Enthusiasm.

accomplishing something outside the ordinary course . Eacli of these peculiarities may , and often do , result in lasting benefit to the Craft and mankind in general ;

it is only when an enthusiast is led away by his hobby , or has an insufficient check upon him to restrain him from going too far that mischief results . We are all inclined to think our own ideas and our

own ways are the best , and it is well we should have others equally convinced that we are wrong , to argue with us as to our fallibility , and perhaps convince us

of our errors . By this means a happy medium is arrived at , and the ideas of the many stand a chance of beiog carried out , or at least given an opportunity of bein » tried .

What we should then aim at is to create a lively interest in Freemasonry , and all associated with it , in the minds of every Brother we receive into our ranks . We should teach him to be constant in his efforts to advance the welfare of the Craft ; not hot one clay and cold the next , or enthusiastic beyond

reason for a year or two , and worse than apathetic for the remainder of his life . Neither the one nor the oilier does so much good in the end as a steady perseverance in a well formed plan , or a hearty cooperation with the general body of the members of a Lodge , who in most cases may be accredited with the possession of more sound common sense than that

enjoyed by the one or two hot-headed enthusiasts who seek to lead the majority into their particular scheme . If , however , a brother has the inclination to depart from the beaten tract , and attempt the fulfilment of some plan in which he is more than

usually enthusiastic , let him bear m mind that Freemasonry is not a matter of to-day only , it is for all time , and for all sorts and conditions of men ; any thing , therefore , which it is desired to accomplish should be of a cosmopolitan character , worthy of a trial on its individual merits , and not merely the mad brained scheme of an enthusiast .

election at the next Court of Governors , to be held in a month's time .

The published balance-sheet of the West Lancashire Alpass Benevolent Institution , of which Bro . R . Wylie , P . G . D . Eng . P . P . S . G . W . is Treasurer , shows that at the date of the past report there was a balance of £ 1 , 316 . Contributions from Lodges , Chapters , brethren , and ladies amounted to £ 840 , and the entire expenses of the year were only £ 162 . The balance at present standing to the credit of the Charity is £ 2 , 022 .

This evening ' s meeting of the Percy Lodge of Instruction , No . 198 , which will be opened at 8 p . m . at the Jolly Farmers ' , Southgate-road , N ., promises to be of a very

interesting character . Bro . Sadler , Grand Tyler , has under taken to deliver a lecture there on the first Tracing Board We fully anticipate a large gathering , and hope the meet ing will prove successful .

The installation meeeting of the Londesborough Lodge , No . 1681 , was held on Wednesday , when Bro . George Dickinson was installed as Worshipful Master . The proceedings were of a most interesting character . Oar report is in type , but unfortunately stands over till next week in consequence of pressure on our space .

An unfortunate mistake occurred in our report of the South Saxon Lodge , No . 311 , which appeared in our issue of the 4 th inst . In the last line of the report the name of Mrs . Holman—who previously is recorded as having

presented a handsome silk banner to the Lodge—was unfortunately repeated . The name of Mrs . Cammings should have been there inserted ; this lady is the hostess of the White Hart Hotel , and to her should have been allotted the credit for providing the banquet .

At a recent meeting of the General Committee of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , at the Temple , Hope Street , Liverpool , the claims of a number of children for election to the foundation of the Charity were considered , and it was decided to recommend fourteen for

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor , respondents . All letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have frequently heard it argued that th e cannot be anything like Honorary Membership of a Lodge , and th at where such a privilege is conferred it simply becomes an . empty co mp \ iment , of no real value and carrying no actual

privileges ; t the events of the last week would almost incline me to an opposite opimon . There must be something in Honorary Membership , other wise the Grand Master himself would hardly recognise it—a nd this he undoubtedly does , as is evidenced by the inscription on t gave l presented OD Tuesday , to the Savage Club Lodge , by

His Koyal Highness . No doubt you will publish this inscription in full , so I need only extract a few words from it : — " Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Order , and Honorary Member of the Lodge . " In face of this recognition I would ask for an official statement as to the privileges or otherwise of Honorary Members , as I believe the Craft is without suoh at the present time . Yours , & o ., EMERITUS . 9 th February 1888 .

CLASS MASONRY

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your remarks on this subject appear to have hit home , in one quarter at least , during the last few days , for I see by the report which appeared in tho London daily papers of the installation mpeting of the Savage Club Lodge , on Tuesday ,

that its Worshipful Master , Bro . Sir . J . R . Somera Vino , touched on the matter . He referred to the apparent inconsistency of founding a Masonic Lodge , limited to the members of a particular Club , and although he justified the " Class " tendency of his Lodge , I feel he inwardly thinks it is opposed to the true principles of Freemasonry .

I am personally acqnainted with many of the " Savages" who are now members of the Lorlge , and I feel no evil consequences will arise from their exclnsiveness , but the principle is an erroneous one , and I certainly agree with yon that it should be discouraged as far

as possible . It is not that the few Lodges now warranted for " Class " purposes are likely to abuse the privileges of the Craft , so much as it is that abuses of " Class Masonry " may spring up which it will be found impossible to check without the adoption of the

most severe measures . If one of these " Class " Lodges brings discredit on Freemasonry the whole of them will get a bad name , and supposing it should become necessary to erase one of them how could the others be retained on the roll ?

I am aware that many of the argnments used against " Class " Masonry do not apply to the Savage Club Lodge , a 3 its meetings are of a semi-private character , but there again comes another nice

point for our Masonio lawgivers to decide—IB it legal to hold a Masonic meeting which ia not open to every duly qualified member of the Order ? I am , yours , & o ., 0 . P . N .

LODGE NOMENCLATURE

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I take some little interest in studying the why and wherefore surrounding our public Masonic practices , and among other mutters devote a portion of my time to Lodge nomenclature . I see you have recently paid a visit to the

Swan-of-Avon Lodge , at Stratford-on-Avon , and perhaps you can satisfy my curiosity as to the why and wherefore of its name . I can well understand the reason for the title borne by the old Stratford-on-Avon Lodge ( the Bard of Avon ) , and no doubt there is an equally good reason for the " Swan , " but I am at present ignorant of it , and therefore hope yon will be able to enlighten me .

Yours , & c . STUDENT . [" Swan of Avon" is but another name applied to the immortal bard . It occurs in some lines to the memory of Shakespeare , written by Ben Jonson . —Ed . E . C ]

OUTSIDE TITLES IN FREEMASONRY

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — Your correspondent " I . G . " need hardly have told us , in the letter yon published last week , that he was young—that is to be inferred from his communication which stamps

him as a aelf-opiniated young man , wanting in respect to his seniors and those who , perhaps after years of hard work , have earned distinction in the service of their country . Surely men who have risen to rank in the army , navy , or elsewhere , are fully entitled to their titles , wherever they may go , whether it be within a Masons' Lodge