Royal Arch Chapters.

We think one and perhaps the chief reason is the difficulty of getting Officers of ability to do the work ; and the cause of this effect may bo again traced to tho Blue Lodge , and to the want of continuity above referred to . The P . M . ' s of the Lodge should be properly reckoned on

as the principal Officers in tho Chapter ; but they cannot by a long way be depended on to coutiuuo taking an interest in their Lodge , much less undertake the onerous duties of a Principal of the Royal Arch . They seem entirely content when they assume the badge which raises them a

step above their brethren on the floor of the Lodge , and which marks their superiority at any public appearance , they have done enough for thomsolves , and theroforo enough for Masonry ; they havo attained their ultiiuatuin ,

and tbey cannot be bothered any longer " It takes up so much time , you know . " They do not add that it also makes a further demand on their brains , and that although some of them make liberal use of their immediate or some

other Past Master in scraping through their year of office in the Blue , that without such assistance it is useless their attempting the Arch , and which from the naturo of tho circumstances they are not likely to obtain . If the I . P . M . of a Lodge were accustomed to look on it as a matter of

course that he should next take the office of Principal Sojourner in the Chapter and so work up through the chairs until he was installed Z ., and if he were taught from the first to think that his ultimatum and nothing short of it , that would be one good reason why we should see more vitality in Chapter Masonry .

We do not approve of exalting every brother in a Chapter six months after he has been " raised " simply because he desires it , for we hold that a Chapter should consist of the most worthy and most intelligent members of a Lodge ; the ballot is always there as the safeguard of its privileges ,

and therefore if any other than these are found in it , the fault is with the Companions themselves ; consequently we would advocate the minimum fee for exaltation , and the smallest amount for dues that can be fixed compatible with good management . It should not cost near as much to

work a Chapter as a Craft Lodge . The Companions meet less often , and have not the same claims for charity , & c , coming before them as have the Blue Lodges ; and as the expense of keeping up both Lodge and Chapter comes out of the same pockets , it is most desirable that the

qualification of attending to Chapter duties should be made to cost as little as possible . We would urge the Principals of Chapters to take these matters into consideration , and to foster that connection between Lodge and Chapter that at present seems to be the point of severance . — The Neiv Zealand draftsman .

The Tyler's Club.

THE TYLER'S CLUB .

FROM THE VOICE OF MASONRY . ONE evening a yonng Craftsman , who had been exploring and examining the several apartments of the Temple then bnt recently opened to him , came to the old Tyler with the inquiry what the five-pointed star represented , adding that he had no recollection of any mystic explanation of that symbol . A few of the brethren had already assembled , and the Tyler asked whether any one present

could answer the brother ' s question . The Junior Warden turned to the yonng brother and asked , " How many points did yon say the star had ? " The brother responded , " Five , " and smilingly added , " I remember now , it refers to the five points of fellowship . " The Worshipful Master remarked that the five-pointed star was a reminder of that indissoluble chain of sincere affection by

which , when strictly adhered to , Masons were boand hand and heart , and so firmly that even death itself cannot sever the compact . All the circumstances and surroundings of the occasion , when the points were communicated , were snch as to deeply impress not only the tnmd bat the heart with their sacred import . The neophyte was jnst in possession of the object of his search : he at this instant stood

erect in alt the completeness of his new character as a Master Mason , and received the fraternal embrace of a Master of the Art ; the fnll significance of the occasion misht not be apparent , bnt a candidate Who was not impressed , to some degree , with the truths then ex . plained , was certainly presenting material that was unfit for use and suitable only to be hove over among the rubbish .

Like many other symbols in Freemasonry , the five points of fel . lowshi p had been variously explained . Thus , the Atho'I Masons ol thelagfc century tanght that " when the necessities of a brother fall for my suppoit , I will be ever ready to lend him a helping hand to sav e him from sinking , if I find him worthy thereof . Indolence shall

not , cause my footsteps to halt , nor wrath to torn them aside , bat forgetting every selfish consideration , I will be ever swift of foot to save , help and execute benevolence to a fellow-creature in distress , b pt more particularly to a brother Mason . TVhcn I offer up my e jaculations to ALMIGHTY GOD I will remember my brother ' s welfare

The Tyler's Club.

even as my own , for as the voice of babes and anoklings ascend to the throne of ijmcc . r , o i . ost assuredl y will the breathing * > f a fervent heart asotnvl to the mansions of bliss . A brother ' s seoret , delivered to mo ns such , I will keep as I would my own , because , if I betray the trnst which has been reposed in mo , [ might do him au irreparable injury ; it would be liko the villainy of an assassin who

lurks in darkness to stab his adversary , when unarmed and least prepared to meet an enemy . A brother ' s character I will support in his absence as I would in his presence ; I will not revile him myself , nor suffer it to be done by others , if it is in my power to prevent it . Thu 3 by tho five points of fellowship are we linked together in one indivisiblo chain of sincere affection , brotherly love , relief and truth . "

