Grand Lodge Certificates And Visitors.

inform him that a visitor has the right to admission after due examination , provided hc be personally known to or vouched for by one of the brethren present ( see Book of Constitutions , 150 ) , and therefore we should say the production of a Grand I . odge certificate is not indispensable . A demand

for it would no doubt be likely to arise , however ( and this in any lodge ) , in the event of a visitor being entirely unknown , the context of par 150 reading , " Or until he has produced the certificate of the Grand Lodge to which he claims to belong , and has given satisfactory proof that he is the Brother named in Ihe certificate , & c . "

We were told not long ago by a friend and brother who prides himself on his working that he attended a lodge by invitation , and what Bro . HAYE would call the " ordinary tests " were gone through quite differently to the practice in his own Province . " I could no more have worked my way into that lodge , " said he , " than have read a Greek play . " So that the old

notion that a Iodge cannot refuse admission to a Mason who demands to be proved , might in certain cases defeat its own purposes . We know this idea is still tenaciously held by a few ; but it is advisable to avoid visiting lodges in which we are absolutely unknown . As a rule there is little excuse for any Provincial Officer being without a voucher if he will ask for it ; and

surely Great Oueen-street is not the least likely place to obtain such an introduction as would effectually insure him against annoyance such as Bro . KAYK has experienced . We believe it to be the rule to demand a certificate

only in case a visitor cannot be vouched for . The latter is invariably preferred , and we are disposed to think that neither the Emulation , nor any other lodge in London , holds the production of a certificate indispensable to th ° admission of visitors .

Looking Back.

LOOKING BACK .

Whatever we may think of Freemasonry as Masons , it is clear enough that with its expansion has commenced a desire to modernise it that is not at all satisfactory . Is not this spirit the lever which during late years has been instrumental in the formation of new lodges on " class lines ? " And is it not a remarkable fact that during the last 10 to 15 years other Orders

have been founded , the members of which are Masons , to carry . put the identical principles upon which Freemasonry is founded ? We may indeed be proud of brethren who do these things , but is it a healthy sign that they should be necessary * ' We think not . It would appear that there is in many lodges to-day a class of men who so recently as 20 to 30 years ago

would be forced out under the pressure of Masonic opinion , now they are tolerated . We may say , however , that in those days , if they existed at all , thev were a very small section , so small as to be almost unknown . If we

go much farther back , we have only to look into lodge minutes and by-laws to find that the eighteenth century Mason found much more brotherly love , relief , and truth within his lodge than exists to-day , whatever fault mig ht be found with his habits , moral , social , and general , outside .

We have no doubt a good many old customs and perhaps a few laws have been allowed to sink into disuse since the first Book of Constitutions was printed ; but it would be interesting to know about what period the old office of Hospitaller became unnecessary . The present lodge Almoner is

the nearest to it , but the duties are in but a minor degree the same . The first duty of the old lodge Hospitaller was " to visit all sick and distressed brethren and extend relief , if worthy , " which clearly shows that the "Brotherhood of Masonry " was more of a recognised element than now .

The formation of societies by Masons under other names is a strong proof , and certainly an unwelcome one , that they at least consider the ordinary Masonic lodge but imperfectly fulfils its mission , and we are the more sorry because the active interest of such Masons must necessaril y be concentrated rather on that society which carries out a fundamental Masonic principle , than their own lodge which they think does not .

The difference between the latter eighteenth century and latter nineteenth century lodge seems to us to be that the former was a school , and the latter is the piny ground . The lessons still form the curriculum , because otherwise the na me of Freemasons could not apply ; in theory they may may be said to lie open for the brethren to moralise upon , but in practice they are a closed book through the sheer force of bad example .

" The lessons are there , if you want to learn them ; help yourself , and much good may it do you " was the answer of a W . M . who owned that he was sick of trying to raise the Masonic tone of his lodge , and apparently had lost all hope , even when an opportunity of doing good occurred . But does such Iretfulness deserve success 1

We are not surprised at the complaints which reach us , and should be very glad to feel that they were not justified ; but the effort to improve must begin within the lodge itself , and then only can it succeed . The press is a powerful advocate , but it must not be forgotten that the more a Mason ignores his duties and obligations as such , the less he cares to read a

Mnsonic Journal . There is nothing much more regrettable than the sickly sentimentalism which sees a lodge degenerate and contents itself with lamentation outside . There is not a lodge in England that cannot be reformed if the members set earnestly about it . Example does more than

prerept ; and so unanswerable are the unchangeable principles of the Craft ( which nobody would ever dream of questioning ) that we have known the entire character and status of a lodge completely changed in a few years by the zeal and Masonic example of one member !

