Possibilities Of Small Lodges.

POSSIBILITIES OF SMALL LODGES .

THEEB is a general impression that small Lodges are altogether undesirable , and endanger the best interests in the Craft , by facilitating the progress towards the chair of Brethren who are not competent to undertake the duties . On this point , no doubt , very much may be said , but after all the truth of the assertion depends upon the care shown by the members in the

selection of new blood . The chief point which we desire at present to emphasise is that it is quite possible to run such Lodges on a sound financial basis . Perhaps one of the most interesting cases we know of is that of St . John the Baptist Lodge , No . 78 , U . G . L . of Victoria . At that Lodge , at the concluding meeting of tbe year , the Secretary furnished a

hurriedly prepared digest of its past year ' s work , and we have been favoured with the following extract from the minutes recording this , which we think will prove a valuable hint to other Lodges in like position as regard numbers of members . The extract reads as follows : — " When the W . M . was installed on 4 th December 1895 , there were 17 members on the roll , but

one of these , during the month , went to Western Australia , and sent in his resignation . The place of meeting of the Lodge , as the result of several nights of discussion , was moved from the Old Court House ( a dilapidated building ) to- the Oddfellow ' s Hall , Sydney Road , Brunswick , and here there is a commodious and cheerful Lodge room . In January , the Bye-laws were

taken into consideration on a revision prepared by Bro . Secretary ; two members were affiliated , and presentations were made to the Lodge of Table Cloths , Kneeling Stool , and a History of the Lodge from its earliest days to date . In April , the only Initiation of the year took place , but the candidate was the son of an old and esteemed P . M . of the Lodge , one who was

identified with it from its earlier days . Several lectures were delivered during the year ; one on Astronomy , and one on China , illustrated by limelight views , those being also evenings set apart to receive the ladies of the families of members and their friends ; both events were concluded by some songs and dances . Lectures on the Tracing Boards by the S . W . and a P . M . filled in the other evenings , and towards the close of the year presentations were made of an excellent banner and wand stands from Bros .

D . of 0 . and J . W ., while the W . M . presented the History of the Lodge in printed form , as it had been prepared by Bro . Secretary , whilst that officer and the J . D . jointly presented printed copies of the Bye-laws . At the close of the year the members' roll numbered twenty ; forty-eight pounds had been collected for dues , and £ 5 5 s for Initiation fee . The furniture of the Lodge

had been improved and added to by valuable donations ; the attendance of visitors had considerably increased , no evening had been spent without Degree work or a lecture , and no appeal for charitable assistance had been refused . Peace , Love , and Harmony characterised every hour of the Lodge ' s history for the year , and the year closed with a credit balance sufficient to

discharge all liabilities and Grand Lodge dues to the end of the current half-year , thus maintaining the happy record of this Lodge that it is invariably worked within its income and carries no liabilities . " This we think is far too valuable a lesson to be passed lightly by . At the festive board of this Lodge a frugal supper is always spread , and musical and literary amusements

are always forthcoming . To our mind the most cheerful part of this report is that which indicates that the Lodge is fully and constantly employed upon some intellectual treat , and that Degree work is a matter of less importance than the suitable education of the Brethren already associated with the Lodge . It is conclusive evidence that the men who reach the chair in ' the Lodge are suitable to the position , and that even if small in numbers the

Lodge is great in its appreciation of its Masonic opportunities and its duties to its members and the Craft in general . If some of the larger Lodges which are always crowding in new members , and undertaking Degree work as a consequence night by night , and are yet in an anxious position as regards funds and income , would take a lesson by No . 78 , it would be for the good of Freemasonry in Victoria , if not elsewhere in Australia . — " Masonry . "

A Good Tyler.

A GOOD TYLER .

THERE is no more responsible station in the Lodge than that of the Tyler . There is none more important to its pleasure and welfare . He stands to the Lodge in the same relative position as the picket on outpost duty . He is to guard against the approach of " cowans and eavesdroppers . " He is to

sound all alarms and protect the citadel of Masonry . The picket must be fearless and watchful . He must let nothing approach that would endanger the safety of the camp . The Lodge at work should not be disturbed , and the Tyler is the protection from outside interruption . He stands at tbe door and politel y informs

A Good Tyler.

latecomers , or " Brethren returning , " that " the Lodge is at such labour that it cannot be disturbed . " There are certain qualities that Tylers should possess , and those who have them are always popular . A Tyler can do much to make a meeting successful , and he can mar its pleasure , according as he properly guards the outer door . If you visit a

