"Hasten Slowly."

in recommending candidates for admission into Freemasonry ; and we cannot do better than refer to the keynote struck by the Grand Secretary of England , a few nights ago , at the consecration ef the Drury Lane Lodge , which was so splendidly inaugurated under the auspices of Bro . Augustus Harris , the enterprising and eminently

successful proprietor of Drury Lane Theatre . On that binlliant occasion , when there were so many Grand and Provincial Grand Officers present , Colonel Shadwell Clerke

gave vent to sentiments on this subject which will be endorsed by every right-thinking member of the Fraternity . He said , in as many words , that the most extreme caution

was necessary as to the recommendation of aspirants for the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry , for when a popular Lodge was started there was always a large number of candidates who wanted to rush into it . In

concluding his words of admonition , the Grand Secretary gave as his text , the lessons from which we trust will be pondered and acted upon by all who might read his timely observations . He said , " I warn this Lodge , as I have

warned others , to be very careful in this respect , and to 'hasten slowly , ' for the more difficult it is to join a Lodge , the better class of members there will be in the long ran . " This is a point we have always consistently urged , and the

force of the argument will be readily conceded by all who have watched the progress of Freemasonry during the past few years . Ifc is not always , however , that the indiscriminate admission of candidates is coufined to young

Lodges who have a promising and popular career before them . In how many Lodges where , perhaps from lax administration , or the machinations of partizans , do we find that the legitimate roll of numbers has become " small

by degrees and beautifully less , " often to such an extent that initiates are eagerly sought after , in order to sustain breath within the body of the Lodge , and to save it from a condition of pulmonary consumption ? A knowledge of

these facts fully justifies us in the expression of the views with which we open this article , feeling assured that , as the records of our benevolent funds confirm , there are many men induced—we were almost about to say ,

encouraged—to join the ranks of Freemasonry who should never have become Masons . Before a man is proposed in any Lodge it should be absolutely ascertained why and wherefore he is prompted in the wish to take that

important step in life ; and in the present day , when the demands upon our Charitable Institutions are so heavy , it becomes more and more imperative that the strictest caution should be exercised with regard to adding to the strength

of our Lodges . Not only do we find that many are admitted , only to strut their " brief hour upon the stage " of Masonic Jife , and then to fall back on the bounty of the Order , owing to their inability to fulfil responsibilities

which they might know they were incapable of before entering ; but there is even greater danger in the number of men who , though well-to-do , and perfectly free from any apprehension that they will become burdens upon the

Craft , are to be found struggling to enter our Lodges for purposes entirely of their own . Thus we see too many class Lodges springing into existence , into which men who are aiming at positions , political and otherwise , are

desirous of " rushing in . " It will be an evil day when the political element usurps a prominent place in Freemasonry , or when it is tolerated in the slightest degree ; and to see

men who are aspiring to popularity , on tbe School Board , in the Vestry , or in Town Councils , eagerly anxious to make Freemasonry a royal road to the achivement of their ambitious desires is to our mind a tendency which shonld

receive a pvompt and decisive check at the bands of all true friends of our Order . We trust , therefore , that not only the new Lodge which the Grand Secretary addressed

so practically and fraternally on Monday , and which promises so brilliant a career , but all other sections of the Craft will put into practice the caution which is implied in the terse but significant words bequeathed to all of them , and they are , to " hasten slowly . "

HOIXOWIY ' OINTMENT AND Pitts . —Coughs , Influenza . —The soothing properties of these medicaments render them well worthy of trial in all diseases of the respiratory organs . In common colds and influenza the Pills , taken internally , and the Ointnwnt rubbed over the chest and throat , are exceedingly efficacious . When influenza is epidemic , this treatment is the easiest , safest and surest Pills all

. Holloway ' s purify the blood , remove obstacles to it ? free circulation through the lungs , relieve the over-gorged air tubes , and render respiration frre , without reducing the strength , irritating thenerves , or depressing the spirits ; such are the ready means of saving suffering wheu any one is afflicted with colds , coughs , bronchitis , and other chest complaints , by which so many persons are seriously and permanently afflicted in most countries ,

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : u ;—SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

A QUARTERLY Convocation of the Supreme Grand Chapter will be held at Freemasons' Hall , London , on Wednesday , the 3 rd day of February next , at six o ' clock in the evening .

