The Wages Of The Craft.

Refreshment . Now that the Mark Degree has been severed from the Fellow-Craft Degree , and made a special decree , the Senior Warden's vocation in the Fellow-Craft or blaster Masons' Lodge is gone . He has no wages to

bestow , and no Craftsmen to pay . Nevertheless he retains the old language , which indicates what his duty once was , and thereby testifies to the antiquity of his station , and the dignity with which he was once clothed . But let it not be inferred that Freemasons no longer

receive wages . Far from it . There is no man who receives better wages than a Freemason . He is a member of that ancient and honourable Fraternity which has no rival ,

whose wealth—intellectual , moral , social and material—is untold , and which dispenses its wealth with a liberal hand . Let us see what the wages of the Craft now are , and to whom they are paid .

The non-affiliate gets nothing , and merits nothing . He is a backslider , out of all sympathy with his fellows . He comes not near the Lodge , and of course can receive no wages . Neither does the habitual absentee from the Lodge

who is in good standing receive any wages . Seeing is receiving , and he never sees . Hearing is receiving , and he never hears . No one receives wages but the Brother who is dutiful to his Lodge . Bat what does he receive ? Most

liberal wages . He is enriched in mind , m body and m spirit . The sublime truths taught in the Craft , by sign and symbol , by word aud act , are impressed again and again on his memory , so that he cannot forget them .

Every devoted Freemason should be a noble man . He has no excuse for turpitude . He unfailingly knows what is right , and cannot err through ignorance . Besides this , he is enriched in spirit , by communion and fellowship with his

Brethren . He has their sympathy . He sits with them both at Labour and Refreshment . The convivial joys of the banquet-room are his . He is enriched also in body . Often the wages are material in form . He partakes of the

viands which upbuild the body and rejoice the heart—the corn , the wine and the oil of the Craft . His wages often include all of these payments . Can any Brother under

these circumstances go away dissatisfied ? Can he be aught than happy , yea delighted ? Is the Fraternity a useless one which can offer such rewards to its

initiatestruth for the mind , nourishment for the body , encouragement and inspiration for the spirit , the emotional nature ? Aye , and its wages are larger still . Does fortune fail , do

friends fall away , does penury follow sharply on the heels of misfortune , then heaven-born charity is dispensed by the Craft . Then the wages are in shekels , as well as in the

corn of nourishment , the wine of refreshment and the oil of joy . The unfortunate Brother is paid the wages of both classes of Fellow-Crafts , those with Marks and those without ; he is paid in specie and he is paid in kind .

Were Freemasons ever better paid than now r Were their wages ever larger ? We would rather be a Freemason to-day than to have been one in the days of King Solomon . We would rather enjov the Labour and

Refreshment of the Lodge now , than that which our primitive Brethren enjoyed . The best times are these times , all that is said about the " good old times " to the contrary notwithstanding . All Freemasons are entitled to receive their wages , and if they do not , it is owing to the wilful

neglect of their duties ; it is their fault and not the fault of the Craft . —Keystone .

Chislehurst Lodge, No. 1531.

CHISLEHURST LODGE , No . 1531 .

HpHE annual recurrence of installation in this Lodge took place at •* - Bull ' s Head Hotel , at Chislehnrst , Kent , on Saturday the 26 th nit . The place of meeting is situate in a picturesque and highly interesting neighbourhood , surrounded by ploasant aud varied walks , of which the brethren avail themselves during tho interval between

tabouu and refreshment on each occasion of meeting ; thereby securin g a healthy and agreeable addition to tho business and pleasure of Masonic reunion . The excellent grounds iu rear of the Hotel , with "Aniens , lawns and bowling courses , are also attractive for such as do not care for distaiit rambles before dining ; whilst the internal

accommodation afforded by a spacious and lofty Lodgo room , with - ^• 11 necessary ante-chambers and conveniences on the same floor , render this hostelry especially suitable for Masonic meetings at no "''eat distance from London . To these advantages may also be added too willingness with which provision is made , according to the

fecjmretnents of the Brethren , for either "high teas , " elaborate dinners , or still more elaborate " banquets , " such willingness on the Part of " mine host" enabling the Lodge to have regard to the state ° » its finances , without the pressure , sometimes elsewhere applied , of considering the " good of the houee" as an important factor in securing accommodation and attention . At this agreeable " home "

Chislehurst Lodge, No. 1531.

the Chislehnrst Lodge was opened on Saturday , by Bro . Edward J . Goodale , the W . M . Amongst the brethren present at the opening and durin « the meeting were Bros . W . T . Bnuley S . W ., Uichwrd Nevill J . W ., W . Hollis Treasurer , J . C . Main Secretary , W . T . Hnnt P . M . S . D ., John Ma- ^ on P . M . J . D ., R . Strachan I . G ., C . F . Quicke

