At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

In 18 99 he was appointed Grand Steward representing ¦ Grand Masters'Lodge , No . 1 , and in the following year he was elected Grand Treasurer of the Grand Mark Lodge . Bro . Dimsdale has not in all this overlooked the Charities He has served three Stewardships each for the Boys' and Girls' School , and two for the Benevolent Institutions , and is

a Vice-President of all three . He is also a Vice-Patron of the Mark Benevolent Institution , for which he has served five Stewardships . ¦ ft' >» < 3 ,

Notwithstanding that the warrant of the Royal Solomon mother Lodge of Jerusalem , originally granted by the Grand Lodge of Canada , has been suspended by that bod )' , it still continues to hold its meetings , which are mostly frequented by American tourists . So recently as March last , upwards of ¦ one hundred Freemasons , representing almost every Grand

Lodge in North America , attended one of its meetings , and naturally the supporters of law and order are greatly surprised at this breach of Masonic discipline , which is regarded as a gross disregard for the mandate of the governing power . It appears that this lodge at Jerusalem has in the past been

paid a contribution by tourists' agents towards the expense of holding lodges in what are incorrectly called " King Solomon ' s Quarries . " Much irregularity in the work of the lodge has taken place , which is the cause for its suspension by the mother Grand Lodge of Canada .

« r ? < s > <& The Grand Lodge Alpina of Switzerland is still actively furthering the project of an international office for the cultivation of Masonic relations , and have corresponded by circular with the different Grand Lodges of the world for the purpose of obtaining their assent to the establishment

in Switzerland of an International Bureau . The circular has been printed in French , German , and English , and it is stated that enthusiastic affirmative replies have been received from the Grand Lodges of Spain , Belgium , France , Italy , Hungary , Argentine , Lousiana , Liberia , and Brazil . Up to

the present there are some notable omissions from the list of the Grand Lodges of the world , and we think it is safe to predict that the Grand Lodge of England will be content in remain outside the charmed circle .

« s » * <& Bro . A . G . Pitts has some practical and common sense remarks on this subject in the American Tyler . The practice of the Grand Lodge of England he opines is the strongest -argument against even such a degree of uniformity as at

present exists in the United States . He goes on to say , " It it well known that the Grand Lodge of England has no officially adopted ritual . The nearest approach to it is the fact that the Grand Lodge approves the work of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , leaving it for the lodges

to find out what that work is as best they may . Also that the Grand Lodge of England has no officer charged with the duty of overseeing the work of the lodges , and that , in fact , it does not oversee it . ' In such matters the motto of the Grand Lodge of England is , ' In essentials , Unity ; in

nonessentials , Liberty ; in all things , Charity . '" The writer further deprecates the tendency in American Masonry to over legislation , believing that much evil arises from the idea peculiar to American Freemasonry that anything and everything in Masonry can be and ought to be the subject of

legislation by some high Masonic authority , and that the chief and most fitting occupation for leaders of Masonic thought should be and is to invent new subjects of legislation and new legislative bodies . A study and discussion of the evils of over legislation would assist in creating a public sentiment which would be of great value to the Craft . With the views of Bro . Pitts we are in entire agreement .

© ® © We are reminded by an article in The Freemason , published at Los Angelos , California , of the spasmodic efforts of those brethren who have sought from time to time to persuade our own Masonic authorities that the one thing needful in English Freemasonry is absolute uniformity of ritual . The Craft has

shown by its action , or rather inaction , that it is satisfied with uniformity in essentials , and does not demand such a rigid adherence to form in non-essentials as our reforming brethren would have us adopt . ¦ r * * * The Editor deals with the question as it relates to the

different Grand Lodges in the United States , and goes on to say : " Under the English Constitutions , the mother of all modern Masonry , the Mason who wants to visit at any spot on the earth where there is a lodge under that control knows full well that his Masonry will carry him through without any

trouble , and has no fear of being rejected because he does not know the peculiar working of any particular district he may happen to be in . " This is undoubtedly true , but the deviations from " uniformity" we know are many and various , and the illustration does not greatly strengthen his

argument in favour of adopting measures to obtain absolute uniformity in the working of all lodges in the United States . > 5 < ft > & The second installation of the Aklersbrook Lodge , No . 2841 , the consecration of which was reported in our

issue of May last , took place at the " Three Rabbits , " Manor Park , on April 17 th , when Bro . G . M . E . L . Verlyck , whose Masonic career and portrait , as well as that of the Senior Warden , we give below , was installed Master in succession to W . Bro . C . J . R . Tijou , P . G . Std . Br . The ceremony was

performed , in the presence of a large assembly of members and visitors from all parts of the metropolis , by W . Bro . R . Clav Sudlow . P . A . G . D . C . of Emulation fame .

liliO . VKRLYCK , W . M ., AXD ItHO . KDWlX T . DUXX , S . W . Bro . Georges M . E . L . Verlyck was initiated in the Langthorne Lodge , No . 1421 , and is now its Junior Warden . In the following year he took part in the founding of the

Seven Kings' Lodge , No . 2749 , which meets at Romford , and in 1901 he became a founder of the Aklersbrook Lodge , No . 2841 , of which lodge he is now the W . M . Bro . Verlyck ' s interest in the working of our ceremonies was at once enlisted on his becoming a Mason . Within a year of his

joining the Order he had taken up the work of Masonic teaching , and for three years past he has been Preceptor of the Langthorne Lodge of Instruction , and he is now also the Preceptor of the Aklersbrook Lodge of Instruction . During the four years of his connection with the Order , Bro . Verlyck

has served nine Stewardships for the Masonic Charitiesthree for the Benevolent Institution , two for the Girls' School , and four for the Boys' School , of which hitter Institution he is a Vice-Patron .