Proceedings of the Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Canterbury, N.Z.

Holden at the St. Augustine Freemason's Hall, Manchester Street, Christ church, on Thursday, January 15, 1885, at 8 p.m.

Resent W. Bro. W. Deamer, D.D.G.M., (acting) D.G.M. in the chair; W. Bro. C. A. C. Hardy, D.G.S.W.; W. Bro. T. A. Peterkin, (acting) D.G.J.W.; W. Bro. R. C. Bishop, D.G. Treasurer; W. Bro. Francis J. Smith, D.G. Registrar, (acting) D.D.G.M.; Bro. Keith Wilson, Assistant Secretary; W. Bro. W. B. Allwright, D.G.S.D.; W. Bro. William Sansom, D.G.J.D.; W. Bro. W. H. Messenger, D.G. Organist; W. Bro. M. Sandstein, D.G. Pursuivant; Bro. E. F. Haskins, D.G. Steward; Bro. George Adams, D.G. Steward; Bro. R. Stevens, D.G. Tyler; W. Bro. R. Smith, P.D.G.S.D.; W. Bro. E. Williams, P.D.G.S.D.; W. Bro. H. F. Arnold, Unanimity Lodge, No. 604; W. Bro W. Hamson, Unanimity Lodge, No. 604; W. Bro. S. Derbidge, Unanimity Lodge, No. 604; W. Bro. T. W. Rentoul, Unanimity Lodge, No. 604; W. Bro. Geo. M. Douglas, St. Augustine Lodge, No. 609; W. Bro. P. Murray, St. Augustine Lodge, No. 609; Bro. R. B. Robinson, St. Augustine Lodge, No. 609; W. Bro. J. P. Cooper, Canterbury Lodge, No. 1048; Bro. J. G. L. Scott, Canterbury Lodge, No. 1048; Bro. Geo. Davies, Canterbury Lodge, No. 1048; W. Bro. W.T.C. Mills, Canterbury Lodge, No. 1048; Bro. R. W. Park, Progress Lodge, No. 1651; W. Bro. J. J. Robinson, Ashley Lodge, No. 1877; W. Bro. E. Mulcock, Ashley Lodge, No. 1877; W. Bro. R. Atkinson, Ashley, Lodge, No. 1877; W. Bro. J. Baldwin, Conyers Lodge, No. 1916; W. Bro. R. Walker, Conyers Lodge, No. 1916; Bro. E. W. Just, Conyers Lodge, No. 1916; Bro. C. R. Bossence, Conyers Lodge, No. 1916; W. Bro. W. W. C. Karslake, Ionic Lodge, No. 1917; W. Bro. F. Jamieson, Ionic Lodge, No. 1917; W. Bro. J. C. Revell, Lincoln Lodge, No. 1918; W. Bro. J. W. Anderson, Lincoln Lodge, No. 1918; W. Bro. G. H. Morley, Concord Lodge, No. 1925; W. Bro. W. S. Smith, Amberley Lodge, No. 2007.

The District Grand Lodge was opened in due form, with solemn prayer, at 8.15 p.m.

The minutes of the Quarterly Communication, held in October the 16th, 1884, were read and confirmed.

Apologies for non-attendance were received from the following Worshipful Brethren, viz.:—The Rev. H. East, D.G. Chap.; James A. Bird, P.D.G. Treasurer; Jubal Fleming, P.D.G.J.W.; Thomas Stapleton, P.D.G.J.D.: C. E. Briggs, P.D.G. Sword Bearer; H. W. Felton, P.M., 1811; W. H. Gundry, D.G. Sword Bearer; J. Joyce, P.D.G.S.W.; H. McLellan, P.D.G.S.W.; James Bradley, P.M., 1811.

The District Grand Treasurer, W. Bro. R. C. Bishop, stated the balance to be,—Cr. Current Account, Union Bank, £50 3s. 5d.; Cr. Deposit Account, Post Office Savings Bank, £390 11s. 5d.: £440 14s. 10d.

The Roll of Lodges was then called, with the following result:—Unanimity, No. 604, 5; St. Augustine, No. 609, 6; Southern Cross, No. 760,—; Canterbury, No. 1048,8; St. John's (Timaru), No. 1137, —; Lodge of Progress, No. 1651, 1; Winchester, No. 1737, —; Somerset (Ashburton), No. 1811,—; St. George (Temuka), No. 1856, —; Rakaia, No. 1857, 1; St. John's (Ashburton), No. 1858, —; Ashley, No. 1877, 4; Conyers, No. 1916, 4; Ionic, No. 1917, 2; Lincoln, No. 1918, 2; Malvern, No. 1919, —; Concord, No. 1925, 3; Phoenix, No. 1959, —; Amberley, No. 2007, 1; Visitors, —: total, 37.

