Mistakes In Freemasonry.

everybody—from District Deputy Grand Masters down to the profaue—yes , the profane , who wish to know if he won't " start a Lodge in their locality so that they may join it !" It is a mistake to suppose that it is easy to confer a

degree . Try it . Ton may know it all , but that is only half the trouble . There is pleuty of gold in the earth , bnt the great difficulty consists in getting it out . Knowledge is golden , and you may have it in abundance , but it needs

to be issued before the Craft will accept it as currency foi their wages . Golden knowledge is sometimes golden silence . In that case silver is better than gold , foi " speech is silver . "

It is a mistake to snppose that you can be a good Mason without being obedient . Satan was expelled from the Grand Lodge above for disobedience . The Ten Commandments of Sinai all say , in so many words or in effect , " Thou shalt" or " Thou shalt not . " The truth should always be obeyed . Freemasonry is the truth .

It is a mistake to resign from your Lodge and join the family of tramnr , who have no home , no brethren , no friends . An unaffiliated Mason is a self-degraded Mason . He contributes nothing to the common welfare , and it were better had he never been born as a Mason . He will go to his ow ^ ilace .

It is a mistake not to take and diligently read a good Masonic newspaper . No " Masonic column " in a profane newspaper can supply its place . The news in the latter is

quite certain to be stale , fragmentary and unprofitable , probably gotten up by a tyro , and of course worse than useless . The best is always the cheapest—if it does cost more than the worst .

It is a mistake to visit a Lodgo every night in the week , on the one hand , or never at all , on the other . These extremes meot . If you are a married man don't forget your

family ; if you are a Mason don't forget your Lodge , if you aro a married man . King Solomon said there is a time for everything under the sun . He never forgot the Lodge , nor did ho forget Mrs . Solomon .

But there is this consolation to those who make a small mistake now and then , that the brother who never mado a mistake has never been made a Mason . —Keystone .

Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association.

STAFFORDSHIRE MASONIC CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION .

THE 20 th aunual meeting of this Association was hold at the Swan Hotel , Stafford , on Saturday , the 15 t . h ult . The President ( Bro . J . Bodouhatn P . G . Treasurer ) occupied the chair , and there was a good attendance of representative and other members of Lodges . A sum of about £ 80 was voted from the " B" Fund , the object of which is to assist in tbe local education of ohildren of

deceased Freemasons in tho Province of Stafford requiring such aid . The Officers for the ensuing year were appointed , the President , Treasurer ( Bro . M . Barker P . P . G . VV . ) , and Secretary ( Bro . T . Ryder P . P . G . W . ) being re-eleotf d . By request , Bro . J . B . Ashwell kindly undertook to assist the Secretary in getting in the North Staffordshire subscriptions to the fund . The President , while deprecating

the slightest disposition to neglect the great educational Institutions , which are the glory of the Craft , warmly advocated the claims of the " B " Fund , which is doing excellent work in the Province . The President also referred to the coming appointment of a Secretary to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and advised brethren not to

premise their support to any candidate until the time came , when they would bo put iu possession of fuller information . There were , he added , at least four good candidates in the field . Some other business was transacted , inoluding the annual ballot for life sub-Boriberships to the Royal Masonic Institutions .

Obituary.

Obituary .

— : o : — Bito . JOHN EDWARD ASHTON . - THE remains of Bro . John Edward Ashton were interred at Brooklands Cemetery , on the 20 th ult . The deceased was a well known Freemason , a composer of special Masonic music , which has been adopted all over England , and was in addition a liberal supporter of Masonic Charities . At

the time of his death our deceased brother was S . W . of St . David's Lodge , as also a member of the Arthur Sullivan Lodge , and the Grove Lodge , which is held at Cheshire , in the neighbourhood of which he resided . Deputations were present from each of these Lodges . The officiating clergyman was the Rev . Dendy Agate , of Gorton , Manchester .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — FRIENDSHIP LODGE , No . 100 .

I ^ II E annual installation moating was hell the Town Hall , Yarmouth , on Thursday , 20 th ult-, when Bro . Robinson was elevated to the chair of King Solomon , the ceremony being ably performed by Bro . Blagg I . P . M . of the Lodge . Subsequently the banquet was served by host King , at the Crown and Anchor Hotel , and was fully attended by the members of tho Lodge and visiting brethren , among whom were the Mayor , the Deputy-Mayor , and the W . M . ' s of the United Friends . St . Margaret , and Apollo Lodges .

FRIENDSHIP LODGE , No . 202 ,

TBE members of this Lodge held an " At Home , " on the 19 th nit ., at their Masonic Hall , Granby Street , Devonport . Their refectory was tastefully fitted np as a ball-room , and their Lodge-room was transformed into a drnwing-roora . Music was provided by Mr . Browning , and Bro . Bosworthick was the caterer . Over seventy

guests were present . Among the vocal entertainers wero Messrs . Dubuara , Jarvis , J . Williams , J . Leonard , J . Viggers , Soper , Miss Soarlo , while Mr . Alfred Searlo gave violin solos . The entertainment proved an eutire success , and was much enjoyed by those present .

