Jubilee Of Lodge St. Martin, No. 510, At Liskeard.

Eervices , had placed him in an embarrassing position ; and he could not adequately express his sense of the honour conferred upon him . He very sincerel y thanked them . Both the present and the address would be highly valued , though he needed nothing to assure him of their regard . For 25 years he had been permitted to hold offices in that lodge , and he hoped he had endeavoured to discharge all of them with fervency and zeal .

Bro . W . J . HUGHAN , P . M . 131 , P . S . G . D . of England , who had promised to deliver an address on the progress of the lod ge during the past halfcentury , was unable to be present , but the W . M . read the following paper , which he had sent : " So many lodges in England have already been able to celebrate their centenaries that jubilee celebrations are not much in fashion , ¦ jhe manner in which St . Martin ' s Lodge is to commemorate the 50 th year

of its existence , however , is worthy of being followed by many of its contemporaries , for , to present to the Master and Wardens on behalf of the lodge the deeds of the Masonic Hall entirely free , and to be the proud possession of the members in perpetuity , is beyond question a truly Masonic form of commemoration , and a great credit to all concerned . The lodge

was warranted 5 th March , 1845 , by the authority of the Right Hon . the second Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M ., and the parchment is duly signed by his lordship , as well as by the G . Sec . V . W . Bro . Wm . Hy . White . Lord Zetland was G . M . in my time , having acted in that honourable capacity from 1844-1870 , and was Prov . G . Master of N . and E . Yorkshire for even

a longer period . The Right Hon . the Earl Howe , who was Deputy G . Master in 1845 , was Prov . G . M . Leicestershire 1856-1869 . Sir John Warren Hayes , Bart ., one of the G . Chaplains 1844-45 , is , I believe , the only Grand Officer of that term whose name is still on the roll . The Grand Sec , Bro . W . H . White , was first appointed to that office to assist his father , Wm . White , in 1810 , being sole Secretary from 1813 ( save after the union for

some years ) until his resignation in 1856 . His death occurred in i 860 . St . Martin ' s is the ninth oldest of the existing lodges of Cornwall , and has long been noted for its steady adherence to the laws and customs of the Fraternity , both locally and generally . One of its best and truest friends , Bro . R . A . Courtney , P . M ., has been its Secretary for nearly half the period of its existence , and I hope will be spared to serve at least the silver anniversary

in that most useful office . As a Secretary he has no superior and few equals , and much of the prosperity of the lodge has been due to his unremitting attention and able management . The members may well be proud of the position which the lodge holds in the county for the high character of its work , the good social status of its brethren —( the present Mayor is my esteemed friend W . Bro . W . H . Stantan , P . M ., other

Past Masters having also honourably filled the civic chair)—and the satisfactory financial basis on which it rests , owning as it does the Masonic Hall , furniture , and other effects on the completion of its jubilee . Its support ol the Provincial and Central Masonic Charities has long been most generous ( as I know well from an experience of the lodge extending over 30 years ) , and I have never known the lodge to fail once in its duty , or decline to meet

any fair demand on its funds . The prosperity of our beloved Fraternity has been most marked during the last 50 years . When No . 510 was warranted in 1845 , there were nine lodges in Cornwall with some 500 members , and under Grand Lodge of England but 680 lodges or so . Now Cornwall has 30 active lodges returning 1771 members ; and , notwithstanding that so many have left to form new Grand Lodges , the English Register still contains

nearly 2100 lodges . Our Chanties abound , over £ 250 a day being spent in England for their maintenance alone , and since H . R . H . the Princeof Wales ( our beloved Duke of Cornwall ) became M . W . G . M ., our danger arises from having too many members , the Craft being so popular that there is greater need than ever to guard portals , and admit only " good men and true . " Fraternity , loyalty , and Charity are our watchwords ; God grant that we may all become more worthy of our privileges . "

The brethren afterwards dined together at the Public Rooms , Bro . J . Cleave , of the Stag Hotel , catering in his usual good style . The W . M . gave the usual toasts . Bros . EDYVEAN and TRUSCOTT responded for "The Prov . Grand Lodge , " the former remarking that Bro . Courtney ' s name was known from one end of the county to the other for the services he had rendered to Masonry .

