Women And Masonry.

to it . They can't sec why they are shut out and debarred from its privileges . " If the women are not good enough to belong to our Fraternity , " says the pouting fair ones , " will you please tell us why not ? " This is the very trouble , dear madam and miss ; you arc too good . The necessity for your membership does not exist . Of the highest possible good you are the embodiment . Now , Masonry was founded for the express purpose of making men

better—for the Lord knows they needed it . There was abundance of material ready to hand to work on , and Masonry undertook a big contract when she assumed the job . But with the crinolined angels Masonry had no mission , because they were already better than Masonry could ever hope to become , and so you were left out of the programme , with no slight intended . If Masonry ever gets the advance of you in true goodness , you may rest assured

the doors will he thrown wide open , ancl the T y ler will be instructed to oppose nothing wearing back ban ; . But if that ever comes , the prediction goes on record right here , that you will be so fully occupied in taking an inventory of what the candidate has on , that the sublimity and impressivencss of the ceremonies will do you but little good .

The man who said you were kept out because you couldn t keep a secret was the basest kind of a slanderer , and not a married man , or he would have known better . Ask any census taker who ever tried to find out a woman ' s age how well he succeeded , and see if thc good man dpn't heave a sigh and begin talking about the weather right

away . But , though a woman cannot become a Mason in all that the term implies , the close observer of human nature will bear me out when I say that in nine cases out of ten she is the Master of 'the lodge , and no one understands better than she how to wear the apron and call the brethren to refreshment . She may not be able to give the pass word in the due form , but if she don't know how to give the last word

every time , and in all sorts of forms , will some brother please have the kinduess to inform me , at the close of this entertainment , who does ? And when she gives the gripon a man's hair—something has got to give way . Although woman cannot come as an Entered Apprentice to the inner sanctuary , she never fails to enter , heart and soul , into every good work . It is easier—ten thousand times easier—for her to pass another woman on the street

without looking back than it is for her to pass to the Degree of Fellow Craft ; but when it conies to making a " raise " to buy Christmas presents , or pay off a church debt , she is right at home every time , brethren ; and talk about "lectures "—but 1 must draw the line somewhere . Woman ! the divinest work of the Supreme Architect ! The shrine to which all hearts must come ! Poets have gone into rhapsodies over her beautiful eyes , her will has swayed the destiny of nations , and her " won ' t " has kicked

up all sorts of trouble . Kings and princesses have bowed the knee in obedience to her mandates , and the small boy has made woe eloquent when inspired by the slipper swaying to and fro in hcr eleganthand—an emblem , by the way , which she can extract more good from than the Mason of the lodge . Bless the ladies ! We admire them for their many ' graces of mind and peison , respect them for their virtues , and love them—well , just because we can't help it . —Voice of Masonry .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

PANMURE CHAPTER ( No . 720 ) . —The elec tion meeting of this chapter was held at the Horns Tavern , Kennington , on Monday , the 14 th inst . Amongst the companions present were Ex . Comps . Henry Smith , P . Z ., acting M . E . Z . ; R . N . Field , H . ; Samuel Poynter , J . ; James Stevens , P . Z ., S . E . ; Comps . Thomas Meggy , S . N . ; B . R . Bryant , P . S . ; [ . VV . Watts , ist A . S . ; Ex . Comp .

R . H . Harvey , P . / .. ; Comps . H . M . Baldwin , J . S . Terry , Gilbert , and others , and Ex . Comp . H . Thompson , M . E . Z . G 19 . Bro . William Wilkins , of the Burgoyne Lodge , No . 902 , was a candidate for exaltation , and the ballot proving unanimous in his favour , that worthy brother was duly exalted into the Supreme Degree , a noticeable feature in connection with the ceremony being the fact that the Three

Principals and other officers of the chapter are members of the Burgoyne Lodge , from which he hailed . In regard to the working of the ceremony itself , a more perfect rendering of the beautiful ritual we have seldom , if ever , heard . Every officer was perfect in his work , and in consequence his introduction into the R . A . Degree made a strong impression on the newly-exalted companion .

