Provincial.

LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 581 . AFTER a two months vacation , this popular Lodge resumed its meetings at the Old Boar's Head , Whitby Grove , Manchester , on Thursday , tho 13 th inst . A large number of Brethren put in an appearance , amongst whom were the following : Bro 3 . James W . Abbott P . M . P . P . G . D . O . Preceptor , Geo . T . Lenard Treas ., Alfred Hebden P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C . Secretary , H . H . Warburton P . M . P . P . S . G . D ., Geo . Rideal P . M ., J . Bamford P . M ., W . Dyson Fryer P . M ., J . Selby P . M ., H . J . Harrison , J . Whittaker , E . Whittaker , W . Jones . Visitor : —Bro . Jacob Smith , No . 41 .

The Lodge was opened at the hour of 6 p . m ., by Bro . Harrison acting W . M ., the other principal Officers being Bros . Warburton S . W . and Bamford J . W . Tho minutes of the last meoting having been read and confirmed , a ballot was taken as joining members for Brothers Samuel Butterworth , Richmond Lodge , 1011 , John Butterworth , Dramatic , 2387 , Jonathan Whittaker , Blair , 815 , Jas . Sturgeou , Townley Parker , 1083 , and Edward Whittaker , Blair , 815 , the same being successful in each case .

The Lodge was closed in peace and harmony at an early hour , and the Brethren , numbering near fifty , adjourned to a substantial tea , which had been provided by the hostess , Mrs . Stopford . This was . followed by a social board , a very pleasant evening being spent ,. . During these proceedings an interesting discussion , promoted by Bro . Warburton , took place as to the advisability of the Preceptor

paying occasional visits to the principal Lodges of Emulation . It was considered that by adopting a practice of this kind the working might be made moro conformable with that of Emulation Lodges acting under authoritative sanction . The matter , however , was deferred for further consideration . Bro . Warburton intimated that he would tako an oarly opportunity of bringing tho subject forward in open Lodge .

The second meeting of the Lodge was held on Tuesday last , the following being present - . —Bros . J . W . Abbott Preceptor , G . T . Lenard Treasurer , Alfred Hebden Secretary , H . J . Harrison , H . G . Jackson , J . Townley Trotter , Fred Walmslcy , Alfred Hepworth , Ed . Whittaker , Jno . Whittaker , Walter Marshall , Edwin Nickson , J . J . Dean , and Ed . Roberts ( FBEEMASON ' S CHRONICLE ) . Visitors Bros . Geo . W . Davies 1459 , and William Giller 1607 .

Bro . H-. 3 . Harrison acting W . M . opened the Lodge , being supported by Bros . Jackson S . W ., Trotter J . W ., Edward Whittaker S . D ., Walmsl . ey J . D ., and Dean I . G . The ceremonieB of Initiation and Passing were rehearsed , with Bros , J . Whittaker and E . Nickson as the respective candidates . Both . ceremonies were carefully performed by Bro . Harrison , he being assisted by Bro . Trotter , who presented and explained the working tools of the first degree .

There were two propositions for joining members , who will be balloted for in due course . The Lodge was closed by Bro . Harrison at 9 p . m . At ' the next meeting , which will be held on Thursday , 11 th October , the ceremony of Raising will be rehearsed .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

• v JOHN HERVEY CHAPTER , No . 1260 . AN Emergency meeting of this Chapter was held on Wednesday , at the Holborn Restaurant , under the presidency of Comp . F . Dangerfield M . E . Z ., who was supported by G . Bartholomew H ., J . R . Reep J ., Dr . Jabez Hogg Treas , C . J . Pembury S . E ., Foss acting S . N ., J . Goodinge P . S ., A . Goodingo 1 st Assistant , Smith 2 nd Assistant , Rosedale P . Z ., Salmon P . Z ., Goodman , Varley , and Cameron .

The Chapter having been opened Bro . J . Dangerfield of the Cordwainer Ward Lodge , No . 2241 and Bro . W . Crimp of the Paxton Lodge , No . 1686 were exalted into the R . A . degree in an impressive manner by M . E . Z . Comp . Dangerfield . The three

lectures by the Principals were perfectly rendered , and secured the interest and attention of the whole of the Companions who were present . The Chapter having been closed , the Companions adjourned to banquet , after which the Loyal and Arch toasts were honoured .

The toast of the M . E . Z . met a specially hearty and warm greeting . Dr . Hogg , in proposing it , said Comp . Dangerfield ' s working and general rendering of the beautiful ceremony was beyond all praise . Tho admirable manner in which he had been supported by his Officers was a sure sign that for many years to come the working of tho John Hervey Chapter would be of a very

high character . Comp . Dangerfield tendered his thanks for the kind expressions towards himself , and particularly for the praise accorded his Officers . He was pleased to know they were one and all appreciated . Other toasts followed .

Masonic Trials.

MASONIC TRIALS .

