Alpass Institution.

ALPASS INSTITUTION .

A MEETING of the sub-committee was held at the Masonic HaU Hope Street , Liverpool , on the 9 th , under the ^ residency of Bro . J . D . Murray P . G . T . England . ^ It was resolved to hold the annual Festival at Southport . o Philip Armstrong was unanimously elected Hon . Secretary , ml Brother James Piatt P . P . S . G . D . Hon . Treasurer of the Festival .

Order Of The Secret Monitor.

ORDER OF THE SECRET MONITOR

FREQUENTLY reference has been made in the columns of this paper to the Order of the Secret Monitor , and many have regarded it as something of recent origin . This is not the case . The Secret Monitor , as a Degree in Masonry , has

undoubtedly been known and conferred for upwards of 100 years . It seems altogether probable that it originated in this country prior to the Eevolutionary War . About 1820 it was very popular , bein" then frequently mentioned as the Degree of David and Jonathan . During the anti-Masonic period , from 1826 to 1846 ,

very little was done in this country in any of the Orders of Masonry . When the various Lodges which had survived the storm began to resume work , about the date last mentioned , they found much to do to again get in working order , to act upon the many petitions which poured in upon them , and to confer the

Degrees which followed the acceptance of those petitions . Under these circumstances , the David and Jonathan , or Secret Monitor Degree , was only occasionally conferred , and then in a greatly abbreviated form . Some of its most interesting features had been in a measure forgotten by those who had not exemplified the work in 30 or 40 years .

Some years ago , however , the Degree was taken to England , and at once became popular , organised Conclaves and a Grand Conclave being soon established . About that time Dr . D . 0 . Perkins , now of this city , being then a student of medicine in Hanover , N . H ., obtained the Degree , and soon after introduced it

in Maine with nearly all its original ceremonies . About one year ago Dr . Perkins' attention was called by Judge C . E . Meservey to an article in a Masonic journal , giving the particulars already mentioned of what had been done in England . Correspondence with the Grand Secretary in that country was at once begun by

Dr . Perkins , and it being learned that a Charter could be obtained if sufficient interest was shown , the matter was quietly urged by the two gentlemen named , with the result that some 50 or more entered the organisation as Charter members . These include many of the leading Masons in this city and neighbouring towns .

The Grand Council granted the request , and on receipt of the petition a Charter or Warrant was made up and forwarded to the Earl of Warwick for his signature , but was lost in the mail .

This caused considerable delay , and noc being able to trace the first , a new one was issued , which , receiving the necessary signatures , was forwarded to Dr . Perkins , and was duly received by him .

The Charter or Warrant provides that the stated meetings should be held on the fourth Thursday of each month , so nothing could be done under it until Thursday evening . This was the first meeting of the Conclave , and was the first

and only meeting of its kind ever held in this country . The Brethren , realising that this was the first Conclave in America , decided to name it the Pioneer Conclave . The number 24 is that given by the Grand Council , this being the 24 th Conclave , so far as known , in the world .

The Conclave was duly organised , and the Officers installed by Dr . Perkins , who had been duly commissioned Eight Worthy Grand Councillor by the Grand Council of England . These Officers have had experience in the work of Masonic

organisations , and in their hands Pioneer Conclave , No . 24 , will be able to perform the work , according to the Eituals furnished by the Grand Council , in a creditable and impressive manner , although they labour under the disadvantage of not having seen the Degrees actually conferred . — " Eockland Express . "

Practical Masonry.

PRACTICAL MASONRY .

THE practical part of Masonry does not consist alone in holding communications and initiating men to membership , f he enrolling of individuals of good character into a brotherhood is for purposes which the candidate states without prompting , ai"d these purposes should never be lost sight of . Masonry never benefit in the

^ nternpiated bping a aggregation pecuniary sense , bu t it is intended to be helpful in many directions . Charity is ? of its principal tenets—not that charity which vaunteth jtself in eleemosynary accomplishments , but that charity and benevolence towaid the human species in which it is declared by "' ni that all men are brothers , aud in the injunction that " ye

Practical Masonry.

love one another . " Practical Masonry goes further than this , but which may not be classed as charity . It is to help and give encouragement to a worthy " brother in distress . " Fortune is fickle ; riches come to-day and go to-morrow . No man is exempt from vicissitudes or disasters . There may be a depression

in his chosen business * sickness may befall him , or a hundred other reasons for his " distress " over which he has had or could have no control . The practical part of Masonry can be applied here , and that practical part will suggest itself to each Brother for himself what it should be . If the " distressed Brother " is

out of business make an effort in his behalf to secure him something to do more or less remunerative . If you can make an opening for him in your own business , however briefly , do so , hunt up a business friend of your own and recommend him . If

every Brother who is feasting on milk and honey would add his endeavour to aid in this way him who has only a bone , there would be very many fewer " brothers in distress , " and besides it would cost them nothing—only the effort . Brethren , try a little practical Masonry when you have the chance . — " Sunday Gazette . "

Next Week.

NEXT WEEK .

