A True Lover Of The Craft.

fact of its being the highest elective office—outside that of Grand Master—in the power of the Craft to bestow . On the occasion of the Installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as G . Master of England our brother acted as a Steward at the Albert Hall , and he esteems the honour then conferred upon him as one of the greatest it has been his good fortune to secure in

Freemasonry . Let us hope that that honour will ere long be eclipsed , and that before many months have passed by he will have secured the right to rank himself as one of the Grand Officers of England . In the Holy Royal Arch we find the same zeal .

assiduity and love evinced by this "True Lover of the Craft . " He is at the present time a member of three Chapters—the Domatic , No . 177 , the Rose of Denmark , No . 975 , and the Kennington , No . 1381 . Of all three he is a Past First Principal , while in the latter he was Founder and the first M . E . Z ., and is at present its Treasurer . But the mere recital of these titles gives but a faint idea of the position he holds in either of them . He may be said to be to the fore in each , having won his way into the hearts of his fellow members by the same kindly actions as have secured him esteem in the ranks of Craft Masonry .

As a supporter of the Charities our . brother has had ample scope for the exercise of his devotion , and right well has he acquitted himself . He has served five Stewardships on behalf of the Institutions , two in support of the , Benevolent , one in aid of the Boys ' School , and two for the Girls ' , viz ., in the year 1878 , and on the occasion of the celebration of its Centenary , in June last . He has qualified as a Vice-President of all three , but it is not in personal donations alone that he has done good . He has not been content with working himself , he has induced others to second his efforts , and as a consequence we can point to the most satisfactory results . During the seven years he was Treasurer of the Kilburn Lodge its members contributed _ 61045 to the Charities , while

that Lodge has voted twenty-five guineas in aid of the Charities every year since it was started , favouring each of the Institutions in turn . Our brother inaugurated this systematic support , and had he done nothing else to win approval this would have been sufficient to entitle him to praise and commendation , but the other Lodges with which he is associated have likewise done well . The Domatic has given a similar amount of twenty-five guineas to the Charities each year since he has been its Treasurer ; while the Chiswick , of

which he is the Father and was the first Master , contributed upwards of £ 700 to the Charitable Institutions of the Order during the first four years of its existence .

It would be absurd to say that the influence of this one brother has not been the leading power in securing these most satisfactory results , and taking him all in all he presents an excellent example of a really " True Lover of the Craft . " His love has not been the hot enthusiasm of a moment ; it has lasted now for thirty years , and is as strong to-day as ever it was , even if it be not stronger . No doubt many of his earlier

hopes m regard to Freemasonry have long since been realised , but the fancy he first evinced for the Order has not flown—it is with him still , and will , we trust , lead him on to yet greater things in years to come , for we can hardly imagine such a spirit as that we have striven to portray resting content with past victories so long as there remains anything more to

accomplish . His love for the Craft has not been of that fierce nature which is born of some bold desire , and which soon as that desire is realised fades from one ' s memorv : neither is it likelv to be auenched if — _ — _

_«/ 7 ^ A our brother rises to the exalted position his friends desire to secure for him in Grand Lodge . He won for himself golden opinions as a Master Mason , he achieved fresh victories as a ruler in our Lodges , and has cemented many a friendship by his kind and

A True Lover Of The Craft.

genial management of Lodge finances . Is it then to be supposed that one more honourable office—even though it be the greatest the Craft has it in its power to bestow—will change his former nature , or that an outburst of fraternal feeling on the part of his friends

will sever the silver link or the silken tie which have so long bound him in secret sympathy with the many who recognise him as a friend ? It would not be possible for such a nature to be spoilt by even an excess of praise and applause , neither should we exnect

a reverse of fortune to seriously interfere with it , but as we think that the reward of merit should at all times fall to those who have proved themselves meritorious we hope that the desire to which we have referred , of winning for our subi ' ect the collar of Grand

Treasurer of England may , in due course , be achieved , and that in his new sphere , as in the many he has already filled , he may prove himself to be A TRUE LOVER OF THE CRAFT .

The Office Of Provincial Grand Treasurer.

THE OFFICE OF PROVINCIAL GRAND TREASURER .

IN tbe report we published last week of the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex , we referred to a discussion which , took place in reference to the appointment of Treasurer of that Province , and

although no change occurred in the system which has long been in vogue , tho discussion and its results showed that opinion is pretty evenly divided in that quarter in regard to the matter , which in all probability will receive further

consideration when the next election of Treasurer takes place . The custom in this district , as , indeed , in nearl y every part of the country , has hitherto been to annuall y re-elect without opposition the same brother to fill the

important office of Provincial Grand Treasurer , just as was formerly the case in regard to the Grand Lodge of England , where , up to within the last few years , the Treasurer was considered a permanent official , his

reappointment year after year being little more than a matter of form , and continuing so long as he cared to discharge the duties attached to the position . It will , however , be in

the recollection of our readers that certain complications in the funds of G . Lodge eventually led to a re-adjustment of the conditions under which the finances of the Craft were

administered , and among the changes which resulted was the now almost generally accepted principle that the Grand Treasurer should remain in office for one year only . This periodical change is rendered easier from the fact that

the office has been shorn of much of the importance which previously attached to it , fov whereas in years gone by the Grand Treasurer had the actual handling of the balances of Grand Lodge , the office is now little more than a

sinecure ; still it is an honourable position , and one which the best among us are not above aspiring to , as is evidenced by the actual candidates who have been put forward since the change was inaugurated .

We are somewhat surprised that the Provinces have not , ere this , followed the example set them in this respect by Grand Lodge ; but the fact remains that they , have not , and to-day most , if not all , of the Provincial Grand

Treasurers may be looked upon as being permanently in the enjoyment of their office . We say they may be so regarded to-day , but perhaps that statement requires some modification , for now that an alteration has been mooted , and

on being put to the vote has proved to be almost equally well supported as is the old system , we may look for an early change , and in many respects we consider such a course to be desirable , although , in saying so , it must be

understood that we do not wish to imply that an annual change of Treasnrer would be advisable in private Lodges There are very different conditions to be considered in

connection with these , and the system which now prevails * has much to be said iu its favour in regard to them ; bufc for Grand and Provincial Lodges an annual change in the holder of the office is both advisable and desirable .

The principal argument that may be used in favour of an alteration , as opposed to a continuation of the old system , is that an annual change iu the office bearer affords an additional means of doing honour to those by whom honour is deserved . The number of appointments at