Revival Of A R.C. Chapter.

I now approach a subject to which I have given considerable attention during the past year , viz . : the abuse of the ballot . My attention was drawn to four or five Lodges in our Jurisdiction which at one time ranked among our more prosperous Lodges , now , it would be in the best

interest of Masonry to call in the Charters . For years not a candidate has been accepted , although many propositions were presented . Bickering and contention take the place of peace and harmony , and respectable members withdraw from the Lodge or cease to attend . What is the cause of this

deplorable state of affairs ? I am given to understand that the principal causes are : unrecognised ambition for office , rejection of a friend who desires admittance , or a desire to get even with the new Master . Unfortunately , Brethren imbued with such base motives work in the dark and keep

their own counsel . I became aware of unguarded speeches made by a couple of Brethren who had determined to adopt the " rule of ruin" policy , and caused such charges to be preferred against them , as the Craft can well afford to part company with such characters . In another case I took into

consideration the short time the offending Brother was in the Craft , and was content in sending for him and pointing out the dangerous position which he occupied , and that on his future conduct depended his retention or removal therefrom . I am aware that the ballot is a sacred privilege entrusted to

the Brethren , and a conscientious exercise of the same cannot be questioned or enquired into . It is the safeguard of the Institution . It is a Mason ' s right to exercise the privilege without interference from any one , responsible only to his own conscience , but it is well for him to know that he forgets his manhood and violates his obligation when the

trust is exercised in a vindictive and cowardly spirit . Revenge , jealously and fancied wrongs should not govern the deposit of a ballot , and thereby endanger the peace and harmony of a Lodge . I have a personal knowledge where a couple of Brethren were thus enabled to almost wreck a

Lodge , but , when concessions were granted them , for some mysterious reason , the blackballing ceased and candidates were admitted . For such conduct no remedy exists unless the offenders have an awakening and a complete change of heart . —G . M . Canada , in annual address .

Lodge Meetings Next Week.

LODGE MEETINGS NEXT WEEK .

Fuller particulars 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 . 61 Probity , Halifax 77 Freedom , Gravesend 89 Unanimity , Dukinfield

236 York , York 248 True Lore & Unity , Brixham 264 Nelson of the Nile , Batley 302 Hope , Bradford 307 Prince Frederick , HebdenBridge 312 Lion , Whitby

359 Peace & Harmony , South ' pton 388 Prudence , Halesworth 408 Three Graces , Haworth 424 Borough , Gateshead 433 Hope , Brightliugsea 467 Tudor , Oldham

699 Roscawea , Ghacewater 872 Lewis , Whitehaven 949 Williamson , Monkwearmouth 986 Hesketh , Croston 1146 De Moulham , Swanage

-lbo Benevolence , Sherbourne 1199 Ariculture , Yatton 1238 Gooch , Twickenham 1255 Dundas , Plymouth 1271 F'dship & Unitv , Bradf'd-on-A ' vn 1272 Tregenna . St . ' lves 1286 Baron , Market Rasen

1325 Stanlev . Liverpool 1337 Anchor , Northallerton 1443 Salem , Dawlish 1486 Duncombe , Kingsbridge 1542 Legiolum , Castleford 1600 Hamilton , Alford 1631 St . Andrew . Gorleston

1814 Worsley , Worsley 1833 St . Keyna , Keynsham 1977 Blackwater , Maidon 2069 Prudence , Leeds 2074 St . Clare , Landport 2086 Dacre , Stevenage 2208 Horsa , Bournemouth

Lodge Meetings Next Week.

2327 St . Oswin , North Shields 2425 Ecclesburne , Duffield 2557 Temperance , Newcastle-on-T .

Tuesday . 253 Tyrian , Derby 378 Loyal Welsh , Pembroke Dock 386 Unity , Wareham 448 St . James , Halifax 954 St . Aubyn , Devonport 1016 Elkington , Birmingham 1028 Royal Alfred , Alfreton 1052 Callander , Manchester 1266 Honour & Friendship , Blandford

1390 Whitwell , Millon 1536 United Military , Plumstead 1580 Cranbourne , Hatfield 1587 St . Giles , Cheadle 1609 Liverpool Dramatic , Liverpool 1675 Ancient Briton , Liverpool 20 _ 5 St . George , Plymouth 2518 Chas . Ed . Keyser , Hoddesden

Wednesday . General Committee Grand Lodge an I Board of Benevolence , 5 . 128 Prince Edwin , Bury

__ U Harmony , Garston 290 Huddersfield , Huddersfield 372 Harmony , Budleigh Salterton 409 Stortford , Bishops Stortford 724 Derby , Liverpool 750 Friendship , Cleckheaton iu

_ 4 Ht . _ "eter , Maidon 1296 Vale of Brislington , Brislington 1529 Duke of Cornwall , St . Columb 1756 Kirkdale , Liverpool 1760 Leopold , Scarborough 1808 Suffield , North Walsham 2019 Crook , Crook 2149 Gordon , Hanley

Lodge Meetings Next Week.

2259 St . Nicholas , Thome 2320 St . Martin , Castleton 2357 Barry , Cadoxton 2444 Noel , Kingston-on-Thames 2448 Bradstow , " Broadstairs

Thursday . 202 Friendship , Devonport 215 Commerce , Haslingden 324 Moira , Stalybridge 346 United Brethren , Blackburn 403 Hertford , Hertford

456 Foresters , Uttoxeter 469 Hundred of Elloe , Spalding 472 F ' ship & Sincerity , Shaftesbury 594 Downshire , Liverpool 625 Devonshire , Glossop 787 Beaureper , Belper 971 Trafalgar , Batley 1514 Thorn-ill , Huddersfield 1763 St . Mary , Thame

Lodge Meetings Next Week.

