Freemasonry Considered.

may be cited , where there is but one lodge , Avhich the writer visited ten years or more ago , and was grieved to witness the incompetency of the officers , the ignorance of principles and ritual , the want of elements of respectability and character , and the

irregularities which occurred . NOAV the case is far different . Numerically , socially , intellectually , the lodge stands well , the members constantly increasing by the addition of gentlemen of standing and moral influence .

The statements now made , which it is believed are worthy of credit , tend to show that the Craft possesses all the elements of success and more extended usefulness , if only those belonging to it are true to their obligations , to themselves , and to

each other . Much depends upon the rules , on the control which they exercise , on the attention Avhich they continue to give after having passed the chair , a duty which some are apt to forget when they have gained their honours , and on the scrupulous

determination never to admit among us any Avho are likely to bring discredit on the fraternity . It is hoped that this little retrospect may be useful as an encouragement , to which other brethren may perhaps be induced to add remarks on other localities , tending to the same object .

History Of Freemasonry In Cornwall.

HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN CORNWALL .

By tit Bro . WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN , 18 ° , Corresponding Member of the German Union of Freemasons ; Knight Companion of tlie Eoyal Order ; Member of Several Sites in England and Scotland ; 8 > -c ; fyc . ( Continued from page 402 . )

The R . W . M . being absent on August Gth , 1765 , sending no excuse , and more especially " having carried away the key of the pedestal , Avhereby the brethren sustained no little inconvenience , " was fined tAvo shillings and sixpence , according to an

¦ unanimous agreement of the members , signified by "holding up hands . " The records are regularly kept , and carefully written throughout the volume , and hence our reading them is rendered an easy matter indeed .

The R . W . M was fined again on the key question , but nothwithstanding his fault the lodge re-elected him on St . John ' s Day , 27 th December , 1765 . A bible was ordered for the use of the lodge , and on August 4 th , A . D . 1767 , the brethren Avere in-

History Of Freemasonry In Cornwall.

formed by the E . W . M ., Bro . Lane , that Sir John St . Aubyn , Bart ., out of zeal to Masonry , had desired him to offer the lodge the sum of ten pounds , to be laid out at their discretion in furniture . The gift was ( as may be expected )

unanimously accepted with Avarmest thanks . Bro . William Calcott visited the lodge 15 th December , 1767 , and delivered a lecture . This brother ' s visit to the lodge in Cornwall Avere referred to in a previous number of the MAGAZINE , 14 th October ,

1768 . "This night paid into the hands of the Treasurer by Bro . Lane , R . W . M ., the sum of £ 12 16 s ., being a present made to this lodge by our worthy Bro . Sir John St . Aubyn , to provide a Master and Wardens' chairs , and for Avhich the

R . W . M . is unanimously requested \> y all the members present to make their proper acknowledgments for this honour and favour . "

It Avas unanimously resolved to send the sum of one guinea for the Fund of " General Charity of the Grand Lodge , " at a subsequent meeting . At the regular meeting held 1 st January , 1771 , the following Avork was rapidly completed as their

" new years' day" offering to Masonry : — Bro . Timothy Goldsmith Avas this night proposed to be made an E . A . in this lodge , and upon : a ballot being called it appeared unanimous inhis favour , upon which he was accordingly made

and passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft and Master Mason . The candidates for the second or third degrees it appeared were in the habit of " proposing themselves" for advancement , but they had to abide the result of the ballot before receiving either . An amusing record is made on Tuesday , 2 nd

April m the same year , for instead of the brethren meeting to " learn to subdue their passions , and make a further progress in Masonry , " it Avas decided that " Bro . Hicks' eldest daughter havingbeen this day married , and the lodge room being

necessarily taken up by an entertainment for the guests on that occasion , the brethren will not hold a lodge that night . " By-law No . 24 was repeated during the same month , and our pity must be naturally drawn out

in favour of any members of the Anti Tobacco Society who were present at the meetings , as not even during the delivery of lectures Avere they permitted to be free from the fumes ofthe " narcoticweed . " The lodge granted a liberal donation of two guineas to the widow of a brother who was left