When Socrates was asked hts opinion of the works of I Ieraclitus , presented to him by Euripedes ( who knew them to be very obscure ) he said something to this effect : " What I understand of them I find to be excellent ; therefore what I do not understand I believe must be equally good . " Our initiates , almost without exception , are impresssed with this charitable feeling towards Freemasonry , but if , by the example of the older brethren , they are led

Looking Back.

to consider what they have already been taught as mere form and ceremony , are they not likely to regard their lodge ( to go no farther ) as a pious fraud on Society ? We are glad to know that notwithstanding the complaints against the few , the many really know their duty to the Craft , and do it . It is not sufficiently understood that in a lodge a move in the wrong direction is difficult to overcome ; however , the same rule applies also to a good beginning . But the fire won ' t burn without fuel , and Masonry itself may decay through sloth and inanition .

Consecration Of The Benevolentia Lodge, No. 2540.

CONSECRATION OF THE BENEVOLENTIA LODGE , No . 2540 .

This latest of the new lodges was consecrated on Tuesday the 7 th inst ., at Mrs . Gladstone ' s Convalescent Home , South Woodford , by Bro . Edward Letchworth , G . Sec , who was assisted by Bro . Robert Grey , President of the Board of Benevolence , as S . W . ; Bro . Henry Garrod , P . G . P ., as J . W . ; Bro . the Rev . 1 . S . Brownriij-j , P . G . C , as Chaplain ; Bro . T . H . Matthews ,

P . D . G . D . C , as D . C . ; and Bro . Sutton Abbott , as I . G . The other brethren who atttended were Bros . Edgar A . Gibbs , S . W . 1804 ; Walter Latter , 704 , P . P . G . Org . Essex ; ] . Sutton Abbott , jun ., J . D . 2077 ; T . R . Foreman , 1804 ; W . J . Hewett , W . M . 1185 ; C . E . Lloyd , P . M . and Sec . 1185 ; Robert J . Scriven , S . D . 14 S 9 ; W . J . Tylor , iS 9 « ; J . S . Henderwett , W . M . 162 * 5- J . E . Skipper , 2-396 ; W . K . Shipman , 239 6 ; J . I . Skellom , W . S .

1185 ; Louis Alfred Pearce , J . D . 1185 ; Henry Perks , P . M . 209 ; George Chuter , 1373 I Alfred Ford , 171 ; W . C . Farness , 73 ; R . A . Harris , 14 21 ; W . Lucas , P . M . 166 9 ; Fred . G . Bishop , 1056 ; W . H . Jones , Treas . 2077 ; Thomas Ringrose , P . M . 2184 ; Edwd . Mileson , 2484 ; H . Brack , 1804 ; T . H . Lloyd , 2501 ; John Sulley , J . D . 1804 ; W . Chappel , W . S . 1804 ; G . Hooper , P . M . i 486 ; J . Holland , J . W . 1804 ; H- R Moffatt , W . S . 1805 ; F . A . Slater , 1 S 04 ; Edward

Holland , I . G , 1804 ; W . G . Holland , 2291 ; Otto Polenz , S . D . 238 ; C . Feather stone , S . D . 1540 ; F . Ranger , 1278 ; W . F . Keddell , P . M . 1185 ; H . B . Hoi land , P . M . 1076 ; W . J . Scrivener , 1489 ; G . Chatterton , P . M . 1185 ; R . E Fairclough , W . M . 1365 ; J . W . Neave , P . M . 1228 ; Arthur F . Phelps , 1891 ; J H . Howell , 2206 ; E . Gaypoint , 65 ; H . T . Nell , P . M . and Sec . 45 ; W . Banks J . D . 1365 ; A . T . Dimbrell , P . M . 1 *^ 98 ; J . H . Merbett , 19 ; A . R . Green , P . M

1804 ; J . Prentice , P . M . 1185 ; O . Meyer , Jun ., 145 ; Henry Thom , W . M . 1839 ; A . W . Weston , P . M . 1278 ; H . Massey , 160 , P . M . 619 and 1928 ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler : J . Powles West , 1804 ; Henry Times , W . M . 165 ; Alfred Buck , P . M . 4 S 3 i P . P . S . G . W . Essex . The founders of the lodge were Bros . Charles J . R . Tijou , P . M ., P . A . G . P ., W . M . designate ; H . W . Lee , P . M ., S . W . designate ;

