Jewels.

Now , before we proceed to give the several reasons why the Master wears tho Square , I will relate an anecdote applicable to this subject , and which I think carries with it a lesson to us all . Some years ago I was visiting the house

of a Brother Mason , who had passed through the chairs of his Lodge , and at the conclusion of his term of office had been the recipient of a set of regalia . He showed me the regalia with commendable pride , and , as I held up the collar , I took the jewel in my hand , as I now take this .

There was a little boy present , a son of the P . M ., and with

the curiosity characteristic of his age , ho said : "Papa , what is that ? " The father replied : " That is a Square . " " What is it for ? " " Why , that is for the Master to wear . " " Why does the Master wear it ? " " Well , my son , you must not ask so many questions . When you

grow up to be a man , and be made a Mason , then you will learn all about it . " Now ifc occurred to me afc that time , that this Brotherone who had been prominent in Masonry , and was so still ; who had filled the various stations in the Lodge with credit

to himself and the satisfaction of the brethren ; who was a man of more than ordinary intelligence ; who for years had been where the jewel of the Master was constantly before him ; who had worn that jewel in his official capacity , and now prized it as an evidence of service well

performed—had never studied out the symbolism of that jewel to which he had often referred in his official duties , and that had he been called upon officially to

define its Masonic signification , or to say why , in Speculative Masonry , the Master ' s jewel was a square , he could give no intelligible explanation . And , my brethren , there are many of us , too many of us , in the same

category . We remain content with a mere superficial view of the Masonic edifice . We admire its grand and

beauteous proportions , we gaze with wonder upon its tall columns , its sculptured capitals , its dentated cornices ; but the thousand bright and precious jewels that adorn and make splendid its inner chambers are unknown to us , and only so because of our neglect to study and acquaint ourselves with them .

The Master applies the emblem of his office symbolically to the angles of his Lodge , governs it with justice and equity , and as the meeting of the two lines at an angle of ninety degress forms the one perpendicular to the other , so is the uprightness of conduct taught in

Freemasonry represented in the right angle of the Master ' s jewel . But if it teaches the principles of justice and equity to our fellow Craftsmen , there is still another greater principle symbolized in the Master ' s

jewel—combining , perfecting and intensifying higher than all tho preceding—and that is the great principle of unalterable , everlasting , eternal Truth . Truth is the foundation upon

which is reared the Masonic edifice , unchangeable , immutable Truth—a jewel whose value is incalculable , and yet it is so readily attained that the poorest of God ' s creatures may wear it . It is a part , a portion of eternity . All things

are susceptible to change ; m fact everything here below is constantly undergoing variation . The day is born with the midnight hour : ifc opens its eyes and breaks into lusty life with the rising sun ; it attains maturity at High Noon , and expires at Low Twelve . The ever changing seasons come and go with each succeeding year , and so with the noblest of all creatures , Man . " To-day he puts forth the tender leaves of hope , to-morrow blossoms , and bears his blushing honours thick upon him : the third day comes a frost , a killing frost , and when he thinks his greatness is still aspiring , he falls , like autumn leaves , to enrich our mother earth . " But the jewel the Master wears symbolises something that never fails nor fades , never dies—immortal , eternal Truth . It may for a time seem to fade and even to disappear . There are occasions when the truth is trodden under foot and apparently ceases to exist ; but , like the hidden germ buried beneath the winter ' s snows , at the first return of genial spring , it rears its head above the ground , and with each succeeding shower puts forth renewed strength , until the full grown plant stands revealed in all its natural beauty .

There is yet another 'jewel pertaining to the Master ' s station—it is the jewel of Wisdom . The Master , holding the most exalted position in the Lodge , is naturally looked to for that instruction in the mysteries of Freemasonry which his title implies , and the

Ionic column is dedicated to the Master ' s station ; because it is said to " wisely combine the strength without the

Jewels.

massiveness of the Doric , with the grace without the exuberance of ornament of the Corinthian ; and because it is the duty of the W . M . to superintend , instruct and enlighten the Craft by his superior wisdom . "

My brethren , when I started out this evening , I said I would make my discourse brief and light and pleasant . The moving hand that marks the progress of time admonishes me that tho limit of briefness has been reached , if not already passed . Whether I have been pleasant , or not , tho emotions of each Brother present must decide , and

that I have been light will perhaps bo tho unanimous conclusion . Some one has said that , above all things , he would prefer to write the songs of a nation , implying , that to make men happy , to cause them to look upon the bright side of life , and to forget , eyen for a few brief moments , tho cares and disappointments which aro associated , in a greater or less degree , with all our material concerns , would be his dearest wish . And , in accordance with that idea , if I to-night , or

at any other time , have succeeded in making an hour pleasant or light to the brethren , and relieved what at times becomes somewhat irksome , owing to its constant repetition , the solemn proceedings of the Lodge Room , it will be to

me a jewel of satisfaction , and may perhaps assist us all towards the attainment of another jewel , one that many strive , for and few obtain in this life—the jewel of contentment . —Keystone .