The election of officers for the ensuing year , in each case unanimous , resulted as follows , viz ., Ex . Comps . R . N . Field , Z . ; Poynter , H . ; Comp . Thomas Meggy , J . ; Ex . Comp . James Stevens , P . Z ., S . E . ( thirteenth re-election ); Ex . Comp . Henry Smith , P . Z ., Treas . ; Comp . B . R . Bryant , S . N . ; Comp . J . W . Watts , P . S . ; and Comp . Gilbert , lanitor . Comos . Watts . Baldwin . Tcrrv . and

Arnold were appointed on the Audit Committee . A cordial vote of thanks to Ex . Comp . ( Henry Smith , P . Z ., for his excellent services on this and a former occasion in the absence of the M . E . Z ., was carried by acclamation . Comp . Bryant announced his intention to act as Steward for the Boys' School at thc ensuing festival . A copy of the new map of Masonic lodges and chanters was ordered to

beornvided and handsomely framed for the chapter room , and after some few matters of routine business had been discussed , thc chanter was closed , and tlie companions adjourned to supper . The evening was enlivened by songs and ^ recitations , and the few' toasts given by the acting M . E . Z . received due response , the most noticeable reply beine- tbat of Ex . Comn . Henrv

iiiomnson , M . E . Z . G 19 , the only visitor on this ccasion . who expressed his great pleasure and satisfacwlii 1 * .- 1 C workin 8 ' 'io had heard and witnessed , and „ ; , _ > ln "s opinion , could not have been surpassed . He anr ! lc - ^ 1 < 5 eservcd comp liment to each and every officer , . _ •;**" . ' 'hat although he had been made acauaintcd with

Rm ... _ hat in t ,, e ' " anmure Chapter the perfection of nn ? ; ¦ h ritual was earnestly sought for , hc had nref-, t "agm'ed hc shou , d hear such a careful internotli ! ., 1 1 , cnt , re c-r- _ iony , wi , jc | , |„ - ; n [* ieft JiomvT . ° esired hy those who vis ! ted the chapter . He ceivinrr ¦ ¥ **"" l ° y t ,, e Privilege of attending and reiovabl ? „' en , oyment oi ff ° od , vork - After a most en-* * yd 01 e evening , the companions separated .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft J-Hasottrg ,

CANONBURY LODGE ( So . -., 7 ) . —The installation of Bro . Henry Gustavus Buss as VVorshipful Master of this successful lodge took place at the Albion , Aldersgatestreet , on Thursday , the 10 th inst ., when a goodly number of brethren were present to do honour to our esteemed Asssistant Grand Secretary . The lodge was opened in due form by the VV . M ., Bro . W . H . Stevens , supported by Bros . George P . Gillard , S . VV . ; A . J . Duff

Filer , Past Grand Sword Bearer , Treas . ; H . G . Buss , Sec ; J . G . Chancellor , P . M ., P . G . S . ; J . Llewellyn Jones , P . M ., Past G . D . Middx . ; R . H . Dean , P . M . ; J . Douglas Mathews , P . M . ; J . J . Chapman , J . D . ; VV . Maple , P . M ., D . of C . ; W . Pearson , I . G . ; J . G . Ward , F . A . Warner , T . T . Roe , A . Haslett and the following visitors . Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary ; D . W . Pearse , P . G . Registrar Middx . ; Nelson Reed , W . M . 1572 ; J .

