Reading Masons.

READING MASONS .

rpHE Masonic Brotherhood ought to he made up of X reading people , and Masons are supposed to be a select people , chosen with much care from tho common

mass of mankind ; sound in body and in mind , who have a desire for knowledge , that they may be serviceable to their fellow-men . And our art is calculated to stimulate rather than stultify a growth of intellect and foster a lovn

for learning . Now , in order to acquire knowledge , study is requisite 5 hence it might bo readily inferred that Masons would be students—not only readers of books but students of them , and of that class of books -which afford food for the

intellectual faculties . That they would devote at least some timo to thoso works of science which are calculated to reveal tho hidden truths of nature , and lead the mind up through nature , into communion with the Great First Cause—the God who dwolleth in secret , and yet Ho is not

far from him who searcheth after Him . But it is a lamentable fact that multitudes of tho members of our Institution are not reading men . If they ever had any thirst for knowledge it must have died out , or it lies as dormant as does tho latent heat in a bar of frosted iron ,

and requires quite as hard blows to incite it to action . Ask them to subscribe for a journal or purchase a book , and they show no interest whatever . Press tho matter and you will soon discover that they have no interest in journals or books . It is true thoy will tell you that they are fully

supplied—havo even more than they can possibly find time to read . Bat converse with them on topics of interest to the man of intelligence , and you will soon discover the utter barrenness of the © minds . If they read at all , their

reading is made up of the light , frothy fiction which affords no work for the intellectual faculties , and is not calculated to improve either mind or morals . Now we do not mean to insinuate that there are no

reading Masons , far from it . There are not a few who are students indeed . They are often found among the most busy of men ; those who rise early and retire late , and eat not the bread of idleness . But they rightly divide their time , and sacredly set aside a portion for mental and moral

culture , aud thus they find time for business , for society , for tho study and reading needful in order to thoir keeping pace with the intelligence and progress of the age . And they find time to read a Masonic journal also , and therefore know something of what is transpiring in tho Fraternity

nt homo and in sister jurisdictions . They are enlightened Masons— " sons of light . " They read the decisions of their Grand Master- ** , thoir addresses , and the reports of important committees of correspondence , & c . In a word they are posted , for they take time to read . They also remember

that they have homes , and that they aro under as much obligation to provide choice books and publications for the use of their families as they arc to provi e them food and clothing . Yea , even moro important , if possible . Better that children should live on a very plain food , and go

poorly clad , than that the culture of thoir minds should bo neglected . We need more reading Masons ; such as will encourage our literature withal , by lending a cheerful support to our publications . Then Masonic journals would not famish

and die as a half score have done in the last decade . Then Masonic editors would not retire , after having wrought hard for nearly half a century , poor and without the means

ot support in their old age . Then , too , our Fraternity would flourish better , and we should all get more out of hie , for our enjoyments would be of the higher and nobler kind . —Keystone .

v- m tue northern portion of the Province , as Lord Egerton of iatton P . C . M . will lay , on that day , the foundation stono of a new euurch in the ancient town . Tho annual meeting of the Provincial wand Lodge will be held at Congleton , on tho 21 st September , when a ™ satisfactory account of the finances of tbo Province will bo submitted . —Stockport Advertiser .

uio In September the brethren of Chesbire are likely to havo a busy time . On tho 7 th the Minerva Lodge will be consecrated at Birkenhead , and on the 14 th the Lodge of Unanimity , No . 267 , Stockport , will celebrate its Centenary , for which elaborate preparations are ' jemg made . This will be a red letter day in the history of the

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rUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended , in London and Country , by Bro . G . A . KTJTTON , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand . W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations mado .

Gleanings.

GLEANINGS .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall , which assembled at Truro on Tuesday , was formed in the year 1752 . The " Mother " Lodge of the county was the Love and Honour , No . 75 , established in 1751 , and ifc has been on tha roll from that year to the present time . There are now thirty Lodges in the Province , with 1621 subscribing members , being an increase on previous years . Two of these Lodgea

havo obtained Centenary jewel warrants , viz ., No . 75 , Falmouth , and No . 131 , the Fortitude , Truro . It is likely another will be qualified in 1899 , provided the Truth and Faithful Lodge , No . 318 , can prove its continuity , aa Bro . Hughan , of Torquay , considers it can . Pull particulars of all these Lodges are to be found in the official directory of the Province , in whioh also a page is devoted to the Cornish Lodge ,

