Freemasonry As A Secre T Society.

from seeking Masonio initiation , and it causes some who do seek it to be rejected . Fieemasonry is a secret society , because its charities are , in large part , unknown to the world . What transpires in a Lodere Room is not a matter of public news . Every

meeting Dight the various Masonic bodies are aiding those of itK members who are in distress , and , although not only the aggregate , but the individual sums granted are often

large , the profane never hear of them . Such facts are confined to the knowledge of the initiated . These secrets of Freemasonry are of the utmost value to the world , without their being aware of it . Our charities often exceed those

of the Church . The Craft deserves to be honoured in the highest degree , both for having , and for treasuring such secrets .

And , then , Freemasonry is a secret society , because it has other secrets . What are they ? The world has long been trying to discover them . It has often said it has discovered them—but has it ? To profane search thev are as

elusive as the wind . No one but a true brother can know them . But of this the world may be sure : There is a Mystio Tie which unites members of the Craft into a

fraternity which , while world-wide , is really only one family . This , after all , is the Great Secret of Freemasonry —our secret bond of sympathy . Let Bro . Sir Walter Scott express the force and meaning of this tie . We quote from his " Lay of the Last Minstrel :

" True love ' s the gift whioh God has given To man alone beneath the heaven : The silver link , the silken tie , Which heart to heart , and mind to mind , In body and in soul can bind . " —Keystone .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

W'E last week referred to the successes achieved by our pupils at the Cambridge Local and other examinations . We now give details . RESULT OF THE CAMBRIDGE LOCAL AND COLLEGE OP PRECEPTORS' EXAMINATIONS , DECEMBER 1888 .

Twenty girls were entered , eighteen of whom passed , as follows : — CLASS III . HONOUES . —Maud M . F . ' Hill , Ethel Fallding , Helen M . Foxall . SATISFIED EXAMINERS . —Dorothy Ainswortb , Georgians L . Smith ,

Mary Sherington , Isabella MoLeod , Edith J . Matthews , Kate Wort , ley , Hannah Inglis , Marion A . Warner , Caroline Weare , Florence K , Habgood , Amy D . Cntbnsh , Annie Brockbank , Daisy E . Capon , Louise A . Haigh , Norah Besly .

Thirty Girls were entered for the College of Preceptors' examination , December 1888 , twenty-nine of whom passed : — Class II „ Div . III . —Beatrice Knott , Mary Tanner , Lucy Smith , Jane Tamer . Class III ., Div . L—Beatrice High , Hilda Newman , Charlotte Webb , Hilda Lyon , Louisa Pincombe , Hand Greethnrst ,

Jane Hntchings , Charlotte MoMillan , Mabel Henshaw , Ettio Chap , man , Emily Hall . Class III ., Div . IL—Kate Stokes , Olive Hnrst , Millicent Wotton , Emily Carruthers , Lucie Ochsenbein , Minnie Woodward , Nellie Walters , Mary Hammond , Mary Hirst . Class III ., Div . III . —Ada Buckley , Minnie Wedgewood , Alice West , Charlotte Banister , Florence Wright .

No art of man can produce the grains , the fruits , the flowers , the metals , or the gems of Nature , as God does , and so no Freemason can be perfect in all his thoughts and acts . The symbols of perfection ever are about him to afford him comfort and pleasure , to teach him how excellent hia Mastor-bnilding for eternity should be , and to convince him that only God is perfect

A prompt , intelligent , energetic , and obliging Secretary of a Lodge , can do much to secure its prosperity . He should be a Brother of large and varied information , and of considerable experience , so that all the Officers , from the Worshipful Master to the Tyler , may draw upon his fund of knowledge and find ample supplies . Not only

should he be thoroughly posted as to the ritual and the conduot of the work , the business affairs of the Lodge , & c , but he shonld also have such good knowledge of the members—their individualities and idiosyncrasies—as to know just how to approach them in any matter

respecting the collection of dueB or other related subject . Of course he should be accurate and diacreet in performing the duties of his offiop , ready to answer all proper questions , and never in a perverse temper . Blessed J ' the Lodge that has snch a Secretary .

NO MORE DEAF . —Nicholson's Patented Artificial Ear Drums c ire Deafness and N , ists in the Head in all stages . 132 pa ^ e illustrated Book , with full description free . Address J . H . NICHOLSON , 21 Bedfordsquare , London , W . O .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — FIDELITY LODGE , No . 230 . r PHE annual banquet of this Lodge was held on the 13 th instant , at | JL the Royal Hotel , Devonport . On this , as on several previous annual occasions , the guests of this Lodge included ladies , and after the banquet a ball was given . There were 170 brethren and ladiea i present . At the banquet Bro . F . Orchard , tho W . M ., presided , supported by his Officers . The usual Loyal aud Masonio toastB were

given . An entertainment of vocal musio and recitations was furnished by Bros . Herbert , Sylvester , Leonard , Lavers , and others . A handsomely-framed enlarged photograph of Bro . Cawsey waa presented to himself by the Lodge . The W . M ., in making the presentation , said that all who knew the history of Lodge Fidelity must

be aware that its success had muoh depended on the exertions of their lamented brother the late Treasurer , Bro . Lynn and Bro . Cawsey . Tho members of the Lodge had previously obtained enlarged photographs of those brethren to hang on the walls of the Lodge in memory of their services , and they now also determined to present

Bro . Cawsey with a copy to bear testimony in hia family circle of the respeot in whioh he was held by his Lodge . At the conclusion of the banquet the hall was oleared for the ball , where dancing was kept up nntil an early hour in the morning . A concert and card tableB were also provided in other rooms .