Looge and nnd at the threshold a man , no matter how formidable his " drawn sword " may be , who is affable and smiling , and at your approach extends bis hand in a Brotherly greeting , you will at once form a good opinion of the Brethren of that Lodge , and expect when you enter to find a warm welcome for you . If , on the other hand , you find at the door that the " drawn sword " is ,

as it were , a two-edged sabre , held at " charge , and the Tyler looks as though he had been fed on gall and bitterness all bis life , and could not smile if he would , and would not if he could , and when you ask a question , throws his answer into your face like a brickbat that knocks out all your teeth , you feel that you are

about to enter an ice-house , and almost exclaim , " He who enters here , leaves hope behind . " If you enter at all , which you may for once , you step lightly and carefully , fearing you will slip on frozen pavement , or disturb the sleepers in the tomb of frigidity . Such is not always the case , indeed it is seldom so , but such would be the first impression of the stranger .

If there is any one thing more than another that makes Lodges pleasant it is the Brotherly greeting and social features of the meetings . Man is a social being . He seeks companionship , and he will have it . Very few of the human race are hermits , very few desire the seclusion of their own society . The man whose mind is weakened by care or sorrow may seek the solitude of a tomb , and there dwell beside the dead bodies of those

he once loved , but he is no longer a man . The spark of intelligence has been put out by the extinguishing power of troubles , and we regard him with pity . The miser may seek the solitude of his den , the recluse the silence of a cave , but the miser finds companionship in the gold he handles , and music in its clink , and the recluse converses with the silence and commues with darkness . These men are no longer of us , and we should be thankful that there are not any such .

The Lodge is a social place and the men who meet upon its level and part upon its square do so because there is in the companionship a relief from the dull monotony of the treadmill of life . We have a right to expect a cordial welcome , to spend a pleasant hour , because there we ought to meet with those who ,

having walked the same path , ascended the same mystic stairway , and been taught from the same altar as we have , will feel a chord of sympathy thrill their very soul , and so the current becomes continuous when the electric circuit is closed , so when hand clasps hand in fraternal greeting we should feel the thrilling sensation of kinship .

If in the Lodge such a spirit should be found how important . that at the portal should be a man cheerful and pleasant , ready to impart information , to welcome a stranger and afford him every opportunity to visit and as far as the ante-room is concerned make him feel at home . Such is a good Tyler , and the Lodges of this city are fortunate in having many such . — " New York Dispatch . "

HORNSEY CHAPTER OF IMPROVEMENT , No . 890 : THERE was a good attendance of Companions on Friday , 15 th inst ., at the Princo of Wales , Eastbourne Terrace , Bishop ' s Road , W ., under tha presidency of Comp . J . Cruttenden 779 as M . E . Z ., with J . Bailey P . Z . 1602 H ., J . Almond M . E . Z . 1839 J ., H . Dehane P . Z . P . P . G . P . S . Scribe E ., A .

Currant P . Z . 276 P . P . G . H . S . N ., 3 . P . Green P . S . 276 P . S ., R . Cook 1 st A . S . 276 1 st A . S ., F . Sutthery P . Z . 276 P . P . G . P . Soj ., M . Spiegel P . Z . 837 P . P . G . S . B ., T . J . D . Cramphorn H . 276 , H . Taylor J . 186 , R . T . Godfrey , & o . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Companion Cramphorn being candidate .

Comps . Cook and Green were elected members , and , in acknowledging this compliment , they expressed their admiration of the admirable working they had witnessed ; they only wished they could have a Chapter oilmprovement in the country .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

ONE of the oldest of Yorkshire Masons has been removed by the death of the Rev . Dr . Joseph Senior , of Scarborough , at the patriarchal age of ninety . He was W . M . of the Three Grand Principles Lodge , at Dewsbury , 1837-9 , and was the oldest member on the rolls of Yorkshire Knights Templar , says the " Bristol Mercury . "

MAJOR Edward Mason , the senior alderman and oldest member of Richmond ( Yorkshire ) Corporation , died a few days back , after several days illness . The deceased , who was a leather merchant , was first elected to the Council in 1864 ,

and was Mayor in 1869 . He was a Magistrate , a Grammar School Trustee , a Past Master of the Craft , and Commandant of the Richmond Volunteers . Major Mason was seventy years old , and a native of Richmond . He leaves a widow and a large family .