Masonic Caution.

MASONIC CAUTION .

/ " \ NE of the first lessons taught in Freemasonry is ^ J that of caution , but we wonder how many members really take the injunction to heart , or if they do , how many of them remember it after a few years association with the Craft ?

We heard much to form food for reflection under this head on the occasion of the election meeting of Grand Lodge on Wednesday . Some of the voterswho could not plead ignorance of the rules of the

Craft , for they must at least have been Wardens , and were probably Masters or Past Masters—were boasting or complaining , as the case might be , in

public , of " Free Railway Tickets , Free Cabs , and Free Lunches , & c , & c , " provided for the electors . Was this for the good of the cause we have so firmly at heart , or otherwise ?

Is it worth bringing discredit on the whole body of the Craft to satisfy the whim or ambition of one or two individuals who seek hi gh office by such means ? and when successful lay the flattering unction to their

soul that a great honour has been conferred upon them ! As we say elsewhere , in touching upon another phase of this subject , it may be going somewhat too far to prohibit all canvassing and touting prior to an

election ; but it certainly seems necessary for the authorities to keep some sort of check on enthusiastic workers who allow their zeal to get the better of their judgment . It is coming dangerously near a scandal

when " rulers of the Craft" talk in public , as some of them did on Wednesday , of the " Free " entertainment provided for voters . In politics such treating would , we believe , entail upon the candidates heavy bribery

penalties ; and although we by no means wish to introduce political practices into Freemasonry , the members of the Craft , for the sake of the reputation

of the Order , might work on this particular feature , and enforce equally harsh penalties for like offences in Freemasonry .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

THE Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , held on Wednesday , was very largely attended , as was expected would be the case , in consequence of the polling for the position of Grand Treasurer for the year , the number of votes recorded in connection with that election being no less than 2 , 348 .

At the evening meeting the throne was occupied by Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , who proceeded to obligate and invest Earl Amherst Prov . G . M . Kent as Pro Grand Master of England , and Lord Amherst having been installed and saluted presided over the subsequent proceedings .

One of the new Pro Grand Master ' s first official acts was to obligate and invest the Earl of Warwick as Deputy Grand Master of England , and he was duly saluted in accordance with his rank . A communication was read stating that the Grand

United Grand Lodge.

Lodge of Peru had reinstated the Volume of the Sacred Law in its Lodges , and the Prince of Wales therefore proposed to withdraw the non-recognition of that body as a true and lawful Masonic body . Resolutions were passed to that effect .

On the motion of Col . Chaloner , M . P ., seconded by Sir Forrest Fulton , the Prince of Wales was unanimously elected for the twenty-fifth year as Grand Master .

The result of the election for Grand Treasurer was announced in favour of Bro . Bevan , with 1 , 322 votes , as against 1 , 026 polled on behalf of Bro . Harry Manfield , of Northampton .

Mark Grand Lodge.

MARK GRAND LODGE .

rr ^ HE Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of JL Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown was held on Tuesday , at Mark Masons' Hall , London , under the presidency of the Earl of Euston Pro Grand . Mark Master ,

with the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton acting as Deputy Grand Master , and Major J . Woodall as Past Grand Master . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales was unanimously re-elected Grand Mark Master , for the fourteenth year .

Bro . Alfred H . Bevan , the only candidate for the office of Mark Grand Treasurer , was declared duly elected . Bro . Loveland Loveland , Q . C ., President of the General Board made a feeling reference to the death of Colonel A . B . Cook Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex .

Devonshire.

DEVONSHIRE .

A SPECIAL Convocation of the Provincial Grand Chapter is convened for Thursday , gth inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , for the constitution and

consecration of the new Chapter in connection with the Sir Francis Drake Lodge , No . 2649 , the Consecrating Officer being the Hon . Sir Stafford Northcote , M . P ., Prov . Grand Superintendent .

A Warrant has also been granted for a Chapter in connection with the Jordan Lodge , No . 1402 , at the Masonic Temple , Torquay , which , it is expected , will be duly constituted on the holding of the Provincial Grand Chapter ,

which is likely to take place shortly , and when , it is hoped , the esteemed Grand Superintendent will officiate in like manner . This will raise the total Chapters in Devon to thirty , and make the Province one of the largest in England , especially in proportion to the number of its Lodges .

At the monthly meeting of the Lodge of Good Fellowship , No . 276 , Chelmsford , on Thursday , 23 rd ult ., a handsomely illuminated address was adopted and signed by the Master Bro . F . Spalding , heartily congratulating the Earl ' of

Warwick upon his appointment as Deputy Grand Master of England , by the Prince of Wales , and expressing the hope that his Lordship would be spared for many years to enjoy the exalted position conferred upon him .

On Sunday evening , 19 th ult ., Bro . Cowell P . M . Preceptor of the Zodiac Lodge of Instruction , assisted by members of the Victoria Park , Zodiac , and Israel Lodges of

Instruction , worked the Fifteen Sections at the Israel Lodge of Instruction , at the Rising Sun , Globe Road . This was the first time Bro . Cowell has worked the sections at this Lodge , and there was , therefore , a good attendance .