Lodge Rulers.

least , in the case of our Metropolitan Lodges ; and even in the Provinces , where tho facilities for acquiring the requisite knowledge are certainly fewer , it only requires the exercise of a little pains , the devotion of a leisure hour or two now and then , and the intendiner candidate for the

chair of K . S . will readily learn enough to acquit himself fairly well in his office . Let those Lodges which have not already prescribed for themselves such a rule as the Doric insists on having observed , lose no timo in doing so . Let

W . M . ' s elect and designate have grace enough to learn their duties , and prove themselves capable , as did Bro . Southwood in the case we have quoted , of undertaking the office of Master , and we shall very quickly havo the labours of our Lodges efficiently conducted . A poet has

said" Where ignorance ia bliss , tia 10 II 7 to ba wise . This is all very well in certain cases , and , no doubt , if our W . M . ' s are permitted to rule in blissful ignorance of their duties , it would be an act of folly in them to acquire the requisite wisdom . There is , however , one objection to the

application of this dictum in the case under discussion . Masonry is a science , science implies knowledge , knowledge ia not to be acquired without study , and so on through the whole category of steps , just as in the nursery tale of the House that Jack Built .

When we look this question of Lodge rulers fairly in the face , is it not , in very trutb ^ an absurdity , that we should be called upon to regard a man who knows nothing as the representative of King Solomon ? Is the science of Masonry enriched , when a Lodge is presided over by one

who knows not how to open it , how to close it , or what to do in the interim ? We readily admit there are cases where a brother may properly be elected to the chair , whose knowledge of our ritual is imperfect . He may , in spite of this

possess many excellent qualities , both of heart and mind , and prove a very efficient ruler . The prompt assistance of his P . M . ' a will always be available , and help him through the more laborious functions of his office . The members

of the Lodge will certainly exhibit towards him the utmost forbearance , casting out of sight his imperfections , and having regard only to the sterling qualities he possesses , There is a true pleasure in helping so worthy a Craftsman through his dnties , nor should we even for a moment

pretend to assert that the occasional reception of such a one into the ranks of our experts would exercise any influence upon the Craft that is detrimental . But these are only exceptional cases . The rule is , as we have said , that a brother who offers himself for any responsible position in a Lodge ,

and especially for its Mastership , must have a knowledge of its dnties . The facilities for acquiring this knowledge are many , and the task of no great difficulty . There is an old saying to the effect that , what is worth doing at all is worth doing well . Our remarks are intended to go even beyond

this . In the class of cases we cited a fortnight since , the question is not between doing and doing well , but between doing and not doing , what ia required to be done . We are content when we enter a Lodge to find that the Master knows hiB duty . We are pleased when we find he knows

it well . We cannot honestly say we experience any sense of contentment when we find he knows and can do nothing . A line must be drawn somewhere , as the nouvelle riche said when she excluded from her receptions all below the rank of

baronet . Iu drawing the line somewhere between eligible and ineligible candidates for the Mastership , we cannot be accused of too great exclusiveness if we fix it so as to shut out Ignorance .

Grand Commandery, Knights Templars, Virginia, U.S.

GRAND COMMANDERY , KNIGHTS TEMPLARS , VIRGINIA , U . S .

WE have received copy of Proceedings of the Annual Assembly of the above Grand Commandery , held in the city of Alexandria , on the 15 th and 16 th November last . R . E . Robert E . Withers , Grand Commander , presided , and was strongly supported by his Grand Officers ,

by representatives of ten out of the fourteen subordinate Commanderies , and likewise by a numerous array of visitors . The Grand Commandery having been opened in

solemn form , the Grand Commander delivered his usual address , in which he noted the principal incidents of the past year , referred to the courteous invitation received to attend the grand Templar re-union held in Philadel p hia in the month of Juno , to his presence , by tno invitation of the

Grand Commandery, Knights Templars, Virginia, U.S.

