Every Member Owes A Duty To His Lodge.

question—am I fully doing my duty as a Mason' ? Do I perform my official vow as an officer ? As an humble member am I cultivating the talent given to me ? Do I visit the sick , feed the hungry , clothe the naked and bind np tbe wounds of tbe afflicted ? Do I allow slight

excuses to keep me from attending the Lodge ? Do I assist the officers in every way possible , or do i simply pay my clues , aud by so doing acquit my conscience of any

misgivings that may chase across it ? These , and many more questions must ba answered , each for himaelf ? I have not the time , neither is it expected , that I should do so .

But remember , brethren , that "many persons are deluded by their vague suppositions that our mysteries are merely nominal ; that the practices established among us are frivolous ; and that our ceremonies might be adopted or waived at pleasure . On this false foundation

we have found them hurrying through all the degrees , without adverting to the propriety of one step they pursue , or possessing a single qualification requisite for advancement . Passing through the usual formalities , they have accepted offices and assumed the government of Lodges ,

eqnally unacquainted with the rules of the institution they profess to support , or the nature of the trust reposed in them . The consequence is obvious ; wherever such practices have been allowed , anarchy and confusion have ensued , and the substance has been lost in the shadow . "

" Unless prudent actions shall distinguish our title to the honours of Masonry , and regular deportment display the influence and ability of our rules , the world in general will not easily bo led to reconcile our proceedings with the tenets of onr profession . "—Masonic Advocate .

The Great Fire At The Good Hope Lodge.

THE GREAT FIRE AT THE GOOD HOPE LODGE .

THE destruction of the properties of the Good Hope Lodge by fire on Sunday afternoon is still a fruitful theme of public discussion . The ruins were visited by a large number of persons yesterday , and many photographers , amateur and professional , have taken views of the Exhibition Building wreck , and of the interior of

the Masonic Temple and Native Affairs . Yesterday also Mr . Bellew had a staff of men employed searching amongst the debris for traces of Mrs . Potter's jewels , which included the magnificent string of pearls worn on but few occasions here , but to no purpose , and it is extremely doubtful whether anything will be recovered .

Much speculation exists as to the cause of the outbreak . Mr . Crosby will commence an inquiry into this to-day , and it is hoped that the incendiary , if there be one , may be discovered . Mr . G . G . Silberbauar will watch the case for the Good Hope Lodge , and we understand that the investigation will be a very searching one .

Some misconception appears to prevail respecting the safety of the original Charter granted to the Good Hope Lodge . A report that the document had perished in the fire gained currency , but we are happy to state that this is not so . A Charter belonging to the Lodge was destroyed , but it was not the Charter , whiehiain safe custody .

The Southern Cross Lodge waa not so fortunate . Charter , banner officers' jewels , working tools , and a pair of silver charity boxes , which Bro . Bruce Sellar W . M . presented to tho Lodge only last week , have all gone . The loss of the Charter is a more serious matter than would at first sight appear . The Lodge is unable to work without a

Charter , and nothing further can be done until authority shall have beeu receivsd from Scotland . Application for a now Charter will be forwarded by to-day ' s mail , and authority to work will probably be transmitted by cable a month hence . The Officers of the Lodge have received many expressions of sympathy for the loss they have sustained

. ^ The British Lodge have placed their tomple at tie brethrens' disposal , and the Carnarvon have proffered assistance in the way of regalia . Members of the Masonio Craft are notified that the ceremony of installing the W . M . and investing the Officers of the Southern Cross Lodge , fixed for the 26 th instant , is posponed sine dio .

—Cape Times , 24 th February 1892 . The members of the Lodge de Goedo Hoopo , whose beautiful iemplo was destroyed in the late disastrous fire , are still anxiously considering tho steps to be taken iu tho matter of providing another habitation . It is probable that the outer walls of the Tetania will

"e retained , and that it will not be necessary therefore entirely to rebuild . The fittings are , of course , entirely gone , and must be replaced as tho Lodge may be able to do so . Meanwhile tho insurance aithculties have benn settled . Both tho Goede Trouw and the iritish Lodges have kindly placed their temples at the disposal of weir distressed sister Lodge daring the rebuilding , and the Lodge will shortl y meet in one or other of them for the despatch of pressing business . —Cape Argus .

