United Grand Lodge Of England.

for petty cash ^ 100 , and for servants' wages , £ 100 , and balance of annua ! allowance for library , £ 10 . 4 s . id . ( Signed ) THOMAS FKNN , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 21 st . Alay , 1 SS 9 . After a vote of thanks by the Board of General Purposes had been passed to Bro . Fenn for his courtesy at the meetings of the Board during the past

year , Brother Raynham W . Stewart moved , and Brother H . Greene seconded , the following resolution : — That the sum of . £ 70 be given from the Fund of General Purposes ; that the money be placed in the hands of the . Secretary of the " Royal Masonic Ilenevole t Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , " to supply the inmates of the Institutional Croydon with coals during the winter season . The motion was carried , and Grand Lodge was closed in form .

The Worshipful Master.

THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER .

THERE are many members of the Craft who have no conception of the symbolism connected with the important and dignified position of the Chief Ruler of a Lodge of Freemasons . Beyond the statement that his Collar of Office is the highest honour it is in the power of the Lodge to bestow , their minds are perfectly unenlightened as to

the attributes which distinguish his title of " Worshipful Master . " The gavel with which he has been entrusted for purposes of order , merely completes in their estimation the necessary complement of ordinary Chairmanship for they have forgotten—if , indeed , they have ever heard —the solitary reference to the grand prototype , which in the course of

ceremonial is , or should be , enunciated . In order that they might well consider before using their prerogative of suffrage , such Brethren should know that the occupant of the Eastern Chair is the representative of King Solomon , and is the chief of the three pillars which support a Lodge . His symbol , as such support , is the Ionic Column of

Architecture , denominated by Freemasons the Pillar of Wisdom , representing which his business is to exert his judgment and penetration in contriving the most proper and efficient means for completing the intended work , of whatsoever nature it may be ; that is , to instruct his Brethren in all matters connected with the system of Freemasonry . To qualify him

for such position and business , it should be absolutely necessary that he should possess in an enlarged degree those several excellences which are set forth in the questions addressed to him prior

to his Installation . He should have evinced during the whole of his Membership , and by the . discharge of the duties of subordinate offices , his untiring zeal on behalf of the Institution and the welfare of his Lodge , and have acquired administrative skill as well as a knowledge of the science and its landmarks . His courtesy of manner should be bej-ond all question , for , unless the " suaviter in modo " is combined with the "

fortiter in re , " offence is easily given and frequently too readily taken . There should be no reservation in the matter of firmness of principle , for any lapse in that respect cannot fail to bring discredit on Master and Lodge alike . He should be well conversant with ceremonial ritual , and fully understand its meaning both in regard to symbolism and verbiage ,

for insufficiency in that regard excites feelings of mistrust and regret amongst the brethren for the choice they have made in selecting him for supreme authority . And whilst thus referring to some few of the many qualifications for the position of Worshipful Master , we cannot refrain from condemning that departure from ancient practice by which the

presentation to a Board of Installed Masters , for the purpose of ascertaining and reporting on the suitability of the candidate for the Master ' s chair prior to / lis election , is made void and of no effect . On this subject we shall probably dilate in future issues . As matters now stand , except as to some most honourable exceptions , the presentation of a candidate to a

duly-qualified board before installation is entirely neglected , and thereby one of the greatest safeguards to the general welfare of our Lodges removed .

The numerous duties of the Worshipful Master during his tenure ol office are onerous . In him is vested the chief power and the fullest responsibility , notwithstanding the share in the well-ruling and governing of the Lodge which his Wardens have . His should be a master-mind , strong in judgment and purpose , and subject to no extraneous controlling influence which might interfere with the general good . Whilst he should not stray from beaten tracks which have led to perfect working and harmonious relaxation , there might arise opportunities for still further

advancing the quality and increasing the enjoyment of both . In such instances , that which his predecessors have or have not done should be no consideration of his , if otherwise he thinks aright . So shall the Master-mind do Master ' s work , and setting aside faulty stereotyped custom and dull routine , make still further progress in liberal art and science .

Amongst the most important of the Worshipful Master ' s duties is that of selecting his principal Officers , and herein he may advance or retard his Lodge , as he may prove firm , or otherwise , in his nominations . AVe are not alone in thinking that if Brethren have not previously made themselves fully able to discharge the obligations they arc generally so

readyto take when offered to them , they should not be chosen for Officers of a Lodge—rota , social position , or any other external influence notwithstanding . And this equally applies to the Offices below the Chairs , in respect of which our subsequent articles will contain remarks . For a particular duty relating to the proper record of all proceedings in his Lodge and of

the financial accounts , we need only refer to the requirements of the Book of Constitutions , with the full contents of which every AVorshipful Master should consider it a point of honour to be thoroughly acquainted . Another responsibility which devolves upon him is the maintenance of peace and harmony within his Lodge , for which purpose he is armed

with the power to enforce strict , immediate , and effective control , such as no other body or society of men on earth , no meeting or assemblage , is subject , and it is distinctly his own fault if he permits the slightest departure from Masonic discipline , whilst it is equally his privilege to use the power with which he has been entrusted in the promotion of the prosperity of the Lodge and the happiness of its members .

In the matter of example following upon precept , there is yet another responsibility which devolves upon the occupant of the Chair of K . S ., for nothing can possibly be so injurious to the welfare of Freemasonry as that the Brethren should find in the person of their ruler , and the exponent of all the moral teachings of the Order , one who does not himself practise that which he professes and counsels others to pursue . Moreover ,

as the " profane" judge of the character and respectability of the Institution by the general demeanour of its individuals , a more than ordinary responsibility attaches to the sayings and doings of its recognised leaders , and any lapse from the ordinary precepts of morality on their part is visited with proportionate severity on the general body of Freemasons .

The Installation by the W . M . of a Lodge , of his successor to the chair of K . S ., although not one of the canons of Freemasonry , is nevertheless a duty which should be performed by him as the crowning work of his year of office . The delegation of that duty to any other Brother is tantamount to a confession of inability , which derogates from the proud title

of " Past Master of the Art , " and materially lessens the satisfaction with which the customary acknowledgment of perfect service may be regarded r . like by the recipient as by those who are aware of the insufficiency of merit . The P . M . ' s presentation jewel is , or should be , a mark of the fullest appreciation of the thorough discharge of all precedent duties , and an evidence that the wearer thereof can afford all necessary instruction in respect of every Craft ceremonial .

Amongst other duties and responsibilities of the W . M . may be briefly stated the importance of observing punctuality in the opening of the Lodge ; the calculation of time so as to ensure a calm and deliberate performance of the work set out by him on each occasion of meeting the prevention of any breach of constitutional law by the introduction of regalia or symbols not in strict accordance with pure and ancient

Masonry ; the retention in his own hands of the fees for which he will have personally to account to Grand Lodge ; and the cautious exercise of any privilege arising out of custom—for there is no direct authority given him except under peculiar circumstances—for the admission of any person for initiation unless such candidate shall have been regularly proposed

and seconded in accordance with the rules of the Constitution . JAMES STEVENS .

The Freemasons of Staffordshire and the neighbouring districts are to take part in the ceremonies connected with the laying of the foundation and memorial stones of the new hospital to be erected at Longton . The foundation-stone will be " proved and tried " by the R . W . Bro . Colonel Foster Cough , the Provincial Grand Master .