Cornwall.

CORNWALL .

AS briefly recorded in our last issue , the new Provincial , Grand Mark Master was installed on the 13 th inst . The Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Concert Hall , Truro , under the banner of the Fortitude Lodge , No . 78 , and there was a very large gathering of Brethren . The preliminary proceedings were presided over by Bro . P . Colville Smith P . G . D . Deputy Provincial Grand

Master in charge of the Province , who expressed great pleasure at seeing the Lodges of the county so well represented . He deeply regretted that owing to a very severe illness the Rt . Hon . the Earl of Euston , who was to have installed Earl Halsbury as Provincial Grand Mark Master , was unable to be present .

In the absence of Lord Euston the chief ceremony of the day was performed by Viscount Skelmersdale Past Grand Warden of England , the other acting Officers being Bros . C . F . Matier P . G . W . Grand Secretary , C . Belton P . G . M . O . as Senior Warden , John Strachan , Q . C ., P . G . D . as Junior Warden , Major Carrell G . D . C ., and Nicholas West P . G . O . as Inner Guard .

Viscount Skelmersdale said for many years the Province had been well and wisely ruled over by Sir Charles Graves-Sawle , and under his care the Mark degree had succeeded and prospered . Bro . Earl of Halsbury had been appointed by H . R . H . the Duke of Cornwall to undertake this important charge , and he ( Viscount Skelmersdale ) felt well assured this beautiful degree would maintain its success and prosperity under the auspices of Earl Halsbury . ¦

Earl Halsbury briefly returned thanks , and appointed Bro . P . Colville Smith as Deputy Provincial Grand Master . Bro . E . M . Milford stated that there had been an

increase of about forty mepibers in the Province during the year . At the present time they had a balance in the bank of £ * 9-Bro . P . Colville Smith regretted the absence of Sir Charles Graves-Sawle , to whom , in the name of the Province , he had to present the following illuminated address : — ¦ To the Bt . Worshipful SIB CHARLES GBAV . ES-SAWI _ , Bart ., P . P . G . M . M . M .

of Cornwall , & c . We , in the name of the Mark Master Masons of Cornwall , desire to tender to you on behalf of the Province an expression of the sincere gratitude felt towards you , their heloved Provincial Grand Master , for many and great services rendered to Mark Masonry in Cornwall during the fifteen years you have so ably presided over them , and their appreciation of the unvarying kindness and courtesy you have ever shown to " one and all" of the Brethren .

It is with heartfelt regret that they realise that through advancing years and failing health you have been compelled to relinquish the high position which you have so long held with honour to yourself and for the welfare of Mark Masonry , and they devoutly hope and pray that the G . O . O . T . W . may make the sunset of life bright and peaceful to you , and that when the labours of this life are ended the reward of those who marked well his Holy Commandments , may be yours .

Signed on behalf of the Provincial Grand Lodge , Mark Master Masons , Cornwall , P . Colville Smith D . P . G . M .

Richard Bowe P . S . W . E . W . Carus-Wilson P . J . W . W . J . Johns P . G . Sec . E . M . Milford P . G . Treas .

Bros . Smith and Johns were deputed to present the address to Sir Charles Graves-Sawle . ' The Officers were appointed , in accordance with the list we gave last week , Provincial Lodge was closed , and the Brethren subsequently dined together at the Red Lion Hotel .

Applause In Lodges.

APPLAUSE IN LODGES .

"jVJOTWITHSTANDING the deprecation and constant -LAI opposition of Masonic authorities to the objectionable custom of applause in Lodges , the habit is still most frequently indulged in and virtually encouraged by the Masters . It will surely be apparent to every , reflective

Masonic mind that in all well-regulated Lodges there must be equality of condition , and that any attempt to accord pre-eminence to presumed intellectual ability or superior ritualistic capacity is in direct opposition to this recognised principle—equality . To applaud the more highly-gifted

Brother , and receive the well-meant efforts of one not mentally so well endowed in deadly silence , is an insulting discrimination utterly opposed to the principle , and quite

unworthy the spirit and intention , of our ancient institution . And , further , no argumentative power is necessary to illustrate the obverse side of the picture—to indicate that if it is right and just and honourable to allow marks of

Applause In Lodges.

approbation , the expression of dissent must be admitted on equal grounds . It would not be a remarkably edifying or highly creditable spectacle to hear the hiss or groan of an opposing faction in a Masonic Lodge , and such exhibition would indubitably be productive of the most intense surprise .

