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W ^ t' ^ W B m ^ J m ^' m a m J { II *' B- » A * S- *'» '' -. -- *'» . JV J V-J * J a ^^^ M ^^ a Bssssavsyj ^ ra MfeasaMAW / J SATUKDAY , 4 TH MAY 1895 .

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The second edition of Brother John Lane ' s " Masouic Records , 1717-1894 , " the copyright of which , it will be remembered , was presented by the author to the Grand Lodge of England , is announced as being in the press , and will shortly be

issued at one guinea per copy . We believe the edition is limited to 500 , a number that will probably be exhausted long before the book appears , so that intending subscribers will do well to make early app lication . Names of Subscribers received by the Grand Secretary Bro . B . Letchworth before the 31 st inst ., will be printed in the book .

Brethren thinking of founding new Lodges or removing existing ones would do well to pay a visit to Bro . Bennett , at the Hadley Hotel , New Barnet , where they will find most commodious quarters , in the centre of an attractive neighbourhood . The Hotel is within three minutes walk of Hadley Wood ,

easily reached by Great Northern Kailway , from Moorgate , King ' s Cross or Broad Street . Living as we do close to Brother Bennett ' s establishment , and being personally acquained with that Brother ' s capabilities , we can vouch that comfort is to be

found under his roof , while the charms of the district , within such easy reach of the metropolis , make the quarters most desirable . The Hotel comes within the Masonic Province of Hertfordshire , a fact that will add to its other attractions in some quarters .

A Masonic Celebrity In Scotland.

A MASONIC CELEBRITY IN SCOTLAND .

BRO . JAMES STEVENS P . M . P . Z . appears to have received a very agreeable welcome from our Scottish Brethren during his six weeks lecturing tour in Scotland which has just terminated . His visit to the " land o'cakes " had for its object the dissemination of practical information relating to two very prosperous fruit growing settlements in Australia , Mildura and Renmark , founded by Messrs . Chaffey , and known as the Australian Irrigation

Colonies . Bro . Stevens is their lecturing representative , and we learn by press notices that his lectures and illustrations receive universal appreciation from his audiences . At one or two of the Lodges he had the opportunity to visit ho was called upon to take up his old theme , and was listened to with evident interest . We trust our worthy Brother may retain the health and energy he has up to now enjoyed , and be of still further use to our Order as well as to his business connection .

Bro . Stevens ' s visit was referred to in more than one of the Scottish Masonic columns , and due prominence was given to his special researches , and his qualifications as a Masonic author . Should Bro . Stevens have time to devote to the matter we imagine he could write a very interesting paper on the divergencies between English and Scottish working , and his labours in years gone by on the question of "Uniformity" would find a fitting supplement in such a sketch .

The visit of . our old friend to Lodge Gael , No . 609 was made occasion of special reference from its Master , who invited Bro . Stevens to address the Lodge , the members of which appeared to fully appreciate the observations of their guest . The Gael was the third Lodge Bro . Stevens visited in Scotland , and he said that what he had seen in the other two Lodges , one in Edinburgh ' and the other in Inverness , had interested him very much . On the motion of Bro . Lee , Honorary membership was conferred on Bro . Stevens , who afterwards witnessed the initiation of three candidates .

Masonic Ornaments.

MASONIC ORNAMENTS .

rpHESE , according to the charge in the first degree , include Beuevo-- * - lence and Charity , and , according to the lecture on the First Degree Tracing Board , they comprise the Tesselated or Mosaic Pavement , the Indented Border and the Blazing Star . Obviously the charge should be

more explicit , and describe Benevolence and Charity as the ornaments of a Freemason , while the others are the ornaments of a Freemason ' s Lodge . Let us look first of all at the Mosaic pavement . This consists of a carpet , a piece of linoleum or oilcloth , or , best of all , is an integral part of the structure .

Being an ornament it possibly is not an absolute necessity , but still should be the first effort towards the decoration of the Lodge . The explanation in the lecture is very meagre , and we venture to think , unsatisfactory . It runs thus : —

The Mosaic pavement may be justly deemed the beautiful flooring of a * reemason ' s Lodge by reason of its being variegated and chequered . This points out the diversity of objects which decorate and adorn creation , the animate as well as the inanimate parts thereof .

We will waive the bad grammar and point out first of all that in no possible way can a chequered surface typify any part of creation . The chequered floor is made up of exactly equal divisions , straight lines and ri ght angles . Now it is well known that nothing in nature is either rectangular or

Masonic Ornaments.

rectilineal . In the whole of tho universe , nature produces no such thing as a straight line or a right angle . Not one single natural product is exactly equal to any other , and to such an extent is this faot evidenced that there is no such thing as an exact multiple or sub-multiple in nature , or even in natural science . The relation of the periphery of a cirole to its diameter can

never be exactly computed , the base of the Naperian or natural system of logarithms can never be more than approximated to . There is no such thing as a perfect curve , such as geometrical science defines , to be found in nature , and therefore it seems utterly out of place to suggest that a surface , whose chief beauty is that it has been artificially subdivided into exact squares , all of equal size , should be emblematical of the varied products of nature .

