Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Somerset.

Nosworthy ) with a gold bracelet , subscribed to by the members of the W . de Irwin L < idt ; e , No . 162 , in recognition of her having passed so many examinations ( amongst them beincr . the Senior Cambridge held in December last ) . M'ss Greenwood won the silver medal given by the Grand Maik Lodge at Christmas , also three volumes of bonks given by Bro . Carrell .

The presentation was made , on behalE of the lodge , by the Prov . Gr .-nrl Master , Bro . Er . su . in a few very appropriate words , the W . M ., Bro . H \ RT , reading the list of examinations she had passed . The brethren then adjourned to a banquet , which was provided by Bro . Box , the proprietor of the hotel , and gave every satisfaction .

The Lodge Of Research.

THE LODGE OF RESEARCH .

The transactions of the" Lodge of Research , " No . 2429 , Leicester , for 1893-4 are now published , and are being distributed to members of the "Inner" and "Outer" Circles . The lodge has been formed on simihr lines to the " Ountuor Coronati " Lodge , No . 2076 , London , and may be said to be one ot its offshoots and most promising branches .

The current number is the second part issued bv the lodge ( at Freemasons' Hall , Leicester ) as a narrative of its proceedings , but it is also a great deal more than that , its value and importance being equal in some respects to anything of the kind ever published , so that the indefatigable and most courteous Secretary , Bro . John T . Thorp , P . M ., may well be congratulated on his great success as editor and compiler of this very welcome , interesting , and most useful annual .

The founders are well known and respected brethren of the province , headed by my old friend , Bro . Samuel S . Par / ridge , the esteemed Deputy Prov . G . M . ; Bros . J . T . Thorp , the first W . M . ( MOW the Secretary ) ; II ' . Maurice Williams , the second W . M . ( and Historian of No . 279 ) ; E . Holmes , the third W . M . ( P . M . 279 and Prov . G . Sec . ); W . II . Staynes , P . M . 20 S 1 , the S . W . ; Dr . Pratt , the J . W . ; F . IV . Billson , LL . B . , *

and the Rev . H . S . Briggs , B . A . The joining members are zealous members of the Craft . Thirty-three in all is the limit to the membership , save as to the " Correspondence Circle , " which at present is in its infancy . These should be numbered by hundreds , the annual fee being only a crown for that special privilege , brethren being eligible whether belonging to the compact and ably managed Province of Leicester or elsewhere , and receive all the circulars and publications the same as the actual members .

The following excerpt from the report to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicester and Rutland , signed by the Chairman ( the D . P . G . M . ) , refers in a most appreciative manner to the moving spirit of their lodge and the objects aimed at by the brethren . The special object of the founders , most prominent among whom is W . Bro . J . T . Thorp , P . P . S . G . W ., is specially to encourage a spirit of enquiry as to the origin of Masonic usages and symbols , and to stimulate the brethren to a more perfect rendering of the ritual and ceremonies .

A very complete history of the transactions of the lodge during the year , including a reprint of the principal papers read , has been issued and circulated ; and there can be no doubt that the very laudable object which the founders have in view is being successfully achieved . Particulars are afforded of the Sth to the 10 th meetings , inclusive ; the first concerns the installation , which was followed by a conversazione and an

exhibition of many of thc valuable books and curious in the Library . The 6 th is noteworthy for a paper read by Bro . Thorp , on " The Evidences of Freemasonry on the Plays of Shakespeare , " the author maintaining that " far stronger evidence will be req lired before Masons are justified in enrolling Shakespeare as a member of ihe Fraternity . " The 7 th assembly was favoured with an essay on "Masonic Music" b y Dr . Barrow , mainly

respecting the Masonic Opera , two Cantatas , and a Funeral March by Brother Mozart . The Sth was held at a holiday time , but the 9 th fully made up for the interregnum , as Bro . George W . Speth , the Secretary of the Q . C . Lodge , then read his paper on " The Folklore of Masonry in connection with the Master Mason . " This remarkable work ( now printed by the author , separately , ior 2 s . per copy ) , sets at defiance all condensation ,

though Bro . Thorp's brief notice is admirably done , considering . At its conclusion , the Secretary exhibited and described a large collection of Masonic certificates , these exhibitions being a most useful and gratifying feature of the meetings of the lodge . The 10 th of the series was one to be remembered by those privileged to attend , as the then W . M ., Bro . W . Maurice Williams , P . M ., read a

valuable and instructive paper on " Masonic Statutes , " which I am glad to state will be printed with the next Transactions . The frontispiece to the present part consists of an excellent portrait of Lord Rancliffe , the second Prov . G . M . of the province , the other illustration being a charming reproduction of an extraordinary certificate domiciled in the Library , being a warrant or patent issued at Edinburgh (?) to a Brother

