Metropolitan : Instruction.

Square , W ., when Bro . J . W . Facey P . M . Treasurer 2665 acted as W . M ., with Bros . P . Howard S . W ., G . F . Payne J . W ., J . Worth P . M . Prec , J . Cox P . M . Dep . Prec , J . Taylor Sec , J . Cox S . D ., W . S . Lyon J . D ., H . G . Cox I . G ., J . H . McNaughton Steward , H . J . Cousens P . M ., J . Gilbeart , S . H . Proctor , J . Davis , J . Wynman . Bro . Proctor answered the questions leading to the second degree , and

was entrusted . The Lodge was advanced and the ceremony was rehearsed , with Bro . Facey ' s usual ability . A letter was read by the Secretary from Grand Lodge , thanking the Brethren for the letter sent to the Most Worshipful Grand Master , congratulating him on his escape from the dastardly attempt made upon him at Brussels . It was proposed that the letter be entered on the minute book , which was unanimously agreed to .

Bros . W . McNaughton J . D . 1585 , S . H . Proctor 2765 , and G . F . Payne 2705 were elected members , which compliment was acknowledged by those Brethren . Bro . P . Howard was elected W . M . for the next meeting .

Entertainments.

Entertainments .

AFTER a successful run round the principal North and Midland Cities with his latest success , " What happened to Jones , " Bro . Charlie Collette proposes to play the same piece in a round of the Suburban Theatres commencing on Monday , 30 th inst ., at the Opera House , Crouch End . Those who remember " The Cheerful One " in " The Colonel" and in Cryptoconchoidsyphonostomata " may he prepared for a treat , when it is said that as " Jones " he has broken his own record .

Management In Masonic Work.

MANAGEMENT IN MASONIC WORK .

THE fifth chapter of the Ancient Charges treats of the " Management of the Craft in working . " Its instruction would seem to apply more directly to the operative art than to the speculative science of Masonry , yet , as the latter is a

continuation of the former and has adopted its language , laws , rules , regulations , landmarks and working tools , it is not difficult to adapt its teachings to managing the Craft in working as builders of a social and moral edifice . If Masons never lose

sight of the idea that they are builders ; if they make this the primal object of their labour ; if each and all strive to see how wisely , strongly and beautifully he can build , it will be easy for them to apply this Ancient Charge to the management of their work .

They are charged to " work honestly on working days , that they may live creditably on holy days ; * * * to be faithful to the Lord , and honestly finish their work . " Tbe Masonic " working days" are those specified times when , in Lodge assembled , the Craft engage in labour . The Masonic " holy

days" are the Sabbath days—Sabbath being a Hebrew word meaning to " rest from labour , to lie by , to keep holy day ; " and as our ancient Brethren were engaged six days in labour , they consecrated one , according to the divine command , as a Sabbath , a day of rest from all ordinary employments and

recreations , that they might devote the whole day to the worship and service of God , in contemplating his gracious and glorious works , and in studying His Word as the divine trestle board , that they might work more closely to the designs drawn therein ; and they have left on record the order that " the time appointed

by the law of the land , or confirmed by custom , shall be observed . " This is Masonic law for a proper observance of the Sabbath , and no Masonic work should be done on that day set apart for rest , if Masons are to " live creditably on holy days , to the Lord ' s profit . "

The " Lord ' s Work , " to which allusion is made in the Charge , points to a feature in Speculative Masonry that deserves closer attention than it receives from many of the Craftsmen , and a due recognition of this feature might lead to better results in the character of the work done .

The ancient workmen , when engaged in their proper work , wrought as fellow-craftsmen , under the supervision of a Master , who was chosen , or appointed , from the most expert of their number as overseer of the Lord ' s work . The lords of the work were among the lords of the land—kings , princes , earls , dukes ,

bishops , and such like—who were engaged at various times and in divers places in erecting palaces , fortresses , cathedrals and mansions which required a high degree of knowledge , skill and industry for their completion . " The Master , knowing himself to be able of cunning shall undertake the Lord ' s work as reasonably as possible , " and " both the Master and the Masons , receiving

their wages justly , shall be faithful to the Lord and honestly finish their work . " This was the law governing Ancient Craft Masons engaged in the operative art as builders , and its mandate can readily be transferred to all Free and Accepted . Masons who are engaged in the speculative science of building a social and moral temple , erected to God and dedicated to humanity .

