Our Twenty-Second Volume.

OUR TWENTY-SECOND VOLUME .

BEYOND an expression of p leasure that we are about to start another half-yearly volume of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE , we have little to say . Freemasonry in England is continuing its career of prosperity , and

would appear even to be making greater strides than ever in public favour . Its Charities have been nobly supported so far , and ns there yet remain opportunities of increasing the already large amonnt of contributions for the current

year , we shall be surprised if the totals we have to announce six months hence will not far exceed those at present estimated . The result of the Festivals of the year are in themselves evidence of the continued prosperity of the

Craft , while as regards its activity we have only to refer to the heavy calls made on our time and space during this , the generally recognised holiday season . From our experience meetings appear to be almost as numerous now as

during the height of the hitherto accepted Masonic season . In introducing our Twenty-second Volume we can but add we start with the determination of sparing no pains to make it interesting to the Craft , while we think it is hardly

necessary to say we shall continue on the same lines as have hitherto guided us in onr endeavours to make the paper a representative journal of the Masonic Brotherhood of England .

Skill And Assiduity In A W.M.

SKILL AND ASSIDUITY IN A W . M .

IN the remark ? , in our issue of the 11 th October 1884 , under this head , we spoke more particularly of the skill necessary in a Worshipful Master to ensure the success

of the Lodge over which he had to preside . A mere knowledge of the words of the ritual , we then pointed out , was not all that was needed to entitle a brother to the highest

rank among his fellows , but rather an ability satisfactoril y to preside over the meetings of his Lodge , whether engaged in labour or at refreshment . It may trul y be said that the Worshipful Master for the time beine is the

corner-stone on which the whole fabric of his Lodge rests —that on his skill and ability depends , not only the welfare of the Lodge , but the comfort and happiness of its members . How necessary then is it that every candidate

selected for the Master ' s chair should be able to carry out the duties required of him in a satisfactory manner . In our closing remarks on this subject , in the issue to which we have already referred , we promised to devote some

attention to the relationship of the Worshipful Master of a Lodge to his Past Masters , and it is our intention on the present occasion to redeem that promise . We have already said that a Worshipful Master should be

ruler in his own Lodge , not governing , however , with n r ° d of iron , but rather by kindness , and it is with the ¦^ asfc Masters of his Lodge that he may find the greatest difficult y , or , if properly managed , from whom he may obtain tae greatest assistance . Englishmen are seldom slow to show for the

^ spect experience gained by their seniors , and few Englishmen more full y recognise this principle than Free'Basons . Yet cases will arise in which a newly-appointed Brother

may consider his own ability equal , if not superior , w that of the brethren of his Lodge who have had the vantage ° f actual experience in the work which he is

Skill And Assiduity In A W.M.

fresh to , and some will even go so far as to urge their opinion against that of the old and tried members of the Lodge . We are not wholly opposed to this course , because unless a little spirit is shown by each succeeding

Master , a Lodge may run the risk of dying from inanition , but great skill is necessary to decide how far the spirit of rebellion may safel v be carried . The Past Masters of a Lodge have no doubt a claim to bo considered , and their

opinion should be respected , but only so far as a Master may feel he can coincide in their views , or at least only so far as their views may not be in exact opposition to his own , is it safe for him to go without

some independent advice . He is the Master of the Lodge , he is responsible for its welfare , and he alone will be to blame if any experiment results unfavourably . It will be no use for him to plead he acted on tho advice of the Past

Masters ; he was placed in his position to manage the Lodge ; he accepted the office well knowing the responsibilities attached to it , and must be as equally prepared to meet any complaints as he is to listen to eulogistic

compliments . True , the Past Masters will not desert him in an emergency , but between the lay members of his Lodge and those who have passed the chair , there is often a great gulf , and when such does exist it is the Worshipful

Master who is looked upon as the bridge which shall uuite the two sections ; therefore it is well to remember that on any question on which there is likely to be a difference of opinion independent action is necessary more

than at any other time , but this independent action must not usually be carried to extremes ; a conciliatory course is possible , and in the arrangement of this the Worshipful Master will have ample opportunity for displaying that skill so essential in a ruler of the Craft .

Art, History, And The Craft.

ART , HISTORY , AND THE CRAFT .

IT almost goes without saying that anything relating to operative Masonry has or should have au interest for speculative Freemasons . Both arts are inseparably interwoven in history , and not less closelv combined in onr ritual .

We make no apology , therefore , for calling the attention of our readers to the proposal for restoring Queen Eleanor ' s Cross at Waltham , Herts . The story of the origin of crosses identified with the name of the Consort of

King Edward I . is well known . As an example of wifel y devotion it deserves to be held in remembrance , and as an heroic act it ranks among the bravest . The King had

received a thrust from a poisoned dagger , and his Queen sucked the poison from the wound , and thus saved his life . She further added to her claim to lie considered a

noble woman and a benefactor of tho kingdom by " reconciling the malcontent Welshmen , and in securing their fealty to her Inhiib snn , thus becoming tho originator of tho title of tho 'Prince of Wales . '" Originally

there were twelve crosses which were erected to the memory of Queen E'eanor , but only three now remain . One of the most beautiful is that at Waltham , which bears date 1201 or 1202 . The qneon was the

daughter of Ferdinand IK ., King of Castile and Leon , whose arms are cut at the lower part of tho Cross—as are those of the Countess of Pouthien , her mother—with those of England . The three beautiful statues of this queen , standing under the canopies of this monument , are stated