Precept And Practice.

"And whosoever of these are received into your college , they must make the promise of steadfastness of purpose , of reformation of morals , and that they Avill fight for the Lord all the days of their lives , and render strict obedience to the Master of tho Temple , the Book in Avhich these things are conned being placed upon the altar . " A large amount of the apathy evinced in the Lodgo assemblages

may be attributed to tho excess of indulgence in that which poisons the mind and body after the evening service is over . The best men and members , except the undaunted Avorkers , withhold their presence where the Aveak aud poorer class of companions attend , and after the labours are over , by example injure the fair name of the Lodgo and its othei-Aviso would-be attendant . Tho Master and Wardens , and as Avell

the other officers , havo a great responsibility resting npon them in this respect . They are tho immediate instructors , ancl their example becomes more marked , especially by the young and tender Mason . Their faces should be boldly set against the introduction of the after , social hour of intemperate , cankering conversation . Some Commanderies wisely make it reprehensible for a Sir Knight to enter the

open saloons while wearing the uniform . Let them go farther , and with tho fraternity of all grades and departments discountenance all unseemly conduct and bearing at all times , but ; especially upon the close of an evening ' s solemn instruction and service . In what are herein said , let each Mason strive for good , and good will result . The greatest weakness of the Order , known to onr

enemies , is that of Avhich wo herein speak . Lot us , then , eradicate ifc . We are told , " Why , yes , your Orcfer is in everything beautiful as to precept and promise ; ' bnt by their fruits ye shall knoAV them . "" Let each one act as the sunbeam in practical good , that giveth light and warmth , and correcteth the dark places in a sinful Avorld , and we shall have our reward .

"A sunbeam left the sun , and , as it sped , I followed , Avatched , and listened what ifc said : ' Wherefore , with all this brightness am I given From Sun to Earth ? Am I not fit for Heaven ?

From God I came once ; and , though worlds have passed , Ages , and dooms , yet I am light to the last . Whatever God hath once bent to His will , Is sacred . ' Let us entreat Him to so mould ns That wo may be a light to the last . "

Drones And Impostors.

DRONES AND IMPOSTORS .

"From th & MASONIC JEWEL . "

rjiHE number of impostors and drones that aro now travelling over -L the country , seeking Masonic aid and charity , is almost alarming . They come in all guises and under all circumstances , each one having a peculiar talo suited to his or her taste or disposition . Tho order is so numerous that a Avilling car can bo found in most any locality , and the brightness of tho applicants is almost as proverbial as they aro numerous . No situation is too high or to lowly for them to

assume , no disaster or misfortune so great but they havo experienced it . Many aro too proud to beg ; they simply desiro a loan . Many aro away from home , helpless , starving and destitute . Help must be given at once ; the case is too desperate for consultation or investigafcion—the telegraph and mails are too slow for their pressing needs . "Now is the accepted time—now is tho hour of their salvation . " To

require any proof but an examination is an absurdity Avith them . Lodge receipt for dues , Lodge certificate of membership or diplomas are useless , or have been misplaced , lost , or left behind as valueless . The proof of all their claims is in their heads , and their tono-ues are rapid on a preliminary obligation and ritual . " Bright" is the word

for nearly all of them . Our present number of tho JEAYEL " shows up" many of those impostors who are travelling over the country . Not any of these , perhaps , but others , will come upon us like a thief in the night , and before we know it , will have bit and gone , seeking other victims and other charities .

All this shows that our system of examination is defective , and our system of charity still more so . Masons , while they must afc all times act the gentleman and the Mason , must also turn detective , and take but little for granted ; proof should be demanded . Receipts for dues and Lodge certificates go a long Avay as circumstantial evidence , and ignorant and stupid is the Mason of this enlightened

day who expects to obtain relief among strangers without a resonable explanation of their absence , or an expectation to await tho action of mail or telegraph . Dimited Masons havo not yet learned that most of them should be considered drones—useless to tho Masonic fraternity and " unworthy of our protection as Masons ; " and impostors are

astonished or indignant at requiring proof outside of their assertion and the litnal . With them ifc is generally the first time thoy have applied for help , ancl when in prosperity ihey had given cords of money aAvay to relievo their brethren ; now , in their need , who could be a Mason ancl refuse ? Blessed to them aro the ignorant and the " rusty" when they apply .

