The Festival.

MIDDLESEX . 778 E W Stanton . - 52 10 0 Chapter 916 Comp RW Forge - - 25 0 0

1194 A J Altmann - - 15 15 0 Lodge 1237 Br Geo Tugg . . 36 15 6 1326 G H Eaton - - 15 15 0 1326 Edwin Gilbert . 1326 Fletcher Knight-1326 James Talbot - - 32 11 0 .

1326 W R Vassila - . 10 10 0 1326 Fredk Walters - . 19 1 0 1326 J A Wilson - - 10 10 0 1326 Saml Wheeler - - 10 10 0 1494 F Sumner Kuivett - 31 10 0 1503 Wm Taylor - - 36 15 0 1567 TI Bird . . - 41 7 6

1579 T J Cusworth - - 46 14 6 2048 W A Scurrah - - 140 0 0 2105 D P Cama - - 15 15 0 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE . 47 John Toplis . •176 18 6 402 Edward Seaton

-NORTH WALES . 1674 HA Steer - - 21 0 0 1849 Hy Kneeshaw - - 8 11 0 OXFORDSHIRE . 340 J A Acook - ) qi q a 340 W R Bowden . j w 3 ° 1895 Rev A R Pritcbard . 15 15 0

The Festival.

SALOP . 1621 W Laxellea Southwell •25 0 0

SOMERSET . The Province Br W Rice . 166 18 0 STAFFORDSHIRE . The Province , Br W H Bailey . 204 15 0

SUFFOLK . The Province , Br N Tracy . 105 0 0 Lodge 81 B Gall - - . 26 5 0 936 H J Wright - . 78 15 0

1631 GFCrane - . 85 0 0 SURREY . 416 FA Guimaraena . 38 17 0 1046 J A Lorimer - . 31 10 0 1638 J Drewetfc - . 10 10 0 1929 WAynsley - . 67 14 0

SUSSEX . 40 WH Russell . . 70 0 0 732 Benj Bennett - . 52 10 0 WARWICKSHIRE . 502 Isaac Brooks - - 21 15 0

The Festival.

WORCESTERSHIRE . 280 SirEHL « chmere , Bt ., MP . 171 18 0 280 A F Goda > n - . 31 10 0 280 W R Williamson •10 10 0

377 J WCon ^ erdine . Chadwbk lO 10 0 564 W Perry . . 36 15 0 1204 fr . pt . W . Ottley . 10 10 0 NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE 57 Br . J . Walton

WEST YORKSHIRE . 139 Simeon Hayes - \ 275 J Durrani Taylor 290 George Sykea 290 W Harrop 290 J B Wbiteley .

210 J Brierley 495 Joseph Hartley 750 Rawson Kflly 904 Frederick Cleeves 974 H A Foster 974 J Ambler ••I H 9 K n n 1042 W Bingham - •f 7 d & U ° 1042 W Pepper MH 2 X M « w « r

1012 R H Fowler - 1211 G F Crowe - 1239 G Wraee 1239 F S H Wilson 1513 B Smith 1513 T W EmbMon 1736 Lnka H Dean 2069 BS Bailey .

Masonic Dignity.

MASONIC DIGNITY .

IF there is one subject connected with what may be called the externals of the Lodge , which more than any other should enlist the attention of the Craft , it would seem to be the maintenance of the decorum and dignity

proper to the Institution . Giving credit for sincerity to the countless declarations of Masonic orators and writers for the press , touching the antiquity and character of our Fraternity , any one ou side

the Lodge , without an observation of existing facts , would surely expect to find throughout the Masonic brotherhood a higher regard for all which is appropriate to true decorum and dignity than among the members of any other

association whatever : for in our public utterances no opportunity seems to be neglected which can be nsed" to set forth the great antiquity of the Institution ; the noble part it is alleged to have acted in the development of

science , art and social order ; the endless catalogue of illustrious names of " kings , princes and potentates " of every civilized nation , claimed to belong to its roll of honour , and what is more to be prized than all , the wisdom and beneficence of the principles it is designed to uphold .

Allowing these declarations to be sincere , and only a tithing of them to be based on any sufficient knowledge , or probable informatien concerning the historic matters involved , it would seem incredible that any want of regard

for tbe time-honoured usages of our predecessors , or solicitude for the honour and dignity of the Institution , now and hereafter ; or of complete and substantial furnishings or tasteful adornment should be noticeable in or about our

temples of initiation "; or of truly decorous and proper apparel and garniture in our public or private assemblies , processions and ceremonies . It would be further expected by a stranger , that in an

Institution which has for two of its supporting pillars Wisdom and Beauty , its votaries would place among the first of its "liberal arts" that of elegant and expressive adornment , and that good taste would be cultivated to the

exclusion of all slovenly negligence and meretricious display ; and that order and propriety would be so advanced as to lead to a system of construction and embellishment truly Masonic in all its aspects .

Yet it must be confessed that for the most part such expectations would prove as baseless as many of the panegyrics upon the antiquity , universality , and glory of

the Institution ; the most oft-repeated and extravagant of which are indulged in by those who are content to let everything of ancient Masonic excellence and propriety become lost to the Craft .

it is not because ot any high estimate placed on the antiquity or noble characteristics of Ancient Craft Masonry

Masonic Dignity.

that these things are so generally observable , but tecaus of a failure to appreciate and thence esteem those things in which the sublimity and moral grandeur of true Masonry consist , and this is shown to bj trua in tho face of tho

whole Craft by this : that when simplicity and true Masouic dignity and decorum are urged upon the Craft , and imitations and mere frippery denounced , there is nob wanting some one to hasten to the front as champ on i . f

the latter , without a word in behalf of the former , wit ' i all the earnestness of those who feel that something has ban done which reflects disadvantageously on themselves personally . It is doubtless true that this has nob happened

because of any ill disposition towards the exaltation of Masonry , or of actual folly in judgment concerning such matters ; but from the very original cause which lias produced the evils which they defend , aud the same which has

brought about the prevalent notion that the Masonic Lodjro is wholly destitute of anything to produce a respectable o : " significant appearince either in public or private , aud fcha .

it must be made presentable by eking out the remnants of its legitimate equipage with unseemly c ' aptrap ; or by letting it take care of itself , and resorting to "higher degrees" for purposes of display .

Now , if re . xlly fine and impressive appearance in public or private is something desirable , as all must admit it is , how is it that it never occurs to those who are enthusiast ' c

in such a matter , that the Ancient Craft Lodge has , and always had , greater resources for the very purpose of significant display than any other society or order to be found , and that with less expense in the long run than the opponents of simplicity and dignity are willing to lavish in

carrying on and exhibiting the so-called higher degrees r Let an Ancient Craft Lodge room be for once completely constructed , furnished and adorned with everything which properly pertains to it , all in proper form and order , and it would be an astonishment to thousands who are

accustomed to the existing state of things , and if a procession fully equipped as it might be were to appear on the streets of any city , those who should see it for the first time wou'd scarcely believe their own eyes . And this is not an

exaggeration , for everything which is in any way Masonic , from first to last , belongs to the Lodge and is part of its exclusive paraphernalia , to be used as far as means will permit or the Craft may deem expedient . Hence those

who are fond of pageantry , and of making a fine di > play of Masonry , ought to see how unreasonable it is for them to be content with tbe neglect of proper appearances which is allowed to exist both in Lodges and Chapters , and at . th s

same time expend large sums of money for shodly imitation and things having no Masonic significance , at exorbitant prices , and which have no lasting value . Consider what the Fraternity receives for t ' na great