Lodge Nomenclature

wherein a family party assembles , and this most hkely exp lains the connection of the name with a Lodge of Freemasons . A " Silent Temple " is hardly appropriate , except on the ground that silence is one of the virtues on which Freemasonry lays the greatest stress , while as to the

" Limestone Rock " Lodge , we can only account for the selection of such a name by the fact that geology has something to do with Freemasonry . An " Arboretum " is oftentimes a trysting-place for lovers , but the love which is cultivated in its shady recess is nofc exactly fraternal

love . Still Masonry covers a multitude of loves and " Arboretum , " may pass muster . Moreover , as a certain school of philosophers were wont to pace tho groves of Academe , when imparting their lessons of wisdom , so the modern Masonic philosopher may find many a less

convenient place than the quiet nooks of an arboretum for inculcating the truths of b reemasonry . Ifc is fortunate , perhaps , that the " Octahedron " Lodge is located somewhere in the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope . Were it in London

it would , we fear , stand a chance of being severely damaged in the pronunciation . However , as snggestive of solidity , it is admissible . Bufc these are only a few of the more remarkable names to be found in the Calendar . We

need not be at the pains of selecting other examples of the hap-hazard manner in which names are selected . It occurs to us , there are sundry essential points to be considered in providing a title for a new Lodge . It should read smoothly ;

there should be no inconsistency between it and the Lodge to which it is applied . For instance , a Mason is not an amphibious animal , though there be Masons both on land and water . Nor do we think that the names of brethren

should be too commonly used m distinguishing Lodges from one another . The names of Connaught , Leopold , Carnarvon , Skelmersdale , Moira , Cabbell , and other eminent brethren past and present , naturally enough suggest themselves to the founders of a new Lodge , but

these , we have said , can be nsed too often , and we do not think it wise to adopt as titles the names of brethren who have not pre-eminently distinguished themselves . But we shall better indicate our meaning if we take a few names at random , as instancing what it is desirable to

avoid in our Lodge titles . We will suppose we are cofounders with some of onr readers of a Lodge as yet unnamed . We are in the agonies of consultation , but no inspired thought has occurred to any one ; suddenly one who is given to the study of palaeontology suggests ,

"Ichthyosaurus . "Why ? " say we . "Well , " it is at least as good as amphibious , more definite , and eminently respectable from — well , from an antiquarian point of view . " "Why not 'Charles Matterface ?'" says the W . M . designate . "Or 'Periwinkle Bay' Lodge ?'

It will be located there . " " Pardon me , " says a third , " I fancy ' Castor and Pollux' would do admirably In the first place , they never had anything to do with speculative Freemasonry , so we shonld avoid arousing any senae of jealousy among our patrons . In the next , as they

together form one of the signs of the zodiac , we should be paying a compliment to celestial Freemasonry , which nobody understands . " " Let us call it * The Six Grand Periods , '" says another . " Or , ' The Queen ' s Head , ' where

we purpose meeting . " The last evoked a chorus of disapproval . " Smacks too much of the Postage Stamp , " was the universal rejoinder . " Or the ' Plantagenet' Lodge ; it sounds regal , and ours is a Royal Art . Besides , a Plantagenet issued an edict about operative Masons , and there are

those who think this had something to do with the rise of Speculative Freemasonry . " An " Obtuse-angled Triangle " was favourably received at the outset , but was discarded , on somebody pointing out that it , or a part of it , might be considered as personal to the members . Many other

names were suggested , and the meeting was on the point of separating withont coming to a conclusion , when the inspired thought presented itself . "Let us call it the ' Pro Bono Publico Lodge . ' " " Why ? " exclaimed all but the inventive genius who proposed the name . " Well , "

remarked he , " being expressed in a strange language , it will sound more impressive to English ears . Moreover , it directly explains some of the objects of Freemasons . Thus , we cultivate the study of Freemasonry 'for the Public Good , ' and we shall meet at mine host ' s of the '

Pig-and-Sticking-Plaister , ' let us hope , as much to our own satisfaction as 'for the Good of the Public . '" And it was called the "Pro Bono Publico" Lodge accordingly . Speaking seriously , we think the present fashion of naming Lodges might with advantage be improved , and we

Lodge Nomenclature

trust the practice of naming them after brethren , who , albeit respectable and respected , are not pre-eminent , will cease .