We have said that our system of examining strangers was defective , A test by the ritual of our order is tho last step for a brother examining to resort to ; let him satisfy himself on all other points : documentary evidence first—the test oath next—and then let the stranger be thrown upon his own resources as to Avhat he knows . Aid him

Avhere aid is necessary for a proper understanding of words , but let that be the last test . He is the person to be benefitted , not you ; he is the person seeking to tell what he knows about Masonry , not you ; he is the party " challenged , " not yon . Where grave doubt arises , let the telegraph or mails settle the question . Many of them are so fortunate , however , as to hail from " obscure corals" where , jnajlg seldom , or telegraph never teagkea ,

Charity is the groundwork of Freemasonry . " Chanty ia twice blessed—ifc blesses him that gives and him that receives . " Bnfc it ia ivicked to give to the unworthy . It is aiding vice and crime and wrong and laziness . It is stealing from the months of the hungry the distressed , and the worthy . Masonry as yet cannot take in the whole human family " for charity ' s sake . " Her substance is limited ,

and her family ia too large to seek those who have gone out from among them and those who have never entered her fold . Masonry is a reality , and poor is he , and poor and Avorthless the Lodgo that does not strive to take care of its own household . It is only by intelligence that we may expect to ward off impostors and drones . " Light" is needed in very many of our Lodges , and

it is hard to tell Avhich is entitled to tho most sympathy or rebuke : the Lodge that is too listless , worthless and cold to give anything for charity or intelligence—or the Lodgo that is so stupid and ignorant as to be the prey of impostors and drones . Tho latter , however , has a right to some consideration , while tho former has not even a ghost of an apology .

Afc the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire , held on Saturday , 8 th inst ., under the presidency of R . W . Bro . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., at Cheshunt Great House , Cheshunfc , it was proposed by Bro . Lowthin , P . G . S . W ., P . M . 1385 , 1479 , & c , that a sum of twenty guineas be voted to the

Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and it was seconded by the P . G . J . W . Bro . Lambert , in opposition to the motion , asked if the brethren had considered the vest amount of funded property in the possession of the Institution , and further remarked that even after they had

increased the number of Girls to be received , as he understood they were about to do , they would not be able to spend their money . He proposed that the money should not be voted . His amendment was seconded , but we are pleased to say the original motion was eventually carried .

We regret any opposition Avas raised to this vote , as we consider that when a Province becomes , as the Prov . Grand Master afterwards remarked , " so large , and tha Lodges so scattered" as those of Hertfordshire , a small amount like the one in question ought to be voted from its Grand Lodge funds unanimously .

An emergency meeting of the Angel Lodge , No . 51 , Avill be held on Tuesday next , at the Three Cups HoteL , Colchester , at 8 p . m .

A Lodge of Instruction , called tho Lewis Lodge of In * struction ( under tho sanction of the LeAvis Lodge , No . 1185 ) , has been formed at Wood Green , and the first

meeting Avas held on Wednesday evening , the 5 th inst ., at the King ' s Arms Hotel , Avhen Bye-LaAVS Avere submitted to the meeting and approved , and the folloAving officers appointed for the ensuing year , viz . —

Bro . Vesper P . M ., Preceptor . Bro . Alfred Durrant W . M . 1185 , Treasurer ; Bro . T . H . Turner J . W . 1135 , Secretary . Mrs . Geo . Newman kindly presented the Lodge with tho

first books . The meetings will be held at the above hotel every Wednesday evening , at seven o ' clock , and it is hoped that the brethren residing in the neighbourhood Avill lend assistance , occasionally , by their presence .

Part III . of CasselVs Picturesque Eitrope takes us to that part of England which to us Masons shines at the present time most brilliantly . WarAvickshire , the first on the list of Provinces at the late Festival of the Boy ' s School , is here treated in a Avay AVC must all admire , for all that

artist and engraver could do has been brought to bear . The views in this , as in former numbers of Messrs . Oassel's publication , are beyond praise , and our only regret is that AVO are not at the present time on the same journey the artist must have taken to see the sights he has here transferred to paper .

We learn from the Voice of Masonry that a ne > v Masonic Hall Avas dedicated , at Fairbury , Illinois , on the IGth Juno . The neAV building is of elegant design , and takes the place

of the one destroyed by fire some mouths since . Past Grand Master Cregier delivered an address , ancl he and Past Grand Marshall Duvall represented the Grand Lodge of the State in the dedicatory services , which Avero & QQQma pauigd witU music ,