Notices Of Meetings.

by Rvo . U . Round I . P . M ., the presenting Officers being Bvo . J . B M'Kenr ' e and Bro . L ' ndo Coertenay . The visiting brethren present included Bros . Footo P . P . G . Treasurer , H . H . Smith P . P . A . G . D . C , T . II . W . Walker I' . P . G . Treasc-er , J . I . Callow P . P . G . Treasc-er , B . W . Rowson P . P . G . S . W ., T . Ch-ke P . G . R ., J . Gordon P . M . 4 W

S . O ., S . Mattinson P . P . G . S ., Lawton W . M . 220 , Edwa-d R . Latham W . M . 594 , F . A . Withoy P . M . 1299 , H . Hatch P . M . 220 , F . F . Foulkes P . M . 292 , J . Humphreys P . M . 724 , J . Ashley P . M . 135 ( i , W . Lnmb P . M . 979 , B . M . Bannatyne S . W . 21 G , T . Lowtou J . W . 2042 , and F . H . Smith S . D . 1730 . A ^ ter his i' ^ tallabion tho Worshipful

Master proceeded to invest his Officers for the eusn-ng year , as follows : —Bros . H . Round I . P . M ., J . Fineberg S . W ., J . H . Light J . W ., II . Heard Seoretp y , J . L . Shrapnell Treasurer , A . Mein S . D ., A . E . Work nan J . D ., Eaton Batty I . G ., Josef C » ntor Organist , Bowy Stup't S . S ., J . Heginbotbam J . S ., George C ! r ance A . S ., E .

Greham A . , W . Savage P . M . Di-ector of Ceremonies , and W . II Ball Tyler . The ceremony of irstallation aud investiture concluded , the brethren sat down to a sumptuous banquet , piovided by Bro . W . Vines . The usual toast list was gone through , but on especir' feature was made of that pledging the health of the Grand

i > nd Pro \ incial Graud Officeis , on accont of the fact that the Dramatic Lc Jg > . -wis on We d nesday of last week honour * 1 by the appjuitment of mie of its Past Masters for Prov ' ucial Grand houours at the meeti'ig of the Piovincial Giaud Lodgo held at Barrow-in-Fomoss , and presided over by the Prov'icial Grand

Master Bro . the Right HOD . the Earl of Lathom . In proposing the torst and coupling v . ith it tho name of Bro . Josef Cantor , the brother so si jally honor 'ed , the W . M . referred to Bro . Cantor in felicitous te . ns , dwell'ng upon h > s ability . •'ike as a Mason pud rs a musician . He wrs sure that his appo ntment as Provincial Grand

Organist would be amply jrst'fied , and bhat Bro . Cantor , who bad acquitted himself so well as Me-ster of that Lodge , won'd discharge his new duties with equal taot and efficiency . Bro . Josti Cantor si "' tably responded , remrkiug tb , t he k > ked upon the appolTtment more as c- 'i honour to his mother L > dge than tj h- ' mself

personally . A l excellent ir- ' tcelloneous programme was contributed to by Bros . E . Edward , N . F . Burt , J . Heg ' . nbotham , T . Shaw , L . Cor-. cenay , R . Bfx f er , H . G . Round , H . Randal' , p id Josef Cantor , by whom the a- ' Jompan 'neuts were ably supplied . Bro . T .

Shaw delighted all pi isent with Fs cbo . ning violin soi . ki , and a very ntereatirg and pleas ' ng mu «' . oal selection , which •- r « t " 'tuted the chief feat' --e of the programme , was contributed bv Brae . Josef Cantor ( pia-io ) , T . S' - 'w ( vio ' n ) , F G . T r 1 ( o " o . let ) , r 1 It . Baxter ( clarionet ) .

A VERY successful gathering of the brethren of the above Lodge was held at Ladbroke-hall , on Saturday , the 21 st ult . Present Bros . Barclay W . M ., Norman S . W ., Oliver J . W ., Barker Treasnrer , Read Secretary , Wiggins S . D ., Freeman J . D ., Mackay I . G ., Walter , Williams , Taylor , Wakeham Steward , Turner , J . G . Taylor , W . Taylor , W . Neville , J . H . Neville , Davies , Fitzpatrick , & c , & c .