BUSINESS . Tho Miuufces of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OP GENERAL PURPOSES .

To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . Tbe Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 21 st October 1885 to the 19 th January 1886 , both inclusive , whioh they find to be as follows : — £ a d £ s d

Balance Grand Chap- Disbursements during ter . . 102 1 11 the quarter . 402 19 9 „ Unappropriated Balance - - 43 5 2 Account - 188 8 10 „ Unappropriated Subsequent Receipts- 340 16 6 Account - 185 2 4

£ 631 7 3 | £ 631 7 3 which balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . Tho Committee have likewiso to report that they have received the following Petitions : — 1 st . From Companions Abel Penfold as Z ., Robert James Warren as

2 nd . From Companions Nathaniel Merridew as Z ., Herbev Standing as H ., Frederic La Coque Thome as J ., and seven others for a Chapter to be attached to the Guy ' s Lodge , No . 395 , Leamington , to be called the Gay's Chapter , and to meet at the Crown Hotel , Leamington , in the county of Warwick .

H ., John Aillud as J ., and six others for a Chapter to be attached to the Henley Lodge , No . 1472 , North Woolwich , to be called tho Henley Chapter , and to mpet at the Three Crowns Hotel , North Woolwich , in the county of Kent .

3 rd . From Companions the Rev . Charles J . Martyn as Z ., Joseph Francis Hills as H ., Frederick Wheeler as J ., and seven others for a Chapter to be attached to the Stour Valley Lodge * No . 1224 , Sudbury , to be called the Martyn Chapter , and to meet at the Freemasons Hall , Sudbury , in the county of Suffolk .

4 tb . From Companions Alderman Sir Francis Wyatt Truscotfc as Z ., Alderman Sir John Whittaker Ellis , M . P ., as H ., Alderman Sir Robert Nicholas Fowler , Bart ., M . P ., as J ., and nineteen others for a Chapter to be attached to the Grand Master's Lodge , No . 1 , London , to be called the Grand Master ' s Chapter , and to meet at Willis ' s Rooms , King Street , St . James ' s , London .

The foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received a memorial from the Companions of the Minerva Chapter , No . 250 , Hull , praying for a Charter authorising them to wear a centenary

jewel , in accordance with the resolation passed by the Supreme Grand Chapter on the 1 st February 1882 . This memorial being in form , and the Chapter having proved an uninterrupted existence of 100 years , the Committee recommend that the prayer thereof be granted .

( Signed ) ROBERT GKKY P . A . G . Soj . President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C .

20 th January 1886 . To receive and consider the Report of the Committee on the Revision of the Royal Arch Regulations—with Amendments received since the Quarterly Convocation .

A Convocation of the North London Chapter of Improvernent was held at the Alwyne Castle Tavern , St . Paul ' s Road , Canonbury , on Thursday . Comps . Dean M . B . Z ., Radcliffe H ., Strugnell J ., Sheffield S . N .,

Edmonds P . S . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed in a ^ complete and creditable manner . R . A . Masons should visit this Chapter of Improvement , and prepare themselves for the various officers in their Chapters .

The admission of fifteen boys , elected in October last to the advantages of the Preparatory School at Wood Green , took place on Friday last , and we congratulate the Craft upon the inauguration of the new premises . There was

only a formal and unostentatious ceremony , but we trust that , now the new building has beeo completed , and that provision has been made for the reception of one huudred

scholars , the necessary funds , which are the summum bonvm of success in the matter , will be forthcoming , and , should there be sufficient applications , the School may be worked at its full strength at no distant date .