Lodge Meetings Next Week.

2091 Castleberg , Settle 2158 Boscombe , Boscombe 2189 Ashburton , Ashburton 2226 St . David , Rhymney 2268 Hallamshire , Sheffield 2302 St . Mary , Southwell 2305 Stour , Ashford , Kent 2325 Rose of Lancaster , Southport

2341 Clemency , Oldham 2352 Universities , Durham 2523 Roll Call , Hounslow 2555 England Centre , Weedon 2570 Prince Llewellyn , Cardiff Saturday . 715 Panmure , Cannon Street Hotel

Lodge Meetings Next Week.

1185 Lewis , Wood Green 1364 Earl of Zetland , Guildhall Tav . 1641 Crichton , Camberwell 2041 West Kent Volunteer , Plums'd . 149 Peace , Meltham 308 Prince George , Eastwood 336 Benevolence , Marple 444 Union , Starcross

811 Yarborough , Brighton 1126 Oakwood , Romiley 1194 Villiers , Hampton Court 1871 Gostling Murray , Hounslow - 1897 Citadel , Harrow Station 2035 Beaumont , Kirkburton 2508 Thomas Railing , Chingford '

Confidence Among Masons.

CONFIDENCE AMONG MASONS .

CONFIDENCE begets faithfulness . It incites to generous and noble deeds . It brings out the reserve powers in human nature , and stimulates the faculties to their best performance . Trust every man to the largest extent possible ; show confidence in him , for thus he will be moved to act worthily and render the best service of which he is capable . It

is when men feel that they are regarded with suspicion , that no confidence is reposed in them , it is then that they become hardened in thought and purpose , and yield most readily to the forces of evil . It has well been said that mutual trust is the animating spirit which holds society together . If confidence much

were entirely lacking in the community things would be worse than now . Under a rule of universal distrust the common welfare would be little regarded , and the . individual standing by himself , " fearing to put himself in any-wise in the power of another , or to appeal to his honour and friendly feeling , would soon become the most miserable of creatures .

For what there is of confidence between man and man let us be grateful . It would be better every way if all of us trust a good deal more than we do . One ministry of Freemasonry is to inspire confidence ; to bring Brethren into such sympathetic alliances—into such close fellowship—that they will in some sense give their hearts into each other ' s keeping . Masons ought to be safe repositories of secrets imparted to them by their Brethren ; to

and Masons ought to be so faithful to their vows as never betray any confidence reposed—thus justifying every trust reposed in them . Ala ' s , that is not always the case ! We give our heart ' s trust sometimes to Brethren , only to find at the last that our confidence has been abused , and that we must suffer by the neglect or positive baseness of those whom we had regarded as our best friends—worthy , as we had believed , to be trusted all through and through .

It is hard to be thus deceived and disappointed ; but let us not grow doubtful and cynical , assuming that it is a mistake to trust anybody—that all men are false and treacherous . It is better to trust even though often deceived . Some men are true and just , and will never fail a friend , however many others prove unfaithful . Let us believe in such a class and rejoice when we have found a friend on whom we may rely at all times , knowing

that his fidelity cannot be shaken . And for ourselves . let the inculcation of Masonic teachings have due weight . What can be better than that we should be true and faithful—worthy of the trust reposed in us by friends and Craftsmen ? " Truth is a Divine attribute , " we are told ,

" and the foundation of every virtue ; " hence , to be reliable , sincere and just , violating no promise , betraying no trust , gives the best evidence of virtuous character and conduct . Freemasonry finds expression in the individual life by such manly and steadfast faithfulness . — " Freemasons Eepository , "

Gleanings.

GLEANINGS .

THE cultivation of the social element is so much a cultivation ol Masonry , that we are beginning to believe that Lodges may include in the dues an amount to be devoted to this purpose . A study of the bye-laws and usages of old Lodges leads us to the conclusion that while every brother present at a meeting contributed a fixed sum for refreshment , any deficit was paid from Lodge funds , and any surplus was added to them ; in other words the refreshment was provided by the Lodge , and the money received was paid nfco the treasury .

