Church Service.

• which bound one generation to another ; and the third that monuments were incentives to virtue . St . Helen ' s , Bishopsgate , he proceeded , was celebrated for the

honoured names of great and good citizens of London enshrined within its walls—Lord Mayors , Aldermen , Privy Councillors , great legal luminaries , and merchant princes—and it was fitting that yet another name should

be added to those already appearing on its walls . Theie were two reasons why Jobn Edmund Cox should be remembered with gratitude in that place and by that

congregation . He was a good friend to St . Helen ' s , and an enthusiastic supporter of the Brotherly Craft of Freemasons . For thirty-nine years he was vicar and vicar-in-charge of the parish ; he rescued the Church

from decay , and prepared the way for that great restoration which had been since carried out with conspicuous success by the present esteemed and honoured rector . He was the historian of St . Helen ' s , he was a scholar and an antiquarian of repute , and he was also a

skilful and enthusiastic musician . He served for ten years in succession the Office of Grand Chaplain of the Order of Freemasons in England . In those days there were fewer of the clergy interested in Masonry than in the present day , and he must have been respected and trusted in that capacity . The Archdeacon proceeded to speak of the advantages to society of an Order such as Freemasons , pointing out that there was a remarkable

difference between English and foreign Masonry ; that in England it was founded upon the fear of God , was in support of law and order , and walked side by side with

religion . Masonry was not religion itself , but it was rooted in religion . It was something nobler than mere social entertainment or festal gatherings , and one of its noblest works was the institution and maintenance of

great institutions for the benefit of oipbans and destitute boys and girls . A collection was made in aid of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . — " City Press . "

Points Of Interest.

POINTS OF INTEREST .

BEFORE leaving our consideration of the Craft ceremonies , a few remarks on etiquette might be

added . Whilst the duties ofthe Brethren to the Master and the nature of their allegiance is always being insisted on , let the latter not lose sight of the fact

that he likewise has duties to the Lodge the members of which placed bim in that honourable position , not so much for the purpose of adding to his dignity as adding to their own . The courtesy and urbanity towards his inferiors , which are desirable in any one

holding a nigh position , are no less desirable m the W . M . We are now , however , confining ourselves to what goes on in the Lodge Room , and therefore will assume that his demeanour is all that can be desired elsewhere . Within the Lodge , however , there are often little points of etiquette lost sight of . The W . M . should

m the hrst place never address observations to his Lodge while seated . Every other Brother is expected to rise when addressing the chair , and the courtesy should be mutual . Especially should this be the case during the ceremonies . We have seen the W . M . give the introductory address in the third degree seated , and the candidate

never fails to notice such laxity . The W . M . should be mindful of the P . M . at his left . It is very hard for a Brother who has done' his work thoroughly well to find himself utterly extinguished as

soon as he has installed his successor . It is a graceful act for the W . M ., especially when more than one degree has to be conferred , to ask a P . M . to confer it . It affords variety , and causes the P . Ms , to attend Lodge regularly , which they can hardly be expected to do if

condemned all the evening to be seated and look like a range of extinct volcanoes . The W . M . on assuming office has a number of collars at his disposal , which can be well conferred on P . Ms . Chief among these is that of the Director of Ceremonies , for a D . C . who knows his

duty and performs it is one of the most valuable Officers of the Lodge , and a P . M . ' s experience makes him a most suitable holder of the office . The Lodge has a perfect right to demand of the W . M . that the ceremonies should be faultlessly perioimed . Even if he be sc mew hat backwaid , a little

Points Of Interest.

tact in selecting assistants will bridge over any awkward gap . One P . M . can give the address , another explain the Working Tools , and the Wardens are only too

anxious to take the preliminary canter involved in giving the charge and the lecture . But in any case , it ought not to be possible for a member of the Lodge to be ashamed to bring a visitor .

The W . M . is expected to instruct as veil as employ the Brethren . Certainly this applies to the Officeis . If one of the latter imperfectly comprehends his work , he will generally be most grateful to the W . M . for a ftw

woids in private on the subject , and therefore bad work on the part of any Officer reflects quite as much discredit on the Master as himself . The Master should be punctual , not spasmodically so , but known to be regularly in his place at the appointed moment , as a punctual beginning means a

punctual conclusion . It is a disputed question whether the charity collection at the end of the evening ' s work should be extended to visiting Brethren . Customs differ in different Lodges , but one of a W . M . ' s duties is distinctly the fostering of

his Charity Fund , and , moreover , the visiting Brethren are often anxious to contribute , and possibly resent being denied the opportunity . The writer once visited a Lodge where some thirty Brethren Visitors sat down to an excellent dinner , and

there seemed an anomaly when the thirty Brethren , after eating and drinking and being well filled , drank "to all poor and distressed Brethren" in champagne , when the charity collection in Lodge had not amounted to Rs . 10 .

In no case has greater tact to be exercised than in dealing with defaulting Brethren . When it is well known that a Brother has no chance of coping with his arrears , it is false kindness to him to allow them to go

on accumulating . A rigid application of the bye-law which generally says three months , would pull a defaulting Brother up before he has time to allow arrears to accumulate into an impossible amount . Under Indian conditions , the candidate who has just

taken the fiist degree is generally absent from Lodge , restoring himself , etc ., at the time the Charity box goes round . The very solemn and beautiful lesson conveyed

in the address is therefore lost upon him , if after declaring his inability , and at tbe same time his willingness , he be not given an opportunity of practising that virtue which he has professed to admire .

With regard to the ballot . The writer does not know whether the W . M . can forbid a candidate being balloted for after being duly proposed and seconded , and information on this head from an experienced Brother would be welcome . The W . M . is bound to exercise some

supervision both over the admission of candidates for initiation and for affiliation , especially so the former , as the honour of the Craft is at stake . In the latter case

only that of the Lodge . If such supervision and the power of making enquiry into the candidate ' s character be granted , then the W . M . must also be given the power of rejecting him . But to take such a

step would not only involve a slur on the candidate , but on his proposer and seconder , and might probably be followed by the withdrawal of the two latter . Still the W . M ., and not any proposer or seconder , is responsible to tbe Craft , and it would seem , therefore , as if tbe W . M . ' s permission should be asked before putting a candidate in nomination .

Since all squares , levels and perpendiculars are true and lawful signs of recognition , it follows that if the right angle is had in honour anywhere , it should be in a Lodge . It is one of the very first things to which the attention of the newly illuminated is directed . Officers and Brethren , therefore , whose duties cause them to

move about , should move in rectangular directions . In his perambulations the candidate should traverse the four sides of the tesselated pavement . When standing to order every Brother should remember the injunction to tbe candidate for the first degree prior to the S . S . being

communicated , ills body should be an emblem ofthe uprightness of his intentions , and his feet of the rectitude of his actions . Tbe sun being the chief of the lesser lights , the Master and Wardens should follow the course of the sun when taking and leaving their seats .