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Article "THE OLD MASONIANS." ← Page 2 of 2 Article AN ADDRESS. Page 1 of 1 Article AN ADDRESS. Page 1 of 1 Article Craft Masonry. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
"The Old Masonians."
Jvlasonic principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth , they could build up an Association well worthy of the Craft to which they were attached . Mr . C . P ATRICK O'DOHERTY , Secretary , also responded in a few well chosen words . The next toast was that of ' * The Past and Vice-Presidents , " which was very aptly given by Bro . HARRY BOWLER .
In p * ply , Bro . A . F . GODSON , M . P ., Past President of the Association , said that was the first body connected with Masonry he had had the honour of addressing since his appointment as Provincial Grand Master for Worcester by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . He referred to the starting of the Association , jind the efforts then made by himself and Bro . Frederick Binckes in its support .
He said he was the Treasurer of two societies , and knew the numerous advantages of looking after boys on their entering business life , and spoke of the experience he had when a member of the House Committee of the School . He however felt that an Association like the Old Masonians was better able to underlake the work than individuals , and was more likely to gain the confidence of the boys . He should always feel the greatest interest in the Association .
Bro . J STRACHAN , Vice-President , in a speech full of friendly warmth , mentioned that since becoming a Vice-President he had , when wearing his Masonic jewels , always worn the badge of the Association . In a humorous and witty speech , Mr . F . L . SCUKK proposed the toast of "The Roya ! Masonic Institution for Boys , " comparing the School as it is with what it was when he was a boy . He looked upon that excellent little School magazine ,
"Thc Masonian , " as a veritable Aladdin ' s Lamp , for it appeared to him that whenever anything in the way of books , magazines , games , & c , were required , it was only necessary to insert a letter in its columns and they were forthcoming , an admirable instance of the great interest shown by Masons in the School . He also referred to the work of Bro . J . M . McLeod , and hoped that the knowledge of the gratitude he was earning of a large number of boys would cheer and encourage him in his arduous duties .
Bro . J . M . MCLEOD , Sec . R . M . I . B ., in responding , spoke of the very great progress maele in the work at Wood Green , ol the excellence of the present regime , and how the boys had now every advantage a public school can give ; he considered that the greater liberty and more outdoor life now enjoyed by the boys had been very beneficial , and the boys had shown a consequent greater interest in
their studies . He referred to the recently started arrangement of retaining a few deserving boys a year after their 15 th birthday , that the number at present was 12 , but hoped that this would gradually be increased . He also said he would like to see every deserving boy on leaving School granted a sum of , £ 20 to properly fit him out on entering business ; though this would entail probably an extra expense of i ' 1000 per annum , he considered the amount would be well expended .
The toast of "The Visitors" was briefly proposed by Mr . W . J . PACKER , and responded to by Bros . J . J . THOMAS and VV . H . BAILEY , the latter remarking he had only one regret , and that was he " was not an Old Masonian . " The toast of " The Chairman " was given by Mr . C . H . UWINS , who said that no previous President had entered more into the feelings of the Association than liro . George Everett had done , and that he had earned the gratitude of every Old Masonian during his year of office .
Bro . GEORGE EVERETT , in responding , nominated Bro . C . E . KEYSER , J . P ., Patron and Treasurer Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , as the President for the ensuing year , and alsoannounced that Bros . J . J . Thomas and W . H . Bailey had , during the evening , subscribed three guineas each , entitling them to become Vice-Presidents of the Association , and that he had added another three guineas on behalf of his daughter , Miss Delia Everett .
The evening , which was brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem , was thoroughly enjoyable , and voted one of the pleasantest the Association had experienced . Amongst the members present were Bros . H „ Bowler and R . H . Williams , Messrs , R . S . Chandler , C . P . O'Doherty , Seagrave , Uwins , Francis , Packer , Dyer , Barnes , Scurr , Hewett , West , Simpson , and Willett . Songs and recitations were given during the evening .
An Address.
AN ADDRESS .