SOUTHAMPTON LODGE , No . 394 .

THE last of tho Southampton installations for the present year took place at tho Masonic Hall , Albion Plaoe , Southampton , on Thursday , tho 20 th ult ., when Bro . Simeon Dacombe , the retiring S . W ., was placed in the chair of the above Lodge , the ceremony being performed by Bro . H . Lashmore . Tho following Officers wero invested : —Bros . C . J . Appleford I . P . M ., F . A . Dunsford S . W .,

A . Hewitt J . W ., J . Lemon P . M . Treasurer , W . Bowyer P . M . Secretary , U . C . Ashdown S . D ., W . Bates J . D ., E . Qeyton P . M . D . C , W . Paul I . G ., A . F . Gntteridge and R . R . Linthorne Stewards , and W . Tare Tyler . The . instillation banquet was well served by Bro . Biggs . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , in responding

for the Province , reforred to his recent presence in London , at the Installation of the Lord Mayor at the Mansion Honse as Master of the Drnry Lane Lodge , saying that the Prince of Wales , as Grand Master , granted a dispensation permitting the ceremony to be per . formed under snch novel oiroumstanoe 3 . Responding as the Installing Master , Bro . H . Lashmore said the minutes of the Southampton

Lodge recorded a gathering under similar circumstances , which took place in days when dispensations wero lightly treated , and not often asksd for . The W . M . elect being ill on St . John ' s Day , the brethren adjourned from the Masonic Hall , Bugle Street , Southampton to his private residence , and having installed him there , returned to the hall and finished their business . The health of the W . M . was cordially drank , and many hearty good wishes were tendered him for a pleasant and successful year of office .

CAMALODUNUM LODGE , No . 660 .

ON Tuesday , the 18 th ult , the brethren celebrated thoir annual festival , whtn Bro . W . H . Rose was installed as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year , the ceremony being very impressively performed by Bro . A . W . Walker . There was a large attendance of brethren and visitors from various Lodg 03 in the Province . The nsual banquet was afterwards held , at the Talbot Hotel , the W . M . presiding .

ST . DAVID'S LODGE , No . 679 .

rnHE annual installation ceremony took place , at the Masonio Hall , L Abordare , on Saturday afternoon , the 1 st inst ., there being a far larger attendance of the Craft than on any similar occasion for many years past . Bro . Marmaduke Tenoant D . P . G . M . was amongst those present . Bro . Georgo Abraham was tho Worshipful Master

elect , and the ceremony of installation was well carried out by Bro . E . M . Hann , tho retiring Worshipful Master . After tho Lodge had been formally closed , an adjournment was made to the Black Lion Hotel , where Host Williams provided a choice banquet , excellently served . At the yost prandial proceedings Brother G . Abraham VV . M . presided , and a very pleasant evening was spent .

TOWNLEY PARKER LODGE , No . 1083 .

rpHE regular meeting was held on Wednesday , the 26 th ult ., at the -1- Grand Hotel , Manchester . Present : —Bros . G . E . Waud W . M ., R . Arraitage S . W ., John Taylor Treasurer , Jas . Simister , George Parker S . D ., Wm . Birkbeck J . D ., Robo . I Lix . gard I . G ., Wm . Hayland D . C , C . F . Hyde Steward , Godfrey Higham P . M . P . P . G . D . C , J . H . Hassall P . M ., J . Goldsmith P . M ., T . Smaley , W . Lowe , J . Chalmers ,

If . C . Matthews , Claud Stephenson , W . L . B . Hirst , and J . L . Doneger Visitors : Bros . T . J . Mossman 815 , J . McEwen 815 , Thomas W . Foxcrof t 1077 , T . Gillibrand S . W . 152 , and R . R . Lisenden ( FRKKMASON ' S CHRONICLE ) . The Lodge was opened at 5 . 30 , and the minutes of tho previous meeting read and confirmed . The ballot

was taken for Mr . Turner , and he was unanimously elected , and subsequently initiated into the mysteries nnd privileges of Freemasonry by Bro . Hassall P . M . The Lodge was raised to tho second degree , and Bro . Hirst being present , and desirous of taking his third degree , was interrogated as to his proficiency in tho second by the W . M ., received the test of merit , aud retired . The Lodge was then

raised to the third degree , and the chair fciken by Bro . W . Hayland P . M . D . C , who raised Bro . Hirst to the snblimo degree of a M . M . The W . M . ( Bro . Waud ) then resumed his duties , and lowered tho Lodge by virtue to the first degree , when Bro . Bowes ( who had been ballotted for at the last meeting ) was initiated into Freemasonry by the W . M ., who performed the ceremony in a most satisfactory