Lodge Attendance.

life in him . If he does commit a few trifling mistakes , better put np with them than have a Lodge of drones , or the influence of that Lodge destroyed by laxity . Let him be a fair ritualist—do not ask him to be perfect , for that is an impossibility . Ritualism is good in its p lace ; bnt it is bnt a small part of Masonry . Let him be one who is familiar with the Bye-laws of his own Lodge and of his Grand

Lodge ; besides that , a general knowledge of Mnsonic Jurisprudence and custom . But , above all , have him a man that is not afraid to take off his coat , roll up his sleeves and go to work with a vim ; not one of your dilly-dally , white-gloved fellows , who thinks more of parting his hair in the middle and the perfect faultlessness of his attire than he does of real Masonry ; but have him a worker—a real

live worker—one who views Masonry as it is , and as founders designed that it should be . If he has a lifeless Lodge to preside over , let him go to each one of his members , personally , and plead , begcoax , and even throw in a few mild threats—for them to assist him in bringing his Lodge back to its original standing . He will get many a sharp rebuff , and , no doubt , will get discouraged ; but keep

digging , keep at work—put up with everything if yon can only accomplish good by it . After he has pursued this conrse , he will find them straggling in one by one . He will find that he has infused some of his own life into them , and they will be as anxious as he is himself . Let him despatch the business of his Lodge as if it was his own business ; but let him fully realise that to be a good Master is no

boy ' s play . Do not let the routine affairs drag along as if you were fighting against time , bnt do it promptly , quickly , and to the point . Do not wear a long-faced , solemn visage , as if yon were the chief mourner at a funeral , or that the responsibility of the welfare of the whole Fraternity rested upon your shoulders . When you are in your station , do your duty as a man and a Mason ; but when you leave it ,

unbend and be a brother amongst them . If a question shonld arise which is detrimental to the best interests of Masonry , and in confliction to law and usage , squelch it . If you are in doubt , let it rest until your doubts are removed , and then decide it ; it will not spoil by delay . When you are performing the opening ceremonies , it is not necessary that you shonld repeat from the Alpha to the Omega

of the ntualistio lectures , but out it short where it can be done without marring any of the beauty of the ceremony ; not too terse—bnt , at the same time , not long enough to weary your brethren , for when one is tired he loses interest , —as it may be as familiar to them as it is to you . When you get to the real , solid work of the Lodge-room then take off your coat , infuse life into your actions ; do not stand

like a stock of wood , bnt have some animation about . Do not go through the ritualistic work as if you were a parrot , and could only say " pretty Polly , " but put some force into it—emphasise it when necessary—do it with your voice , though , not with your hands and feet . Above all else , use every effort to impress upon the minds of seekers after light that there is something in our beautiful ritual

besides a schoolboy declamation . Study it . Find out for yourself its beautiful points , and then impress them npon the minds of all . Act and speak as if you meant every word you said , and knew just what you were about—that you knew your duty and place , and meant to do ifc . If any Lodge or Master has not tried that conrse , let them try it and see if the result will not be beneficial . Mark the difference between

the wide-awake , active Master , and the good-natured , easy , indifferent one . The work of both prove for themselves . If that conrse does not improve the attendance of the Lodge , try some other . In the majority of cases it will be found that as the Master of the Lodge . Brethren do not like to come from a distance to simply see the opening and closing ceremonies , and the usual de .

tails spun out to the very end of tedionsness , nor will they do it many times , for they soon lose all interest in Masonry , until , final / y , they give it up altogether , when , had the Officers , especially the Master , been faithful to their trust , the result might have been different . There are other reasons , perhaps , why the Lodge attendance is not increased ; but whatever they may be , it must be admitted , in both

theory and practice , that upon the Master , in a great measure , depends the prosperity of the Lodge . Let the Master look well to the East , and , as the sun governs the day with regularity , so must he be as regular in governing his Lodge . Let wisdom , strength and beauty he combined ; each , when separate , fully able to support the other . Let them who bear the rods be well versed in their parts , and who

bespeak for that Lodge prosperity and plenty . Infuse life into the Lodge by means of its Officers , and right nobly will the mission of that Lodge be accomplished . Put theory into practice , and no fear of the result . Sit down and idly dream over it , and the result is just as plain , —on the one hand , prosperity ; but , on the other , indifference and ultimate destruction .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must hear the name ani address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as ct guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

THE MAY ELECTION .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —At the forthcoming Election of Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , there aro no less than 120 candidates , and , accordingly , the same nnraber of sets of papers to be sorted and counted . In order , therefore , to lighten ancl expedite the Work of the Scrutineers , I would venture to suggest to those brethren Who are working the respective cases , to place their votes together , in

Correspondence.

packets of fifties , hundreds , or more , and not in single papers j also if there is time , and they conld placo the papers of the same value together , it would greatly assist the enumeration . Yours faithfully and fraternally , A PAST SCRUTINEER .