The minutes of the proceedings of the following Grand and District Grand Lodges were laid upon the table:—Quarterly Report of the Grand Lodge of England, June, 1884; Quarterly Report of the District Grand Lodge of Shanghai, September, 1884; Quarterly Report of the District Grand Lodge of Queensland, December, 1884; Quarterly Report of the District Grand Lodge of Auckland, October, 1884.

The following correspondence was read and received:—

From the Committee of the Mount Egmont Lodge, No. 670, E.C., asking for pecuniary assistance in aid of the widow and children of the late Bro. L. H. Cholwill.

From Bro. J. J. May, M.M., Conyers Lodge, No. 1916, respectfully soliciting assistance from District Grand Lodge to enable him to pay his Lodge arrears.

From the District Grand Secretary, Malta, forwarding a circular letter with particulars re Bro. Julius Edward Cohen, who has been adjudged guilty of un-Masonic conduct. The D.G. Secretary was instructed to have the information conveyed to the W.M.'s of the private Lodges in the district.

From the Secretary of the Canterbury Lodge, No. 1048, E.C., forwarding for the information of District Grand Lodge that the several brethren have been struck off the roll of the Canterbury Lodge, No. 1048, for non-payment of dues.

From the Secretary of the Conyers Lodge, No. 1916, E.C., forwarding for the information of District Grand Lodge that the several brethren have been struck off the books of the said Lodge for non-payment of dues, Ac.

From the Secretary of the Concord Lodge, No. 1925, E.C., intimating that owing to the night for Standing Committee falling upon the said Lodge's night of meeting the Worshipful Master could not attend.

From the Secretary of the Christchurch Benevolent Association asking if District Grand Lodge would repeat its action of last year in reference to augmenting the Association's funds on Charity Sunday, November 15, 1884.

From the D.G. Secretary, Westland, apologising for not replying earlier to the invitation to attend the ceremony of the District Grand Master's Installation.

From the Secretary of the Canterbury Lodge, No. 1048, E.C., applying for a refund of a dispensation, £2 2s. W. Bro. W. H. Messenger, D.G. Organist, moved,—"That the application of the Canterbury Lodge, No. 1048, for a refund of £2 2s., dispensation fee, be acceeded to." Seconded by Bro. R. B. Robinson, 609. W. Bro. W. B. Allwright, as an amendment, moved,—"That the application from the Canterbury Lodge, No. 1048, be referred to the Standing Committee for its report." Seconded by W. Bro. F. J. Smith, D.G. Registrar. On being put, the amendment was declared carried. On the amendment being put as a substantive motion, W. Bro. F. J. Smith, D.G. Registrar, moved as an amendment,—"That the application of the Canterbury Lodge, No. 1048, for a refund of the dispensation fee of £2 2s. be not granted." Seconded by Bro. C. A. C. Hardy, D.G.S.W., and carried. The amendment was then put as a substantive motion, and agreed to.

The report of the Standing Committee, held on January the 2nd, was read, and, on the motion of W. Bro. F. J. Smith, D.G. Registrar, seconded by W. Bro. George M. Douglas, 609, was received. Clause 1. W. Bro. James Booth's application for assistance. Your Committee beg to recommend that £10 be voted. Agreed to. Clause 2. That with reference to the application for assistance from the Committee of the Mount Egmont Lodge, No. 670, E.C., New Plymouth, on behalf of the widow and children of the late Bro L. H. Cholwill. Your Committee beg to recommend that the sum of two guineas be voted to this fund. Agreed to. Clause 3. That with reference to the application from Bro. J J. May, Conyers Lodge, No. 1916, E.C., asking for assistance from D.G.L. to enable hire to pay his Lodge arrears, we respectfully beg to recommend that this petition be no; granted. Not granted. Clause 4. That with reference to the circular letter from the D.G. Secretary, Malta, re Bro. Julius Edward Cohen being adjudged guilty of un-Masonie conduct, we beg to recommend that a copy of such letter be forwarded to each Lodge in the district. Agreed to. The Standing Committee's Report was, on the motion of W. Bro. W. B. Allwright, D.G.S.D., put as a whole for adoption, which was seconded by W. Bro. Geo. M. Douglas, 609, and declared carried.

W. Bro. R. C. Bishop, D.G. Treasurer, placed before District Grand Lodge a duly audited statement of the receipts and expenditure for the period ending December 31, 1884, which, on the motion of W. Bro. W. B. Allwright, D.G.S.D., seconded by W. Bro. Francis J. Smith, D.G. Registrar, was received and adopted.

The annual report of the Masonic Board of Benevolence for the Canterbury District was read, and, on the motion of W. Bro. Francis J. Smith, D.G. Registrar, seconded by W. Bro. Geo. M. Douglas, 609, the report was received.

On the motion of W. Bro. W. B. Allwright, D.G.S.D., seconded by W. Bro. Richard Smith, P.D.G.S.D., W. Bro. R. C. Bishop was elected District Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year.

