Masonic Studies.

are said to eat their terms , are even fairly versed in the mysteries of the Craft , is very laughable ; but , from a Masonic point of view , it is very much to be deplored . Yet , a remedy is at hand , if only brethren will avail themthemselves of it . We have said there are regular Lodges

of Instruction , where the whole of our beautiful ritual may be learnt , where there are skilful professors , able , and only too willing to explain the beauties of that ritual . Many Lodges , particukvrly in the country , fix one day in the week , and then resolve themselves pro temp into Lodges of

Instruction , just as the House of Commons is said to resolve itself into Committee of Supply : or , to put the matter in a simple form , Lodge Excelsior , No . 20 , 415 , held in the good old town of Rurapingford , has a Lodge of Instruction every Wednesday evening , at 7 . 30 P . M ., when the members

are invited to be present , and will learn , in a conversational kind of way , just a few scraps of knowledge , enough , perhaps , to enable them to recognise a brother , by day or by night , to salute the W . M . in due form , or , at all events , take part audibly and faultlessly in the ceremony of

closing . But , if members do not attend—and there is no law to compel them—of what avail are these Lodges ? As we began with a few illustrations from everyday life , let us return thither once again . Is there a single brother who , in his own private domicile , would accept a he-person or a

she-person as cook , merel y because the said he or she had once or twice boiled a potato inartistically , or toasted a few muffins , and burned them in the toasting ? We shall be told , You are taking an absurdly extreme case . Not so : are there not brethren , unfortunately innumerable , who have

never , m the whole course of their career , done more than exchange signs , salute , stand to order in this or that degree , and possibly mumble out a few words just before the Lodge adjourns to refreshment . We have attended Lodges of Instruction not unfrequently , though not as

frequently as we desired . We have seldom come away without duly appreciating the learning and ability of the preceptor , or letter-perfect and heart-perfect exposition of

some learned brother . Equally true is it , however , that we have never quitted a Lodge of Instruction without feeling that many , far too many , of those present were in a lamentable state of isrnorance .

Masonry has made wonderful strides of late years . It numbers in its ranks the great , the good , the mighty in the land . It is universally popular—at least in the United Kingdom and the United States , where men enjoy perfect freedom of thought as of action—not onl y by reason of the

good it does to indigent brethren , or their widows and their orphan children , but also because it is ever ready and willing to take part in works of beneficence . But Masonry is something beyond a charity organisation . Masonry is a religion , and just as the sacred truths of Christianity are

not learned merely by attending periodically at Church , making the responses formally , and dozing languidly through the Sermon ; so the great truths of Masonry cannot

be learned by simply attending Lodge a given number of times , observing a few outward forms and ceremonies , and eating a certain number of dinners . Masonic study is necessary , if we wish to become real Masons .

Consecration Of The Stockwell Royal Arch Chapter.

CONSECRATION OF THE STOCKWELL ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER .

THE great success that has attended the Stockwell Lodge , No . 1339 , has stimulated the brethren still further to make an effort to establish a Royal Arch Chapter in connection with their Lodge , and a warrant has been recently granted by Grand Chapter . A meeting of the founders was convened on the 18 th September 1875 , at the Tulse Hill Hotel , for the purpose of consecrating the new

Chapter . Thero were present the following Companions , viz .: —H . E . Frances P . Z . P . JL P . G . D . for Surrey , W . G . Bri ghten M . E . Z . designate , C . Hammerton H . designate , C . H . Benham J . designate , Barnett , Turquand and Pullmau ; also visitors—Companions Nunn P . Z . 720 , Brant P . Z . 514 , and Jones 720 . The ceremony of consecration was very ably and impressively rendered by Comp . Frances , as

Installing M . E . Z ., who delivered a very effective oration , settin " forth the grand principles of the Order , and explaining the varied symbols employed in the ceremonies , with the various useful and important lessons taught therein , which was highly appreciated . Appropriate music was introduced at intervals , under the conduct of Comp . Turquand , who was ably assisted by Comp . Brighten .

