Church Services.

best thought , their noblest motive , their worthiest ambition , arose up , they scarcely knew how , within themselves . For themselves , the greater men have been , and the more divine , the less they cared to shake the prevailing Order . It was our Lord who taught , " The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses '

seat ; all , therefore , that they bid you observe , that observe and do . ' The Gospel itself , which has proved the determined foe of slavery , has no commandment against slavery . Slavery has gone down before the idea of Incarnate love revealed in the Gospel , but only after 1800 years of quiet endurance .

But why do I plead such illustrious examples ? Only because they are most familiar . A thousand others could be gleaned . We know full well , and our fathers have told us , how quietly , how steadily , and irresistibly God wrought in man first , and so through man and for man every blessing in

which we rejoice . Nor need we , Brethren , in our humble way , fear to fulfil the task to which we are called . In small things , as well as in great things , God works from within . He begins by secret inspiration . He offers us the field for exercise—the

daily task—and He assures us of success . His word , His thought , His desire , put into our hearts , must accomplish its highest purpose—carrying out our duty we may be brought into collision with those who believe equally that they are doing their duty .

A good work is seldom done without opposition The mere effort honestly to do the best we can , withv . i our own lives , often reads to another as the challenge of a rival . It is wise to allow a large margin of patience for personal mistakes . Sometimes we are over-zealous , sometimes not

eager enough to let an opportunity pass ; but , allowing for all personal mistakes , no one can really live a useful , active , Christian life—and that , as Freemasons , is , I take it , the desire of every one of us—without frequently being misjudged . And even then a Christian may well consider that he is armed

at all points . There hath no trial happened to you but such as is common to man . " Such misconstructions , and misunderstandings , and misapprehensions may serve a useful purpose . They teach us that there are other people in the world besides ourselves . What we claim for ourselves , that

others claim likewise for themselves . And so out of the jars and confusions and collisions of this world God will bring a refined and gentle tolerance . A tolerance that yields no principle , and asks others to yield none . A tolerance based on the highest reverence for God , and the

most earnest love of our fellow man , based on those great Masonic principles—Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . A tolerance that leaves each free to speak the truth as he knows it , and yet holds all bound to speak the whole truth , to live the whole truth , and to labour always for the highest interests of those about him .

The Individual Conception.

THE INDIVIDUAL CONCEPTION .

IT must be admitted that no matter how strictly a Lodge may adhere to ritual , there is nevertheless a tendency to laxity if the Lodge be large or prosperous . The more candidates are admitted , the greater the tendency to slight the work . This inclination must be strictly curbed . Let it never

be said that the Lodge may be blamed in the slightest degree for any lack of proficiency . On the contrary , it should see to it that it encourages the candidate in every possible way and at every opportunity to greater Masonic study and research . After this fashion are the best Masons made . He who loves

Masonry most is not he who is most ignorant of its history . To the end that all candidates may become good Masons , let every effort be put forth on the part of the Lodge . Let no portion of the work be slighted . The candidate must make suitable proficiency in each degree . He must not receive

more than one degree in one evening . This is , unfortunately , done many times , much to the detriment of the conception of Masonry which the candidate receives . It is an uncalled for and insidious practice . We do not always remember that the individual conceptions of our brotherhood make the fraternity

what it is . Every conception must then be builded in the proper manner with all due dignity and impressiveness . No candidate should gain an idea of the Order which is unworthy of it , for every idea so gained is but one more little weight to

drag Masonry down . Look to it , then , that our Masonic work receives on every occasion the attention it deserves , and that no trivial cause is allowed to interfere with its proper performance . — " Tyler , "

Booms.

BOOMS .

WE do not believe in " booms . " They are entirely contrary to the spirit of Freemasonry . They are cheapening . They do not bring to the Fraternity that sturdy strength and power which comes with a long , sure and steady growth . A Lodge must have a gradual and steady growth

in order to obtain the surest foundation . Intermittent periods of prosperity tend to destroy the true spirit of Masonry . Every Lodge should emulate the tortoise in the race , for so at last will the best results be obtained .

Then , again , " booms" look suspicious . A boom inevitably carries with it the idea that recruits have been sought in the highways and byways , that encouragement has been given—no matter how slightly—to possible candidates . Let prosperity come slowly , that we may be the better

prepared for it . Beware the mushroom growth , for that which springs to full strength in a single night is ephemeral , indeed . Better that the Lodge did not increase in membership by a single member than that it should connect with it unworthy material . — " American Tyler . "

Some of our readers may be pleased to know of quarters at Folkestone , and we accordingly recommend the Boarding Establishment of Mrs . Edwardes , at 1 Westbourne Gardens , where we are convinced from personal experience every effort will be made to ensure the enjoyment and comfort of guests .

There is special provision made for the housing of cycles , but we would hardly advise those who do not like pushing their bike up hills , and walking them down the corresponding descents to rely too much on their machines for outdoor enjoyment in this district . But there is plenty to see and to do at Folkestone , and round about , to fill up an enjoyable holiday .

Bro .. J . W . Matthews ( business manager of the Duke of York ' s Theatre ) has been unanimously elected Worshipful Master of the Asaph Lodge for the ensuing year . This is the first , time , that a theatrical business manager has been elected to the chair of this famous theatrical Lodge .

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