For " The Visiting Brethren and Sister Lodges , " Bro . Major SHANKS said he had visited almost every lodge in the province , and he could safely say that in no other lodge had he derived greater pleasure and profit than in Lod ge St . Martin . He did not wish to introduce politics , but certainly in that gathering they were " all for Courtney . " Bros . HENWOOD , GROSSMAN , SACII , THOMAS , and MABIN also acknowled ged the toast . The meeting was a great success , the W . M ., Bro . Hammond , making an excellent president throughout .

Blackballing.

BLACKBALLING .

The black ball should be used only for defence , never for offence . The ¦ act that it is available for use should , in any well-regulated lodge , render it "" necessary to use it . There should be no necessity for blackballing if brethren rightly understood their obligations towards each other , towards the Craft , and towards society outside its portals . A Mason should respect

the rights and feelings of others , as he expects his own to be respected . It > s the privilege of every member of a lodge to propose for initiation or affiliation any man or brother , as the case may be , whom he honestly and conscientiousl y believes will reflect honour upon the choice . Upon the necessity for nice discrimination and careful consideration in the exercise of

this right of proposal , we need not dwell . It is safe to assume that brethren 'illy recognise their responsibility . But no brother has a right to force u pon the Craft , or upon a lodge , anyone whom other members deem ob jectionable . The proposal may be made in all good faith , but be made > n ignorance of disqualifying circumstances within the knowledge of some

ther brother . The objection may be personal—a disinclination to associate * 'th the proposed as a member of the same lodge , or radical , as based on Masons wh y the person proposed is not fit to be admitted to the inestimable

Privilege of brotherhood . In no ordinary case should the black ball be used ** a primary means of exclusion . The objector should seek the Worshi pful aster of his lodge , and under the sacred seal of confidence communicate 0 him the objection entertained . Then it rests with the Worshipful Master

Blackballing.

to communicate with the sponsors of the candidate , informing them that objection is taken to their proposal , and affording them an opportunity of withdrawing it , always carefully guarding the identity of the objector . If the proposal is , after such an intimation , pressed to the ballot , the responsibility rests with those who so press it . The objecting brother has done his duty , and is free to use the black ball without compunction in defence of his

just rights as a member of the lodge or of the Craft . Blackballing m a Masonic lodge involves a serious slur , which should not be cast on anyone , be he alread y a Mason or not , without the strongest reason , and every effort being made to avoid such an extreme step . The person proposed may be a most estimable man , one who , if not already a Mason , would do honour to the Craft , and yet there may be good reason why some member should

object to his being forced to lodge association with him . Under such circumstances it would be a cruel abuse of privilege and power to use the black ball , when the same end can be attained by other means . And even if within the knowledge of the objector the candidate may not be a desirable person to be made a Mason , consideration is due to the feelings of the brethren who have proposed and seconded him in all good faith . It is a

nasty rebuff for any member of a lodge to find the candidate for whose suitability he has vouched , summarily blackballed . The proposer and seconder in such a case have a right to feel aggrieved that an open slight has been cast upon them , and their recommendation been ignored without notice to them of the nature of the objection , that they might have an opportunity of withdrawing the proposal . Amongst a society of friends and

brothers , such a thing should not be possible . It will not bc possible if each member realises the nature of his Masonic obligations , and act upon the golden rule of doing as he vvould be done by . To use the black ball without notice or effort to avoid the need lor its use , is to use . a weapon of defence like an assassin ' s knife—to inflict a stab in the dark . As a matter of policy , it is bad for any lodge when blackballing takes place within its

