Careful Working.

CAREFUL WORKING .

THE Office of Grand Inspector of Workings is unknown m our midst , bufc if we may judge from fche following extracts from the Report presented by the holder of that office under the Grand Lodge of New South Wales , there is no reason why its adoption should be anything but an advantage to English Masonry . The Brother concerned says :

I regret to note a great want of proper examination when admitting strangers in some of the Lodges , the examination being performed in a perfunctory manner , and anything but sufficient to guarantee the entrance of any unknown Brother . The due examination of strangers who claim the right of visit should be

entrusted only to the most skilful and prudent Brethren of the Lodge , and the examining Committee should never forget that no man applying for admission is to be considered as a Mason , however strong may be his recommendations , until by undeniable evidence he has proved himself to be suoh .

The ritual work in the majority of instances was very creditable , and indicated careful preparation , but in several Lodges the junior Officers apparently had devoted more careful attention to the essentials of their positions in the Craft than -was the case with their seniors . In the routine and also in symbolic work considerable ignorance and carelessness is still displayed , and the attention of Worshipful Masters has frequently been privately directed to omissions and errors . — " Masonry . "

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

THE following letter , addressed to the " Kentish Mercury , " is , we should think , based upon a misunderstanding , certainly the circular we received contained no reference to " evening dress . " If , however , that was stipulated for elsewhere those who urged it were wrong , and A GRAFT MASON ' protest was well timed .

To the Editor of THE KENTISH MERCURY . SIB , —The Lewisham Lodge of Masons has issued invitations to members of the Craft to attend Divine service on Sunday evening next at the Church of St . Laurence , Catford . I don't think anyone could object to such an assemblage for such a purpose , but what I imagine will afford grounds for ridicule if carried out is the suggestion that " evening dress " should be worn .

This , I take it , is carrying matters a " leetle " too far . There is of course no " harm " in such attire , but when it is put on as a species of parade in a building consecrated to the worship of the Creator it becomes to my mind a parody on the sacred objects for which the assembly is conveoed . Ifc will not do at all for the advocates of Masonry to urge that the Craft has a sacred origin ; thafc may , or may not be . What I contend is that a dress dedicated , as it were , to the pursuit of social pleasure , would be quite out of place in the '

House of God . There is another view , also , of tbe question . If members of the Craft appear so adorned , why should not their female relatives be similarly clothed ? But then a woman in evening dress and at the same time wearing a bonnet or other conventional head covering would produce ridicule and a greater contempt of sacred things . I cannot but feel grievously sorry that the Vicar of St . Laurence has lent himself to any such programme . . I am , Sir , & c , A GRAFT MASON .

A Masonic Cycling Club has been formed in Glasgow , and a series of runs arranged . We baveheard it mooted that excursions should be made to some of the Lodges of Instruction meeting in towns a few miles out of London , but at present have not had the opportunity of participating in one .

Masonic Sonnets, No. 117.

Masonic Sonnets , No . 117 .

Bv Bfto . CHAS . P . FORSHAW , LL . D ., 2417 , 1242 , 295 ( E . G . ) , 761 , 24 ( S . C ) .

IMPROPER SOLICITATION . FREEMASONBY needs no solicitation-Its deeds are blazoned forth in clarion tongue , And the profane should need no invitation To what has oft been sung in sweetest song .

Yet if they seek to tread our inner ways , And fain would walk our labyrinthian home , Led by their own accord they still may come And learn the Art the Craftsman there pourtrays . The Mason Free will bid no man to share

The work he knows and loves so much to do ; The work began and ended with a prayer

To the Grand Master far beyond ihe Blue , Who looks with smiles on Brethren of the Square And favours all if but they Labour true 1 Winder House , Bradford , 30 th April 1896 .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

THE death is announced of Bro . Charles Holtfcum , F . R . C . S ., J . P ., which occurred at his residence , Latchmere , Watling Street , Canterbury , on Tuesday , 21 st ulfc ., after a long and painful illness , at the advanced age of seventy-eight . He was a promioent Craftsman , and before his illness took an active parfc in all that appertained to thc welfare of the fraternity .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Will you be good enough to favour me with your opinion on a point of Masonic etiquette . Does a Director of Ceremonies take precedence in a Lodge above the Inner Guard , even though such a case is printed in tha bye-laws of the Lodge ?

MASONIC PRECEDENCE ,

Yours fraternally , I . G . 15 th April 1896 .

