A Rosicrucian Essay Of The Xviith Century.

ordered me to write this story , get it printed , and send it to the Fraternity R . C , which T havo accordingly done . Accordingly , I send this to you highly-learned , God-wise , graceillumined , as woll as gracious and longed-for Brothers of tho highly esteemed and celebrated Fraternity of tho Holv Order R . C , with

the due rovoreneo and obeisance , humbly boseeching and imploring those , & c , & c , of the , Ac ., & o ., R . C . to heeomo my patrons , and take me unworthy as thoir disoiplo , promising with the help of God in all things diligently to follow their instructions . T therefore commend yun all , as woll ns myself , to tho protection of God Almighty . 0 Lord help . O Lord prosper tho good !

Given in tho fith month , 1 (! 18 . E . H . V / B . F . R . R . C . Unworthy vassal , RHODOPHILUS STAUROPnORUS

It seemed to me , Fratres , whilst reading the above , that the allusions to Nature , to the elements , and to certain symbols pointed to some connection between this Society and others which have always been popnlarly understood to have been closely allied with Masonry in the last century . At any rate the author ' s allegory is at your service , and it will give me great pleasure to hear your ideas on

its strange contents . This pamphlet I find numbered 2553 in the division of Rosicrucian works in the catalogue of tho celebrated Dr . Kloss , published at Frankfort , a most valuable work , placing its author in tho first rank of Masonic students . Kloss was ono of those who held , like Findel , that Freemasonry came from the German Steinmetzen .

Metropolitan Lodge Of Instruction, No. 1507.

METROPOLITAN LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 1507 .

THE annual banqnet of this successful Lodge of Instruction was held on Monday , 14 th inst ., at The Moorgate , Finsbury Pavement , E . C , Bro . Side , the W . M . of the mother Lodge , presiding . The meeting , which it was anticipated would be as usual a large one , was taken advantage of by the brethren as a fitting opportunity of presenting to Bro . W . M . Stiles a testimonial which has been

subscribed for by several of the brethren to whom he is personally acquainted , and this , added to the special nature of the anniversary , brought together a large company of brethren . Bros . Henry Stiles and E . E . B . Kidder ocenpied the two vice-chairs , and the W . M . was immediately supported by Bros . W . M . Stiles , the Preceptor , and . T . Willing jun ., the Treasurer , of the Lodge . A most enjoyable

banquet was provided by the proprietors of the establishment—Messrs . Kingston and Fromm—and all seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves . Bro . Scales , P . M . of the mother Lodge , gave the health of the President . He felt a great pleasure in doing so ; Bro . Side was well known to those around him , and no words that he ( Bro . Scales ) could offer , could possibly enhance him in the opinion of his

many friends . Bro . Side expressed the pleasnre he felt in being present and witnessing so agreeable a meeting . When they-considered the short time that the Lodge of Instruction had been in existence , it was in every respect a splendid gathering . The presence of so many distinguished brethren was ample proof that the

Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction held a high position , and that it was looked upon as being a Lodge where Masonry was taught in the right way . They had been blessed in the past with a Preceptor who was known throughout the Craft , and who was looked upon as being one of the best teachers of the ritual ever known . He was

universally respected and beloved , and his death was regretted by brethren in all parts . The brother who had now taken his place was himself a pupil of that worthy Mason , and he ( Bro . Side ) felt little doubt bnt that the good name of Bro . Adams would descend on Bro . Stiles , who , he felt sure , would do honour to so illustrious a reputation , and thereby be the means of maintaining the high position now occupied

by the Lodge . Bro . Willing next rose to propose the toast of the evening—Success to the Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction —coupled with the name of Bro . W . M . Stiles , the Preceptor . Six years since , when he and a few other brethren established the Lodge of Instruction , they little anticipated that it would ever attain its present position , either as regarded numerical strength , or reputation

for teaching . Looking back , he called to mind many of its members who had filled the highest offices in the Craft in various Lodges , and that , too , in a way that reflected the greatest credit , not only on the brethren themselves , bnt on those who had acted as their tutors , and this could hardly have been the case had not their Preceptor been one of the best Masons of the day . Now , as regarded

his successor , Bro . Stiles , thero could be but one feeling , and that , the greatest regard for him . All must wish him many years of good health , and wish that in the office of Preceptor , which he had just undertaken , he might as much endear himself to the brethren ns he had in the past while acting as Secretary . He was depntsd to present to Bro . Stiles a testimonial which the brethren offered as a

tangible proof of their appreciation of his services ; and in handing it to him he felt there was no one in the Lodge more worthy of it than was Bro . Stiles . He could say , without fear of contradiction , that during the whole time he had been connected with the Lodcre , no brother had ever heard an angry or unkind word from him . The testimonial , which consisted of a very handsome tankard , and cigarcase , were then handed to Bro . Stiles , and the brethren drank his

health in the heartiest way . Bro . Stiles , while sincerely thanking the brethren , felt he hardly deserved the great kindness they had shown him . What he had done had been to him a labour of love , and he was only too happy to hear that the brethren approved of the manner in which he had fulfilled the duties of the office he had occupied . When he was first appointed Secretary to the Lodge he was but a very young Mason , and he then took it as a great com-

Metropolitan Lodge Of Instruction, No. 1507.

