The Responsibilities Of The Chair.

behalf wo write to-day , thero are no doubt many others who will thank us for calling public attention to a somewhat common practice—which is both unconstitutional and actuated by most mistaken ideas as to the true spirit of Freemasonry .

Progression V. Strength.

PROGRESSION v . STRENGTH .

[ C OMMUNICATED . ] THE question often arises , " Which Lodge is tho greater friend to Masonry ? " the ono thafc makes the most brethren , admitting almost anyone , or thafc which is exclusive , and hardly ever makes an initiate ? Judging

by fche disposition of Provincial Grand Lodge honours , ifc seems only too apparent that the former is considered flourishing and prosperous , and must be recognised and rewarded . And yet an analysis of fche accounts of such a Lodgo are not altogether edifying . We have one before us now . The Lodge has 94 members , 42 dating from 1855 to 1883 , aud 52 since , the influx of members being on the increase ; in

1886 seven , 1887 nine , 1888 eleven , and 1889 ten , up to now three more for initation this month , and another meeting to be held in December . The accounts show that during the last year the balance in hand has been reduced by £ 20 . The members' subscriptions appear to have paid all the legitimate expenses of the Lodge , Grand and Provincial Grand dues , rent , stationery , printing , and

postage ( £ 22 !) , repairs to furniture , donation to Charities , & c , and left £ 6 over . Then , in order to satisfy the requirements of the fourth degree , for which nearly £ 90 is required , all the initiation fees , amounting to over £ 60 , as well as the £ 20 of previous year ' s balance is absorbed , so that it would appear that this Lodge is enabled to carry on its

fourth degree only by admitting as many members as they can scrape together . The W . M . of this Lodge last year received high Provincial Grand Lodge honours ( only initiated in 1885 ) , and was received with great

demonstrations of appreciation for his prosperous Lodge . And yet throughout the London district there are many , vory many , old and tried Masons—P . M . ' s of more thafc one Lodge ,

supporters of all our Charities , always ready to participate in every good work , not so zealous to admit all sorts and conditions of men , and how are they rewarded ? And this opens up another question , whether it would not be

bettor to have a Provincial Grand Lodge for London , through which many of these good brothers would be able to obtain ] the purple , the chance of their ever doing so through Grand Lodge being mosfc remote . Had it been possible it would perhaps have been well if Grand Lodge , when revising its " Constitutions , " had

decided who should be eligible to bo mado Masons , or perhaps who should not ; for within our experience journeymen plumbers and carpenters , engine drivers , stokers , engineers , stewards , & c , of ships , Custom House officers , & e ., & c , not to say uneducated and even illiterate petty tradesmen are often admitted , to the detriment of the prestige of Masonry and the ridicule of an outside public .

Masonic Obedience.

MASONIC OBEDIENCE .

THB virtue of obedience to duly constituted Masonic authority is one upon which too great stress cannot be laid in Freemasonry . Order is not only heaven ' s first law , but the Craft's as well , and its sole guarantee is obedience ; while disobedience is the parent of disorder .

dissension and distress . Montaigne said truly , " From obedience and submission spring all other virtues , as all sin springs from self-opinion , •" while the qnainfc Quarles taught , " Examine not why ifc is commanded , but observe ifc because it is commanded . True obedience neither

procrastinates nor questions ; " and Carlyle significantly remarked , " Obedience is our universal duty and destiny ; wherein whoso will nofc bend must break . " The First Great Light in Freemasonry brilliantly illumines the virtue of obedience—implicit , voluntary , free ,

cheerful obedience , to th e Grand Master of the Universe , and His commandments . So the Fraternity of Freemasons expects and requires fro m every initiate a ready obedience to its Constitutions , Rules , Regulations , Edicts , Usages , Customs and Landmar ks . Such obedience was voluntarily .

