Zeal Without Discretion.

ZEAL WITHOUT DISCRETION .

EVERY one appreciates zeal . Provided the object a man is striving for is a legitimate one , the more zealously he prosecutes it , the more thoroughly does he command tho respect and admiration of the world . It is admitted on all sides , however , that a zealous man should

likewise be a discreet man . His zeal must not outrun his discretion . If it does , not only is he likely to fail in his purpose , but he is pretty sure , sooner or later , to provoke hostility . As in the case of two men rapidly traversing a crowded thoroughfare . One moves carefully , so as to

avoid inconvenience to his fellow passengers . His civil " By your leave ! " or " Permit me to pass , sir , " acts like magic , and people step aside for him , immediately , and with pleasure . He is at the end of the street in no time , and has the satisfaction of knowing that he has annoyed or

offended no one . But the other , equally solicitous to make rapid way , is not equally solicitous about tho comfort of others . He pushes and drives past everybody , provoking angry comments at every step he takes . Often , too , a stalwart fellow , whom it were dangerous to molest , bars all

further progress , and the uncivil man fails where the civil succeeded . So with two men pursuing some object . The zeal of one is , the zeal of the other is not , tempered with discretion . The former succeeds , the latter fails . Our advice then is , Be zealous , of course ; but , above all things , discreetly zealous .

We are led to make these reflections by what happened at the recent meeting of Grand Lodge . Two worthy Past Grand Officers severally had in view the same laudable object , namely , to establish some enduring memorial of the Grand Master ' s visit to India . They differed widely ,

however , as to the character of this memorial . Bro . Havers favoured two subsidies of £ 1 , 000 each towards the restoration of St . Paul's and St . Alban ' s . The Rev . Bro . Simpson at first contemplated an aid to some Indian charity of £ 1 , 000 ; but finding this idea did not commend itself very

generally to the members of Grand Lodge , he so far modified his proposition as to suggest a memorial , yet leaving the nature and extent of it for further consideration . Weall know the result . Both werezealonsadvocates , butonewascourteous , the other violent . One gained the sympathy of his opponents

the other lost the sympathy of his friends ; one was anxious the vote of Grand Lodge should be unanimous , the other set all who differed with him at defiance . One courted , the other disdained the goodwill and co-operation of his fellow craftsmen . One was conciliatory , the other

dictatorial . One conceived the idea that Grand Lodge might be led , the other that it might be bullied . Is it surprising which of these rival leaders prevailed ? Is it matter for astonishment that the courteous Simpson proved victorious over the rude , intemperate Havers ? By no means . Had

the result been otherwise , then , indeed , should we have had excellent grounds for wonder . Had the cause he advocated been a thousand times more commendable , we should still have rejoiced over Bro . Havers ' s discomfiture .

In a moment of causeless anger , he cast aside all respect for himself , and for the body of which he was a member . Wo are sorry he did so , but there are no extenuating circumstances that make us regret his overthrow .

We have made these remarks from a sense of duty . We have no desire to increase the feeling of mortification which Bro . Havers is no doubt experiencing . We should be ashamed indeed if we could allow ourselves to be actuated by any such malignant motive . It . may seem senseless to

say so , but probably the sincerest well-wishers of Bro . Havers are those who have no regret whatever for the check he has just encountered . Men do not rise to an eminent position in Freemasonry or any other societ y without they possess many admirable qualities both of heart

and mind . What is commonly called " luck " may help a man . Fortune , in the sense of " worldly possessions , " is no doubt a great assistance . But in Masonry , at all events , these recommendations alone will not establish a man firmly in the estimation of his fellows . Luck may or may not

have favoured Bro . Havers . Wealth may or may not have been a help to him . But he could not have attained his present rank , or earned for himself so liberal a share of the esteem and respect of his fellow Craftmen , had he not

shown he possessed some sterling points of character . We know he has a large heart , sound sense , and , ordinarily , a clear judgment . He sees at once what others are a long time seeing . He is prompt to act where others only think

Zeal Without Discretion.

of deliberating . His judgment is rarely , if ever , at fault . But on this occasion his impetuosity overbore his reason . He would have denied to others what he claimed for himself—the ri ght to have an opinion . He was first surprised , then angered , and then most signally defeated . Bro . Havers ,

however , if we judge him aright , is not the man to commit a wrong wittingly . He may easily convert defeat into a lasting triumph if only he will submit himself to the sway of reason . It will indeed be a great achievement for

Bro . Havers , when once again he realises the distinction between the licence which brooks no opposition and the liberty which respects the free unbiassed judgment of all . Then truly , and in the sense we have just indicated , will he deserve the encomium passed upon Augustus . " Ordinem Kectnm evaganti fraona licentiaa Injecit . "

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SURREY .

