"White For—Black Against."

of maintaining and extending the principles of the Craft , and adding to the usefulness of his Lodge—this being so he is entitled to the thanks of the Craft and Lodge , and he ought not to be put to the unpleasantness of his Candidate being black balled if it can be avoided . Rebuffs of this kind check the zeal of brethren , wound their susceptibilities , and for a time at least deprive them

of the pleasure they formerly felt in meeting their brethren in open Lodge assembled . Their motives and intentions have been good , and as such are entitled to our cordial respect ; it ill becomes usi therefore , to meet such actions with an ill-timed blow or an unworthy or thoughtless rejection of the Candidate they propose to us . ( To be continued . ' )

Gleanings.

GLEANINGS .

. RITUALS IN FKEEMASONUY . —Arc rituals essential to the preservation of the practical unity and universality of Freemasonry ? This question comes naturally when one hears the flippant sneers of certain brethren who seem to find nothing so utterly useless and reprehensible as an absolute fidelity to the ritual . "The parrotlike repetition of the ritual " comes easily from the lips of those

who , having a ready flow of language ,-seem to believe that they are the only thoughtful and intelligent men in the fraternit y , apparently unmindful of the fact that many a long address contains but a grain of thought in a great mass of verbosity . The men who have left their impress on the great institution from the earliest times have believed in , and been active in favour of , a

ritual in every Masonic body of either rite . Not that the ritual is all there is to Masonry by any means , but that a ritual is essential , if the institution is not to bo allowed to degenerate into a mere series of social clubs , thereby losing that which more than any other one thing has preserved its real unity throughout the whole civilised world . It is easy for the fluent and indolent man to talk

of the uselessness of committing the ritual to memory , when the great trouble is that he is too indifferent to learn , though his assurance is so great that ho thinks his own weak words will convey more meaning than the language of the ritual . Too many men of this class are in the institution , and they do it injury by their vapourings . The fact is that the ritual , carefully learned

and earnestly rendered , will always m-ike an impression , even though the officer has not had the advantage of a college education , or the gift of oratory . Wherever and whenever the officers of any Masonic body render their work with fidelity to the ritual , there always , and without exception , will be found a prosperous body , with good attendance , even when the officers are not men

of brilliant attainments , for the earnestness and thought they have given to memorising the ritual manifests itself in the rendition of the work , and real earnestness is always impressive . Any Mason who has been an attendant on the meetings for many years can instance from his own recollection the truth of this statement , and he may also remember where the prosperity of such a body has been

seriously injured by having at its head some naturally brilliant man , too indolent to learn the ritual , who substitutes his own flash y and vapid utterances for the stately , solid and thought-inspiring language of the ritual . It is not claimed that the phraseology of the ritual in any of the degrees is absolu ely perfect by any means , but it is the language that the great mass of the Craft has decided should

be used , and no man has any right to accept office unless he means " in good faith and conscience , and to the best of his ability " to give the work correctly . A paper was quite recently read before a Masonic assemblage in which the author took occasion to speak sneeringly of Grand Lecturers and of their efforts tc have the officers of subordinate bodies endeavour to conform to the ritual as adopted by the Grand

body . The oft-repeated statement was made that the officer who repeats his ritual correctly gives it in a " meaningless and parrot-like manner . " Among those who wore present as listeners on the occasion referred to , were a considerable number of brethren who have been careful , painstaking and accurate ritualists , who have for years been noted among the Craft , not only for their fidelity

to the ritual in the various bodies which they have served , but also for the intelligent and effective manner in which they worked , conveying to the thoughtful listener the deep meaning of the spoken words . Yet the author of the paper referred to , made frequent and uncalled-for allusions to Grand Lecturers and their work , as though a man ought to take upon himself this most important and laborious

office and teach , not the ritual , but whatever might suggest itself to his mind . And after all this talk against correct rendering of the ritual , stated that he was much in favour of a " General" Grand Lodge in order that there might be a greater uniformity of work throughout the country . Those who have for years been active and painstaking in behalf of uniform ! y in ritual , believe rather in encouraging careful and earnest study among the office bearers , firm

in the faith that those who know the ritual thoroughly are those who may be depended upon to teach the lessons which the work is intended to convey , in the most intelligent manner , impressing candidates and members with the beauty of Faith , Hope , and that Charity , which is synonymous with Brotherly Love , strengthening in the minds of all a firm belief in the great and fundamental truth of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man . —JJru . Seranus Brown , in , the Liberal Freemason .

To the oft repeated question , "If the secrets of masonry are replete with such advantage to mankind , why are they not divulged for the general good '! " It may be answered , were the privileges of masonry to be indiscriminately dispensed , the purposes of the institution would not only be subverted , but our secrets , becoming

familiar like other important matters , would lose their value and sink into disregard . It is a weakness in human nature that men are generally more charmed with novelty than with the intrinsic value of things . Innumerable testimonies may be adduced to confirm this truth . Do we not find that the most wonderful operations of the Almighty , however beautiful , magnificent , and useful , arc

Gleanings.