THE custom of Masons in Mississippi , seeking information relating to questions of Masonic law , is to send their interrogatories to the standing committee on Masonic Law and Jurisprudence , rather than to the Grand Master . The committee is composed of three members , who through correspondence reach

their decisions and communicate them to the interrogator . The opinions of the committee are reported to the Grand Lodge at its next annual communication , when , if adopted , they become the law of the jurisdiction , but until so adopted they are regarded as being merely advisory , worth as much , and no moro , than the

Masonic Trials.

opinions of any other equal number of well informed Brethren The Grand Master ' s labours are greatly lessened by those of the committee , as he only determines such questions as call for executive action . When in doubt he may require the advice of the committee , and as he is required to report his decisions to the next communication of the Grand Lodge , he has the advantage of

feeling certain of their being approved , as it is only in the rarest instances that both the committee and the Grand Master are reversed . At tho recent meeting at Holly Springs , the committee submitted seventy-eight answers which it had given during the year , all of which were adopted by the Grand Lodge , with slight verbal changes in two .

As is always the case , questions relating to the administration of Masonic Discipline were out of all proportion , in number , to those dealing with other topics . This discouraging feature of its reports induced the committeo to offer some reflections upon the goneral subject of Lodge trials , and the duty of Masons toward each other , when one is charged with crime , independent of its replies to specific interrogatories .

The committeo said : It is doubtless owing to the fact that Masons have all the weaknesses to which our human nature is heir , that like other men , they cannot tako up a charge of misconduct against a Brother , and investigate it with the entire fairness and impartiality which their obligations demand . It would be untruthful to deny that passion and prejudice are not

always barred out of the Lodge Room by the Tyler's sword , and humiliating as the confession is , it enters so often as to sometimes cause us to fear that it may be true that the entire Masonic fabric is built upon tbo sand , unfitted to withstand disaster and adversity . While all admit that no man has a right to sit as a partisan in a Lodge trial , and that one who does so is false and foresworn , how

many have voted at Lodge trials , who had made up their miuds as to the issue involved before the trial began ? No one can , in good conscience , sit as a judge in a controversy which he has decided before he hears the evidence . Ono finding himself in such a situation has no right morally , or Masonically , to take pait in tho decision , but he should leave it to those who can judge it fairly and

honestly , to decide it . In the words of the greatest Mason of the age , tho late Bro . Albert Pike , " Those who are invested with the power of judgment should judge the causes of all the persons uprightly and impartially , without any personal consideration of the power of the mighty , or bribe of the rich , or the needs of the poor . That is the cardinal rule , which no one will dispute , though

many fail to observe it . But they must do more . They must divest themselves of prejudice and preconception . They must hear patiently , remember accurately , and weigh carefully the facts and the arguments offered before them . They must not leap hastily to conclusions , nor form opinions before they have heard all . They must not presume crime or fraud . They must neither be ruled by stubborn pride of opinion , nor be too facile and yielding to the

views and arguments of others . In deducing the motive from the proven act , they must not assign to the act either the best or the worst motives , but those which thoy would think it just and fair for the world to assign to it , if they themselves had dono it ; nor must they endeavour to make many little circumstances that weigh nothing separately , weigh much together , to prove their own acuteness and sagacity . "

It seems strango that any Mason should be in doubt as to his duty towards his Brother who is in arrest by the civil authorities , but the fact that each year the question recurs , seems to show that there has been a want of elementary instruction as to the duty of a

Mason in the Lodges . Masters should spare no pains to impress upon the minds of initiates the great fact that there is nothing taught or required in the Lodge which conflicts with our civil , moral or religious duties , and that within this qualification there is no shortened cable tow in Masonry .

A great crime is alleged to have been committed in tho community , and it is but natural that those most affected should feel outraged thereby . The courts of the country indict and try the accused , the State omitting no effort to prove guilt , and the accused and his friends rallying round him seek to show his innocence . As Masons we take no part ; as citizens , we should

discharge our duty by upholding the laws of the land , but these laws nowhere requiro us to condemn unheard one accused of crime ; their entire theory is that one is presumed innocent until proven guilty , and it is no part of good citizenship to join in popular clamour against the prisoner at the bar ; rather , it dictates that we should let the law takes its course , by neither throwing obstacles

in the way of thoso whose duty it is to vindicate it , nor by taking sides against tho defendant make his situation more intolerable . Is a Brother accused of crime ? The duty of a Mason begins and ends with seeing that he has a fair and impartial trial , with an opportunity and the means of making his defence , and such other assistance as he himself would have a right to demand , if in like

distress . But beyond this no Mason has a right to go . Of all the men in a community , a Freemason is bound by the highest considerations of duty to uphold the law ; the obligations he owes as a citizen to the State and community are Te-eniorced and emphasised by those which he owes to the Fraternity . When tho courts are through with their investigation , the

Lodge must take up the matter and investigate it as if there had never been a court created . By its own process , and in its own way , regardless of public or private censure , giving that weight to the evidence to which it is fairly entitled , it dispassionately judges of the guilt or innocence of its Brother , as good Masons only dare to do ; it acts with Justice , it deliberates with Impartiality , and decides with Equity . —Frederick Speed , in " Voice of Masonry . "

H . E . H . the Grand Master will pay a visit to the Provincial Grand Master of Derbyshire , the Duke of Devonshire , at Ghatsworth , during November .