Bergmann , VV . M . 1671 ; Fredk . Binckes , P . M . Grand Stewards Lodge ; J . Davis , P . M . 17 , I . P . M . 1794 ; D . H . Jacobs , P . M . 27 ; John Green , P . M . 27 ; T . J . Maidwell , P . M . 27 ; J . J . Avery , P . M . 70 ; George Cooper , P . M . 19 S ; George Drysdale , S . W . 222 ; G . Butler , 55 ; W . Snodin , 157 ; E . Churchill , 1269 ; F . VV . Potter , 1426 ; F . Ducker , 16 S 7 ; Dr . VV . Porter , 1719 ; W . Boswell , 1733 ; and F . A . Kelly , 1524 ( Freemason ) . The only business

before the lodge was the installation , which ceremony was performed in a most able and impressive manner by Bro . ( . Llewellyn Jones , assisted by Bro . W . H . Stevens , I . P . M ., as D . of C . At its conclusion Bro . Buss appointed and invested the following brethren' as his officers for the ensuing year : Bros . G . P . Gillard , SAV . ; A . Leigh , J . W . ( by proxy ); A . J . Duff Filer , P . M ., Treas . ; W . Maple ,

P . M ., Sec . ; J . J . Chapman , S . D . ; W . Pearson , J . D . ; I . G . Ward , I . G . ; and J . G . Chancellor , D . of C . In again investing Bro . Filer as Treasurer , the W . M . remarked that that worthy brother had held the office for twenty-five years . He was the first Master of the lodge , and was elected Treasurer the night his successor was installed . He had fulfilled his duties since to the satisfaction of them

all , and it was his ( Bro . Buss s ) sincere wish that he might be spared another twenty-five years to be among them . A handsome Past Master ' s jewel was then presented to Bro . W . H . Stevens , I . P . M ., by the Treasurer , who , in doing so , said that it had been unanimously voted to him by the lodge , and that he was sure Bro . Stevens would treasure it , not for its intrinsic value , but as a mark of the sincere friendship with which he was regarded by the lodge . The

I . P . M . returned thanks in appropriate terms for the handsome jewel , which , he said , he should look upon as a good passport to any lodge . The brethren subsequently sat down to a sumptuous banquet , provided in excellent style by Bro . W . G . Jennings , and genially presided over hythe VV . M . In giving the first toast—that of "The Queen and the Craft" —Bro . Buss said Her Majesty was laved and adored by her subjects , there being none more loyal than Freemasons . This was

confirmed by the expression made use of by the M . W . G . M . at his installation , " That the watchwords of Masonry were loyalty and charity . " The next toast was "H . R . H . the M . W . G . M ., " in proposing which the W . M . said that no Grand Master had done so much for Masonry as the Prince of Wales , H . R . H . at all times being happy to devote much of his time for the best interests of the Craft . The toast having been loyally received , Bro . Buss said the next would ,

he was sure , be received with the same enthusiasm—it was that of "The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro G . M . ; the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , R . VV . Dep . G . M . ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " The kindness and ability with which these noblemen performed their duties were well known and appreciated , as were also the services of the rest of the Grand Officers , who were always ready and willing to execute their

duties at any time . With this toast he would couple the name of Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , who had honoured his installation by being present , and whose presence afforded him ( Bro . Buss ) the greatest amount of gratification . Bro Col . Clerke had long been associated with the Craft , but , perhaps , had become more widely known since his appointment as Grand Secretary , the duties of which office he performs with that courtesy for which he was so celebrated .

Bro . Col . Clerke , in reply , thanked the brethren for thc kind manner in which the toast had been given and received , and assured them that the manner in which the toast was always responded to afforded the greatest pleasure to the Grand Officers . The Canonbury Lodge was fortunate in possessing in their own circle two such shining lig hts among the Grand Officers as Bros . Buss and Filer . For himself , it had been the greatest pleasure to be present

at the installation of Bro . Buss ; and the brethren were to be congratulated upon having such a Master to preside over them . Bro . Gierke concluded by expressing his best wishes for the prosperity of the Canonbury Lodge . Bro . W . H . Stevens then rose to propose "The Health of the VV . M ., " whicli he did , he said , with feelings of the greatest pleasure , intensified by the fact that Bro . Buss had been associated with them for so long a period . It was with great

satisfaction he proposed the toast , and he was sure it would be received with the greatest pleasure by the brethren . Thc toast having been heartily received , Bro . Nelson Reed favoured the company with a song . In reply , Bro . Buss said hc felt great diffidence in responding to the toast . He had been connected with the lodge twenty-six years , and had acted as Secretary fourteen or fifteen years . Thc present was the first occasion lie had been installed VV . M .

of this lodge , though he had been asked upon some three or four occasions to take the chair , but , always having found younger members aspiring to that proud position , did not avail himself of the honour . Under the existing circumstances he had taken the chair , and feltproudof his position . He would acknowledge that , like " Will o' the VVisp , " he had been led on b y tho hope of at some time filling the chair of the lodge lie had been so long connected with .

