The All-Seeing Eye.

why he was discharged . They told him that he had been reading or sleeping in his chair . He said that was not so . Ho knew there was no person that tfould see him , and that there was no person allowed in the building ; he knew he had the keys , and tho time lock was on that safe , so he felt sure that no one could have seen him . In indignation he

threatened the president of the hank for accusing him of telling a lie when he denied that he had sat down at all in that chair . Then they called him into the office . They took out a piece of paper which represented all the squares on the floor , and then , taking the timelock chocks , put them beside it . " Now , my man , at three minutes of eight you stepped on that square ,

and then on that one , and then on that ; then you immediately turned around , and went back and stepped on this one , and you did not step from this one for two hours . Here it is . Every time you stepped on a square it telegraphed that vou were on it . And so all night these squares told just

where he was . " There was not an instant that , they could fail to tell just where he went . God has wires under every man ' s feet and heart—the All-Seeing Eye is never turned aside or closed in sleep—and you do not make a move , you never did make one , that was not telegraphed directly to the Grand Lodge above . — " American Tyler . "

Quality.

QUALITY .

''TS it of your own free will and accord ? " " Is the candidate worthy -L and well qualified ? " are two very important questions . The first one clearly teaches that all who knock at the door of Freemasonry do so of their own will . A free will , no coaxing , no pleading , no soliciting . In the anxiety for making a showing of a large amount of work done , to break records , to get the fees , to build up a strong Lodge , many masters and zealous

workers overstep the bounds and solicit for candidates . That this is being done and has been done needs no denial , and this over zeal has not only broken down the first fundamental principle of our fraternity , but has gone to a more dangerous position , that of admitting men who cannot bear the query : " Is he worthy and well qualified ? " Men have been initiated who

were not worthy , but in every sense unworthy , and the knowledge of the unworthiness of the candidate was know to the Officers of the Lodge . Has it come to this ? Must and shall Freemasonry be debauched to the level of the average secret society ? Must the fact of being a Mason bring a blush of shame to the face of the self-respecting man ? We cry out stop ! " quality , and

not quantity , should be the end and aim of every master and member . Stop wholesaling Masonry . The candidate must be a man in every sense , morally , intellectually . We pity the Master , Secretary , or members whose moral

standard is so low that every blackleg who applies , or is solicited to apply can gain admittance . Stop it in Kansas City , stop it everywhere . Your Lodge needs no un-Masonic methods , and if you sow to the winds you will reap the whirlwind . — " Orient . "

Masonry And The Druses.

MASONRY AND THE DRUSES .

A FEW months ago I had occasion to enter into a business contract with - £ * - one of my Druse farmers . When we were about to draw up the agreement , the Druse suggested that as he could neither read nor write , we should ratify the bargain in the manner customary among his people . This consists of a solemn grasping of hands together in the presence of two or

three other Druses as witnesses , while the agreement is recited by both parties . Being always on the " qui vive " to gain a practical insight into the manners and customs of the Druses , I readily consented to this form of contract , hoping thereby to learn something more of their methods of procedure .

Accordingly the farmer brought three of his neighbours to me , and the terms of our contract having been made known to them , one of them took th right hand of each of us and joined them together , while he dictated to us what to say after him . To my great astonishment , the Druse who was

grasping my hand gave me the grip of a Master Mason . I immediately returned it , to his equal surprise . He asked me how and when I had learned their secret sign , and this set me on the track of further inquiries , the result of which has been to render what was before a very strong belief on my part an absolute conviction .

I now feel morally certain that my theory is correct , and speaking as a Freemason and as one who has also searched somewhat fully into the mystic tenets of the Druse , I can assert that in many particulars the esoteric teachings of both systems is more or less identical . Owing to the extreme

secrecy and exolusiveness of the Druse character , it is most difficult to gain an insight into their rites and tenets , and it requires many years of intercourse with them and the firm establishment of relations of mutual confidence and trust before one can be in a position to learn anything concerning them . "Blackwood ' s Magazine . "

Cornwall.

CORNWALL .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge is to be held at Liskeard on Tuesday , 31 st inst ., at 11-15 a . m . The members are requested to assemble at 10-45 , so as to be in their places to receive the Provincial Grand Master the Earl of Mount-Edgcumibe at the time stated , when the Provincial Grand Officers

Cornwall.

will enter , and the Provincial Grand Lodge will be opened in due form at the Public Hall , the Parade . The entertaining Lodge is the St . Martin ' s , No . 510 , which was formed in 1845 , and owns the handsome Masonic Hall , which is entirely free from debt . The W . M . is Bro . Arthur E . Morcom , and the Secretary is the indefatigable Bro . E . A . Courtney P . M . P . Prov . S . G . W .

