Lodges And Chapters Of Instruction.

The chapter was opened , and the minutes of the last convocation were read and confirmed . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Tilt being the candidate . A vote of condolence with the family of the late Comp . Chalfont was passed , and a wreath was sent in the name of the chapter of improvement . Several of the companions

attended the funeral . Comp . Brown was elected a member , and , in acknowledging the compliment , expressed the great pleasure and instruction he had derived from his visit , and would attend as regularly as circumstances would permit . The M . E . Z . having risen the usual number of times , the chapter was closed until the 22 nd inst .

STAR CHAPTER ( No . 1275 ) . —The usual weekly meeting was held at the Stirling Castle Hotel , Camberwell , on Friday , the Sth inst ., when there were present Comps . F . Hilton , M . E . Z . ; G . H . Martin , H . ; R . Jackson , L ; Hilton , P . Z ., Preceptor ; C H . Stone , S . E . ; T . E . Webb , S . N . ; J . H . Pullen , P . S . ; J . Hill , ist Asst . S . ; Addington , G . F . Smith , Moss , Mayo , Wm . Price , Scott

Young , Ashby , Lazenby , Schadler , and E . D . F . Rymer . The chapter was regularly opened by the Principals and Past Principal . Comp . Schadler installed Comp . Jackson into the chair of J . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Ashby personating candidate . Comp . H . G . Martin , H ., was elected M . E . Z . for the next meeting on the 22 nd inst ., when an installation will be rehearsed . Comp . E . D . F . Rymer , 77 , and T . E . Webb , 1622 , were elected members . The chapter was then closed .

Knights Cemplar.

Knights Cemplar .

MANCHESTER . St . Joseph Preceptory ( No . 9 ) . —The regular meeting of this preceptory was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , on Friday , the Sth inst . In the absence of the E . P ., Sir Knight F . W . Lean , Prov . V . C , presided . The roll was called , and the minutes of last meeting read and confirmed . The ballot was taken for

Comp . M . Aspden , which proved favourable . There were present Sir Knights F . W . Lean , P . E . C ., Prov . V . C . ; Ed . Pike . P . E . C , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . T . Richardson , P . E . C , Chaplain ; William Duncan , C . j W . H . Southern , M . ; Sam . Smith , S . M . ; C E . Towell , C . of L . ; G . A . Myers , A . ; J . Hardwicke . Marsh , H . ; and H . G . Small . Visitor : Sir Knight John Marshall , P . E . C , P . Prov . G . Reg . W . Yorks .

Devon Masonic Educational Fund.

DEVON MASONIC EDUCATIONAL FUND .

The annual meeting of the subscribers to the Devon Masonic Educational Fund was held on the 5 th instant , at Freemasons' Hall , Gandy-street , Exeter . Bro . W . Powell , P . P . G . T ., and a Vice-President of the Institution , presided , and there were also present Bros . S . Jones , P . P . J . G . W . ; 1 . Stocker , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . B .

Gover , P . P . G . S ., Sec . ; J . R . Lord , P . P . G . T ., Treas . ; E . T . Fulford , P . P . G . T . ; C . Watson , P . P . G . D . C . ; J . Griffin , P . P . G . D . ; J . Jerman , P . P . G . S . of W . ; C . Mutten , W . M . 1550 ; W . H . Kelland , W . M . 39 ; J H . Higgs , W . M . 106 ; W . Sweet , W . M . 1212 ; R . Pengelly , P . M . 70 ; H . Jerman , P . M , 39 ; J . R . Lisle , P . M . 39 : W . Cocks , P . M . 106 ; W . Allsford , P . M .

202 ; T . W . Atherton , P . M . 248 ; W . Fowler , P . M . 1212 ; W . Gregory , P . M . 1254 ; R . G . Bird , P . M . iSSOi W . Lavers , P . M . 1255 ; W . H . Williams , P . M . 1847 ; E . H . Shorto , S . W . 39 ; and W . H . Dillon , J . W . 2025 and Asst . Sec . Bro . J . R . LORD read thc Treasurer ' s report , which showed total receipts amounting to , £ 437 14 s ., which

included * £ ii 8 9 s . 1 id . brought forward from the previous year , ^ 292 4 s . subscriptions , and . £ 27 interest on deposits . The balance in hand at the end of 18 91 , after paying all liabilities , amounted to , £ 163 12 s . 7 d . A sum of £ 900 remains on deposit in the Devon and Cornwall Bank at 3 per cent , interest , and the total value of the fund at the present time is , £ 1063 l 2 s - ? d .,

compared with £ 101893 . lid . in the previous year . The report having been adopted , Bro . ALLSI'O KU proposed the re-election of Bro . Lord as Treasurer of the fund . He remarked that the manner in which Bro . Lord had piloted the Institution through difficulties and troubles until it had reached its present satisfactory position , was worthy of the highest

praise . His zeal in the cause was incessant , and a better or more attentive and hard-working Treasurer they could not possibly have . Bro . Fifi . raRU , who seconded the motion , said there were no brethren in the province who had a higher appreciation of Bro . Lord ' s valuable services than those at Exeter , and they all hoped that the fund would

