Freemasonry- A Factor In European Politics.

will avail to arrest its progress . " This would never be the case were our system at fault in either the concrete or the abstract . Steadily and silently , but Avith unerring

certainty , it steps on , and the day Avill come " when all nations will compose a single family of freemen , equals and brothers . "

The fatuous ravings of ultramontanism can never obscure the light which comes from above , and deA'ices for electoral purposes , whether made use of by one party or the other ,

will not alter one iota the programme embodied in our great watchwords , " Brotherly loA'e , relief and truth , " and ought not to cause us to be less in charity with all men .

Living in England , free men , under a benificent rule , the peculiar systems in vogue , on the Continent in regard to . any electoral struggle , such as is about to take place in

Germany , are but imperfectly understood or appreciated , and the organisations which exist for the purpose of furthering this or that party ' s interests in the State are

practically unknown here . Freemasonry amongst many other societies is made a potent lever by the school of advanced thought , and Masonic Lodges may be compared

in some respect to the Jacobin clubs at the close of the last century in France . The use of the name of the G . A . O . T . U . having been discarded by the Grand Orient

the Grand Orient is no longer recognised by us ; but the principles on which the Order is founded remain practicall y unaltered . Those principles it is our duty to defend from

whatsoever quarter they may be attacked , and , confident in the rectitude of our purpose and of the excellencies of the craft with which Ave are identified , Ave can aAvait with

calmness any attempt to discredit or hinder us , no matter from what quarter it may come , and shall never have to say with Virgil , " lieu prisca fides ! " In his preface to the

Vatican decrees m their bearing on civil allegiance , Mr . Gladstone writes thus : " The Latin Church has probably a hundred and eighty millions of nominal adherents ; a

clergy counted by hundreds of thousands ; a thousand bishops , and the Pope at their head . Nearly the entire hierarchical poAver in this great communion , together with

a faction everywhere spread and everywhere active among its laity , are noAV deliberately set upon a design distinguished by the folloAving characteristics . Internally it aims at the

total destruction of right . Not of right as opposed to wrong , but of right as opposed to arbitrary will . Such right there shall be none , if the conspiracy succeeds , in the

bishops against the Pope , in the clergy against the bishops or the Pope , in the laity against any of the three . Externally , it maintains the right and duty of the Spiritualty ,

thus organised , to override at will , in respect of right and wrong , the entire action of the civil power ; and likewise to employ force , as and when it may think fit , for the

fulfilment of its purposes . " Our readers must judge for themselves Avhat kind of liberty obtains Avhere such pernicious doctrine is promulgated , and , consequently , with what a jaundiced eye our free institution must be regarded .

THE STAI CHAPTER OF IMPROVEMENT—NO . 1275 . —On Friday , 16 th inst ., at the Stirling Castle , Camberwell . Present : Comps . F . Hilton , P . Z ., Preceptor ; Moor , M . E . Z .. ; Grammmit . H . ; Capt . Vincent , J . ; Stone , S . E . ; Benedetti , S . N . ; Stone , P . S . ; Eckersall , A . S . ; Meierhoff , Latham , Briant , Hill , Murche and Wood . Chapter was regularly openedand Comp . Vincent was installed M . E . Z . The

, ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Latham personating candidate . Comp . Grummant was elected M . E . Z . for the next meeting . Comp . Wood , P . S ., 742 , was elected a member . The Preceptor announced that the ceremony of installation of J . would be rehearsed on Friday next , commencing at 7 . 45 p . m .

How To Have A Good Lodge.

HOW TO HAVE A GOOD LODGE .

| g | | T is in the poAver of the members of any Masonic Lodge to i HI m : ik-e it a GOOD Lodge , and equally in their power to make i | H it the reverse . To make or to mar their Lodge is the wrcgfiBBI prerogative of its constituent members . But what -is a good Lodge ? It is one AA'hich it is pleasant to belong to and pleasant to visit ; one which is distinguished for its correct and impressive rendering

of the Avork ; one which is noted for the high character and fraternal good feeling of its members ; one which scans closely the qualities of every applicant for initiation and membership , and approves or rejects him according as he is morally and materially fit or unfit , and does not accept him simply because he comes Avith money in his hands ; one which is at unity with itself , and not a

divided household ; one which is noted for its charity , Avisely and liberally dispensed ; and one that combines Refreshment Avith Labour on all convenient occasions . Such a Lodge is a good , Lodge , a credit to the Grand Lodge of which it is a constituent , and a beneficent power in the Craft and in the community . Now . how shall such a Lodge be created or fostered I

