Installation Meetings, &C.

by the W . M . Tho sections of the lecture were worked by Bros . Tate , Aboil , and Brown . The Lodge was closed in tho third and second degrees . Bro . Tate was elected W . M . for next Wednesday , and Lodge was then regularly closed .

Beaconsfield Lodge of Instruction , No . 1662 . —A meeting was held on Wednesday evening , at Bro . Hallows ' , The Chequers Hotel , Marsh-street , Walthamstow . Present : —Bros . Carter W . M ., F . Hallows S . W ., Inman J . W ., Clark Sec , Franklin S . D ., Upward J . D ., Edwards I . G . ; also Bros . Webster , Eeed , and Mustart . Visitors—Bros . Buckley ancl Kirkland . After preliminaries , the

ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Buckley candidato ; the same brother answered the questions leading to tho second degree , ancl was entrusted . Lodge was then opened to the second by Brother Hallows , and Brother Buckley was duly passed . Lodge was resumed to the first , when a vote of thanks to Bro . Carter was proposed , to be

recorded on the minutes , for the able way in whioh he had worked the first ceremony . This was seconded and unanimously carried . Bro . Franklin was proposed W . M . for the ensuing week , and this was unanimously agreed to . Lodge then closed and adjourned in usual form .

Kings Cross Lodge of Instruction , No . 1732 . —A regular meeting was held on the 19 th instant , at Bro . Devine ' s , Blue Posts , Charlotte-street , Fitzroy-sqnare , and there was a most influential attendance . The chair was occupied by Bro . Leon Jacobs , who was supported by Bros . B . Kauffinann , J . E . Edwards J . W ., Silvester S . D ., Birrell J . D ., Davis I . G ., L . Solomons Sec , Devine Treasurer ,

Hemming Preceptor , and Bros . Feeny , Paul , Sharrer , Wilson , H . M . Levy , T . J . Briggg , Ginger , E . Storr , Kidder , Morgan , W . M . Stiles , F . Clemow , E . H . Clemow , & c . The Lodgo of Instruction was opened , and the first section of the first lecture was worked by Bro . Paul , assisted by the brethren . The ceremony of initiation was then rehearsed , Bro . P . Feeny acting as candidate . The W . M . next rehearsed

the ceremony of passing , Bro . Paul candidate . Both the ceremonies were perfectly rendered . The fourth section of the first lecture was worked by Bro . Hemming , assisted by the brethren . Bros . Morgan and R . H . Clemow were unanimously elected members . It is gratifying to announce that this Lodge of Instruction , although it has been but

two and a half years in existence , has just voted ten guineas—to be placed on the list of Bro . Briggs—for tho Boys' School . Bro . Kauffmann was unanimously elected W . M . for next meeting . During tho evening it was announced that the Fifteen Setions would bo worked on the 4 th October , nnder the presidency of Bro . Hemming . The Lodge of Instruction was then closed .

Members, But Not Brethren.

MEMBERS , BUT NOT BRETHREN .

FROM THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY .

IT may appear , at first sight , a bold assertion to make that in our Fraternity all are members , but many unfortunately are not brethren . Such , however , is undoubtedly the case . Many ally themselves with us ancl wear the spotless lambskin , who are entirely ignorant of the real meaning of the endearing term , Brother . These are members , but not brethren . What , then , is the cause of this ? Is

it the fault of the teacher or the taught ? It is sometimes tho one , and at other times the other . We fear , however , if wc write truthfully , that the blame lies principally at our own doors . We receive petitions , and tho committee , upon whom rests the responsibility of investigating the character ancl habits of the applicant , too frequently without thoroughly enquiring into the moral , social , and intellectual

qualifications of the neophyte , reports favorably , and fche members of the Lodge , acting upon said report , cast in the white-ball , and Mr . is declared elected . Here is where the first and great trouble lies . The candidate is a jolly , rollicking young fellow , with money , and consequently hosts of friends . He looks upon the Masonic Institution

as a sort of convivial and fashionable club , and when he subsequently discovers that Freemasonry is a science , requiring thought and study , and an association , teaching and inculcating the highest principles of morality and virtue , he loses all interest in it , and fails entirely to comprehend that the true , earnest worker in the quarries must be a brother as well as a member .

This class of members is really a detriment to the Fraternity . They are seldom seen in the Lodge-room , except on election nights or occasions of festivity , and never practically illustrate , in their every day lives , a single lesson that has been taught to them within the portals of the Lodge . They are the butterflies of the Craft—pretty but useless ; drones in the hive where none but the working bee is

required . These men constantly parade their Masonry before the world , and when talking to the profane are apt to boast of the numerous degrees they have taken , and with bombastic pride display their jewelry , stars , rings and regalia ; yet they never take np a Masonic journal , and are ignorant of the very alphabet of the Order . Such men are never found at the midnight watch beside tho bed of

the sick brother , or cheering the widow by kindly words in the hour of her trial , or feeding ancl clothing the homeless , ragged orphan . These men are members , bat not brethren . There is , however , another class widely different from the formerstern , earnest , good , thinking men , who have left the Masonic ship , and why ? Because—it is sad to write it , but it is trtio—because they

did not find in the Lodge-room that which they sought . They were disappointed . They probably were initiated in some " ritualistic " Lodge , where naught was ever taught or heard but cold ceremonialism and formal ritualism ; where night after night the same steps were taken , the same verbiage uttered ; where no discussions were ever heard regarding the history , the jurisprudence or the symbolism of