The Lord of this work is the Lord of the whole earth—the Great Architect of the Universe , who , with infinite wisdom and

an unerring hand , has drawn the plans and specifications , in every detail , upon that divine trestle board , the Holy Scriptures ; and every Craftsman should esteem it a privilege and regard it a duty to be faithful to his Lord and honestly finish the work agreeably to the . design . His work is to transform the rough ashlar as

Management In Masonic Work.

taken from the quarry in its rude and natural state into a perfect ashlar , and fit it according to the designs drawn on the trestle board , as a " lively stone for that spiritual building , that house not made with hands , eternal in the heavens , " and then to place it in the wall of the temple with the cement of brotherly love with such exactness as to present the appearance of the Supreme

Architect ' s handiwork . His working tools are those of the operative , adopted by the speculative Mason as symbols , and used for the more noble and glorious purpose of operating upon mind instead of matter , gradually changing it under the diligent operation of a skilful Craftsman , till its passions are subdued , its appetites curbed , its pride humbled , its prejudices removed , and its charity unfolded .

Such in Speculative Masonry , is the Lord ' s work , which is to be faithfully done and honestly finished if the Craftsman would earn his wages and expect to receive them when due . Good , square work all along this line—work wrought according to

specifications and that will be received when brought up for inspection , is imperatively demanded , if the Masonic Temple , erected to God , and now in process of building , is to give evidence to the world that it is founded in strength , enriched by wisdom , and adorned with beauty .

The lessons in Masonry from beginning to end ; its symbolic teachings ; its brief , comprehensive creed ; its esoteric instructions , all point to the fact that Speculative Masons , by virtue of their profession , are employed in the service of God ; before whom all should with reference most humbly bow , and to whom they should be faithful till their work is finished .

This presents a view of Masonry , as unfolded in its ritual and manual and illustrated in its ceremonies , that seems to be overlooked by many who have travelled from the west to the east in their search , and not a few are inclined to look back over the trodden path and ask , What is there in it ? Such a question indicates a lack of " management of the Craft in working , " and should call forth a large increase of good and wholesome

instruction from the Master who is chosen as overseer of the Lord's work . He , being chosen from the most expert of the Fellow craftsmen , should be will skilled in Masonic architecture , capable of following the various designs drawn by the Great Architect on the trestle board , and as prompt to set the Craftsmen to work according to the designs , and hold them to the task till it is finished .

The Master holds no sinecure station , nor should he take his seat in the Bast without" knowing himself to be able of cunning " to oversee the work in every department from corner to cap-stone ; nor should he " give more wages to any Brother than he may really deserve , " or , in other words , he should not appoint a Brother to a place till he knows that he is capable of filling it , for

the reason that if an incapable or an inefficient—no matter how popular or ambitious he may be—is selected to fill a station or a place , the work is sure to be spoiled , being done in such an unworkmanlike manner as will never pass inspection . As the Master should never take an apprentice for whom he has no work ,

neither should he take one whom he has not time or ability to properly instruct , or who may prove too careless or indolent to receive instruction . The charge reads , " A younger Brother shall be instructed in working , to prevent spoiling the materials for want of judgment , and for increasing and continuing of Brotherly love . "

For want of a due observance of this mandate a large amount of good material is so badly spoiled as to damage the strength and beauty of the Masonic wall—so much so that Grand Lodges are making strenuous efforts to correct and improve in many Lodges " the management of the Craft in working . " To produce honest

work , no candidate should be advanced till he has attained suitable proficiency in all the preceding lessons , with no reference to " time or circumstances . " This may require much labour , patience and perseverance , but it will prove for the good of Masonry to advance no one till his proficiency is established to the full and entire satisfaction of all in open Lodge .

To erect a temple of such magnitude as the Masonic—to prepare and adjust each stone in the wall—to bind all in one common fraternity by the cement of Brotherly love—all resting on the support of wisdom , strength and beauty—is a task that requires toil , self-denial and sacrifice to a large extent ; and none

should be permitted to engage in this laudable undertaking unless he be willing to do and endure cheerfully and courageously to the end , for " all Masons employed shall meekly receive their wages without murmuring or mutiny , and not desert the Master till the work is finished . "

Then , Brethren , let us all take notice that the management of the Craft in working is in all points fully up to the required standard of excellence and proficiency , and then govern ourselves accordingly , that the world may take knowledge that " no institution was ever raised on better principles , or on a more solid foundation ; nor were ever more excellent rules and useful maxims laid down than are inculcated in the several Masonic lectures . "—Rev . Gilbert Small , in " American Tyler . " -