Masonic Obedience.

without equivocation , as well as faithfully and solemnly pledged . To ensure the rig htful observance of this obligation , it is provided , from the aforetime , the most admirable system of compensations and balances . The Master Mason is to obey the Lodge , fche Lodge is to obey the Grand Lodge , and the Grand Lodge is to obey the Landmarks . To determine what these Landmarks are , there is no power higher than that of the Grand Lodgo itself , and hence its

decision in every case is final . It , and ifc alone , is supremo and sovereign , and from ifc there can be no appeal . Tho Brother who does not yield fco its decision is false to his obligation , false to the Craft , and false to himself . If ho by any deceit or sophistry blinds himself to the truth , tho truth nevertheless remains . Freemasonry always " speaks fche truth in love , " but if the truth , thus spoken , bo wilfully and persistently dishonoured and disobeyed , the Grand Lodsre , which is the nillar and ground of Masonic

truth , is justified in visiting punishment upon thoso who aro recreant to their Masonic trust . But it always unwillingly punishes . It always remembers thafc the guilty are its Brethren , and not until they conclusively indicate by their conduct that they are beyond the pale of Masonic Light , beyond recall by fraternal appeal , and self-willed servants of Darkness rather than Light , does ifc give them over

to the self-imposed consequences . There cannot be a moro reasonable , a more impartial , a more paternal government than that of Freemasonry , since ifc is the embodiment of brotherly love . But when its mandate is officially pronounced , that mandate is final and irrevocable . Yet , as St . Paul , the apostle of the mysteries , taught , " rulers aro not a terror to good works , but to the evil . Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power ? Do that which is good , and thou shalt have praise of the same . "—Keystone .

An appeal is being made for funds on behalf of the Parish Church of Christ Church , Blackfriars Road , which is in need of immediate repair , and the Report of tho Surveyor makes it evident that unless the foundations aro in part rebuilt , the windows repaired , the supports to tho galleries looked to , and the floor mended , sooner or later a deplorable accident may be the result . The cost for doing the work is estimated at £ 3 , 300 , of which one-half has to be contributed by the general public , to meet the other half promised by fche Marshall ' s Trustees . The Rov .

A . H . De Fontaine , M . A ., Christ Church Rectory , will gladly acknowledge any subscriptions thafc may bo sent to him in aid of this desirable object . Subscriptions may also be sent to the Hon . Treasurer Bro . Charles Greenwood , Prov . G . Sec . Surrey , 12 Serjeant ' s Inn , Temple , E . O .

In consequence of fche death of the V . W . Bro . F . Davison P . G . W ., Deputy Provincial Grand Mark Master of tho Mark Master Masons of Middlesex and Surrey , the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , Sir Francis Burdetfc , Bart ., has ordered that all Lodges under his jurisdiction shall be suitably draped in mourning , aud that all members thereof shall wear mourning for the next three meetings of

their respective Lodges , as a token of esteem and respect for a departed Brother whose loss will be universally deplored . The official order for mourning directs that in Lodges—pedestals and candlesticks are to be draped with crape or cloth . Individual Brethren—Provincial Grand Officers Present and Past , Masters and Past

Masters , three rosettes of black crape on the badge and one at the upper point of the collar . Brethren below tho above rank , three black crape rosettes on the badge , whito gloves .

The Manchester Lodge of Instruction , No . 179 , has removed from the Blue Posts , Charlotte Street , Fitzroy Square , to Bro . Harvey ' s , Tupps Restaurant , 8 Tottenham Court Road , Oxford Street end . Bro . J . C . Smith P . M .

1744 P . Z . 1507 is the Preceptor , and Bro . Wood W . M . 1681 the Secretary . The meetings aro held on Saturday evenings , afc 8 o ' clock . The first meeting afc the now quarters took place on Saturday , the 16 fch inst .

At the last meeting of the Unanimity and Sincerity Lodge , No . 261 , Taunton , an inscription was submitted for a brass plate to be erected in the Masonic Hall , Taunton , in memory of the I . P . M . Bro . Brig . Gen , Adair P . P . G . M . for Somerset , who died suddenly , afc Bath , early in the year .