How To Make Lodge Meetings Interesting.

forced to the conclusion that you cannot force a horse to drink , or a Mason to read . Return , then , to the usage of ancient times , when knowledge was instilled orally and illustrated by symbols . If the Mason will not read , he will listen . Every brother has an attentive ear . Supply the instructive tongue , and you will find him quick and eager to learn . Knowledge quickens the desire for knowledge . When the Mason , who supposed he was

" bright" because he could readily work his way into a lodge , awakes to the fact that the real secrets of a Freemason are unknown to him ; learns that there is a second and third meaning concealed in every symbol on the Master ' s carpet , in every working tool , in scores of clauses of the ritual ; that there is an esoteric reason for every step taken by the candidate , and for ceremonies that he has supposed to be purely arbitrary ; when he learns

that the mere method of wearing an apron may allude to the tetrad , the right-aqgled triangle , or to the compasses elevated above a square ; that an ineffable name is alluded to in passing from the grip of an Entered Apprentice and an omnific word concealed in the names _ of three men of Tyre ; that the cable-tow is but one of several allusions , in our esotery , to the doctrine of the new birth ; that the two parallel lines and the point within a circle refer to a worship that was hoary with age before its

teachings moved Jacob to reverently set up a pillar and anoint it with oil ; that the 47 th problem of Euclid , instead of merely teaching Masons " to be general lovers of the arts and sciences , " is , as Anderson told us a century and a half ago , " that amazing proposition which is the foundation of all Masonry ; " when , I repeat , our "bright Mason " gets an inkling of these things" Wi' mair o' * * * * awfu '

Which , e'en to name wad be unlawfuv and learns that no high rite , no occult Order , has any deep lesson to teach , the very germ and key of which is not to be found—though veiled from unworthy eyes and slothful minds—in the sanctuary of his own Iodge , there is no longer any danger that lodge meetings will not be " interesting ,: to him if they give promise of teaching him " the word that was lost" —of showing

him " the Light that never was on land or sea . " Begin , then—if you would make your meetings interesting , if you would fulfil your whole obligation and perform your highest duty—begin to teach Masonry . Lay aside that overweening desire to change profanes into nominal Masons , and begin to teach your brethren that which they have a right to know—that knowledge of the divine truths of which Masonry has

been the depository for ages , may not perish from the earth . Where it can possibly be avoided , let no meeting pass without some form of Masonic instruction . Study and teach our symbolism . Let Masonic problems of all kinds—history , law , usage , local legislation or what you will —be discussed by appointed brethren and by volunteers . Let well informed Masons , educated or uneducated , deliver written or oral addresses on any

phase of Masonry . Think not that teachers can not be found—in every community will come forth old greybeards who have been chilled into silence by our devotion to mere forms , and scholars who have dropped out of the lodge , disappointed and disheartened by our apparent lack of intellectuality , and will tell our average ritualists things about Masonry which they were never suspected of knowing .

On occasions where formal addresses cannot be secured , let something be read from some old book like Hutchinson ' s ' Spirit of Freemasonry , " or Preston ' s " Illustrations , " or from the old Charges of a Freemason ; or let there be five-minute talks from each of a dozen brethren—the whole enlivened by music and Masonic songs .

fcrom personal experience , some of us know that by means like these and by improvements upon them which their use will suggest , not only will " lodge meetings be made interesting , " but a new interest in our beloved Institution will be awakened ; dormant members will be aroused and will join in our labours ; appreciation of the designs of our Institution will be engendered ; the most intellectual minds of the community will desire to be

enrolled among us , and , above all , a knowledge of the deep meaning of our mysteries and the sublime teachings of our symbolism—now almost forgotten in some quarters—will be imparted , enriching and beautifying our own lives and preserved and passed unimpaired to our successors . So mote it be . —William H . Upon , Deputy Grand Master Grand L ? dge of Washington . From the Masonic Chronicle , U . S . A .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JAMES BRETT , P . G . P . Bro . James Brett—to whose lamented death we referred last week—was initiated in the Domatic Lodge , No . 177 , on the nth September , 1854 , and very soon rose to the chair . In December , 18 55 , he was appointed J . D ., and in 1856 he was advanced to the chair of S . W ., his services thus far being of such a character , that during the year 1858 he presided as W . M . In 186 9 , he was selected to fill the office of Assistant Grand Pursuivant , and the Freemason , in

writing of the appointment , was pleased to speak in the highest terms of commendation of Bro . Brett ' s ability as a Craftsman . " If , " we remarked at the tim " , " untiring persi verance in the pursuit of Masonic knowledge , ability in acquiring it , and inexhaurfrble good humour in imparting it , are just claims to the honours of Grand Lodj e , no living Mason in England can prefer stronger ones than Bro . James Brett . " In 1870 , Bro . Brett was advanced to the rank of G Pursuivant , while the folk win » year—as was the custom in those days—the Grand Master

