Lodges Of Instruction.

although we imagine even these Provincial Lodges of Instruction would not object to making the annual return we have referred to , provided it were deemed necessary they should do so , and also provided they were shewn it was for the general good that such action should be taken .

Going outside the range of Grand Lodge interference in this matter , we would ask tho various Lodges of Instruction whether it wonld not be a positive advantage to them to voluntarily offer this annual tribute to their parent Lodge we have here suggested ? We have been present at Lodge

meetings when the Preceptor or other Officer of the Lodge of Instruction has attended in his official capacity , and has not only made the statements which we have spoken of as desirable , but has also been allowed tbe opportunity of advocating the claims of his Lodge of Instruction , with results , so far as it

is possible for an outsider to judge , beneficial to all concerned , but especially advantageous to the Lodge of Instruction . We are of opinion that too little regard is paid by London Masons to the instruction of new members . They are initiated , passed and raised , and often left after those ceremonies to make

their own way in the Craft , with the result that the majority remain Masons in name alone , whereas a short course of explanatory meetings might set them thinking , and cause them to search out for themselves the meaning and import of our ritual and

ceremonies , with very different results . No matter how efficient a Master may be , or how attentive the candidate , it is almost beyond the range of possibility for the new member to grasp the hidden meaning of

the ceremony he is taking part in . This should be communicated to him at a subsequent period , and it would seem that the Lodge of Instruction working under the sanction of his Mother Lodge would be the proper place for him to go to for the information .

It may be urged that we have not made out a case which calls for official action , and we are willing to admit that matters are not so bad as to make it imperative that Grand Lodge should inquire into the subject , but are we to wait for a calamity before we

adopt measures ot prevention V—tnat is certainly tne popular method , but it is by no means the most desirable one , and we are not even sure that sufficient harm has not already been done in this direction to call for official notice . It is not always advisable to

publish information which comes under our notice , and on that account we are unable to refer to the cases of actual hardship which to our knowledge have occurred ; we think it should be sufficient for us to treat the question from a general point of view , and

it no advantage results to those who have suffered in the past , it may at least open the eyes of others to the fact that they are laying themselves open to trouble by not recognising the responsibility they accept when they give their sanction for a Lodge of Instruction to be established , to bear their name , and do very much as its members choose in years to come .

The Old People's Jubilee.

THE OLD PEOPLE'S JUBILEE .

WE are pleased to learn that the decision of the Stewards for the coming Jubilee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Intfcifcution was in favour of holding the Festival at Covent Garden Theatre , and we hope the meeting may prove as enjoyable as wo have reason to

expect will bo the case . Bro . Terry and his co-workers have made splendid progress during the past few days in the way of securing new Stewards , and there is a chance that the ultimate total will reach the famous record of the

Girls' School on the occasion of its Centenary celebration . But whether that total be secured or no , enough has already been done to prove the hearty sympathy of the Craft with the work tbat is being done by this Institution , and the general desire which exists throughout the country to

The Old People's Jubilee.

advcn *™ its welfare . The Festival being fixed for the 24 th of rho present month leaves but a comparatively shorfc time available for extended operation ? , and yet what has been accomplished during the last few weeks tends to show that on special occasions the Craft can rise to special

effort , and we aro proud to believe that even with only another clear fortnight in which to work there is yet time to raise thc record of Stewards beyond that of the famous celebration nt the Albert Hnll , that is to say if tho Stewards already enrolled will tako tho matter in hand

and endeavour to break the record of the past . It is almost too much to expect the energetic Secretary of the Institution to attempt more than he is already doing , bnt we aro convinced he is ready for any emergency , and if the ultimate roll of his Stewards does not exceed

everything known in years gone by it will not be for lack of effort on his part , but rather because Bro . Terry is only human—or afc least he is governed by the limits of human endurance . His friends know to what extent he has taxed his powers lately , and , knowing this , they cannot

ask him to undertake moro than he is doing ; but they can help him to achieve what we feel sure mnst be his sincereat desire—to announce at his Festival on the 24 th instant a roll of Stewards in excess of that associated with the Centenary of the Girls' School . As we have already said ,

there is a chance of bis being able to do this ; it rests witb tho Craffc to decide whether that chance shall be turned into a certaintv , and as it is tho oulv occasion on which

the Jubilee can be celebrated , and , moreover , is the only Jubilee possible in connection with the three Charitable Institutions of the Craffc , we again urge our readers to render what help they can towards its realisation .

Supreme Grand Chapter

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER

THE Quarterly Convocation was hold on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall , Comp . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Supt . of Essex , acted as G . Z ., Comp . Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhope G . Supt . of Cheshire as G . H ., and Comp . Lieut .-Gen . C . Wilson Randol ph G . Supt . of Sussex as G . J . There was a fair attendance of members of Grand

Chapter . The minutes having been read and confirmed , Companion Pendlebury announced that letters had beeu received from Comps . the Rev . 0 . J . Grace G . Soj ., and Hamon Le Strange , apologising for their absence , on account of illness .

Comp . Philbrick addressed the Companions as follows : — Before wo proceed with the business of this evening , I am sure that I shall have the sympathy of every one present when I call attention to the great losses we , as Freemasons , have sustained , and in particular to the great

loss which has befallen our Grand Chapter . The whole land has been overshadowed , and is still overshadowed , in mourning for the Duke of Clarence and Avondale . His early career of hope and promise has been mosfc suddenly cut short under circumstances which have peculiarly evoked

the feeling and sympathy of tbe country , and 1 may say of all countries in the world . With regard to him an Especial Grand Lodge within these walls passed resolutions of sympathy and of condolence with Her Majesty and with his father , the Most Worshipful Grand Master .

A distinguished Mason who had attained an eminent and high position among us , the Duke of Clarence and Avondale was not a Royal Arch Mason , and , therefore , it would scarcely be proper for us to pass any formal resolution with respect to his untimely death , although I am

quite sure that you as a Grand Chapter would desire that your participation in the sentiments of all Masons at the same time shall be recorded on our minutes . With regard to our beloved and esteemed Colonel Shadwell Gierke , indeed the loss which Freemasonry has sustained by his

decease becomes more evident day by day . He fulfilled the duties of a high and difficult position with singular ability , with great power , and with a clearness and directness of purpose to which in a great measure must be attributed the exceeding prosperity which the Order and

the Craffc have attained of late years , and the absence of all causes of friction which must in a large community almost inevitably arise . It has pleased the Great Disposer of all events to remove him afc a comparativel y early age from the midst of us , when he had the right in all human probability to look forward to a long career of usefnl-