Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 495 Supreme Grand Chapter 496 Provincial Grand I . oelgc of Norfolk : 496 Masonic History and Historians 497 CORRESPONDENCEGrand Lodges of l- ' ngland and Quebec ... 40 S Reviews 49 §

Masonic Notes anil Queries 499 The Recent Discovery at Thebes 499 Inauguration of the Union Lodge of Instruction , No . 383 499

Gallant Services hy the Freemasons' Lifeboat , the "Albert Eelward , " at Clacton-on-Sea 499 REPORTS OK MASOMC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 499 Instruction -for

Royal Arch 501 Amusements £ 02 Masonic and General Tidings 503 Loelge Meetings for Next Week 504

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Two interesting reports of ihe consecrations of a lodge and chapter respectively occur in the last Freemason , —that of the Wickham Lodge , 1924 , on the 22 nd October , and that of the Fitz Roy Chapter , 569 , on thc 21 st October . In the case of the Wickham Lodge , a very proper beginning in support of the Charities was made by a collection of ^ 10 . We say nothing

of the wonted ceremonial , ever effective , or of the addresses of the CHAPLAINS , always eloquent •but we congratulate all concerned on the successful results of their efforts , and we trust , with our esteemed Bro . AMBROSE HALL , G . C " , that all prosperity , happiness , and concord will accompany the present incorporation and the future efforts of these two fresh offshoots of our old Masonic tree .

THE consecration of this new lodge and chapter leads us to the consideration of a subject which we feel year by year , more and more as a new season of Masonic work commences , or a period of normal Masonic life is closed " pro tempore . " It is this , —that , in our humble opinion , no better or truer manifestation of the vital spirit of English Freemasonry can mark ths

consecration of a new lodge or chapter under the Grand Lodge of England than some " initial act " in favour of the Masonic Charities . It is loo often hastily assumed as an incontrovertible position that the preliminary expense incident on the formation of fresh lodges and chapters are too many to warrant the expenditure of money for other purposes , or the voting of a grant in

favour of the Charities . Whereas , the deliberate absence of any such Masonic effort is only provocative of future hesitation and backwardness in the duty incumbent on all lodges and chapters , as well as on individual members of the Craft . The consequence undoubtedly is , that a large proportion of our new lodges are at present doing nothing for the Charities . Let any one

take the list of lodges from 1 S 00 to 1924 and ascertain how many votes they have as lodges ; nay , even how many Stewards have come from all these lodges in comparsion with the older lodges , and they will see , we do not venture to hesitate to assert here , the entire truth of our remarks , and the apposite reality of our conclusions . It is , then , of the utmost importance

for the present and future efficient maintenance of those great Institutions , in which every English Freemason may well exhibit just pride and confidence , that "in season and out of season , " whether approvedly or disapprovedly , this imperative need of our Charities for young support should bc pressed on all our lodges and chapters alike . It is

sometimes unpleasant , as we know , whether in public life or private circles , to speak home truths , to ventilate stern realities ; but thc duty remains the same , the responsibility still endures . And , therefore , [ deeply approving as we do of the creation of new lodges and chapters , and truly interested as we ever feel in the honour , utility , and dignity of our ancient and benevolent

Order , we think we are not in error , in thus seeking in a most friendly spirit to call the attention of all our readers to this most important point , whether they be those to whom thc government of these younger bodies is confided , or those who make up that faithful and Masonic membership of the same , on whose zeal , and energy , and faithful adherence to the principles of Masonry

theactivelife of these new creations actually depends , and by whom theprestige and popularity , the usefulness and union of English Freemasonry , can be strengthened or weakened , advanced or retarded , in such vivid certainty , in such wondrous measure . To both classes these words are addressed in all

goodwill and fraternal sympathy to-day , and we trust that they will be accepted as they are offered , —in that true Masonic spirit which overlooks minor differences and inevitable antagonisms in the greater claims upon us of all those Masonic principles of brotherly good feeling , which make us a band of brethren in unity , kindliness , and peaceful goodwill .