Obituary.

conferred on him the rank of Grand Officer , and sanctioned his taking his seat on the dais . He was also a distinguished Royal Arch Mason , and in 1871 had conferred on him by the Grand Z . the office of Grand Director of Ceremonies . In this branch of Masonry , moreover , he enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most perfect masters of the ritual . As a supporter of our Charities , he was Life Governor of the three Central Institutions , and had served one- as Steward for

each of them . He was , too , one of the most active members cf the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , in the prosperity of which he took the deepest interest . But in all probability it will be as the Senior Vice-President of the Board of Benevolence that our respected brother will be best remembered . He occupied the position for several years , and there is no one who ever had occasion to be present at the meetings of the Board who did not at once recognise the worth of his services and the exceeding kindness of few

his disposition . He retired from the active pursuits of Masonry a years since , on the death of his wife , but his services are still , and we trust for many years will be , remembered by his brethren . We believe we are correct in stating that Bro . Brett , with his brother officer and Mason—the late Bro . Michael Haydon—are portrayed in Frith ' s celebrated picture of '' The Railway Station . " Among those who sent wreaths or other floral tributes of respect to the memory of our deceased brother were the members of the Domatic Lodge , No . 177 , and of the Whittington Lodge and Chapter , No . 862 .

BRO . C . A . MURTON , P . G . D . Bro . Charles Augustus Murton , the head of the firm of Charles Augustus Murton and Sons , stockbroker , of Threadneedle-street , died at Instow , Devonshire , on Sunday , at the age of 77 . He was a very old member of the Craft , and took a very great interest in the development of Masonry , and was an active

supporter of all its works of benevolence . For many years he acted as Secretary of the Emulation Lodge of improvement , the funds of which , after the small expenses attending its weekly meetings are defrayed , are entirely devoted to the Masonic Institutions . His work in Freemasonry was recognised in 1872 by the then Grand Master , Lord Ripon , who appointed him a Junior Grand Deacon .

BRO . JAMES PITTAWAY . At Toxteth Park Cemetery , on Tuesday morning , took place the funeral of Bro . James Pittaway , of Gresford-street , Sefton Park , a gentleman who during his life was a prominent member of our Order , and held several high positions in the Craft , including that of honorary Secretary of the Alpass Benevolent Institution of West Lancashire . He was 55 years of age when death occurred ,

on the 19 th instant . The Rev . W . M , Barrow , of St . Philemon ' s , conducted the burial service . The chief mourners were Mr . Pittaway ( brother ) , Mr . J . Grave ( brother-in-law ) , Mr . Travis ( nephew ) , Mrs . Grave ( sister-in-law ) , Mrs . Travis ( niece ) , Mrs . R . Grave ( sister-in-law ) , Mr . Manning , Mr . Cox , Mr . J . Sutton , Mr . L . S . Powell , Mr . James , and Mr . Davies . Among the mourners were the following representatives of the Duke of Edinburgh Lodge , No . 1182 , of which the deceased

was P . M .: Bros . R . Wright , W . M . ; H . B . Wright , I . P . M . ; J . Edwards , P . M ., P . G . S . ; Dr . Johnson , P . M . ; W . Rawsthorne , P . M . ; R . Tunnicliffe , P . SL ; R . iohnson , Sec ; Joseph Clark , Stwd . ; G . C . Banks , and T . Tilston . Other rethren in attendance were Bros . Dr . Crawford , P . P . G . T . ; H . J . Jarman , P . P . G . D . C ; Robert Foote , P . P . G . T . ; J . Tunstall , P . P . G . P . ; S . L . Fraser , P . P . G . S . o ! W . ; John Williams , P . P . G . D . ; J . R . Bottomley , P . P . A . G . D . C ; Joon

Molloy , P . P . G . S . and S . W . 65 ( Mark ); Henry James , P . P . G . D . ; W . J . Doran , P . G . Tyler ; John Hayes , P . P . G . S . B . ; E . R . Latham , P . M . 594 ; H . H . Hughes , P . M . 1356 ; John Laughton , W . M . 241 ; John Jones , Sec . 1356 ; G . Barclay , P . M . 2316 , co-Secretary of the Alpass Institution ; C . Johnson , P . M . 1756 ; J . Clayton , W . VI . 2714 ; W . Skinner , W . M . 167 S ; C . B . Ford , 1 299 ;

J . Mitty , 49 and 65 ( Mark ); J . Downey , 673 and 6 5 ( Mark ); A . Adams , 211 4 and 65 ( Mark ); George Green , 2042 ; and J . Clarke , 65 ( Mark ) . The service was impressively conducted by the Rev . W . M . Barrow , vicar of St . Philemon ' s . There were a number of beautiful wreaths , including one from the officers and members of the Duke of Edinburgh Lodge .

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