Order Of The Garter.

moment to mark " the reason why they do it" before passing this judgment , and thinking all manner of evil . In this busy world of ours , where appearances are so often deceitful , where the glitter of tinsel is so often mistaken for the less sparkling gold ; where the impulse of peission and dictates

of prejudice so often outweigh the sober deliberations of judgment ; where men seem not as they are , but as from our own viewpoint they appear to us , how pertinent to all men , but especially to Masons , should come the motto , " Honi soit qui

mal y pense . " Plow we should con over it day by day , gauging our opinions by it when we pass judgment upon our fellowmen , the fruitless faults and foibles of others , and make it a standard by which we ourselves should wish to be judged .

If we would do so how much happier and really better would we all be .

The world is not really so bad as it seems , and I doubt if the devil is so black as he is painted . Causes are not always to be judged by their effects . Men often say things innocent enough in their meaning and intentions , until contrasted by the evil in others into words of shame and dishonour .

In truth , evil , like goodness , is largely reflective , and we are very often esteemed good or evil as our surroundings are good or evil . The purest motives of a life may be assailed , and if adjudged oy an individual prejudice will be condemned . The bright face of the noonday sun may be made to look

dim by seeing it through a bit of smoked glass , and so may the fairest character be stained by the malignant lens of an evil eye . But it is not the sun that is marred by the smoke obscured vision ; it shines as brightly to others as ever ; it is only the darkened eye that is deceived , the one who levels the glass , who is in the dark ; everywhere else effulgence abounds .

So , too , with the evil eye and the jaundiced heart , the fair character is as pure as ever , it is only the obliquity of vision and the prejudice of the evil heart that distracts its symmetry and

mars its beauty . It is sad and " True , ' tis pity , and pity ' tis ' tis true . " Then let all Masons adopt as their own motto , " Honi soit qui mal y pense . "—B . F . Sawyer , in " Masonic Herald . "

Head Masons And Heart Masons.

HEAD MASONS AND HEART MASONS .

A MONG the several classes into which the members ol the Masonic Fraternity may be divided , two stand out

prominently , viz ., Head Masons and Heart Masons . The first class includes those expert ritualists that have the language , both esoteric and monotorial , at their tongue ' s end .

They rehearse the lectures like a parrot , without force and oftentimes wthout meaning . As to the philosophy of Masonry , they know nothing . In the language of Hamlet , it is " words , words , words . " Ask a Plead Mason the meaning of some

symbol , and he looks at you in blank amazement . All he knows is that a symbol or emblem is something to be talked about , just as the monitor gives it verbatim et literatim . In' his mind it would be an innovation , almost a violation of an ancient landmark , to turn aside from the ritual for a moment to explain

the philosophy embodied in the sublime symbology of Freemasonry . On the other hand , the Heart Mason cares but little for form or ceremony . The deep philosophical meaning of every symbol presented to the initiate is what he is concerned about . To him the word charity means charity . Not a ¦

" tinkling symbol or sounding brass . " Brotherly Love , Relief and i rath are to be practised , not explained , in the system of the Heart Mason . The Masonry of the Heart Mason is conceived and worked out in his own heart , not in the ceremony of the Lodge room . To the Heart Mason the

symbol is grand and beautiful , because it contains in its subtle meaning the sublime philosophy . To the Head Mason the symbol is beautiful to the extent that it gives him an opportunity to work on the curiosity of a candidate who often " sees more in . the symbol than he who is blindly talking about it

Ambition leads the Plead Mason . The Heart Mason is guided by pure philanthropy . Let us have more Heart Masons , Learn the ritual , and expound it in a forcing

intelligent manner , but while giving its form find opportunities to lead the mind of the reci pient into the paths of the sublime philosophy of Freemasonry . It is the best , truest , profounde « t system of moral philosophy ever devised . — " Pacific Mason "

It ; is m contemplation to establish a new Lodge at Dulwich special accommodation for which is to be provided in the new Imperial Hall in course 6 f erection there ,

Essex.

ESSEX .

HHHE Provincial Grand Lodge will be held at the Town X Plall , Clacton-on-Sea , on Tuesday , 17 th inst , under the presidency of the Earl of Warwick Deputy Grand Master of England Masonic chief of the Province . The Grand Lodge

will meet at 3 p . m ., and will be followed by a banquet at 5 . 30 . The Great Eastern Railway Company will grant cheap return tickets on their system to " Pleasure Parties " ( six first class or ten third class passengers travelling together ) , at three days notice .

Birkbeck Building Society.

BIRKBECK BUILDING SOCIETY .

fTlHE forty-ninth annual report shows that the business of the Society JL during the past year has been of a satisfactory character—the total receipts having exceeded eighteen millions sterling . The amount received from Investing Members , on completed and uncompleted shares , is £ 278 , 106-9 s 9 d ; the amount repaid is £ 265 , 117 7 s 4 d and the total sum now due to Investors is £ 947 , 258 lis 7 d .

