Lodge Officers.

even how satisfied one may be that the veil frequently concealsnothing ! However , to resume . I advise every well-born young man who wishes to see the world to get himself admitted as a , Mason : but I also advise a careful selection of the Lodge , for , although bad company cannot art in Lodge it can , nevertheless , be found there , and the candidate ought to guard himself against

dangerous ties . Those who only enter Freemasonry with the intention of learning the secret of the Order run immense risk of growing old under the trowel without ever attaining their goal . There is a secret , but it is so inviolable that it has never been told or confided to anyone . Those who stop short at a superficial view of things think that the secret consists of words , signs , and

touches , or that , in fact , the grand word is in the last degree . Wrong ! He who guesses the secret of Freemasonry— -for no one knows it who does not guess it—only gains that knowledge by dint of frequently attending Lodges , by reflection , by reasoning , by comparison , and by deduction . He does not confide it even to his best friend in Freemasonry , for he knows that if he has not guessed it

for himself he will not have the ability to understand it when he shall have had it whispered in his ear . He holds his tongue , and the secret is always a secret . All that is . done in Lodge should be secret ; but those who . by a dishonest indiscretion , have not scrupled to reveal what is therein done , have never revealed the essential point : they did not know it . and if they had , on no

account would they have revealed the ceremonies . The feelings which are experienced to-day by the profane—that is to say , those who are not Masons—are akin to those which were felt of old by those who were not admitted to the mysteries which were celebrated at Eleusis in honour of Ceres . But the Eleusian mysteries interested all Greece , and everyone of eminence in

society at that time aspired to take part in them ; whilst Freemasonry , in the midst of a large number of men of the greatest merit , includes a crowd of individuals whom no society ought to acknowledge , inasmuch as they are the scum and outcasts of the human race in respect to morals . In the mysteries of Ceres a long impenetrable silence was kept

on account of the veneration of which they were the object ; besides , what could be revealed / The three words which the Hierophant told the Initiates / But what would that lead to I To dishonour the indiscreet one ; for he only revealed barbaric words unknown to the common herd . I have somewhere read that the three sacred and secret words in the Eleusian mysteries meant " Watch ,

and do no wrong . " The sacred and secret words of the various Masonic grades are just about as criminal . The initiation lasted nine days . The ceremonies were very imposing , and the company very select . Plutarch tells us that Alcibiades was condemned to death , and all his goods confiscated , for having dared , in his own house , to turn to ridicule

the great mysteries with Polition and Theodoras against the Eumolpides . It was even wished that he should be cursed by the priests and priestesses : but the malediction was not pronounced , a priestess opposing it , saying , " I am priestess to bless , and not to curse . " Sublime words ! A lesson in morality and wisdom which the Pope scorns , but which the Gospel teaches , and which the

Saviour of the World prescribes . Nothing is important in these days , just as nothing is sacred for a certain class of cosmopolitans . Botarelli publishes in a pamphlet all the practices of Masons , and one is satisfied to say , ' He is a knave . " One knew it beforehand . A prince at Naples , and Mr . Hamilton at home , perform the miracle of St . Januarius . and doubtless laugh at it , as well as

many others with them . Nevertheless , the king pretends not to know that he wears on his royal chest a star with this motto surrounding the figure of St . Januarius : In . sanguine fa-dux . Everything in these days is inconsistent , and there is no meaning in aught . Nevertheless , it is good to push forward , for to stop half way is to go from bad to worse .

The Masonic " Poet's Corner."

The Masonic " Poet's Corner . "

{ Original and Selected . ' ) NOT FAR FROM ME .

Aot far from vie , not far from me , When first on checkered floor I bow in humble trust the knee , My Maker to adore ; I bow and fervently declare , That God is all my portion there .

Not fur from we , not far from me , In Middle Chamber led , I pass the Mystic portals three , And up the stairway tread ; I pass before the Mark divine , Whose light is Masonry ' s and mine .

Sot far Jrow vie , not far from me , In holiest place betrayed , When human hopes all fade and flee , And there is none to aid ; And there is none to hear me cry , But Thee , all-pitying Deity !

Not far from me , not far from me , These Mystic labours done , My body ' neath the deathless tree , My soul before the Throne ; Oh God , through blest Eternity , Be mine a place not fur from- Thee . [ From Tlw Poetry of Freema . ionry , by the late Bro . Dr . ROB MORRIS , Masonic Poet Laureate . ]

Our Trestle Board

OUR TRESTLE BOARD

" For the Master to lay lines and draw designs upon . " Our readers will kindly notice that our Editorial Ofliee is now at 59 , Moor Lane , where in future all communications will be received for Editor , Publishers , and Manager respectively .

