Exclusion For Unmasonic Conduct.

unmasonic conduct , and has done no wrong but that of exercising his free will and accord about seeking affiliation , and yet they place him in the same condition as if he were a Mason under sentence of suspension from all the rights and privileges of Freemasonry . This is coercion of affiliation to an extreme .

It is saying to a Free and Accepted Mason , you shall affiliate with a Lodge or you shall be to us no more than a profane save that you may apply for reinstatement or affiliation . Masonic obligations cannot guiltlessly be so repudiated or laid aside . The answer to the question , " What makes you a Mason ? " is not

Lodge affiliation and payment of Lodge dues , but something far different , and that fact cannot be gainsaid . That every Mason ought to be an affiliate will not be disputed , but there is nowhere in Freemasonry a principle or teaching insisting that he shall be . The most that a non-affiliate can be rightly deprived of is the Lodge rights and privileges . Anything further than that ia

. The facts we have stated constitute , of course , an exceptional case , but there are too frequently others in which members are excluded for non payment of dues , otherwise called " unmasonic

conduct , " where the members have never been seen , may never have received their summonses , and are disposed of almost as if they were as great culprits as the case above alluded to . To so creat an extent has this been carried that in New South Wales

alone some 700 to 800 Brethren have been excluded in this manner , independent of those who have called off , and scores of others who have been allowed their clearances when circumstances of an unforseen nature have rendered them unable to pay . The lesson to be derived from this is palpable . The utmost

leniency should be shown before any Brother is degraded m the fashion now so readily availed of in New South Wales , and a good active Secretary does much to prevent the necessity of such

measures , by prevailing upon unfinancial members to " call off " rather than be excluded ; on the same grounds the utmost encouragement should be given to would-be affiliates . —i " Masonry . "

A Woman Freemason.

A WOMAN FREEMASON .

WHEN Madame Maria Martin was shown copies of the " Sunday Times , " of the 16 th and 23 rd inst ., says our contemporary in its issue of 30 th ult ., she read the interviews published in both issues , under the following headlines respectively : "A Woman Freemason , " and "About Women Freemasons . " After having perused both articles , she said * .

" I find that all that is published in the interview with myself is absolutely correct . And what I said , thirty other women Masons would willingly corroborate . In our Lodge we are about fifty Masons in all—thirty-five women and fifteen men —but we are more numerous than that at our bi-monthly

meetings . I always issue about fitfy invitations to Masons of other Lodges , and one half generally reponds . We have nothing whatever to do with Freemasons in England ; we are not recognised by them ; but we never claim to be . Our meetings are attended by Masons who are held in the highest consideration

by the Grand Orient , by whom we are not yet officially recognised , but which does not oppose Masons attending our meetings . So that Brothers from Paris , and from all parts of France , often attend our meetings , and express themselves well satisfied with the work we do , and with the manner in which we do it . Another

proof , if such be necessary , of the importance the movement is taking in France , is that quite recently , at Vichy , Madame Geo . Martin , of our Lodge , was admitted unanimously , with but one dissenting voice . This was at the ' Cosmopolite de Vichy . ' In our Paris Lodge we accept men Masons who have been initiated

in other Lodges , but who prefer to join ours . In conclusion , I will add that we obtained the particulars of the ritual from the late Maria Deraimes , who was initiated into all the secrets of French Freemasonry , until the third degree . There are

thirtythree degrees in all , but the first three are the all important ones . On the Continent of Europe we are in constant communication with similar Lodges of Freemasons , which are all doing good work , as is our own in Paris . "

On Saturday , 6 th inst ., at the Grand Hotel , Birmingham , Bro . W . H . Hart , of Olton , was made the recipient of a very handsome timepiece , given by the Officers and Brethren of his Masonic Lodge , as " an expression of the very high esteem and admiration in which he is hp . 1 d . " TW Ynrm-r PM PPftSB

who was deputed to make the present , spoke in high terms of Bro . Hart , and the latter suitably replied , remarking that the incident was one of the hanniest of his life . It was mentioned

that the clock , which has Westminster and musical chimes , has been specially made by a local firm at a cost of £ 48 , says the * ' Birmingham Gazette . "

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

THE usual Quarterly Court of Governors and Subscribers was held on Thursday , at Freemasons' Hall , London , Brother Frank Eichardson Past Grand Deacon Patron of the Institution in the chair . On the motion of Sir John B . Monckton P . Grand Warden

seconded by Bro . J . H . Matthews Past Grand Standard Bearer , a Pension of £ 60 a year was granted on her retirement to Miss Kernot , who had been an Officer in the School for forty-three years .

The next regular day for the election of girls into the School being the day before Good Friday , it was announced that the election would take place on Saturday , 20 th April , and vacancies for twenty-two out of a list of forty-one candidates for that election were declared .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

THE January Quarterly Court of Subscribers and Governors was held yesterday at Freemasons' Hall , London , Brother Eichard Eve Past Grand Treasurer ( Eng . ) Patron and Trustee Chairman of the Board of Management presiding . The rank of honorary Vice-Patron of the Institution was conferred upon Bro .

W . F . Smithson , of Leeds , Past Grand Deacon and Vice-President , in recognition of his exertions in assisting to bring up such a large sum of money from West Yorkshire at the last Festival of the Institution . Vacancies in the School were declared for the election on 19 th April of twenty-three boys out of an approved list of forty-seven candidates .

Langthorne Lodge Of Instruction, No. 1421.

LANGTHORNE LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 1421 .

THE annual supper was held tbe end of last month at the Angel Hotel , llford , when there was a larger attendance than on any other similar occasion since this Lodge has been in existence . Bro . F . Evans the Worshipful Master-elect of the Mother Lodge presided , and the company numbered forty-seven .

In the course of the evening the Chairman and others remarked upon the gratifying progress made by the Langthorne Lodge of Instruction during tho past year , it being universally agreed that the marked success of the Lodge was very largely due to the energy of the Preceptor Brother J . R . Johnson . In the course of the past twelve months a Benevolent Fund had been formed in connection with the Lodge , and by this means upwards of 200 guineas had been subscribed to the Masonic Charities .

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