Lodge Histories.

The r ' eith of the Tyler , Bro . Wilkinson Pool is recorded in 1 £ 02 , his funeral being attended by tho Lodge , and great respect paid to his memory . He was for 31 years Tyler of tho Lodge . A fac-simile copy of an inscription

on his tomb-stone is included in Bro . Crossley ' s book . About this time the Lodge suffored other losses through tho death of members , among others being Bro . Samuel Lord , who had been a subscriber over thirty-nine years

( 17 C 3-1802 ) . In 1804 the members attended , with those of other Lodges , the funeral of Bro . Robert Sutcliffe , special services being arranged for the occasion . In 1807 various " lectures " are recorded , and from the minutes

they appear to have been appreciated . Several emergency meetings are recorded about this time , at many of which members wero " passed the chair , " so as to qualify them for tho Royal Arch Degree , which appears to have been

in favour at the time . It is remarked that " the Lodge at this period was in a most flourishing condition ; its members wero constantly increasing ; and the persons who

wero admitted were members of society held in high esteem by their fellow townsmen , and who to this day havo left their mark in the town and neighbourhood . "

As senior Lodge of the district " Probity" appears to have exercised a close supervision of the Lodges at a distance from the Provincial Grand Lodge centre , reporting to that authority on difficulties as they cropped tip in the

vicinity . A question of selling the warrant of the Loyal Halifnx Lodge to some brethren of Heptonstall was one of the matters to which special reference is made under this heading . The members of Probity called an emergency

meeting , and summoned the brethren interested in the transfer to attend , calling upon the members of the Loyal Halifax to refund the money paid for the transfer .

Tho whole proceedings were duly reported to the Provincial Lodge , and a petition for the regular removal of tho warrant was forwarded . There does

not appear to be any record of tho result of these proceedings , except that on 11 th July 1809 a brother attended as a visitor from tho Prince Frederick Lodge , Heptonstall , from which it is inferred the prayer of the petition

wa 3 gr . wted . An emergency meeting of Probity was held on tho 17 t , h July 1809 , at Heptonstall , when it appears the local Lodje was regularly established . On this occasion ihero w : is an attendance of 113 ; 57 as Craft Masons ,

23 as Royal Arch Masons , and 33 as Knights Templar . A procession was formed , and the whole company attended Church , returning therefrom to a " plentiful dinner" at tho Stag ' s Inn . A collection , which amounted to

£ 4 5 s 3 d was made , 20 s of which was given to a poor Mason's widow , while tho balance was given to the Minister of Heptonstall , to distribute to such poor persons as he thought proper . ( To be continued ) .

Man's Pre-Eminence.

MAN'S PRE-EMINENCE .

T ^ REEMASONRY emphasizes the dignity of man . It JL inculcates respect for human nature . It enforces the lessons of Bible revelation that man was appointed to hold pre-eminent position , having both an original capacity and a nntural power of development which indicate his

masterful relation towards the rest of the animal creation , as well as to material forces and products . David asks the significant question : " What is man that Thou art mindful of him ? or the son of man that Thou visitest him ? " The

response comes at once and is most assuring : " Behold Thou hast made him but little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honour . Thou madest him to havo dominion over the works of Th y hand . Thou hast put all things under his feet . "

Experience attests the truthfulness of this declaration . It shows man to be a masterful being , who grows more and more so with every passing age and generation . His supremacy over all material things and over all forms of

the animate creation becomes more evident as the years go by . Already he has found out many of the secrets of Nature , has laid his strong hand on her laws and forces , to compel these to do his bidding , until ho has well nigh conqu . rjd the world of matter . He has proven his power in various ways and given clear evidence of the fact that he was created to bear rule .

Man's Pre-Eminence.

Much of man ' s pre-eminence , however , is acquired ; he obtains power from a variety of sources—it is not all a birthright gift . His masterfulness depends upon numerous helps and ministries of which he must avail himself if he

would take the foremost position to which he may of right aspire . Freemasonry affirms this proposition , while of itself it is a means of culture toward the desired end . It

encouragos man to strive to make his being robust and productive , and it points to special helps and agencies that are most potent in contributing to fullness of life .

Freemasonry recognises the value of Nature ' s teachings . It directs attention to the sun , moon , and stars , to the glory of tho heavens above , and the order , tho movements , the life , the beauty of the earth below , that so there may

be both an enlargement and a quickening of human thought . Dull are we , indeed , if we are not constant learners of those material instructors that are all about us —if AVO do not realiso that there are

" Tongnes in trees , Sermons in stones , Books in the running brook , And good in every thing . "

Imagination , the poetic feeling , moral sensibility , reverence toward God , faith and kindred qualities , aro awakened and strengthened by communion with the outward world , by study of the things that are over our heads and beneath our feet—by contact with the " sweetness and

light" of Nature . To learn to see is one of the chief objects of education and life . A man that is insensible to the beauty of the world about him—who hears not its voices of wise suggestion , of delightful harmony and of

sweet consolation—will most likely be blind to great facts , and will lack power to reason and to do . Natural scenery and forces—the miracle of beauty that so often repeats itself on this fair earth—hills and mountains , lands and

seas , forests and rivers—all are serviceable in educating and in enriching human nature , thus helping man to a noble and more productive existence than else he would have .

Freemasonry appreciates the worth of books , schools , and all thc well defined appliances of instruction , in helping man to that larger life which she commends . The liberal arts and sciences fiud recognition in the Masonic

system . Knowledge is recommended to every Mason , not only as being a means of power , but for its own sake . Members of the Fraternity are exhorted to think and study , making use of tho best helps that may be within their reach . All this is well . Books and institutions are

conducive to that culture of mind which helps a man to assert the masterfulness for which he is designed , and to be useful on the earth . There is a training essential to the

largest honour and usefulness , and a part of this culture comes from books , schools , and institutional ministries . The really strong man is grateful for the helps thus afforded .

But this is not all of education or power . The broadest culture of life does not come from books and schools . Men must be instructed in other ways to have the best training , and to gather in their hands the elements of

largest power and usefulness . They must touch the pulses of humanity and be quickened thereby ; they must open their hearts to the inflowing of generous sentiments , and be sympathetic with the world of life about them , in order

to get the best education and acquire that regal power which is jnost grand and blessed . It is by close fellowship with other hearts and lives that the most of individual strength is developed , that the character becomes

symmetrical and attractive , and the life charged with usefulness . It is in the same way , by mixing in the world , bearing a hand in its work , entering into human joys and sorrows with a sympathetic feeling , that the zest of present

living is augmented , while the best that is in human nature comes into expression . Blessed is the mission of Freemasonry that it makes some provision for this higher ,

better life , of tho affections and the soul ! It recognises man ' s pre-eminence , and seeks to help him to live nobly and well , according to what are the prerogatives of his being and thc trend of his most exalted thought . —Freemason ' s ' Repository .

Ar00203

I FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attende d . in London and Country , by Bro . G . A . HTJTTOM " , 17 Newcastle ' Street , Strand . W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .