At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar.

lor his qualities in these directions , we still think the ritualistic qualification a sine qua uon in determining his eligibility . Lest lodges should go astray , therefore , and choose Masters who cannot duly and properly impress the novitiate with the wounderful beauties of Masonry , it is well that Grand Lodge should look to it that prospective Masters

are duly and truly prepared to assume the duties of the Chair . The conferring of Degrees in good form is important most of all for this , that unless they . are so conferred , the initiate does not fully comprehend or appreciate the beauties of Masonry , and upon his comprehension and appreciation of them may be guaged in a great measure his devotion and loyalty to the Fraternity . "

Our hearty congratulations to R . W ' . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., the Father of the House of Commons , on being returned unopposed for the Andover Division of Hants , which is the only constituency he has represented , and that without a break since 1857 . R . W . Bro . Lord Ampthill , Provincial Grand Master for

Bedfordshire , has lately been appointed Governor of Madras , and will be a great acquisition to Masonry in that district . Only a few years ago he was known as one of our finest oarsmen , being President of the Oxford Eight , and winning the Silver Goblets at Henley in 1890-91 . On his mother's

side he was a nephew of the ill-fated Countess of Lathom . Dr . Isaachar Zacharie , who has lately passed from among us , was the Supreme Ruler of the Order of the Secret Monitor from the time of its introduction into England until

a few years before his death . Our late brother spent the greater part of his eventful life in America , and was said to have been a trusted adviser of the late President Lincoln during the Civil War .

R . W . Bro . Viscount Milton , P . G . Wardeu , who litis but lately returned from the War , is now busily engaged in lighting of another kind , 'and ere this has been printed will have known his fate—we hope not a hard one—at the hands of the Electorate . R . W . Bro . J . Ross Robertson is a Past Grand Master

of Canada , and is , perhaps , best known " on the other side "; but we know him here as an ardent Freemason , a precise and voluminous historian , and a ubiquitous traveller . He has set an example of practical Freemasonry by founding Homes and Orphanages in Canada , and has

compared many a note with Lady Burdett Courts in this connection . Bro . Robertson ' s " History of Freemasonry in Canada " has alone established his claim to our attention as a Masonic historian of the first rank . His district was so vast that to visit the lodges under his care necessitated travelling

many thousands of miles . Bro . Ross Robertson is a member of the Canadian Congress , and shares with many of our best known American brethren a happy gift of oratory .

Freemasonry and the City have always been closely allied , and especially marked is the fact this year , W . Bro . Frank Green , Past Grand Deacon , being the Lord Mayor Elect , and V . W . Bro . Alderman Vaughan Morgan , P . G . Treasurer , one of the two new Sheriffs . The Eccentric Lodge , No . 2488 , which held its eighth

Installation Meeting at the Cafe Royal , Regent Street , on the 5 th of October , is one of those which , for want of a better designation , are termed Class Lodges , the material of which it is composed being recruited from time to time mainly , if not wholly , from the members of the popular club from

which it takes its name . The best proof that Lodges founded on the lines of the "Asaph , " the " Drury Lane , " the " Savage Club , " the " Yoric , " and many others are " wanted " is that they are invar / ably successful , and this success is not limited to those favoured by the Dramatic and Musical professions . Almost every profession in London has

now its own particular Lodge , and there can be little doubt that the cohesion of its members is in no small degree fostered by community of tastes and interests . The first initiate of the Lodge , Bro . Thomas Eraser , was the brother chosen to fill the chair of the Master of the

Lodge for the ensuing year , and Bro . W . Sargeant Lee very ably performed the ceremony .

The meetings of the Eccentric Lodge can always be relied on for affording not only excellent examples of Masonic working , but for that welcome accompaniment to the Fourth Degree , an agreeable entertainment , and the Installation Meeting was no exception to the rule . Some excellent speeches

were also made . The W . M ., in responding to the toast of his health , remarked that the Lodge was the baby of the Eccentric Club and that it might be described as the inner circle of it , and they were both proud of each other , and they were also especially proud of one of their number , Bro .

W . E . Chapman , who , as Captain of the Town Guard at Kimberlev during the siege , had done good service to his country . The menu card was so artistic that we thought its reproduction would be of interest to many of our readers . It depicts the Entered Apprentice receiving his lessons at the hands of ; age and experience , and its symbolism will be

easily understood by our masonic readers . An owl which is perched upon the globe is the badge of the Eccentric Club , and indicates that its members are in every clime .

A Complimentary Banquet was given on the 14 th September at Newcastle by the Freemasons of Northumberland and Durham to Bro . Sir George Hore Philipson , ALA , M . D ., D . C . L ., F . R . C . P ., P . M . of Lodges No . 2250 and 2332 , P . G . J . W . of Durham . The Chair was taken by the Provincial

Grand Master of Northumberland , the Right Hon . Sir Matthew White Ridley , Home Secretary . A large number of brethren representing the two provinces were present . After the usual loyal and Masonic toasts had been given , the Chairman said that no one was more deserving of honour at the hands of

Freemasons and the medical profession than Sir George Philipson . The latter body intended , he said , to do honour to their guest in their own way .