London , of whioh Brother W . Molesworth , St . Aubyn , is the W . M . elect , and Bro . Richard Greenwood the ever-courteous Secretary . Brethren residing more than three miles from the Mark Masters ' Hall , where the meetings are held , may be considered " country membera , " and only need pay half a-gninea a year to secure full membership , and Corniah brethren residing in the country have also special

privileges . The Earl of Monnt Edgcumbe , the greatly-esteemed Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall , was installed at Truro on 22 nd of July 1883 , when there were only twenfcy . four Lodges . The nexfc meeting held in the city was in May 1880 , when a special Grand Lodge of England was held to lay the foundation-stone of tha Cathedral by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Mosfc Worshipful Grand

Master . The following Provincial Grand Lodge was held afc Truro on 29 th August 1882 , when service was celebrated in fche Cathedral . The fourth assembly in Truro since the installation of fche Earl of Mount Edgcumbe took place on Tuesday , when a large attendance resulted , the two local Lodges—Nos . 131 and 331—doing their utmost to render the meeting memorable and

satisfactory to all who attended . Service was held in the Cathedral ab one o ' clock , and a sermon was preached by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , after whioh a collection was taken for charitable purposes . Luncheon was provided in the Corn Exchange afc three o'clock , presided over by tbe popular Cornish ruler , and the Truro gathering . was a mosfc enjoyable and successful one . —Western Morning News

Bro . William Ball , of Gresham Street , E . G ., makes an appeal to English Masons " on behalf of a section of their colonial brothers , who are at this moment in deep trouble and distress—homeless , penniless , and mined—I mean those in St . John ' s , Newfoundland . The fund whioh fche Lord Mayor has opened , and fche publio has subscribed to , will not reach those who are fche greatest sufferers

and most sorely need it , but who , from the position in life they have to keep up , cannot make application for a share without great loss of dignity and social position . Ifc will be distributed fco fche poor who have always been classed aa such , while fche lower middle classes , buyers , salesmen , and clerks in fche stores ifc will nofc roach . These mon are poorly paid , as I know , and have had , therefore no ohanco of

saving . Insurance is high in the colony , none are wholly , somo partially , and most are not insured afc all . These men ' s wealth has been in their homes , which they have spent their lives in forming , and theso homes have been destroyed , and their dear ones , with themselves , are homeleaa and penniless . Yery many of these men are

Masons—onr brothers , under our own jurisdiction , and I would mako this appeal for help on their behalf , and ask that the hand of fraternal assistance and sympathy may be extended to tbem , showing thafc with us Masonry is more than a name , and that the exhortation mado to us each after a peculiar experience may be remembered , and the virtue we then profess to admire be brought into active service .

ACQUAINTANCE WITH FKEEJIASONKY . —Freemasons are obligated to obey the Constitution , Regulations and Edicts of fcho Graud Lodge , yefc few know anything about those matters . Ifc is in reason to say that not ono Master in ten has ever read the Landmarks of Masonry . It may nob bo considered strange thafc violations of obligations are nofc infrequent when members of tho Lodges take no pains to acquaint

themselves with the very things which they havo obligated themselves to obey . Our observation leads us fco the conclusion thafc mosfc of our Masters and Brethren consider fche introduction of membera to be the principal object of Lodgo institution and Lodge work ; and that , when the ritual has been repeated to the candidate , the work is complete . Rough ashlars are taken in for the erection of the great Temple of

Masoury , and they remain rough . The abrading influences of proper instruction are seldom brought into requisition . To remedy this evil iu our Lodges I have recommended to Masters that a copy of our Constitution should always be given to the candidate npon his becoming a member of tho Lodge . I have also recommended that

frequent instruction , not only in the ritual , bufc also in the jurisprudence , shonld be given by Masters , and I have shown how this instruction can be given in such a way as to bo the instrument of great interest as well as great good to the members . —Grand Lecturer of California .

Bro . J . Ross Robertson , of Ontario , Canada , has justly been dubbed " Visiting Grand Master , " because of his wonderful success in visit , ing Lodgea . If all Grand * Masters could emulate his example , how Masonic Lodgea would flourish ! Tha shark i < the gladiator of the deep , and the slanderer is the gladiator of human character and happiness .

It is injurious to be m a harry , and delay is often equally so ; he is wise who does uverything iu proper time . Tardiness aud precipitation are extremes equally to be avoided . The greatest danger to Freemasonry to-day ia from enemies within itd Lodges—Jesuits and atheists—who aro members solely for the purpose of first injuring the Institution aud then undermining and destroying it . Wherever suoh a one is found ho should bo tr . od and expelled . — Voice of Masonry .