The Worshipful Master.

The Lodge of Harmony was eminently hospitable , and welcomed all and sundry to its feasts ; and , as on the present occasion , there were many vocalists present , and clever musicians , as well as excellent speakers like our friend the Director of Ceremonies , or Sir John , the Loudon civic functionary , it may readily be surmised that the candidates' first impression of Masonry was an

eminentl y favourable one . They were certainly not teatotallers , neither did they believe in thrusting total abstinence principles down each other ' s throats ; yet no one was pressed to drink wine if he did not wish to do so ; and if a brother preferred his modest tankard of bitter ale , or a bottle of lemonade , he was free to have exactly what he likedand no man said him nayor looked askance because

, , he did not drink just as much as his neighbours . Then there were the toasts with Masonic and musical honours ; ancl then the Entered Apprentice ' s song given b y the Secretary ( as good a fellow as ever lived ) , for the special benefit of the neophytes , and they could not help noticing how pleasant and harmonious it all was . Sometimes someone would begin a little pleasant chaff with a neighbour opposite as to the ritual at St .. Mary at Axe , or the probable

success of the Liberals at the next election ; but he would be immediatel y called to order b y the Worshipful Master , whose word they saw was law , and . who was quite autocratic in his authority and scrupulously obeyed . He would then explain to the newly-made Masons that politics and religion were expressl y excluded , ancl never on any pretence allowed to be discussed within the tesselated borders of a tyled lodge , and also that nothing that took place there

was allowed to transpire . Before they left , the candidates were tested ancl reminded in a forcible way , which of course cannot be divulged , of the obligations they had entered into their mysteries to keep ; ancl when at near midnight the Deputy Provincial Grand Master ' s carriage was announced , and young Lord Esme , who was to be his guest , rose to go , the party broke up and sauntered home in the lovel y June night , the ni ghtingales singing in their ambush near the river , and making night vocal with their sweet melody .

"Well Pen , old man , " said Rowatt , as they left the Masonic Hall and strolled through the church-yard into Silent-street , " and how do you like Masonry ? " Bro . Rowatt was in a friendly , not to say familiar mood , a good dinner and excellent champagne having something to say to it , no doubt . " Well , of course the ceremonies are strange , and ] 5 erhaps a little meaningless , though with a certain impressiveness about them which sets one thinking ; but I can hardly give an opinion yet until I have taken the third degree . "

" Right you are , " said Rowatt ; " you are as cautious as a Scotchman . " " But I think—pray understand me "—added Penhaligon , " that you are all a very good set of fellows , and I am very much obliged to you for admitting me amongst you . "

CHAPTEE III . ASELLYA PENHALIGON . Is was , taken altogether , a fortunate day for Dr . Penhaligon when he was initiated as a Freemason in the Lodge of Harmony , No . 101 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of England . It introduced him at once to the society of the

leading people in the town , for all the members of the lodge were men of very good standing in Gippingswick , and , finding him emphatically a gentleman , they one and all invited him to their houses . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who had several marriageable daughters , much given to croquet and lawn tennis , persuaded him to come out to his rectory in the country now and again , and , altogether , he had no reason to regret he had become a Mason ; for , let it be understood , the people in East Anglia are clannish to a degree . If you do not hail from their counties you are called " a foreigner , " and , as I coming from the shires , you are beneath contempt . But for Masonry , Henry