Bro . Buss concluded by again expressing his pleasure at being installed , and his intention to do his best to promote the welfare of the lodge . The next important toast was that of "The Past Masters , " the virtues and services of each being described scriatum by Bro . Buss , who called upon Bro . J . Llewellyn Jones to respond and Bro . Stevens to harmonise . The next toast was that of "The Visitors , " in proposing which Bro . Buss said of all the pleasing duties

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

a Master had to perforin there was none more pleasing than that of proposing " The Visitors . " The Canonbury Lodge was never without them , being always pleased and gratified to see a goodly array—he might say , a grand array . Among those present that evening they had some of the greatest luminaries of the Craft , including the Grand Secretary , who had responded to thc toast of the Grand Officers .

There was also Bro . Binckes , so well known as the indefatigable Secretary of the Boys' School , but who was not present representing that estimable Institution . The Canonbury Lodge always supported the Charities without troubling the Secretaries to plead their merits . Bro . Binckes , in the course of an able speech , expressed his indebtedness to the VV . M . for causing him to appear out of

the usual rile of the one specific toast . It was a great relief to him to reply for the visitors ; the number present that evening was sufficient proof of the great hospitality of the Canonbury Lodge . With regard to the W . M . ' s remarks respecting the Grand Master ' s speech at Albert Hall , in which he described the watchwords of Masonry as "loyalty and charity , " he ( Bro . Binckes ) would with all diffidence

add hospitality . He was present at the consecration of the lodge , upon which occasion he had acted as J . W ., and , perhaps , for this reason felt all the more delighted at being one of the honoured guests that evening . Bro . Binckes then , in graceful terms , alluded to the services rendered to the Craft by Bro . Buss , whose name , he said , was respected throughout the Order . The toast next given was that of

" The Treasurer and Secretary , " in introducing which Bro . Buss said Bro . Filer was the first Master of the lodge , and at the expiration of his year of office became Treasurer , which position he had continued to hold lor a period of twenty-five years . He had carefully treasured the funds year after year , always showing a good balance . The Secretary , Bro . Maple , was new to the officebut he was sure

, nothing would be found wanting on his part for the efficient discharge of his duties . Bro . A . J . Duff Filer made an amusing reply , thanking Bro . Buss for the dulcet and beautiful observations he had been pleased to make concerning him . He had been Treasurer since the . commencementof the lodge , and if the manner in which he performed the duties satisfied the brethren he was amply repaid . It

was exceedingly gratifying to him to be re-elected Treasurer , and he would always endeavour to act in that position in the future as he had in the past . He was extremely pleased to see his old friend Bro . Buss in the chair at last , but for Bro . Buss's extreme modesty he would have filled that position long before . Bro . Gillard having replied on behalf of "The Officers of the Lodge . " the toast of "The

Masonic Charities" was given , the " W . M . expressing with what great pleasure it was he ahvays proposed this toast . It was his sincere hope that the Canonbury Lodge would continue to support thc three Masonic Institutions in the future as they had in the past . He ( Bro . Buss ) would represent the lodge at the Benevolent Festival on the 23 rd inst . With the toast were coupled the names of Bros . Filer and Maple ,

Stewards for the Boys' and Girls' School respectively , the first of whom made a most eloquent and able appeal on behalf of the Boys' School , which festival would take place in June . Bro . Maple , in his appeal , made the pleasing announcement that he had already secured one hundred and

thirty guineas for the Girls' School , and hoped to obtain a great many more , so as to reach that position the Canonbury Lodge was noted for . He should leel exceedingly proud to take up a good list , standing , as he did , between two Grand Officers . The Tyler ' s toast brought a most successful and enjoyable evening to a close .

