Lazy Masons.

that in advancing the welfare of Freemasonry they will run little chance of doing injury to themselves . Our contemporary , after having , as he terms it , furnished tbe mirror by bis remarks on this subject , asks every Mason to look in it , and see if he can discover the original .

Such a step , generally undertaken , would doubtless lead to good results . There are many men who only require to have their attention drawn to a defect to at once set about remedying it ; while others , who arc perhaps only lukewarm on a subject , are urged , by a similar course , to

increased efforts , with the result that a great improvement follows . If any of our readers are stimulated to greater efforts on behalf of Freemasonry ; or if any who have previously remained in the background are induced

to undertake some kind of work on behalf of our Order , by reason of our remarks , we shall be highly gratified ; as will , we are convinced , the brother to whom we are indebted for the " Tidbit" upon which we have based these comments .

The Tiler's Club.

THE TILER'S CLUB .

FROM THE VOICE OF MASONRY . FROM time immemorial , ifc has been the custom for fche brethren to meet in the Tiler ' s-room before Locige hours and discuss matters of general and Masonio interest . Indeed , these assemblies had been a sort of committee of the whole , and whatever decision the Tiler's-room conclave arrived at waa quite certain to be the decision of the Lodge . In course of time these meetings were

styled the Tiler ' s club , and the Tiler ' s club it still is termed . Had the room been less comfortable or less attractive , perhaps no Tiler ' s club would ever have " growed , " for , like Topsey , ifc never was born , bufc simply grew . The central figure , and ex-otficio chairman of tbe club , was the old Tiler , whose white locks and beaming countenance had been familiar to even fche veterans for many years , and every

one acted as if he held a life tenure to the office he had filled so long and so acceptably . The old gentleman was somewtmt of an oracle in Masonic affairs , had been a zealous worker in his clay , and was still regarded as authority on " phraseology . " Although he had handled none of the tools except the implement of his office for many years , ho was by no means rusty , ancl few of the younger

craftsmen had been taught how to uso fcheir working tools by any other teacher . Pleasure and profit were combined in his instructions , for the old brother was continually exhibiting some " testimonials " from his students . The room was well lighted , heated and ventilated , ancl at one side was the Tiler ' s book shelves , containing the companions of his long

hoars of watching while the Craft was at labour . These he valued highly , and the brother was honoured who secured tbe privilege of carrying one home with him . The chair of state was a huge hickory splint , and fche sceptre tho loiig pipe-stem of the occupant . Sometimes the deliberations of fche club transgressed on the hours of labour of the Locige , and even the Worshipful Master , who never

forgot to imitate the great luminary of nature in the regularity with whioh he should open and enlighten his Lodge , would indulge the members with an extra ten minutes . One evening the Tiler was recounting some of his experiences in the army in Mexico , and had exhibited the marks of a bullet wound received afc Palo Alto , when some one inquired whether

the ugly scar on his hand was received in battle . The veteran reached for his sword , and holding it aloft remarked thafc they two formed an acquaintance at Buena Vista , and thafc he had secured the relic of his difignremenfc only after a well-directed pistol shot at its lawful owner . The Worshipful Master interrupted to say that , on account of

the Tiler ' s attachment to the sword , he had been permitted to use the one in his hand , in preference to the proper Masonic implement of his office . A young Craftsman thereupon inquired whether Freemasonry bad a form of sword different from any other , and whether the use of a common sword or sabre was improper . To this the W . M .

rejoined : " In this respect also , is our Fraternity unique ; in Genesis we read thafc when the LORD drove our first parents from the Garden of Eden , 'He placed at fche east of the Garden , cherubim , and a flaming sword which turned every way . ' The old form of the Tiler's sword was in imitation of this flaming sword , sort of spiral or wavy in shape , and as such a sword could nofc be

sheathed , ifc was to indicate that it was ever drawn and in readiness to defend the Lodge against the approach of cowans or eavesdroppers . The Tiler added , "When I was made a Mason , over forty years ago , we gave more attention to the little details thafc now fail to mark the Masonio Lodge as distinct in all respects from thafc

of any other Society . There are now so many of tho so-called secret societies , and so many Masons join them , that we hav

to have you separate me ancl my relic . " Brother Junior Warden then asked whether our ancient Operative predecessors were tiled in a Masonic manner , or whether tho Tili-r was simply the outgrowth of a necessity to prevent intrusion at the meetings of the modern Speculative Craft . Every one glanced at the Tiler , for , aside from his oracular

The Tiler's Club.

