Some Notes On Freemasonry In Australasia.– –(Continued).

However , to resume , the brethren of the Cambrian Lodge of Australia who adhered to their allegiance as English Masons , made clivers applications to the New South Wales executive for the return of their warrant , which in each case was refused , it being then in the keeping of the Cambrian Lodge , No . 10 , New South Wales Constitution . In November

of 1888 , the English brethren appealed to their Grand Lodge , but the document did not reach London until some days subsequent to the December meeting of Grand Lodge , at which the Grand Lodge of New South Wales had been recognised . After an interval of three years ( in January

, 1892 ) , the Grand Secretary of England notified the New South Wales Grand Lodge , in effect , that the Cambrian Lodge of Australia , No . 656 , remained and would continue to work under the English Constitution . An application for the return of the warrant was refused . In the very same

year , though , the ( at that time existing ) Colonial Board in London rescinded the order previously promulgated , that the lodge should continue its working under England , whilst the granting of a warrant of confirmation was also refused . It should be explained that the English brethren claimed

their right to the warrant , and to continue working under the English Constitution , by virtue of Article 219 of the Constitutions , which at that time read as follows : —

" Should the majority of any lodge determine to retire from it , the power of assembling remains with the rest of the members ; but should the number of members remaining be less than three , the warrant becomes extinct . "

Hilt ItOliKUT J ) UK ) - \ <; . C . ! 1 . <; ., THIRD UR . KSII M . tS'l'KII OF . VI-. 'H ' SOUTH WALKS . In the 186 3 edition of the Constitutions , the reading after the words " rest of the members " was , " who adhere to their allegiance ; but if all the members of a lodge withdraw the

warrant becomes extinct . " It is opportune to here quote the reservation laid down by Lord Carnarvon , in moving the recognition of New South "Wales as a sovereign body : — " It is right , and it is in accordance with all our practice up to this time , that we should reserve the full right of any who may chance to dissent from the

vote of the majority It is my duty to mention it , and to insist on it . " And the words of the Grand Registrar , Bro . Philbrick , in seconding the resolution , were , if anything , more emphatic"That the limitation which the Pro Grand Master

has expressed is a wise one , it is our duty to accede to . No establishment of a new body , however lawful it may be can for one moment be held to render unlawful that which was lawful before its

creation—to invalidate acts to which we ourselves are committed , by granting warrants and accepting the allegiance of brethren and of lodges which have been faithful to us , and which we view- with feelings of gladness , a unanimous movement in which all join . At the same time we are bound to protect

those who should not feel themselves enabled to join the majority . " Long before this , the Earl of Zetland had spoken with similar force in moving the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Canada , whilst the following deliverance from the Grand

Master of Canada , in 186 4 , on the Quebec trouble deserves quoting : — " I have ever held , and frequently expressed the opinion , that any subordinate lodges preferring to continue under their English warrant , had a perfect

and undoubted right to do so , and were entitled , not only to recognition from us , but to all their Masonic privileges . " In 18 93 , the cause of the Sydney ( Cambrian ) brethren was resolutely taken up by brethren in England , and at the June

Communication of Grand Lodge the Colonial Board submitted a lengthy report traversing the entire situation from their point of view . But a notice of motion in the following terms had been lodged by the late Bro . Richard Eve , Past Grand Treasurer , whose eloquent advocacy carried the day by a vote of two to one : —

" That this Grand Lodge declares that the conclusion of the Colonial Board , viz ., that Article 219 did not apply to the case of the Cambrian Lodge , No . 656 , of Australia , is totally opposed to the uniform practice of Grand Lodge since 1779 , and that the

correct construction of the law is that laid down by the V . W . Grand Registrar , Bro . Philbrick , and the V . W . the President of the Board of General Purposes , Bro . Fen 11 , on the 3 rd June , 1885 , by the late M . W . Pro Grand Master , Lord Carnarvon , on the 5 th

December , 1888 , and by the R . W . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , and by the V . W . Grand Registrar , and the V . W . President of the Board of General Purposes on the 2 nd December , 1891 , and adopted by Grand Lodge on those dates . "

" And that the alleged cancellation of the warrant was in direct contravention of the terms on which Grand Lodge granted recognition to the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales . " " And that those brethren who adhere to their allegiance to this Grand Lodge are therefore entitled to recognition as the lodge . "

The next phase of the controversy was the service of a writ on the . Master and Wardens of the New South Wales Cambrian Lodge , No . 10 , for recovery of the books , furniture , etc ., belonging to Xo . 656 . It had originally been intended to include in the claim the accumulated funds of the dissolved District Grand Lodge , amounting to some , £ 20 , 000 . After a

lapse of two years , the case came before the Supreme Court of the colony , and was referred to arbitration . A coinmission , lasting eleven days , also sat in England to take evidence on both sides , Bro . John Strachan , K . C , subsequently and now Grand Registrar , being for the plaintiffs ,

and Bro . W . English Harrison , K . C , now Past Deputy Grand Registrar , for the defendants . The intimation that the large sum mentioned would also form part of the claim excited some ridicule in high quarters ; but 1 I 12 plaintiffs at any rate were only unconsciously anticipating the decision of