Masonic Jurisprudence.

On a question of a vote , say , for an Indian Famine Relief Fund , there might be . present an Indian visitor , whose remarks would be of value . But he must confine himself to facts , and not

even talk about the "duty of every lodge . " Every lodge is the judge of its own duty , and an opinion , perfectly in order in his own lodge , of the finances of which he was cognisant , might be an impertinence in another lodge .

The procedure dictated by Articles 49 et set / , for the guidance of Grand Lodge might be too cumbrous to be adopted in its entirety by a private lodge . Still what is done in Grand Lodge always forms a valuable precedent , and we never heard of a Worshipful Master being successfully appealed against who could quote the example of that august body .

The lodge bye-laws often prescribe that opposed motions shall not be entertained after a certain hour . In such case , a motion does not lapse , but retains its precedence according to its priority on the summons , and should take a sufficiently early

p lace at a subsequent meeting—remembering always that , of ceremonial work , an initiation takes precedence of everything . Second and Third Degrees are not of equal importance , inasmuch as the brethren affected have already seen the Light . ( To be continued . ' ]

Silver Wedding Of Bro. And Mrs. James Stephens.

SILVER WEDDING OF BRO . AND MRS . JAMES STEPHENS .

Bro . and Mrs . 'James Stephens celebrated their silver wedding on the 31 st ult ., and entertained a large company at the Frascati Restaurant in honour of the event . The guests numbered 180 , and heartily congratulated the happy couple on the completion of 25 years of married life . The entertainment provided for the guests was on a lavish scale , and included a recherche banquet

followed by a dance and concert . Although dispensing hospitality in such a liberal manner , Bro . and Mrs . Stephens—as has ever been their wont—were not unmindful of Charity , and during the evening the announcement was made of their intention to donate 100 guineas , viz ., 25 guineas to each of the three Masonic Institutions , and a similar sum to the Royal Female Orphanage .

The guests were received by the host and hostess , and adjourned to a wellserved banquet , during which the salon orchestra performed a selection of music ifrider Mr . Archibald Evans . Two items elicited very hearty applause— " Many happy returns of the day" and a cornet solo by Mr . George Harlow , "The Lost Chord . "

Three toasts were honoured , the first being " The Queen and Royal Family . " "The Ladies" was next proposed by Mr . GEOKOK RKADER , who said the tongue of the most gifted orator would not be sufficient to do justice to the toast . The ladies , at whatever stage , whether as the companions of the pleasures and amusements of one ' s youth , or as the companions of maturer pleasures and ioys of mature life and also the solacers of one ' s troubles , or as the companions of old age , were equally invaluable and charming . It was difficult to say which was the more

charming , the time of life of the rosy blush of youth , or the maturer time of 25 years married life , or when one came to see the venerable white haired lady . That the ladies were men ' s equals in intellect they had an example in their Queen , and that they were their superiors in Charity and amiability they had examples in their own domestic lives . He asked them to drink the health of the ladies , and associated with the toast the name of Mr . Quinn , who before dinner had expressed to him his appreciation of the bevy of beauty assembled in the reception room .

Mr . J . QUINN said he was afraid that whoever had been responsible in associating his name with the toast had made a mistake , because he did not see why a man who had been a bachelor all his life should be called upon to speak on a subject of which he knew extremely little or on which he ought to know little . If he did not exactly know something , or as much as Mr . Reader , he knew something about landladies . Perhaps they would allow him to explain . If most of

the young people present had been amongst landladies as he had they would know something . Most of his friends said that landladies had only one side . Now , he had found they had two sides . Bachelors were knocked about from the fryingpan into the fire , and thus they were only too pleased to turn their attention to thoughts of love . That was his situation . He could give no better testimony of his regard and feeling for the ladies than to say lie was going in a very short

time to take to himself one of the ladies sitting on his right . If landladies had two sides , he had seen the reverse side . It would not be necessary for him to detain them longer or to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor , who dwelt upon the intellectual powers of the ladies . They all knew that in the century about to close the most remarkable feature in connection with it had bsen the wonderful position women had reached during that period . In his own little way

he had always advocated the development and the employment of the powers of women , whether physically or intellectually . As an instance of the excellence of woman , he might , as a matter of fact , refer to one with whom they were all well acquainted—he referred to Mrs . Stephens . He would ask the bachelors to make up their minds and follow in his footsteps as quickly as they could . It was a great pleasure to love and be loved , and , in conclusion , he would just quote them one or two lines ,

