At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

The first regular meeting held by the Willing Lodge , No . 28 93 , since its consecration is not undeserving of notice , the Worshipful Master , Bro . James Willing , jun ., having on that occasion initiated his two sons , and the lodge having unanimously conferred the compliment of honorary membership on Bro . Willing , sen ., the father of the Worshipful Master . < 8 » < S » ffi >

The Nineteenth Century for April contains an article dealing with the communication addressed to their English brethren by the Freemasons of France on the Boer War . The article in question plainly proves , if further proof were necessary , that French Freemasonry is a political organisation . Mr . G . A . Raper , who supplies the sketch of it , says

it is virtually a club or association of philosophers and politicians , visionaries and practical men , bound together by Republicanism rather than by any true Masonic tradition . It has long ago disavowed mystery and almost discarded symbolism , thinking them out of harmony with modern ideas .

The business of the lodge is largely the discussion of home politics—repopulation , collectivism , employer ' s liability , the evolution of patriotism , and other subjects in the air . The Grand Master devotes his leisure to the elaboration of a Masonic system of life assurance and a scheme for the reduction of law costs !

ifl > -. < £ > y ;> The writer , however , expresses his conviction that the French lodges which discussed the war did so on purely humanitarian grounds , sharing the general ignorance of facts , great but not inspired by special Anglophobia . They contain a many enthusiasts and have much sway over home politics .

The humorous solemnity of the menace addressed to " the Most Illustrious Brother Edward Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha" is vastly entertaining . "Too much blood having been shed during the last two years .... should you remain deaf to our fraternal appeal you will entitle us to

declare you unworthy of our Order and akin to the criminals whose baleful names will for ever remain nailed to the pillory of history . '' The King's sense of humour and knowledge of affairs no doubt enabled him to take this in the right Pickwickian sense .

'fr- « ¦ )> * $ His Majesty ' s reply was that the inmates of the Concentration Camps ( to which the communication principally referred ) were free to have them , but that the Boers had not thought fit to take charge of their own women and children ; and it is worthy of note that since the explanation was furnished the French newspapers have abated the bitterness of their criticism .

« ' «¦ < s » The Craft generally will sympathise with the Duke of Grafton and with the popular Provincial Grand Master of Norths and Hunts and Pro Grand Master of Mark Master Masons in the loss by lire of Euston Hall . It was built in 1670 by the Earl of Arlingtonand is surrounded by a vast

, park . Robert Bloomlield in " The Farmer ' s Boy" says of Euston—Where noble Grafton spreads his rich domains Round Euston ' s water'd vale and sloping plains , Where woods and proves in solemn grandeur rise-Where the kite brooding unmolested Hies ;

The uoodcoek and the painted pheasant race . And skulking ioxes destined for the chase . It is satisfactory to learn that many of the art treasures it contained were preserved , notably some pictures of great value . < D » «• <©¦

Members of our Order , no less than the general public , will not have been behindhand in participating in the chorus of congratulations which greeted Bro . Sir Henry Irving on the success of his tour and on his safe arrival home . It is to us a pleasing thought that Bro . Sir Henry Irving has won his

laurels no less by his genius than by the far-reaching influence for good which , by example and precept , he has ever been able to exert over the morale and conduct of the British stage .

Bro . Lister C . B . Goodacre , who was installed Worshipfu Master of the Highbury Lodge , No . 2192 , Highbury , on the 13 th of March last , has rapidly gained the highest honour his lodge can confer , he having been initiated in October , 18 95 , in the Old Concord Lodge , joining the Highbury Lodge in 18 9 6 . Since then he has taken part in founding the Edward

URO . LISTER C . B . ( 10 ODACRH . Terry Lodge , No . 2722 . He was exalted in the Old Concord Royal Arch Chapter attached to his mother lodge , and is now Scribe N . The Richmond Chapter , No . 2032 , recently consecrated , also includes his name amongst its numerous

founders . The lodge was honoured by the presence of a large number of visitors , many of whom , at the subsequent banquet , spoke in laudatory terms of the excellent manner in which the ceremony and all the arrangements had been carried out .

« .. * « BrO . John Dimsdale , enjoys the distinction of filling simultaneously the Master ' s chair of two of the oldest lodges in the Register of Grand Lodge , namely , Grand Masters " Lodge , No . 1 , and the United Industrious Lodge , No . 31 ,

Canterbury , both centenary lodges , and both fully preserving and maintaining their ancient prestige . Bro . Dimsdale ' s services to Masonry extend over a period of seventeen years , his initiation having taken place in 188 4 , and he has managed to cover during that comparatively short period as much

Masonic ground as the most ardent devotee could hope to do . In 1886 he was exalted in the Grand Masters' Chapter , No . 1 , during the first year of its existence . And his introduction to various other Degrees followed rapidly . In 1892 we find him a member of the Ethelbert Chapter , No . 82 , Ancient and

Accepted Scottish Rite ; in 18 94 a Knight Templar in the Black Prince Preceptory ; the following year a Mark Master Mason of St . Martin ' s Lodge , No . 262 ; and in the same year a Royal and Select Master of the Invicta Lodge , each of which is located in Canterbury . In 18 97 he joined the Royal

Order of Scotland , and the Royal Ark Mariners in 18 99 . This was followed by membership of the Allied Degrees , the Red Cross of Constantine , the Knights of St . John , the Malta Degree in Great Priory , and the 31 ° in the Ancient and Accepted Rite .

Bro . Dimsdale has filled the principal chairs of several of these bodies , viz .: M . W . Sovereign in the Ethelbert Rose Croix Chapter , Canterbury ; Deputy Master of the Invicta Council , R . and S . Masters , Canterbury ; Eminent Preceptor of the Black Prince Preceptory , Canterbury ; W . M . of the Mark Lodges , No . 224 and 262 ; and last , but not least , the two centenary Craft lodges before referred to .