Masonic Missions.

generally obtains , an adA'ance every year , on certain reasonable conditions , until he arrives at the Senior Wardenship . 'Thus the number of A'acancics is very small ; no brother Avho is not a Worshipful Master can hope to haA'e the purple ; very many AVIIO arc Past Masters , and haA'e in CA'cry Avay acquitted thcmseh'cs Avell , never attain to it , and thus the Provincial Grand Officers may generally be expected to be the best men in the province , and to obtain respect and honour accordingly , if duo caution be used in flic first instance .

In another province the same principles of eurvation prcA-ail , with the additional guarantee afforded by the fact that the Prov . Grand Master has . the credit of being so active in the promotion of every thing tending to the best interests of the Graft , and of personally obtaining so complete an insight into the conduct ancl Avorking of every Lodge under his control , that be is able to form his OAA-II opinion of each member before he hn'ests him Avith

the purple , and will not advance any brother who does not deserve it . Here then also the Prov . Grand Officers arc or ought to be entitled to respect . Now take another province of which I IMA'C seen much . The number of Lodges is five , or about one third of those in the district preA-iously alluded to . Being concentrated Avithin a limited space , the Prov . Grand Master knows the merits of every brother

, and therefore may be expected to exercise judgment in Iris appointments . With every inclination to do so , liis ' clesire is nullified b y the course Avhich he adopts . The number of Lodges is sufficient to allow the rule prevalent in the districts before named to be carried out , namely , that none AVIIO have not filled the chair of Worshipful Master shall be elevated to the purple ; yet , scarcely any of them are in so honourable it position ; some even have

been initiated Avithin a year ; and the reason of so anomalous a state of things is , that there is no gradual annual progression npAvards from Pursuivant to Senior AVarden , and a brother has no tolerably sure expectation that , proA'idcd he conducts himself Avell , he Avill arrive at the hi ghest point , since he Avill in all probability be set aside for some one AVIIO may haA'e less pretensions than himself , or Avho has no claim of long standing and experience

in the fraternity . Hence , the purple apron appearing to depend more on the present state of feeling , or it may be on the caprice of the Prov . Grand Master , and not upon long sen-ices or high merit , is less prized , or rather a high position and successive progressive appointments in Prov . Grand Lodge are less prized there than the } ' tire Avhere a different system preAitils . Tims the rank of a visiting brother from other districts does not obtain for him due consideration in the province alluded to , Avhile any one

happening to hold high office there , obtains Avhen presenting himself elsewhere more honour than is reall y due to him . It appears desirable therefore that throughout the country a uniform system of appointment and promotion should prevail for the reasons given , and especially because a member of a small province has a great advantage OA-cr those Avho belong to a smaller one . To sum up the whole . In Grand Lodge , Avhatcvcr office is '

assigned to a brother , is only for one year ; it is supposed to be such as his abilities , position , and Masonic usefulness fairly entitle him to ; he cannot expect any adA'ance beyond it unless under extraordinary circumstances , ' in some provinces the same plan is adopted , ancl if they are small , such a course makes the purple apron too cheap , and therefore not valued , because bestoAvecl on inexperienced Masons Avho have not passed the chair of W . M . and

have not otherwise distinguished themselves . In other provinces a brother must have been Master of a Lodge , and even this , owing to the number of Lodges , is not sufficient , but he must have SIIOAVU his superiority over others by additional means ; be becomes Pursuivant first , and then gradually advances each year to the rank of Senior Warden . 'This seems to be the course best adapted to secure the object of such appointments , namely , honorary rank ,

provided that the Provincial Grand Master uses a discretionary power in not promoting a brother beyond such an office as his Masonic knowledge , abilities , and position , fairly Avarrant . It Avould perhaps be Avell if some arrangement could be made for equalizing the extent of the Masonic provinces according to the number of Lodges Avhich exist , or may naturall y be expected to exist , in them , instead of the present very unsatisfactory

adoption of the counties as provinces . Avith a very few exceptions . According ^ the calendar have twenty-five Lodges in Cheshire , Avhile in North Wales , which borders upon it , there are only four Lodges . It is manifest , therefore , that a Amy inferior Mason may hold high rank in the latter , Avhile a large number of good and energetic brethren have no position in the former , to many of Avhom he is probabl y , decidedl y inferior . This must sometimes be felt m any intercommunications between different provinces .

