The Fifteen Sections

THE FIFTEEN SECTIONS

WILL be worked on Wednesday nexfc , 25 th insfc ., in the Eoyal Jubilee Lodge of Instruction , No . 72 , afc the Crown , Lambeth Eoad , S . B ., commencing at 7 p . m . The chair -will be occupied by Bro . I . Moss S . D . 141 , with Bro . W . S . Whitaker P . M . 1572 , & c , as S . W ., H . Whitney S . W . 861 as J . W ., E . Walker P . M . 72 Preceptor and Treasurer , B . W . Lewcock P . M . 72 and 2262 Secretary , & c . The following Brethren will assist :

FIBST LECTUBB : —Bros . W . S . Robinson 72 , E . Horton W . M . 72 , W . D . Dickinson S . W . 2048 , Plant S . D . 101 , M . A . Krellwitz W . M . 511 1853 , Haslett P . M . 145 , J . Knight J . D . 861 . SECOND LECTUBE : —Bros . G . Body S . D . 72 , W . Smith S . 72 , J . Cohen J . W . 72 , H . Whitney S . W . 861 , R . Whiting P . M . 87 . THIBD LECTUBE : —Bros . R . Sandland 2398 , F . W . Bate S . W . 788 , J . Packer J . W . 1558 .

Father Chew And Freemasonry.

FATHER CHEW AND FREEMASONRY .

THE following editorial appears in the " Bournemouth Observer " : Evidence to character is not so easily got rid of in such an argument as he has been engaged in as Bather Chew seems to think . In fact , in dealing with the proceedings of a society whose ritual and beliefs cannot be produced by one of themselves , it is evidently the most reasonable way of appealing to the confidence of a necessarily unenlightened public . When the Craft can claim as members such eminent Christian

expositors as the Deans of York , Eochester , Hereford , Archdeacon Sinclair , Professor Shuttleworth , and many others too numerous to mention , the public will not readily accept the sinister suggestions of outside criticism . With the insertion of letters from Father Chew and the Eev . Dr . White in to-day ' s issue , the controversy , so far as we are concerned , must cease .

We append the latter part of Father Chew ' s letter to our contemporary : " You state , Sir , in last week's issue , that Masonry is justified in the eyes of the public by the fact that the character of the persons concerned is itself a proof that they cannot but be taking a lawful oath . By this statement the direct arguments which I advanced , as to the intrinsic

unlawfulness of the oath itself , are evaded , and recourse is had to the indirect appeal to character . A " testimony to character " is the last resourse of " counsel " in forensic defence , when he feels unable to destroy the force of the direct evidence given by witnesses on the other side . Your appeal to character could at most prove that men of good repute would not advertently take an unlawful oath . This I did not dispute . Indeed , I prefer to believe that Masons in England for the most part take the oath without serious

advertence to the nature of the act ; and that , once the performance of the ritual is over , they consider that as men of honour they should keep the secrets entrusted to them , especially as they find membership useful in many practical ways . But this is no justification of the system . There is no one who would reasonably object to works of benevolence and charity ; but the objection is the being forced to take an unlawful oath in order to secure these advantages .

You refer to Biblical expressions in connection with the taking of the oath . But you will not find any Biblical authority ( 1 ) for an oath to keep the secrets of a society which , in its corporate capacity , has no authorisation from civil or ecclesiastical government ; and ( 2 ) of a society , therefore , whieh

holds itself responsible , in its corporate capacity , to no civil or ecclesiastical authority , and from which , consequently , there is no appeal to authority without a violation of the very secrecy which is sworn to ; and ( 3 ) for an oath taken under a penalty which the civil government does not sanction , but regards as a crime , if carried out .

And you will certainly find no authority in the New Testament for a Christian to join in common formal worship with Jews and Mahommedans and Infidels , but commands to the contrary . F . CHEW , S . J . Bournemouth , March 1896 . "

The beginning of genuine Masonic literature was in 1834 . Prior to that date there was nothing worthy of the name . Now the Masonie press is respected and honoured in all the Masonic world , bufc never has found a specific for fche Mason who has no

time—no will—to read anything Masonic , nor for the Craftsman who has plenty of money to spend in gi * atifying his appetites and passions , but " cannot afford " a Masonic paper or magazine . — " Voice of Masonry . "

A volunteer corps is in process of formation among the actors of the London stage , and Lord Methuen has already given the necessary permission . Bro . Harry Nicholls , the comedian , will be one of the Officers , and among those who have already

expressed their determination to " recruit" are Bro . Barren Soufcar ( fche clever son of Nellie Barren ) , Mr . B . E . Benson , Mr . Eollo Balmain , Mr . Percy Brough , Mr . Julius Knight , Brother Alfred Bishop , and Mr . Brank Gillmore , of the Lyceum , who is Hon . Secretary of the movement .

THE Duke and Duchess of York , with their suite , were present on Friday of last week at the St . James ' s Theatre , and witnessed the performance of " The Prisoner of Zenda ; " they on Wednesday attended the Court Theatre , for the performance of " Mrs . Ponderbury , " and on Thursday the Lyceum , to see the new play " For the Crown . "

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

CRA . ET : METROPOLITAN .

DORIC LODGE , No . 933 . THIS Lodge met at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet Street , on Tuesday , 10 th inst ., when Brother Joseph Rushforth W . M . was well supported , all the Lodge Officers being present . Bro . Boswell answered the necessary qualifying questions , and was passed . Attention having been given to the correspondence , Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned to a well-served supper , after which the customary toasts and harmony agreeably passed a couple of hours .

