At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar.

place . In the meantime time is wasted and strength frittered away in discussion over trivialities , and divisions in our forces are perpetuated because in minor things we disagree . The mechanism is in beautiful shape , works smoothly , is capable of producing vast jiower , but it is not propelling or moving anything except its own wheels—a mere exhibition engine . '

0 0 0 The writer thinks such ideas and utterances more dangerous to our Fraternity than any before uttered by an American correspondent writer . It is such as will eventually lead to just such action as that of the Grand Orient of France ,

for which they have been Alasonically ostracised , and which , in Peru and Alexico , caused them to do the same thing , Alasonry cannot be made a political machine , or even a secular club , association , or of whatever name it may be known without its downfall , and all effort along this line should be promptly met and crushed in its incipiency . "

0 <_> 0 The brethren of Alontagu Lodge , Xo . 665 , Lyme Regis , Dorset , celebrated the jubilee of the lodge on April 5 th last . An emergency meeting was held , which was attended by visiting brethren from De la Pole Lodge , Xo . 1181 ; St .

Alary ' s Lodge , Xo . 707 ; Virtue and Honor Lodge , Xo . 494 ; Leinster Lodge , Xo . 387 ( I . C . ) ; Fidelity Lodge , Xo . 230 ; Oak Lodge , Xo . 190 , etc . ; as well as by numerous brethren of Lodge Montagu . After the usual business an interesting address on the " History of Xo . 665 and the Life of its Founder

and first W . M ., Bro . J . AI . P . Alontagu , D . P . G . AI . Dorset , P . G . D ., " was delivered ' by Bro . Jno . Radford , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D . Dorset , and dedicated to the W . Alaster of Lodge Alontagu , Bro . A . T . Alallock Bond . At the banquet which ensued the memory of the founder was drunk in silence .

0 0 ' 0 The British Home Assurance Society , Limited , has just issued an abridged report of the jiroceedings at the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Corporation which discloses gratifying proof of continuing prosperity , and considering the age of the institution the rapid growth of the jiremium income , as well as a steady increase in its accumulated funds . As

shown in the report , the premium income in the endowment certificates department in 18 99 amounted to ^ 3 8 , 918 , which had grown by steady increases year by year to the relatively large sum in 1905 , of £ 110 , 9 86 . The life department showed an equally satisfactory increase , the jiremium income ,

which in 18 99 stood at the most figure of £ 4 , 406 , had risen in 1905 to the respectable amount of £ 23 , 12 3 , the premiums of the two departments totalling in the past year £ 43 , 354 , while the accumulated funds amounted to £ 306 , 439 . Notwithstanding the dark cloud of commercial depression which

is unfortunately still lingering in many districts , and keen competition , it is encouraging to note the large amount of new business secured by this association .

0 0 0 DAILY SEA TRIPS FROM LONDON ' . —With the approach of summer , the thoughts of thousands of Londoners turn to merry Alargate and Ramsgate , and to the invigorating steamboat trips from London to those places , and if only the

business jieople of the Aletrojiolis knew what a marvellous pick-me-up a sea trip to Alargate and back is—then , instead of there being about ten passenger steamers in the business , there would be three times the number , or the accommodation would be short for the big demand that would

result . The Xew Palace Steamers " Royal Sovereign and " Koh-i-noor , " sister ships , each 300 feet long , and built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company , Limited , builders of the Cunard steamers " Camjiania " and " Lucania , " will , as in former years , commence their regular

sailings on Saturday , 2 nd June , to Southend , Alargate and Ramsgate . The steamers have been thoroughly overhauled and redecorated , and are now cleaner and better found than ever before , and the only important alteration in the service from last year is that , on week days , the " Royal Sovereign "

will leave Old Swan Pier at 9 a . m . instead of 9 . 20 a . m . as last season , this being arranged so that jiassengers shall be enabled to arrive back at London Bridge about 8 p . m . The catering is done by the Company on the same liberal scale as in previous years , contracts having been made with the best firms in Leadenhall Market , and everything of first quality will be supplied .

Lily Lodge Of Richmond, No. 820.

Lily Lodge of Richmond , No . 820 .

OX Thursday evening , May 3 rd , 1906 , the members of the above lodge and their friends met at the Inns of Court Hotel , London , for the purpose of installing Bro . Frederick Handover as Worshipful Alaster of the lodge

Jil . O . Kl . KIM ' -I . H'K MAX IHIVKI ! . Il'lmtn i : nt ,. I ' m-li-ait Co . )

for the ensuing year . The Immediate Past Alaster ( Bro . George Alortlock ) performed the Installation Ceremony in a masterly manner , carrying out the ritual in till its details in a most impressive style . After the appointment and investiture of the officers the

W . AI . proceeded to initiate a new member . On the conclusion of the inner workings of the lodge , the members with their visitors sat down to an admirably served dinner .

In proposing the toast of the Worshijiful Master , the I . P . M ., W . Bro . Mortlock , paid a warm and well-deserved tribute to his successor . W . Bro . Handover , in response , dwelt at some length on the enobling tendencies and tenets of the Craft , the absolute necessity , particularly for young

Masons , to religiously attend lodges of instruction , emphatically declaring that unless due attention was paid to his advice in this regard , proficiency in the Ritual was an utter impossibility . He deplored the death of P . Af . Lindsay , whom , he stated , first induced him to take office in the lodge ,

therefore failing his ability to thank the late P . M . in the flesh , he desired lo jiay a sincere tribute to his memory . " The I . P . M . and Installing Alaster " was then jirojiosed by W . Bro . Handover , and having been suitably resjionded to , that of the " Initiate" was given and enthuiastically

received . The response of the Initiate was made in very happy terms , and the toast of " The Visitors " followed , which was responded to by Bros . Dehane , Comins , Cathie , and Barry O'Callaghan , the latter of whom made an eloquent ajijieal on behalf of the charities of the Order .

An excellent musical programme was jirovided , which , intersjiersed with the toasts , gave great satisfaction to those jiresent .