Masonic Missions.

Again , m East Lancashire there are forty-five , and in West Lancashire twenty-seven Lodges , Avhile in Cumberland , the next district on the north , there are only six . In Herefordshire there arc only three Lodges , and the same number iin Monmouthshire , while in Devonshire on the other side of the channel , there are twenty-four . These cases , to Avhich other parallel ones might be added , arc sufficient to SIIOAV the anomalies AvJhich exist , and the

inequalities in the position of individual brethren , according to the province with Avhich they arc connected . 'One other instance may be mentioned , namely , that of the Channel Islands . In Jersey there are five Lodges , in Guernsey four , in Alderney one . Jersey constitutes one proA-ince , Guernsey and Alderney another ; they are both under the direction of the Provincial Grand Master , yet are quite distinct from each other . Why are they thus divided

, giving opportunity for the elevation to high position of brethren AVIIO , if put into competition Avith others , Avould soon find a IOAVCIlevel , and making it difficult for the Prov . Grand Master to select two sets of officers of sufficient standing to secure the respect of the Craft ? It may be . said that these matters are trivial and not worthy of

notice , that the genuine Mason will never be envious or jealous of the honours of others ; that we are all on a leA'el , and recognize no distinctions but those of A'irtue and merit . Such is the theory , and such undoubtedly are the tendencies of the science , but your columns afford ample eA-idence that Masons are after all , but men , subject to the same feelings ancl passions as others , though our principles require that they should be kept under control . All possible

efforts ought to be made to accomplish so desirable a purpose , and to prevent temptations to evil thoughts ancl notions of injustice . It is considered by many that much more might be done b y our authorities in tin ' s direction if their attention tvere from time to time directed to the amendment of our constitutions and different arrangements , so as to suit them to circumstances . In this A-iew , a greater participation by country members in the offices of Grand

Lodge in London could not fail to present itself as a desirable point for consideration , as also the 2 'OAVcr- pf voting by proxy among those beyond a certain distance from London . Wishing to give offence to none , and to promote the cause ot fairness and justice to all , I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , II . II .

The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEMS . A NEW Lodge will be shortly opened tit Maidenhead , Berks , under the title o £ the St . John ' s Lodge ( ls o . 1 , 097 ) . Bro . AVilliain AA ' ntson V . Ci . Steward , is to perform the ceremony o £ consecration , ami install Bro . E , S . Cossens as the first Master . The Prov . G . M . ; D . Prov . G . M . and other Prov . Grand Officers , are expected to . attend .

A NKAV Lodge will be consecrated at Glastonbury on the 2 Cth instant , to lie called " The Pilgrim ' s Lodge , " No . 1 , 074 , and to be field at Bro . Bailey ' . ? , the George and Pilgrim Hotel . The ceremony will be performed by the D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Bandolph , tvho will also install the AV . M . After the consecration and installation , the Prov . Grand Lodge of Somerset Avill assemble at high twelve , after the despatch of business .

A special train will lem'c Bristol at S'O a . m ., returning from Glastonbury atS-17 . 1 ' . ni , THE BOYS' SCHOOL . A QtTARTisnm' mooting of the Governors of this School was held at tho officesGreat -streeton MondayJul 1 SthliraGeoBarrett

, Queen , , y , . . , A . P ., presiding . The Treasurer ' s report Avas presented , showing that £ 000 had been invested , making the funded property .-Gl-f , ] 00 . It was resolved , that in future tho Audit Committee should meet one week prior to tbe General Committee , instead of onl y tiro hours previously as hitherto . It was also resolved , that all votes recorded for a candidate . should be . carried forward

to his account , until ho was either elected or became , disqualified for admission to the school by ago . A vote of thanks to tho Chtiintuin closed the proceedings . METROPOLITAN . boom : OP PUOSPEEITV ( NO . 78 ) . —On AVednesday , July ] 3 , 1859 , the brethren of this Lodge held their summer banquet at Bro , . Smith ' s , Bell