Further panieulars as to place of meeting of the undermentioned Lodges are given in the Freemasons' Calendar and Pocket Book ( published by Grand Lodge , for the benefit of the Charity Fund ) .

Monday . 1 Grand Masters ' , F . M . Tavern 8 British , Freemasons-hall 21 Emulation , Albion 1694 Imperial , Cloot's Restaurant 77 Freedom , Gravesend 236 York , York 248 True Love and Unity , Devon 284 Shakespeare , Warwick 312 Lion , Whitby 359 Peace & Harmony ,

Southampton 424 Borough , Gateshead 455 Perseverance , Kettering 466 Merit , Stamford Baron 872 Lewis , Whitehaven 925 Bedford , Birmingham 949 Williamson , Monkwearmouth 986 Hesketh , Preston 1030 Egerton , Heaton Norris 1113 Anglesea , Menai Bridge

1199 Agriculture , Yatton 1208 Corinthian , Dover 1255 Dundas , Plymouth 1337 Anchor , Northallerton 1443 Salem , Dawlish 1502 Israel , Liverpool 1 G 31 St . Andrew , Gorleston 1674 Carodoc , Ehyl 1814 Worsley , Worsley 1909 Carnarvon , Nottingham

2074 St . Clair , Landport 2081 Golden Fleece , Leicester 2114 Prudence , Liverpool 2208 Horsa , Bournemouth 2327 St . Oswin , N . Shields 2349 W . Lancashire Century , Blackpool 2425 Ecclesburne , Duffield

Tuesday . Board of General Purposes , Freemasons' Hall , at 4 . 2191 Anglo American , Criterion 213 Perseverance , Norwich 223 Charity , Plymouth 384 St . David , Bangor 386 Unity , Warcham 402 Koyal Sussex , Nottingham uneaion

'laa ADoey , jw 476 St . Peter , Carmarthen 551 Yarborough , Ventnor , I . of W . 560 Vernon , Stourport 667 Alliance , Liverpool 830 Endeavour , Dnkinfleld 958 St . Aubin , Jersey 1006 Tregullow , St . Day

1046 St . Andrew , Farnham 1075 St . Maughold , Ramsey , I . of M . 1089 De Shurland , Sheerness 1225 Hindpool , Barrow-in-Furness 1276 Warren , Seacombe 1424 Brownrigg Unity , Old Brompton 1427 Percy , Newcastle-on-Tyne

1551 Charity , Birmingham 1570 Prince Arthur , Liverpool 1764 Eleanor Cross , Northampton 1787 Grenville , Buckingham 1893 Lumley , Skegness

1903 Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar , Portsmouth 1941 St . Augustine , Rugeley 2146 Surbiton , Surbiton 2155 Makerfield , Newton-le-Willows . 2316 Princes , Liverpool 2407 Hicks-Beach , Stroud

Wednesday . General Committee Grand Lodge and Board of Benevolence , F . M . H . at 5 . 212 Euphrates , Holborn Eestanrant 1017 Montefiore , Cafe Eoyal 82 Foundation , Cheltenham 220 Harmony , Garston 257 Phcenix , Portsmouth 724 Derby , Liverpool 887 Leigh , Birmingham 1039 St . John , Lichfield

1723 St . George , Bolton 1756 Kirkdale , Liverpool 1760 Leopold , Scarborough 1809 Fidelis , Guernsey 1967 Beacon Court , New Brompton 2019 Crook , Crook 2149 Gordon , Hanley 2216 Egerton , Swinton 2320 St . Martin , Castleton 2357 Barry , Cadoxton 2385 Godson , Oldbury 2444 Noel , Kingston-on-Thames

Thursday . House Committee Girls School , Battersea , 4-30 . 861 Finsbury , Great Eastern Hotel 51 Angel , Colchester 78 Imperial George , Middleton 346 United Brethren , Blackburn 348 St . John , Bolton 410 Grove , Ewell

594 Downshire , Liverpool 784 Wellington , Deal 787 Beaureper , Belper 935 Harmony , Salford 1163 Emulation , Birmingham 1345 Victoria , Eccles 1392 Egerton , Bury 1404 St . Vincent , Bristol 1418 Fraternity , Stockton-on-Tees

1437 Liberty of Havering , Romford 1505 Emulation , Liverpool 1626 Hotspur , Newcastle-on-Tyne 1705 Prince of Wales , Gosport 1971 Army aud Navy , Aldershot 2101 Bramston Beach , Godalming 2195 Military Jubilee , Dover 2214 Josiah Wedgwood , Etruria 2215 Anfield , Anfield &

auoa C . ijeonaras , anenieia 2335 Cycling & Athletic , Liverpool 2375 Hilbre , Hoylake 2387 Manchester Dramatic , Manchester 2462 Clarence , West Hartlepool 2463 Bootle Wilbraham , West Derby 2474 Hatherton , Walsall

Friday . Board of Management , Boys School , 2-30 197 Jerusalem , Freemasons-hall 1295 Gooch , New Swindon 1712 St . John , Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2371 Felix , Felixstowe