R . E . Grand Commander of Maryland , at the ceremonies incident to the installation of the officers of subordinate Commanderies of that jurisdiction ; and also mentioned the decisions he had arrived at on certain questions of jnrisprudence which had been submitted to him . This address was ,

as usual , referred to a committee , and the other business , including the appointment of a Grand Lecturer , having been dispatched , the Grand Commandery was dismissed till the following morning . On re-assembling on the 16 th , the first business was the election of Grand Officers , but

only a few of these were new elections , the majority of the officers being re-appointed for a farther year ' s service . After their installation , a committee was appointed to prepare suitable resolutions in connection with the services of the late Grand Recorder Sir Knight John Dove , the

announcement of whose death had been received only a short time previous to the election . The Committee on the Address then presented its report , thanking the Grand Commander for his eminent services , re-echoing his sentiments as to the duties which Sir Knights should fulfil in

private aa well as in public , and endorsing all his decisions . To thiB Report is appended a series of resolutions , by the first of which it was agreed to have a gold pen made , and studded with diamonds , bearing on it the name of " John Dove , Grand Recorder , " to he always placed on the Grand

Recorder ' s desk as a memorial of his services . The Report also authorised the Grand Commander to write a letter of condolence to the Grand Recorder ; but this , of course , was rendered nugatory by hia death . The Grand Treasurer ' s account was then presented , showing receipts , including a

balance of 375 . 38 dollars , amounting to 787 . 38 dollars , and expenditure 353 , 50 dollars , thus leaving a balance in hand of 433 . 88 dollars . The Reports of other Committees having been presented , the Grand Commandery was dismissed , a resolution having previously been passed , fixing upon

Lynchburg as the place , and the second Tuesday in the month of October as the date , of meeting in the current year . Appended are lists of tho different Commanderies in the jurisdiction . They are as follow : —Fredericksburg Commandery , No . 1 , twenty-six members ; Richmond

No . 2 , one hundred and ninety-six '; Charlotteville , No . 3 , thirty-nine ; De Molay , No . 4 , eighty-six ; Portsmouth , No . 5 , fifty-six ; Appomattox , No . 6 , eighty-one ; Dove , No . 7 , twenty-four ; Stevenson , No . 8 , forty ; Christiansburg , No . 9 , twenty-six ; Meherrin , No . 10 , no

return for four years ; Old Dominion , No . 11 , fifty-five ; Winchester , No . 12 , twenty-three ; Johnson , No . 14 , twenty-seven ; Grice , No . 16 , seventy-five . No Nos . 13 and 15 . The proceedings conclude with other statistical

matter , a list of deaths , and the Report of the Committee appointed to prepare resolutions in consequence of the lamented death of Sir Knight Dove . We offer our fraternal thanks for the receipt of these interesting particulars .

Masonry In India

MASONRY IN INDIA

THE Standard of Bombay for last week , contains an article congratulating the Craft on the near prospect there is of the erection , in the capital of the Great Western Presidency , of a suitable Masonic Temple , where our Bombay brethren may celebrate their rites comfortabl y

and appropriately . Ifc also refers at some length to the installation of Bro . Rustomjee Merwanjee aa W . M . of the Lodge Rising Star of Western India , No . 842 under the Scottish Constitutions . The ceremony is reported to have

been both ably and impressively performed by Bro . Henry Morland , Grand Master of Scottish Freemasonry in all India . Parsee , Hindoo , Mahomedan , and European brethren were present in considerable numbers , and the speeches of

both the newly installed W . Master and Bro . Morland were admirable specimens of neat and appropriate oratory , with the further advantages of being brief , clear , and to the point . The same periodical contains , among other

interesting matter , chapters I . and II . of a most valuable work , by Dr . Adolf Rapp , on "The Religion and the Customs of the Persian and other Iranians , " the translation being by Bro . K . R . Cama .

The Masonic Record of Western India , published at Jubbulpore , opens with a useful and very pertinent article on the subject of " Lodges of Improvement . " The remarks of our contemporary are seasonable aa well aa appropriate . We notice also accounts of the meetings held on the 30 th October and 2 nd December respectively , of the District