At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

We have no lack of eminent musicians in Masonry , but not the least of them is Bro . Dr . G . Robertson Sinclair , who has been recently conducting the great musical festival at Hereford , as he did also in 18 91 , 18 94 , and 18 97 . Although he is now but thirty-seven years of age , it is twenty years ago since he began his career , for at the exceptionally

early age of seventeen he was appointed choir-master and organist of Truro Cathedral , and also became conductor of the local Philarmonic Society , displaying in all his work the instinctive intensity of his temperament as well as the best musicianly qualities . Those were the days when the late Archbishop of Canterbury ( Benson ) was bishop of Truro

, and we happen to know that more than one Cornish youth , whose treble voices have long since departed , owed the acquirement of a musical ear to Bro . > Dr . Sinclair ' s encouragement and patient instruction .

I 3 RO . DR . G . ROBERTSON SIXCLAIR .

Ibwas in 188 9 that he left Truro to take up his duties as Organist and Master of the choristers at Hereford Cathedral . Onejnay be permitted to express some disappointment that he has not entered the list of our foremost British composers , but he has been indefatigable in the duties attached to his postas well as being a first-rate conductorwhich implies a

, , great deal more than the public or the Press are wont to appreciate . Apart from the delight of those whose privilege it is to listen to his recitals in the fine old cathedral every week , he enjoys a very high and well-deserved reputation for exceptional technical skill as an executant , and the wide range and catholicity of his taste , amongst those whose

musical ability best entitles them to an opinion , the best and happiest test of one ' s work , for the expert most enjoys the praise of the expert in every art and profession . Bro . Dr . Sinclair is Past Master of the Palladian Lodge , No . 120 , Hereford , having been initiated in the Fortitude Lodge , No . 131 , Truro , and is also a member of the Palladian Chapter , No . 120 , Hereford .

How many active Freemasons are there under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England ? According to an official examination some years since the average membership of London Lodges was shown to be 50 , and assuming that the Country and Colonial Lodges are the same , we find , taking the number of lodges given in the last edition of the

Freemasons' Calendar and Pocket Book , which is 234 8 , that the total comes out at 117 , 400 ; the number is probably much greater . An American contemporary recently credited us with 130 , 000 . In a calculation of this kind we are , of course , confronted with the fact that a Mason in England may belong to as many lodges as he has time for . In the United States this is otherwise . Freemasonry there is a vaster organisation ; there is no dual membership , and many of the States number as many brethren as the whole of our lodges together .

Review.

Review .

" ARS Qr . vruoR COROXATORI / M , Vol . xiii , PART 2 . "—The second part of the transactions of the celebrated " Ouatuor Coronati Lodge , " is most interesting , and is one of the strongest , Masonically speaking , of the many numbers of that remarkable series from vol . 1 , 1886-8 . Anything about the extinct "Grand Lodge of all England , " held at York , is

bound to interest , especially when the Lecturer is Bro . T . B . Whytehead , the present Worshipful Master . His able address , on a subject that is never stale , should be read with the Paper by Bro . W . J . Hughan , entitled "The York Grand Lodge—A brief sketch , " of which it may truly be said that

they are mutually complementary . York , undoubtedly , is the Mecca of English Freemasonry , Bro . Hughan is the doyen of its Craft historians , and Bro . Whytehead , with his facile pen and artistic mind , has done much to illustrate the character of the Northern Fraternity ;

his latest contribution being " The Relics of the Grand Lodge at York , " in which he has reached " high-water mark , " and favoured his lodge and all Masonic students with an excellent , extremely useful , and deeply interesting account of—( 1 ) The Old Lodge and Grand Lodge during what he terms " the unrecorded period , " the relics happily existing being made to

eloquently testify to the zeal of the ancient Craftsmen , so long silent ; ( 2 ) The valuable records up to " the hiatus in the middle of the 18 th Century , " begining with the unique scroll of 1712-29 and describing the other MSS ., and finally , ( 3 ) "The Revival until the Collapse , " These , it will be

seen , cover the whole historic period , practically , save that we now await his treatment of Royal Arch and Knight Templar Masonry . Then one will be enabled in Volume xri ( when Part 3 has appeared ) , to come in touch with all the evidences of the "Grand Lodge of all England , " which for a time was such a powerful Masonic factor in the North , and which has still such a hold on the interest and affections of

the universal brotherhood . Bro . G . W . Speth , the accomplished Editor , has also other attractions for his many thousands of readers , for the first article therein is by the Masonic historian , Bro . R . F . Gould , and treats of "the 31 st Foot and Masonry in West Florida "

in an exhaustive manner , the information he gives being of considerable value and importance . " An Austrian Precursor of the Q . C . Lodge , " by Bro . B . H . Brough , is another illustration of the well-known adage that " ' There is nothing new under the Sun , " and a Paper by Bro . Count Goblet D'Alviella

( P . G . M . Belgium ) is also an enlightener as to the eventful past concerning the Onatuor Coronal ! on the Continent , and quite a pleasure to peruse . The Appendix will be much valued by students , being " The Charges of the Antwerp Incorporation of the Building Trades A . D . 145 8 , " and a brief notice on the " Methraci Rites , " by the same gifted brother will also be welcomed .

A model report of the lodge meeting , an obituary ( sadl y long ) , and racy reviews of Bro . Thorp ' s most readable French Prisoners' Lodges , Dr . Chetwode Crawley ' s invaluable Caeinentaria Hibernica No . , J , & c , with numerous choice illustrations , and the able Chronicle b y the Editor , take up the remainder

of the pages of this artistic and truly Masonic publication . It cannot fail to be a great source of satisfaction to London Masons to note the fact that the idea so long and tenaciousl y clung to by Hotel and Restaurant Managers that any Room of sufficient dimensions , was good enough for Lodge meetings has been relegated to the limbo of the pastand that the

, number and quality of Temples worthy of the name has increased rapidly of recent years . The latest acquisition is at Ye Okie Ship & Turtle , which has recently been purchased b y Messrs . PLUMS & Co . the well-known caterers , who , among many other improvements , have converted what was simply a large Hall into a magnificent Masonic Templewith brilliant electric light

, effects by Messrs . COLLS & SONS , decorated with true Masonic symbolism and in excellent taste , fitted with rich Damask and silk Canopy over Throne in the east , Ornate handsome furniture specially designed , with adjuncts calculated to add dignity to the Ceremonies ; it is well worth a visit .