Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS G 47 Consecration of the Qneen ' s Westminster Lodge , No . 203 t ... 7 . 6 4 S Consecration of the Afethucn Chapter , No . 1 S 33 , at Marlborough , Wilts 6 40 St . Botolph's Lodge , No . 2020 6 49 The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ( Continued ) 6 49

CoRRESPONnENCEThe Election of Grand Treasurer 6 < $ The Mughan Testimonial 6 ' ^ Grand OHicers G 53 The Temple G 53 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ... 653 The Prince of Wales and the Mark Degree . ' Oss A Caution to Masonic Knights Templar 653 Reviews G 53 Notes and Queries ; G 34

Board of Benevolence G 54 Dedication of a New Masonic Hall at Goole GJ 4 Consecration of ( he Urania Mark Lodge , at Louth 6 ; j Obituary 6 ; j REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry , 6 JJ Instruction G ^ q

Royal Arch GGo Mark Masonry Goi Ancient and Accepted Rite G 61 Knights Templar G 61 Red Cross of Constantine 662 The Cremation of the Body of the Late Bro . Captain Hanham 6 G 2 Masonic and General Tidings 66 3 The Theatres GG 4 Lodge Meetings for Next Week GG 4

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CHRISTMAS will be here once again before we are permitted to greet our readers in our hebdomadal issue . At the end of a very agitated year , with the papers abounding in crimes and uneasiness on every side , with wars and rumours of wars , Christmas seem to appear in our world to bid for a short space the outcome of human passions be still , and

to introduce the peaceful and smiling associations of kindly fellowship and loving association , to soothe , to soften , to restrain us all . Christmas , like as in olden days , seems to speak with seraphic voice in accents of tenderness and pity for our race , of love and good-will to man . Christmas serves stiil at any rate happily to throw over the often dim and harassed pathway of

earthly existence gleams of unearthly brightness , to cheer and uplift us amid the glooms of surrounding time , and to invest all of earthly friendship , family association , or festal companionship with those better emotions of a divinely implanted sympathy which still can move , can elevate , can rejoice us all alike . To how many of us Christmas is a needed rest ,

a well earned holiday , a happy asscmbty of old and young , a pleasant meeting of long tried males , a joyous grouping of youthful associates . And in so far and inasmuch as Christmas serves to develope the better and kindlier courtesies which are so good for us all to realize and listen to , to demonstrate friendships still happily surviving the wear and tear of life , to

be marked by a genial hospitality , to encouragethe innocent joys of childhood or the pleasant distractions of mature years , so far so good . Let us welcome it , and cherish it , and use it for all good and kindness and benevolence . As we do not profess to be writing a sermon we need not introduce here either seasonable cautions or appropriate warnings . Suffice it to say that we wish "A Merry

Christmas , " ( following a good old formula ) , to all , old and young , all that health can offer , all that affection can illustrate , and all that truehearled pleasure can impart . We will also hope that all will enjoy the Christmas gathering " high and low , rich and poor , one with another . " The beneficence of our age which never " slumbers or sleeps , " is just now busily

employed in seeking to enable various and contented classes to enjoy their Christmas Days of rest and relaxtion . May all of success crown their efforts , and may the contented smiles of old age , the cheerful hilarity of middle life ,

and the gay and joyous voices of childhood help materially as it were to swell the echoes of that sublimest strain , as it still is borne from sea to sea , and shore to shore , " Glory to God in the Highest , and on earth peace , good will towards men . "

* * # WE arc gradually drawing near the close of another civil year , and with it naturally seems to end also much of Masonic work , as well as the weekly record of the Freemason . It is an affecting thought , this passing away of Time , this summing-up , so to say , year by year of words and works , of

teaching , of developement of Masonic ritual , of Masonic practice . A few more years and then our names are forgotten , our " place on earth welcomes us no more . " Nothing is lasting , nothing enduring , here . The orations of the orator and the knowledge of the expert Mason and the profound ritualist , the theories of the learned philosopher , the historian , lhe essayist , the science of the student ,

all seem to float onwards on the hurrying stream of time , and if tor a short time we converse with those who live on the banks of the flowing river , it is only for a very short time , and we and all equally pass on unnoticed and unknown , amid the noisy , restless , disappearing crowd of men . We are led on to these reflections by the rapidly moving record of another year of the work

and progress of the Freemason . In so far as it has ministered to Masonic leaching and duty ; in so far as it has upheld Masonic fairness , toleration , and truth ; in so far as it has neither yielded to arbitrary dogmata , or pandered to " veiled sedition " : in so far as it has manfully unfurled the

good , old Masonic banner of Masonic forbearance and consideration for all , encouraging Literature , helping Charity , and diffusing Light , let us all join in hearty aspirations for its larger measure of usefulness and circulation in 1884 , Whatever its merits or demerits may be in the eyes of some , it has