The following address was delivered bv M . W . Bro . John Hodge , Grand Master of M asons of the State of New Vork , upon the occasion of his visit lo the Hyatt Lodge , No . 205 •' Possibly there arc sonic present un this occasion who know nothing of Masonry experimentally , and may therefore be disposed to trust its efficacy as a iiutent factor in the development of moral and true piety in character . We
confidently ask all doubting minds to look al the record . Freemasonry in the Umpire Slate has triumphantly passed its period of sore trial , vile vituperation , and malignant persecution . Out of the fiery furnace it has emerged unscathed , and has since so emphatically commended itself to the people , by the purity of its principles , that to-day the Masonic fralernity of the State of New York includes a member-hip of over 86 , 000—comprising a body of men who in their intelligence , virtue , honour , and patriotism , are not excelled by any like number chosen from similar conditions of life , in any country in the world . This flattering situation is
due , not so much to ' human effort and organisation as to the inspiring influence of the immortal princip les of Masonry the acknowledgment of God as our Father , true piety , virtue , charity , and brotherly love . True it is that not all men are made perfect by becoming Masons , any more than all men are made saints by joining a church , but no man can take a Degree in Masonry with the solemn obligations imposed upon him , and become interested in the work of the Craft without deeply feeling his obligation to be everywhere , at home and abroad , in
public and private , a better man . Any man is therefore to-day highly honoured by his reception and initiation tnco any of our Masouic lodges . But he should not forget that while he is honoured by becoming recognised as a Free and Accepted Mason , he has made it his imperative duty so to mould his life that it shall by its exemplification of its principles of Masonry , reciprocate the honour bestowed upon him . The true Mason is not he who is one in form and ceremony only , but whose inner spirit and daily life will bear the test ot the square of virtue and thc
plumb line of rectitude . True Masonry does not begin and end with the ritual of the lodge , but gathers from the principles revealed through ritual and ceremony the inspiration tiiat maker , thc heart of its subject overflow with love for his fellow men , anel clothes his life with the garments oi purity and unselfishness . Thc true Mr . son leaves at the portal of the lodge every element or agency that would disturb its harmony , destroy its unity , excite discord , or divide , the Fraternity . His
banner is the symbol ot peace ; ins mono goodwill to men . tie stanas upright , fearing God and loving his fellow men . It is the nobility and immutable characlr-r of the princip les of Freemasonry thai have established it upon the Rock of Age ' - -, and given i ( , 1 right to an honourable nnd endurin . g place in the world ' s lii-lrny . The inherent purity of the lcs'ions of the lorlge room , making better the hearls 110011 which Ihey are imprr-ssed , is the foundation of ifc ; past glorious history , , -inel the assurance that its future will be- slill more : glorious : in its helpfulness to
humanity . Not Masons alone , but all citizens of New YorVr , have just reason to rejoice over the magnitude of the beneficent results of the remarkable growth in numbers and strength of Masonry in this State . To-day in every community , intelligent peop le have learned to appreciate thai quiet , unostentatious Charity of the Fraternity which helps ; t brutber in dii . tress , minister :, tu him and his family iu ^ icknci ::, anel relieve-, tlio waiilj of widow :, and orphan ., withuul trumpeting
An Address.
these charitable deeds from the rostrum or having them heralded by the public press . This is the nature of true charity which prompts us to manifest our own developed sympathy for them quietly in extending to them any needed assistance —it is vanity and not true charity that courts public recognition of one ' s beneficent deeds . But the Masons oi the Empire State have not been content with ministering alone to necessitous cases developing in the daily routine life . They have taken into consideration , with the necessities- of the present , the possibilities of
the future , and the consummation of the thought has given the State a magnificent Masonic home and school in Central New York , established at a cost of about a quarter of a million of dollars , standing to-day free of debt and sheltering over a hundred inmates . There was also great business sagacity shown in making provision for the permanent support of the home , by first erecting that Masonic Temple in the City of New York , which in addition to being a palatial convocation hall for the Fraternity , yields a sum in rentals which to-dav exceeds the