LOVE AND HONOUR LODGE , No . 285 .

ON Wednesday , the 27 th nit ., the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Somerset ( Bro . Else ) installed Bro . Dr . B . N . Hyatt aa Worshipful Master , at the Masonio Hall , Shepton Mallet . The W . M . appointed his Officers for the ensuing year , as follow : —Bros . T . C . Manning I . P . M ., S . P . Davie S . W ., W . C . Jackman Yorke J . W ., T . Parker Treasurer , the Rev . R . J . Jeffreys Chaplain , G . W . Stylea

Secretary , H . N . Martin S . D ., C . J . Parrott J . D ., W . Clarke D . C , C . J . Willmott I . G ., F . Davis Tyler , T . R . Winterton Organist . Later on the usual banquet took plaoe . The ceremony was attended by abont thirty brethren , the visitors including Colonel A . T . Perkins , the Rev . G . H . de Fraine , Messrs . R . J . Manning , J . M . Atkins , & o . The customary Masonic toasts were honoured .

ON Thursday evening , the 14 th inst ., Bro . W . Bates was installed as the W . M . for the year ensuing . The ceremony was efficiently performed by the retiring W . M . ( Bro . J . Jenkins ) , to whom a vote of thanks was passed , on the proposition of Bro . J . T . Thackara P . M ., who referred in highly eulogistic terms to the services rendered by him during his year of office , and to the manner in whioh he had

PORTSMOUTH LODGE , No . 487 .

conducted the installation ceremony . The new W . M . appointed the following as his Officers for the year : —Bros . W . Outridge S . W ., John L . Snell J . W ., J . T , Thackara Treasurer , A . M . Rae Seoretary ,

W . Biggs S . D ., George Huggett J . D ., H . E . Loader D . C , D . Barnard I . G ., G . Pearman Organist , Nicklin and Guest Stewards , and Exell and Smith Tylers . There was a large attendance . The installation banquet will take place in April .

ARBORETUM LODGE , No . 731 .

THE anniversary meeting was held at the Masonio Hall , Derby , on Wednesday , the 13 th instant , and attracted one of the largest and most influential gatherings which have been held in the hall for some years past , over 140 brethren being present , and during the ceremony of installing Bro . Severn Taylor Worshipfnl Master there

were no fewer than 57 Past Masters present . Bro . Taylor , having been installed by his immediate predecessor , proceeded to appoint his Officers , as follow : —Bros . J . Whittaker Brigg I . P . M ., J . Walker S . W ., G . Sutherland J . W ., W . Whittaker Treasurer , W . H . Wright Secretary , J . Jones S . D ., Wm . Todd J . D ., G . H . Ward D . C , Alfred Smith

ON the 11 th instant the members of this Lodge held their annual meeting at their rooms , Caroline-place , Stonehouse . The W . M . eleot , Bro . Archelaus Tout was installed . Bros . S . Jew 105 , Rev . T . W . Lemon 189 , H . E . Sitters , W . Kennedy , R . Dickson 1205 , were the Installing Officers . The Officers appointed were : —Bros . H . E . Sitters I . P . M ., A . W . King S . W ., R . L . Blight J . W ., Rev . T . W .

Lemon Chaplain , D . Cross Treasurer , W . Powell Secretary , G . Perring S . D ., G . Perkins J . D ., J . J . Facey D . C , L . C Blight A . D . C , J . Forster Organist , E . Hughes I . G ., J . Soper , J . E . Skellard , W . H . Ambrose and A . S . Maddock Stewards , J . Gidley Tyler . Bro . Lemon presented to the Lodge handsomely-framed photographs

of the Temple , Freemasons Hall , London , as it appeared after the fire , 4 th May 1883 , and of the installation of the Duke of Connaught as Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Sussex , by the Prinoe of Wales Most Worshipfnl Grand Master of England , at the Dome , Brighton , 22 nd June 1886 .

COLERIDGE LODGE , No . 1750 .

AN interesting presentation took place on Thursday , 14 th instant , at the Town Hall , Clevedon , on the occasion of Bro . Thomas BarneB attaining his Masonic jubilee , he having been initiated at Barnstaple in the year 1838 . The presentation was made by Bro .

Michael Clark , the Worshipful Master , on behalf of the brethren , a large number of whom were present . It consisted of a handsome silver goblet , engraved with the arms of the Lodge and a suitable inscription .

I . G ., W . W . Heywood Steward , Thomas Day Tyler . METHAM LODGE , No . 1205 .

ALLIANCE LODGE , No . 1827 . AN emergency meeting of this Lodge was held on the 15 th inst . at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham Street , for the purpose of