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certainly since its foundation by its publisher and proprietor in 1 S 6 9 never sought to minister to a party or gratify a clique . It is still , as ever , open to all , to the restraining voice of authority , to the reasonable accents of complaint ; and its " raison d ' etre" would pass

away , if ever it yielded to the seductions of faction , or subserved the cause of personal antagonism or personal ambition . Guided still by its old principles of action and duty , it is not unfair or unreasonable , with the close of 18 S 3 , still further to predicate for it a course ol utility , popularity and effective reality in 18 S 4 .

* THE more we think of that foolish act of the Grand Chapter of Quebec which we noticed last week , the more we are saddened with it , especially at this Christmas season . At this period of universal peace and goodwill , and which ought to develope our Masonic forbearance and consideration to the

fullest extent , it seems a subduing and humiliating fact for a Freemason to realize , that in a moment of hasty , ungovernable , vmquestionabletemperjora twopenny-halfpenny affair at the most , the Grand Chapter of Quebec , imitating the folly and wickedness of some other allocutions , al'fccts to excommunicate all English Mark Masons in Quebec . Anything more absolutely childish or

insane 111 1 S 8 3 we cannot well affect to realize , and it will be laughed at all through Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry . Like the jackdaw of Rheims , the Mark Masons in Quebec will probably be none the worse , even perhaps the better , for this stupid developement of perverse fatuity . And then conies the climax . It is now more than doubtful whether the Grand Lodge of Quebec

or the Grand Chapter of Quebec are anything more in the eyes of the law of the land than illegal secret associations . As Freemasons it is doubtful whether they ought to meet in lodge or chapter any more until legalized , as it is the abiding Canon of Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry , that Freemasons cannot meet in lodges unless legally , —that is , unless sanctioned by the laws

of the land . And here we drop a veil over the most silly and un-Masonic act of 1 S 83 , which has done great despite to the true spirit of Freemasonry , and made its progress , its professions of peace , sympathy , and goodwill a jest and a bye-word for the whole Anglo-Saxon Fraternity and the world

at large . H . R . H . the Prince of WALES was installed as Past Grand Master of the Order a few day sago , and then we have this undignified outburst of petty hostility and offensive petulance to deal with and discuss . We are very sorry for those advisers who could encourage such a senseless and un . Masonic act .

* * # LET the Freemason , now of good Masonic standing , offer a few timely words of kindly caution , especially at this peaceful season , to would-be partisans and combatants all the world over . In England we are at peace , perfect peace . We are proud of our GRAND MASTER ; we are contented with our

position as the leading Grand Lodge of the nations of the earth ; and we can point with justifiable gratification to the historical position and admirable outcome of our English Freemasonry . At all times , in all places , it inculcates reverence for GOD and love for man , loyalty and charity , toleration and peacefulness ; bids , ' us to be good citizens , as well as respectable

members of our family circle , and zealously abide by the landmarks of our genial , our useful , our benevolent , our philanthropic Order . Abroad and in our colonies there seems , if we may judge of a most incautious press , in some parts a spirit of caucus , pettiness , restlessness , agitation , and , we must add , disloyalty , springing up on no conceivable ground , for no

conceivable cause . We wish , therefore , with the penultimate number of the Freemason for 1 SS 3 to express our very decided opinion , and offer our most friendly advice , as most truly and really " amicus curia ; . " We have read some childish speeches and perused some heated words , and have realized thatsome Masons are so un-Masonic , unwise , or insane as to talk of " throwing

off , of denouncing , of excommunicating the Grand Lodge of England . " The recent foolish act of the Grand Chapter of Quebec is but the natural corollary of very imprudent addresses , and very unseasonable and unreasoning proclamations . The Grand Lodge of England , we make bold to say , cares for none of these things . If there is any district which complains of

its forbearing and tolerant rule ; if there be any body of brethren which affects to wish to sever the old links of years , the Grand Lodge of England is the last body in the world to desire to keep recalcitrant members , or discontented alumni . By all means , if such have any grievances , let them ventilate them . The Grand Lodge of England , as ever , is ready to listen

to reasonable complaints , and give heed to legal representations . But it will never yield to menace or mutiny . It stands too securely as before the world , on too elevated a position to heed either the remarks of the ignorant , or the criticism of the intolerant . It laughs to-day at much of that idle clamour which interested persons here and there raise against its prudential course and its time-honoured legality . It is marching straight forward ,