have the benefit of his trained experience for many years to come . The motion was carried unanimously . On the motion of Bro . GRKGORY , seconded by Bro . BIRD , Bro . Gover was unanimously re-elected as Secretary , and both the mover and seconder bore testimony to the great personal interest which Bro . Gover had

taken in the fund ever since its establishment . Bro . LORD proposed , and Bro . LAVERS seconded , the re-election of Bro . Dillon as Assistant Secretary , Bro . Lord speaking in the warmest terms of the valuable services which Bro . Dillon rendered . This motion was also unanimously passed . Bros . E . J . Knight and W . Powell were elected as Auditors ; the Finance Committee was re-elected , and

the Educational and Genera ) Purposes Committee was also appointed . A motion stood on the agenda in the name of Bro . J . Moysey , P . P . J . G . D ., '' That every subscriber of five shillings for three consecutive years , and still continued , shall be entitled to two votes at every election instead of one . " In the absence of Bro . Afoysey , the proposition was brought forward by Bro . GOVUK , who remarked that although thc alteration would probably

Devon Masonic Educational Fund.

entail much extra work upon himself and his colleagues , yet he believed it would encourage a much larger number of members to subscribe to the fund than did so at present . It was pointed out , on the other hand , tbat such a rule , if adopted , could not be confined to five shilling subscribers only , but would involve a rearrangement of the whole voting power in the case of

Life Governors as well as of annual subscribers . A further objection was that the existing by-law would have to be repealed before such a motion could be entertained . In deference to the objections raised Bro . Gover withdrew the motion . Bro . E . H . S HORTO next moved " That in future a report and financial statement be printed and circulated

annually . " He said he thought if this were done members of the Order would be induced to take a greater interest in the fund , because they would have before them more frequently than was at present the ' case tbe character of the work which the Institution was doing . There were many who would be willing to subscribe to benevolent objects , but who needed to be

reminded from time to time of their existence . The proposition met with general approval , and was unanimously agreed to . The next business was the election of two children on the fund . There were nine candidates for the two vacancies , and of this number one candidate—a child of a deceased member of Lodge Dundas ,

Plymouthhad 411 votes standing to his credit from the last election , while the other , from Tiverton , had 195 votes to his credit . Neither , however , was successful , the large majority of votes , 7 65 , going to the daughter of a deceased member of St . George's Lodge , a very old supporter of the fund of which he was a Life Governor , and 765 votes to the daughter of an Exeter brother

who had failed in business , and whose wife and children were in needy circumstances . The votes carried forward for the other candidates ranged from 546 down to ' 15 . In view of the unusually large number of applicants to the fund it was suggested that three , and if possible four , candidates should be elected in October instead of

only two . Both before and after the meeting the visitors from a distance were most hospitably entertained by the W . M . and brethren of John the Baptist Lodge , under whose banner the meeting was held , and a very hearty vote of thanks was passed to them for their generous kindness .

The " Waistell Ms."

THE " WAISTELL MS . "

( Continued from page 1 S 6 ) . When this Assembly was Charged he made a Cry that all Masons y t had any writing or undrstanding of the Craft that were made before in his Land y t they should shew them & there was brought iii some in Greek & some in Ffrench & Lattine and some in English & some in other Languages & the intent by them was found and he commanded a Booke there to

be made how the Craft was first found & commanded it should be Read and told where any Masons should be made & to give him his charge & from that time Masons have kept in this forme & order as well as men might govern it and further more att private assemblies there hath been added to it diverse Charges more & the Masters and fellows advices .

Tunc Unus ex Semonbo teneat Libru & ille vel il li ponunt manus super Libru et tunc preceptu Debeat Legem etc . Every man y t is a Mason looke to yrselves if y » be guilty of any of these charges yt y" amend againe and especially y" that are to be Charg'd take heed that yu

keep the Charge for it is a great P'ill for a man to forswear himself upon a Book . The ffirst Article of yo' Charge is y" shall be true to God & the Holy Church & that yu use no heresie nor error to y Undrstanding . Secondly yu shall be true Leigemen to the King

without treason or fashood , and that yu shall know no treason but that yu shall amend if yu can or Else warn the King or his Conseil of it . Thirdly y" shall be true one to another Vizt to every fellow and master of the Craft of Masonrdy y t be Masons allowed y' y" doe to them as y would they

should do unto y" also that Every Mason shall keep true Lodge & Chamber & all other Counsel y t ought to be kept by way of Masondry . Ffourthly yu shall be true to ye Lord & master whom yu serve & truely to seek his P'fitt & advantage . Ffifthly you shall call Masons yr fellows & Brethren & noe other foul Word neither shall y » takey fellows

in villanie nor ungodly his Wife or his Daughter in Adultery nor fornication . Sixthly that y" shall pay truly for yr table & meat and Drink where y" goe to board . Seaventhly that y doe no villany in y t house whereby the Craft may be slandrd . These be the Charges in generall y t Evry free Mason should hold both Mast ' rs & fell :

The Charges wh doth belong both to y Masters & fellows viz ' Imprim * * that noe fellow shall take any Lords work or other but he knowing himself able and cuning to P'form y same so y t the Craft may have noe

disworship & the Lord may be well & truely served . Secondly that noe Master take any work but that he take it reasonably so that the Lord may be served truly wh his own goods & the Masf to have honestl y & pay his fell : truly their pay as ye manner of ye Craft Requires .