Members, But Not Brethren.

the Craft ; whero night after night charity was taught , hut from year ' s end to year ' s end was never practised ; where the visitor was coldly welcomed ancl tho initiate formally received . Such Lodges too frequently drive from onr midst the earnest , honourable and good , who not having an opportunity to visit other Lodges , judge all by tho ono they attend , and iu disgust and with sorrow part from ns to return

no more . I hey sought to become brethren and found themselves only members . The fault was not entirely theirs ; they wero sadly disappointed , and judging too hastily from first impressions , loft us because they wero merely taught " formalism " and " coremo . nialism" instead of Masonry . Thero are others again who , forgetting their pledges , have really

united themselves with us for mercenary motives ; who aro ever ready to meet the stranger with mystic sign aud secret grip , and parade a square ancl campass , or keystone , or cross on chain or lappelof collar . Such men never were brethren aud never will be . They are a disgrace to any institntion , and especially tho Masonic . But it ^ is vory difficult to rid ourselves of them , when once they havo passed tho sacred portals . Their acts prove them to be worthless , but they aro

of such a character that it is impossible to lay hold of them aud punish the offenders as we should . Unfortunately they too frequently entrap tho unwary , and the young Mason , with his open generosity , too often suffers from the plausibility and cunning of theso vampires of the Craft . Again the fault lies at our owu doors , for such mon should never have been permitted to pass between Jachin and Boaz .

Others again have by some means gained admission , who aro morally blind ; who cannot discern or discriminate between right and wrong ; who profess a belief in a Divine Being and pledge themselves never to mention His holy name except with that reverence duo from the creature to the Creator , and yet hourly pollute their lips with frightful oaths , obscene language and dreadful imprecations .

We have such members amongst us , who not only thus attempt to degrade the name of GOD , but by their midnight orgies , drunken brawls and disgusting revels , keep away from us many good and pure men , who , judging from those black sheep of the flock , smile scornfully or sorrowfully at our " peculiar system of morality veiled in allegory ancl illustrated by symbols . " Members of this stamp

never could of course be brethren , ancl it is the duty of officers and all true Hiramites to bring such men to trial aud mete out to them evenhanded justice . The immoral man and irreligious libertine shonld find no placo iu the sanctum sanctorum ; his example is pernicious to the young and his society baneful ancl unpleasant to the old . Can the scoffer at the Chief Corner Stone of the Fraternity be a suitable

ashlar in the Temple of tho Most HIGH GOD ? Wo are often forced to allow the negligent and careless to remain with us , hut it is wrong , and worse than wrong , to allow him who debases himself and tho Brotherhood by obscenity and profanity to remain one hour longer amongst us than is absolutely necessary . Warn and advise him ; if that fails , drive him ont from amongst us as a leprous and unclean thing .

We have thus endeavoured to point out that many members of our Fraternity , practically , are not brethren , and we think if we carefully weigh the matter in our minds , we will be obliged to sorrowfully admit thafc the fault to a great extent is our own . We are too careless in scrutinizing the character of those who seek admission to our mysteries , and many Lodges are too eager to accept material , in order to add to their numbers ancl increase their funds . Never was a

greater mistake made in Masonry than this . Numbers are worse than useless to us unless wo have the proper material . We cannot build our spiritual temple of rude aud rough and broken ashlars . All must be as nearly perfect as possible in that " spiritual building , that house not made with hands , eternal in the heavens . " We make it our boast that ours is an institution founded upon

morality and based upon a belief in the Great Architect of the Universe ; how necessary is it then that we should guard our portals with a jealous care , and let none pass but those who respect man ' s honour , glory in woman's virtue , audapprcciate Gon ' sinfinite goodness and mercy . Such men as these become brethren as well as members , and , thank GOD , we have thousands and tens of thousands of such in

our ranks—men stedfast , earnest and true , but men who do right for the sake of right , and shun wrong because it is wrong . These are the Masons to be found every day at the bedside of the sick , in the garrets of the poor , and in hovels reeking with pestilence and disease . The Masons that are brethren in heart as well as in name form a glorious contrast to those who have forgotten their vows and neglected

their duties . The former are the true Sous of Light , eager to practise charity ancl inculcate the Goo . giving principles of The GOD of Truth ; the latter are the spots that soil and blacken the lambskin and degrade our noble institntion . It is well to draw the veil of charity over their errors and misdemeanours , with the hope that by care on our part we shall prevent other unworthy ones gaining admission to our

mysteries , and with the trust that He , who in His infinite wisdom saw the beauty of such a spiritual temple as man in his strength is endeavouring to erect to His honour and glory , may so fashion and hew theso rough ashlars as to yet make them fit stones for thafc Masonic edifice , that spiritual building , that house not made with hands , eternal in the heavens , which we , the followers of tho Widow ' s Son , are daily working at in His most holy name .

The ceremonies of Consecration and Installation will be rehearsed at tho Crusaders' Lodge of Instruction , at the Old Jerusalem Tavern , St . John ' s Gate , Clorkenwell , on Thursday , 30 th Sept ., by Bro . James Terry P . P . J . G . W . Herts , P . M . 222 , P . Z . 228 , & c . Lodge to be opened at 8 p . m . sharp .

Tho Strong Man Lodge , No . 45 , will hold its first meeting after the recess , on Thursday , 7 th October , at the Masons' Hall Tavern , Masons' Avenue , Basinghall-street .