overlooked because common and familiar ; ' The sun rises and sets , the sea ebbs and flows , rivers glide along their channels , trees and plants vegetate , men and beasts act ; yet these , being perpetually open to view , pass unnoticed . The most astonishing productions of nature on the same account escape observation , and excite no emotion , either in admiration of the great cause , or of gratitude for

the blessing conferred . Even virtue herself is not exempted from this unhappy bias in the human frame . Novelty influences all our actions ; what is new . or difficult in the acquisition , however trifling or insignificant , readily captivates the imagination and ensures a temporary admiration ; while what is familiar , or easily attained , however noble or eminent , is sure to be disregarded by the giddy

and the unthinking . Did the essence of masonry consist in the knowledge of particular secrets or peculiar forms , it might , indeed , be alleged that our pursuits were trifling and superficial . But this is not the case ; they are only the keys to our treasure , and having their use , are preserved ; while from the recollection of the lessons which they inculcate , the well-informed mason derives instruction ;

he draws them to a near inspection , views them through a proper medium , adverts to the circumstances which gave rise to them , and dwells upon the tenets they convey . Finding them replete with useful information , he prizes them as sacred ; and , being convinced of their proprietary , estimates their value by their utility . Vain , therefore , is each idle surmise against the plan of our government .

While the laws of the Craft are properly supported , they will be proof against every attack . Men are not aware that by decrying any laudable institution they derogate from the dignity of human nature itself , and from that good order and wise disposition of things , which the Almighty Author of the world has framed fer the government of mankind , and established as the basis of the moral

system . Friendship and the social delights can never be the objects of reproach ; nor can that wisdom , which hoary time has sanctified , be a subject for ridicule . Whoever attempts to censure what he does not comprehend , degrades himself , and the generous heart will pity the mistakes of such ignorant presumption . — " Freemasonry ., " by Thomas Lewis Fox , CS .

Ad00803

Crown 8 vo , Masonic cloth , lettered . Price Ss . 6 d ., by post 3 s . Oil . ; extra postage for places Abroad not included in Postal Union . "CHIPS FROM A ROUGH ASHLAR " " KNOCKED OFF" BY THE GAVEL OF COMMON SENSE : % discourse on ilje flitnal & Ceremonial of ^ Freemasonry . By W . Bro . JAMES STEVEIS , P . M ., P . Z .. & c , Author of "UNIFORMITY OP MASONIC RITUAL AND OBSERVANCE , " "MAP OF TUB MASONIC LODGES IN ENGLAND AND WALES . " & C & c . ADDRESS : — " EVELYN , " CATFORD , LONDON , S . E .

Ad00804

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS , WOOD GREEN , LONDON , N . THE MONTHLY MEETING of the GENERAL COMMITTEE will bchelO , by adjournment from Saturday 3 rd August , on SATURDAY , 10 th AUGUST , at FREEMASONS' HALL , GREAT QUEEN STREET , LONDON , : v 1 I 10 UMial hour of FOUR o'Cloek in the afternoon , for the transaction of general business . Bv Order , Cilice—G , Freemasons'Hall , "W . C , FREDERICK BINCKES ( V . Patron ) , 8 th August , 1889 . Secretary .

Ad00805

Recommended to the Subscribers to the " Masonic Star . " HOTELS STAR AND GARTER HOTEL , KEW BRIDGE , Bro . JOHN BRILL , Proprietor . Seven Lodges and Chapters held in the Hotel , which possesses Special Facilities for Concerts , Evening Parties and Banquets . Scale of Charges on Application .

Ad00806

MAYO'S CASTLE HOTEL , EAST MOLESEY , Hampton Court Station ( adjoining the Railwav and facing the River and Palace ) . Bro . JOHN MAYO has ample accommodation in the new wing for Banquets for any number up to 100 . Spacious landing to River . Specimens of Menus , with prices , sent on application . Three Lodges meet at tho Castle Hotel , and reference may bo made to the respective Masters as to the catering , & c .

Ad00812

BRIDGE HOUSE HOTEL , LONDON BRIDGE , S . E ., PEARCE & SON , Proprietors . Dinners , "Wedding Breakfasts , Balis , Soirees , Concerts , Masonic , Public , or Private Meetings , & c . The Suite of Booms for Balls and Concerts includes the Ball Room , Ante-Room , Refreshment and Supper Rooms and Ladies' Retiring Rooms . The Masonic Temple will seat 40 . Terms on Application .

Ad00807

BOURNEMOUTH . Board and Residence , south aspect , close to the Sea , Pleasure Gardens ; centre of Town ; Home comforts . Terms , 30 / -. Apply M . A . Hood , Caversham , Poole Hill .

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" FTIHE BEDFORD" FAMILY AND COMMERCIAL _ L HOTEL , PORTSMOUTH . Proprietor , It . P . BRIANT .

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SEA HOUSE HOTEL , MIDDLE ST ., BRIGHTON . —THOMAS GIBUS ( late Supt . Brighton Police Fire Brigade ) . Choicest Wines and Spirits , Fine Foreign Cigars , Billiards , Private Apartments .

Ad00810

PARSON'S HOTEL , RIO DE JANEIRO , BRAZIL . V ^ English home comforts , and ail information about Brazil , will be found in tills Hotel . AVM . D . CARSON , Proprietor .

Ad00811

BAMSGATE . WESTBOURNE HOUSE BOARDING ESTABLISHMENT . Smoking and Drawing Rooms ; facing sea ; late dinner ; Terms moderate . Mrs . DUNN , West Cliff .