This Avork is not and cannot be the Avork of any one brother , but must be the result of the harmonious co-operation and action of many , if not of all . If there be even one decided , ; crank" in a Lodge he Avill mar the work of all the rest . But Avhile one can destroy , no one can create . The honour of making a good Lodge cannot be claimed bv any one brother , although some , from their official

positions of influence and power , naturally may contiibute more than others to the happy result which the brethren of all Lodges should aspire to accomplish , viz ., the credit of having the best Lodge in their city or vicinity . The first brother in influence and power is unquestionably the W . M . of a Lodge . He is' an officer Avhom the Craft has entrusted

w ith regal prorogates . He has no equal in the Lodge . Every proceeding is under his control . He may convene his Lodge at pleasure , and close it at pleasure . Yet , though he be possessed of such authority , he rarely , if eA-er , uses it for ought but the promotion of the AA'elfare of the masonic body . The possession of great power is almost invariably accompanied by a sense of

responsibility for its right exercise . Very , very feAV Masters of Lodges err in Avilfully exercising their prerogatives for improper purposes . More than any other brother , therefore , tho Master has the ability to promote tho highest prosperity of a Lodge . This he may do by the regularity and punctuality of his attendance at all meetings , the correctness and force with Avhich he Avorks the

degrees , the example he sets of fraternal felloAvship with the members , thereby promoting their mutual acquaintance , and the social virtues taught by the Craft ; the promptness with which he visits , sympathizes Avith and relieves the sick , and the solemnity and fraternal feeling with which he buries the masonic dead ; the grace Avith which he presides OA er his brethren Avhile they

surround the social board at refreshment , and the interest he displays in all the affairs of the Lodge . The Master who is facile in the performance of all these duties contributes thereby the lion ' s share toAvards making a good Lodge . The elective and appointed officers are the next most potent factors for good in the Lodge . If they be ahvays in their places , doing their

own proper work , it Avill be Avell done , and the machinery of the Lodge A \ ill be in good working order . With a good Master , Wardens , and appointed officers , promptly in their places and knoAving their Avork , one of the most valuable elements in a Lodge will be ahvays present—skilfully performed Avork . Without this no Lodge can prosper ; with it no Lodqe can fail .

Next , the Past Masters should adequately and well support the officers of a Lodge , if it is to be permanently a good Lodge . The experience of the Past Masters cannot be dispensed with , if the Lodge is to prosper . They are the anchors of the Lodge Avhen storms arise , Avhile the officers are the sails of the Lodge when favouring breezes bloAv . Under any and all circumstances it is important that they be present , to lend whenever needed the aid of their counsel and

advise . Last of all it is the duty of every member to contribute his proper share to the promotion of the general Avelfare , and if any large number of the members fail to do this , the difficulty Avill be measurably increased ; for the remainder to make a good Lodge . There must be hearty co-operation from all the members to ensure the ready accomplishment of this Avork . —Keystone .

" THE OLD MASONIANS . " —The members and friends of the above Association met on Friday evening last at Anderton ' s Hotel for their second social evening . The chair was ably filled by Bro . J . Swinford Francis . Mr . Morris opened the ball Avith a pianoforte solo , and he was followed by Mr . W . J . Packer who sang ' The last of the Boys ; " Mr . C . Heward Uwins gave " Th ; Will-o ' -the-Wisp . "

" Encore , encore , " was his reward . He cheerfully replied with the " German Drinking Song . " Mr . E . Pontis Lines gave a capital rendering of ' -The Owl , " "They all love Jack . " and the "Maid of Athens " ( encore ) . The recitations by Mr . W . A . Glass , Mr . It . Harold Williams and Mr . Frank Scurr Avere all of high merit . Mr . L . H . Palmer supplied the comic element , and all his songs were

thoroughly appreciated , for he never fails to amuse his audience and to provoke merriment . A vote of thanks to the chair and the singing of the National Anthem brought the evening to a close . We notice that the next fixture is a Cinderella ball . We think the Association is doing well to repeat these little dances . The one

they gave last year was a great success , and Ave can only wish that they may be even more successful this season . We are sure that they would be pleased to Avelcome any brethren who would care to attend , and Ave are informed that tickets may be obtained on application to the Secretary , 17 , Abbey Gardens , St . John ' s Wood .