Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

THE annual inauguration meeting of the "William Stuart Preceptory , No . 76 , was held at the Masonic Hall , Aldershot , on Monday , 25 th ult , the principal business being to receive the report of the Audit Committee and fco inaugurate the new Preceptor , W . Bennett . Provincial Priory being called for

the same day afc 3 p . m ., ifc necessitated the William Stuart Preceptory meeting an hour earlier , in order to welcome the High and Eminent Prior on his arrival . H . Lehmann P . E . P . opened the Preceptory , and after the minutes had been confirmed , W . Bennett was inaugurated into the office according to ancient rite , and with all the ceremonial observances of the Order , the

ceremony being performed by J . Youd P . E . P . Punctually at three o ' clock the Grand Prior W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., entered the Preceptory , attended by a numerous retinue of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers . They were received according to ancient custom under an arch of steel , and

Provincial Grand Priory was then opened . After letters of apology and regret had been read from Surgeon-General A . K . Prescofcfc , Colonel W . Campbell , A . D . C , Captain G . Hearn , Major F . Newman , and others , the business was proceeded with The accounts were passed , twenty guineas was voted to the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , the new Provincial Officers

were appointed , and alms were collected from the fratres . Provincial Grand Priory was closed in ancient and solemn form , and an adjournment was made to the dining hall , where the E . G . Prior presided and gave the usual toasts appropriate to the occasion , says the " Aldershot News . " To the Great Priory Officers tbe Great Prelate responded , and to the Provincial , J . Youd replied .

A Tribute To The Craft.

A TRIBUTE TO THE CRAFT

T ipHE Brotherhood of Free and Accepted Masons , world-wide I in its branches , and unremitting in its exertions on behalf of suffering humanity , extends over almost all the countries of Europe , America , Australia—in fact , the habitable globe . In accordance with the Charter words of the remarkable

Confraternity , it is founded on " the practice of social aud moral virtue , " its watchwords being " Charity and Truth . " During the present century swarms of books and pamphlets , some friendly and some inimical fco Freemasonry , have been published illustrative of its history , ritual , tendency , and benefits . This ancient Brotherhood pursues its course of Benevolence and

fellowship , embracing every spot on earth . The sceptred monarch , the royal prince , the peer , the peasant , the millionaire , the humble artisan , all find a place within its ample folds . No higher tribute can be paid to the meaning and working of the Masonic Order than the diversities of opinion respecting the origin of the Brotherhood . Some of its more enthusiastic friends

insist that tbe origin of the Society dates from the Creation , and others from the dedication of Solomon ' s Temple at Jerusalem . Those curious on the point will find in books treating of the subject that the Freemasons are entitled to trace the origin of their Order so far back as ancient Babylon , Nineveh , and- Tyre . When almost virtually extinguished in

mediaeval Europe the Brotherhood , which some discover the parentage of in various very ancient Societies of Masons properly so-called , received a welcome in England . Among British kings the Order was honoured by such patrons as Alfred the Great , Edward the Confessor , Edward . III ., and Henry VII . Such regal favour suffered a temporary interruption in the case of

Queen Elizabeth , who on one occasion despatched a band of soldiers to break up a meeting of a Grand Lodge of Masons . The tables were turned upon Her Majesty , as ber troops enrolled themselves Freemasons , and brought home to the Sovereign such glowing accounts of the devotion of the members of the Brotherhood to the Crown as quite allayed the suspicions of

Eoyalty . When Sir Thomas Gresham , Architect of the Order , built the Exchange , Elizabeth of herself changed the name in compliment to the Freemasons into Royal Exchange . The wellknown Inigo Jones , a member of the Craft , drew up for King James I . plans for the banqueting house at Whitehall Palace , and the stately gallery in Somerset House . Sir Christopher

Wren was Deputy Grand Master of the 1 reemasons of England in 1666 , the year of the great fire of London , and afterwards reared from those . ashes in renovated splendour St . Paul ' s Cathedral and several of the other Parish Churches of the metropolis . King Charles II . was a member of the Confraternity , aud frequently the merry monarch attended meetings of the

Order . The Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Ireland was established in the year 1730 , and since then has grown and flourished . The firsfc Freemason Lodge in France , on the English model , was established in Paris in 1725 ; in Germany , at Hamburg , in 1735 , and in America five years previousl y . In the beginning of the eighteenth century a material alteration took

