Order Of The Secret Monitor.

Order of the Secret Monitor .

/ lfoetvopolitan meetings . Alfred Meadows Conclave ( No . i ) . — A meeting of this conclave was held on Tuesday , the 12 th inst ., at the Holborn Restaurant , when there vvere present Bros . J . Lewis Thomas , P . G . S . R ., acting S . R . ; J . Collins , P . G . C ; C . J . Al . Bastone , P . G . Gdr ., G . ; R . Gross , AI . D ., P . G . Gdr ., Sec . ; I . Zacharie , G . S . R . ; Baron de Ferrieres , P . G . S . B . ; Dr . G . Harley Thomas , P . G . S . B . ;

W . J . Spratling , G . R . ; Dr . Kempster , Dr . Samson , and many others . A telegram from the S . R ., Bro . Col . Perry Godfrey , was received , regretting his unavoidable absence through indisposition . The conclave having been opened , the Secretary read a letter announcing the death of Bro . the Rev . G . VV . Weldon , P . G . V . D , The S . R ., in moving that a letter of condolence be sent from the conclave to the bereaved relatives of the

late brother , spoke in feeling terms of Bro . Weldon ' s connection vvith the Order , and how he threw into it all the devotion and energy of his character , never omitting an occasion to recommend in his own fervid eloquence the principles of disinterested friendship , which it is the peculiar object of the Order to inculcate . Thc conclave vvas then closed , and thebrethren adjourned to a splendid banquet , presided over by the acting S . R ., Bro . Lewis Thomas , supported by the G . S . R .

Wakefield Masonic Literary Society.

WAKEFIELD MASONIC LITERARY SOCIETY .

A most interesting and successful meeting of this Society was held at the Masonic Hall , Zetland-street , Wakefield , on Tuesday , the 29 th ult . The occasion was looked upon as one of special importance , as the Prov . G . AL , Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P ., P . G . D . England , had intimated his intention to be present , in order to identify

himself vvith the Society , whicb we are pleased to hear is showing great vigour , and to deliver an address from his chair as President . Bro . Tew , ever wishful to promote and extend true Masonic principles , ever ready to help by hand or heart any movement having for its object the advancement of the Craft , over whom he is

so able ancl popular a ruler , at once , when invited to do so , accepted the office of President of the Wakefield Masonic Literary Society . Unfortunately , owing to his absence on the Continent , the P . G . M . vvas unable to be present at the May meeting , but declared his willingness to inaugurate the winter session . It was to do this

that the Society met . Amongst those present , in addition to the President , were Bros . H . Smith , P . G . D . England , D . P . G . M . ¦ A . W . Stanfield , P . P . G . R . ; C . L . Mason , P . P . G . Treas . ; H . Oxley , P . P . G . Treas . ; IT . France , P . P . G . D . C ; J . Matthewman , P . A . G . Sec . ; the W . AI ' s of the three

Wakefield lodges . * Bros . Bolton , 154 ; Hargreaves , 495 ; and Ash , 1019 ; together with a numerous bod y of brethren from Wakefield and neighbourhood . The proceedings were commenced by Bro . MATTHKW - MAX , who briefly explained the circumstances of the election of the President in May last , and his inability

to come amongst them until tbat day , and concluded b y offering , in the name ofthe members , a hearty welcome to Bro . Tew on his first appearance as their President . Bro . Tew then took the chair , and conducted the business part of the proceedings . The minutes of last meeting were read by one of the

