The Non-Affiliates.

THE NON-AFFILIATES .

A NUMBER of eminent Masons take the ground that a non-affiliate is not entitled to any Masonic courtesy . We hardly go this length , although some of our Grand Lodge officers , embued with the dollar and cents idea of the Order , would hurl every Mason who does not pay his Lodge dues , or who is a non-affiliate , into outer darkness .

Theoretically this method of looking upon Masonry from the stand point of the " business man , on a business plan , " is all wrong . Masonry we are told is not a financial corporation , but a system of morality tho teachings veiled in allegory and illustrated by signs and symbols . There

is nothing in a temporal sense that man can receive from having these signs and symbols revealed to him . These teachings are for the improvement of the mind and for the benefit of the individual . The language is made symbolical , and by means of signs to all intents and purposes

fulfils the purposes of a universal language . For instance a Frenchman , a German and an Englishman , all three Masons , meet under certain circumstances . They each speak different languages , but a sign is made which

all three understand . A bond of sympathy is at once formed between the three . Ifc is a similar feeling that a man feels among foreigners whose language is unknown to him when he hears his own spoken . Men have been known to burst into tears afc the sound of their mother

tongue among strangers . This is what tho signs of Masonry are intended to do—to serve the purpose of a universal tongue . Then the word a Masonic "Lodgo " is

not to be understood in tho sense of a room decorated with paintings , curtains , carpet and upholstered chairs . A Lodge is nofc tho place of meeting . Originally the * English Masons met in rooms in certain inns . This is the custom

there to a large extent still . Lodges have often been held in the open air , in tents on the battlefield , in the basements of ruins and in caves when tho exigencies of the case demanded it . The " Lodge " is an abstract not a material thing . It is the aggregate of the membership of a certain

Masonic organization , a small circle within the greater circle of the Grand Lodge , a member is the atom , the private Lodge the molecure and the Grand Lodge the drop in tho Masonic alchemy . Originally dues were unknown except those paid to the Grand Lodges . Such is the

principle still . A Utaason made cannot be unmade . When a man becomes a member of tho Craft he takes an obligation which makes no provision for his being unable to pay his dues or his desire to nofc belong to any particular private Lodge . He is not told that he enters on a monetary

basis , and thafc as soon as he is unable to put , up money for " blow outs " and regalia for Grand Lodge officers that he is to lose that which was given him , the privilege of being an honest man , of assisting a Masonic brother in

distress , and that ho loses his right to pecuniary aid , his right to meet his Masonic brethren gathered together , his right to walk in a Masonic procession , or the right oven to have the beautiful Masonic service read over his grave . That he is to be an outcast .

* * Along the strip of herbage strewn , Thafc just divides the desert from the town . Still he must keep his part of the contract . All the obligation is on him . Is ifc nofc time that more liberal views were entertained on this subject . Why should Masons be

deprived of their privileges without a trial ? Cannot some of the wiaejminds of the Craft devise an equitable system of dealing wifch fche non-affiliates without casting them out ? There are many who would like to have the privileges of

membership in the Craft as a whole , without the responsibilities of membership in a private Lodge . Cannot some means be devised to meet this contingency . —Canadian Craftsman .

Bro . Percy Wallis P . P . G . S . W . has been elected to fche Chairmanship of the Charity Committee of tho Province of Derbyshire in succession fco fche late Bro . Geo . Thomas Wright P . P . G . S . W .

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Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

PROVINCE OF MIDDLESEX AND SURREY . i A SPECIAL Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Criterion Restaurant , Piccadilly , on Friday , tho 19 th inst . Grand Lodgo was opened in due form . There were present Bros . R . W . Colonel Sir F . Burdett P . G . M ., Charles Hammerton D . P . G . M ., C . H . Neville J . W .,

L . G . G . Bobbins Treasurer , John W . Mash . Registrar , W . G . Brighten Secretary , F . West M . O ., W . M . Stiles S . O ., L . P . Coubro S . D ., H . A . Marshall Dir . of Cers ., P . H . Clisby Standard Bearer , Charles Chaufourier and

Dr . R . D . R . Sweeting Stewards , with many Grand Officers , Past Provincial Grand Officers , Masters , Past Masters , Wardens and Overseers of Lodges in the Province , and several visiting brethren whose names

are dul y recorded in the visiting book . The Provincial Grand Master was saluted according to ancient custom . After which the R . W . P . G . M . M . spoke in feeling terms of

the death of H . U . H . the Duke of Clarence , and moved that the following address be sent to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen . Seconded by the Deputy P . G . M ., and carried unanimously .

TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY . May it please your Majesty , We , the members of tbo Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Middlesex and Surrey , in Special Grand Lodgo assembled , humbly beg to approach your Majesty with expressions of deepest sympathy at the great loss your Majesty has sustained by tho

death of your grandson , H . R . H . Prince Albert Victor , Duke of Clarence and Avondale . We humbly pray that the Great Overseer of the Universe may grant to your Majesty strength and comfort in this great trial , and

continue to vouchsafe to you that good health which is so desired b y all your Majesty's loyal aud dutiful subjects . Given at London , under tho seal of our Provincial Grand Lodge , this 19 th day of February 1892 .

FRANCIS BURDETT , Provincial Grand Master . C . HAMMERTON , [ S EAL . ] Deputy Provincial Grand Master . W . G . BRIGHTON , Provincial Grand Secretary .

The P . G . M . M . again rose , and in a most suitable manner proposed , and Bro . Lovegrove seconded , that the following address be sent to our Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . This was carried ananimoasly .

To His Eoyal Highness Albert Edward Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c . Most Worshipful Grand Master of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown .

We , the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Mosons of Middlesex and Snrrey , in Special Grand Lodge assembled , crave permission to tender to your Royal Highness and to Her Royal Highness tho Princess of Wales oar heartfelt sympathy on the sad occasion of the death of your beloved son ! H . R . H . Prince Albept

Victor Doke of Clarence and Avondale . We are conscious of the great loss the nation has sustained , and we humbly pray that the Great Overseer of the Universe may strengthen and comfort your

Royal Highnesses and the members of your Royal House in thia your great and severe bereavement . Given at London , under the seal of onr Provincial Grand Lodge this 19 th day of February 1892 .

FRANCIS BURDETT , Provincial Grand Master . [ S EAL . ] C . H AMMERTON , Deputy Provincial Grand Master . WM . G . BRIGHTEN , Provincial Grand Secretary .

The Provincial Grand Secretary , Brother W . G . Brighten , was then called upon to give a short history of the Province , and the P . G . Secretary then read the following short descriptive history of the Provincial Grand Lodge since its formation .

This P . G . Lodgo was constituted at Guildford , on the 2 nd Jnn 1871 , by the Rev . G . R . Portal , M . A ., the Grand Master of the Order , and our present Provincial Grand Master received his patent of appointment , which ho has held ever since , ifc having been

renewed every three years since that time by the unanimous wish of the brethren of the Province at each triennial election . At this first meeting it does not appear that there were sufficient brethren present to fill np all the office . " , seven of which , with Four Stewardships , were accordingly left vacant . The Roll of Lodges was