The Nineteenth Century; Masonically Viewed.

inelastic body of law that the ancient definition of justice as " the constant and perpetual wish of rendering to everyone his due " is now truer to actual fact than it has been for many years past . Criminology has become a science , and justice in carrying out its sentence keeps in view the reformation as much as the punishment of the offender . Slavery has been abolished among civilised nations ; and it may here be observed that to the

ancirnt Jewish sect of mystics called the Essenes ( whom some would fain number among our Masonic progenitors ) belongs the high honour of having made the first protests against this curse to humanity . Furthermore , " the eternal spirit of the eliain / ess mind " throughout the world ceases not to " make the bounds of Freedom wider yet " in other praiseworthy spheres of interest—with the happiest results to mankind . The enthusiastic crusade

of our day against the abuse of alcohol is also a potent factor which makes for rig hteousness ; and the world at large has been greatly benefited by the removal of disabilities which hitherto prevented woman from taking that place in any branch of human activity to which her talents and virtues may justly entitle her . Religious controversy has lost much of its virulence , and many good and earnest men concede that it by no means follows that

because the particular side of Divine truth which is turned towards themselves reflects "the Lig ht that never was on sea or land , " no similar illumination can gladden the eyes of those to whom another facet of the same Brilliant is presented . Nay , there are even some so tolerant of the intolerances of their opponents that , wh-le deeply deploring the presence in the spiritual spectrum of bigotry flaming red , they joyfully greet at the

further end the tender violet rays of self-denying love and mercy . The terribly destructive nature of the weapons which modern science has piaced in the hands of man is at last rousing the nations of the earth to a sense of what widespread misery the next great war will inevitably occasion ; _ and at this moment a Conference of the Powers is being held for considering the question of the reduction of armaments and the promotion of the cause of

universal peace . Although we , as Freemasons , neither recommend nor disparage any particular form of religion or government , but quietly aim at the spiritual and moral improvement of the individual , we , nevertheless , most strongly feel that if every member of civilised society , irrespective of nationality , creed , or caste , could be made to recognise his ir . un responsibility in ihe sii ^ lit of God for the existence of or a condition of

affairs necessitating war , instead of throwing it upon his rulers , we shall find that spontaneously — without congresses or lengthy diplomatic parleys— All crime shall cease , and ancient fraud shall fail ; Returning Justice lift aloft her scale ; Peac ; o ' er the world her olive wand extend , And white-rohed innocence from heaven descend .

It might be asked— " Why , in view of the dawning of another era , and seeing that old things have to so great an extent passed away , should Freemasonry continue to receive adherents ? " We cannot do better than reply in the words which Jowett used respecting Balliol College : " There is a great interest in belonging to an ancient institution . The members of \ t are bound by a peculiar tie to those who have gone before them ; they are in

a manner our spiritual ancestors ; if they had not been , neither should we have been , and we are indebted to them for more than we know . Without vanity , we may regard ourselves as belonging to a family which has continued during many ages , and which numbers among its sons many distinguished and even illustrious personages . " We will go yet further , and say that the Craftsman upon whom thc teachings of our Order have not been

wholly lost , has learnt to know his own powers as well as his limitations , and will govern himself accordingly . He unfeignedly believes in the Almighty as the Creator and Supreme Ruler of the Universe—as the eternal source of all goodness , and of all wisdom , strength , and beauty . Finally , after having " served his own generation by the will of God " in the exercise of the virtues

of Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth ( in their widest sense ) , he will be ready to commit his soul into the hands of his Maker and just but merciful Judge , in trustful expectation of that One far-off divine event To which the whole creation moves . So mote it be !

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

MASONIC JOTTINGS .

The installation meeting ol the Manica Lodge , No . 2678 ( E . C ) , was held on thc afternoon of Thursday , the Sth Juno , al the Masonic Hall , 41 I 1 Street , UmUli , Rhodesia , South Africa , when the election of liro . W . Ii . Haworth . M . B ., CM ., IS . Sc , J . W ., as W . M . for the ensuing year was confirmed . The installation ceremony was unavoidably postponed , owing to thc fact that only two Installed Masters were at thc time present in the district , though every tU ' jrl had been made to secure the services of a third from Salisbury or Beira .

In the evening of the above date the brethren entertained same 150 friends at a ball in the Cecil Hotel Theatre . Regalia was worn during the first h ilf of thc programme , under thc general dispensation recently granted to the lodge through the kind service of liro . Dr . Hugh Rayner . Dancing terminated at J a . m ., a most enjoyable evening having been spent . This is , we believe , the first Masonic ball held in Rhodesia , and was considered a complete success .