The sum received on Current and Deposit accounts during the same period amounts to £ 15 , 569 , 074 : 4 s lOd , the amount withdrawn is £ 16 , 685 , 621 19 s Od and the balance duo to Depositors £ 9 , 001 , 108 17 s 6 d . The period under review has been in many respects an exceptional one , owing to the largo- demands for money arising from the requirements of the war in South Africa , coupled with an enormous increase in the exports and imports of this country ; these causes produced a marked effect on the money

market , and resulted in a general shrinkage of resources , accentuated by the cessation of the output of gold from Kouth Africa . The reduction in the balance due to Depositors , as compared with last j'oar , is doubtless attributable to these general causes , and in particular to the increase of the bank rate during the last six months , which at one time was as high as six per cent . — resulting in the leading London Banks paying four per cent , for money placed on deposit , or one and a half per cent , in excess of the interest allowed by the

Birkbeck—and to the recent issue of the National War Loan , which was widely subscribed for by Depositors . The Directors deemed it expedient to adapt the business of the Society to these special circumstances , and since the 1 st January last money has been received on deposit receipt , withdrawable at seven days' notice , at the rates and upon thu conditions adopted by the leading London Banks . This class of business doe » not iu any way interfere with the standing rates of interest paid upon tbe ordinary current accounts , two per cent . ; and deposit accounts , two and a half per cent .

The sixteenth triennial bonus has been apportioned this year to all unadvanced shares , viz . —7 s 6 d per share per annum to all " 1 } " shares , 5 s per share per annum to all " A" Shares issued between the period 31 stDecember 1876 and 31 st December 1893 , and 2 s 6 d per share per annum lo all' A " Shares issued after the latter date . These sums , with the bonus previously set aside , are only payable to members holding shares that have been in existence ten years and upwards , and upon which the instalments have been regularly paid .

The result of tbe year ' s working shows a surplus profit of £ 33 , 509 10 s 3 d . Of this amount , the Directors have added £ 25 , 000 to the permanent guarantee fund , making that fund £ 225 , 00 ) , and the Balance £ 8 , 509 10 s 3 d , they have carried to the temporary reserve fund , which , at the close of the year , stands at £ 275 , 403 9 s 4 . 1 ; the two funds together amounting tc £ 500 , 403 9 s 4 d , less the amount of £ 12 , 640 2 s Od losses realised and written off investments , thus reducing the balance to £ 487 , 763 7 s 4 d .

The Society was established in the year 1851 , at 29 and 30 Southampton Buildings . Very early in its history it was realised that there were large classes to whom banking facilities were of the greatest value , but for whom no provision , or very inadequate provision , had hitherto been made . As year by year the banking department became more and more appreciated , the need for increased accommodation became absolutely imperative . The business was accordingly removed on 1 st January 1900 , to the present new freehold

building . The Directors are gratified to think that the new premises have already proved of great advantage and convenience to the members and depositors . The final portion of this block , having an extensive frontage to Holborn , is now in course of construction ; and , on the completion , when the various suites of offices and shops are available for tenants , a remunerative and valuable asset will have been create I . Since the bu > iness has been carried on in the new building , the office has been closed on Mondays at 4 p . m ., the sine as on other days , except on the last Monday in the month .

The Register of Shareholders now contains the names of 14 , 612 members . Besides these there are 20 , 201 current accounts , and 54 , 440 deposit accounts , thus making the total number of members and deposit us 89 , 253 . The number of shares in existence at the close of the year was 67 , 839 , The Directors have felt it to be in the interests of the Societ y to employ Messrs Deloitte , Dever , Griffiths and Oo . to inspect the securities as on the 31 st March 1900 , and propose tbat it should be done annually for the future .

They reported on the 19 th July 1890 that the unquoted securities—onl y a very small proportion of which would not commana a ready and immediate market—represent some of the finest issues , consisting of British Government and other Treasury Bills , Bankers' Bill ? , Bank Deposits , Belgian Government Bonds , Indian Railways Guaranteed Debentures and Bonds , County Council and Corporation Loans , New River Company ' s Stocks , Trustee Investments , and Victorian Government Stocks .

It is with feelings of the deepest regret that the Directors h ave to record the death of Mr . Horatio Ravenscroft the senior Director , who had held tbat office since the foundation of the Society , in the year 1851 . In oonclusidn the Directors have every reason to be satisfied with the position which the Society now occupies , and they can assure the members that no effort will be wanting on their part to secure a continuance of tbe steady prosperity which has attended it throughout its career .

THB Midland Railway Company announce a cheap excursion to Edinburgh , for four days , leaving St . Pancras on Wednesday evening next , at 9 . 16 , the fare for the return journey being 26 s . There are also weekly excursions running to the Isle of Man , on Fridays ( midnight ) and Saturdays , at 5 . IS and 9 . 30 a . m ., the tickets being available for 3 , 8 , 10 , 15 or 17 days j and other weekly excursions for the Lake District , Buxton , Matlock , Southport , Blackpool , Liverpool , Scarborough , & o ., at different times each Satttrdfty .