A Word In Season.

a very poor opinion of any Lodgo who could or would not " put on the screw , " so to speak , and contrive to send its guinea annually to the fund for carrying on the grand scheme Avhieh has been so admirably inaugurated .

Hitherto , as we have seen , tho idea of an annual and steady subscription has not been much favoured by Lodges in this country ; although AVC have heard ifc dinned into the ears of the brethren over

and over again , for years , what Avonders could be effected if onl y the brethren Avould collectively unite and send a trifling sum , the loss of Avhich they could not possibly feel , to the coffers of our Charities . Thus out of G 8

District and Provincial Grand Lodges , there are only half a-dozen annual subscribers ; and amongst 2019 private Lodges in England and the Colonies , there are only 135 that have yefc adopted the principle urged by Bro . Binckes .

In the Royal Arch there is a similar , if nofc graver , proportion of failure in this respect , for oufc of 650 Chapters only seven are annual subscribers . We can but echo the expression of assurance contained in the concluding * sentences of

the circular— " Surely something can be done to remedy this unsatisfactory state of things . " And so would add , that whereas every Lodge could , if it so pleased , send its guinea a-year to help the executive in carrying oufc satisfactorily

what they have so well begun ; many are able , and will be glad , to send double and treble that amount , " either by donation direct ; or through the medium of a SteAvard as representative of a Lodge ; " so that it may not be said

there is any diminution of the fervent zeal and sturd y determination we have ahvays seen amongst the members generally of the Craffc , in carrying oufc the great principles of Charity , of the past results of which they are so justly proud .

Interest In Lodge Work

INTEREST IN LODGE WORK

ONE of the most difficult questions , and one that has , at all times , presented itself to the Craft , is hoAv to keep up the interest of the members in the Lodge work . The degrees have been so expanded in these latter days

that a considerable amount of time is taken up in Avorking them , ^ and when , as it sometimes happens , two or three are given in the course , of the evening the business gets very wearisome to the floor members who , when a chance

occurs , gradually drop off , leaving the Lodge , perhaps , to be closed by a bare quorum . Many brethren there are Avho have an affection for their Lodge , but are frightened aAvay by the tedium involved in giving too much work , and AVO have often heard the remark made that the whole business

got wearisome . This plan of crowding too much into an evening can be easily avoided by setting apart a certain night for each degree , and letting same be intimated to the brethren generall y . Should work accumulate , an

emergency meeting held occasionally would clear all off , and relieve the regular meetings to an extent that Avould be readily appreciated by the members . By this method also the tax upon the Officers of the Lodge Avould be

considerably less , with advantage to the general work and the proper rendering of the ritual . Ifc may be urged that brethren would be kept back from taking their degrees in the usual monthly style generally adopted noAV , and , although afc first sight this may possibly appear a hardship ,

yefc we think that a closer look into the matter will show that , instead of being such , it would be a positive benefit not only to the candidates but the Craffc in general . The present practice of rushing candidates through , night after

nig ht , Avho are really-unacquainted with the degree they have just taken , and who , in a great many instances , are quite ^ ignorant of tbe necessary qualifications for passing or raising , is one greatly to be deplored , and cannot be

said to bs either beneficial to the recipient of the degree or to the advantage of the Fraternity . With the fixed nights mentioned for the different degrees , these brethren

would have time to prepare themselves , and , with the knowledge that at a certain date they must present themselves for advancement or wait a few months more , they would be more anxious to befit themselves for the occasion .