CREATON LODGE ( No . 1791 ) . —On Thursday , the 10 th inst ., this highly respected and rapidly advancing lodge held its usual annual meeting for transacting its business , the most important of which was to instal Bro . John Williams as Master for the ensuing year . All the officers were present at the appointed hour , when the W . M ., Bro . H . J . Johnson , took his position ; Bros . Col . J . Creaton , P . M ., G . Treas ., I . P . M . ; and T . J . Cantle , P . M .,

acting as D . C . Ihe minutes , balance-sheet , and auditors ' report were read and unanimously accepted . The D . C . then presented Bro . J . Williams , W . M . elect , to receive from the hands of his predecessor the benefit of installation , which duty the VV . M . carried out in a most efficient manner , receiving the approbation of the brethren of the lodge , and high encomiums of the many and distinguished visitors present , amongst whom were Bros . Col . Burney , P . G . D . ; T . Fenn , P . G . D . ; J . Lewis Thomas , F . S . A .,

P . U . U . C ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; H . A . Dubois , P . P . G . W . Middx . ; E . M . Lott , P . G . O . Surrey ; W . W . Phil p , W . M . 1 S 6 ; J . W . Waldron , W . M . 1 S 33 ; J Docker , VV . M . _ SS ; S . Jones , W . M . 1 G 24 ; J . Finch , W . M . 186 ; W . Side , W . M . 1507 ; I . Wyer , P . " M . 1314 ; A . Longhurst , P . M . 1423 ; E . Collins , P . M . 733 ; D . Robinson , P . M . 1 S 6 ; J . C . Flatteley , P . M . 1624 ; G . C .

Woodward , P . M . 7 S 0 ; S . Ward . iSG ; R . King , 1624 ; C . Medworth , 159 S ; W . Munday , 1201 ; T . Merchant , 902 ; W . Williams , 902 ; G . fidwards , 1507 ; W . C . Smith , 1 563 ; F . Unite , 55 ; G . Unite , 55 ; VV . Norris , 1602 ; P . Palowker , 1257 ; P . Prickett , 1101 ; J . Hardcastle , 1642 ; W . Williams , 182 S ; J . Chapman , 194 ; H . Bond , 1314 ; and W . Park , 511 .

After the W . M . elect had been duly installed in the chair of K . S ., he , in a most excellent manner invested the following brethren as officers of the lodge : Bros . H . ,. Johnson , I . P . M . ; J . Neilson , S . D . ; J . H . Buck , J . D . ; " E . Thurkle , P . M ., Treasurer ; J . J . Cantle , P . M ., Hon . Sec ; W . Carrington , S . D . ; R . G . Shute , J . D . ; VV . Williams , l . G . ; Jas . Kift , Organist ; D . Ferguson , D . C . ; R . H . Rogers , W . S . ; T . T . Matthews , A . W . S . ; and Woodi / ici

si" - " , . After the addresses had been most impressively delivered , by Bro . Johnson , the lodge was closed in perfect harmony , when all the brethren adjourned to the Crown Room of the tavern , where a most recherche" banquet was served by Bro . Best , which seemed to be thoroughly appreciated by all . After grace being sung the VV . M . proposed '' The Queen and the Craft . " In proposing " H . R . H . the M . W . G . M ., " he said he was only asking the brethren to do

honour to whom honour was due , and hc felt sure having so excellent a personage at its head was one great cause of the success of 1 < reemasonry . In repl y to "The Grand Officers , Present and Past , " Bro . Col , Burney , P . G . D ., said the Grand Officers were always ready to do their duty in Grand Lodge , and willing to assist aany lodge when called upon , but he recommended al ) brethren to assist themselves by attending lodges of instruction , above all the Lodge of Emulation , presided over by Bro . Fenn , P . G . D . The gavel having been entrusted in the hands of Bro . H . J .