Muster Rolls And Cash Balances.

relisrious Feet or a political organisation , dependent for its success upon 't ^ count of heads , then the number of proselytes it had been able to add to its roll would bo its best source for self congratulation . If it wore n . trading company , then a big balance at its banker ' s roi ;_ rht be the

most satisfactory point to which the attention of a shareholders' meeting could be directed , although , even in that case the shareholders might possibly inquire , cui -bono , it the balance remained there over long . But Freemasonry is neither one nor the other . It is an ancient and

venerable society , dependent upon fidelity to certain timehallowed principles for its success , and when a man joins it the honour is his , not the Order ' s . The lambskin apron never disgraces the wearer , albeit tho wearer ofttimes sullies it . The individual who passes our portals has

legitimate cause for boasting of his admission , we are forgetting our dignity if we congratulate ourselves on the admission of any man , however distinguished he may be . When we find a Master trumpeting forth to the world that he has conferred more degrees than any of his predecessors ,

or that his Lodge has a larger membership than any other in the town or tho district , wo feel inclined to doubt that Master's ability to hand over his warrant pure and unsullied as when he received it . Once let strength of membership be considered the summum ultimnm of Masonic

work , the days of Masonry as an honourable institution are numbered . And much the same may be said of the Lodge that pins its faith on a big balance sheet . " Give all you can , " is a much more important Masonic axiom than " Get all you can , " or " Save all you can . " No Lodge

has a right to keep up a large idle balance whilst there is an aged or feeble Brother in the world , or a Mason ' s orphan without the means of laying a sure foundation for a life ' s work , or , on the other hand , whilst anything is wanting in tbe appurtenances of the ritual of its Lodge

room to render the ritual of the Craft as beautiful as art can make it . Every Lodge should possess or rent a suitable and well furnished Temple , should have a sufficiently large Benevolent Fund to meet promptly and worthily any calls likely to be made upon it , and should

retain a sufficient balance in its General Fund to render it independent at least of Degree Fees to meets its current expenditure . But , with all these provided for any other funds happily in hand should go to one or other of the Masonic Charities of its own or some other

Constitution . Money lying idle is no credit to Masonry , and we shrewdly imagine that there is little chance of this happening if the portals of the Lodge are opened to worthy men alone . We have made these remarks in all charit y , hoping that they will suggest reflection on the part of our readers generally . —South African Freemason .

Prov. G. Lodge Of Derbyshire.

PROV . G . LODGE OF DERBYSHIRE .

A SPECIAL Grand Lodge was held on Saturday , the 6 th inst ., to " Consider and resolve upon an address of condolence with his Royal Highness the Grand Master on the much - regretted death of H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence and 'Avondale , Provincial Grand Master of

Berkshire , and Past Grand Warden of England . " There was a very large attendance , not merely from Derby , but from every district of the Province . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . H . C . Okeover presided , in the

absence of His Grace the Duke of Devonshire , the position of Deputy being filled by Bro . Thomas Cox P . P . G . S . W . Amongst the Provincial Grand Officers Past and Present who were in their places were : —Bros . G . M . Bond

P . S . G . W ., Sir John Smith P . P . S . G . W ., W . H . ' Marsden P . P . S . G . W ., Percy Wallia P . P . S . G . W ., Wm . Naylor P . G . Secretary and P . G . S . B . ( England ) , Abraham Woodiwiss P . P . S . G . W ., the Rev . T . B . Mundy P . G . Chaplain , T . S . Bowden P . J . G . W ., J . H . Day P . P . J . G . W ., Thomas Hall

P . P . J . G . W ., C . G . Busby P . P . J . G . W ., T . R . Gee P . G

Treasurer , Edgar Home P . P . G , Registrar , W . Beadon Woodforde P . P . G . Registrar , Wilks P . G . S . Deacon , Cawthorne Webster P . P . S . G . D ., J . W . Brigg P . P . S . G . D ., John Walker P . P . S . G . D ., Nathan Ashurst P . P . J . G . D .,

W . J . Piper P . P . G . D . of C , F . J . Robinson P . P . G . A . D . of C , J . 0 . Manton P . P . G . A . D . of C . J . Cutting P . P . G . A . Secretary , J . Copestick P . P . G . P ., T . E . Yeomans P . P . G . P ., J . Fisher P . G . A . P ,, T . Day Prov . G . Tyler , and others . The D . P . G . Master , after referring to the object of the