On the 19 th June , Bro . J . I ) . Tennani , W . M . 2479 , travelled down from . Salisbury , by the recently-opened railway , a .. d the installation ceremony was carried through at an emergency meeting , Bro . W . E . Harvey acting as Installing Master , and being assisted by Bro . T . II . Hulley , the retiring W . M . Bro . llaworth invested his officers for the year , viz .: Bros . M . Riis ' . cll , S . W . ; J

Meiklo , J . W . ; W . A . D . Moodie , Chap . ; W . 11 . Lane , Treas . ; C . W . 1 'inc . li , Sec ; H . C Davis , S . D . ; J . Murdoch , | . D . ; 11 . J . Hillary , D . C . ; 11 . 15 . Wa'kins , I . G . ; H . S . Smith and J . R . Sykes , Stwds . ; and J . Crockett , Tyler . The presentation of a Past Master ' s jewel to the retiring W . M . was postponed as the jewel had not yet come to hand .

On the 2 jrd June , the lirst meeting of the Manica Lodge of Instruction , under authority ol the Manica Lodge , w , is held at the Masonic Hall . Bro . Haworth was elected Preceptor ; Bro . H . P . Miles , Treasurer ; and liro . H . B , Watkins , Secretary , for thc ensuing year . The ceremony of initiation was

The Craft Abroad.

rehearsed , after which the Preceptor delivered an address on the " Religious Beliefs inculcated in the emulation working of the Three Craft Digrsjes . " Bro . H . C . Davis was elected W . M . for the following meeting . It is only 12 months since the consecration of the Minica Lodge , which now has a membership of 38 . A hall has been built at the cost of £ Soo , the money being raised partly by debentures and partly by loans from one of the banks at

9 per cent ., a few of the brethren giving a personal guarantee for the overdraft . Most of the debentures have already been presented to the lodge , and the overdraft is now reduced to a few pounds , so that a few months should see the lodge clear of debt . The furniture , at a cost of over £ 200 , was presented by the Hon . C . J . Rhodes , and the B . S . A . Co . gave their assistance by a grant of two stands in a good quarter of the town .

A prosperous future is anticipated for the Craft in this district , and throughout the whole of Rhodesia . The most cordial relations being kept up by frequent communications between the Manica and the Rhodesia and Bulawayo lodges .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

United Military Lodge , No . 1536 . The last installation of the Masonic season in the under-mentioned district of the Metropolis took place on Tuesday , the 25 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Mount Pleasant , Plumstead , when the above lodge held its annual festival , and installed a new Master to preside over its destinies for the ensuing 12 months . The lodge was opened soon after 2 . 30 p . m . by the W . M ., Bro . A . Hill , and after Bros . Hebert and Rycroft had been raised , Bro . Hill installed his suceessor , Bro . A , Simmonds , S . W . and W . M . elect , in a quiet and careful manner . Bro . Walter Martin ,

P . A . G . P . Eng ., having arrived , he was at this period saluted with the honours suitable and appropriate to bis exalted position in the Cralt . The new W . M . invested his officers as follows : Bros . A . Hill , I . P . M . ; ] . Howe , S . W . ; W . Shackleton , P . M ., I . W . ; W . Gee , Treas . ; E . W . Sinnett , P . M ., P . G . Std . Br ., Sec . ; R . F . Cockrane , S . D . ; S . J . I lack worthy , J . D . ; G . W . Ingle , P . M ., D . C . ; J . Jones , I . G . ; W . A . Whitmore , Org . ; H . Furlong , Asst . Org . ; A . Andrews , A . D . C ; F . J . Marfleet , F . Rowland , J . Grieveson , G . Melton , and E . Earnshaw , Stewards . Bro . Hill wis presented with a Past Master's collar and jewel , and was thanked for his work as

Installing Officer , and feelingly returned thanks . Bro . Capti'n G . Spinks , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., was re-elected to represent the lodge on the Provincial Charity Committee , and returned thanks for the brethren's continued confidence . Bro . C . Jolly made an earnest appeal on behalf of tbe candidature of two of the children of the late esteemed Bro . Curtis , P . M . 1472 , P . M ., founder , and Sec . 2 G 15 , for the Masonic Schools , his ( Bro . Curtis's ) widow being left with nine children , seven girls and one

boy , the latter six years old , and the oldest girl iG . He explained that liro . Curtis had invested all his savings in a business at Bexley Heath in June , ISJS , and died , after a few days' illness , in February of this year . The business was sold over the poor woman ' s head , and she and her fatherless children were thrown upon the mercy of the world . Bro . Jolly ' s appeal produced a good effect , no less than 150 votes being immediately promised , of which number our good friend and brother , W . Martin , promised 75 .