The three principals were also installed by Comp . Frances , with his usual ability , and the M . E . Z . then appointed the officers . A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Comp . Frances for his valuable services on the occasion , and he was duly elected as an Hon . Member of the Chapter . The Companions adjourned to a banquet , when the nstial toasts were given and responded to .

Quarterly Communication Of Grand Lodge.

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE .

THE following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday , 1 st December 1875 : — 1 . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 1 st Septem . ber 1875 for confirmation . 2 . Nomination of a Grand Master for the ensning year . 3 . Appointment of a President of the Lodge of Benevolence .

4 . Election of a Senior and Junior Vice-President of the Lodge of Benevolence . 5 . Election of twelve Past Masters to serve on the Lodge of Benevolence for the year ensuing . 6 . Eeport of the Lodge of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following Grants , viz .:

—The Widow of a Brother of the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 70 , Plymouth £ 70 0 0 A Brother of the Witham Lodge , No . 297 , Lincoln 50 0 0 A Brother of the Cosmopolitan Lodge ,

No . 917 , London 75 0 0 A Brother of the Lodge of Peace and Harmony , No . 199 , Dover 75 0 0

The Widow of a Brother of the Lodge of Fidelity , No . 230 , Devonport 50 0 0 A Brother of the Hertford Lodge , No . 403 , Hertford 100 0 0

This Brother received £ 10 on account of this grant , but he died on the 1 st of November . A Brother of the Robert Burns Lodge , No . 25 , London £ 250 0 0 A Brother of the Lily Lodge of

Richmond , No . 820 , Richmond 50 0 0 The widow of a Brother of the Lodge St . John of Wapping , No . 1306 , Wapping 50 0 0 The widow of a Brother of the Hertford

Lodge , No . 403 , Hertford 100 0 0 A Brother of the St . James Union Lodge , No . 180 , London 50 0 0 The widow of a Brother of the Strong Man Lodge , No . 45 . London , 50 0 0

| 7 . THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES .

To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free ami Accepted Masons of England : The Board of General Purposes have to report that they have taken into consideration a complaint of two members of the Blackheath Lodge , No . H 20 , Blackheath , to the effect that on the 17 th day of June last the W . M . elect was installed without the previous

confirmation of the minutes . And farther , that on the 15 th day of July tho Lodge was opened before the time named in the summons . After a long investigation of the facts of the case , and hearing the evidence , the Board decided that the specific charges made were not proved . As however great laxity appeared to have prevailed in recording the

minutes of the Lodge , the Board admonished the Master to be more careful in future in seeing that the proceedings of the Lodge were duly and properly recorded , reminding him that although the Secretary was the proper person to tako tho minutes , the Master was at all times responsible for their being correctly entered .

( Signed ) JOHN B . MONCKTON , FKEKMASONS' HALL , LONDON , W . C ., President . 16 th November 1875 . To the Report is subjoined a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 12 th day of November instant , shewing a balance in the hands of the Grand Treasurer of £ 3 , 436 19 s 2 d ; and in the hands of the Grand Secretary , for petty cash , £ 75 ; and for servants' wages , £ 96 15 s .

8 . The appeal of Brother Robert Livingstone , of the Lodge Orion in the West , No . 415 , Poona , against the decision of the District Grand Master of Bombay , that Brother Braine was eligible to be

elected the Master of Lodge No . 415 . N . B . —The papers relating to this appeal will be in the Grand Secretary ' s office till the meeting of Grand Lodge , and open for the inspection of the brethren during office hours .

9 . Report of a Special Meeting of the Governors and Subscribers of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons , and Widows of Freemasons , held at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday ,

the 10 th day of November 1875 , will be laid before Grand Lodge , and the following proposed alterations of the Rules , which were then agreed to , will , in accordance with the Laws of the Institution , be submitted for the approval of Grand Lodge , viz .: —'

To add to clause 19 , page 10 of the Rules and Regulations after the words " Serving the Stewardship , " and as a new paragraph , the following : — " Every Steward at the Anniversary Festival who shall

procure Donations or Subscriptions to the extent of not less than £ 50 , in addition to his personal Donation , shall receive two additional votes at each election , and two further extra votes for every additional sum of not less than £ 50 . " And also to expunge from the same clause the following : — "If accompanied with a personal donation , but by