Proficiency Before Advancement.

Brother be examined , in order to ascertain his proficiency iu the preceding degree before a higher one is conferred upon him , but such examination ought to be required . No option should be left in the matter , no hole in the law ,

through which a careless , thoughtless or incompetent Master can creep out . And there is another thought worthy of consideration in this connection : The " recommenders " of every candidato have a duty to perform . Primarily

they art' IU ¦ instrvctors , aud they arc in duty bound to qualify him , themselves , for advancement . Let them perform this duty , and let all Masters of Lodges require

proficiency in a candidate before advancement , and the much-needed practical reform in this matter will have been accomplished . —Keystone .

The Other Generation.

THE OTHER GENERATION .

IT was in the old Masonic Temple , later United States Court House , now being remodelled for mercantile purposes , that the other generation was best known in the business of Freemasonry , in the City of Boston and Common wealth of Massachusetts .

Who were the men numbered in that generation is what few now living can tell , and that so imperfectly , from personal acquaintance , that the record of things past is more reliable—would wo conld be as certain of things to

come . There was Winslow Lewis , the genial Grand Master of the Grand Lodge ; sweet in his social intercourse with the

brethren ; ripe in scholarship ; grave or gay as circumstances pleaded ; rich in his sympathies ; generous and manly among men .

The Rev . Lucius R . Paige , D . D ., was of about the same period ; less conspicuous in some respects ; busier in purely literary work ; but kindly affectioned , and loyal to the Fraternity , of which , for so many years , he has continued to be an intellectual part .

With these was Daniel Harwood , ritualist and disciplinarian , zealous among his fellows ; skilled in useful knowledge ; a controller of men , a leader also , when leadership meant more than cunning , and made one " great among the people . "

Two or three years later came John T . Heard , whose force of character was tuned by reason , and whose comprehensive mind speedil y recommended him for Grand Master when such as he was needed in the Grand East .

Numbered among these , but somewhat younger , was William W . Baker , bright , witty , and intelligent ; learning from his seniors , and gaining a secure place in their confidence .

Richard Briggs was rapidly growing in favour , and ere long he had secured the approbation of his brethren , who soon advanced him to proud positions within their gift , and endorsed their opinions by subsequent preferments .

Others , some older , some younger , came into notice , and fche generation had Abraham A . Dame , John R . Bradford , Robert Lash , John B . Hammatt , Thomas Waterman and

William G . Martin , for counsellors and guides , while the pen of the Grand Secretary was held b y Charles W . Moore , in the interest of the societ y wherein he was a dominant quantity .

There are others of whom we might speak with advantage ; the roll was a long one , and then we are only looking at that belonging to Boston . William Parkman , later Grand Master , was working into the front places .

Nathaniel B . Shurtleff , less conspicuous in Masonio office , but more for his general knowledge , was always a welcome advisor . John McClellan , present ' always where he had the ri ght of admission , zealous , hel pful and communicative .

Younger men than these were looking for thafc which was to come , fully believing that the perfection of Masonic character was a thing devoutly to be wished , and fco the attainment of which their energies might earnestly be devoted .

1 be difference in age of these men was not enough to remove any of them from the generation of Masonic workmen then active . Theirs was a common purpose ; to them Freemasonry was a reality ; ifc meant what ifc taught ,

and taught what it meant ; hypocrisy and deceit were altogether unknown in its work or Councils , where the exercise of brotherly love conciliated true friendship , and the relief afforded the distressed was accompanied b y hearty sympathy for their misfortunes .

The Other Generation.

Theirs was the labour of love for Freemasonry , for its principles and fo : * the good contaited within it . S > me of these brethren were skilful ritualisms ; all of them who did ,

worked with the spirit and the understanding also ; and every one of them possessed social qualities of a fraternal and sympathetic character .

Tn their day it was held to be of high importance that the work should be done well , and though tlie Masons of this generation havo better facilities , the ceremonies aro

no more impressive than when performed by that other generation . Then the brethren wero not so numerous , but thoy were sincere , and this was exhibited on all proper occasions ;

consultations and personal interviews were frequent , and many an hour was whiled away in the indulgence of these delights . We have heard some of them recall the old times , when a few , compared with the many who gather on

similar occasions now , met in the old Temple , performed fche work of the evening , and then partook of such simple refreshment as could be afforded , in contentment and peace In a recent conversation with Brother Richard Briggs , he told the writer thafc the first collation of which he

partook in the old Temple , consisted of bread and butter , cheese and cider , and that he enjoyed it immensely , too . These simple repasts were furnished by Brother Marfan , who was superintendent , and who rigidly excluded all but

Masons from service or participation therein . No profane presence could be tolerated ; the quiet tete-a-tete , or the more general conversation , gave wings to the hour and the time went quickly by , but bearing happy memories ; when

we inquire for those who then governed and guided the Craft , the many are not with us , but here and there one , — and these tell us by precept and example of the good seed sown , and of the good work done by the Masons of the other generation . —Liberal Freemason .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Oxfordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF OXFORDSHIRE .

THE following is a list of the Officers appointed by the newly installed Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire , the Right Hon . the Earl of Jersey , at the meeting at Oxford , on Wednesday , the 28 fch ulfc .:

—Bro . Reginald Bird P . G . D . 357 - - Deputy Grand Master H . G . W . Drinkwater 340 - - Senior Warden W . L . Morgan 357 - - - Junior Warden Rev . A . R . Pritchard 1895 - - " ) „ , a - Rev . G . J . P . Yule 357 - - - \ Chaplains W . G . Emberline 340 - - - Treasurer J . S . Wells 599 - - - - Registrar E . L . Hawkins 357 - - - Secretary

H . Houghton 340 - - - Assistant Secretary Lord Valentia 478 - - - Senior Deacon A . A . Webb 1036- - - - Junior Deacon P . Marsh 1895 .... Supt . of Works P . P . Bulley 357 .... Dir . of Ceremonies B . P . Lascelles 357 - - - Asst . Dir . of Cers . J . Arnall 478 .... Sword Bearer

IvSOSe : : : : }«•—*«» G . Owens 1703 - - - - Organist E . P . Greenwood 1515 - - - Pursuivant W . D . Sutton 1763 - - - Assfc . Pursuivant Sir B . Brodie 357 , P . J . Humphrey 357 , ) G . Harris 1515 , L . M . Wynne 599 , S . C . [ Stewards Wakefield 1703 , J . W . Messenger 340 ) G . Norwood .... Tyler

The General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys assembled at Freemasons' Hall , on Saturday , under the presidency of Bro . Raynham W . Stewart P . G . D . The minutes of the last meeting having been confirmed ,

those of tho House Committee were read for information , and then the report of the Audit Committee was received and adopted . Six petitions on behalf of candidates were considered , and all were approved , the children thereby

becoming elegible for the next April election . Applications were made on behalf of eight ex-pupils for grants towards providing them with outfits ; six of these were acceded to , and two postponed . The proceedings were brought to a conclusion with the customary vote of thanks to the Chairman .

Marriage.

MARRIAGE .

STEPHENS—EDWARDS . —On Sunday , Sth inst ., afc St . Sepulchre ' s Church , Holborn Viaduct , Bro . GEOKGE H . STEPHENS P . M . 1 iSi , of Stepney and North Bow , to BEATMCE , youngest daughter ol'the loteJons EDWARDS , Esq ., of . Cow Cross , E . C ,