The Desire To Excel.

Lodges , but that such cases do occur must be as well known to our readers as it is to ourselves , and we have little hesitation in expressing disapproval of such

conduct . We have known cases where Officers m a Lodge have shown the grossest incapacity , not from lack of ability on their part , bnt purely from indifference as to the way in which their dut es were performed , and

although it may hardly be our place to direct such attention to offenders in this respect as to make it possible for them to be identified , we deem it the duty of every Mason to raise his voice against the display

of absolute indifference whenever or wherever he meets it . We are induced to speak in this strain in consequence of a conversation we overheard ' at a recent meeting , when the working of a Lodge was being adversely criticised , and regrets were freely expressed that the

leaders should manifest such apathy as to the general conduct of its affairs . They spoke of the leading Officers as thoroughly good men of business , and yet these allowed the affairs of their Lodge to be neglected , and seemed themselves so indifferent as to the way in

which its work was carried out , as to call forth general expressions of surprise , and feelings of concern as to what might be in store for the Lodge in question . It might even be urged that in such a case a little

inendly admonition would be a positive kindness , but failing that we have taken upon ourselves to again touch upon the subject , hoping our remarks may , sooner or later , come under the notice of some of those who

appear to be lacking in that desire to excel which must be felt , in order to make success certain . As Addison has tersely expressed it : " 'Tis not in mortals to command success , But we'll do more ; we'll deserve it . "

Connecting Links.

CONNECTING LINKS .

IN these days of great and wide publicity , it seems almost impossible that any important event in connection with one of our Private Lodges , much less any business transacted at either of the Provincial or

other Grand Lodges , can be lost to the Masonic world , and allowed to pass from memory , without any record being available in case of necessity arising for verification in the future ; but the same was by no means the

case in years gone by , when records were kept in irregular or slovenly manner . The inconvenience and positive hardship arising from this state of things is continuallv making itself felt : as for instance , when .

for the purpose of securing a Centenary Warrant , or other purpose , the members of a Lodge or Chapter desire to connect up the several links in their past history , and form one united chain of evidence as to

continuity of existence . It was only a day or two back we saw it recorded that a connecting link had been discovered in the records of a certain Chapter , in the form of an interesting minute book , which was found

among a parcel of odds and ends purchased at a country auction , and which enabled the Companions to establish their claim to a Centenary Warrant . No doubt many other instances have occurred in

Freemasonry , equally proving the importance of keeping up a regular and systematic record of work . We have said the practices of the present day are such as to preclude the possibility of similar breaks

in the chains of evidence arising in regard to current proceedings , but we do not know we are wise in adopting auite such a bold line of argument , for although

the Masons of to-day may be recording their doings in regular order , they are making little or no further provisions than did their predecessors for the safe

custody of their records , and we are not without evidence that even important records of to-day are at fault , as witness the irregularity we referred to last week , as to the registration of certain Royal Arch Masons , -who were precluded from enjoying the Ml

Connecting Links.

privileges of the Order , simply because the chain of evidence sent up to Grand Chapter as to their eligibility lacked one connecting link , which a compliance

with the rules of Masonry would have supplied . The returns were faulty , and unless there was other evidence available to prove the regular advancement of these companions , they might find considerable

difficulty in securing a satisfactory reply to their petition . We have often written on this subject , in one or other of its many phases ; have even gone so far as to advocate the establishment of a Grand Recorder , whose

duty it should be to collect and collate general items of Masonic history , or perhaps keep a duplicate record of the work of each subordinate Lodge , but such an appointment and the work attached to it is hardly likelv to find favour with the leaders of the

Craft , althongh we venture to think a competent man would be able to provide much interesting and instructive matter from a faithful discharge of the duties of his appointment . As an alternative proposal it has been suggested to us that Grand Lodge might officiallv

ask subordinate Lodges to forward to headquarters minute books , and other records of the past , so soon as they were ont of use in the different 'Lodges . If such an invitation were issued , and responded to with

anything approaching unanimity , the Craft would have the very best of material available for reference as to the doings of its component parts , and the several Lodges would feel that they could always refer to

their old documents in case it was necessary to establish a connecting link in any particular chain , instead of , as at present , leaving much of the record of their past history to chance , or the hap-hazard preservation of their old records .

Consecration: Colne, No. 2477.

CONSECRATION : COLNE , No . 2477 .

ON Tuesday , 25 th ult ., this new Lodge was consecrated at Wyvenhoe , bringing up the number of Essex Lodges to thirty-four . Tbe Lodge has beeu formed to meet tbe wants of the members of the Order ( who it appears are a considerable body ) residing at Wyvenhoe and

Rowhedge . The Founders are : —Bro . Claude E . Egerton-Green , Wyvenhoe Hal !; Bro . William Johnson , Colchester ; Bro . Gustavus Pratt , 24 Tavistock Square , London ; Bro . W . Turner B . Ennew , East Donyland ; Bro . Lieut .-Colonel Tvssen S . Holroyd , Donyland Lodge ; Bro . John Thomas

Bailey , Colchester ; Bro . Wm . H . Ham , Wyvenhoe ; Bro . Eobert Pearson , East Donyland ; Bro . Harold Francis , Colchester ; Bro . John A . Houston , East Donyland ; Bro . John I . Turff , East Donyland ; Bro . Edward H . Ennew ,

East Donyland ; Bro . Capt . H . S . Naylor-Leyland , M . P ., Lexden Park ; Bro . Eobert T . Daniell , East Donyland ; Bro . A . G . Mumford , Colchester ; Bro . Eixon Ford , Colchester ; Bro . Eobert H . Scott , Walton-on-the-Naze ; and Bro . Joseph B . Brown , Wyvenhoe .

Much interest wai excited in Wyvenhoe . The town and ship-yards were gaily decorated with bunting , while a considerable crowd of people assembled near the Railway Station on the arrival of the L 30 train , by which it waa exnected that Lord Brooke the Provincial Grand Master

would arrive . Tbe W . M . doaigoaip , Brother Claude E . Egerton-Green , with Bro . William Johnson acting I . P . M ., aud others were also in attendance . All were , however , doomed to disappointment , for just previously his Lordship

telegraphed that , owing to the serious illness of his father , the Earl of Warwick , he had been detained , and could nofc reach Wyvenhoe till five o ' clock . Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , D . P . G . M ., also wired his inability to attend tho meetine .

In the absence of the two chiefs of the Order in Essex , the ceremony was undertaken by Bro . Thomas J . Ealling the Prov . Grand Secretary . It took place in the Old Board Schools , which had been handsomely decorated for tho occasion ; and , when the largo number of brethren who

had come were assembled , presented a very handsoni'j appearance . The Officers who assisted Bro . Railing were—Bros . B . Hoddiuott Prov . G . S . W . as S . W ., Harris Hills Prov . G . J . W . as J . W ., Albert Dunking P . G . P . Prov . G . D . C . as D , C , ancl Bichard Clowes P . G . Standard Bearer as I . G .