The lecture speaks of variegated colour , but the squares are simply black and white , two colours only attained by nature when , as it were , in extremis . We must therefore devise some other symbolism , and what more is needed than a reference to the Masonic injunction to walk with square steps . A pavement is what wo walk upon and what supports us , and thereby it is symbolised that all that a Mason does should be " on the square . "

Tbe Mosaic pavement should not be trespassed upon , save in the execution of ceremonial duty . The usual mode of progression in Lodge should be along the edges of the border , so that our motions are as nearly rectangular as possible . More especially should this be done when the candidate makes ceremonial perambulations . After saluting the W . M ., it is not at all unusual for a " short cut " to the J . W . to be made .

The next ornament is the Indented Border , usually of a different series of colours , say red and black . The lecture refers us to : —

The planets which in their various revolutions form a beautiful border or skirt-work round that grand luminary the sun as the other does round that of a Freemason ' s Lodge . It is plain that both here , as well as in the previous quotation , something has been omitted which might have explained what was meant by the

compiler of the lecture . An explanation we have heard seems a very suitable one , that whilst the square pavement represents the principle of conduct which should animate every Mason , the ornamental fringe represents those various ? qualities which may serve to soften and adorn that which , without them , would bo rugged , unamiable and perhaps unsympathetic . Such as education , the liberal arts and sciences .

The last ornament of the Lodge is the Blazing Star . There is a phrase " a sacred symbol " used in the closing of Lodge in the second degree , and it is described as being in the centre of the Lodge . There is a great want of uniformity , however , in the delineation of this symbol . In some Lodges the actual centre of the building by the intersection of its several , diagonals is

ascertained , and a gilt emblem suspended in the exact spot . Sometimes the device is shown in the centre of the floor , but this mutilates the symbolism of both . The pavement ought not to be broken up by adornments , and

certainly T . G . G . O . T . U ., to whom the sacred symbol refers , ought not to bo found under our feet . The explanation of the sacred symbol involves several other considerations which we shall have to defer . — " Indian Masonio Review . "

Drury Lane . —Our prediction last week that the performance of the " Lily of Killarney " would attract the admirers of Benedict ' s music on Saturday , was fully realised , the house being particularly well filled by an appreciative audience , who were treated to a most enjoyable rendering of the opera . During the week the series of special performances of English Opera have been continued , with satisfactory results on all sides , while the programme for next week presents a number of attractive ieatures that will doubtless ensure further successes .

Casscll ' s " Family Magazine " for May opens with an article on " Front rank Cricketers of to-day , " which includes some excellent photographs of well known players . " The voice of the cliarmer" continues its course , the interest being well sustained in the monthly instalment before us . Then

follows a paper on " Notable Keys , " which is also profusely illustrated with drawings of some quaint and historical specimens . An interesting sketch of Shetland , under the title "In the home of the afterglow ; " some short stories home notes , cycling experiences , chit-chat on dress , aud other usual features of this excellent magazine go to form an interesting number .

The issue of " Royal Academy Pictures ! , 1895 , " part 1 of which will be published by Messrs . Casscll aud Company on the 7 th inst ., will mark a fresh advance in the art of reproduction . Experiments have been successfully carried out in the preparation of the negatives from which the blocks are produced , with the result that the clearness of definition and the correct

rendering of the tones of the paintings will bJ greatly enhanced . The frontispiece to part 1 of the work will be Mi * . Alma-Taderna ' s " Spring , " which will be one of the principal pictures of the year . At very considerable cost Messrs . Cassell and Company have secured the exclusive right to publish this picture , aud it will be found in no other publication . Other representative Academy pictures will appear in this work only .

" The Paris Mode and Woman ' s Household Journal" was to be enlarged with th-2 number published on tho 1 st . Not only will the number of pages be permanently increased , but , in addition to the free patterns cut to measurement already providod , gratis patterns will bo given to subscribers , and new departments of domestic interest will be introduced . Particulars are given of the winner of the first of the prize wedding dresses , and a description of the dress is included in this number .

Dean Farrar ' s " Life of Christ" is now in its thirty-third edition ; whilst his " Life and Work of St . Paul" is in its twentieth , and " The Early days of Christianity" iu its ninth thousand . These are the library editions . Illustrated editions have been issued of the two former , and popular editions of all three . Of "The Life of Christ" a popular edition , revised by the author ^ , was published last year .