Doubtless the average Master would at once use his gavel with prohibitive effect . And yet if the same Master was in the habit of tacitly allowing discriminate applause he would act most inequitably and unjustifiably in prohibiting dissent . He would cease to hold the scales in equal poise

and would stultify his own instruction . The Master especially should remember that he who is placed on the lowest spoke of fortune ' s wheel—whether physically , mentally , or in a worldly sense—is equally entitled to attention , respect , and esteem , and every effort should be

made to avoid wounding his feelings . It may possibly be urged that the expression of dissent is a contingency too remote for consideration , but we may assure our readers this is not so , as we have unfortunately witnessed the indecent spectacle . But were it so it does not remove the invidious

distinction which applause is calculated to promote between members of the same Lodge . Of course the whole responsibility rests with the W . M . ; if he is so ignorant of his Masonic duty , or so supine in administration , as to even tacitly acquiesce in the continuance of a most irregular custom , on his head be the blame . — " New Zealand Craftsman . "

The Ante -Room

THE ANTE -ROOM

r JHHE ante-room is a necessity to every Lodge-room . It JL is intended as a place where members are first " looked over " by the Tyler , and permitted to pass in if they are properly vouched for and clothed . The only persons who have a real right to be in the ante-room are the Tyler , whose

watchful eye should ever be on the lookout for eavesdroppers or cowans , and candidates awaiting their turn . It is a bad place for congregations of Brethren . " Ante-room meetings " are not desirable ; first , because the congregators are disposed to talk , and sometimes talk more loudly than is

conducive to the work in the Lodge-rooms . Second , anteroom congregations take away from the meetings inside the Lodge-rooms , and may interfere with the work , because in the ante-room may be a useful officer . Third , ante-room meetings are not more pleasant that those in the Lodge-room

proper , and as a rule it is cooler in the Lodge-room than in the ante-room . Fourth , in ante-room meetings matters may be discussed that candidates might not want to hear , or stories' may be told not exactly of a nature to prepare the mind for services and silent meditation , or for proper

appreciation of the solemn services of initiation . Fifth , ante-room meetings sometimes seriously interfere with the Tyler in the proper discharge of his duty . His attention ma } ' be distracted by the "drummer ' s last story , " or by

some " interesting " incident of Lodge work , and hefail to treat visitors properly , or to see that the Brethren are " clothed , " & c . So , it seems to us , that "ante-room" meetings should be dispensed with , and work resumed in the Lodge-room . — "N . Y . Dispatch . "

One of the saddest things of life is the fact that we are so often misunderstoood ; that the very thing we do out of kindness for others is misconstrued , and to our very best and purest acts are impugned wrong and selfish motives . There is far more good in the world than we imagine . The lips of

many a man are sealed because to open them would be to uselessly wound another , and the silence is attributed to deceit and selfishness . Human judgment is finite and it should always be charitable . Ignorance of the true motives of a person causes an unjust judgment , and creates an unjust

criticism and prejudice . We have no right to impugn the motives of our fellow-men without understanding the height and depth of their intentions . Heroes have been misunderstood and good men and innocent suffered because of the imaginations of those who did not seek to know the true

inwardness of their motives . To be condemned , or thought amiss of by those who either do not , or will not , understand us , does no personal harm , for the inner consciousness of being true is a strong bulwark behind which we may be saved from the darts of those whose prejudice leads them to

disbelieve our words . . Detraction is the sworn friend of ignorance . Many a man suffers to-day from the unfounded accusations of those who could , if they would , know the truth . To be misunderstood is one of the most stinging wounds that can be inflicted . — " Dispatch . "