Masonic Reform.

into existence ; colonies have , like ourselves , asked for the privilege of self-legislation aud obtained it , and we read of Grand Lodges nearly ail over the globe . We have in our past numbers given the records of the struggle of our Canadian brethren to obtain their Masonic independence . Our readers have read how ,

in the first instance , refusal ( and almost reproach ) was the reward of the struggle . They asked only for an increase of Masonic . privileges , and being refused , they stood upon their just right as Masbns and took what none had a right to withhold , the right to govern themselves . For years they sought some concessions

which were refused , but at last they declared their independence , and the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , under the Grand Lodge of . England , said . — *¦ ' Very recently great concessions were proposed to be made to the Canadian brethren . These concessions

were admitted by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Canada West to be ample , hut they were said to be made too late . Though bound to do nothing to induce the Canadians to throw off their allegiance , he had always considered they had a perfect right to declare their independence , and to govern themselves , if they

felt it was for their own advantage . He hoped the Grand Lodge would assist him . in carrying the recognition in a way to conciliate the Grand Lodge of Canada , but without losing sight of the interests of those lodges still holding under the G ?» hd Lodge of England . :- .. ..-- '

. Let us follow the example of our Canadian brethren ; and seek as they did , in the first instance , by remonstrance and petition to obtain the . boon of selflegislation . If we can show good and sufficient reasons why such a favour should be granted tous

, ¦ our Right Worshipful Brother , J . T . Smith , has stated , that the Grand Lodge which he represents would recognise "A sister Grand Lodge of Victoria . " If Ave solicit in vain the alternative remains .

Grand Lodge For Victoria ( Australia).

GRAND LODGE FOR VICTORIA ( AUSTRALIA ) .

( From the Melbourne Masonic Journal . ) ¦ To OT . it BRITISH BBETIII-EK , — -Whatever serves 'the interest of the Masonic brotherhood in Victoria must necessarily be of importance to our brethren in the country we still call our home , and knowing that o . ur brother of the Freemason ' s Magazine may he able

to serve his Victorian brethren by disseminating their wishes and requirements , we address a few words to our British brethren . It is expected by several Victorian brethren that the July mail will convey to Britain , to our British brethren , assembled in Grand Lodges in

EnglandIre-, land , and Scotland , a 2 ietition that our mother Grand Lodges may grant ns a Constitution empowering us to form a Grand Lodge for Victoria . In order that this petition may not be placed before them without due notice , we will with the most fraternal feelings slate a few reasons why our request

should be granted . Firstly , that our desire to establish a Grand Lodge does not arise from any feeling ; of dissatisfaction towards any or either of our home"" Grand Lodges , but simply from a desire that we should be permitted to govern ourselves without the unavoidable delay , which must occur when we are obliged to send 16 , 000

miles to decide any question of Masonic discipline . We do not desire to separate from our British brethren , but we pray that our connection may continue , and that we may be permitted while legislating for ourselves , at the same time , to derive our authority to do so from the United Grand Lodges in our mother countryand thus still partake of the prestige attached

, to the British Masonic Constitution . Secondly , we desire to establish a Victorian Grand Lodge , because we believe that we are more capable of judging our Masonic requirements than strangers to our wants and wishes , no matter how closely they may be allied to us with the bonds of Masonry .

Thirdly , we desire to establish a Victorian Grand Lodge , in order that there may be a unity of Masonic rule over us , and by having such , do away with a rivalry which must , of necessity , exist where three Constitutions are established , each of them claiming supreme power over the brethren enrolled under

their Constitution . Fourthly , we desire to establish a Victorian Grand Lodge , because we wish to have a unity in our mode of working . Our British brethren may not clearly understand this desire , because each - Constitution at home holds its power only in the island in which it is

established , and therefore our brethren there never see any of . their Masonic ceremonies performed in various ways , hut here , in Victoria , a brother may visit a lodge on one night , and see ( let us suppose ) an initiation , conducted in the same manner in which he himself was initiated , and the next night he may attend another lodge meeting , perhaps in the same room , and initiating a candidate , and yet the ceremony

may be totally different , even in essential landmarks . One lodge works what they call the English manner , another the Irish , a third the Scotch , while a fourth will make a jumble of the lot , and be perfect in none . We therefore desire to see established a united system , based upon the three Constitutions of Britain , which

we respect . Fifthly , we desire to establish a Grand Lodge in Victoria , in order that we may have the appointment of our Grand Master , thereby having a voice in our ruling Masonic power—a right inherent to every Britona right accorded to every free peoplebut

, , which we do not possess . Sixthly , and above all , we desire to establish a Grand Lodge in Victoria , in order that we may have a Court of Appeal from the judgment of an individual brother to a congregation of the brotherhood . Here we have no appeal from the judgment of a brother appointed

to the position of Provincial Grand Master , and retained in that position without our wishes being annually consulted , unless we make appeal to the Grand Lodge of the Constitution under which he acts—a Provincial Grand Lodge being only a cipher in Masonic rule .

On these grounds we appeal to our British brethren to take into their fraternal consideration our requirement of a Victorian Grand Lodge , and to treat us as brethren , equally free with themselves : and we hope , when our humble petition will be brought before the Grand Lodgesthat they will consider calmlthe

, y reasons above stated , and grant the request of . their Victorian brethren , for the benefit of self-legislation to be conferred by establishing a Victorian Grand Lodge .