Notice Of Meetings.

NOTICE OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — GREY FRIARS LODGE , No . 1101 . AT the regular Lodgo meeting , on Wednesday , 8 th instant , there were present Bros . W . Ravenscrofb W . M ., J . H . Hawkes P . M . as I . P . M ,, A . Creed S . W ., W . Hickie J . W ., J . T . Stransom Treasurer , J . Greenaway Secretary , 0 . Slaughter S . D ., W . A . Hawkins J . D ., B . Margrett P . M . as D . C , J . Sparrow I . G ., H . G . Shorwin Organist , F . Brown , E . W . Eidley , T . P . Steward Stewards , W . Hemmings

Tyler ; P . M . ' s R . Dowsett ancl W . Ferguson ; Bros . Parker , Bennett , Hodder , and F . George j Visitors—Bros . G . "W . Webb I . P . M ., J . Sydenham S . W ., R . L . Reed 2043 ; F . Coates late of 1101 , B . Ruddock , J . W . Martin J . W ., C . Rayner Steward 414 . After preliminaries two candidates for initiation were balloted for and

approved . Lodge was opened in second degree , when Bro . Hodder , who had satisfactorily answered the usual questions , was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft . Lodgo resumed , ancl Mr . Edwin Pickett Silver , a candidate for initiation , approved at the last regular Lodge , was duiy initiated into the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry ,

the ceremony being performed by the W . M . After his return to the Lodge the charge was given by Bro . Margrett . The Secretary read a letter from the relatives of the late Bro . P . M . Hurley , expressing their appreciation of tbo respect shown to his memory by the attend , ance of tho brethren at his funeral , and that the resolution passed

at the Lodge and forwarded to them was a solace in their sudden bereavement . Brother Dowsett proposed , and Brother Creed seconded , that " as several alterations had been considered necessary to the bye-laws since their revision in 1877 , tho Permanent

Committee be called to consider the revision of the bye-laws , and report their decision at the next regular Lodge . " This was carried . Tho labours of the evening being ended , Lodge was closed according to ancient form and adjourned .

EBORACUM LODGE , No . 1611 . THE monthly meeting of this Lodge was held on Monday , the 13 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , St . Savionrgate , York . Bro , W . Brown W . M . occupied the chair , this being his first meeting since his installation in November , and he was supported by a large number of his brethren , including Bros . W . B . Dyson S . W ., S . J . Dalton J . W ., G . Balmford P . M . Treasurer , James Ray Secretary , W .

Lackenby S . D ., J . Lamb J . D ., W . Storry I . G ., T . B . Whytehead P . M . D . C , C . G . Padel P . M . Org ., Shonksmith Steward , G . Simpson P . M ., J . T . Seller P . M ., J . Blenkin P . M ., and others . The minutes having been confirmed , tho business of the evening was taken , consisting of the initiation of a candidate , which was performed by the Worahipful

Master . The following brethren were appointed as a Committee to arrange for the completion of the organ , and to report to the Lodge : the Worshipful Msater , Senior and Junior Wardens , Bros . T . B . Whytehead , George Balmford , C . G . Padel , A . T . B . Turner , and Child . Bro . Spetch presented to the Lodge two framed engravings

of Whitby Abbey and Reivanlx Abbey . Bro . G . Simpson P . M . presented two early editions of Hutchinson ' s " Spirit of Masonry ; " Bro . Halliwell presented three electro-plated cigar-nippers , in an engraved case , for the use of the smoke room ; Bro . Whytehead presented five volumes of the "Masonic Magazine" ( 1792 ct seq ) , and other

Masonic works , also two old Masonic Diplomas , on behalf of Bro . Donald Grant , and afac simile of the unique Eugraved List of Lodges , in the library at New York , on behalf of Bro . W . J . Hughan ; Bro . Coates offered to be at the expense of framing the latter ; and votes of thanks were passed to the donors of the several gifts . The Worshipfnl Master presented au additional lavatory , which he had