The following W. Brethren were elected by D.G.L. to act as Standing Committee for the ensuing year, viz.:—W. Bro. A. R. Kirk, W. Bro. M. Sandstein, W. Bro. Jubal Fleming, W. Bro. S. Derbidge. And the following Brethren were appointed by the District Grand Master:-W. Bro. W. T. C. Mills, W. Bro. Geo. M. Douglas, W. Bro. C. P. Hulbert, W. Bro. R. D. Thomas.

The District Grand Master appointed the following W. Brethren as his officers for the ensuing year:—W. Bro. E. Williams, D.G.S.W.; W. Bro. W. B. Allwright, D.G.J. W.; W. Bro. Rev. H. East, D.G. Chaplain; W. Bro. F. J. Smith, D.G. Registrar; W. Bro. W. R. Mitchell, D.G. Secretary; W. Bro. Wm. Sansom, D.G.S.D.; W. Bro. C. P. Hulbert, D.G.J.D.; W. Bro. H. S. Hobday, D.G. Superintendent of Works; W. Bro. C. E. Briggs, D.G. Director of Ceremonies; W. Bro. M. Sandstein, Assistant D.G. Director of Ceremonies; W. Bro. S. Derbidge, D.G. Swordbearer; W. Bro. W. McN. Lyttelton, D.G. Standard Bearer; W. Bro. R. Webster, D.G. Standard Bearer; W. Bro. W. H. Messenger, D.G. Organist; W. Bro. W. S. Smith, D.G. Pursuivant; W. Bro, J. Baldwin, Assistant D.G. Pursuivant; Bro. R. Stevens, D.G. Tyler.

The appointment of Stewards was deferred till the next regular Communication. The D.G. Secretary was instructed to communicate with the W. M.'s of the following Lodges, requesting a nomination from each, viz.:—Lodge of Southern Cross, Kaiapoi, No. 760; Lodge of St. Augustine, Christchurch, No. 609; Lodge of Canterbury, Christ-church, No. 1048; Lodge of Conyers, Sydenham, No. 1916; Lodge of Malvern, Spring-field, No. 1919; Lodge of Concord, Papanui, No. 1925.

W. Bro. W. T. C. Mills, P.M., 1048, gave notice to move, in District Grand Lodge, at its next Quarterly Communication,—"That D.G. Lodge take into consideration the desirableness of extending the powers of the Masonic Board of Benevolence, so that widows and children of deceased brethren, and members of private Lodges, may be relieved, as well as those for whom the fund of benevolence was originally intended, and that the District Grand Lodge By-laws be amended in the direction indicated."

Nothing further offering, the District Grand Lodge was closed in due form, with solemn prayer, at 10 p.m.

(Circular.) District Grand Lodge of Malta.

Re Bro. Julius Edward Cohen.

W. Sir and Brother,—

The above Brother, who was initiated in the Zeland Lodge, Malta, No. 515.E.C., on 24th August, 1882, has been accused of making, or attempting to make, Masons, clandestinely, at Tripoli, in Africa.

Information has also been laid before this District Grand Lodge that not only in Malta, but in several other places, Bro. Cohen has borrowed money—in some instances to a considerable amount which he has failed to repay, and has also left his hotel bills unpaid.

The District Grand Lodge is using every endeavour to call Bro. Cohen to account for these offences, but, as he frequently changes his residence, all efforts up to now have been unavailing. It has therefore warned the Lodges in the district not to receive him as a Visiting Brother, nor to accept him as a Joining Member, should he present himself to them.

As he was last heard of at Reading, where he borrowed money but did not repay it, and as it seems quite possible that he may continue this practice, so discreditable to Freemasonry in every respect, the District Grand Master of Malta has issued this circular to all Provincial and District Grand Lodges, in order to put the Brethren on their guard, trusting at the same time that they may consider it advisable to adopt in their Lodges the same steps he has directed to be observed by the Lodges in the District of Malta.

You will oblige by bringing the contents of this circular to the notice of all Brethren in your district.

Insinuators.—Dogs bark at the moon, but the moon goes on all the same. There are people who are always growling, snapping and snarling at everything. You cannot please them. It is impossible to reason with some people because they are unreasonable. The most unreasonable people are those who indulge in inuendoes—insinuations, without making any direct charge, and is therefore regarded as one of the basest resorts of malice and falsehood. They have something against another and are not manly enough to say out what they mean. They live in all communities. There are such in this city. They are unhappy people, generally have the dyspepsia. We feel sorry for them, but we shall move along just the same, doing our duty. Who ever heard of the voice of authority being silenced by the kicks and plunges of violaters of the law. They may threaten to destroy the government and society; do they ever do it? A plunge may be violent, but the pain is soon over. Let no man imagine he is essential to anything. Cæsars, Napoleons and Washington as leaders of men are very scarce now.

—The Freemason, Detroit.