Masonry's Influence Ever Increases.

MASONRY'S INFLUENCE EVER INCREASES .

AT no time in the world ' s history was the influence which Masonry can exert for good more necessary than to-day . At no time was such influence more far reaching than at this closing period of the nineteenth century . At no time has the institution itself been better understood and more fully

appreciated than in the time in which we live . In a country , and at a time when the masses of men are fairly educated , we may anticipate the very best results in the growth and development of the Institution of Freemasonry , because under such conditions men will come to know that their fellow men ,

their neighbours , belonging to this institution , are not united together for merely selfish ends , nor in pursuit of a phantom , but at heart aim to aid each other , in every way , to lead better lives , to obtain a better aspect of the truth , to understand that the aim to create brotherhood among men can be in fact realised .

The Lodge becomes a type of life . What is attainable in this respect in a circumscribed way , at first , can be expanded to embrace a community , a state , a nation . And the breadth and scope of the principles of Masonry are such that it can carry forward to complete consummation the doctrine of universal brotherhood among men . Every citizen , or subject , in the world ,

accepting its principles , possessing suitable fitness , no matter where his allegiance may be , may belong to the fraternity . And while the world grows and expands to a better view of truth and justice , Masonry itself sets its aim higher , aud becomes more and more to each one of us every year and every day . — Edward O'Rourke G . M . Indiana , in " Voice of Masonry . "

LADIES * NIGHT AT THE CHOUGH LODGE . THE annual dance , supper and concert of this popular Lodge , No . 2264 " , took place on Tuesday , at the Cannon Street Hotel , when over 150 members and friends enjoyed a most successful evening . Bro . W . Vincent Jull Worshipful Master presided , and was most ably assisted bv the following Officers and members of the Committee : —W . B . Marcus P * M ., J . W . Dewsnap P . M ., E . T . Edwards P . M ., Saqui S . W ., J . Almond J . W ., A . Haynes S . D ., Frohlich J . D ., J . W . Cox , E . J . Williams , H . A . Milner , H . B . Krall , W . M . Lowe , S . V . Da Cruz , & c , while amongst the guests were many highly distinguished members of the Graft .

Under the able management of the Director of Ceremonies a . full programme of dances was gone through , and the general success of the meeting was evidenced by the way in which the ladies appeared to enjoy themselves . The supper was served in the style so well known to Brethren and others who have had the pleasure of partaking of such at this world famed house . Three toasts were submitted : the Queen , the Worshipful Master , and the Ladies .

Bro . E . T . Edwards P . M ., in proposing the health of the W . M ., said he felt sure that in Bro . Vincent Jull they had a president of whom they we ' re all proud , one who , he was convinced , would reflect great credit on the Lodge . He therefore had the greatest pleasure in proposing the health of the Worshipful Master . . . ,

The W . M . was received with an ovation on rising . He said he ielt'thepresent was one of the proudest moments of his life , and was sure that every Brother who succeeded to the post of W . M . in the Chough Lodge would look forward to such a meeting as the crowning point of their career in the Lodge .

The W . M . now proposed the health of the ladies . He said that on alP open occasions of the Lodge the Brethren were pleased to receive the ladies amongst them , for while they all endeavoured to contribute to their enjoyment the ladies were greatly adding to the pleasures of the Brethren . He trusted that on a future occasion they would see the ladies again around the festive board .

The selection of vocal music was under the direction of Bro . Turle Lee Organist of the Lodge , and the following artistes assisting him added greatly to the enjoyment of the evening : —Miss Annie Matthews , Miss Florence Venning , Bro . Herbert Emlyn , and Mr . Musgrove Tufnail . Dancing was kept up till an early hour in the morning .

THE OLD MASONIANS' ASSOCIATION . THIS association , which is an organisation formed of ex-pupils of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , Wood Green , is enjoying a prosperous twelfth year of existence . To some it may be news that the school has just completed its centenary , and that to commemorate the event it is proposed to found a new Masonic Lodge to be cailed the Old Masonians' Centenary Lodge . The head-quarters of the Lodge will be at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , which are also the headquarters of the present association .

On Friday the members of the latter assembled at one of the series of " At Homes " arranged for the winter months , Mr . Vincent Lee presiding . Remembering how scattered the members of such an association necessarily become , the attendance must be considered in every way an encouraging one . Amongst the company were Mr . R . H . Ward , Mr . B . H . Williams , Mr . B . S . Chandler , Mr . B . E . Barnes , and Mr . C . Patrick O'Doherty . The evening

was very pleasantly passed with vocal and instrumental music , and Mr . Horace Lewis ( the Hon . Secretary ) is to be complimented upon securing so capable a body of artistes . Those contributing to the programme included Miss Byon Sault , Madame Ta Bois , Mr . G . Harding , Mr . C . P . O'Doherty , Mr . A . S . West , Mr . Alec Thome , Mr . 0 . W . Barber ( mandoline ) , and Mr . A H . Stephenson , with Mr . W . Moore-Saunders as the accompanist . The usual votes of thanks closed an eminently successful evening .

On Thursday , 10 th February , a special fixture is announced , in the form of a concert to aid the Benevolent Grant Fund in connection with the association . — " City Press . "

Masonry's Influence Ever Increases.

The Friars Lodge of Instruction has taken up new quarters at the Aldgate Distillery , Whitechapel High Street , and the meetings will in future be held there on Thursday evenings , at 8 o'clock .

The portrait intended for Bro . R . B . Reed D . Prov . G . M . M . Northumberland and Durham , to which we referred last week , will be presented to Bro . Reed about the middle of the year , at a Provincial Grand Lodge meeting at Alnwick .

Others beside Freemasons will be interested to know that the Order is so successful in Torquay that a Masonic Temple , the first of its kind in the West of England , is about to be erected , says the "Western Mercury . " The

undertaking is being promoted by the Jordan Lodge , No . 1 4 02 , founded in 1872 by Bro . J . Chapman P . P . G . D . and others , and the location of the building on the Tor Hill

Estate is at once central and within easy distance of both railway stations . Subject to the completion of certain negotiations , in all probability the Temple will be finished during the term of office of the present W . M . Bro . Charles Hill .

One thing particularly appeals to me about Freemasonry , and probably has a good deal to do with the strong hold which the Order has on business men , and that is the admirable management of the Masonic charities . It is , therefore , pleasant to learn from the annual reports that the

Brethren , unlike most people interested in good works , have had no cause to complain of the Diamond Jubilee . On the contrary , they turned it to excellent account at the Albert Hall , where the fees for admission to the gathering presided over by the Prince of Wales amounted to no less than £ 7 , 240 .

Half of this sum , however , was loyally handed over to the Hospital Fund . But apart from the balance , which went to the charities , the subscriptions for 18 97 amounted to £ 71 , 837 19 s nd , a record total since the Jubilee of the Benevolent Institution in 1892 . — "African Critic . "

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