At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar

The approaching installation of His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught as Grand Master is naturally creating much interest among the members of the Craft . Considerable uncertainty exists as to what will be the nature of the proceedings , which is not to be wondered at , seeing that a new generation of Masons has arisen since a similar

function took place , and few indeed of those present on the last occasion will take part in the coming ceremony . The authorities will , no doubt , in due time issue full instructions as to the course to be taken to obtain the representation of all lodges at the meeting , but it may be

useful to indicate as fully as is possible the procedure likely to be adopted . : $ < % t » It must be remembered that the meeting is a Grand Lodge , and that , unlike the Jubilee Celebrations , held in

1887 and 18 97 , in the same building , it is , strictly speaking , open only to duly qualified members of Grand Lodge , viz ., Grand Officers , Present Masters and Wardens of Lodges , and Past Masters . On the last occasion the rule governing the composition of Grand Lodge was relaxed ,

and a limited number of Master Masons were admitted , but in view of the fact that the number of brethren qualified to attend has doubled since then , it is highly improbable that the privilege will on this occasion be similarly extended .

It is important to remember also that , except in the case of Grand Officers , individual application for tickets of admission could not possibly be dealt with , and that no exceptions can

be made in this respect . Only those brethren who have been returned by the secretaries of lodges as eligible to attend Grand Lodge can be present , and it would be well if all communications and enquiries by individual Masons were sent through the secretaries of lodges instead of direct to the officials of Grand Lodge , whose work in

connection with such a gathering as this must be excessivel y heavy . From enquiries made , we learn that all instructions as to dress and other matters will be furnished to applicants in good time , but it may be safe to say that all brethren , other than Grand Officers , will be required to wear the light

blue collar , although in the case of Provincial Grand Officers the purple apron is permitted , with morning dress of dark materi'il and white gloves .

¦ 2 . C » C It is not , we believe , proposed to have a banquet at Freemasons' Tavern or elsewhere , as on the last occasion , for the sufficient reason that no room available could accommodate a tithe of those who would desire to be present , and

on th <_ occasion of the installation of the Prince of Wales in 1875 , it was only because the ceremony took place on the clay fixed by the Constitutions for the Grand Festival that the customary banquet was held . < S > <& : < fc

The Freemasons of Dunedin , New Zealand , have started a movement for founding an institution for the maintenance , education , and equipment of orphan and destitute children of Freemasons in the Colony . The traditions of the old country are being worthily followed in the Colonies , and we wish all success to this , the latest addition to our Charitable Institutions .

Bro . Henry I . Mackenzie Bell , poet and critic , is a member of the Scots Lodge , No . 2319 , but up to the present , he is better known in the literary world than in our ancient Craft . He was born in 18 5 6 and is the son of the late Mr . Thomas Bell , and nephew of Thomas Mackenzie , some time Solicitor-General for Scotland , and author of " Studies

in Roman Law . " His father was one of the earliest members of the Scottish Colony in the River Plate with which his family has been connected ever since . Bro . Bell was intended for the legal profession , but his health broke down at the time that he should have entered on his studies

at Cambridge , and for some years he lived and studied in Madeira , Spain , Italy , and the south of Europe generally . Colonial questions have always had a great attraction lor him , and he was one of the original members of the late W . E . Forster ' s Imperial Committee from its formation in 1884 till

BRO . H . T . MACKKNZIK HELL . its dissolution . His best known publications are '' Charles Whitehead " ( the early friend of Charles Dickens , originally asked to write the Pickwick Papers ) , with appreciation by

Mr . Hall Caine , 1894 . " Springs Immortality and other Poems , " 18 9 6 ; 'KChristina Rossetti , a biographical and critical study , " 18 9 8 ; " Pictures of Travel and other Poems , " 18 9 8 . Manj- of Bro . Bell ' s songs have been set to music . Numerous articles by him have also appeared in the " Poets and the

Poetry of the Century , " and he has been a contributor of signed articles and poems to the Fortnigh 1 ly Review , the Pall Mall Magazine , Alhcmrtim , and Academy , the Dictionary of Xalional Biography , and other leadr . ig publications . We shall hope to find him at some time devoting a portion of his time and literary talent to Masonic subjects , which presents a wide field to the imaginative writer as well as to the antiquarian and historian .

¦ & # ¦ - > The Abradi ( Gold Coast ) Concessions , Limited , is a Company formed to acquire the lands , premises , and leases comprised in their concessions of land in the Elmina district of the Gold Coast Colony , consisting of about fifty-four

square miles . Very full reports have been issued with the prospectus , which indicate that a careful and systematic exploration of the district comprised in the concession has been made . The capital is A ' 250 , 000 , in 250 , 000 shares of ¦ £ 1 each . The lists open on Monday , May 20 th , and close on Wednesday , May 22 nd .