Secretaries , Bro . H . A . CHII . DE , and letters of apology and regret for inability to attend were mentioned . ' The PRESIDENT then gave the following address : Brethren , —Permit me to assure you that I am deeply sensible of your kindness in according to me so friendl y a welcome to your Masonic Literary Society . I esteem

it a great compliment to be invited here this evening to address so learned and erudite a body of Alasons . 1 recognise vvith gratitude the compliment you havc paid me in asking me to take a part , although a very small one , in the proceedings of your Society . It appears , at the instigation of Bro . Matthewman , a resolution w . is

passed in the Lodgeof Sincerity , No . rotg , in March last , for the purpose of calling a meeting of the Wakefield Masons , numbering some 140 , to consider the propriety of forming a Masonic Literary Society . Resolutions were passed instituting the Society , and laying down the basis upon which it should be conducted , and

a President , Vice-Presidents , and Committee nominated , Bros . J . Matthewman and IT . A . Childe acting as Secretaries . As your nominal President , Jet me say I deeply sympathise with the objects of this Society . They aspire in large measure to foster those ideas vvhich for the past 14 years I have , vvith my Provincial

Grand Officers , tried in the Provincial Grand Lodge , addresses , lectures , and consecration orations , to promul gate in the minds and hearts of the brethren of this province , to take Masonry out of its rutty and dry routine of the formal ritualism of the various Degrees , and to stimulate a burning desire to inquire into the

history , archreologyandessence of Masonry , toendeavour to solve or explain the many anachronisms and difficulties which are constantly presenting themselves to the minds of thoughtful Masonic students ancl searchers after light ancl truth and knowledge . I have found many a novitiate vvho joins our Order has perhaps

not the time or accessible means to master the speculative and symbolic meanings of the various Degrees . To him the ritual jeems alf that Alasonry has to offer . It begins with ceremony in darkness and ends at the social board , and in time , tired of its monotony , or wearied b y the failure of those W . M . ' s who rush the ceremonies through without dignity or impressiveness .

Wakefield Masonic Literary Society.

he first declines to attend his lodge , then gets into arrears , and then loaves the Fraternity a disappointed Mason . To make him realise the idea of true Masonry , that it is beautiful in its allegories , profound in its speculative teachings , as well as operative in its practices in its manifestations to the outside world , ancl that its

moralit y is love to God and love to man , that it "would make the whole world a lodge ancl every man a brother , " is the very essence of the Order ; ancl add to this the distinguishing characteristics of a Freemason ' s heart , Charity , which , " like its twin sister Mercy , blesses him that gives as well as him that receives . ''

Then in these wide fields of thought of speculative and philosophical Freemasonry is there , not enough to entrance the novitiate ' s mind , and if he be disappointed may not the fault be in his lodge and W . M . neglecting to use every opportunity lo place him in possession of means of enabling him to become enamoured of our

system of brotherhood , -morality , and philanthropy . To satisfy the Master Mason after he has gone through the Three Degrees should be the bounden duty and study of every W . M . of a lodge , and by interesting him in the ancient archeology and history of the Craft , and the symbolisms of the Order , he ancl the Masonic

body could not fail to retain the sympathies of such newly-made Alason , whom they might otherwise have lost . To enable W . M . ' s to accomplish this important end , and to get out of crabbed ancl narrow text-books , which are the bane of Masonry , I ancl my officers are trying hard to follow the example of the Grand Lodge

of England and the Lodge Quatuor Coronati by the establishment , at the secretarial office of West Yorkshire in Wakefield , of a valuable and comprehensive library for reference and study , and for the acquisition of historical and archaeological Masonic knowledge . The importance of a lodge library has long been

recognised b y all Masonic students . This need has at last been felt in English Masonry . Our German and American brethren are ahead of us in this respect . Libraries have been established in various places , and societies , of vvhich this in Wakefield is amongst the very earliest in West Yorkshire , havc been founded ,

one of our great pioneers in this direction being Bro . T . B . Whytehead . If " Masonry is a progressive science , " it must follow the march of intellect , ancl in this inquiring age must extend its researches " into the more hidden mysteries of nature and science , " and become an association of brethren for theadvancement of

science , philosophy , and symbolism . The Wakefield lodges are alive to these matters . I am glad that Wakefield Masons are taking an intelligent share in Alasonic intellectual inquiry . Wakefield being the centre of the province , having the secretarial office and library here , offers important facilities for the perusal of

