Decoration Of Our Lodges.

DECORATION OF OUR LODGES .

THE subject we have chosen fcr onr present remarks is mi . doubtedly one which offers some considerable difficulty in its treatment . We are aware that the mere mention of a proposal to add to the " ornaments" of a Masonic Lodge would call forth stron g expressions of opinion from very many brethren who would view such a proposal as little short of treason . We are prepared to admit that the very title we have selected is , from ono point of view ,

un-Masonic , for an assemblage of tine brethren , properly clothed , and with the recognised " ornaments" of a Lodge in their proper positions , should require no decoration . Still , Freemasonry , in com . mon with all other hnman Institutions , is open to decoration , provided the means made use of are consistent with the general teachings of fche Order . The collars of the Officers , as well as the jewels we are

accustomed to see bestowed on worthy brethren , and many other matters , are decorations in the truest sense , and are so recognised throughout the Masonic world ; but it is not alone in the adornment of the person that decoration may be called to aid in the enjoyment of Freemasonry . The halls in which onr meetings are held may , by a judicious display of Masonic decoration , be made much more

comfortable for the brethren themselves , as well as mnch moro impres . sive to the newly-admitted member . During our journeyings in one part and another , as representative of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICA , it has been our lot to take part in Masonic meetings held in all varieties of buildings , from the hastily-erected tent , with nothing in the way of adornment to distinguish it from an ordinary rick

covering , to the handsomely-furnished hall , replete with every comfort , with floor , walls , and ceiling adorned in every part with Masonic emblems , pictures , certificates , or curiosities . We have , on several occasions , pointed out the advantage we thought would accrue to Freemasonry if some more general desire was shown by Lodge members to possess a few , at least , of the relics of Freemasonry . We feel

sure that all who witnessed the magnificent ; display afc York some time since will bear with us in this respect , while nofc a few will doubtless regret that ifc was not possible to retain that collection under one roof for all time . Still , all things must have a beginning , and we are afraid the beginning of a desire to possess a Masonio collection has not yet found its way into many quarters—a circumstance which , in

a measure , may be accounted for from the fact that the majority of our English Lodges are held in what may really be termed temporary homes . Still there are many which can boast a hall , while not a few of the Provincial Lodges may almost claim a kin d of freehold in fche room they have been accustomed to use , and which in more than one hotel we have visited bears the designation of " the Mason ' s

room . " We think thafc in all such cases it would be possible to place a few Masonio relics—for , as a rule , anything of a Masonic character which might be deemed worthy of exhibition by brethren would be no discredit to the room in the eyes of non-Masons , and in this respect we think some further decoration of our Lodges might be attempted . Having explained , we hope satisfactorily , the legality of

ornaments other than those stipulated for iu the Constitntions , it next becomes necessary to say what articles are really open for immediate ervice . First , perhaps , may be mentioned the warrant of the Lodge . There are , doubtless , many who will object to that being framed and displayed anywhere but in a Masonic hall , but we think such objectors are wrong . Tbe home of a Masonio Lodge , for the time being , should

he worthy of displaying its warrant , and that is a very good decora , tion for a start . We may remark here , that we do not approve , on the same principle , of framing and displaying a Grand Lodge certifioate , which should have no interest but to the Brother whose property it is . Next we might suggest , as we have seen done in some of the Lodge quarters we have visited , the collection of

all the " votes of thanks" whioh have been presented by the Institutions to members of the Lodge in recognition of their ser . vices as Stewards at one or other of the Festivals , as well as other testimonials of a general character belonging to the Lodge members . After these there are of course endless subjects , with more or less Masonic bearing , from which a goodly array might be selected , bufc

tnere is one in particular to which we think we may make some special reference , viz .: —Bro . Harty ' s Picture of the Installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales at the Albert Hall . As a work of art we think this production worthy of a place in any collection ; but when taken in connection with the event it represents , ifc has special claims upon us . Produced after considerable labour , ifc has now

stood the test of some six years , and still remains the only work whioh may be quoted as a memento of the event we , as Masons , all refer to with pride . Under the rule of His Royal Highness , whose Installation is here depicted , Freemasonry has made the most rapid strides over known in its history , and advances which we think will materiall y affect its future for all time . When the picture was

completed the event was comparatively recent , while the majority of the tnenrnlers of our Lodges , having been present , somewhat naturally coked npon the picture in the form of an unnecessary reminder of what they felt they would never forget ; but now it is different . Very lew , we imagine , of the Masters who now hold sway in the Lodges ° er which H . R . H . rules , bad the opportunity of witnessing that

ti f t Masonic assemblies , and therefore we think ifc nofc unlikely wat the picture which so faithfully represents the scene may with jastice be again bronght under the notice of the Craft , and we ™ nk somewhat more generally taken up than hitherto . In addi-* ' ° ? . general idea conveyed by tho picture as a whole , the

« ot its containing portraits of some hundreds of brethren who D re Present , may bo an additional inducement for Craftsmen to anrtr thera 8 Qlvea of it . For ourselves , we can speak highly of it a refwsnoli as may think of securing a copy to Bro . W . R . Norris-Sonthampton-bnildings , London , W . C .

uM \ ViiiP ? , tn ? 9 ° * Wine Merchant ( Experts and Valuers ) . Well fermented iueo uuu walurud Spirits . 3 Alburt Mansions , Victoria-street , Loudon , S , W .