Candy , under the authority , so it is stated , of Charles Edward Stuart , the " Pretender , " dated 1775 . Bro . Thorp has earned the thanks of all students , not only because he has g iven an excellent transcript of the document ( mostly in French ) , but also a capital English translation , rendered difficult bv reason of the singular cahgraphy at times , and the age of the patent . The seals are very fine indeed , and the treasure is one in which the brethren in Leicester should take especial pride .

Addition * , to the library are duly noted in alphabetical order , and then comes the great and valuable feature of this part , viz ., a catalogue of all the Certificates in the Freemasons' Library and Museum , Leicester , arranged in chronolog ' -cal order , in classes , and affording full information as to the lodges , chapters , towns , dates of issue and the individuals to whom granted , names of Grand Masters and Grand Secretaries , tV * c . I am simply

surprised to see that there is such a collection at Leicester , particularly so many English and French , and I believe it is one of the most valuable and interesting a series to be found anywhere . Their number and importance are trul y wondeiful , and Bro . Thorp ' s able arrangement is a ( jreat boon for us Mnsnnic students , as we know now all the chiet points as to their character and peculiarities .

1 am very soi iy 'o say there am only a few of these Transactions for sale , n ., t 50 , I fe * r . &> p es may be h ui just now for fifteen-pt-nce post free . P . rsonall ) I would not spare mine for mure than as many shillings . Many thanks to Bro . Thorp for his great labours .

P . S . —Since wriiing the above I have read the excellent and appreciative communication by Bro . G . W . Bain , in the Freemason for September 30 th , on " Masonic Museums and Libraries , " and warml y endorse all my friend says as to the merits of the Transactions of Nos . 207 ( 1 and 2429 , as well as the Report of the West Yorkshire Masonic Library . W . J . HUGHAN .

What Is Needed.

WHAT IS NEEDED .

We are sometimes led to ask what is the use of Masonry ? Wherein does it do any good ? Is not the time spent in lodge meetings just so man y hours wasted ? Is not the money spent to maintain the Institution thrown away ? Wherein is any man profited by being a Mason ? And in trying to answer these queries we tall back upon the condition of all earthly organisations , and find the same may be asked of any and all of them . Even the church itself does not present to the woild that strong , bold , and invincible opposition to wrong , and stand up for right that it should .

Everything good in this world is glossed over with evil , and the purest and best are only seen through a glass darkly . The line of demarcation between good and evil is so faintly drawn that it is difficult to discover on which side you are . Right is right and wrong is wrong , and no amount of whitewashing or varnishing can make wrong right . We are apt to make excuses for the wrong-doers , and plead the circumstantial environments as palliating an offence . In there times a man that calls a spade a spade is considered a crank , but it is a spade - -. 11 ihe same .

Masonry is a noble science of morality , and Masonry is pure . It is worthy of thc careful attention of every mm , and ought to create in the heart of every student a reverence for Diety , a love for his fidlow-man and a devotion to right dealing . The time spent in the stud / of Masonic truth is

not wasted if that truth is permitted to do its perfect work . The money spent in maintaining Masonic lodges is not wasted if those who become members are made better by the lessons they are taught . 1 > it we plead the weakness of human nature , and do not require those who wear the emblem of innocence to keep it spotless .

The lodges of Masonry the world over fail to fulfil their mission , and all because of the " weakness of human nature . " Of course , we cannot change our humanity . Its weakness is an inheritance , and we must do the best we can . But our ledges can help , if they will , to make humanity stronger , by requiring those who are admitted to live up to the teachings of the Fraternity . The " broad mantle of Masonic Charity " is beautiful in sentiment , but it is

not always Charity to permit a member to violate with impunity the tenets of our profession . If " brotherly love" is such a virtue , why not require that it is practised ? If " relief" is a duty incumbent upon all men , why not require that it is exercised ? If "truth" is a "divine attribute , and the foundation of every virtue , " why permit it to be disregarded with impunity ?