THE annual meeting was held on Tuesday , 13 th June , at Croydon . Lieut . General Brownrigg C . B ., Grand Master for the Province , presided , and was well supported by his Grand Officers , past and present , and a numerous attendance of the brethren , considerably over 100 being present in tho Lodge room . After the reading of the minutes and report of the audit and finance committees , the E . W . the Grand Master invested his officers for the year ensuing as follow : —

Bro . Harrison - - - Dep . Prov . G . M . „ Rev . Ambrose Hall „ G . S . W . „ John Lambert Sim . - » G . J . W . „ Eev . D . J . Drakeford - - - „ G . Chaplain . „ George Price . - „ G . Treasurer . „ A . B . Cook - . - „ G . Registrar .

„ Charles Greenwood - - „ G . Secretary . „ T . C . Eager „ G S . D . „ Charles Gale . „ G . J . D . „ II . E . B . Podmore - „ G . Sup . of Works . „ John Close - - ,, G . Dir . of Cer . „ Johu Ehodes . - „ G . Organist . „ Capt . M . S . Brownrigg - - „ G . S . Bearer . „ D . B . Woodward - - „ G . Pursuivant .

„ Pawley 452 ... 1 „ Saunders 889 ... „ Kemp L Prov . G . Stewarda . „ F . West 463 „ Turquand 1556 ...

From the funds of Prov . Grand Lodgo five guineas were voted to Croydon Hospital , and a similar snm to tho widow of a late Freemason , and to each of the three Masonic Charitable Institutions . Twenty guineas were voted towards a testimonial to the Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . Charles Greenwood , who has occupied that position nearly a quarter of a century . A Charity Committee was

formed to act with tho Provinces of Middlesex , Wilts , and Berks and Bucks in concentrating the votes of all four Provinces for selected candidates at tho elections of the Masonic Institutions . The brethren afterwards went to Croydon Old Church , which was beautifully decorated by the ladies belonging to the church . There was a full choral service , the choir numbering over 10 , the Processional Hymn ,

No . 304 ( A . and M . ) , " Come , ye faithful , raise the anthem , " being given with wonderful effect , to the " March of the Israelites , " from Costa ' s " Eli , " arranged in B . flat . Proper Psalms and Lessons were fixed for this service . The anthem , Mendelssohn ' s " Hear my Prayer , " was faultlessly rendered , the solos " Hear my Prayer" and " Oh , for the wings of a dove , " being sung by two yonng gentlemen in snch a manner that had ifc nofc been a sacred edifice and a solemn service ,

there would undoubtedly have been a vociferous burst of applause . The Eev . C . W . Arnold , Grand Chaplain of England , preached a most eloquent sermon , taking for his text the 9 th and 10 th verses of the 3 rd chapter of the 1 st Epistle to the Corinthians . ( As we understand it is to bo printed we hope to allude to ifc more fully on a future occasion . ) The service was brought to a close by the choir singing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus , in a manner that has never been surpassed within the walls of this venerable old church .

The offertory , which amounted to over £ 25 ( irrespective of the grant of £ 5 5 s referred to above ) , was to be given to the Croydon Hospital . The brethren returned to the Greyhound Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet was provided by mine " Host , " Bro . Budden . Tho E . W . Grand Master presided , and nearly 80 brethren sat down . The usual

loyal and Masonic toasts were regularly gone through , and wero interspersed with some capital singing from Bros . Lawler , Lester , and Carter . The brethren then separated , having thoroughly enjoyed what may be termed a red-letter day in the Province of Surrey , bat not without tendering their warmest thanks to the indefatigable Hon .

Sec . of No . 463 ( Bro . C . H . Woodward P . M . and P . Z . of 463 , and P . Prov . G . J . W . of Surrey ) , on whom had fallen the heavy duty of carrying out the day ' s arrangements . Everything passed over without a complaint . It is also to this worthy brother ' s exertions that the Hospital ia indebted for the grant and offertory .