Masonic study and research . To the studious and thoughtful Mason , lectures , addresses , and essays delivered intelligently , accurately , and modestly , are of inestimable value to young and olcl Alasons alike . B y their aid the true principles of Masonry can be clearl y mastered , and much that is puzzling to novitiates

rendered interesting and significant . By these means the brethren can qualify themselves for office in the Craft , especially for the highest and most responsible position in the lodge—that of W . M . Thus they may learn that virtue , honour , and mercy , in one word , brotherl y love , divinely inspired , is the spirit of a Mason ' s profession , and thus they may attain that

intellectual tone which should pervade every member of a lodge so that he may become worthy of those of whom King- Solomon said , " O ! worthy Masons !" It is a proud satisfaction for your Prov . Grand Alaster to realise in such an influential gathering as is here assembled , that Freemasons in Wakefield are doing so much to cultivate and disseminate Masonic knowledge . Since I laid the foundation-stone of this hall on the

26 th Alay , 18 S 0 , the prosperity of the Craft has been very marked , not only by the increase in the number of lodges , but in the larger attendances at the provincial meetings . I have ever tried to make these gatherings interesting to every one of you , and no more- successful Prov . G . Lodge has been held than

that 111 the Town Flail of this city in April , 188 S . Another instance of the prosperity of the Craft in this province is that , during the past 14 years , I have been connected with you , numerous lodges , which previousl y met at outside places , have obtained halls or rooms of their own . We have now 75 lodges , and I am proud

to say that with all this increase the homogeneous individuality of the province is perfect and complete , its harmony sublime , and its benevolence unbounded . If public opinion be " the nearest approach to irresistible power" does not the Craft in this province exhibit to-day the spectacle that " Unity is irresistible

strength ? " The strength of Masonry lies in the determination of every individual member to make the philosophy and morality of the Institution an education to his character and a discipline to his mind . But do we Masons know anything about education , physical , intellectual , and aesthetic , of which the ancient

Greeks have not taught us at least the rudiments : Are vve really more educated than they were ? They were masters of the seven liberal arts and sciences of our Second Degree . Are there not some of these branches of education which they perfected once and for ever ; Have they not bequeathed to us the famous mysteries of Ceres , the same in relation to Iris in Egypt , and

did they not divide these mysteries into the greater ancl the lesser ? These , especially the greater , were mysteries of probation , and they have left us modern Masons to fathom ancl to master , to follow or not to follow their example of imitation and probation alike in their organisation and reception . Pythagoras discovered the true system of the Universe , and the founda-

Wakefield Masonic Literary Society.

tion of all proportional geometry , and Plato has con veyed to us the knowledge of his doctrine by means of geometric symbol . To produce health—that is har mony , sympathy , proportion , and grace in every facult v of mind and body—that was their notion of education These heroic souls in old times had no more oppor

tunities than we have , but they used them . There were daring deeds to be done—they did them . Are there none novv ? Sacrifices to be made . Are there none novv ? Wrongs to be redressed . Are there none now ' Charity and Benevolence to be exercised to the widow and the orphan . According to their philosophy they

did them . Let every Mason follow their examples , and so educate his mind and train his heart in these days of philanthropy and philosophy , that he may do what is right and nothing else , and it will not be long ere his brow is stamped with all that goes to make up the heroical expression , vvith noble indignation , noble self .

restraint , great hopes , perhaps great sorrows ; in three words he will realise what is meant by * ' Brotherly love , relief , and truth . " The Greeks had sacrificial ritual ; so have vve ceremonial ritual . They ha () operative works—so have vve . They had speculative philosophy—so have we ; but our speculative Masonry

is to mnster their inductive reasonings . They used architectural symbols ; so do we use our working tools symbolically in our lodges , and apply them to our morals . What is Masonic ritual ? It is said we have 10 S rites and 1400 grades ; but many of them are clearly only quasi-Masonic , and some not Masonic at all