precincts . Many a once prosperous lodge dates its decadence from the improper use of the black ball . Members become unwilling to expose their friends to the slur of being blackballed , and themselves 10 the slight and discourtesy involved in such a refusal to accept their judgment , so that gradually proposals become few and far between , and probably each fresh case of blackballing without notice or reason leads to retirements from the

lodge . Worshipful Masters of lodges should ever impress it upon members that the use of the black ball is only properly allowable as a last resource , to prevent an objectionable character being forced upon their association . In a well-regulated lodge , the members of which understand their privileges and their duties in a true Masonic spirit , such cases will , happily , be of very rare occurrence . —New Zealand Craftsman .

Provincial Priory Of Northumberland, Durham, And Berwick-On-Tweed.

PROVINCIAL PRIORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND , DURHAM , AND BERWICK-ON-TWEED .

The annual meeting of the Northumberland , Durham , and Berwick-on-Tweed Priory was held at Darlington under the banner of the St Cuthbert ' s Preceptory on Wednesday , the 21 st instant . Considering that at this time of year so many are away on their holidays , there was a good attendance of sir knights . The Provincial Prior , Sir Knight the Rev . Canon Tristram , and the Prov . Sub-Prior , Sir Knight Dr . Hill Drury , were received under an arch of steel .

1 he Prov . Priory being opened , the minutes of the last meeting , held at West Hartlepool , were read and confirmed . The roll of preceptories was then called , when representatives of each communicated , and gave favourable reports of the state of their respective preceptories . The PROVINCIAL PRIOR then gave a short address , and alluded to the great loss the province had recently sustained in the death of the venerable Sir Knight Hotham , a Past Sub-Prior of the province , and the oldest Knight Templar in the world .

The Prov . Treasurer s statement of accounts were presented , showing a good balance in hand both for the Prov . Priory and the Prov . Almoner . The report being received and adopted , the Prov . Treasurer , Sir Knight Hans B . Olsen , was unanimously re-elected . The Prov . Prior then re-appointed his officers as follows :

Sir Knight Dr . Hill Drury , J . P ., G . Std . Br . ... Prov . Sub-Prior . „ Rev . C . J ackson , B . A . ... ... Prov . Prelate . „ C . S . Lane ... ... ... Prov . Chancellor . „ J . J . Forster ... ... ... Prov . Constable . C . H . Backhouse ... ... Prov . Marshal . w---m - -

,, . . ... ... ... . . . . . „ H . B . Olsen ... ... ... Prov . Treasurer . ,, E . Hudson ... ... ... I'rov . Registrar . „ W . C . Bell ... ... ... Prov . Sub-Marshal . „ Rev . J . Walker ... ... Prov . Chaplain . ,, H . Lamb ... ... ... Prov . Almoner . Rev . R . Coulton ... ... Prov . Herald .

,, H . Warwick ... ... ... Prov . Banner Bearer . „ J . Robinson ... ... ,.. Prov . Aide-de-Camp . ,, J . A . S . Scott ... ... Prov . Capt . of Guard . „ W . C . Barron ... ... ... Prov . Swd . Br . „ C . Biddlecome ... ... Prov . Organist .

The Prov . Priory was then closed . Afterwards the sir knights met at the Fleece , where , under the genial presidency of the Canon , dinner was served , and a most enjoyable evening spent .

THE RIGHT HON . THE LOKD MAYOR OI- * LONDON ( Bro . Sir Joseph Renals ) having notified Baron de Courcel , the French Ambassador in London , that he would have much pleasure in accepting an invitation to visit the Bordeaux Inhibition and that on his way through Paris he should be glad to pay his respects to the President of the French Republic , has been informed in reply that the French Government will regard his lordship ' s visit with the utmost satisfaction , and that he will be received at the Elyst-e . It is expected that alter a short stay in Paris , his lordship will go on to Bordeaux an i remain there from the 5 th to the 10 th prox .