Consecration Of The Rose Chapter, No. 1622.

jn passing , the only other M . E . Z . present , he had been elected for thc second time M . E . Z . of the Joppa Chapter , which was a Jewish chapter , and lie the only Christian companion among them , and lhat he considered a very hiii -h honour . He thanked the companions for such a hearty reception . Comp . T . GRUMMANT , who had been intimately acquainted with the M . li . Z . f ° many years , and the first lieutenant at the Star Chapter of

Instruction , stated he had never enjoyed a Masonic meeting better , and fished the chapter a most hearty and prosperous career . The mantle of tdeir late Comp . Bumstead had indeed fallen upon the M . E . Z ., and he trusted he would for many years go on in the same excellent manner . The one sp irit which would permeate the chapter he was confident was

benevolence , and he was delighted to hear after the words ol Comp . Sir John alonckton that the M . E . Z . and his old friend , Comp . Williams , J ., would act as Stewards . He would promise them his most heart } ' support , and trusted they might have a large number of exaltees , aud prove , as he was sure the chapter would , second to none in London .

Comp . STILES returned thanks most heartily on behalf of the remaining visitors , and felt confident he was only echoing the sentiments of every companion present in congratulating the G . S . E . on his appointment by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and the pride they all felt in witnessing his

first consecration . For himself , as P . G . D ., it was indeed a special pleasure He must congratulate the chapter upon its choice of M . E . Z . as being most excellent . There was the same wring of friendship as in the Rose Lodge , and he was certain that it must prosper . He trusted to be the recipient of such hospitality on a future occasion .

The M . E . Z . stated there was one more very important toast , that of " The Officers . " He had before him an excellent body . Their dear old Comp . J . N . Kirby , Treas ., quite a veteran , was a most valuable officer in lhe lodge , where he had rendered signal service , and he ( the M . fi . Z . ) was confident he would so prove himself in the chapter . The S . N . was an old member of thelodge likewise , and would prove himself worthy of the position .

Of Comp . J . H . Pullen , P . S ., he could not speak too highly , for the wonderful progress he had made in Royal Arch Masonry fully justified his selection as P . S . The Assistant Sojourners , Comps . G . Thompson and J . Schiiller , he was exceedingly pleased to invest with their collars , as they were worthy of thc position . The M . E . Z . also stated that he could not allow that opportunity to pass without expressing the best thanks of the

chapter to the ist and 2 nd Assistant Sojourners for acting as Wine Stewards at the banquet table , and who carried out their duties so admirably . In reply , Comp . J . H . PULLEN stated the extreme pleasure he had in responding for himself and brother officers . He would assure the M . E . Z . on their behalf nothing should be wanting on their part to make the chapter

a thorough success as the lodge had attained . Little did he think a twelvemonth ago , when he was exalted , that he should now hold such an honourable position . It was all owing to their M . E . Z ., with his wonderful tact and patience at the Star Chapter of Instruction , and if a companion did not succeed in learning the beautiful ritual it was his . own fault . AH would pledge themselves entirely to carry out their duties as perfectl y as possible .

Comps . J . N . KIRBV , Treas ., thanked the companions for the honour done in electing him Treasurer . He would assure them that the funds should be well guarded and placed to their proper account . He had been . 1 Royal Arch Mason for 10 years , but now should attend regularly to his duties to do all in his power for thc prosperity of the chapter . Comp . Dr . T . E . WEBB , S . N ., thanked the companions most cordially for the honour done him , and pledged himself to do his work as efficiently as possible .