A Tribute To The Craft.

place in the four English Lodges of that period . The Society was changed into one which had nothing to do with building or architecture , but of which "Brotherly love , relief , and truth " were to be the essential characteristics . Within living memory witness the magnificent educational and boarding Institutions at

Ball's Bridge and Clonskeagh . The Freemason Confraternity have proved themselves public benefactors in Dublin and throughout the country . In Ireland the Order is headed , and we may add adorned , by such a Grand Master as His Grace the Duke of Abercorn . — " Irish Times . "

Is He Worthy And Well Qualified?

IS HE WORTHY AND WELL QUALIFIED ?

YOU have often heard this question asked and answered . Have you ever heard it answered in the negative ? We have not . The answer is always the same , " He is . " Can it be possible that all who knock at the door for admission are worthy and well qualified ? Surely not ; experience teaches differently .

Many are admitted who prove by their daily walk of life that they were worthless , and not fitted to receive and appreciate the divine truths and sublime lessons taught in Masonry . A candidate to be worthy , should be entitled , by reason of hia excellence , dignity , virtue and moral qualifications , to have fche

respect and esteem of all who associate with him . To be qualified to receive the degrees , he should have the natural abilities to enable him not only to receive but to impart instruction ; a drone who reaps the benefits and sucks the honey of our Order is despised and loathed by all . Ever remember that ifc is quality ,

not quantity , that is essential in the selection of new members . No strong , harmonious Lodge can otherwise exist . Your accepted candidates should be men of honour and high reputation . Ask of a candidate , " Is he good and true ? Will he keep the faith ? Is his heart right ? Is he strong in his manhood ? Has he fche good

will and respect of his neighbours ? " If he is incorrupt at heart , honest , and by nature faithful , nothing more need be asked ; be sure he is all this . We should not overstep the bounds of good judgment in our desire to increase the number of members in our Lodges . Eemember thafc a Lodge small in numbers , but of active

intelligent workers , bound together by the bonds of love , good will and undying trust in one another , is of greater worth than one filled with unworthy , unqalified members , lacking the great principles of truth and sincerity . We should exercise that vigilance which will guide us to success . Think well before you

permit one to enter who will cause discord and bring reproach upon our beloved Order . It is your obligated duty to make faithful use of the ballot box ; it is a shield placed in your hands to be used to protect the Order , and to prevent the admission of unworthy material among the faithful . Admit none who are

unworthy of your association either publicly or privately . You are establishing a precedent , that will be followed by those whom you admit . Your record will be reviewed in the future ; set an example aud aid to build up the Order . The foundation of Masonry is a belief in the one living and true God , charity , truth

and justice . No material to mar its symmetry and beauty should be placed in the building , whose spire pierces the clouds of heaven . Be courageous , true and faithful in the discharge of your duty and you will receive your merited reward . —C , S . G ., in the " Orient . "

The consecration of the "Victoria Diamond Jubilee Lodge , No . 2675 , took place on Wednesday with considerable success . Our report is held over until next week . o o o When we added the note last week as to the amount

subscribed for the new organ at St . Clement ' s Church , Ilford , we thought the appeal had been singularly successful . It appears our informant erred so far as fco put an " 0 " too much on fche total , which should read £ 60 , not £ 600 .

The various Lodges m Bradford and district have arranged to hold their annual ball at the Technical College , on the 15 th of December . The ball last year was a great success , and a

handsome surplus was handed over to the Widows and Aged Freemasons Fund . This year the proceeds will be given to the West Yorkshire Masonic Educational aud Benevolent Fund .

We take the opportunity of rectifying an oversight in our report of the . installation meeting of the Shurmur Lodge , No . 2374 , we having omitted to mention the musical portion of the programme , which , under the direction of Bro . J . F . Haskins ,

Ph . D ., & c , P . Prov . G . Organist Essex and Herts , proved very enjoyable . Our old friend was assisted by his daughter , Miss Cecilia Haskins , Miss Jessie Browning , Bro . Egbert Eoberts P . M . P . G . O . Essex , Mr . Herbert Stockwell , and Mr . Ben oohnson jun .