concluding" 'Tis better to have loved and lost , Than never to have loved at all . " Bro . W . H . BAILEY then rose and said that in his lifetime he had had many difficult tasks , but never remembered one more difficult than that of proposing to them " Their Excellent Host and Hostess . " It had been to him , as to many present , a source of the most profound pleasure to number amongst his

friendshis dearest and best friends—the host and hostess , and lie was compelled to say they had thrown back upon him that love and alfection with double and treble interest , There was no one whose name was more a household word than their host , and there was no one whose kindness of heart was more greatly esteemed than his excellent wife . They all said on that happy and pleasant occasion of

their silver wedding—God bless the excellent pair ; might they live long and have every blessing . He sometimes wondered why they nidde so many friends , but it was doubtless that magnetic influence which springs from the heart ot both . Of all the kind people he h * d known there were none who had Charity more sincerely at heart lor the benefit of all than they hid , As they were blssse d with all prosperity he could only say , Gad bless them both . They wjuld t hank

Silver Wedding Of Bro. And Mrs. James Stephens.

their host and hostess for the enjoyment ot the evening , and ask them to be allowed to be numbered amongst their friends , and be links in that chain which bound them together in friendship and sincerity . On behalf of all present he offered their love and affection—a humble tribute which was only the expression of all who knew them—and hoped that God would grant them health and happiness now and evermore .

Bro . J AMES STEPHENS , in reply , said that if there was one moment in his life he felt happy it was on that occasion . He must first express his regret at the unfortunate absence of his dear old friend , Sir John Monckton , who had intended to be present , and wrote some months ago that unless he was at Derby he would be with them . On Friday last , however , Sir John had written that he had been obliged to join the party to which he had been invited prior to his ( Bro . Stephens' ) invitation . Sir John wrote : " I am now starting for Derby , as

1 thought might be the case . I can only offer to you and your wife my warmest felicitations on the happy event of your silver wedding , and ask you to accept my own unworthy likeness in a silver frame . " Bro . Bailey had spoken so kindly that he felt like a General returning from South Africa , who , having been feted again and again , in return for the kindness shown him said the result was not obtained by him but those serving with him . He felt sincerely all the kind things said about his wife , and from the bottom of his heart he could say there was not

the slightest tinge of flattery in them . Never was there a dearer soul , one more devoted , or more true , honest , and just than she had been , not only to himself , but to the whole of her relations . If anything were wanted to show kindness in a wife it is when the husband ' s relations speak of her in equal terms of praise to those of her own relations . He could assure them his wife was esteemed and beloved by every one of his relations in like manner that she is beloved by her own brothers and sisters . They had had 25 years of married

bliss . He would not attempt to say they had never had a few words , but for his part he was inclined to think he was qualified to compete for the Dunmow flitch . She believed in the old saying that " The course of true love never runs smooth , " and enjoyed those little interludes because there was the pleasure of making up . They were married 25 years ago , and he was pleased to see his dear old friend , the only gentleman present that day who was present then . Mr . H . Ward . They still had the tea service—or

remnants of it—which he was good enough to give them 25 years ago . it was a pride and pleasure to say they had been successful by their own industry and perseverance . Never did a man possess a wife who worked harder in this life than his good wife had worked for him . He frankly admitted that all the good things Bro . Bailey had said of him was the reflection of his wife ' s influence and character . They started in a humble sphere of life , but with a determination to get on if they could . He would tell them what to many was a secret . Some

12 years ago he built a little villa at West Hampstead , where they thought to retire , and knowing as he did the extreme exertions she had put forth to place him in the position he was , he thought how could he best identify the house with her ? The initials of her Christian names were E L A D , and as he gave her the name of Stephens , this made the name of their house Blads . Bro . Bailey had said they had been successful , and he was grateful to Providence they had , and if he did not deserve it , at least his wife did foe her energy . On the occasion of hU

jubilee birthday—and it was a singular coincidence to celebrate both his jubilee birthday and silver wedding in one year—they wanted to mark it in charity , for they were as charitable as they could be . He could not claim , like his friend Bro . Whadcoat , to give 1000 guineas to the Boys' School , but in their efforts in the past they could lay claim to have given 1000 guineas to the three Institutions . On his jubilee birthday he thought hewould be doing his duty by recognising some charities outside Freemasonry . They had now decided to give 100 guineas in

sums of 25 guineas to the three Masonic Charities . He was proud and honoured by the presence of their esteemed and beloved friend Bro . Letchworth , whom many of them knew as the Grand Secretary , in which capacity he had endeared himself to the hearts of all . Knowing the keen interest which Bro . Sir John Monckton took in the Royal Female Orphanage as one of the Committee , they had decided to give 25 guineas to that Institution in the name of his niece . A similar sum to the Masonic Boys' School , whose indefatigable Secretary

he saw present , and also to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , who was present , and had been for ^ o years its invaluable Secretary . If Bro . Letchworth would allow him , he would send him 25 guineas in the name of his nephew , Eric Carter , for the Girls' School , In conclusion he could only say how happy they were alter 25 years to be amongst nearly 200 friends who had honoured them with their presence . They had some thoughts of going to the Cecil , but his wife said

they had enjoyed themselves at the Frascati so much and felt so much at home . He wished to express their deepest thanks to his friend , Bro . Morrell , for the admirable way in which the Frascati had catered for them . Their fervent hope to all present was that they would be spared long into the century , and that Gad mig ht bless them and take them in His keeping until He might call them hence .

The company then adjourned to the dance and concert-rooms until the new century had been ushered in . The artistes assisting in the concert were : Miss Emily Foxcroft , Miss Bessie Greenhill , Miss Annie Bartle , Miss Florence Ogilvy , Miss Lily Stephens , Miss Lizzie Davies , and Messrs . R . Dennant , Wills Page , Oiven Clark , Murray Bemister , Mr . and Mrs . John Warner , and Air . H . L . Cooke ( accompinist ) .

Amongst those present were Bro . E . Letchworth , Bro . and Mrs . J . H . Whadcoat ; Bro . and Mrs . A . Ritchie ; Bro . and Mrs . W . Lake ; Bro . and Mrs . W . H . Bailey ; Bro . and Mrs . J . J . Thomas ; Bro . and Mrs . W . J . Mason ; Dr . Gwynne Bird , Bro . and Mrs . J . Terry ; Bro . and Mrs . J . M . McLeod ; Bro . and Mrs , James Speller ; Bro . and Mrs . E . L . Berry ; Bro . and Mrs . T . Richards ; Bro .

and Mrs . B . Carter ; Bro . G . V . Wood , Bro . and Mrs . G . A . Sims ; Bro . and Mrs . J . H . Haylor ; liro . and Mrs . W . Godson ; iiro . and Mrs . FJatman ; Bro . and Mrs . A . Craddock ; Bro . J . Stevens , Miss Dearing , Mr . Gus Rothschild , Bro . A , Morrell , Mrs . Dew , Mr . and Mrs . J . H . Dew ; Bro . and Mrs . W . H . Parker ; and many others .

Among the presents , which numbered nearly 100 , were the following : Silver flower pots and salver from Crickleivood Lodge ; photograph in silver frame , Bro . Sir J . Monckton ; five o'clock tea service in case , Bro . and Mrs . Whadcoat ; silver tea urn on stand , Bro . B . Carter ; silver cake basket , Mrs . B . Carter ; set of four antique silver candlesticks , Bro . J . W . Morrell ; silver epergne , Bro . and Mrs . J . Terry ; case of silver tea knives , Bro . and Mrs . Mason ; silver flower bowl on stand , Bro . and Mrs . C . Dearing ; silver flower vases , Bro . and Mrs .

Welford ; silver fruit dish , Bro . and Mrs . Lake ; silver mirror , Bro . and Mrs . Godson ; silver fruit dish and spoon , Bro . and Mrs . J . M . McLeod ; silver flower bowl on stand , Bro . and-Mrs . Craddock ; silver spirit bottle , Bro . and Mrs . H . J . Turner ; flower vases , Bro . and Mrs . J . Speller ; writing case and cabinet , Bro . and Mrs . A . Flatnmn : silver flower vases , Bro . and Mrs . Griffiths ; silver mirror

Bro . and Mrs . G . Reader ; silver tea caddy , Bro . and Mrs . W . Thomas ; silver salver , Mrs . and the Misses Jeffreys ; silver sugar sifter and spoon , Bro . J , W . and Mrs . Nightingale ; case of silver liqueur cups , Mrs . and Miss Nightingale ; silver fruit dish , Bro . and Mrs . C . Mann ; silver fruit dish , Bro . and Mrs . Slaughter ; silver truit dish , Bro . Haddock ; silver bowl , Bro . and Mrs . H . Ward ; silver photograph frame , Bro . and . Mrs . J . J . Thomas .

Mr . F . de Jong has secured a site for a new music-hall at Caps Town , South Africa , for which , as repDrted , he has paid the high price of £ 37 , wo ,