1971 Ald'shot . Army & Navy , A'shot . 2184 Royal Vict . Jubilee , Rainham 2189 Ashburton , Ashburton 2214 Josiah Wedgewood , Etruria

ii _{> 3 St . Leonards , Sheffield ¦ 2335 Cycling and Athletic , Liverpool 2375 Hilbre , Hoylake 2387 Manchester Dramatic , M ' chester 2462 Clarence , West Hartlepool 2474 Hatherton , Walsall

Friday . 810 Craven , Skipton 1822 St . Quintin , Cowbridge 2415 Tristram , Shildon

Saturday . 1541 Alexandra Palace , Holborn 1462 Wharncliffe , Penistone 2353 Broxbourne , New Barnet

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative , to report Lodge or other proceedings .

CEAFT : PEOVINCIAL .

UNITY LODGE , No . 1637 . rpHIS Lodge held its regular meeting at the L . & N . W . Bailway Hotel , JL" Harrow , on Saturday , 12 th inst . In spite of the heat of the afternoon a large number of the Brethren turned up , no doubt to see how tbe purple and scarlet suited the W . M ., who had been appointed Prov . < 5 . Organist of Middx ., and Bro . Hussey P . M . one of the new Prov . G . Stewards , both of whom were congratulated upon their honours and saluted with three as Prov . G . Officers .

There were present , Bros . Balph Dunstan , Mus . Doc , Prov . G . Org . W . M ., W . Hillier P . M . 1366 and 2090 S . W ., 3 . Bartlett P . M . acting 3 . W ., Arthur Jones I . P . M ., 3 . Woodmason P . M . P . Prov . G . D . C . Treasurer , F . S . Priest P . M . Secretary , W . E . Jefferson S . D ., W . C . Tebbit P . M . 2045 J . D ., Whiteway I . G ., H . D . Woods Organist , Hussey P . M . Prov . G . S ., J . M . Jefferson P . M ., 3 . T . Haly P . M ., and the following Brethren : H . Winson , Chas . J .

Oath , Thos . Golby , John Bartlett , G . F . Brooke , T . W . Leach , J . A . Stone , C . J . Mitchell , J . R . Watts , and the following Visitors : Bros . T . J . Mercer W . M . 2732 P . M . 2427 , Lawrence P . M . 1326 P . Prov . G . D . C . Middx ., Macchi P . M . 1508 , Geo . Chapman S . D . 1805 S . W . 27 S 2 , A . Allan Hope 1087 , C . Langler 1767 , Goodall 834 , C . Waterbon 2323 , Jas . W . Sweeny 223 , C . J . Schendel 223 , and Marchant 1706 .

Lodge was opened in due form and the minutes wero road and confirmed . Messrs . Tom J . Huntington , F . Beekin and Max Lightenberg were elected and initiated into Freemasonry . Bro . tbe Bev . F . J . Greenwood Treasurer of the Hugh Owen Lodge , No . 2593 and Chaplain of the Kensington Lodge , No . 1767 was elected a joining member .

Bros . C . J . Mitchell , J . A . Stone , J . B . Watts , and F . Goodall , the latter at the request of the W . M . of the Banelagh Lodge , No . 834 , were raised in a most solemn and impressive manner to the third degree . The election of Worshipful Master for the ensuing year then took place , and the highly esteemed Bro . William Hillier P . M . 1366 2090 S . W . of the

Lodge was unanimously chosen . Bro . J . Woodmason was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . J . W . Smith Tyler . Bros . Mitchell and Huntington were elected Auditors , and the voting of a Past Master's jewel for the W . M . ended the business of the Lodgo , which was closed and adjourned to the second Saturday in October .

The Brethren repaired to an excellent repast , provided by Host Collyer , and between the usual toasts some excellent music and singing was given by Bros . Barlett , Chapman , Golby , Huntington , Hussey , and Waterbon , a most successful and enjoyable meeting being brought to a very harmonious close .

METEOPOLITAN

NATIONAL ARTILLERY LODGE , No . 21578 . AN emergency meeting of this London Lodge was held by dispensation from the Most Worshipful Grand Master , and with the approval of the Prov . G . Master of Essex the Earl of Warwick , at the Masonic Boom of the Cambridge Hotel , Shoeburyness , on Thursday , 10 th inst ., when Bro . Dix , the courteous landlord of the Hotel , did his utmost to make the Brethren

comfortable . The magnificent room in which the Lodge was held , which is the ordinary Masonic room of tbe St . Andrew Lodge , No . 1817 , a Lodge which possesses more than a hundred subscribing members , was courteously lent by the St . Andrew Lodge for the occasion , and several members of that Lodge were present .

The Worshipful Master of the National Artillery Lodge Bro . Major W . Nicholls P . M . Dene Lodge , N . i . 222 S Prov . G . Swd . B . Berks presided , and there were also present Bros . Col . the Earl of Stradbroko I . P . M ., Captain Frank Griffith W . M . Thomas Balling Lodge ns S . W ., Col . Wilson J . W ., Major H . Vane-Stow P . M . Treasurer , Captain A . Praegev 2194 J . W . 2075 as S . D .,

Captain John Clark J . W . 218 as J . D ., Lieut . E . T . Lea 2484 as I . G ., while among the Visitors were Bros . H . Ford W . M .-elect 1817 , G . J . Linsinore P . M ., Sergt . W . Crombie , B . A ., 1817 , H . Potter 132 , S . Proctor P . M . 1817 , H . Massey P . M . 619 and 1928 , J . Leaney P . M . 1817 P . Prov . G . P ., W . H . Stevensou Organist 1817 and 2717 , F . E . Bartlett 2000 , F . Goodonham P . M . 1817