It has been the custom for Masons to appear in public with other citizens to do honour to the chief magistrate and to celebrate other days distinctively connected with the existence of the nation . One of the first Masonic processions which we ever witnessed made a part of the procession at the reception of the President of the United States , and we then received one of the " favourable impressions " which induced us afterwards to seek admission into the Fraternity .

The fathers managed to practice Masonry aud get along well , although they occupied halls that between their meetings were occupied for other purposes , and we never havo seen any sufficient reason for compelling a Lodge to hire the exclusive use of a hall for the purpose of occupying it only a dozen or twenty evenings in the year ; The occupancy of a hall by an organisation

Gleanings.

composed of Masons and fcheir wives , daughters and sisters , must he as unobjectionable as occupancy by any profane organisation . We are inclined to hold thafc when an Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft goes so far away that ifc is impracticable for him to return for advancement , in the absence of any disciplinary action by the Lodge he

should have the right to apply for advancement in the Lodge in whose jurisdiction he resides , but never except upon regular petition and acceptance in such Lodge . We utterly object to a Lodge being called upon to confer any degree upon a resident of its own jurisdiction without his acceptance by that Lodge in accordance with the laws and usages of Masonry .

The law of Masonry is , and the old usage has been , that the ballot decides the worthiness of the candidate to be made a Mason , and if he is rejected , it is a decision thafc he is not found worthy . The assumption is that every member votes conscientiously upon every application . That the privilege is somewhat abused is true , because Masons are human ; but the abuse in a few cases is no argument in favour of taking away the privilege . The rejection does Masonically prove him to be unworthy , or the ballot is a farce .

Our experience shoe's that ii a larger per cent , ofthe candidates had been rejected it would have been better for Masonry . We used to be exhorted by the Fathers to " guard well the outer door" and told that the only danger to Freemasonry is that unfit members make bad Masons . That this care to scrutinise carefully the character and qualifications of candidates has been relaxed , and that to the injury of Masonry , is true beyond question so far as our observation has extended .

If an officer elecfc declines to be installed there has been no effective election ; and while the old officer holds over nntil his successor is installed , that does not prevent , in the absence of express law , holding elections until a successor is elected , who shall be installed . The failure to elect at the fixed time does not extend the term of the old officer for a year , but he is merely locum tenens until an election shall be held and the officer installed .

The ancient usages of the Craft give to the individual Mason the right to select his own Masonic home and the Masonic family to which he would belong , provided the other party is willing to receive him . We belive thafc an individual Mason has rights , and this one among others ; and the fact thafc the law takes away from him a right , guaranteed to him by immemorial usage , against his consent , is a reason of the strongest character against the enactment of such a law . The tendency in these days is to build up Lodge organisations at the sacrifice of the rights of Masons , and it is an innovation of the most dangerous character .

The stone did not become a landmark until it was set up as such . The fundamental principle did nofc become a Masonic landmark till ifc was " set np " ; there are many stones fchafc are nofc landmarks ; and there are many " fundamental principles " that are not Masonic landmarks ; only those that are " set up " actually , or by adoption , are landmarks in either case . Belief in God is an abstract principle ; but the necessity for belief in God in order to become or remain a Mason is a law of the Craft of so ancient an origin that it has become a landmark . —Josiah H . Drummond , of Maine , in " Voice of Masonry . "

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GAIETY RESTAURANT , LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)—At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and EESTAUEANT ( on 1 st floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in the GEILL EOOM . AFTERNOON TEA — Consisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter , Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , at 1 / - per head ; served from & till 6 in EESTAUEANT ( 1 st floor ) . DINNERS IN RESTAURANTFrom 5 * 30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 5 / - ) and a la Carte . In this room the Viennese Band performs from 6 till 8 . Smoking after 7 * 45 . AMERICAN BAR . THE GRILL ROOM is open till 12 * 30 . PRIVATE Dnrara EOOMS FOE LAEG-E AND SMALL PAETIES . SPIERS AND rOHD , Ltd ., Proprietors .