H . Ffrench Bromhead , P . M ., P . P . G . S . of W . Essex , J . W . designate ; J . Taylor ; J . W . Gibbs , P . M . ; Ben . Johnson , J . G . Hammond , jun ., P . M . ; A . Glaeser , R . Logan , Sutton Abbott , W . Maxfield Mead , J . Wilson , H . Grimsdall , J . W . Tyler , Basil Stewart , W . T . GrilTtths , Alex . H . Stokes , H . A . Lee , S . Barfoot , H . Lindus , W . J . W . Cole , J . A . Osborn , H . E . Herman , G . S . Manuelle , E . Purkess , and A . G . Shenstone .

The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . F . H . Lloyd , who was assisted by Bros . A . Weston , H . Thom , and A . Scrivener , the Organist , the accompanyist being Bro . Walter Latten , R . A . M ., P . P . G . Org . Essex . The chairs and pedestals , which were very massive and handsome were

presented to the lodge by the Clapton Lodge , that lodge having moved to quarters where all the furniture is provided . The Benevolentia Lodge desired to buy the furniture of the Clapton Lodge , but as Bro . Fairclough , the W . M ., said in the course of the evening , the brethren of the Clapton Lodge thought it would be acting in a truly Masonic spirit if they gave it , and so helped a young lodge on its career .

Bro . LETCHWORTH , after the opening formalities , said it was unnecessary to occupy the brethren ' s time for many moments with any words of his own . They were all aware of the purpose for which they were met . It was a most interesting and solemn occasion , for they were there to start into existence a new lodge ; to constitute it , and to dedicate it to the service of Almighty God , and he would express the hope that the new lodge might

have before it a very prosperous future , that it might be the means of advancing the interests of Masonry in that part of the county of Essex , and that the members of it might be distinguished by their Charity , their good will , and their Benevolence . He thought the name they had selected for the lodge was a very happy one , and he was pleased to think there were so

many connected with the Iodge who were connected with the Board of Benevolence , the President of which had honoured him and the brethren by coming on this occasion . He was sure he was expressing the wish of those who were associated with him in this ceremony when he said he hoped the lodge would have a most happy and prosperous future .

Bro . the Rev . J . S . Bito * , \ NRIGG delivered the oration , in which he dwelt particularly on the practice of benevolence , and the work of the Board of Benevolence , which he was sure in many cases restored brethren to the good position they had occupied before they were reduced to straitened

circumstances . The ceremonies were then continued , and at their termination Bro . Tijou was installed as W . M . of the lodge . Bro . Gibbs , P . M ., was then appointed to act as the I . P . M ., and the other brethren honoured with office were : Bros . H . W . Lee , P . M ., S . W . ; H . Ffrench Bromhead , P . M ., P . P . G . Supt . or Wks . Essex , J . W . ; J . Ta > lor , P . M ., Treas . ; H . Grimsdall , Sec . ; W . P .

Griffiths , S . D . ; J . G . Hammond , jun ., P . M ., Prov . G . Stwd . Essex , J . D . ; H . A . Lee , I . G . ; Ben Johnson , P . M ., D . C ; A . H . Stokes , Org ., * Ii . Purkess , and W . J . W . Cole , Stwd-i . ; and D . Legg , P . M ., Tyler . The Consecrating Officers were elected honorary members of the lodge , and presented with jewels as mementoes of the occasion . The brethren then

made a contribution tothe Convalescent Home in which they were assembled , the W . M . stating that it was doing an immense amount of good in the East End of London , and was much in need of funds . The W . M . was thereafter elected to represent the lodge at the next Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , for wnich he was promised the hearty support of the brethren .

Alter the lodge had been closed the brethren adjourned to the George Hotel , where they partook of an excellent banquet , and honoured the usual

toasts . Bro . HENRY GARROD , P . G . P ., responded to the toast of " The Grand Officers . " Bro . TIJOU , W . M ., proposed ' * The Consecrating Officers . " He said it was really the toast ot the evening , and when he said that , he was not

speaking of the Consecrating Master simply as Grand Secretary or as Consecrating Master , but as a brother and as a man . Many of the brethren had opportunities of meeting Bro . Letchworth ; they met him in his arduous labours very very often . Whenever he met him , whether in the performance of his duties or outside , he was always the same gentleman , and he had no greater friend than he , Bro . Letchworth and Bro . Grey were the two