The Royal Order Of Scotland.

THE ROYAL ORDER OF SCOTLAND .

THE Provincial Grand Chapter and Lodge of Lancashire and Cheshire was held at Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-stroet , Manchester , on Triesday , fche 4 th July , at threo o'clock in tho afternoon . Bros . R . Hopwood Hutchinson 30 Prov . G . M ., G . P . Brockbank 32 D . P . G . M ., G . McKay 30 P . S . G . G . J . W ., John Gibb Smith 30 as P . J . G . G ., Rev . G . W . Weldou Prov . Grand Chaplain , John Dnffield 30 Prov . Grand Treasurer , John Chndwick 18 Prov . Grand Secretary ,

C . S . Lano IS Standard Bearer , W . J . Thomson 30 VV . of Tower , T . C . Thorburn 18 Conductor , Captain Barlow 18 Gnnrd , W . Nicholl 18 Steward ; Bros . E . Ashworth jnn ., Ralph Heap , J . S . Cumberland , and others . Tho Provincial Grand Lodge and Chapter having been opened in due form , the minutes of tho proceedings of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The following brethren having been

proposed and seconded , and approved by the Council , wero balloted forand elected : —Rev . A . B . Beaven , W . Preston , J . M . Kerr , Chorley , George Galloway ( Ashton-on-Ribble ) , and It . B . Seddon ( Wigan ) ; and Bros . Beaven , Seddon , and Kerr , with Bro . Frank A . Huet , who had been previously balloted for and approved , were advanced to the degree of H . R . H . by their several characteristics by the Prov .

Grand Master , Bros . Hutchinson , assisted by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master Bro . Brockbank . The lectures weredelivered in full by Bro . Matier Past Depnty Prov . G . M . as Prov . G . M ., the Wardens' chairs being filled by Bro . McKay and Smith , and Bro . Thorburn as Conductor . A Provincial Grand Lodge of Knights of the R . S . Y . C . S .

was forthwith opened , and the above brethren being admitted and presented to the Provincial Grand Master , were by him exalted to the rank of Knights of tho R . S . Y . C . S . The following brethren were then invested as Officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge and Chapter for the ensuing year : — Bro . John Gibb Smith D . P . G . M .

Thomas Chorlton P . G . Senior Warden J . F . Hoffguard P . G . Junior Warden E . W . Weldou P . G . Chaplain John Duffield P . G . Treasurer

John Chadwick ... P . G . Secretary C . Sheriff Lane P . G . Sword Bearer W . J . Thomson P . G . Standard Bearer Reginald Young P . G . Marisohal T . C . Thorburn P . G . Warden of Tower

J . M . Barlow P . G . Examiner W . C . Moore P . G . Conductor W . Nichol P . G . Guard J . M . Bentley P . G . Organist R . Heap P . G . Steward

The Treasurer presented his accounts for the past year , duly audited , and , being satisfactory , they were adopted . The brethren adjourned to banquet , after which the customary toasts were duly proposed and responded to .

The R . W . Prov . G . M . despatched a telegram to fche Grand Chapter , then meeting iu Edinburgh , which was shortly fraternally responded to , conveying hearty good wishes from the Governor of the Order and the Knights then aseembled at banquet at Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , to their brethren at Manchester .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Re-view should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 23 Great Q , ueen Street , W . C .

Supper Dishes for People with Small Means . Price Sixpence . London : Simpkin , Marshall , and Co ., Ipswich : Pawsey and Hayes , Ancient House .

WE believe it was fche late Alexis Soyer who first gave his culinary mind to the publication of a work on Cookery which was both cheap in form and commended itself , by the simplicity of its recipes , to per . sons of small means , thongh , at the same time , ifc was of considerable value to those who were affluent . Within the last few years—thanks to the initiation of Mr . Buckmaster and his supporters—still greater

attention , has been paid to the subject of cheap aud wholesome Cookery , and there are now several schools in London , and elsewhere , where the provident housewife may be initiated into fche mysteries of preparing toothsome dishes for her husband and children . Ifc was , indeed , high time that something of the kind should be set on foot . A vast number of Englishwomen , especially those living in the

metropolis and largo cities and towns in the Provinces , were lament , ably ignorant of the very first principles of cookery . Even fche wives of middle class men of good means had few ideas of providing dinners , which wo specify as being the principal meal of the day , beyond the eternal joint of roast or boiled , with the pastry and cheese to follow , varied on festive occasions by poultry , with soup or fish , and a

more elaborate display of sweets , & c , & o . As for anything like a well-versed exponent of the culinary art , beyond the limited number of professional cooks , you might search all England through and hardly find a score of them . And as for the cooks themselves—with favourable exceptions—they were , and we regret to add , still remain , a sorry lo ! - . Even in the case of tho more competent among tliem , tbe Utt'iu knowledge they possessed was oftener than nofc a source of

danger to their employers . Cookie ' s domain was sacred from invasion by the mistress , who found she had no voice in the arrange . ments for provisioning her own household . Cookie ' s word , too , in all r . l . ings which she was appointed to deal with , was law , and woe to fche housewife who , with more courage than discretion , dared to call ifc in question . Aa for the " good plain cook" who figures so prominentl y in the columns of our daily newspapers , from time immemorial she buy been , iu the majority of instances , the disturbing elomout iu the