D . C , H . C . Dana Steward , J . Rawles Tyler ; Past Masters W . H . Drinkwater and T . C . Nunn ; and Bros . John Breton , W . Strudwick , VV . J . A . Gleaves , John Tuck , Geo . Holding , & c . The visitors wore Bros . James Stevens P . M . 720 1216 1426 , H . W . Roaoh J . D . 55 , and J . H . Montague 2030 . The minutes of the previous regular Lodge

meeting having been confirmed , Lodge was passed and raised , and resumed to the first degree , a very satisfactory report of the Audit Committee was received and adopted . This report , but for unfortunate circumstances arising out of Bome extreme measnres taken by a small minority of the members during the past year , and which

have greatly retarded the progress of the Lodge , would have been still more satisfactory ; but it is pleasant to know that common sense and some return towards brotherly feeling and regard for the welfare of the Lodge have prevailed , and the differences which have existed will no longer be continued . Resolutions were passed for

the increase of annual subscriptions of members , and that non-dining ( or country ) members should not be residents within fifteen miles of the place of meeting . Ballots were taken and resulted in unanimous approval of Mr . Francis Martin Hunt , of Chelsea , as a candidate for initiation , and of Bro . John Peacock , of the Mizpah Lodge , No . 1671 ,

as a joining member . To the regret of the brethren generally , neither of these gentlemen were able to be present to receive at once the benefit of their successful candidature . Lodge having been resumed to F . C ., W . Bro . Past Master Nnnn , at the request of the W . M ., presented Bro . Wm . Thomas Brailey S . W ., and W . M . elect , for the

benefit of installation ; Bro . W . H . Drinkwater P . M . then occupied the S . W . chair , and subsequently Bro . John Mason P . M . that of the J . W . ; Bro . James Stevens P . M . was invited by the W . M . to discharge the dnties of D . C . In most perfect manner the W . M . Bro . E . J . Goodale performed the entire ceremony of installation , aud

completed a finished rendering of this most important part of Masonic ritual by the delivery of the addresses to . W . M ., Wardens and Brethren in admirable style . The warmest acknowledgments of hearty satisfaction were accorded to Bro . Goodale on his thus completing his year of office , and receiving at the hands of the newly-installed

Master a handsome Past Master s jewel , and a collar with the usual pendant signifying his newly . acquired rank . The Officers invested by the W . M . for the ensuing year were Bros . Richard Nevill S . W ., W . T . Hunt P . M . J . W ., Wm . Hollis Treasurer , J . C . Main Secretary , R . Straohan S . D ., Charles Quicke J . D ., W . Powell D . C , H . C . Dana

I . G ., John Marshall Steward , and Jas . Rawles Tyler . Before the Lodge was closed a special vote of thanks was ordered to be recorded on the minutes in favour of Bro . Past Master Goodale in token of his successful performance as Installing Master , and a similar vote wns also unanimously accorded to Bro . James Stevens P . M . for his

valuable assistance as Director of Ceremonies . Bro . Hollis Treasurer having accepted the position of representative of the Lodge , as Steward at the next Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , a sum of Ten Guineas was voted to head his list of donations , and from tbe high appreciation in which that worthy brother

is held both in the Chislehnrst Lodge and other Masonic Associations , there can be no doubt that his Stewardship will prove highly creditable , as well to the Lodge in particular as to himself as its representative . A few brief remarks ou the happy augury for future har . mony and renewed friendship , which the proceedings of the evening

had fully justified , resulted iu re-proposition of a candidate for initio , tion , whose overtures had been , through no fault of his own , previously rejected , and there can now be no doubt that the fullest amends will be made to him at the ensuing meeting by a reception all the warmer for the restoration of peace , and forgetfulness of private

piques and resultant differences : —May we be permitted to say , " So mote it be . " The Lodge having been closed in due form and with solemn prayer , the brethren " took the air " for awhile—it was much needed—and some in short walks , and others in quiet saunter in the Hotel grounds—where they were gratified to find ladies connected

with esteemed members of the Lodge—pleasantly passed an interval before dinner was announced . The weather being in every respect agreeable , the relief afforded by this brief diversion was most enjoyable , and gave zest to the subsequent entertainment in the " fourth degree . " After the cloth had been cleared the usual routine of

toasts and responses was observed , but with satisfactory brevity and without omission or alteration of programme ; the W . M . acquitting himself , on this the first occasion of the exercise of his supremacy , most courteously . To the great satisfaction of all present the amiable daughter of Bro . Main , the Secretary of the Lodge , and the no less

amiable wife of jBro . Quicke , the S . D ., were good enough to disconrse music , and to " accompany " the singing brethren j so that when the inevitable moment for parting had arrived , and the stem fact that

the last train was close at hand was assured , the merry company , with many haod-shakes and fervent aspirations for similar enjoyable reunion , separated , and so terminated a meeting long to be remembered in connection with the Chislehurst Lodge , No . 1531 .

Princess's Theatre . —Mr . Wilson Barrett ' s arrangements for the fioal performances , prior to his departure for America , are now complete . " Clito" will be played for the last time this afternoon ( Saturday ) , the theatre remaining closed in the evening . On Monday

next " Claudian will be revived for eleven nights , and one matinee . " Hamlet " will be given for four nights , commencing on Monday , the 19 ch inst . On the Saturday intervening , the theatre will again bo closed , while for the 23 rd and 24 th inst ., special programmes will bo announced .

FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended in London or Country by Bro . G-. A . HTJTTON , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .