Masonic Reform.

tution granted , empowering us to legislate for our Masonic requirements , we would become a sister Grand Lodge , united with our brethren not only with the bonds of Masonryi but also with the ties of nationality . That such a concession would not sever our connection with the Grand Lodges of Britain , but unite us more more firmly in a sacred union of Masonic and National brotherhood .

We should also show our British brethren that if we had the power of annually electing our Masonic ruler , we would also have the power of rejecting him ; and by the exercise of such power , we could keep the honourable position of Victorian Grand Master free from every taint ; while at

present , although we are governed by brethren possessing the confidence of the Craft , and respected by the fraternity , yet if , in the fallibility of human nature , any of them committed a crime , disgrace would attend the body of which he was a representativeand from which he was not

ex-, cluded . We do not for a moment suppose that there can be a suspicion that any of the brethren who preside over us could ever do an act for which any Mason should blush ; but the honour of Masonry must be most jealously guarded , and we should be in a position to remove any brother it

- was deemed necessary for the honour of the Craft to supersede . We . should also point out the great benefit we . should derive from having a Grand Lodge , to which we could appeal on all questions of Masonic importance , such lodge being held in the district , -and its members knowing the wants and wishes of the brethren under their jurisdiction . Our British brethren should also be informed that if

we had the disposal of our own funds , we could employ them judiciously in Victoria , in establishing several institutions requisite for our Masonic success ; that we want an Orphan Asylum , and a House of Refuge for our aged or indigent brothers ; and we should most emphatically state that the

¦ existence of three separate Constitutions has prevented the erection of a Masonic Hall in the capital city of this golden colony . If such a petition was signed by the majority -of the brotherhood , and presented to our British brethrenwe might rest assured that our etition

, p would be received in a fraternal manner , ancl the justice of our demand would be acknowledged ; and we hope the words of the Right Worshipful "the Provincial Grand Master of the Irish

Constitution may have been spoken authoritatively , when he stated "that if it could be shown that the establishment of a Grand Lodge in this colony would be beneficial to Masonry , that His Grace the Duke of Leinster and the Grand Lodge of Ireland would be the first to acknowledthe

inge dependence of the Grand Lodge of Victoria . " The address of the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master under the Irish Constitution to the members of the Lodge of Hiram , on the subject of the proposed Grand Lodge of Victoria , was more judicious and Masonic .

He did not put forward his sentiments and opinions as Provincial Grand Master , but laying aside his position of Ruler of the Craft , he addressed his brethren as one of themselves , as a private member of the Lodge of Hiram , as a Past Master and founder of that lodge . And as he seems to have studied the questionand has endeavoured to refute some' of the

, arguments put forward by the Masonic Journal in favour of the establishment of a Grand Lodge of Victoria , we will carefully examine his objections , and explain our reasons for our advocacy . ' " Our Right "Worshipful Brother agrees with our statement that a lodge has no power to take into

consideration any subject that might lead to the subversion of the Constitution frcm which its warrants emanates ; as well might a few citizens of Melbourne write to His Excellency the Governor , and request permission to address their fellow-colonists on the subject of establishing a Republican form of

government in Victoria ; yet experienced Masons have done a similar act , when they asked permission of the three Provincial Grand Masters to address the various lodges , and consult with them on the advisability of forming a new Masonic rule in Victoria . Our Right Worshipful Brother could not shut his eyes to the

fact that the Masonic body are desirous of a change ; but he feels it his duty , as representative of the Irish Constitution , from which he holds his authority , to advise his brethren who are desirous of change to resign their membership , and thus leave themselves free , to establish any Constitution they please , without bearing the taint of disloyalty to their Masonic rulers . Judging the question from his point of view the advice is good , but we would not recommend any brother

to follow it to the extent of resigning his lodge . We would advise every brother to take care that no question which could affect the Constitution from which his warrant is derived should be discussed in his lodge . The Worshipful Master of each lodge is bound to transmit to bis successor the warrant of his lodge as he received it . If a Worshiful Master permits a

p discussion on such a question as the advisability of establishing another Constitution in opposition to the one under which he holds his warrant , and that , even an individual brother is led away from his Masonic allegiance , that Worshipful Master has betrayed his trust , and has been neglectful of the important charge

confided to him at the time of his installation . Therefore , we advise our brethren to follow the example of their brethren in Sandhurst . Let a Masonic meeting he held jwherever a lodge meets , let the members discuss the important question , —the desirability of establishing a Grand Lodge ; and if

the majority of the Masonic brotherhood think it advisible to apply to the home Constitutions for permission to form a Grand Lodge for themselves , let them do so ; there would be nothing un-Masonic or disloyal in that act ; and we are certain that if a correct appeal be made to the three constitutions ,

they would be rejoiced to hail the proposed Lodge as a sister Grand Lodge . A great deal of time has been lost since the 18 th April hy the committee appointed by the meeting held on that date , to take into consideration the best mode of establishing a Victorian Grand Lodge . They have taken the wrong course , they have addressed the lodges and not the individual Mason , this course has been most erroneous and would have been corrected before if their proceed-