The Janitor ' s toast closed one of the most enjoyable gatherings ever experienced . The musical arrangements were under the able superintendence of Comp . W . Price , assisted by Madame Agnes Thayer , Miss Ethel Bcvans , Comps . V . Svvinford ( organ accompanist ) and W . H . Simons , with Mr . Edgar Simons at the piano . The programme was an excellent one .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

I'he Quarterly Court of subscribers to this Institution was held on Thursday , at Freemasons' Tavern , Bro . Henry Smith , D . P . G . M . for West Yorkshire , P . G . D ., Treasurer of the Institution , in the chair . Avery large 'lumber of brethren were present , and the Chairman was supported on the

dais by Bros . Robert Grey , Frank Richardson , J . H . Matthews , George Kverett , Capt . S . G . Homfray , Peter de Lande Long , W . H . Spaull , C I *' . Money , and 1 *' . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) . Bro . W . II . SAUNDERS had the following- motion on the paper .-

1 hat with a view to induce brethren to subscribe annually lo the Institution in luture all subscribers of one guinea for six consecutive years shall be constituted 1 ' Subscribers , and for 12 consecutive years shall be constituted Life Governors . 11 ' mentioning the subject to the Court he said that on looking over the ¦* tcouius which had been presented to the General Committee two months

'' tfu . he found that £ 2700 odd was subscribed iu annual sums , and he thought that the Institution did not sufficiently benefit by annual subscripllul » s , and that it ought to have more . To bring a better state of things 'loout , he thought an advantage should be offered to annual subscribers , no he therefore gave notice of the present motion . Still , he was of opinion - O - " V ' * I .. "" — . W |

' ¦ 't the subject had come somewhat suddenly on the brethren , and that tcy had not had sufficient time to consider it . After conferring with various Wc llireii who look an interest in the Girls' School , he had come to the | u "clusion that it would bc better to deal with the matter at the next Quarterly "I , and wilh the permission of the brethren he would adjourn the

J ° "sidcration of it to the next Quarterly Court . ( Cries of " No , no . " ) In "leantime he would ask the General Committee to consider whether it I ' cx Pedient , and he had no doubt the proposition he made would come tcr fro '" them than from himself . -,,, ro ' UOIJKNJIAJI objected , and moved that the matter be now considered . - 'J .... I , .,.,. «_/ U |^ l _ . l ^ Ll , . Hill l __ l /><_ . U IIK 1 L llll _ . IIIIKIVI ! - »!_ . IIU 11 I . UIIJIULII . U .

ni C - Wou ' ^ be very few brethren at thc Quarterly Court in July , and thc br ' et | tl 0 n W 0 Ulcl 1 ) C l ) cUer llca , t witil at t , lc P rt : scllt meeting . None of thc I ren w were connected with the organisations considered it would tc » cre with thc Institution . I ( J ' I ' . R . SPAULL seconded Bro . Bodonham ' s amendment .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

It was suggested that thc motion should be considered at the October Quarterly Court , and Bro . BODENHAM said he had not the same objection to a postponement to that Court . He objected , however , to the matter being remitted to the July Court , and pressed his amendment . Bro . H . T . THOMPSON , P . M . 742 , thought the motion should be withdrawn unconditionally , and Bro . Saunders could give a fresh notice lor October .

Bro . W . A . SCURRAH thought there were sufficient brethren present to decide on the matter now , and he supported Bro . Bodenham . Bro . GEORGE FAIRCHILD took the same view . The amendment was put and carried . Bro . W . H . SAUNDERS then proposed his motion , and said he was

speaking not only on behalf of himself , but on behalf of various friends in different parts of the country . There were man } ' people who could give their guinea a year , but could not give their live or ten guineas all at once . He did not think it would affect the liberality of the brethren if his motion was carried .

The motion having been seconded , Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , P . G . D ., said the brethren would no doubt remember that about 12 months ago a Special Committee was appointed to revise the laws of the Institution . That Committee was very carefully selected from all classes of the brethren , and from all series of subscribers . He bad the honour to be on the Committee , and he could say it took the

Committee very nearly 12 months to complete their labours . One matter that was brought forward specially for discussion was this very question suggested by Bro . Saunders , but it was the unanimous feeling of the Sub-Committee that it was not judicious to make this alteration . But in order to meet the matter a law was framed that Subscribers of one guinea every year for 10 years should become Life Subscribers . That was Submitted to a

Quarterly Court , and it was agreed to unanimously at the next Quarterly Court . Therefore , he thought he had a ri ght to say that thc recommendation was favourabl y received . He asked the brethren not to commence at once to alter laws which had only passed a short time . Bro . SAUNDERS then asked to withdraw his motion , but it was nol agreed to , and on being put to the vote was unanimously negatived .

