Grand Orient Masonry In Juxtaposition To English Masonry.

from some Brother who had toasted unwisely after a K . and F . degree . 1 had a singular experience a few weeks ago . A man whom I have met casually , and who styles himself a journalist , came across me when I was on the point of coming to this Lodge in order to give my last lecture on " Lights and Shadows of Masonry . ' I asked him whether he belonged to the Fraternity , in

that case he might accompany me and report my discourse . He replied in the affirmative but pleaded lack of time . Since that time , however , he has occasionally sponged upon me , of course on the merit of being Brothers . A few days ago I asked him to tell me a little more of his Masonic career . Certificate he had none , the sign he gave me a la barmaid , and he dug his nail deep into a

certain knuckle . The following dialogue then took place . " The Word of course you have ? " " Sorry , completely forgotten . " "What time of the day were you initiated" ? "In the early afternoon . " " Did you wear evening dress " ? " No , a tweed suit . " " Can you give me approximately the hour when yon were initiated " ? " No " ! " Hadn ' t you a watch to see the exact time '' ?

" Oh yes , I always wore a watch and chain , but I did not look . " " Were you not asked the time " ? " No " ! " Did you wear the tweed suit during the initiation , and was not a cloak thrown over your shoulders " ? Yes ! I wore the tweed suit the whole time , and a cloak might have been thrown over me , I really do not remember , it is so long ago . ' " How long" ? " Ten years . " " What

did vou first see and what attracted your attention most when you entered Lodge" ? "Oh ! when I entered I saw a lot of emblems . " This excellent Scotchman , Archibald is his christian name , is not the only one to try it on ; you cannot , my Brethren , observe too much caution . The social position of some Brethren who hold high Office is rather enigmatical . At one of the so-called higher

degrees I was most agreeably impressed with the demeanour and courtly behaviour of the " Most Puissant Sovereign" ( that was his title ) . I made sure that it was some retired General—perhaps even a V . C . One day on entering a silk shop in the city I was surprised to find that the chrysalis of the " Most Puissant Sovereign " had turned into an elaborate and full fledged "Gentleman Shop

Walker . - ' Why do so many of the Brethren fall off ? Some , no sooner do they join the Craft than they leave it ! That reminds me of a singular fact . I wanted to know how many Masons the United Kingdom had , how many resigned , how many were suspended for non-payment , and how many were expelled annually . I wrote to a Masonic journal , but it " proved

a slip . On Saturday last I went to that great fountain of Masonry , the Grand Secretary ' s office . They had not the remotest idea . " The only way you might get to know , is to write to each individual Lodge . " The Brother Official himself was surprised that Grand Lodge should know nothing about it , and it dawned upon him that

it was very remarkable—to say the least . On the continent , they can tell you not only the number of . Members , but how many join annually , how many die off ( each must be notified to Grand Lodge ); further , even those who through illness are unable to attend to their duties in Lodge .

I asked for a little information at Grand Lodge at Brussels and the Grand Master , Count Goblet d'Alviella most courtesly at once answered . 1 will quote to you an extract from his letter . " Brethren can only be expelled for judicial condemnation , dishonourable acts , or violation of their Masonic oaths . They can be erased from the rolls for non-payment of their fees . These cases , luckily , are rare—perhaps because we make very strict personal enquiries before admitting a candidate . "

In conclusion , I can but repeat , the portals of our Order in this country stand wide open , and beckon all who can produce from £ 5 to ^ 20 or so to enter . May The Great Architect of the Universe aid us in inculcating the true snirit of Masonry , not only in the hearts of Brethren , but in the whole human race ; and assist us in purifying somewhat the ranks of our beloved Order .

A hearty vote of thanks to Bro . Sigismund was proposed and unanimousely voted , the same to be recorded on the minutes .

****************** As the Duke of Norfolk wi . l not seek re-election as Mayor of the City of Westminster , there is every probability that the occupant of , the office during the Coronation year will be Colonel Clifford Probyn . Colonel Probyn was ' for twentyfive years a member of the old St . James ' s Vestry . For six

years he was a member of the London School Board , and has been a member of the London County Council since its inception . In 1898 Colonel Probyn was a Sheriff of the City of London , and he is now filling his second term as Master of the Worsnipful Company or Pattern Makers . He is an

enthusiastic Freemason , and was Grand Treasurer in 1897 . At present Colonel Probyn is senior Alderman of the Westminster City Council , and is personally popular with members of all shades of opinion . It is anticipated that the Mayor of Westminster , in the Coronation year , will be amongst the recipients of Royal favours . — " Daily Chronicle . "

********** As Freemasonry has the King as its Patron , gives the Bible the place of honour in its . Lodges , and goes to church and hears sermons such as that preached by Canon Southwell ,

at Bodmin , it is difficult to understand why here in England it should be condemned in such unmeasured terms by the Roman Church . At the Roman Cathedral , at Plymouth , Canon Courtenay alluded to " Anarchists , Socialists , Freemasons , and an such , under whatever guise they conceal their

Grand Orient Masonry In Juxtaposition To English Masonry.

real aims , " which he claimed to be " subverting obedience , respect , and loyalty due to the authority appointed by God . " No one who has the smallest acquaintance with English Freemasonry could ever have given expression to such a sweeping statement . There is no body , not even the Roman Church

itself , in which loyalty to God and to lawfully-constituted authority is more strongly inculcated than in the Masonic body , and to class them with Anarchists and subverters of social order is simply absurd to anyone who has any

knowledge on the subject at all . It is a pity Canon Courtenay did not make some little inquiry before indulging in such a sweeping accusation against Freemasons . —• " Western Morning News . "

********** At the Masonic Hall , Birmingham , on Saturday evening the Officers and Brethren of the Loyal Travellers Lodge , No . 2733 ( Bro . W . O . Lewis in the chair ) entertained Bro . A . A . Lilley , who sailed on the 27 th inst . with the British cricket

team to Australia , and in the course of the evening presented him with a silver cigar case , on one side of which a copy of the Lodge ' s banner had been artistically engraved , and on the reverse a suitable inscription . The W . M ., in making the presentation , bore testimony to the esteem and regard in which

Bro . Lilley is held by the members of the Lodge , all of whom , he said , hoped that he would return to England in due time with added laurels . Bro . E . S . Sumner I . P . M . and P . M . 1060 eulogised the conduct of the guest on all occasions , and particularly in the cricket field , which , he said , had won him troops

of friends at home , and had prompted those in Australia to urge that every effort should be made to secure his services . Bro . R . A . Matthews P . M . 493 2733 P . P . GJ . D . Gloucestershire Past Prov . G . Assistant Secretary Warwickshire also congratulated Bro . Lilley on being included in McLaren ' s

team , even though the Lodge for a period of eight months or so would lose the companionship of so genial a Brother . Bro . Lilley feelingly thanked the Brethren , and said he hoped to have opportunity of seeing the working of Freemasonry in

those far distant lands he was about to visit . So far as cricket was concerned , he assured the Brethren that the team going out would strain every nerve to uphold the high standard of the English game .

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