One Or Two Home Truths.

bury cake or biscuit are not less ancient , because they are sold where the sign of the square and compasses is described all over the house , both inside and out . Wo detest this system of advertising one ' s business , and if we ever feel hungiy or athirst when out for a stroll , we cautiously

avoid all those houses where tho Mason s symbols are displayed . Let us keep our Freemasonry apart . Let us obey its injunctions , as well and as cheerfully as we can , but let us have no trading npon it . We should like to believe that

all Masons are right worthy fellows . Unfortunately , we are wholly unable to lay the flattering unction to our soul that we are anything like as good as we seem . At all events , there are those among us who are determined that their vices shall be proclaimed to all the world .

Masonic Portraits. (No. 46.)

MASONIC PORTRAITS . ( No . 46 . )

A MASTER OF CEREMONIAL . " Say , ye who beat can tell , ye happy few , Who see him in the softest lights of life , All unwithheld , indulging to his friends The vast unborrowed treasures of his mind , Oh , speak the wondrous man ! how mild , how calm ,

How greatly humble How firmly stablished on eternal truth ; Fervent in doing well , with every nerve Still pressing on , forgetful of the past , And panting for perfection . "

THERE is an old saying to the effect that what is worth doing at all , is worth doing well . Many people are apt to think lightly of this maxim . They fancy , if the end is achieved , the means adopted is comparatively immaterial . It does not occur to them that a slovenly , perfunctory kind of treatment is likely to bring about

slovenly and imperfect results . If a man is methodical in his business , carefully arranging the various details in their proper order of sequence , if ho makes a point of providing all the requisite appliances , so that when needed they may be at hand for immediate use , he is certain to accomplish his

undertaking speedily and completely . On the other hand , if he is careless in his arrangements , neglectful in making the necessary preparations , and , generally speaking , indifferent how he gets through his work , provided he does accomplish it ab length , he falls in the esteem of his fellows . If of two

men engaged in the same business it is impossible for one to take too much pains , while the other gets through his task in a slipshod , anyhow-nohow fashion , tho services of the former will be accepted in preference to those of the latter . People may smile at the methodist—we do not mean the

member of the religious sect so-called , bufc the man who works systematically—at his exacfc apportionment of the duties assigned to him , and the minute care he bestows on all he undertakes , but while they smile they prefer him to the careless and indifferent workman . They know the

value of having a thing well done when it must be done . And the maxim we started with is generally applicable . Let a man be engaged in official duties and he must be

exacfc in all he does , and scrupulously mindful of every detail . If he is engaged in commerce or in manufactures , the neglect of the merest trifle may cause him trouble , derange the whole order of duty , and even involve a serious

loss . The brother whose career we are about to sketch is one who has earned for himself a great reputation for his strict attention to detail . We do not say ho is one of those painfully exact people who are entirely absorbed in the minutite of business , giving to each in turn their strict and

undivided attention , and approaching the completion of a simple task when every one else has long since accomplished ifc . On the contrary , we know him to be one who can take a broad and comprehensive view of his work , who

can regulate and apportion its several divisions and subdivisions , who infuses a part of his own energy into others , and is prompt as he is careful and methodical in all his labours . He is known in private life for his firmness , as well as for his kindness ; in business for the resolute and

exact fulfilment of his duties , as well as for the skill and ability with which he directs or executes them . He is connected with one of those large firms whose existence is necessary to the manufactures of his native county . The wealth and enterprise of Lancashire are household words not in England only , but throughout the world ; but much

Masonic Portraits. (No. 46.)

as it is indebted to its manufacture of cotton , its cities and towns would be able to produce much less , aud would exercise therefore a far inferior influence in the concerns of this kingdom , were ifc nob for those magnificent workshops in which tho machinery necessary to the productions of

these manufactures is constructed . It may be the natural bent of his mind has inclined him to study the mysteries of mechanical art , or that the nature of his calling has induced a machine-like regularity and perfection in the operations of his mind . Be this as ifc may , there is obviously a consistency between the mind and the occupation of our distinguished brother .

His Masonic career has been a long and brilliant one . He was initiated into Freemasonry in the month of January 1856 , in the St . John ' s Lodge , Bolton . The year following he was rewarded by the Master for his regularity and the strict attention he paid to his duties by being appointed to

the office of Junior Warden . He was promoted to be Senior Warden in 1858 , and in 1859 the Lodge conferred upon him the highest honour in its power to bestow , and our Master of Ceremonial became W . M . On retiring from this exalted position , a Past Master ' s jewel was

presented to him in token of his highly-valued services , and subsequently he had the honour of receiving afc the hands of the then Provincial Grand Master the appointment of Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works for East Lancashire . As regards Capitular Masonry , we find he was

exalted in 1857 in the Royal Arch Chapter connected with his Mother Lodge , and served the various offices up to that of Z . inclusive . In 1872 he joined the Chapter of Concord , No . 37 , and is likewise a Past Provincial Grand Scribe N . He was advanced to the degree of Mark Master in 1856 ,

under the old regulations , and was nominated Senior Warden the year following , in the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 2 , Scotch Constitutions . In 1858 he was chosen Master . On the erection of Lancashire into a Province , under the Grand Chapter of Scotland , our worthy brother

received his patent as P . G . M ., and served the office most assiduously and to the entire satisfaction of the brethen , till the union of the rival Mark Provincial Grand Lodges , when he retired in favour of the late Bro . W . Romaine Callender M . P ., who thus became the first Grand Master of the

United Provincial Grand Lodge . In recognition of his services in the chair , he had conceded to him by the then Grand Mark Master Mason , Bro . the Rev . G . Raymond Portal , the rank of a Past Provincial Grand Master in the Mark Grand Lodge of England and Wales . Very early

in his career he joined the A . and A . Rite , being perfected in the Palatine Chapter of Rose Croix 18 ° , then held periodically at Bolton . He was subsequently one of the founders , and second M . W . S . of the St . Peter ' s Chapter ; and on completing his term of office was presented with

a jewel . He is accepted for the 30 ° . He is a member of the Order of St . Lawrence , and a Past N . of the Mount Ararat Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners . In the Order of Rome and the Red Cross of Constantine , he is one of the founders of St . George ' s Conclave , No . 42 , and a P . S . He

is a Past Grand Junior Warden of Lancashire and Cheshire in the Royal Order of Scotland , and one of the founders and Deputy Master Nominate of St . John ' s Council of Royal and Select Masters . In the Rosicruciau Society he ranks as Till , and is now Chief Adept of the Lancashire

College , in succession to Bro . C . F . Matier IX , while to conclude the list of his present honours , he is Preceptor of the St . James of Jerusalem Preceptory , No . 33 , of the United , Religious , and Military Orders of the Temple , and St . John of Jerusalem , & c , & c . During the

whole of his connexion with our Society , and the different bodies which have sprung from it , it has been the chief care of our brother , not only to carry out most strictly the several rituals and ceremonies belonging to them , bufc likewise to enforce on others the same strict observance

of and adherence to them . Thus he has justly earned for himself the right to be looked up to , not only as a most rigid disciplinarian , but likewise as a perfectly safe guide in all that relates to the forms and ceremonies of Freemasonry . This alone would entitle him to the

respect of his brethren , bufc his labours have nofc been confined to this sphere of usefulness only . He is a Life Governor of the Boys' and Girls' Schools , and the Royal

Masonic Benevolent Institution . He has served five Stewardships at different Festivals , and the Charity jewel he wears in commemoration of these services was presented to him by his Lodge . Such a record as the above is worthy of the highest com-