authority , there was an implied doubt in the inquiry that his office was an ancient one , and all were interested in learning how the old sentinel would regard it . Taking the pipe from his mouth , he arose , and selecting a volume of Fort ' s Early History and Antiquities of Freemasonry , said : " The enquiry can be answered both affirma . lively ancl negatively . I do not think our ancient brethren were

tiled according to the present system , but they were tiled all the same . Now this is what an erudite Masonio scholar has said on this subject : 'The earliest authoritative documents indicate that , as far back as the eleventh century , the Craftsmen were regularl y organised while afc labour . * * * In there earliest workmanshi p , the Apprentices no doubt performed the more unimportant parts of

labour , as for example , familiarising themselves with the use of Masonic tools , by pounding off the angles and corners of rough stones with a stroke-hammer , and using the gauge or measuring board to shape the edges into true "and perfect lines . I think it more in harmony with the dictates of sound reason to presume thafc the fullest instruction in all the details of art was vouchsafed the

Apprentice , in an exact proportion as he evinced his aptitude to acquire the rudiments of a strict science . No doubt a secret meaning was attached to many things whioh he beheld , bufc the precise signification of which was only comprehended when he had mastered the theory upon which the practice was grounded—the occasional gleam of light that flashed before his inquiring eye conveyed no

fixed idea to a mind untaught , as yet , to interpret the mystic symbolism of its brightness . * * * It is not to be supposed for a moment that this class of artificers , during the continuance of their long term of service , was simply burdened with the mere drudgery of hammering rude and jagged stones , or wielding the gauge with no higher ambition than to make straight and perfect corners ,

His teacher was his Master , and as such practically progressive , and all the instruction essential to render the Apprentice a thorough and proficient workman was bestowed upon him during this tutelage . And in the pursuance of this purpose he advanced gradually , with a greater or lesser degree of proficiency , to a high standard of mechanical skill , so fchafc at the time the grade of Fellow was

conferred on him , he was in full possession already of the necessary knowledge which made him a master of the details of architectural art . * * # jj e couid work out with exquisite elaborateness a floriated capital , ancl chisel into natural semblance the niched figures with which the church Militant was delineated upon airy towers ancl cathedral walls ; he could dress , with accuracy , the polished

stones suitable for elegant pilasters , and contributed his share of arches upon whioh fche superstructure was raised , with infinite skill—all this he had acquired during his Apprenticeship , bnt the key by which these multitudinous and detached portions were conjoined , the combination by which foundation stones , pilasters and columns , shining walls , chapiters gracefully wreathed with

flowers , arches and muihons , canopies and ribbed tracery , flying buttresses and rosette finials , were put together to form the cathedml , was ono of the secrets which he obtained in being admitted fco the degree of Fellow-Craft . ' Ifc is obvious thafc the Operative Craft worked in secret , that is , they did not permit persons to lounge among the workmen , ancl they must have had some sort of police duty performed by some one of their number . Under the

speculative system of Freemasonry , some one brother can and does discharge the duty of tiling the Lodge against interruptions or intrusions . Brother Senior Deacon remarked , as the old man closed his book and replaced it on the shelf , " You have used fche word tile , and you are called Tiler , what do they mean and how did they originate as Masonio terms ?" ( To be continued . )

Presentation To Bro. Samuel Carrington.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . SAMUEL CARRINGTON .

A COMPLIMENTARY Dinner took place on the 10 th insfc ., at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , to Bro . Samuel Carrington P . M ., Chairman of the Licensed Victuallers' Association , when opportunity was afforded of making him a Presentation Testimonial in commemoration of his having filled the ohair of the Licensed Victuallers' Asylum . The following is a copy of the inscription : —

THIS SILVER , consisting of SALVER , TEA AND COFFEE SERVICE , AND LIQUEUR STAND , and likewise GOLD WATCH ,

was presented by the members of the Board of Management and other friends of the LICENSED VICTUALLERS' ASYLUM , to BRO . SAMUEL CARRINGTON , Chairman of the Institution for the Tear 1882 , At a Dinner held at the FREEMASONS' TAVERN , LONDON , On Tuesday , lOfch April 1883 , Iu testimony of their high appreciation of the integrity he displayed in the discharge of the onerous duties attached to such position ; for his energy in procuring funds for the Institution , and especially

during the period of his chairmanship , when the subscriptions and donations obtained by him , in conjunction with his colleagues and ot her supporters of the Society , amounted to £ 7 , 949 8 s 6 d ; for the courtesy he evinced towards the members of the Board , and to the subscribers generally ; as also for his solicitous care of the inmates of the Institution .

At the same time a suite of jewelry ( consisting of a diamond locket and necklet , brooch and earrings ) , was presented to Mrs . Carrington , as a memento of her husband ' s chairmanship . The proceedings terminated with a ball . Bro . S . Fryett was in the chair , aud there was a numerous attendance .