The " Waistell Ms."

. Thirdly that no Master or fellow shall Supplant others vizt : If they have taken any Work or Stand Master of a Lds Work y shall not put him out If he can finish the same . Ffourthly y noe mason nor fellow shall take any

Apprentice to be allowed on for less than seaven years & that ye App etice be able of his birth aud limbs as he ought to be . Ffifthly that noe Master nor fellow shall take any allowance to be made Masf w ' out the Consent of h ; ffellows five or six at the least .

Sixthly he that shall be made Mason shall be free born and of a good Kindrd & noe bondman & shall have all his Limbs as a man ought to have . Seavently y t noe master shall put any Lords work to task y t use to goe Journey . Eightly y t no fellow shall give any penny to his fellow bnt as he deserve it soe that he be not deceived wh false workmen . ¦ ' -. ' .-

Ninthly that noe fellow shall sland r anothr behitrd his back to make him loss his good name or worldl y goods and alsoe y t noe fellow . w'hin ye Lodge or w'hout may answer his fellow Disrespectively w . 'h out a Reasonable Cause . Tenthly noe mason shall play at hazard or othr play whereby theye may be slandr'd . lithly Noe Mason shall beacomon Rebell in Lechery Master be slandrd

to moke y . I 2 thly Noe fellow shall enter ye Town in the night time where is a Lodge of ffellows w'hout a ffellow wh him y he may that he may bear witness y t be was in an honest house or place . ij thly That Every Master or fellow come to ye As . sembly if it be w'hin five miles about him if he have warning and there stand att ye Reward of his Mastr and fellows .

14 'hly Every Mason shall prefer his fellow and put him to Worshipp . I 5 tbly Every Mastr or fellow if he have trespassed shall stand at ye Reward of his Mast ' rs & fellows if he or they make them account and if they may not accord then goe to the Common Assembly . i 6 thl > ' That no mason shall make any mou'

or rule to any rough layer . i ^ thly Noe Mason wh iswthin a Lodge or whoutshall set or lay mould scond whout mould of his own making . iSthly Evry Mason shall receive strange masons or fellows w they come ovr the Country as set them on Work as y ordr is ( vizt ) if he have mould scondr to

place : he shall sett him 2 weekes at the least in work & g ive him his hire & if there be noe scondr for him yn to refresh him with money to bring him to ye next Lodge . ipthly And alsoe all Masons shall be true in their work be it by task or Journey & truly make an end of ye work y t they may have their pay as they ought to have it .

THE APPRENTICES CHARGE . lmprm s That he shall be true to Gid and his Holy Church & the King and his m' whom he shall truly

serve . 2 * "y That he shall not pick away his Mr or M ** goods nor absent himself from their Srvice nor goe from y about his own pleasure by day or by night without licence . 3 dly He shall keep Counsell in all things spoken in Lodge or Chamber by any Mastr fellow or free Mason

he shall not keep any disobedient argumt against any ; nor disclose any . secrett whereby any Difference shall arise amongst masons dr fell ; or apprntices but reverently to behave himself to all free masons being swort brethren to his s Mr . 4 thly That he doe not comit Adultery nor fornication in his Mrs house wh his M's daughtr or Srvintt . oi

sfhly Hee shall not use any Carding or diceing other unlawfull games nor haunt any Tavrns nor Aile * houses there wasting his mistrs goods without Licence . fithly Hee shall not Comit adultery in any mans houst where he shall have worked or be Table .

y thly He shall not purloin nor steal the Goods of any prson or Consent thereto ; nor willingly suffer harm ot shame During his sd Apprentishipp but to withstand the same to y- utmost of his powr & Thereof to inform his sd maist or some other ( ree Mason with all possiM & convenient speed . '" HENRY " FINIS KIPLING 1693 .

Scriptitm /> ' * me Hcnricm Kipling De vicessimo tertio die J any ano Don- It *!* . * - Fhese For my Cosen John Kipling with my kind love to him p ' rsented .

The above has been transcribed by me from original document in the possession of Bro . C » a . Waistell , P . M . & P . Prov . Gd . Regr . of N . & H- ^ ^ WILLIAM WATSON . Leeds , 29 th Feb ., 1892 .

The Theatres.

The Theatres .

There is nothing astonishing , even in . 'K g fact financial times the theatres are undergoing , " > ^ that "The Mountebanks" has from its incept on fi , ~ iA „ , ; ., » » ,. Mr H ««» < 5 oAap-r at the UJ \ -I , goia mine 10 mrnorace oeogei •0

„ a . ^ t ) , ug " " Dorothy " was to Mr . Leslie a few years ago , . ,, we scarcely think itsduration willbe as- onS ? " !* N " as was Mr . Cellier ' s other popular compos "' ' , ( j ( a # « doubt the big houses " The Mountebanks felt at , I , e I is in some way on account of the sympathy