At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

Bro . Abbott was initiated in the Gladsmuir Lodge , Xo . 13 S 5 , in 18 75 , and became Master in 18 93 . He was exalted in the Gladsmuir Chapter in 18 9 6 , and was elected First Principal in 1 S 99 . He was also a Past Grand Deacon of the Province of Hertfordshire and Past Grand Principal Sojourner of the same province . His remains were interred at Twickenham on Saturday , April 8 th .

© © < 3 At a '' Masonic Social , " at Harwich , recently , the Rev Bro . McPhail made a departure from the usual custom of dealing with Masonic subjects at such gatherings , and gave an interesting address on " Education in Scotland eighty

years ago . " He remarked that the present generation were but imperfectly acquainted with the state of matters that previously obtained . The cost of education in those clays was not great , being 2 s . 6 d . and 3 s . 6 d . per quarter , and in the more advanced departments , where Greek and Latin were

taught , 6 s . These sums might seem very humble , but in the case of parents , whose wages were ios . a week or little more , quarter day was always a day of much anxiety . The fact that payment was often difficult did not , however , affect tlie attendance , which was more fatisfactory then than it was in these days of free education and compulsory officials .

© © < S > Iii those days the teacher had no status , society allowed him none . The village or parochial schoolmaster was a kind of nondescript , and formed , as it were , a sort of connecting link between tlie dults and the adults , and unquestionably he was Hamlet's ghost to all the little urchins of the village . The

minister might condescend to invite the dominie lo the house to take a cup of tea , but if the latter individual happened to have a wife she was not included in the invitation , as she was not considered lit company for the " leddy " of the manse . His associates were chiefly the small farmers in the district and in jovial gatherings he and the exciseman were the butt of the company .

© © © On the Friday evenings when an individual , intending tj enter into the matrimonial state , applied for his "levies" in order to be " cried , " the bridegroom and his family invariably filled the dominie " fou'' so that next day there was no school

, , as the ' ' maister " had scarcely recovered from the effects of having joined the " Glassites . " The discipline of the school , too , was in keeping with its entire economy . Fear of the rod was the only restraining influence in the minds of the pupils . The parents of the children were composed of Churchmen

and Dissenters , but the religious question raised no difficult } -, and had it been proposed to banish the Bible from the school all parties would have held up their hands in pious horror . The school , with clay or stone floor , was very cold for the children , who often had bare feet . Each child had to bring a peat , or peats , under his arm , and woe to the child who forgot his peat—no fire for him that day .

© © © Following closely on tlie Kingsway Lodge , another teetotal lodge has been formed called the '' Aldwych , " to meet at Mark Masons' Hall , and to dine at the Holborn Restaurant . The fact that restaurateurs who have depended so largely on wines for their profits are willing to arrange

water banquets and give temperance folk a home , is a significant sign of altered manners . The most fashionable hotels of the West End are , indeed , nowadays angling for the afternoon tea customers in a manner that would have annoyed the old management .

At ( he regular meeting of the Bagshaw Lodge , No . 1457 , on Thursday , March 9 , Colonel Lockwood , M . l ' ., Provincial Grand Master , was the principal guest of the evening . The special occasion of the Colonel ' s visit was to do honour to \ V . Bro . T . T . Nunn , one of the oldest P . M . 's , who has recently retired from the position of Treasurer , which he had

resigned owing to failing health . The members felt that Bro . N turn ' s services ought to be specially recognised , and decided to present him with a Past Master ' s Collar and Jewel and a diamond ring . The Provincial Grand Master said he was pleased to make what he might call a flying visit to the lodge ,

partly that it gave him an opportunity of coming amongst the brethren , but specially on this occasion to be the medium of conveying to one of their number a testimonial of their good will . He had known Bro . Nunn for a good many years , and felt very strongly that he was one of those brethren who were an ornament to their Order . In investing that brother

with the collar and jewel and presenting him with the ring he sincere ! } ' trusted he might be spared for many years to wear them . W . Bro . ' 1 * . T . Nunn , who was visibly affected , briefly acknowledged the kindness of the brethren , and said he felt great pride in having received their handsome gift at the hands of the R . W . Provincial Grand Master .

© © © Tlie progress of " The Royal Society of St . George , " since its formation in 18 94 , must be a source of great satisfaction to Bro . Howard Ruff , its honorary secretary , to whom its inception is due , and whose energetic efforts to embody it as one of the permanent English institutions have

been crowned with success . Its primary object was the attainment of an all-English observance of St , George ' s Day and all that is thereby implied . It is urged by Bro . Ruff that while England contributes nearly ninety per cent , in men and money towards the upkeep of Die Empire , her

paramount position should be recognised and a national sentiment encouraged , that while the local patriotism of the Scotch , the Irish and the Welsh , may be right and proper to neglect the English is altogether illogical , England as a nation , it is claimed , has a history as great or even greater

than any country in the world , and it is for the good of the world that her national characteristics , her distinctiveness , and her traditions should be preserved , and to help to effect this is the object of the society . The annual report just published is a bulky pamphlet of some 9 6 pages , containing

besides reports of the local branches throughout the Empire , contributions from the pen of the Japanese Ambassador , Viscount Hayashi , Admiral Freemantle , Sir Clement Markham , K . C . B . The offices of the society are at 241 , Shaftesbury Avenue , and as the members , subscription is merely a nominal one , there should be a great accession to the roll of members in the near future . © © ©

At the installation of Bro . A . Middleton Rickards as Worshipful Master of the Wrekin Lodge , No . 288 3 , Salopian brethren were present in full force at Hotel Cecil to do honour to one who was so identified with the county . The ceremony was admirably performed by the outgoing W . M ., Bro . E . J . Gittins , P . P . G . W . Herts ., and who was subsequently

presented with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel . Lord Barnard , the first W . M . of the Wrekin Lodge , wrote regretting not being able to be present to see the first Secretary of the lodge installed . An excellent banquet followed lodge proceedings , after which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed , Bro . W . T . Winsor , P . M . 1950 , acting as toast master .

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