Moi . dny , the 25 th inst ., has been appointed for the reception of «« ! L ? * inter | ded for the Summer Exhibition ( the twentr-SSeriw the 19 tb CeilfcaryArt Societ 7 > at the Condait Street

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

DRIFELT LODGE , So ' . 291 . THE installation ceremony was performed on Wednesday , the 6 th inst ., by Bro . Col . K . J . Smith Deputy Prov . Grand Master . The Officers were invested as follows : —Bros . Eennard W . M ., Gray I . P . M ., Kirby S . W ., Creaser J . W ., Wetwan M . O ., Gage S . O ., Moore J . O ., Elgey Treasurer , Potts Secretary , Downes S . D ., Clarke J . D ., Wilson I . G ., Featherstone Tyler .

Brother F . 0 . Boles , of Baraset , Stratford-on-Avon , a former Master of the Ogmore Lodge , has given £ 50 towards the building fund of the new Masonio HaU at Bridgend , to be opened in July next . Bro . J . Blandy Jenkins and Bro . A . J . Williams , M . P ., ara also donors to the same fund .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonio Benevolent Institution was held on Wednesday at Freemasons' HaU . The Secretary reported the deaths of four

widow annuitants ; also that one male annuitant had resigned his annuity in consequence of having inherited some property . The usual Committee was appointed to prepare the annual report .

Bro . George Cotter has placed a very handsome framed lithograph picture of the Masonio Temple in his front office in a permanent state of brilliant illumination , with the legend upon it , that

" Simplex conveys the juice . " This is not only in the model , but in the original , through which some sixty-five miles of-Simplex wander . This , according to Bro . Cutter , the electrical specialist of the West , is the insulation that never fails , and it produces a similar effect on the light . —Electrical Engineer .

As everybody expected , Bro . Eobert Grey has been elected unanimously to succeed the late Mr . G . B . Gregory as Treasurer of the Foundling Hospital . Needless is it to say that in the Masonio world—where the President of tbe Board of Benevolence is one of the most popular of Grand Officers—the appointment has given great satisfaction . Not merely as president , but in his private capacity

does Brother Grey practise the special Masonic virtue of charity , and many a five-pound note has b : en paid out of his own pocket to help a poor and distressed Mason . Brother Grey , who is an old Merchant Taylor , is a member and Past Master of the Prince of Wales' Lodge , and , as such , had the honour of being selected to initiate the Duke of Connaught into Masonry . His office of Treasurer carries with it

a delightful house in the Foundling , the institution so well known to all Londoners , at the top of Lamb ' s Conduit-street , where , from estates producing something like nine thousand a year , nearly five hundred children , " illegitimate children of women previously respectable , " are maintained . The Sunday morning service is not so fashionable now as it once was , but with the children ' s voicas is always interesting and delightful . —Evening News and Post .

The annual Masonic social gathering in connection with the Lodge of Peace took place on Friday , the 18 th ult ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Meltham . Thirty couples were present , and went through a rather lengthy bnt well-arranged programme of dances , interspersed with

songs , aud recitations at intervals . A quadrille band waa present , under the leadership of Mr . Joe Sykes , pianist . Mr . Brook Garside officiated as M . C . Appropriate refreshments were provided , the greatest good humour prevailed , and tho company passed a very pleasant time .

The annual series of Shakespearian Memorial performances , at Stratford-on-Avon , have again this year , for the fifth time , been undertaken by Mr . F . R . Benson , and will consist of eight representations of Shakespearian Plays , including a most interesting revival of " Timon of Athens , " a tragedy that has not been seen ou the boards since Phelps produced it at Sadler ' s Wells about

twontjfive years ago . Tho performances commence on Mouday , 18 th April , and will bo as follows : —Monday , 18 th , and Tuesday , llHn , " A Midsummer Night's Dream ; " Wednesday , 20 th , "Julius Cmiar ;" Thursday , 21 st , "Twelfth Night ; " Friday , 22 nd , aud Saturday , 23 rd ( Shakespeare ' s Birthday ) , " Timon of Athens . " There will be

also two matinees , ono of " A Midsummer ' s Night ' s Dream " ou Monday , 18 th , and one of " Timou of Athens" on Saturday , 23 rd . Special trains will be run from London on Friday , the 15 th , aud Friday , the 22 nd . There will also be special trains from Northampton , Birmingham , Wolverhampton , Leamington , and surrounding districts .

St . Helen ' s Lodge of Instruetion , No . 531 . —The annual banquet was held recently at the Victoria Hotel , West Hartlepool , when about forty guests were present , presided over bv

Bro . Johnson P . M . Preceptor , supported by Bros . Huntor P . M . Simpson P . M ., Metcalfe P . M ., Shaw P . M ., Hookaday P . M ., Vickers I . P . M ., < fcc .