[ We are of opinion that Rule 6 of the Constitution , which gives the precedence of members of Grand Lodge , settles this question , and in thafc case the Director of Ceremonies would rank

far above the Inner Guard ; further than this it may be pointed out that many Lodges appoint a Past Master as Director of Ceremonies , and re-appoint the same Brother year after year , apparently implying the Office is a special one , whereas that of Inner Guard is looked upon as an early and regular step towards the Master ' s chair . On the other side it may be argued that the Inner Guard is a regular Officer of a Lodge ( Book of Constitutions ,

Rule No . 129 ) , and necessarily takes precedence of any extraneous Officer whom the Master may be pleased to appoint under the same Rule , The bye-laws of a Lodge cannot be allowed to contravent the Book of Constitutions . If might also be added that the Ritual decides the case : —How many Principal Officers , & c . How many Assistant Officers , & c . There is no mention of the D . C—Ed . F . C ]

Concert Of Miss Greta Williams.

CONCERT OF MISS GRETA WILLIAMS .

AT the Kensington Town Hall , on Monday , 27 th ult ., a grand evening concert was given by Miss Greta Williams , daughter of our well known Brother B . H . Williams P . M . Kensington , Dalhousie , and Hammersmith Lodges P . P . G . J . D . Middlesex and Deputy Preceptor Kensington Lodge of Instruction .

The large hall was well filled , not only exhibiting a deserved compliment to Miss Williams , but also a mark of Brotherly love to our Bro . Williams , whose popularity is great in the Craft . Among a distinguished company present , and who had given their patronage , we noticed P . Ms . Hillier , Maundy , Neville , and Arthur Williams , Bros . M . Moss , Isaac Cohen , & c .

The first item , a Trio in D minor , Mendelssohn , by Miss Edie Beynolds ( Violinist ) , Mr . Prosper Burnett ( Cello ) , and Mrs . Henry ( Pianist ) , was succeeded by a song from Mr . Lewis Thomas , " The Exile's Beturn , " which suffered somewhat in the fact that coming so early in the programme the artiste had not then settled to his work . The artiste of the evening , Miss Greta Williams , next ventured two

songs , the first , Schubert's " Du bist die Bull , " and secondly , Mozart ' s " Lullaby " ( by request ) . Both songs were well rendered and received , but we preferred the ' •Lullaby , " although we have heard Miss Williams to greater advantage in other songs . Needless to say a perfect ovation awaited her , both before and after her songs . Mr . Herbert Thorndike next gave a new patriotic song , " There ' s a land , " whioh was well received .

The mandoline performance of Miss Nellie Swinyard , favourite pupil of Madame Giulia Pelzer , was of a creditable description ; this artiste is yet young and will improve with further practice and experience . Cowen's sacred song " The Voice of the Father , " by Miss Greta Williams , was a gem , exquisitely rendered and well worthy of the encore so persistently demanded by the audience , to whose commands Miss Williams obliged with " The Ash Grove , " which , though well rendered , suffered by comparison with her former song .

Mr . Prosper Burnett ' s two cello items were magnificently executed , and exceedingly well received and applauded . Mr . Fred Upton brought the first part of the programme to a close with a sketch , which succeeded in amusing without giving offence , a great desideratum . ¦ A quartette " Un di si ben " ( Bigoletto ) Verdi , by Madame Bertha Moore , Miss Greta Williams , Mr . H . Lewis Thomas and Mr . Herbert Thorndike , opened the second part of the programme . Two pianoforte solos

by Mrs . Henry were ably performed . Mr . Lawrence Kellie played his own compositions to two songs "Dunedin no more " and "The day has athousand joys . " Miss Greta Williams' " Down the Stream" was prettily sung , and showed a talented study of its composition by the artiste . Mr . Lewis Thomas ' new song " Doris Darling " preceded Miss Edie Reynolds' violin Fantasie " Carmen , " which was really the verv best performance of the evening , and

kept the audience m rapt attention . This artiste has a pretty manner and winsome ways ; the delicacy of some passages were well executed , and the whole tout ensemble was superb . Mr . Herbert Thorndike ' s " Long ago in Alcada " may fitly be summed up in his concluding two lines : " So loug as a tune has a right good swing , It doesn't much matter what words you sing ,

Tra-la-la !" Wo got the right good swing here to a rattling good modulated voice Madame Bertha Moore , Miss Greta Williams and Mr . Hugo Hilnz brought a full programme to a finish , and the audience dispersed to the strains of God save the Queen . We congratulate Miss Williams on the excellent arrangements of her concert , which was stage and business managed by Bro . H . B . Williams and Stewards" ! by P . M . Neville in a most able manner .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative to report Lodge or other proceedings .