We have to acknowledge receipt of Masonic Calendar for the provinces of Hertfordshire , with thanks for same . There are yet some provinces whose Grand Secretaries have not favoured us with copies .

A Masonic Service was held at the Church of St . Saviour , Park Street , Cheetham , near Manchester , on the _ : Jrd ulto ., under the auspices of the Richmond Lodge . No . 1011 . The X'roceedings were of considerable local interest . * * - * # * In our tabulated list of forthcoming Provincial Lodge Meetings ,

we have selected only those towns possessing at least four lodges . We are invited to include towns , having but a single lodge in connection with each . Tin ' s we cannot possibly do week after week without . sacrifice of space and adding considerably to expense . Wait until we ' are well established by the belli of those who wish

us to enlarge ourselves ! Meanwhile , as '' imitation is the sincerest form of flattery , " we are pleased to note that our contemporary , The Freemason , has followed our lead , and now provides for what we have always maintained was needed—a better

representation of Provincial interests—by admitting particulars of Provincial Lodges meeting within the week of issue of its respective numbers . This will be very useful if it should reach those interested in time for reference , and may be worth the difference between three pence and one penny .

Since writing the foregoing paragraph , the W . M . of an important Provincial Lodge has favoured us with valuable information as to names , numbers , places , and dates of meeting of all the Lodges and Chapters in his province ! , and would like to see the same included in our tabulated list . The number of Lodges is 13 , and of

Chapters 7 , and thirteen towns are rejircsented . Now , we should really be glad to cany out this wish , and also to particularise other provinces in like manner , for whether there be one or two or a dozen or more Lodges meeting in a given town , each Lodge is entitled to equal consideration at our hands . But space and expense .

as we have above said , must be considered by us . We make this proposition to our brethren : —Place your Lodge or Lodges on our subscription list and we will find means to give the information

which will interest , not only the individual members of each Lodge , but the Masonic world generally . More than this , beyond what we have at present arranged for , we cannot do—and , surely , we are not asking too much in return for our outlay .

In reference to Bro . Woodward ' s letter of September 8 th , which Ave inserted in our No . -1 , and upon which we proposed to comment , the subject has had our consideration , with the result that , providing no better arrangement can be made in regard to procedure in cases of proposed ' exclusion " of a member from a lodge , we think his

proposal for amendment should be supported when brought before Grand Lodge , as Bro . Woodward states it will be . It is certain that there is a strong feeling in the Craft that the issue raised cannot be overlooked , and the existing doubt as to what is and what is notmeant by Rule 210 should be set at rest .

We have a strong opinion that , present or non-present , each and every member of a lodge should have a voice in so important a matter as " Exclusion , " and that means could be found for obtaining a decision by ballot , so as to be clear upon the point that at least two-thirds of the number on the roll of lodge members desire that

the extreme penalty it can inflict should take effect . * * * * # Since writing the above , we have received a letter on the subject from a Brother , which appears herein , signed '' Veritas . " Certainly

the point relating to the wisdom and ability of Grand Lodge to frame laws governing the whole Craft is bej-ond doubt ; and the knowledge and experience displayed by its members must ever be above question .

The meetings throughout the Province of Dorset are held in the Masonic Halls in the respective towns , and in no case at hotels or public-houses .

The Prince of Wales has granted a dispensation for a new Lodge of Freemasons , in connection with the Chough Musical Society . The brethren will hold their future meetings at Cannon Street Hotel .

Another Masonic Lodge , the Hallamshire , No . 2 , 2 G 8 , was consecrated on October 3 rd . by the P . G . Master , Bro . Tew , Prov . G . Master West Yorks . This is an off-shoot from the Britannia Lodge . St . Leonard ' s ( which sprang out of the Wentworth ) was consecrated early in the year .

The inaugural address to the members and workers of the National Thrift Society was delivered on Monday last , the 1 st inst ., by Bro . Colonel Howard Vincent . C . B ., M . P .. who has succeeded

Lord Byron as President of the Society . Among those present who spoke were Bros . J . K . Rowbotham , M . Star . Jerrold , Dr . Greville Walpole , M . A . ; Mr . Sherrard , J . P . ; Rev . W . Mottram , and the Secretary , Bro . Bowden Green .