Rosicrucian Society Of England.

drains ; because in the oase of the astrologers they merely enriched themselves at the expense of a few credulous people who could afford to pay for their f neies , whereas your dishonest builder or manufacturer fills his pockets by the sacrifice of the lives of his fellow-citizens , who are slain by a stab in the dark . As we descend the scale of time the pretensions of the astrologer *

seem more and more pretentiously hollow , aud early in the last century appeared the last works coming from any respectable press pretending to deal with such matters in an anthon ' tative way . As I have said , our own days see something of it in a few expensive and perfeotly incomprehensible books that have been published within onr own recollection , bnt mankind has been too busy in the pronaic

buainesa of every-day life to take any general interest in the Tapouring 8 and gibberings of monomaniacs , although of course "Old Moore ' s" and "Zadkiel ' a" almanacks still command a lar (» e Bale amongst our rustic populations , and are actually said to be consulted as to the propriety of many action - of every-d'ty life . Why then , it may be asked , call onrselves Rosicrucians if the first

workers known by that name were deserving of so littlo credit ? Because they represented a habit of diligent thought rare enough at that period , and I believe still rarer now , when most people never think at all , and get all their reasoning done for them , at the low charge of one penny per diem , by their favourite newspaper for the time being . It is rather melancholy , bnt perfectly manifest that

one modern effect of this cheap press has been to rednce tho necessity for independent thought almost to zero ; and with the loss of that , most people fail in ; ny desire to take any tronble on any matter at all . This is why we find it so difficult to interest keenly any number of Freemasons in Masonic literature and research , and why the Masonic Press fiuds it difficnlt to exist . To me it always

seems somewhat of a disgrace that with our long Roll of Lodges , containing an important proportion of the wealth aud intelli gence of England on their books , there should be any lack of support to the Masonio Press . Various are the excuses given by Lodges and brethren for not subscribing to the Mssonio papers . I am not prepared [ to admit any excuse from Lodges save that of absolute

want of funds , bnt there really must be very few Lodges ] indeed unable to afford the very small sum demanded for an annual copy of one or both of the Masonio papers . With individual Masons the excuses for neglect of Masonic current literature are various . Some men cannot afford it—this ia unanswerable—others have no time for suoh reading ; these are more or less useless Masons , because

whatever else they may do they do not take an interest in our intelligent Bide , and I can imagine nothing more hollow or shallow than a society existing upon fine words and gold lace without any good reason for its maintenance . Some brethren are honest enough to say they do not care about it ; the monthly meeting is a little relaxation for them ; and further than that they care not to go . Of these I can

only say that I think they have mistaken their field of amusement , and -would find much more entertainment , without the tedious repetition of unmeaning phrases , at any decent social club , or even a pnblic house bar . Other men become subscribers to the papers , and soon give them up because they do not find anything to interest them . With these I can talk , because I am partly prepared to sympathise

with them in their many disappointments , yet I have quite as much sympathy with my brethren the editors of the journals I refer to , because , after sixteen years close newspaper work , principally editorial , I am well aware of the difficulties under which my friends , the chiefs of our representative journals , labour . They find great difficulty in securing help , and the patronage they obtain does not

justify them in paying for contributions . They are , therefore , to a large extent , at the mercy of outside assistants , and are not always able to exercise that absolute discretion that should be controlled by every editor . Hence it arises that we sometimes have articles by men of undoubted ability , but which are couched in an nnmasonic spirit , and which , in deference to the feelings of others ,

Bhonld have been excluded . Hence also we "have reports of individual meetings of Lodges of disproportionate length , and interesting to very few readers . Nor do I say that our Editors themselves are always blameless or discreet ; no one is always wise . I believe one remedy might be found in the cheapening of the Masonic Press . We most popularise our literature , and that cannot I think be done until we

can offer it in a cheaper form . This Society should do all in its power to encourage the spread of the literature of the Craft , and to strengthen the hands of its conductors , who can do nothing unless they feel that the intelligent section of the Order is backing them . I fear , brethren , I have wandered away somewhat discursively from the original subject of

my paper , but on the other hand in a senso I am not far from tho track , for the old Rosicrucians were great ; writers , and seemed to regard the press as their mainstay in promulgating their theories . We should be nowhere without our organs for exchango of opinions as Masons , and I hope that all intelligent brethren will perceive the claim that rests upon them to support as far as possible tho Masonic Presa .

A vote of thanks was accorded to Fra . Whytehead for his paper , which was ordered to be printed and circulated , and Fra . T . J . Wilkinson then read a paper , entitled , " What the First Ancient said . " This was a most admirable disquisition on the subject of Mors Janua Vitce , and the members were very desirous to have it printed also , hut Fra .

Wilkinson desired to consider the matter . Several vacancies iu the various grades were announced to have been filled up , and after some further business , the M . C . was dissolved , at five p . m . Soon afterwards the members met at a plain dinner , at the Queen ' s Hotel , after which an hour or two was passed in Masonic discussion , until the party dispersed by train towards the four cardinal points of the compass .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

STUART ENCAMPMENT , No . 2 H . V MEETING of this time-hononiod Euetuipmont was held at the Masonio Hull , Watford , Herts , on Monday , 17 th inst . There was a strong gathering of memb » rs , who have the interest of their Encampment , and a reverence fur its founder at heart . The Encanipmpnt was opened iu duo fli' -ni by E . Sir Knt . Geo . Mioklev E . C , assisted by his Officers . There were present Sir Knts . J . K . Cocks , Geoi"e E . Lake Treasnrer , Rev . W . Oswald Thompson Prolate , Jas .

