(F)

Yours of 30th May, with the enclosed copy of a letter written by you on the same date to R.W. Grand Secretary Ridgely, reached me to-day. I will have very great pleasure in complying with your request to place them before our Standing Committee. Meanwhile, I may allow myself the pleasure of thanking you for the courtesy you have shown by forwarding us a copy of your well-considered and lucidly-expressed letter.

I have received a letter, dated April 6th, from G.S. Ridgely, in reference to the very important subject which is the principal topic of your letter, viz., the formation of a Grand Lodge of Australasia. In my opinion, it is useless to think of the organisation of such a lodge before we have the material for its formation. I consider that the necessary material would be at least four or five Grand Lodges in the various provinces of Australasia. But then comes the question, "Would it be advisable, even then, to have a Grand Lodge of Australasia ? A great deal may be said in support of either an affirmative or negative answer to this question. If a conference of the various Australasian Grand Lodges (supposing that we had the requisite number) were to be called, I am inclined to think that the majority of delegates would be in favour of having a Supreme Grand Lodge of Australasia. For my own part, I lean to your opinion, that it is desirable to have only One Supreme Grand Lodge of the Order.

With regard to the question of the relative position of your Grand Lodge and ours, I am thoroughly in unison with the opinion expressed by you in your letter. But some of our brethren here are of a different opinion. They think that the fact of your having received the charter for your Grand Lodge from us, implies a kind of subordination to us. But I ask, wherein are you subordinate ? I quite agree with you that, as a Grand Lodge, you must be co-ordinate with our Grand Lodge, both of us being subordinate to the R.W.G.L. of the United States. But then Bro. Ridgely asserts that, in constituting the Grand Lodge of Australia, the intention was to include the whole of the British Possessions in Australasia. I can quite understand that their ideas of Australasian topography must be somewhat hazy, and that they are not well aware of the fact that a thousand miles of sea intervene between us and you. (You will doubtless think of their having forwarded the "Journals" to us from San Francisco to transmit them to you.) I must confess to you that it is my deliberate (but individual) opinion that we had no power to grant a charter to your Grand Lodge. However, the thing was done, and no doubt our Grand Lodge will be disposed to say, "Quod scripsi, scripsi."

With reference to the matter of "clearances" I am tempted to consider it altogether contrary to the terms of our charter that the R.W.G.L. of the United States should refuse to accept our "clearances" because they are not written on the "forms" supplied by the G.L. of U.S. But doubtless their judgment in reference to this matter is superior to mine. I fancy you are slightly in error when you say that they have refused our members admittance into American lodges on account of the informality of their "clearance cards." I scarcely think they could do this if the brother were in possession of the travelling pass-word, and could "work" correctly into the lodge-room. No doubt they might refuse to accept him as a member of their lodge, although I think it would be unfair to do so. We have received brothers from your jurisdiction with your clearance cards, and have received them with pleasure. However, I would not wish to be in any way disloyal to the R.W. Grand Lodge of the U.S. But it seems to me that, if they force us to use their clearance forms, they may as well require us to get our diplomas from them, and charter forms for subordinate lodges. I think that the difficulty could be easily overcome by having our clearance cards viséed by G.S. Bro. Ridgely whenever a brother wishes to deposit one into an American lodge. Bro. Ridgely would be able to certify to the signature of the Grand Secretary of our Grand Lodge.

With regard to the subject of representation by proxy at the G.L. of U.S., we could hardly claim a right to any representation unless we paid "dues." But I have little doubt that the privilege might be conceded to us, with the understanding that our delegates should not vote on financial matters.

One part of your letter gave me special pleasure. It is the following :—"We believe the judicious and proper direction and management of our finances is the paramount question in all friendly societies, and the one by which their success or failure will be tested in the fature." That is my sincere conviction. No one can more highly value the divine virtues of Friendship, Love, and Truth than I do. Let us inculcate them to our brethren both theoretically and practically, especially in the latter way. But let us not forget the grand virtues of Justice and Prudence. Let us beware of promising what we are not able to fulfil. If we contract to pay a brother a certain sum during illness, and a certain sum to his widow at his death, let us be sure that we have calculated the cost with so much prudence that there shall be no danger of us failing to fulfil our contract.

As for all our passwords, regalia, "et hoc genus omne," although they may be very good in their way, as adjuncts and helps for the preservation of the more necessary and vital objects of our Order, still without the latter they are but as "sounding brass or tinkling cymbal."

I have written this letter very hastily and immediately after the receipt of your letter. You will please consider it simply as the expression of my own opinion as a Brother of the Order.

You will be pleased, I know, to hear that we have opened a very fine Lodge in Adelaide (S.A.) through the energy and zeal of Brother Jones. There were over a hundred members initiated on the opening night (June 2nd), and 30 more had paid their initiation fee, but were not able to attend. Bro. Jones says that he will open two or three other lodges within the course of a few months.

The lodges in N. S. Wales are progressing admirably. All our lodges in Victoria are doing pretty well, although there has been rather a heavy drain lately on our sick fund. The funeral fund of the Grand Lodge is steadily increasing.

I thank you for the kind compliment you have paid us in reference to the circulation of a quarterly report from the Standing Committee. It does a great deal of good, and stops the tendency to murmur that might otherwise exist.

Allow me to assure you that I shall always be very much pleased to hear of your progress. I received the reports of your Grand Lodge, and thank you for them.