421 Auckland.
De Burgh Adams 446 New Plymouth
Dunedin 448 Dunedin.
Cambridge 449 Cambridge.
Beta 450 Hamilton.
Light 454 Thames.
Coromandel 456 Coromandel.
Tauranga 462 Tauranga.
Corinthian 463 Christchurch.
Bedford 464 Waipukurau.
St. Patrick 468 Dunedin.
Leinster 469 Wellington.
Victoria 471 Invercargill.
List of Mark Lodges, E.C.
Lewis 49 Greymouth.
Union 154 Auckland.
Lazar 200 Hokitika.
Zealandia Marine 261 Port Chalmers.
Hiram 272 Dunedin.
Rutland 278 Wanganui.
Newton 280 Newton, A.
South Canterbury 300 Timaru.
Aroha 303 Winchester.
District Grand Lodges,
Auckland E.C. Auckland.
Canterbury E.C. Christchurch.
Otago and Southland E.C. Dunedin.
Westland E.C. Hokitika.
Wellington E.C. Wellington.
New Zealand South S.C. Dunedin.
New Zealand North S.C. Auckland.
Canterbury S.C. Christchurch,
Provincial Grand Lodge.
New Zealand I.C. Auckland.
Auckland (Mark) E.C. Auckland
List of R. A. Chapters, E.C.
Union 517 Wellington.
St. Augustine 609 Christchurch.
Otago 844 Dunedin.
Joyce 942 Port Chalmers.
Southern Cross 997 Invercargill.
St. John 1187 Timaru.
Westland Pacific 1229 Hokitika.
Greymouth 1233 Greymouth.
Auckland 1338 Auckland
Victoria 1577 Napier.
Remuera 1710 Remuera.
List of R. A. Chapters, S.C.
Otago Kil. 116 Dunedin.
Southland Kil. 185 Invercargill.
Canterbury 136 Christchurch.
Ashburton 187 Ashburton.
Abbotsford 156 Grahamstown.
Lyttelton 188 Lyttelton.
Trafalgar 157 Nelson.
Paritutu 196 New Plymouth.
Waterloo 166 Wellington.
Zealandia 197 Auckland
List of R. A. Chapters, L.C.
Ara 848 Auckland
Dunedin 448 Dunedin.
454 Thames.