At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

according to this definition every petitioner is profane and does not reverence God . The editor of the Chronicler finds himself unable to agree to this , as it is a universal custom among Masonic writers to apply this word to the uninitiated . The Masonic Sun thinks that the correspondent" of the

Chronicler does not take sufficient notice of the different meanings of words , and of the tendency of words to degenerate in meaning . If he had looked into the Standard dictionary he would have found this definition among others : " 3 ( Archaic ) . Not initiated into the inner mysteries . " Now ,

the language of Masonry is largely " archaic , " that is , it embraces old words now largely disused , and other words used in senses that are old . Among the latter class of words is " profane , " which has come to mean irreverent , as in speaking of profane language , but this was not the original meaning of the word .

© © < s > " Profane , " as will be found from consulting the dictionary , comes from two Latin words , " pro , " before or in front of , and " fanum , " temple or holy place , thus implying without the temple . A profone , therefore , in Masonic language , is

one who has not yet entered the temple of Masonry , and when so used no idea of irreverence attaches to it nor any other meaning that can be offensive . A relic of this old and original meaning is found in the common expression " profane history , " by which is not meant irreverent history ,

but simply that written in contradistinction to sacred history , or that found in the Bible . All other history is profane , but by that it is not meant that it is objectionable , irreverent or wicked .

The use of " profane , " therefore , in its Masonic sense , cannot be offensive to any person , since it denotes simply the uninitiated . Of course its use should be restricted to Masonic purposes , and it should not be employed indiscriminately in the presence of those who would think it was meant offensively . But the Masonic use of it , in the proper

connection , is too firmly fixed to be disturbed , and instead of making a futile effort to substitute something else in its place it would be well to try to diffuse a wider knowledge of its true import .

•» o <© At a meeting of the Ashlar Lodge , Toronto , lately , a suggestion was thrown out b } ' the Grand Master that the various Grand Lodges in Canada should combine in forming one governing body , with Provincial Grand Loclges in the several

provinces throughout the Dominion . The idea appears to have arisen from the ' proposal to alter the name of the Grand Lodge of Canada , a name which is somewhat misleading in view of the fact that it embraces the Province of Ontario only .

© < 3 « < 2 » Bro . W . O . Welsford , than whom a more hardworking Mason does not exist , was specially honoured by the brethren of the Temperance in the East Lodge of M . M . M . at the Ladbroke Hall on Wednesday , October 19 th . The present

year of grace is the 21 st anniversary of Bro . Welsford ' s Masonic career , and the brethren of the lodge celebrated his majority by presenting him with a testimonial on vellum , together with a tantalus . On the testimonial—which has been

beautifully designed by Bro . G . E . Jones , of the Emblematic Lodge , No . 1321—are depicted the emblems of the various offices filled by Bro . Welsford . The record inscribed thereon is one of which any Mason might be justly proud . The

ILLUMINATED AIJDRKSS TO wio . WKI . SFOKD . brethren , in making the presentation to Bro . Welsford on his retirement as Worshipful Master , desired to express their appreciation of the many able and kindly services he had rendered the lodge as the first Worshipful Master after its resuscitation . The } -, further , congratulated him upon attaining his majority in Masonry .

© < j > o " Artistic Tattooing" and Air . Alfred South are synonymous terms . This artist in needlework is to be found at 22 , Cockspur Street , Charing Cross . Amongst his clientele he numbers many prominent Masons . Quite recently he

tattooed a Mason with the jewels of five different degrees . Mr . South tells us that many ladies have their husband ' s names tattooed upon their arms and sometimes the inscriptions on their wedding-rings . He has tattooed peacocks and lyre birds upon ladies' shoulders , and recently an Irish

lady had a weird-looking dragon pictured coiling around her arm . Naturally , men have a more expansive taste for this sort of decoration , and they are prone to adopt designs or figures which typify some special fancy or pursuit . A well-known yachtsman has on each arm a full-rigged yacht

tattooed ; a master of hounds has a pack of eight hounds ; a certain sportsman a water-nymph , with gossamer wings , skimming over a bank of daffodils ; a famous breeder of trotting horses bears the picture of one of his favourites ; enthusiastic fishermen have artificial Hies tattooed . Coats of

arms and monograms are quite common , but with these we get back to the more primitive idea of a means of identification .

€ ¦> < £ O We have received a copy of the "ABC Guide to the Stock Exchange , " which is published by Freeborn , Franklin & Co ., of \ 2 , Bank Street , Manchester . This work should be of interest to the investing public .

Ad01301

^^^^^ ^^^^^ mmm ^^ m ^ ma ^^^^^^^ ^