demands of the home . The temple and the home stand to-day as monuments to Masonic Wisdom and Charity , and the pattern set by New York is being followed b y our brethren in other States of the Union . But , my brethren , with all this prosperity at home and abroad ; with this wonderful rising in our State from the ashes of an almost utter extinction to the fires of a renewed and triumphant fife , what of the future ? As has been justly said , the period of the largest measure of prosperity in a man ' s life is most full of danger . He thinks then that the sunshine will
always be clear and bright . His faith in hts own ability to meet emergencies leads him to be careless about vital matters , and when he thinks his position is unassailable , he falls . Our security depends upon each one doing his individual duty . The work of the great Brotherhood is the aggregate result of our individual actions . How are we filling our respective places , brethren ? Are our hearts tender towards the needy brother and those dependent upon him ? Do we attend to our duties from a love for the good there is for us to do ' i In other words , are
we Masons at heart , living embodiments of the great pure principles we profess ? If each of us thus performs his duty , we shall present an invincible front to all the abhorrent forces of evil and parry all the shafts of criticism aimed at us by those who through ignorance or prejudice are still disposed to pronounce an uncharitable judgment upon us . We should find a controlling incentive to the faithful performance of duty in thc fact that adverse criticism of our Fraternity is now so far silenced that the beneficent character of Masonry is universally
acknowledged . But a very few , who are doubtless honest and pure in their views , still censure the secrecy of the lodge sessions . Those people apparently forget that all civic and religious associations find occasions in the administration of their affairs when secrecy is most emphatically preferred to publicity ; but the fact that their administrative sessions are usually open to the public almost invariably makes the exceptional secret session the inspiration of suspicion in the public mind of more or less scandal in the affairs of the association . This
is an unpleasantness that Masonry averts by simply making the work of the lodge room , which is mostly of an administrative character , uniformly secret . But that this secrecy is not at all detrimental to the welfare of the membership or menacing to the institutions of our free government , is evident from the fruit of the work in the lodge room witnessed by the public in our visitations and relief of brethren and their families in sickness and distress ; in our burial of the dead with appropriate ceremonies ; in our acknowledgement of God ' s providence in the universe
and our recognition of the supremacy of the civil law included in the ceremonies with which we dedicate our halls and lay the corner-stones of public edifices , and still more meritorious , in thc maintenance of our magnificent asylums for the aged , infirm , and orphans of our Fraternity , which are second to none in the land . Thus , as in the family home , the veil of secrecy in Freemasonry simply covers the relation of the Order to its membership , while there is no secrecy whatever in any work of the Craft which brings it into relation with society or the State .
Craft Masonry.
Craft Masonry .
METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Moira Lodge ( No . 92 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held al the Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street , on Tuesday , the 23 rd ult ., when there were present Bros , 1 . M . Mitchell , W . M . ; M . A . Tweedie , S . W . ; E . D . Oppert , P . M . ioz ,, as ( . W . ; T . L . Wilkinson , D . G . R ., Treas . ; R . F . Gould , P . G . D ., Sec . : ] . Webb , J . D . ; C . E . Russell , I . G . ; Bertram Noakes , P . M . ; G . Greiner , P . M . ; M . F . Tweedie , P . M . ; and J . P . Murrough . A ballot was taken for Mr . Arthur William Smith , which proving favourable , he was initiated in a most impressive manner by thc W . M .
All business being ; disposed of , the brethren adjourned to the banquet , which was excellently served , and the musical arrangements gave the greatest possible satisfaction . The vocalists were Mrs . Shaw and liro . Kelson Trucman , and thc instrumentalists Miss Graily Hewitt and Mrs . C . Ewart . The toast of " The Grand Officers " was acknowledged by Bio . T . L . Wilkinson , of whom the W . M . remarked that he had that diy worthily completed his year of Grand Ofiice .
" The I lealth of the Initiate " was most eloquently given from thc chair , and very appropriately responded to by Bro . A . W . Smith .
