Principles Of Masonry.

must be under control and direction of the presiding officer . He ought to be well acquainted with the duties of the chair , and be vigilant and attentive to all that transpires in the lodge . He ought to direct all the business so as to avoid

confusion , and no officer ought to perform any duty of his office without first having been directed from the Oriental chair . The word of command must come from the Master , and obedience is the duty of all .

The lodge being opened at the time prescribed in the bye-laAvs , and consequently the officers in their proper places , the Master directs the business as in his judgment is best to the interests of the lodge , and according to circumstances . The

reading of the minutes of the preceding meeting is usually the first business . The Master , however , may transport his business . And here we may be permitted to remark that , as it is a practics of Grand Lodges to frame

bye-laws for the government of subordinate lodges—a course which is rather of doubtful character , and as tending to centralise power—it would be well to leave the routine of business to the discretion of the Masters , as no code of

byelaws , however volumnious , can provide for every contingency that may arise , and circumstances occur in , Avhich the interests of the lodge , may be affected by being compelled to pursue a prescribed form .

It is unnecessary to notice the various business matters transacted in the lodge . The members should be silent and remain in their places Avhile the lodge is in session , and be particularly attentive to the proceedings . There should be no

whispering while the minutes are being read , or reports of the committees , or balloting , which are pursued in succession , or during the work of entering , passing , or raising , which if candidates are present , are to be followed in order .

If the Secretary has omitted something , or the record is at fault , a member may state the fact by respectfully rising and addressing the Master . The presiding officer must in all cases be addressed if a brother Avishes to speak . The minutes ought

to show clearly all the transactions of the lodge , and before closing the lodge , and after making the collection , the amount and from Avhom received ,, the proceedings ,, as recorded , ought to be read .

Principles Of Masonry.

And as the brethren , while in the lodge , meet upon the level , so they ought to part upon thesquare , and each maintain a rigid silence as to theproceedings of the lodge , as best conducive tothe harmony and welfare of the institution . — JST . Y . Dispatch .

A Masonic Pic-Nic.

A MASONIC PIC-NIC .

From " Ben Brieley's Journal" for September * " Oh , for a lodge in some vast wilderness / sang Covvper , who must have been a Mason of far different tastes to his brethren of our own day .

Masonry , as represented by a few of our friends , does not court solitude in its Avildesfc aspect ; nor " is it essentially austere in the selection of its pastimes . It rather encourages the idea that the acme of earthly felicity is to be derived from

things that have no existence in the desert , and--Avould certainly be a surprise if found in trie presence of the "Stoic of the Woods . " Modern Masonry believes in the " good things of this life ,- " and prefers puffing out its cheeks to a jolly

rotundity by consulting the "flesh-pots , " to drawing it out to pin-wire attenuation by a persistence in the unnatural experiment of trying IIOAV much abstinence the human form can endure . Which is the wisest course to pursue may be left

to the controversy of polemics ; but for ourselves we certainly prefer the jollier one . Holding in view the doctrine Avhich we confess ourselves to have espoused , and cherishing a desire to make the most of a brief relaxation from

business cares , our friends of the "Wilton" resolved upon taking an " outing" to that place of popular resort known at L . & Y . railway stations as " Hollingwortli Lake . " There were three reasons advanced that gave preference to this spot over

several others . Firstly , the certainty of a good " feed ; " a desideratum that could not be supplied '; everywhere ; secondly , there was the advantage tobe had of a sail on a broad sheet of water ; not " once round" a duck-pond for a penny , with the ;

chance of a dozen collisions , but a sail of miles with a comparatively clear " offing ; " thirdly , the road Avas new to pic-nickers by 'bus , and the " Carriage Company ' s saloons" Avere to be the medium of conveyance thither and back . What