With one degree only for each regular Lodge night , tbe meetings would terminate earlier ; ancl should the Lodge favour the refreshment board , a feAv more minutes would be made available for that social intercourse that forms so important a part of the Masonic gathering . We have , however , another side to look at . All Lodges are not overburdened with work , and possibly these Lodges

Interest In Lodge Work

contain somo of tho bono and sinew of the Craft , AVIIO , being more scrupulous and particular who they admit , havo not so many brethren knocking afc the door of the Lodge . These Lodges suffer from a want of some ! lung

to do , and perhaps not feeling sufficient interest to play dummy and Avork a degree for practice only , merely open the Lodge ancl close it for , as they say , form ' s sake . Now , it would be ten chances to one but that Avithin theso

Lodges there are many members extremely anxious to knoAV " more about Masonry " than is given in the degrees and usual lectures , and it would range within the same amount of certainty that there aro other members AVIIO are

in a position to afford lig ht to their inquiring brethren . What an ever ending fund of mutual instrnction opens itself here ! The Lodge Avould , indeed , be a source of pleasure

and profit , and even the dullest of dullards must bo benefitted by a discussion carried on in a fraternal spirit . Subjects there are without number , and all capable of having more light throAvn upon them .

The boundeu duty of Worshipful Masters is to make their Lodges brig ht and attractive to the Avhole of the brethren , and Ave commend the few lines just penned to their careful consideration . —Victorian Freemason .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . ALFRED CHARLES RAWLINGS . WE regret to have to announce the decease of Brother RaAvlings , the Worshipful Master of St . Luke ' s Lodge , No . 144 , which sad event took place on Sunday evening , the 21 st ult . Bro . Rawlings Avas only installed into the

Chair of King Solomon in October last , though it vas apparent his state of health was unsatisfactory , but the brethren of his Lodge and many friends Avere in hopes he Avould recover . It has , hoAvever , pleased the Great

Architect to will otherwise , and our lamented brother has died , at the early age of 37 ; rapid consumption having set in a feAv weeks back . The funeral took placo on Saturday last , at the Greafc Northern Cemetery , Wood Green . Bros

Unite ( Treasurer ) , Witts ( Secretary ) , Barham , Ball , and Taylor P . M . ' s of the Lodge , Coulthard , Hughes , Knight , Wittingham , Brown , Mann sen ., and others were present .

It is singular that a brother of the deceased , who Avas also an Officer of the St . Luke ' s Lodgo , died a feAv years since , also at the age of 37 ; while , on the last Saturday in 1883 the brethren Avere called to attend the funeral of their then S . W . ( Bro . G . W . Cole ) .

The obsequies of the late Warden of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution at Croydon , Avhose demise Avas briefly mentioned in our last issue , took place on Saturday last , at Croydon Cemetery . The coffin in which

our deceased brother was buried Avas literally covered Avith floral wreaths and crosses , sent as affectionate tributes of respect , and SOITOAV at the loss of a venerable and hig hlyhonoured friend . Amongst the chief mourners Avere Bro .

James Creed Norris , son of deceased , and three grandsons ; Bros . J . A . Farnfield , Thomas Cubitt P . G . P . and Edgar Bowyer P . G . S . B ., members of the House Committee ; Bro . James Terrv Secretary and Bro . John Mason Collector

of tbe Institution ; Dr . Strong and Dr . Adams ; ancl on behalf of the residents in the Asylum Bros . Shoring , Everest , Turner , Beckett , Maxwell , Mobbs , Churchhouse , Hole , Seabrook , and others . The home of the " Old

Folks" has naturally been wrapped in gloom during the usual merry season , for tho lato Bro . Norris , though a rigid discip linarian , Avas beloved by all , over whom , he exercised a firm but gentle rule . When he died he Avas

within a month of his 95 th year , having been a resident in the Institution twenty-two and a-half years . Up to the last , although his hearing was rather defective , he Avas halo and hearty and enjoyed

nothing more than a pleasant and lively chat with the visitors to the Asylum . His idea A \ as that ho was tho oldest Freemason in England then living ; but Ave are not aAvaro as to the accuracy of our venerable brother ' s

cherished idea , so many having claimed that distinction at various times . Anyhow , ho had been a member of the Craft longer than the " allotted span " of human

existence , and had ho lived to tho 10 th of March next , he would have completed a Masonic career of seventy-three years . He discharged the duties of his position as Warden of the Institution with a considerable amount of tact and consideration .