Citadel Lodge ( No . 1897 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held at thc Railway Hotel , Harrow , ori Saturday , the 20 th inst ., when there was a good attendance of members and visitors . The former included Bros . W . W . Lee , P . M . 23 S 1 , W . M . ; Horace G . Banks , S . W . , * J . Osborn , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Sec ; P . Young , I . P . M . ; C . J . Davison , P . M . ; C . J . Von Holtorp , P . P . G . D . C : J . H . Gaskin , P . P . D . G . D . C ; VV . Wright , P P . G . Org . ; L . Mantel , W . Whiteside , D . C . ; J . Ray , Stwd . ; L . A . Bourquin , G . Lander , and others . Visitors : Bros . H . Davis , P . M . 1380 ; ivi 1 lianas ivielect 115 11 1077
J . K . Uoraeu , l ' .. B 13 ; . , w .. s ; n . m . . ejnmtns , , * - *• Hughes , J . W . 2371 ; J . Smallbones , 1 S 39 ; Egbert Roberts , P . M . 1 G 23 , P . P . G . Org . Essex ; and R . Evans . After thc formal opening of the lodge the minutes were confirmed . Bros . Cuming and James were passed to the Second Degree , the lecture on the tracing boarel being given . Mr . Laurent Schmidt was next initiated into Freemasonry , thc ceremony being followed by a delivery of the Ancient Charge . The elections were next proceeded with , Uro . Horace G . Banks , S . W ., beinjf unanimously elected W . M . Bro . Banks , having been congratulated by the W . M ., returned thanks in appropriate terms , expressing his
determination of upholding the character and working of the lodge . Bro . Hurran waunanimously re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . Verry re-elected Tyler . Bro . C . J . Davison . P . M ., addressed thc brethren with reference to his Stewardship at the next Festival ol the R . M . B . I ., and received several additions to his list at a subsequent stage of t '" proceedings . A Past Master ' s jewel was unanimously voted to the W . M . Ior his service : ! in thc chair , on the proposition of the S . W ., seconded by the I . P . M ., and was briefly acknowledged . All business having been transacted , the lodge was formally closed-After enjoying a repast supplied by the worthy host , Bro . Lander , the usual toasts
were given . Bro . O . J . Von Holtorp , P . P . G . D . C . acknowledged the toast of " The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and Provincial Grand Ollicers , Present anil Past . " ,, Bro . V . Young , I . P . M ., in proposing " The Health of lite Worshipful Masti-f . alluded in kindlv and eulogistic terms to the excellent working shown on every orr . aM ' " by the W . M , and also to the able manner in which all the duties of the chair had I" * *" conducted .
Bro . W . VV . Lee , P . M . 23 S 1 . W . M ., in reply , took the opportunity of giving J resume of the past year ' s work . There had been at least two Degrees to work at eve // meeting , and he expressed his satisfaction at having been enabled to carry out 1 promise and render the ceremonies in their entirety . 'Ihe candidates in their respect ^ Degrees had had an opportunity of listening to the ancient charge , lecture on the traci ^ board , or traditional history . For several years past the lodge hael been " r ? ( 1 render much assistance in the work of the Charities , but during the past yea r a 5 t
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
"The Old Masonians."
Jvlasonic principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth , they could build up an Association well worthy of the Craft to which they were attached . Mr . C . P ATRICK O'DOHERTY , Secretary , also responded in a few well chosen words . The next toast was that of ' * The Past and Vice-Presidents , " which was very aptly given by Bro . HARRY BOWLER .
In p * ply , Bro . A . F . GODSON , M . P ., Past President of the Association , said that was the first body connected with Masonry he had had the honour of addressing since his appointment as Provincial Grand Master for Worcester by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . He referred to the starting of the Association , jind the efforts then made by himself and Bro . Frederick Binckes in its support .
He said he was the Treasurer of two societies , and knew the numerous advantages of looking after boys on their entering business life , and spoke of the experience he had when a member of the House Committee of the School . He however felt that an Association like the Old Masonians was better able to underlake the work than individuals , and was more likely to gain the confidence of the boys . He should always feel the greatest interest in the Association .
Bro . J STRACHAN , Vice-President , in a speech full of friendly warmth , mentioned that since becoming a Vice-President he had , when wearing his Masonic jewels , always worn the badge of the Association . In a humorous and witty speech , Mr . F . L . SCUKK proposed the toast of "The Roya ! Masonic Institution for Boys , " comparing the School as it is with what it was when he was a boy . He looked upon that excellent little School magazine ,
"Thc Masonian , " as a veritable Aladdin ' s Lamp , for it appeared to him that whenever anything in the way of books , magazines , games , & c , were required , it was only necessary to insert a letter in its columns and they were forthcoming , an admirable instance of the great interest shown by Masons in the School . He also referred to the work of Bro . J . M . McLeod , and hoped that the knowledge of the gratitude he was earning of a large number of boys would cheer and encourage him in his arduous duties .