* * * ONE other point " crops up " in this discussion and amid these considerations , which it is useless and unwise for us to ignore and put on one side . It is this : Are not many of our new lodges sacrificing too much to the " regime of materiality , " and thus are compelled to forego the more " pressing" claims of

charity ? The metropolitan procedure of Freemasonry , essentially a social pystem in the main , has its good and bad , its strong and its weak side , and it also entails upon our numerous metropolitan brethren sundry unavoidable drawbacks . We are all for sociality under proper restriction , and in due measure and true proportion ; but we think that many of our

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younger lodges in London are built upon a shallow foundation , and possess in themselves the seeds of inevitable weakness and decay . Many of the lodge fees are too low to enable the lodges to pay their working expenses , and not a few " give" more than they receive , annually relying on their initiation and joining fees to " pull them through . *"

Now we have long been of opinion that a certain amount of our . lodge payments should be capitalized , whereas many of the new lodges are living on their capital ! We admit at once that this is a very difficult question , and one that requires reserve and prudence in writing upon ; but as our words are meant to be friendly words , of sincere interest and sympathy ,

we feel sure that they will neither be misconstrued , or found fault with . The effect of this unwise expenditure , —unwise in the best interest of the lodge itself , —is to dwarf charitable efforts , restrict the grants of lodges , and

throw back on others who come forward regularly year by year , year after year , a duty and responsibility which devolve really and truly on all alike , and ought proportionately be shared by all alike . But perhaps we have said enough .

* * WE heartily commend Bro . TERRY ' S most interesting speech in returning thanks for the Charities , at the consecration of the Wickham Lodge . It is quite impossible to read his clear and effective words without feeling strongly that just now , for many reasons , it is incumbent upon all who have the

means and will to give their hearty support to our great Institutions , that they should , though amid many other claims on their active sympathy and practical good will , make themselves Stewards for one or other of the Charities for 1882 . Very few more appropriate after-dinner speeches have been made for some time .

* * * SOME one has said , " What ' s in an after-dinner speech ? and the question is hard sometimes lo answer , and more difficult may be to realize . The speakers of after-dinner speeches may be divided into several categories . There is the ponderous speaker , who will take the "high moral tone . " There is the

dogmatic speaker , who will propound his magnificent assumptions . There is the crotchetty speaker , who will air his favourite " fad . " There is the truly witty speaker , who excites the genial smile and the hearty laugh . There is the really eloquent speaker , who " brings down the house , " and makes us " nolcntes volentes " commend his " points" and applaud his " illustrations . "

There is the personal speaker , who always must bring in a bit of spicy personality . There is the sarcastic speaker , who likes to indulge in his inconsistent cynicism ; and , lastly , there is the " bore " speaker , who will maunder on when no one is listening ; who will dilate when everybody else is talking to his neighbour ; who will persist in saying what he has got to say ,

though no one has yet found out that he has anything at all to enounce , or that anything he _ says is worth thc utterance . Old CARLYLE used to like in other days of burnished antithesis , and chaotic prose , and rugged flowers of speech , to dilate upon "bottled moonshine , " " old clothes , " " wind bags , " "et hoc genus omne . " We sometimes think , we who dine

at public dinners , —too often , perhaps , for our digestions or tempers , —what sufferings speakers can inflict , if they be so malevolently inclined , on a harmless , a friendly , a defenceless audience . After-dinner speeches , in our humble opinion , to bc effective , or worth anything at all , should be short , clear , vigorous , and " out-spoken . " They should be marked by enough of

" A Uic salt" to make the listeners wish for more ; they should be delivered with a calm and clear enunciation of what the speaker means and wants to say . But for the man who will talk about " nothing , " who says nothing-,

who gives you no " new idea , " educes no " old reality , " but keeps pounding on with all but unending " platitudes , " we have no pity . He is to us , and we fancy to others like us , an unmitigated nuisance , —a "bore of bores . "

¦ » *' * EGYPTOLOGY is making great strides , as a letter we insert elsewhere shows , and we commend the study of the Assyrian and Egyptian texts in Mr . BAXTER ' S publications for the Society of Biblical Archa ; ology , to all Masonic students . What the clearing away of the " debris " about the

" Mosque of Omar will do we are not at present quite sure . Such remains of the old Temple as exist have undergone many changes and transformations since the Roman army laid that glorious building low . Mahomedans and Christians have alikc contended for , pulled down , or built

up the now crumbling remains of those ancient stones . Nothing seems sure or certain in respect of the handiwork of the ancient Craftsmen , or the designs of the Great Master Builder . Let us await then in patience what Time will show .

* * THE mention of the " Tradescant gardens , " which are to be sold it seems , in the mania for building just now houses which do not find tenants , carries us back to ASHMOLE and that assembl y of " Savans " and ^ Hermetics , who undoubtedly formed part of an association in the seventeenth century . But NICOLAIS ' theory was , as is well known , that to ASHMOLE and to B * ico- ** v