The Approaching Festival Of The R.M.B.I.

South Wales West to do more than emulate , in good will , tho great deeds of West Yorkshire . We have no kind of doubt that Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd-Phillips will be loyally supported by tho Lodges and members of his

Province , but we cannot expect they will achieve the triumph of a Province six times its numerical strength . Hence , then , a grand reason why the rest of tho Craft should be to tho fore on this particular occasion .

We think we have said well-nigh all that is possible in the hope of securing a great success for Tuesday next . Lieut .-Colonel Lloyd-Philipps is a popular and energetic Mason and deserves support . He has a loyal , but a numerically weak Province , which , however , has ably

fulfilled its duties at former Festivals , and we feel assured will do so with a will on this occasion . The Benevolent Institution is sorely in need of help in order to maintain it at its present strength , while Brother Terry ' s energy is such as to enlist the sympathies of all Craftsmen . We

rejoice to say he already has some 250 Stewards working for him , and we trust it will be in our power to announce next week a result which will be not a little gratifying to

the Right Wor . Brother who has so kindly undertaken to preside , to Bro . Terry himself , and to the well-wishers of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution—that is , to the whole of the English Craft .

The Canadian Craftsman On "Jurisdiction."

THE CANADIAN CRAFTSMAN ON " JURISDICTION . "

WE find in the last number of this worthy contemporary of ours that we are somewhat sharply taken to task for having lately used the following language : — " The self-styled Grand Lodge of New South Wales has had the assurance to apply to our United Grand Lodge for recognition as an Independent Masonic

Body . " Our contemporary , no doubt , considers this is harsh , if not contemptuous language , and remarks that "we recollect the time when the Masonic journals of England and the United States spoke of the Grand Lodge of Canada ( Ontario ) and the Grand Lodge of Quebec in similar terms . " We do not for one moment doubt the

accuracy of the Canadian Craftsman ' s recollection . We are simply desirous of pointing out that whatever may have been the circumstances which led to the establishment of the Grand Lodges of Canada and Quebec , they have nothing in common with that of this " self-styled

Grand Lodge of New South Wales . " With all due deference we must point out that , albeit thirteen Lodges are said to have taken part in the establishment of this so-called Grand Lodge , there are at this present time no fewer than eighty and six , or thereabouts , Lodges on the

rolls of the District Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland respectively . Forty-six of these belong to the English , some thirty-two to the Scotch , and the remainder to the Irish Constitution . We shall be glad to hear what our contemporary has to say on

the , in this instance , absolutely necessary question of unoccupied territory . It is or ought to be perfectly well known that the Grand Lodges of the United Kingdom have concurrent jurisdiction in our Colonies , and very justly so , seeing the inhabitants are recruited from the three

kingdoms . No difficulty has ever yet been experienced in discovering a plan of harmonious existence among the Lodges of the three systems , and there is no earthly reason , therefore , why the harmonious feeling of those bodies should , under these circumstances , he disturbed . Yet , what has

happened ? For no other reason than that , so far as we are enabled to make out , some Craftsmen are dissatisfied with the existing order of things , a number of the brethren have joined together and established an Independent Grand Lodge of their own . There can be no question of

unoccupied territory—speaking Masonically ; there are already three District Grand Lodges , working under England , Ireland , and Scotland respectively . These , together , muster some eigJdy and odd Lodges , as against tb * thirteen of the " self-styled " Grand Lodge . The former have never felt

or expressed dissatisfaction with the rule under which they live ; and yet we are invited by those who do not understand or appreciate the circumstances to allow an insignificant minority of Lodges to override the wishes of the majority . In all seriousness we ask our contemporary , if there can well be a more preposterous suggestion ?

A Lodge Of Perfection.

A LODGE OF PERFECTION .

FKOSI THE KEYST 05 E .

THE Brother who seeks a Lodge of Perfection does well ; the Brother who finds it does better ; the Brother who is admitted a member of it does best of all . Chesterfield said , " Aim at perfection in everything—though in most things it is unattainable . " What if it is ? That is something every one should discovor for him . self . The quest for perfection is valuable , even if it be unsuccessful , for it is its own reward . But is perfection impossible of attainment ?

