At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar.

At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar .

In the matter ol recording meetings of lodges , the "MASONIC ILLUSTRATED " occupies a somewhat peculiar position . It would perhaps not have been quite truthful to have placed under the heading of "Lodge Meetings " in our first number the legend of the writer who was desired

to prepare an article on snakes in Ireland— "There are none !"—but certainly they were so few as hardly to count . It is not proposed to devote undue space to reports of meetings of an ordinary character ; but short communications from secretaries and others are invited , and when installations and meetings of importance take place , a special representative will attend when desired .

Our he-arty thanks to all who have b y letter or in the columns of our contemporaries so generously expressed their appreciation of our first efforts and their good wishes for our future . We shall hope to justify both their praise , and their predictions of an assured position amongst the journals

of to-day . The letters of congratulation are too numerous to acknowledge individuall y as we should desire to do , and to the Press we can only say that their welcome is gratefully appreciated . The retirement of the Grand Secretary of the Grand

Lodge of Scotland is an event which deserves more than a passing notice from the faithful Chronicler of Masonic affairs . At the age of 81 he may well claim to be relieved of the burden of office , and the proof that his services to the Institution which he has practically ruled for the past quarter

of a century are appraised at a high value is proved by the unanimous decision of the Authorities to continue to " Bro . Lyon , in his retirement , his full salary of £ 600 per annum .

HKO . MUIiHAV LVOX .

Bro . Murray Lyon may well be proud of the part he has taken in Scottish Masonry , which has prospered greatl y since he has been at the helm . In 1877 , when he was appointed

to the office of Grand Secretary , he found a deficit ol £ 20 , 000 , which has now been converted into a credit balance ol . £ 80 , 000 . Bro . Lyon has also done good work as a writer on Masonic subjects , and his History of the Lodge of Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapter , No . 1 ) embracing an account of the rise and progress of Freemasonry in Scotland has long - been a standard authority on the subject .

Not the least satisfactory development of Masonic Charity in later years has been the establishment of local benevolent funds and institutions , and while we would not for a moment suggest that the central Masonic Charities should be superseded , or even in the least degree checked or hindered in the great

work they have so nobl y performed for so many years , yet we are strongly of opinion that the further development of Masonic benevolence must be looked for in such local institutions as we have in Lancashire and many other Provinces . The Girls' School at Clapham , the Boys' School

at Bushey , and the Benevolent Institution at Croydon will -always remain to us as the " outward and visible signs " of the charitable instincts of the Brotherhood , and should be maintained in all efficiency . This the Craft may be safel y trusted to see to , and there need be no apprehension on the

part of their managers and supporters that the establishment of local funds will endanger their prosperity—rather will they stimulate the spirit of true charity and benevolence , and hel p to render the task of the supporters of the greater institutions less onerous and toilsome .

Bro . S peth in moving the resolution in Grand Lodge , at the September quarterly communication , that copies of the Minutes of the previous meeting should be furnished to those attending , stated that his object was to enable Grand Lodge , should the

business be likel y to cause a long sitting , to dispense with the reading of the Minutes . There would appear , however , to be something more required than a resolution of Grand Lodge to place the Minutes in the hands of the members , to effect the object Bro . Speth had in view

. Rule 62 of the Books of Constitutions states that "The Grand Lodge being opened the Minutes of the last quarterl y communication and any intervening Grand Lodge are to be read and respectivel y put for confirmation , " ' and this imperative enactment is emphasised by the succeeding clause

which states that reports , communications , or documents shall not be read /// e . vlcnso—clearl y implying that the Minutes must be—unless called for b y a brother with a view of founding a motion thereon . There does not seem to be any particular objection to taking the Minutes as readand in

, many cases it would doubtless prove a convenience ; but it is important , we think , that any alteration of a rule , however trivial , should be made in due form , and that no such practice as the temporary suspension of a law should be resorted to .

The painstaking Provincial Grand Secretary of North Wales , Bro . Edward Roberts , P . G . S . B ., has issued with the annual report of the province a report on the minutes of the various lodges , which , in accordance with a rule of the provincial by-laws , is required to be sent to the Provincial

Grand Secretary for inspection , and it appears that all the lodges except one have complied with the requirement . Bro . Roberts ' s reports on the whole are favourable , and tend to show that a wholesome fear of censure for slovenl y work is a powerful incentive to Secretaries to maintain a hih standard

g in this important department of secretarial work . We do not favour the adoption of a too strict supervision of the less important details of the lodge ' s work ; it is apt to

prove irritating , and the publication of the results would not be conducive to harmony and good feeling but in this instance the lodges are indicated by consecutive numbering , and identification is therefore most easy .