The Freemason's Secret.

THE FREEMASON'S SECRET .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —A Scotch Brother , on the Cunard Steam Ship Batavia , gave me a slip of a Scotch paper to read , containing the enclosed original poem , recited at the consecration of a Lodgo at

which the said brother was present . I can only say , its humour amused me greatly . I believe it deserves a corner in your journal , so here is a copy of it , and if your opinion and mine coincide , why , print it .

I remain , Fraternally yours , JACOB NORTON . Boston , U . S ., 13 th April 1883 .

BT BRO . R . HUNTER .

In an auld burgh toon that I daurna weel name , That boasts of its hicht in the annals o' fame , There lived at the time of this short rhyming tale , A canty old couple baith hearty and hale . Fu' lang had they travelled thegether through life , Wi' a routb of its ioys , and but little o' strife ;

For the worthy guidman , sae the neebors wad say , In settlin' disputes had a pauky auld way , And when oucht wad arise to annoy and harass , He wad quietly say , " There noo , Jenny , my lass , Since for weel or for wae we are tied to ae tether , Let ' s look ower ithers fauts and pu' cheerful thegether . "

And sae , with a kindly bit word and a smile , The aul wifie ' s anger he aft wad beguile . But the best o' us all are but mortals , I wot , And the anld proverb's true " There ' s a crook in ilk lot , " And sae no to gie ye a lengthy narration , A crook Jenny had—her guidman was a Mason .

No a mason by trade , but a Freemason grand , Wi his secrets , his signs , and his grips of the hand ; And , oh ! but it troubled the auld body sair , To think he had secrets that she couldna' share , And for week after week , aye , and year after year , Baith early and late the same questions she'd spier .

She had wrocht roon' his heart , and she'd wrocht roon' his fears , She had tried him wi' Seeching , wi' flyting , wi' tears , But it a' wadna do , for by . nicht or by day , He only wad answer her , " Nay , Jenny , nay . " Bnt the hardest of stanes aye maun yield to the stroke , As the constant drap drappiog ' 11 wear out the rock . Sae ae cauld winter ' s nicht when he'd come frae the meeting ,

And Jenny began wi' her fleeching and greeting , He rose frae his soat in the deepest vexation , Saying , " Weel , weel , at last I shall mak' ye a Mason ; Gfae bar ilka door , and mak' a' thing fa' iicbfc , For awfu's the gait ye maun travel this nicht , 'Mid rapping and chapping , ' mid darkness and gloom , And a' sorts of horrors on this side the tomb .

Sae mak up ye'r mind e er I tak ye avva far , Danr ye gang through the secret ? " quo' Jenny " I daur . " " But , " quo' the guidman , " I had almost forgot , Whate ' er shall we dae for want o' a goat ? Gae bring the big stool frae the ben ingle neuk , And bring me the poker , sand glass , and Buik ;

Syne tak ye your seat wi' your een steckit ticht , And ne ' er speak a word while I screw doon the licht . Noo , tak ye this sand glass , an emblem of death , And ower the gnid Book swear a terrible aith , That ye'll never reveal what this nicht ye may hear , Nor at yer guidman ony mair questions speir ,

But wi' Masons and Masonry leave me alane ;" To whilk she responded wi' solemn " Amen . " " Noo , tak ye the poker , come , ne'er think to fret , " Quo' Jenny , " My faith , bnt ye have made it richt het , The goodness be wi' us , but this is nae fun , " But he stampit his fit like the crack o' a gun .

" I daur ye to whisper , far less thus to cry , " To whilk a sair sich was the only reply ; Syne he bent ower her shoulder fu' solemn and queer , While Jenny sat quaking and tremlin' wi' fear , And ho whispered fu' low , sae that nae ane mioht hear ,

" Will ye promise again nae mair questions to spew ? But can ye keep secret ? speak low in reply ;" Quo' Jenny " I can ; " then quo' Tam , " So can I !" And frae that day till this he can gang to the meeting , Without either fleeching or flyting or greeting .

At the Jerusalem Chapter , No . 185 , Comp . Nathan Moss M . E . Z . was presented with an elegant P . Z . ' s jewel , as an acknowledgment of the high esteem in which he is held by the Companions , and in token of their appreciation of the services rendered by him during his year of office .