The iirst question an applicant for the degrees of Masonry should propouud to a brother whom he intends to ask to propose bim should bo : — " Is this a Lodge of Perfection ? Let me see the printed list of your members , if yon have one , for that is the only means I have of determining this question in advance . " In like manner every brother dimitting , before connecting himself with another Lodge

shonld start a similar inqniry . But suppose there he no Lodge of Perfection , at least some one is preferable to all others ; some may have more Masonry in them than others , and this is one manner of determining the faot . The reader has discovered , ere this , that when we use the term , " Lodge of Perfection , " we use it in no technical sense—we mean

precisely what it unconventionally means . We have no reference to a secret vault , or thelueffable Word , or the rite of Perfection , that originated on the Continent , and was perfected in Great Britain . Tho French have a saying , Les Francais inventent , mais les Anglais perfeotionnent— " the French invent things , bnt the English bring them to perfection "—and the rite referred to may be an example .

The great oracle of the English law , Sir Edward Coke , olaims , in his First Institute , that law is the perfection of human reason . From onr observation of the administration of law , we may well doubt whether there is any more perfection in law than there is in a hnndred less vaunted subjects , and whether there is not more in Masonry Goldsmith , in " She Stoops to Conquer , " styles one of his characters

" the very pink of perfection ; " bnt that was out of compliment . We are inclined to think that there is nothing exactly perfect . " Lodge of Perfection " is an excellent name—none better , or so good , but all the facts scarcely justify it . Let ns look into this matter a little . Humanity is essentially imperfect . The First Great Light in Masonry teaohes this , and human experience corroborates it . St .

Paul antagonized Lord Coke and Bishop Hooker , when he wrote , " The law made nothing perfeot . " Chateaubriand was in error when he taught the perfectibility of man , that is , in this life . Here he can be improved , bnt not perfected . The foundation reason is that humanity is finite , and therefore necessarily imperfect . We cannot understand or discern perfection , much lesa attain unto it . Three

thousand years ago Job asked , " Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection ? " The finite cannot comprehend that which it cannot apprehend , and hence the futility of endeavouring to bring the Grand Architect of the Universe down to the compass of onr understanding , or to measure His infinite work with the yardstick of our reason . There is one excellent feature abont man ' s imperfect mental and

moral power , and that is , that he conceives of a state of perfection far beyond his ability here to attain . Imperfection is , in itself , a prophecy of change , and in connection with the revelations of the First Great Light , prophetic of a progressive change . The Grand Lodge above will be a Lodge of Perfection . There , no impostor will ever successfully seek relief , nor any unworthy applicant find entrance ,

nor any worthy applicant be turned away . Here we may be deceived , there never . Here we may have unaffiliated , suspended , and expelled Masons ; there all will be good men and true . " Here the bars are occasionally let down , the Landmarks are sometimes covered out of sight , but there we shall know even as we are known . No one can be deceived , or will deceive others . In other words , if there , we shall have attained perfection , and all be members of a

Lodge of Perfection . If we connot be perfect here , we can at least be on the road to perfection ; we can make a point whioh was invisible yesterday , our goal to-day , and in turn onr starting point to-morrow . And we can always have charity for the imperfection of others . Just as no one will say , let me be " Sent to my account With all my imperfections on my head , "

so he will not desire that his brother shonld meet with such a fate The more earnestly we seek to act out the lessons of the Plumb , the Level , and the Square , the Twenty-four-inch Gauge , and the common Gavel , the more surely will we truly enjoy life here , and prepare ourselves for admission to the Lodge of Perfection hereafter .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

HILDA CHAPTER No . 23 . THE installation meeting of this Chapter was held at York on the 3 rd inst . Bro . J . S . Cumberland presided , and performed the ceremony of reception on Bro . J . H . Thompson , of Leicester . Bro . the Rev . W . C . Lnkis , the Sovereign elect , was then installed in the chair by Bro . Cumberland , by permission of Bro . Banister 33 rd degree , S . G . I . G . for the Northern District , who was present . Tbe M . W . S . appointed his Officers as follow : Bros . S . Middleton H . P .,

M . Millington 1 st G ., A . T . B . Turner 2 nd G ., G . Simpson G . M ., E . J . de Salis K ., T . B . Whytehead P . S . Rec . and Treasurer , J . S . Cumberland P . S . D . C ., and W . Lawton Herald . Letters of apology for absence were received from Bro . J . W . Woodhall 32 nd degree , and several others . The members afterwards met at supper , and spent a pleasant evening , Bro . Cumberland being highly complimented for hia excellent working .