CRUSADERS LODGE , No . 1677 . THE regular meeting was held on Wednesday , 18 th inst ., at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , under the presidency of Bro . James Speller P . M ., who acted in the unavoidable absence of the W . M . Dr . Hunter . He was supported by Bro . J . Mansell S . W ., S . Fletcher J . W ., Alf . Goode P . M . Sec , Sheppard S . D ., A . Humphreys J . D ., U . Ladler I . G ., A . Tailing S ., F . Humphreys Org ., and others .

Visitors : Bros . Lambert Perry , of St . John afc Hackney Lodge , No . 2511 , and Bro . Reeves , Kingland Lodge , No . 1693 . Bros . Even Jones and Small answered the questions leading from the first to the second degree , and were passed as Fellow Crafts .

Twenty-eight Brethren sat down to an enjoyable dinner , and later in the evening Bro . J . M . McLeod Secretary R . M . I . Boys put in an appearance and made an earnest appeal for funds for the Boys School . Brother Dr . Hunter W . M . will represent the Lodge at the next Boys Festival , and it is hoped he will be well supported by his Lodge and friends .

IMPERIAL LODGE , No . 1694 . THE regular meeting was held at Bro . Watt ' s Restaurant , 24 Victoria Street , Westminster , on Monday , 16 th inst ., under the presidency of Bro . G . R . Krehl W . M ., who was supported by Bro . T . Braddick J . W ., Reid Todd P . M . Treasurer , J . N . Frye P . M . Secretary , Tuckey S . D ., Beveridge

J . D ., Davison I . G ., Past Masters Hicks , Woods , Bradley , and several other members , with Bro . T . Watt 2030 as a Visitor , and S . Ellis P . M . 1981 Tyler . The business of the meeting included the initiation of Mr . William Seymour and some routine work , after which the company sat down to one of those excellent dinners for which the establishment is famous .

SOUTHGATE LODGE , No . 1950 . HAVING permanently removed from the Railway Hotel , New Southgate , to the Masonic Hall at Beale ' s Restaurant , Holloway Road , the members held the installation meeting on Thursday , 5 th inst ., under the presidency of the W . M . Bro . W . T . Winsor . The minutes of the last regular and emergency meetings having been

read and confirmed , the W . M . proceeded to initiate Mr . Dewey and Mr . Shaw into the mysteries of the Craft . He then vacated the chair in favour of the I . P . M . Bro . G . R . Newman Installing Master , who installed the S . W . Bro . R . E . Gilmour as W . M . for the ensuing year , the ceremony being performed in a very impressive manner .

After several new candidates had been proposed the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned do a banquet in the large hall , which had been specially prepared by Bro . W . Beale for their enjoyment , and presided over by the newly-installed Master Bro . Gilmour .

The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given , and , in response to his health , the W . M . assured the Brethren present that he would use his best endeavours to emulate the deeds of his predecessor in the chair , so as to ensure the future welfare and success of the Southgate Lodge in its new and comfortable home .

The toasts of the Installing Master and Past Masters were replied to by Bros . Newman , Winsor , and Sefeber , and that of the Treasurer and Secretary by Bros . Phipos and Trewinnard . There was a goodly attendance of visitors , the toast being responded to on their behalf by Bro . Ball P . P . G . R . Berks , Bro . Woodrow P . M ., and Bro . Headdey .

During the evening a handsome diamond and gold Past Master's jewel was presented to Bro . W . T . Winsor , in appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him to the Southgate Lodge as Worshipful Master during the past year .

DUKE OF FIFE LODGE , No . 2345 . THE installation meeting was held at the Alexandra Hotel , Clapham , on Wednesday , 18 th inst ., and proved an unqualified success . Among those present were Bros . John Langdon W . M ., A . Harvey I . P . M ., Charlie Woods S . W . Master-elect , John Mitchell P . M . J . W ., Robert Steele

P . M . Treasurer , J . W . Folkard P . M . Secretary , T . Morris S . D ., A . Robertson J . D ., G . F . Winny I . G ., W . W . Westley P . M . D . C , W . Baldwin Std ., Geo . Everett P . G . Treasurer , S . Cochrane P . M . P . G . Treas ., E . Beaven P . M ., Hearsey , Highway , C . W . Shannaw , Roberts , John Wyer P . P . G . D . C . Kent , Wilfred Stracey , Hy . Mitchell , Taylor , F . Beokwith .

Visitors : —Bros . R . J . Voisey P . M . 1329 , Hy . Lynn P . M . 217 , J . J . White W . M . 2513 , John Hernaman P . M . 1329 , J . B . Dixon D . C . 2513 , Woodley 2417 , A . Higerty 2437 P . P . G . J . W . Herts , Oscroft 902 , Hor . Mitchell 1056 , and J . Billing S . W . 2244 . Bro . Taylor was raised , and Bro . Beckwith passed , the chair being occupied by Bro . Harvey I . P . M . Bro . Charlie Woods was installed by Bro . Langdon . Mr . F . W . Sinclair was initiated by the newly-installed Master . Tho report of the Audit Committee was received , being very satisfactory .

On the motion of Bro . S . Cochrane P . G . T ., seconded by Bro . G . Everett P . G . T ., the sum of three guineas was voted to the Boys School Scholarship Fund . The banquet which followed was also a success , and the harmony of thc evening was enhanced by the musical efforts of Broa . VVinny , Woodley , Langdon I . P . M ., Horace Mitchell , C . W . Shannaw , Harvey , and Wilfred Stracey .