Bro . J . H . MATTHEWS , P . G . Std . Br ., proposed , and Bro . GEORGE EVERETT , Grand Treasurer , seconded , the re-election of Bro . Henry Smith as Treasurer . The motion was carried unanimously amidst applause . Bro . PETER DE LANDE LONG , P . G . D ., moved , and Bro . F . RICHARDSON , P . G . D ., seconded , the following resolutions :

( a . ) That in recognition of the valuable services so generously rendered to the Institution for many years past by Bro . Wharton P . Hood , M . D . ( Hon . Surgeon ) , his honorary Vice-Presidency be extended to an honorary Vice-Patronship . ( b . ) That in recognition of the valuable services so generously rendered to the Institution for many years past by Bro . John Faulkner , L . D . S . ( Hon . Dental Surgeon ) , he be made an honorary Vice-Patron .

Thc motion was carried nem . can . Scrutineers of votes for the election of 16 girls out of an approved list of 23 candidates for admission to the School were then chosen , and the election was commenced . The names of those elected will be found in our advertisement columns .

Elocution In Freemasonry.

ELOCUTION IN FREEMASONRY .

Too much cannot be made of correct elocution as one of the minor adjuncts to good Masonry . By " minor " we , of course , mean that it cannot be classed amongst the cardinal virtues of the Craft , nor even as taking other than a secondary position to such points as correct knowledge of the ritual , punctuality at meetings , or reverence during the ceremonies . But it is of very great importance all the same , and too often utterly neglected .

On the way in which the ceremonies of admission to the different Degrees ofthe Craft are performed depends more perhaps than upon anything else the extent to which the candidate will understand , appreciate , and practice the lessons of those Degrees , and this being admitted , it cannot bc denied that one great factor in the impressiveness of a ceremony is the tone of voice in which thc oral part of it is delivered . The words of the spoken ritual in

most of the Degrees are exquisitely beautiful , ihey are indeed prose poetry of the highest class , and , as we have said on some previous occasion , it is this characteristic which accounts for the comparative facility with which these lengthy compositions are retained in the memory . But the different portions of the rituals are exceedingly varied in character . Sometimes they rise to dramatic intensity , forming part almost of a histrionic scene .

Sometimes the officiating Master is giving a calm historic narration , sometimes a logical exposition of some Masonic theory or fact , sometimes delivering a charge destined to impress upon his hearers certain truths after the manner of a sermon , sometimes an explanation piece by piece of some tracing board or working tool , sometimes putting a question , sometimes offering up a prayer , and again on occasion taking part in a colloquy involving

displays of grief , anger , commendation , reproof , surprise , or what not . Now , it is obvious that however letter-perfect a Master may be , the effect of his words are lost if a charge is delivered in the same tone as a mere narration , or a prayer with the same vocal inflections as a tracing board . Some elocutionary variations are necessary , or the whole has the appearance of a

lesson recited by a schoolboy . Surely , then it is the paramount duty not only of every Master , but of every officer , to endeavour to acquire some grasp of the elocutionary requirements of his parts . And we need not be daunted by the difficulties of the task . It is not expected by the Craft that its officers should all attain the level of a dramatic artist in their work .

Only the favoured few , with natural gifts and special training , can do that . But any man with an ordinary education can , by dint of a little application , learn to say his words with such an amount of elocutionary effect as will give point to their implied meanings . All that is required is for a man to picture lo himself the design and " drift" of each sentence , and then to

represent that design in such a tone of voice and with such a manner as he woull himself unconsciously adopt were he using his own words in a similar sense . A little thought and less private rehearsal is all that is required to attain a sufficiently high level of elocution for practical Masonic purposes . How is it that this little is so often wanting V—South African Freemason .