KENSINGTON LODGE , No . 1767 .

Visitors : Brcs . Snelliug , Jubal Webb , Cama Past Grand Treasnrer , Sparrowhawk , Hobbis W . M . 858 , Sims , Heath , Mayne , and Goffiu . Bro . Norman was installed W . M ., and appointed his Officers , as follow : —Btw . Oliver S . W ., Wiggins J . W ., Freeman S . D ., Mackay J . D ., Kiik I . G ., Wakeham and Fitzpatrick Stewards . Bro . Norman

afterwards initiated his son , Mr . Francis Norman , into Freemasonry . A banqutit followed , when the usual toasts incident to tho Craft were tiu . y horn tired , Bros . Cama , Snelliug , Jubal Webb , Sparrowhawk , Hubbis , and Trait responding on behalf of the visiting brethren . The musical arrangements were admirably carried out , under the direction of Brother Oliver .

GRAYSTONE LODGE . Ni . 1915

rpilG annual i ig-allatiou meeting was held at the Forester ^ ' Hall . i Wnitsfable , o : i Tbr-sday , t' -ie 12 th ult ., when Bro . T . \ V Porter wns duly installed pq Worshipf'jl Master for tho ending year , tho ceremony be ' ng ably performed by B : j . Sibert Sautidern , tho roi rMiK W . M . The new VV . M . invested Bro . S . Saunders na

I . P . M ., i ' id appointed ntl invest jd the Officers , rs follow : —Brothers E . U . VVolihew S . W ., F . Browring J . W ., tho Rev . II . M . Maughrm Chiiplt > ; n , A . Anderson T . oasu-er , J . Wcid S * --re ' . a-y , W . I . ndon

S . D ., A . W . Souhwoll J . D ., F . A . Johrrm Orgs-isfe , B ; uce I ' ght t <; ut D . C ., A . UP son I . G ., M . Komp and C , M . Dr'fHold Stewa c ' s The usual briquet w » s held , u'tor L < ! ge , at the Assembly Roctus u"d was attended by n !•' go number of home and viai ig tnouibora .

Proficiency Before Advancement.

PROFICIENCY BEFORE ADVANCEMENT .

IT has always been wisely provided by thc Craft , that except under such cxtraord ' irv y circcms' rices as justify a Dispensation , the three degrees of 1 * eemasonry should not be eon ' ' erred on one find the F ° me evon ' oo-. At

least one month must intervene between the cor !' err TO- of the several degrees . The reasons for this regulation jve numerous , but wo purpose referring now to but one , and that is : the Crp-. ' t dosigns that every Entered Apprentice

and JBedow Craft , hpjore he is advanced , . shall become reasonably fakniliar with that portion of ttio mystery which was taught him in the preceding degree . To accomplish this , time and irstructiou are necessary . Freemasoniy i .-

both a science ? -id an art , and it requires attsntion and study to master it . If it did not , it would be empty of meaning , and unworthy of any intelligent person ' s regard . J 3 nt it is beanw it includes i'lstmotion of the hifhest

Proficiency Before Advancement.

importance to the initiate , that the Fraternity provides , in its organic law , that he shall show proficiency in the preceding degree before ho receives advancement to a higher one .

The " Ahiman Rezon of the Grand Lodgo of Pennsylvania provides as follows upon this subject : " It is recommended to all Lodges to require proof of a Brothor ' s proficiency in bhe Craft , by examination in the Lodge , before hs bo advanced . "

Wlr ' o somo of the Lodges in this jurisdiction to our own knowledge have heeded this recommendation , we havo reason to fear that the majority have not . Because it was " recommended , " but not absolutely required , they appear

to have regarded it as a matter in which thoy had an option , and the result is , that every year an army ot initiates is introduced into the Masonio world without auy

qualification for constituting an intelligent portion of our ancient and honourable Craft , which is thus dishonoured by its own members .