The Senior Warden observed that Brother Dr . Oliver had summed np the symbolism aa teaching Masons to assist a brother in distress , support him in his virtuous undertakings , pray for his welfare , keep hia secrets inviolate , aud vindicate his character in his absence as well as in his presence , but that the more profuse language of the rituals was certainly more pleasing to the oar and effective to the candidate .

lhoTylor roruarked that somo years before he had heard a very beautiful explanation of the symbol , which he was fearful he could not now repeat in all it wealth of thought . First , the apostle pronounced it e-isontinl , in the Christian warfare , that the feet should be shod with tho preparation of the gospel of peace ; so , in the Masonio armour , a like preparation is necessary to educate the feet for the

discharge of the perilous an : l sometimes difficult duties tho relief of a distressed and worthy brother imposes . This we solemnly promisod to perform , and have consecrated our feet to tho active duties implied . Secondly , prayer is essential for the true Mason 5 he cannot reach the point whore ho is instructed in the lessons of the five points , withont prayer ; if he nevor prayed beforo ho must do it now

—and pray for himself . This is necessary , because prayer implies religious faith . The worship of the Supreme Architect of the Universe is the sonl and secret of tho enduring life of the Fraternity , and springs from that belief that briu » s every knee to bow , and every tongue to confess the power and goodness of our FATHER which art in heaven . We pledge our Masonio faith to every brother that , when

upon our bended knees , we will remember him in our devotions . Thirdly , men are brought breast to breast , and an intimate sympathy is established between them ; the soul , whose dwolling-place is within tho heart , is appealed to by the embraces of brotherly love , and is aroused to the exercise of those deep and noble emotions which fill up to perfection the measure of the true Masonio character . Masonry

has a large , warm heart , as well as a clear , cool head , and when these hearts are pressed together , in the fraternal embrace , emotions of the purest sincerity are awakened and a vital power unites many hearts in indissoluble bonds . Fourthly , he who has ascended to the highest round in the ladder of human progress knows not how soon he may , by foul agencies ever at work around and beneath him , be brought

down to the point where the supporting hand of a brother may be necessary to his protection and safety . Selfishness and envy , the Inst for gain , and the tongue of slander and defamation may all combine to drag him down ; then will the strength of the supporting hand of the Fraternity be extended in fulfiment of its pledge to vindicate the truth at all hazards . Fifthly , man would be desolate

indeed , if , in his pilgrimage through life , he had no tried friend into whose ear he could ivhisper the deep sentiments of his pent up spirit . The man wbo has to tread the pathway of life alone is doubly exposed to the schemes of the designing , but he who has honestly passed through the narrow way np to the point where he has been invested with the mysteries of the five points of fellowship , stands in an

invincible circle , each member of which is ever ready to warn him of approaching danger and throw around him the mystio circle of protection . As the old Tyler ended his explanation the Worshipful Master remarked that the attentive ear had doubtless recognised a different order in the explanation of the points under the English system and

onr own . In the former the order is the hand , the foot , the knee , the breast and the back . We havo omitted the first and added the month and the ear . The explanation as given by Bro . Mackay is as follows : — " First . Indolence shonld not cause our footsteps to halt , nor wrath turn them aside ; but with eager alacrity and swiftmiss of foot , we should press forward in the exercise of charity and

kindness to a distressed fellow-creature . Second . In our devotions tti AIIJIIGHTT GOD we shonld ever remember a brother ' s welfare as our own ; for the prayer of a fervent and sincere heart will find no less favour in the sight ol heaven because the petition for self is mingled with aspirations of benevolence for a friend . Third . When a brother entrusts to our keeping the secret thoughts of his bosom ,

prudence and fidelity should place a sacred seal upon our lips , lest , in an unguarded moment , we betray the solemn trust confided to our honour . Fourth . When adversity has visited our brother and his calamities call for our aid , we should cheerfully and liberally stretch forth the hand of kindness to save him from sinking , and to relieve his necessities . Fifth . While with candour and kindness we should

admonish a brother of his fanlts , we shonld never revile his character behind his back , but rather , when attacked by others , support and defend it . The old Tyler added , as the Master and brethren moved toward tho Lodge , that in hi 8 ramblings he had met with many Masons who

were very rusty in this important point of Masonic knowledge , and that he had found more acquaintance with it among the Ohio Masons than elsewhere , for the reason that it was employed in the Lodge service more than he had observed in other Jurisdictions , and that Masons from other localities were frequently greatly embarrassed in adapting themselves to the peculiar manner in which it is used .

Ad00303

BRETHREN who desire Board and Residence while visiting the Metropolis can hear of comfortable quarters by applying to A . B ., at the Office of tho FBEEJIASOH ' S CHRONICLE , Belvidero Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , N .