Bro . J . M . MCLEOD , Sec . R . M . I . B ., in responding , spoke of the very great progress maele in the work at Wood Green , ol the excellence of the present regime , and how the boys had now every advantage a public school can give ; he considered that the greater liberty and more outdoor life now enjoyed by the boys had been very beneficial , and the boys had shown a consequent greater interest in
their studies . He referred to the recently started arrangement of retaining a few deserving boys a year after their 15 th birthday , that the number at present was 12 , but hoped that this would gradually be increased . He also said he would like to see every deserving boy on leaving School granted a sum of , £ 20 to properly fit him out on entering business ; though this would entail probably an extra expense of i ' 1000 per annum , he considered the amount would be well expended .
The toast of "The Visitors" was briefly proposed by Mr . W . J . PACKER , and responded to by Bros . J . J . THOMAS and VV . H . BAILEY , the latter remarking he had only one regret , and that was he " was not an Old Masonian . " The toast of " The Chairman " was given by Mr . C . H . UWINS , who said that no previous President had entered more into the feelings of the Association than liro . George Everett had done , and that he had earned the gratitude of every Old Masonian during his year of office .
Bro . GEORGE EVERETT , in responding , nominated Bro . C . E . KEYSER , J . P ., Patron and Treasurer Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , as the President for the ensuing year , and alsoannounced that Bros . J . J . Thomas and W . H . Bailey had , during the evening , subscribed three guineas each , entitling them to become Vice-Presidents of the Association , and that he had added another three guineas on behalf of his daughter , Miss Delia Everett .
The evening , which was brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem , was thoroughly enjoyable , and voted one of the pleasantest the Association had experienced . Amongst the members present were Bros . H „ Bowler and R . H . Williams , Messrs , R . S . Chandler , C . P . O'Doherty , Seagrave , Uwins , Francis , Packer , Dyer , Barnes , Scurr , Hewett , West , Simpson , and Willett . Songs and recitations were given during the evening .
An Address.
AN ADDRESS .
The following address was delivered bv M . W . Bro . John Hodge , Grand Master of M asons of the State of New Vork , upon the occasion of his visit lo the Hyatt Lodge , No . 205 •' Possibly there arc sonic present un this occasion who know nothing of Masonry experimentally , and may therefore be disposed to trust its efficacy as a iiutent factor in the development of moral and true piety in character . We
confidently ask all doubting minds to look al the record . Freemasonry in the Umpire Slate has triumphantly passed its period of sore trial , vile vituperation , and malignant persecution . Out of the fiery furnace it has emerged unscathed , and has since so emphatically commended itself to the people , by the purity of its principles , that to-day the Masonic fralernity of the State of New York includes a member-hip of over 86 , 000—comprising a body of men who in their intelligence , virtue , honour , and patriotism , are not excelled by any like number chosen from similar conditions of life , in any country in the world . This flattering situation is
due , not so much to ' human effort and organisation as to the inspiring influence of the immortal princip les of Masonry the acknowledgment of God as our Father , true piety , virtue , charity , and brotherly love . True it is that not all men are made perfect by becoming Masons , any more than all men are made saints by joining a church , but no man can take a Degree in Masonry with the solemn obligations imposed upon him , and become interested in the work of the Craft without deeply feeling his obligation to be everywhere , at home and abroad , in
public and private , a better man . Any man is therefore to-day highly honoured by his reception and initiation tnco any of our Masouic lodges . But he should not forget that while he is honoured by becoming recognised as a Free and Accepted Mason , he has made it his imperative duty so to mould his life that it shall by its exemplification of its principles of Masonry , reciprocate the honour bestowed upon him . The true Mason is not he who is one in form and ceremony only , but whose inner spirit and daily life will bear the test ot the square of virtue and thc
plumb line of rectitude . True Masonry does not begin and end with the ritual of the lodge , but gathers from the principles revealed through ritual and ceremony the inspiration tiiat maker , thc heart of its subject overflow with love for his fellow men , anel clothes his life with the garments oi purity and unselfishness . Thc true Mr . son leaves at the portal of the lodge every element or agency that would disturb its harmony , destroy its unity , excite discord , or divide , the Fraternity . His
banner is the symbol ot peace ; ins mono goodwill to men . tie stanas upright , fearing God and loving his fellow men . It is the nobility and immutable characlr-r of the princip les of Freemasonry thai have established it upon the Rock of Age ' - -, and given i ( , 1 right to an honourable nnd endurin . g place in the world ' s lii-lrny . The inherent purity of the lcs'ions of the lorlge room , making better the hearls 110011 which Ihey are imprr-ssed , is the foundation of ifc ; past glorious history , , -inel the assurance that its future will be- slill more : glorious : in its helpfulness to
humanity . Not Masons alone , but all citizens of New YorVr , have just reason to rejoice over the magnitude of the beneficent results of the remarkable growth in numbers and strength of Masonry in this State . To-day in every community , intelligent peop le have learned to appreciate thai quiet , unostentatious Charity of the Fraternity which helps ; t brutber in dii . tress , minister :, tu him and his family iu ^ icknci ::, anel relieve-, tlio waiilj of widow :, and orphan ., withuul trumpeting
An Address.
