At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

It is interesting to note that R . W . Bro . the Right Hon . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., on whom political attention has necessarily been centred during the past month , is a prominent member of our Order . He was

appointed to the offices of Provincial Grand Master and Grand Superintendent of Gloucestershire in 1880 and 188 4 respectively . Although political affairs must preclude its eminent ruler from devoting so much personal attention to Masonry as he might desire , Gloucestershire has prospered

under his Masonic rule , and compares favourably with other provinces of its size .

We are pleased to be able to announce that R . W . Bro . Major-General Sir Francis Wingate , K . C . M . G ., C . B ., D . S . O ., Sirdar of the Egyptian Army and Governor-General of the Soudan , has accepted the office of District Grand Master for Egypt and the Soudan in succession to R . W . Bro . Lord

Kitchener , who resigned the office in consequence of his prolonged absence in South Africa . It would have been impossible for the vacancy to have been better filled , and the news of the appointment will be received with satisfaction , not only by the District concerned , but by the Craft generally .

An interesting gathering took p lace at Gloucester on the Sth of May on the occasion of the installation of Bro . Harold Cadle , of London , as Worshipful Master of the Zetland Lodge , No . 1005 . A large number of brethren

from London and other parts of the country came to show their appreciation of the W . M . in the many spheres in which he moves both in London and the provinces . A feature in the proceedings was the presentation to the

DUO . IIAKOLl ) CAULK . Zetland Lodge of a musical service for use in lodges generally , which has been compiled and in part composed by Bro . Cadle , and dedicated to the Provincial Grand Master , the Right

Hon . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P . Bro . C . H . Lloyd , Mus . Bac . Oxon , has written a special setting for the anthem , " Behold how good and joyful . " Other musicians of eminence have contributed to the work , and Bro . Cadle has himself written several of the musical items . Bro . Cadle is , we learn , to be the recipient of Grand honours at the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge at Durslev , to be

held on ( he 28 th Mav , the collar of Provincial Grand Organist having been offered to him . He is not unknown to London Masonry , being at present Organist of the Stockwcll Lodge , No . 1339 , and Junior Deacon of the Epping

Lodge , No . 2077 . We wish our worthy brother a happv year of office and a prosperous future , both in his native city of Gloucester as well as in his present sphere of work in London .

Among the '' successes" of the Boer war , the name of General French stands out in bold relief , and it is not surprising that he should be among the first to receive that recognition which the British public instinctively accords to its worthy sons . The inhabitants of Kimberley especially

have reason to be grateful to their deliverer , and our good Brother W . E . Chapman , P . A . G . D . C , whom our readers will remember as having taken a prominent part in the defence of that town , was with characteristic energy soon to the front in promoting and organising a movement for the presentation

of a sword of honour to the distinguished General in recognition of Kimberley ' s relief . It will be a very handsome weapon ; the scabbard will be elaboratel y decorated with various emblems in 18 carat gold in bold relief , and the cost will be - £ 250 . Added to this , the De Beers Company

have presented twenty selected diamonds of the value of £ 110 for the cross-bar of the sword , a decoration appropriately identif ying the gift with the Diamond City . Bro . Chapman ' s list headed the subscriptions with ^ 75 18 s . 6 d . and the remainder was made up of various

contributionsfrom public bodies and individual subscribers to the amount of X 3 61 . A great demonstration is expected when the General visits Kimberley to receive the gift .

§¦¦ <© ' # In a previous issue we drew attention to the marked difference in the methods of government of the Grand Lodgesin the United States and those of the United Grand Lodge of England . It was claimed for the latter that there was an

absence of that rigid discipline in matters which we believe to be comparatively non-essential , and in many cases outsidethe scope of Masonry . As illustrating this , we would like to call attention to a subject which is agitating the minds of a large number of worth y brethren on the other side .

At a communication of the Grand Lodge of Florida , held about two years since , a resolution was adopted , " advising and instructing" all lodges within the jurisdiction not to accept as members any candidates who were engaged in

theliquor traffic , and later on a further resolution was passed , making it unlawful for any Mason , after becoming a member of any lodge owing allegiance to the Grand Lodge of Florida ,, to enter upon , or engage in the business of liquor selling , and any member violating this regulation rendered himself subject to charges and trial for un-Masonic conduct .

Now we yield lo no one in our desire that temperance should govern all our actions as Masons , and further , we regretfully admit that there is much to be desired in tin ' s respect among Masons as among members of other communities , but it appears to us more than questionable whether the action of

this Grand Lodge is not an unwarranted interference with a Mason's civil rights and privileges by placing a ban on a Mason who engages in a business recognised b y the legislature . It might , we think , be more properly left to each individual lodge to exercise its discretion , within the limits of our

ancient constitutions , as to whom it may desire to admit to the privileges of membership . The powers of a Grand Lodgecan always be exercised over a lodge which fails to disci pline a brother for wrong doing , but it should not be exercised in the direction of interfering with the right of a lodge to judge of the qualifications of its members .