Freemasons At Issue

FREEMASONS AT ISSUE

DIF FERENCES will inevitably arise between Masons , as between other men , nor is it to be expected that brethren will always be successful in arranging such without having recourse to law . No doubt ifc is very lamentable to think that litigation is a necessary evil , but

unfortunately it is so ; and nntil the millennium shall arrive , when , like tho lion and the lamb , we shall sit down in perfect harmony with one another , we may regard it as an absolute certainty that , whether they be Masons or non-Masons , men , who are infinitely more quarrelsome than all the rest of

the animal kingdom put together , will go on quarrelling . However , as one of the objects of Freemasonry is to induce a stronger sense of concord among its disciples than prevails in the word generally , the spectacle of two or more brethren submitting their disputes to one of the legal

tribunals of the country is not often witnessed . Our Constitutions lay it down that if the Craftsmen cannot agree together , they should endeavour to settle their differences in the Lodge , and if that expedient fail of success , then they must

seek the intervention of the Grand Master . But as many Masons have business relations together , and as differences often occur in respect of such business , a difficulty arises as to where the line shall be drawn between these and

their Masonic relations . It is not always possible to say where , in the case of such brethren , Masonry ends and business begins . This may sound strange in the ears of many of our readers , but we have business relations with Craftsmen , and we know to our cost that Masonry and

business are often confounded together in a most unjustifiable manner . We know many well-intentioned brethren who are quite willing to patronise our Masonic literary wares , and consider they are promoting the welfare of Freemasonry by permitting us to bear all the expense .

When they call for dinner , either at home or at an hotel , they must pay for it ; but when they ask for such plain Masonic pabulum as it is in our power to purvey , they feel aggrieved if we suggest that a pecuniary return is necessary . But we are slightly wandering from the

main point of our article . We say there is oftentimes a diversity of opinion as to where , in the case of brethren who have business relations together , the Masonry ends , and the business begins , and a certain amount of odium unduly attaches to the brother , who is bold

enough to draw a hard and fast line between his Masonic and his business relations . For ourselves , we see no reason for this confusion , and still less reason is there for blaming a brother who makes a point of insisting that business is business , and not Freemasonry . At the

same time , as we have a perfect horror of litigation , we would advise brethren to settle their differences amicably , if possible , not only for their own sakes and the avoidance of cost , but in order to avoid bringing , even indirectly , any reproach upon Freemasonry . But an angry man is seldom

amenable to reason , and the confusion already existing in his mind as between business and Masonry leads him to commit an error of judgment . The result is , that a dispute , which is purely Masonic in its character , is submitted to the stern arbitrament of the law , while another , which is

essentially non-Masonic , is referred to the decision of a Masonic tribunal . However , two cases have figured in the law courts within the last few days , which will enable us to enlighten our readers as to what should and what should not be settled legally . In one an action for libel came on

for hearing in the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Judicature . Justice Field presided , and when the case was about to be argued , he , having in the meantime noted the leading particulars of the suit , interposed , and suggested that the case was one which should

properly be submitted , not to one of Her Majesty ' s Courts of Law , but to the Grand Master . His words , as quoted in the report of one of our daily contemporaries , were "It is contrary to the rules of Masonry to come into a court of law on such a matter . It will be much better to ask the

Grand Master to interfere , and decide the question . " The counsel for the defence expressed the readiness of his clients to adopt this course , when the counsel for the p laintiff remarked that such a course had been taken , but the Grand