Here is a wide field for Masonic research into the origin ancl history of solemn ceremonials . The day is not far distant when there may be but one ritual for all Anglo-Saxon Masons . This is worth striving after and societies like this should aim for the unification of ceremonial in all Degrees . In the beauty

and perfection of their temples , the Greeks showed operative and constructive genius of the most sublime order ; ancl their statuary attained the highest degree of sublime ideal perfection and excellence . They exerted in these departments of science their knowledge of power , physical , mechanical

ancl moral , vvhich , in later times , operative Masons have done well to imitate and follow . In secret and mystic fellowship vve were in the middle ages banded together , and raised mi ghty buildings in our country ancl elsewhere , at which vve marvel even novv . Are there not sermons in symbolisms latent , in everyone of

their carved stones and images of saints ? But as Masons are not so much operative , but rather " free , accepted , and speculative , " vve apply the working tools of the ancients to our morals . Speculative Freemasonry , after many struggles , proclaims , with unfaltering tongue , the great lessons which Worshi pfnl

Masters should ever teach of reli gious reverence , toleration and benevolence , and asserts the absolute necessity of moral living , and the ceaseless claims of open-hand S . Charity . Let novitiates realise that it declares itself to be a cosmopolitan , loyal , peaceable , Jehovah-fearing , law-abiding brotherhood , the resort of good men and

true , and let Worshi pful Masters make the lodge a centre of intellectual li ght and devout aspiration after " whatsoever things are honest and of good report , " the then newly-made intelligent Masons vvould not lind Masonry a weary monotony , or the attendance in lodge a misery . Of reli gious education , in our sense of thc

word , the Greeks had none . They knew not " the unknown God . " But in the application of the working tools of the Master Mason ' s Degree to our morals , we are admonished the "Holy writings , " vvhich are records of Masonic li ght , and can guide us into all truth . We are to learn from them , and teach others how to form

our bodies into temples of happiness b y reducing to practice the whole duty of man . Masonry teaches this , that the first ancl last business of every human being , whatever his station , parts , creed , capacities , tastes , duties , is morality , virtue , virtue always virtue . Nothins * that man can ever invent vvill absolvp a Mason

from the universal necessity of being good , as Jehovah is good : just , as Jehovah is just : holy , as Jehovah is holy , so that being of mature age , the Mason may be a just , moral , and upright man—perfect in all his parts . After these things , ritual , operative and speculative Alasonry , and the philosophy of Masonry , comes the

theory of symbolisms . To give li ght and meaning and connection to acknowledged facts _ whether abstract or material , vvith which vve have to do . The symbolism of the news , so largely imparted into our ceremonies , vvas one of the most striking features of their religion-Symbolism in the Olcl Testament was the " mine of

the fathers . " Symbolism vvith Masons is a princip le ancl a passion . Masonic symbols carry us from the thing itself to the thing signified . As , for instance , in the Royal Arch , " the glory on the centre , " the symbol of glory , and represented also b y the blazing star , symbolising the irradiating glory of T . G . A . O . T . U . Are

there not seven symbolic lodges terminating in ''" - " 33 rd Degree of " Supreme Council ? " We , to-nig ht , in the Three Degrees , form the first of the symbolic lodges . . Take the first gracie in Masonry where the novitiate pledges himself under the care of a WMaster for instruction in art , science , ancl p hilosophy * social

herein lie is moved to exercise those moral ancl virtues vvhich become mankind as the servants or the Great Architect of the World , in whose image vve wore formed at the beginning . The Entered Apprentice hasp " upon him the apron , the peculiar badge of the speculate Mason . Its oriin is of deep and mystical significa ' *

g O L J < J . Q Here there is much instruction for a W . M . to g " „ his Entered Apprentices . Even the word " 1 °° S ? deserves a lecture to itself . May the word not Roman in its original use ? Does it symbolise the a - of the covenant , or , as I think , the ark of Noah pr