There are thirty Lodges in the county , which returned 1 , 868 members for December 1896 , being the largest number yet made , according to the Official Directory edited for the Province by Bro . J . C . E . Crewes P . Prov . S . G . D .

The " mother Lodge of the county " is No . 75 , Falmouth , chartered in 1751 , and the youngest is the Cotehele Lodge , No . 2166 , warranted in 1886 . The agenda is of a very full character , the business to be transacted being even more than usual ; and as at ordinary times

it is not easy to conclude in the time specified , the well-known ability of the Prov . Grand Master in the chair will be called into requisition , and doubtless will secure brief speeches and prompt decisions . After the several reports have been made , and Officers of the local funds elected for the ensuing year , several alterations will be proposed in the rules of the Cornwall Masonic

Annuity and Benevolent Fund—which is in a most flourishing condition—one especially concerning an increase in the amounts of the annuities will be sure to be favourably received by the Brethren . Two annuities are recommended to be granted to widows , and two educational grants , the Committee of Belief stating the amounts they deem suitable , though it is left to the subscribers really to decide .

The Prov . Grand Lodge will be called off from work , and proceed to the Parish Church of St . Martin ' s , at noon , when a sermon will be preached by Bro . the Eev . H . W . Millefct Prov . Grand Chaplain . On the conclusion of the service the procession will return to the hall , and the remaining business will be transacted .

" The Province of Cornwall is to be congratulated on the appointment of Bro . Bernard F . Edyvean to the rank of Past Grand Sword Bearer of the Grand Chapter of England by H . E . H . the Prince of Wales First Grand Principal . Sixty appointments were made for England and the colonies , in

commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of her Majesty the Queen , so that Cornwall is most fortunate in securing one of the special compliments . Brother Edyvean is the able charity representative of the Province , and well deserves the honour , which is also looked upon as one granted to the county . — " Western Morning News . "

The Whittington , Moor Lane , Moorgate Street , has recently changed bands , and is now under the direction of Brother George Stevenson , who has already become well known to several members of the Craft , although he has not long been admitted to membership . His desire is to adapt a portion of his premises

to Masonic purposes , and he should be able to afford good accommodation , especially to the members of a Lodge of Instruction , should they be seeking new quarters , or should there be Brethren desirous of forming a new Lodge . The

establishment has already acquired recognition as one of the dining establishments of the city , hot joints being served from 12 till 3 daily , and we hope its reputation in this and all other departments will be enhanced under the regime of its new proprietor .

Great Western Railway.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY .

WE may again direct attention to the announcement , given elsewhere in our pages , of the principal cheap excursion trains run by tho Great Western Eailway to various parts of their system , among the chief attractions being the new service , by the quickest and beat route , to the Channel Islands , via Weymouth , excursions in connection with which are run every Saturday

at 8-50 a . m . and 9-45 p . m . from Paddington Station , the tickets being available for return in 3 , 8 , 10 , 15 or 17 days , at a return fare of 24 s 6 d . Two express services are arranged daily by this route , which also possesses the advantage of the shortest sea passage to the Islands , and is splendidly served throughout .

There is also a long list of trips for various periods to the West of England and the principal Great Western Stations , while fortnightly tours are arranged for visitors to Ireland . Coming nearer home we have the day trips to the Thames Eiverside Stations , which take the traveller to the finest parts of the upper reaches of the Thames , and provide tho means of probably the most enjoyable holiday trips it is possible for one to experience :, especially to those whoso business precludes their taking more than a few days holiday at a time .

MIDLAND RAILWAY . SIMILABLY vve may again refer to the fortnightly trips of the Midland Company to Scotland and many north of England Stations , while each week excursions allowing a fortnight in Ireland arc run from St . Pancras Station , from whence a general excursion will also bo ruu on Saturday next ,

to the principal midland and other Stations served by this Company . On Monday , 30 th inst ., there will be a trip to Birmingham , for one or four days . The Isle of Man and the English Lake district is also specially attended to by this Company , excursions being run every week to Douglas , for 3 , 8 , 10 , 15 or 17 days , and to different points of attraction among the English Lakuy for similar periods .