How many Masons cannot visit a Lodgo unless thoy aro vouched for ? How many can barely enter , when in a foreign jurisdiction , and thus reflect discredit upon their mother jurisdiction ? Pennsylvania creditably leads , in

most respect ? , the jurisdictions of the globe ; nono aro truer to the all-important Ancient Landmarks , and thc time-honoured usages and customs of the Craft ; but iu this matter of examination in open Lodge of a candidate

before advancement , we have been sadly deficient , and it ia t'me to turn over a new loaf , and comply with the plainlyexpressed recommendation of the " . Ahiman Eezon . "

Consider what is the ground of this recommendation , It is of primary importance , because it refers to the very A , B , C , of Masonry . If the groundwork be not learned , it w be va'i to expect any superstructure to arise thereon .

A merely nom ' nal Master Mason , who is not proficient in the preceding degrees , is not fit to be a member of tho Lodgo , nor to perform any of its duties . He is a profane 'I everything except the n ° me . For eU the advantago his initiation and " advancement can be to him he might as well

have saved his money . He is a drone in the Masonic hive , an ignoramus in our school of knowledge , unskilled in tho mysteiy p ^ . d unfitted for visiting abroad or holding office at home . Unt'l he supplies this radical defect in his

Masor c education he is a cipher in the Lodgo . If he remain a cipher he soon necespaiily loses his interest in Masonry , he becomes a rare attendant at Lodge , careless with regard to the payment of his dues , and ultimately is either suspended or becomes a non affiliate .

Now look on the other side of tho picture . Thc Lodge in which a candidate is made , heeds the recommendation of the " Airman Rezon , " to " require proof of a Brother ' s proficiency in the Craft by expmination in tho Lodgo beforo

ho is advanced , " and the result is , that the Brother Incomes at once interested in Freemasonry . He is givon someth i ng to lca-n , and he lea ; os it . And then ho desires to lea . n more , aid t ) fully understand all that he has

learned . Ho soon comprehends how much there is iu Freemasonry . It broadens out , ; ko a set before him . He realises tl"tt ifc is indeed a mystery , n . id that it will repay

a life-long siudy . What is it that attaches tho elections of a Brother to Freemasonry through three-score years ? ft is not the more fact that ho has been itiitiated in the

Oiiff , but it is his progress in M-isomo knowledge , his ippnliaMioion of the entire sou ] ¦ •of the Fraternity—its i'itercs ng history , its connection with tho science of i ! •!; ! i ' o ; i 'V , its lofty ay inbo ^ - 'e . and its stiuiuhttin ^

knowledge in miwty directions . 1 'tie . se t-d some of the cl ; : trtrs which •" ¦> Jep -at Jy aud visibl y ooi neCt the enli ghtened , the cdn ated , these honou -ed b y th > world in its several station , v ' A \ our Fraternity , and without these

wo shon'd Ink tho long contt-ned support and countenance of or ~ mot reputable members . The Lodge wHch absolutely i ; qn ' -. es proficiency ¦ n its <••ldidates before adv . - 'icement , takes a long look rhead , fid provides for tho

m : < V g of Maso" •that are Masons , and members that never forr-ke the Craft . It secures Brethren competent " > fill , at a moment's notice , my place or station "i tho fj"dgo ; and it and if j ^ one peifoims its duty at once to tho krrp'id Ijod

' ¦ ninest atfeution of Masters of Lodges H thN jurisdiction to this subject , and their cor ; 1 al co-operation in fulfilling the recommendation of the " A ' rv ' moa Rezon . "—Keystone .

Ad00603

r \ O TTIE DEAF . —A Person cured of Deafness and noises ) in tho i hrcul oikj : } years' standing by : i simple remedy , will send a description of it r ' BEa to anyl'crbouwho a-iiplie-ito NiciioLaO . 'f .- ^ i . Bedford-square , VV . C .