these charitable deeds from the rostrum or having them heralded by the public press . This is the nature of true charity which prompts us to manifest our own developed sympathy for them quietly in extending to them any needed assistance —it is vanity and not true charity that courts public recognition of one ' s beneficent deeds . But the Masons oi the Empire State have not been content with ministering alone to necessitous cases developing in the daily routine life . They have taken into consideration , with the necessities- of the present , the possibilities of
the future , and the consummation of the thought has given the State a magnificent Masonic home and school in Central New York , established at a cost of about a quarter of a million of dollars , standing to-day free of debt and sheltering over a hundred inmates . There was also great business sagacity shown in making provision for the permanent support of the home , by first erecting that Masonic Temple in the City of New York , which in addition to being a palatial convocation hall for the Fraternity , yields a sum in rentals which to-dav exceeds the
demands of the home . The temple and the home stand to-day as monuments to Masonic Wisdom and Charity , and the pattern set by New York is being followed b y our brethren in other States of the Union . But , my brethren , with all this prosperity at home and abroad ; with this wonderful rising in our State from the ashes of an almost utter extinction to the fires of a renewed and triumphant fife , what of the future ? As has been justly said , the period of the largest measure of prosperity in a man ' s life is most full of danger . He thinks then that the sunshine will
always be clear and bright . His faith in hts own ability to meet emergencies leads him to be careless about vital matters , and when he thinks his position is unassailable , he falls . Our security depends upon each one doing his individual duty . The work of the great Brotherhood is the aggregate result of our individual actions . How are we filling our respective places , brethren ? Are our hearts tender towards the needy brother and those dependent upon him ? Do we attend to our duties from a love for the good there is for us to do ' i In other words , are
we Masons at heart , living embodiments of the great pure principles we profess ? If each of us thus performs his duty , we shall present an invincible front to all the abhorrent forces of evil and parry all the shafts of criticism aimed at us by those who through ignorance or prejudice are still disposed to pronounce an uncharitable judgment upon us . We should find a controlling incentive to the faithful performance of duty in thc fact that adverse criticism of our Fraternity is now so far silenced that the beneficent character of Masonry is universally
acknowledged . But a very few , who are doubtless honest and pure in their views , still censure the secrecy of the lodge sessions . Those people apparently forget that all civic and religious associations find occasions in the administration of their affairs when secrecy is most emphatically preferred to publicity ; but the fact that their administrative sessions are usually open to the public almost invariably makes the exceptional secret session the inspiration of suspicion in the public mind of more or less scandal in the affairs of the association . This
is an unpleasantness that Masonry averts by simply making the work of the lodge room , which is mostly of an administrative character , uniformly secret . But that this secrecy is not at all detrimental to the welfare of the membership or menacing to the institutions of our free government , is evident from the fruit of the work in the lodge room witnessed by the public in our visitations and relief of brethren and their families in sickness and distress ; in our burial of the dead with appropriate ceremonies ; in our acknowledgement of God ' s providence in the universe
and our recognition of the supremacy of the civil law included in the ceremonies with which we dedicate our halls and lay the corner-stones of public edifices , and still more meritorious , in thc maintenance of our magnificent asylums for the aged , infirm , and orphans of our Fraternity , which are second to none in the land . Thus , as in the family home , the veil of secrecy in Freemasonry simply covers the relation of the Order to its membership , while there is no secrecy whatever in any work of the Craft which brings it into relation with society or the State .
Craft Masonry.
Craft Masonry .
METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Moira Lodge ( No . 92 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held al the Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street , on Tuesday , the 23 rd ult ., when there were present Bros , 1 . M . Mitchell , W . M . ; M . A . Tweedie , S . W . ; E . D . Oppert , P . M . ioz ,, as ( . W . ; T . L . Wilkinson , D . G . R ., Treas . ; R . F . Gould , P . G . D ., Sec . : ] . Webb , J . D . ; C . E . Russell , I . G . ; Bertram Noakes , P . M . ; G . Greiner , P . M . ; M . F . Tweedie , P . M . ; and J . P . Murrough . A ballot was taken for Mr . Arthur William Smith , which proving favourable , he was initiated in a most impressive manner by thc W . M .
All business being ; disposed of , the brethren adjourned to the banquet , which was excellently served , and the musical arrangements gave the greatest possible satisfaction . The vocalists were Mrs . Shaw and liro . Kelson Trucman , and thc instrumentalists Miss Graily Hewitt and Mrs . C . Ewart . The toast of " The Grand Officers " was acknowledged by Bio . T . L . Wilkinson , of whom the W . M . remarked that he had that diy worthily completed his year of Grand Ofiice .
" The I lealth of the Initiate " was most eloquently given from thc chair , and very appropriately responded to by Bro . A . W . Smith .
Citadel Lodge ( No . 1897 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held at thc Railway Hotel , Harrow , ori Saturday , the 20 th inst ., when there was a good attendance of members and visitors . The former included Bros . W . W . Lee , P . M . 23 S 1 , W . M . ; Horace G . Banks , S . W . , * J . Osborn , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Sec ; P . Young , I . P . M . ; C . J . Davison , P . M . ; C . J . Von Holtorp , P . P . G . D . C : J . H . Gaskin , P . P . D . G . D . C ; VV . Wright , P P . G . Org . ; L . Mantel , W . Whiteside , D . C . ; J . Ray , Stwd . ; L . A . Bourquin , G . Lander , and others . Visitors : Bros . H . Davis , P . M . 1380 ; ivi 1 lianas ivielect 115 11 1077
J . K . Uoraeu , l ' .. B 13 ; . , w .. s ; n . m . . ejnmtns , , * - *• Hughes , J . W . 2371 ; J . Smallbones , 1 S 39 ; Egbert Roberts , P . M . 1 G 23 , P . P . G . Org . Essex ; and R . Evans . After thc formal opening of the lodge the minutes were confirmed . Bros . Cuming and James were passed to the Second Degree , the lecture on the tracing boarel being given . Mr . Laurent Schmidt was next initiated into Freemasonry , thc ceremony being followed by a delivery of the Ancient Charge . The elections were next proceeded with , Uro . Horace G . Banks , S . W ., beinjf unanimously elected W . M . Bro . Banks , having been congratulated by the W . M ., returned thanks in appropriate terms , expressing his
determination of upholding the character and working of the lodge . Bro . Hurran waunanimously re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . Verry re-elected Tyler . Bro . C . J . Davison . P . M ., addressed thc brethren with reference to his Stewardship at the next Festival ol the R . M . B . I ., and received several additions to his list at a subsequent stage of t '" proceedings . A Past Master ' s jewel was unanimously voted to the W . M . Ior his service : ! in thc chair , on the proposition of the S . W ., seconded by the I . P . M ., and was briefly acknowledged . All business having been transacted , the lodge was formally closed-After enjoying a repast supplied by the worthy host , Bro . Lander , the usual toasts
were given . Bro . O . J . Von Holtorp , P . P . G . D . C . acknowledged the toast of " The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and Provincial Grand Ollicers , Present anil Past . " ,, Bro . V . Young , I . P . M ., in proposing " The Health of lite Worshipful Masti-f . alluded in kindlv and eulogistic terms to the excellent working shown on every orr . aM ' " by the W . M , and also to the able manner in which all the duties of the chair had I" * *" conducted .
Bro . W . VV . Lee , P . M . 23 S 1 . W . M ., in reply , took the opportunity of giving J resume of the past year ' s work . There had been at least two Degrees to work at eve // meeting , and he expressed his satisfaction at having been enabled to carry out 1 promise and render the ceremonies in their entirety . 'Ihe candidates in their respect ^ Degrees had had an opportunity of listening to the ancient charge , lecture on the traci ^ board , or traditional history . For several years past the lodge hael been " r ? ( 1 render much assistance in the work of the Charities , but during the past yea r a 5 t