Shilcock , George Powell , Henry C . Heard , Charles E . K > yser , John Livingston , John Purrott , Fredk . Levick , John E . D . iwson Registrar , and others . Visitors—E . Sir Knts . Capt . A . Niols Past 1 st G . Standard Bearer , It . Loveland Loveland Past G . Sword Bearer , and W . H . Kempster Past E . P . Kemys Tynto Preceptory . This was a meeting of espeoial interest , and it is to be hoped that it will be

followed by many others of a similar character , inasmuch as it embraced the working of the decree of K-n ' ght of St . Paul , Palestine , Rhodes and Malta ^ and finally tho installation of Priors of the Order of Malta . Tho Encampment was opened at 5 p . m ., prompt time , by E . Sir Knt . Geo . Mickley , and tho names of those Sir Knights who wero desirous of being elected and installed Knights of Malta

received in writing nnd submitted to the acting Prior . At tho conclusion of the business of tho Encampment , a Priory of the Order of Malta was held by E . Sir Knt . Capt . A . Nicols Past 1 st G . Standard Bearer , ably assisted by E . Sir Knt . R . Loveland Loveland . Six Knights , members of the Stuart Encampment , presented themselves for election , and after the conference of the introductory degree of

the Mediterranean Pass , wero duly installed Knights of Malta , and took their stalls in tho Priory . E . Sir Knt . Capt . A . Nicola afterwards opened a Board of Installed Priors , which consisted of P . E . Prior Rev . W . Oswald Thompson , R . Loveland Loveland , and several other distinguished Past Priors . No less than sevon Past E . Commanders and Preceptors presented themselves for installation , which most

interesting circumstance gave the Installing Prior , Captain Nicols , the opportnnity of enlarging on tho necessity of holding Priories of Malta more frequently . He remarked , that when a Priory of Malta was held , it was not an unusual occurrence to see as many Past E . C . ' s and P . E . P . ' s present themselves for installation to the Board of Priors as there were candidates for the Degree of Malta itself . This is not ns it should be . E . Sir Knt . Nicols further remarked that

a Prior of Malta did not rank above an Eminent Commander or Preceptor , but that tbe degree merely added to his dignity and entitled him to the privilege of performing those beautiful ceremonies which servo further to illustrate the history of tho " Soldiers of tbe Cross . " A very cordial vote of thanks for their assistance was accorded to Captain A . Nicols and R . Lovoland Loveland in that peculiarly hearty , old-fashioned manner which leavc 3 so deep a fraternal recollection in the mind of every true Knight Templar .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

KINTORE LODGE , No . 333 . rnHE first regular meeting of this Lodge , consecrated in April last , X was held at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , on Monday , the 10 th inst ., Bro . G . H . Newington Bridges the W . M . being supported by all his Officers and members , except two , who were compelled to attend other Masonic duties . Bros . T . Edmondston occupied his chair as S . W ., Hastie J . W ., C . Fountain M . O ., P . Dakers S . O ., B . R . Bryant Grand Standard Bearer J . O . and Acting I . P . M ., Capt .

C . H . Nevill Secretary and Acting J . O ., G . Norrington S . D ., H . C . Ingram J . D ., J . VV . Rontledge R . M ., R . A . Marshall D . C ., G . J . Veuables I . G ., R . Potter Tyler . There were also present V . VV . Bro . James Stevens P . G . J . O . Hon . Mem ., and Visitors—Bros . R . J . Voisey W . M . 22 , V . F . Murcho D . C . 22 , and W . Groome P . M . 202 . The V . W . Bro . Binckes P . G . W . and Grand Secretary , and Bro . Lovegrovo

P . G . D . Wks ., both Hon . Members , sent in apologies for enforced absence . The minntes of the consecration meeting were read and confirmed , and the W . M . then read a letter he had received from the M . W . G . M . M . the Right Hon . the Earl of Kintore , expressing his regret that , through illness , he had been unable to attend , as he had intended , the inaugural meeting of the Lodge named in honour of

himself ; and wishing the brethren all the success they could themselves desire in its future working . This letter was ordered to be entered ou the minutes . Bro . Edward Vigors , of Craft Lodge 1669 , and E . Tidd of 1126 , wero then advauced to the honourable degree of Mark Master , in a most efficient manner ; the W . M . and Officers alike vioing with each other as to correctness of ritual nnd stylo of

work . As an augury of future skill and ability the conduct of this , the first , ceremony performed in tho new Lodge left nothing to be desired by even tho most exacting critic . We shall look for a continuance of such perfection as well for the sake of the Order as for the credit of a Lodge bearing the exalted namo of the G . M . M . At the close of the business of advancement the circular from the

General Board relating to the Mark Benevolent Fund was read , and the W . M . immediately offered himself as Steward for the next Festival in aid of that Fund , an offer which it is almost needless to say was most cordially accepted . A fow matters of ordinary businesss were transacted , some work for next meeting placed on tho

! i"onda , and after prayer and praise the Lodge was closed . Tho brelhren assembled shortly after for banquet , and spent a very ¦ if rcuablo evening , enlivened by songs and recitations ; Bros . Voisey , Venablos , Norrington and Murcho discoursing admirable music , and Bro . Stevens declaiming his new recitation "The Three ! Great Lights . " The next meeting o the Lodge will be held iu January .