Masonic Aid For War Victims.

The Brethren of the St . Kew Lodge , No . 1222 , Westonsuper-Mare , at their monthly meeting on Tuesday evening , 7 th inst ., started a subscription list to supplement the War

Fund , and over £ 40 was promised there and then . This amount has since been increased to over £ 60 . The Brethren , at the same meeting , made arrangements for giving an Old Folks' Tea and Entertainment as usual at the New Year .

At the November meeting of the Welcome Lodge , No . 1673 , which was held on Wednesday evening at the Cafe Royal , Bro . John Kellar Frost was installed as Worshipful Master for the ensuing twelve months by his predecessor in the chair , Bro . Gerard R . Newman . As is customary at all

Masonic meetings , says the " Daily Telegraph , " the " charity box " was not forgotten after dinner , and when that piece of the furniture of a Lodge had been taken round to the Brethren and contributed to by them the Worshipful Master put it up to auction for the benefit of our contemporary ' s

Shilling Fund . There were twenty-five Brethren present , but the bidding was very brisk , and the box was knocked down to an Officer ofthe Lodge for £ 18 . A visitor , however , was rather annoyed that he had not caught the auctioneer ' s

eye , and he added "five guineas " to the bid which won the box . To Under-Sheriff Langton P . Dep . G . D . C . Past Master and Secretary of the Lodge was deputed the pleasant task of transmitting the total contribution .

Responding at the recent installation meeting of the Eboracum Lodge , the Dean of York spoke of the great principle of Freemasonry as being a very helpful and hopeful principle in this troubled , and distracted world , —the great principle of bringing men together and exhibiting

goodfellowship in the best sense of the word . In Freemasonry there was a great deal to assist and preserve the stability of the nation in drawing and bringing men of such diverse pursuits , intellects , and opinions together , and producing unity and harmony . Men wanted to be drawn together .

Lord Salisbury the other night said that he had confidence in the Brisish soldier ; he ( the Dean ) had unbounded confidence in Freemasons . Freemasonry did a great practical

work in the world , and was a great feature in the nation . It was because he " wanted to see England in the future as she had been in the past , a great united country , that he was glad to identify himself with the Craft .

Entertainment At Halifax.

ENTERTAINMENT AT HALIFAX .

THERE was a crowded attendance of members of St . James Lodge and their friends on Thursday evening , Oth inst ., at the Masonic Hall , St . John's Place , to hear a lecture by Bro . W . Clement Williams ou " The Land of tho Stars and Stripes . " Bro . R . C . Sykes W . M . of thc Lodge presided .

The lecture , which was freely illustrated by lantern slides , most of them from photographs taken by Bro . Williams , provided an instructive and enjoyable evening's entertainment . As a photographic artist , especially of marine subjects , the lecturer enjoys an enviable reputation . It was expected , therefore , that his picture illustrations would be well worth seeing , and this anticipation was fully realised . The views taken when crossing ihe Atlantic , with their varied wave and cloud effects , were magnificent examples of photographic skill , charming alike for their realis + ic beauty and softness of

tone . That they were appreciated by the audience was shown by the frequent and hearty applause which tho pictuies , which were cleverly thrown upon the screen by Mr . Gledhill , elicited . Bro . Williams , besides providing the assembly with so rich a treat in this respect , delighted them also with his brilliant and racy word descriptions . These , from a literary point of view , were exceedingly fine , and were enlivened by entertaining anecdote and sparkling examnles of Yankee humour . A more delightful lecture , or one so richly illustrated , has not been given in Halifax for some considerable time .

The Misses Williams played pleasing selections of music on the piano before tbe lecture , during the interval , and after the lecture had been concluded . In the interval refreshments were handed round to the company by the Lodge members . A vote of thanks to Bro . Williams and his daughters , proposed by Bro . Rose , and seconded by Bro . Alderman Hodgson , was passed with enthusiasm .

Punctuality.

PUNCTUALITY .

PUNCTUALITY in calling the Lodge to labour cannot be too highly recommended . No matter what the hour of meeting may be—the Brethren can always fix that by law—let the Master and Officers be promptly on hand and at the hour or if a few minutes—say five or ten—be allowed for a difference of time , only that and nothing more—and then let the Lodge be called

down . Establish this rule firmly and enforce it by both precept and example . Too frequently is this most important matter disregarded . The punctual members , those who have no time to waste , and who , by the way , are usually the better members , are promptly on hand and are kept waiting by a dilatory Master oi

Punctuality.

tardy Secretary until , by most reprehensible delay , their patience is exhausted and their tempers sorely tried . They perhaps become impatient and leave ; or if they stay are not in the most amiable mood when the Lodge is finally opened . If possible let the Master and Secretary be at the Lodge room a little time

before the hour of calling down . The former , in nearly every instance , will have questions to answer , instructions to give , or matters of detail to arrange , which it is well to dispose of before opening . The latter can then give Brethren a statement of their

account if asked ; arrange his papers ; have all reports in readiness and all other matters in proper order . By pursuing this plan time will be saved , confusion avoided , and the business of the Lodge conducted with that order and regularity which is so conducive to a pleasant and profitable Lodge meeting . — " Tyler . "

Stability Of Freemasonry.

STABILITY OF FREEMASONRY .

BEYOND controversy and without denial our Order—even at the most modern date assigned for its origin—is superior in years to any government now existing . The Eepublic of France and the Empire of Germany count not yet twenty-five years of age . The Empire of Japan and the Kingdoms of Spain

and Italy date back less than forty years . The Empire of Austria , the Scandinavian aud Greek Dynasties , the Mexican and South American Republics , are each younger than the century . The United States numbers little more than a hundred years . The British Government , as a constitutional monarchy

and since the change of dynasty , can count barely two centuries . The remaining governments , the Russian , Turkish and Chinese , under their present dynasties , are admittedly our juniors . While change has thus been busy with all political institutions and governments it has furrowed no line of destruction or decav upon

the proud front of Masonry . Intact it stands , its principles unchanged , its liturgy unaltered , its tenets unshaken . Neither rebellions within nor wars without have scarred its visage or shaken the solid ground on which it has planted its feet . Without

the tread of an armed force behind it , it has outlived many a vanished and forgotten century . Without any political , theological , or financial system to maiutain , it has seen empires and kingdoms pass away and the world " forget them with a just decay . "— " Masonic Sun . "

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