The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the upper hall of the building , where the banquet was satisfactorily discussed . Among the other brethren present were Bros . G . Kennedy , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ; W . Moulds , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Bilton , P . M . ; R . Fowler , P . M . ; W . J . Downs , E . B . Herbert , W . Craigend , M . Houghey , C . Brook , W . Hurn , J . Willingborough , C . Warren , G . B . Mardett , J . Laurie , A . Jupp , C . H . Molloy . E . W . Gearte , D . Green , li . Searle , and G . Hook , of the lodge . Visitors : Bros . H . Jacobs , VV . M ., J .

Quick , S . W ., J . Horn , J . W ., A . H . Russell , P . M ., J . Willin , T . Chambers , and R . Stead , of 13 ; W . Long , VV . M ., J . H . Roberts , P . M ., Treas ., and li . Loaergan , of 700 ; E . M . Taylor , W . M ., A . Moore , S . W ., and J . G . Tucker , J . W ., of 913 ; T . H . Lait , W . M ., D . Ross , S . W ., and S . H . Chaplin , j . W ., of 1472 ; J . Wheatley , W . M ., R . Rawlinson , S . W ., and W . Steer , J . W . 2399 ; A . Walklin , VV . M . 4 S 3 ; G . Kennedy , P . M . S 29 ; C . Parsons , I . G . 2041 ; H . Appleby , 2277 j H . Onslow , 2706 j R . Smith , 7 G 5 ; and T . Fairbairn , 17 S 1 J .

Thc loyal and Grand Lodge toasts were honoured in a grand and loyal mniner , and , in response to the toast ot " The Grand Lodge Officers , Present and Past , " Bro . W . Martin , who was received with cheers , said he would detain them for only a few moments . He was exceedingly pleased to be present , because their lodge was not only a military lodge , but a " United Military " lodge . It was a Masonic home , not alone for one especial corps , but for the whole army who chose to join its ranks . He thanked them for their cordial reception of the toast , which included in its scope not only some of the most excellent Masons throughout the provinces , but a fair share of thc London brethren ; and as one of the London contingent he felt proud of the honour

conferred upon him by their beloved Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . He then referred in glowing terms to the splendid music given by the Royal Artillery band at "The Chough" Musical Society—one of the best in London—and held at the Cannonstreet Hotel ; and was delighted to be present that evening and hear the musical trcit prepared for them by that portion of the band that had entertained them during the banquet . He thanked the W . M . and brethren for the kind manner in which they had received him , and drank his health , and trusted the lodge would be as prosperous , and every brother of it be as happy and contented , as they now appeared to bs . Our distinguished brother resumed his scat amid cheers .

Bro . Sinnett , in responding to the toast of " The Right Hon . Earl Amh : r > S Pro 0 . . Master of England , Prov . G . Master of Kent ; and the rest of the Prov . G . Oilicers , Present and Past , " said he rosi with a great amount of diPRdence to respond to the toast , because there were a good many of the brethren present who knew that speechmaking was not his forte . As he had before said , it gave him a great amount of pleasure to be associated with the oilicers of the Province of Kent , which numbered 6 \ lodges , and was presided over by one—than whom a more genial or better Mason never

existed . I'hey were all proud of having for their Prov . G . Master the Pro G . Master of England . There was no prouder man on the face of the earth than he was when he received the command of their Prov . G . Master to go to Sevenoaks to receive the callar of P . G . Standard Bearer . Bro . Eastes was a most energetic and hard-working Mason , and how he managed to please all in his selections for ottice surprised him . He spoke highly of the Oilicers of Prov . G . Lodge , and heartily thanked them for coupling his name with the toast .

The I . P . M ., in proposing the toast of "The W . M ., " said they would agiee with him that in their W . M . they had a good sample of a man and a Mason , and he was sure that Bro . Simmonds would make a good Master ; one who would not shirk his duty but would make theirs a grand and successful lodge , and he was proud of the honour of placing their W . M . in the chair of K . S . He had now said all he could say with regard to thc time at his disposal . He had had the honour of speaking to them a goad deal during the past year-a good deal cf sense and a good deal of nonsense -so he would at once conclude by asking them to rally round and support their W . M ., and bring him the best of candidates .

The W . M ., in reply , could assure them that it was very Mattering a "d gratifying to be the W . M . of such a good and prosperous lodge , and that he should leave no stone unturned to make himself worthy of their confidence . Bro . Martin here rose , and said that , being in the ' midst of a military assemblage , it might he interesting to the brethren to know that they had just consecrated a nc * lodge at Greenwich , which bore the honoured name of Lord Kitchener of Khartoum ,

who that day had laken his seat in the House of Lords . His lordship sent a telegram to the lodge accepting thc honorary membership of the lodge . His lordship had been a Mas -ii for many years , and he hoped before long to hear that a lodge had bsen fuiinded at Khartoum , lie felt sure the brethren of that lodge , as military men , would be glad to know that a lodge had been founded with the name of one who was an honour to thc Army and to England . ( Loud applause , which was continued as Bro . Martin retired from the lodge . )