Prov. G. Lodge Of Derbyshire.

meeting , described the calamity which had overtaken the Royal Family , and particularly tbe Grand Master , as one of terrible severity Their late Bro , the Dulce of Clarence appeared to have n long life of usefulness and honour before him . Ho wis beloved bv all the members of his

family , especially by Her Mo 9 t Gracious Majesty the Queen , whilst he was about to marry the winsome object of his love . His untimely removal occurring at a time when all sections of the people were being scourged by sickness had made a profound impression upon the

country , and had deeply stirred the sympathies and affections of all Freemasons , calling upon them to exercise those great principles of brotherly love and fraternal regard upon which their Order was founded . Moreover , it must have led them to reflect upon the uncertainty of

life , and have taught them the wisdom of drawing closer to the Great Architect of the Universe . He was sure he was echoing the sentiment of every Brother in the Province when he said that they deeply sympathized with

the Grand Master in his bitter loss , and prayed that the Almighty Architect , to whom alone they must look for grace and strength , might assuage the grief into which be and his Royal Consort had been plunged . Bro . Okeover concluded by moving the following resolution : —

We , the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Derbyshire , in speoial Lodge assembled , beg leave to approach yonr Boyal Highness with an expression of our deep sorrow at the untimely death of H . R . H . the Dnke of Clarence and Avondale , K . G ., and with onr earnest sympathy with yonr Royal Highnesa ' s affliotion . The high

personal qualities possessed by his Royal Highness , his distinguished rank in Freemasonry , and the exalted position of happiness whioh appeared to be before him , have all combined to intensify oar sensa of the loss whioh your Royal Highness and the country have suffered ,

and have served to knit the whole nation in a common sorrow , in which we desire respectfully to assure yonr Royal Highness we deeply share . We earnestly pray that it may please the Great Arcbiteot of the Universe to sustain and comfort yonr Royal Highness and your family in yonr sad bereavement .

Bro . Thomas Cox briefly seconded tha resolution , which the brethren , in solemn silence , endorsed . The proceedings shortly afterwards terminated .

Grand Lodge Of Quebec.

GRAND LODGE OF QUEBEC .

THE annual session was opened in the Assembly Rooms , in the Queen ' s HaU , Montreal , on the 27 th January . There was a large attendance of delegates present , over two hundred . Precisely at the hour appointed for the meeting Grand Master Edgar called the Lodge to order , and the business was immediately proceeded with , as follows : —

After the introduction of representatives of sister Grand Lodges , the Grand Master delivered his annnal address . It wasamostiustruotive document , and while congratulating the Craft on the manifest progress made during the past year , it did not fail to point out clearly and decisively where the interests of the Order could be conserved ,

and where the trne Masonio spirit was lacking . Touching reference was made to the loss sustained by the Craft in the death of the Duke of Clarence , and sympathy was expressed with the Prince of Wales in his affliction . The reports of the Grand Secretary showed that tbe Order was

continually adding to ita numbers , and was steadily progressing . The financial statement was peculiary satisfactory . Both reports were unanimously adopted . The Deputy Grand Masters , in their reports of the Masonic condi . tions of their various districts , were united in stating that the

greatest harmony existed in the Lodges within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge . At noon the Grand Lodge enjoyed a recess , which was occupied in entertaining the delegates from the ont-of . town districts to a sump , tuons lnnoh . Labour was resumed at three o'clock , and a good deal

of business was disposed of . At eight in the evening the most important business of the session , the selection of Grand Lodge Officers for tbe ensning year , was proceeded with . It resulted as follows : —Bros . F . Edgar , Montreal , re-elected G . M . ; Lebonrveau , Sherbrooke , D . G . M . ; H . Semple , Three

Rivers , D . D . G . M ., Quebec and Three Rivers District ; J . B . Tressider , Montreal , D . D . G . M ., Montreal District ; Plnmmer , George , ville , D . D . G . M ., St . Francis District ; D . B . Knight , Stanbridge , D . D . G . M .. Bedford District ; J . Brnce Payne , Granby , D . D . G . M

Shefford District ; Thomson , Portage du Fort , Ottawa District ; Walter Grand Senior Warden , Farnswortb , Granby , Grand Junior Wiirden ; Stearns , Montreal , re-elected Grand Treasurer ; Isaacson , re-elected Grand Secretary ; Dewar Grand Registrar , Hewton , Lachine , and Forsyth , Stanstead , Grand Chaplains .

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