What is needed in Masonry to-diy is a pr ictice of its teachings , and not continual excuses for infraction of its principles . True men , who will regard their obligations as binding , who will not try to hide behind the great black tower of human weakness . Noble men who , when they strike hands with a friend or a brother , will stand by him in adversity as well as in prosperity . Men who will be fearless in the advocacy of right principles .

It is un-Masonic to try to take advantage of a brother , and " trick him into any action that could be construed against him , should the " scheme " not work . It is un-Masonic to profess great friendship for a brother before his face , and stab him in the back . It is un-Masonic to regard a brother who may differ with you on any question of policy as an enemy , and to try to injure him in his business or reputation . It is un-Masonic to look upon

those who vote on " the other side " from you as rascals . It is un-Masonic to act upon your judgment as the only rule and gauge of right , and to regard the opinion of every other brother as unworthy of any consideration . Masonry teaches a brotherhood , not an autocratic Czarship . Every brother in the Fraternity is entitled to respect and to consideration , and a haughty , Czar-like spirit marks the possessor of it as unworthy to be taken by the hand as brother . —New York Dispatch .

Making Masons At Sight.

MAKING MASONS AT SIGHT .

The prerogative of a Grand Master to make a Mason at sig ht is still claimed and sometimes exercised b y Grand Masters in Pennsylvania . It was done twice last year by Grand Master Arnold , in order , as he says , that the prerogative " might not lu said to have become obsolete by non-user . " In one instance it was done in an open lodge which the Grand Master visited ,

and in the other instance he called a special meeting of the Grand Lodge solely for that purpose , at which there were present some 20 officers , six Past Grand Masters , and representatives from 33 lodges . Two Past Grand Masters from New Jersey and one from New York were present as visitors . The printed record of proceedings is as follows : " Grand Lodge opened in ample form at 4 o ' clock 23 minutes P . M .

" An Entered Apprentice Mason ' s Lodge was opened , when Charles Emory Smith was introduced and received the first degree in Masonry . " The Entered Apprentice Mason ' s Lodge closed , and a Fellow-Craft Mason ' s Lodge opened , when Charles Emory Smith was again introduced and passed to the degree of a Fellow-Craft Mason .

" The Fellow-Craft Lodge closed , when Charles Emory Smith was introduced the third time and raised to the sublime d « eree of a Master Mason . The Right Worshipful Grand Master addressed the Grand Lodge in reference to the prerogative of a Grand Master lo make a Mason by virtue of his presence , Grand Lodge closed in harmony at 0 o ' clock 5 " minutes P . M . "

Thus in two hours and 27 minutes , the Grand Lodge was opened a » u closed on Three Degrees , a candidate railroided througnthe Three Degrees , and the Grand Master made an address . The only excuse offered for these unusual proceedings is , that the prerogative of making a Mason at sig ht " might not be said to have become obolete by nun-user . "

Turning to the Ahiman Rezon , which is the fundamental law of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , we find the following : " SECTION 42 . A candidate shall not receive more than one degree on the same day , nor a subsequent degree at a less interval than one Masonic month from his reception of a former degree , without dispensation from the Grand Master ; but it is recommended to all Lodges to require proof of a

Brother ' s proficiency in the Craft , either by examination in the Lodge or Dy the report of a committee of examination , before he be advanced . " If it be good for the welfare of Masonry to enforce such restrictions on the lodges wh . should the Grand Master be permitted to set them aside a ' his own will and pleasure , simply to show luw much bigger he is than |" Grand Lodge ? It is an absurd piece of folly , like many other idiosyncrai 'ies in

of Pennsylvania Masonry . It is on a par with the ridiculous idea that loss of a toe-nail debars the best man in the Keystone State from becoming a Mason . It is a queer idea that because a Mason happens to get in *' line of promotion , and thus in time becomes a Grand Master , that he is t " j in no way amenable to the authority that placed him in that position . ^ . is the Pennsylvania theory , and , as in many other cases , it is Pennsy lva * ' against the world . Masonic Advocate .