pliment that he was doomed a fit and proper porson to fulfil so important a trust . In tho earlier part of his experience he had very great assistance from Bro . Willing , and it was nnder his gnidanco that ho was able to carry ont the dnties as he had done . Dnring tho five years ho had acted as Secretary of tho Lodge , he had been only too happy to do tho work of that office and anything

olso that could assist the brethren , and he could but say he should endeavour to act in tho fnture in the same way . His services were at tho disposal of the Lodge , which ho hoped would continue in the same prosperous career it had followod in tho past . The health of tho Visitovs having been given , was acknowledged by several of thoso presont . Bro . Thompson was very pleased to hear that his old

friend , Bro . Adams , was held in such high estimation by those who had looked up to him as their tutor , and was glad to see so worthy a successor as Bro . Stiles elected to follow him . He was , as it were , a twin brother to Bro . Adams in Freemasonry , they both having joined the St . John's Lodge on the same night , and he having followed Bro . Adams through tho several offices up to the chair . Both were

exalted the same night , and they passed the three chairs of the Chapter in succession . Bro . Ferguson followed ; of the many men he knew in Freemasonry there was oue who shone out prominently , who was at all times ready and willing to do anything in his power to help in the cause of Freemasonry ; and , strange as it might appear , that Brother was the same they had that night assembled

to honour . He greatly esteemed Bro . Stiles , and looked upon him as one of his dearest friends in Freemasonry . He was only too pleased to see that his good qualities had been thus publicly acknowledged . Bro . Nash also tendered his thanks to the brethren , as did several other of the Visitors , including Bros . Kidder , Eldridge , Paul Storr , & c . The President then proposed tho toast of the Officers , which

was acknowledged by Bros . Stiles , Willing , and Storr . Other toaata were given , and the proceedings were kept up with spirit until a late honr . We have great pleasure in giving pubticity to the following list of work performed in this Lodge of Instruotian during the past year , which particulars were furnished by Bro . E . Storr , the present

Secretary : —Besides sections which were worked when time permitted , the whole fifteen were delivered on 6 th December . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed thirty-seven times , passing twenty-five times , and raising thirty-six times . The ceremony of installation was rehearsed four times , while during the year thirty-seven new members wete elected .

The tankard bore the following inscription : — Presented , with a Silver Cigar Case , To Bro . W . M . STILES P . M . By Members of the Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , No . 1507 , On his accepting the office of Preceptor , As a token of their high esteem and regard , and in recognition of his valuable services while Honorary Secretary , 1875-1880 . Feb . 14 th 1881 .

Kilburn Lodge of Instruction , No . 1608 . —The first Annual Banquet of this Lodge was held on the 15 th inst ., at Bro . W . F . Walton ' s , South Molton Hotel , South Molton-street , W . The brethren , under the genial presidency of Bro . James Cuff , W . M . of the mother Lodge , ably assisted by Bro . T . B . Linscott J . W . 55 , as Vicepresident , sat down to a capital banquet , served under Bro . Walton ' s

personal supervision , and which gave great satisfaction , the only matter of regret being the smallness of the attendance compared with the number expected , owing , no donbt , to the inclemency of the weather . Among those present were Bros . J . Bingeman P . M . 55 Preceptor , W . W . Gray Past Master 704 , C . Thompson J . Deacon 55 , Blank I . Guard 704 , Daines Past Master 1366 , Bloom , Cherer

145 , S . Brooks P . M . 1608 , T . Hartley 1608 , Turner S . D . 1608 , Bird 645 , A . Latrielle S . W . 1260 , Finch W . M . 795 , Holden P . M . 435 , Collier Past Master 1366 , Robinson , & c , & c . After the banqnet the toasts of the Queen and the Craft and H . R . H . the Prince of Wales were given and heartily received . " These were followed fey the toasts of the W . M . Bro . J . Cuff , proposed by P . M . Brooks , and the

Visitors , coupled with the names of Bros . Gray and Holden . The Vice-President next gave the Preceptor Bro . Bingeman , dwelling , in pithy terms , upon the valuable services the Lodge received from that worthy Mason . This was enthusiastically received , and , after a response from Bro . Bingeman , the Officers were highly complimented , Bro . Linscott , Treasurer , receiving special mention for his assiduous

support , both by regular attendance on Monday evenings , and for the generons financial support accorded to the Lodge . Bro . Linscott , in returning thanks , alluded to the non-attendance of other brethren who wero expected , and mentioned the absence of Bro . Soper , which was , unfortunately , owing to severe illness . The Officers of the Mother Lodge were next honoured , and responded to by the I . P . M . Bro .

Brooks at some length . The Host—Bro . Walton—was toasted mo 3 t heartily , and complimented npon the excellent fare which had been submitted to the brethren . Bro . Walton expressed his appreciation of the praise bestowed npon his efforts to please ; he would always feel it a great pleasure to work for the good of the Kilburn Lodge of Instruction .

From the progress made dnring the first year's working , in which 43 members have joined , and a splendid set of furniture and other requirements have been purchased , the Lodge would appear likely to become as prosperous as it is already acknowledged to be a favourite Lodge of Instruction . Wo may mention that it meets every Monday evening at 7 o ' clock , and brethren are offered a cordial welcome .

The Consecration of the St . Austell Lodge of Mark Masters , No . 275 , at the Mas mic Rooms , St . Austell , on Tuesday , 22 nd Feb ., will be performed by the W . Bro . Thomas Chirgwin D . P . G . M ., assisted by Bros . W . J . Hughan , J . Johns , N . J . West , & c .