Nulli Secundus.

meeting after meeting , one hears the same dreary round of unmeaning and un-meant flatteries and vapid platitudes . The name of the Most Worshipful Grand Master is introduced , and reference made to H . R . H . in some sort of threadbare speech , generally got by rote , and frequently delivered with a lofty disregard to his social and Masonic position . Then the Master , Past-Masters , and officers of

the Lodge are toasted in the most flowery terms of flattery , and replies insisted upon from each , not for one moment from any real desire to do them honor , but for some reason or another to which it is difficult to give a name . It may be said that these vapourings have become part and parcel of the fourth degree ; but none the

less are they a general infliction , and we are convinced that a liberal excision and paring down would be hailed with general approbation . The toasts of the M . W . G . M ., Grand and Provincial Grand Officers might with advantage be given en bloc , response thereto being made by the officer of highest rank present . Those

oi the I . P . M ., P . M . ' s , and officers of the Lodge , might with great advantage also be linked in one , and one reply suffice ; but in each and every case we have no hesitation in saying that an introduction of modern brevity into the sentiments expressed when giving the toasts , and strict observance of the same in the replies thereto ,

would conduce greatly to the enjoyment of the general body of members , and relieve a great deal of the tedium which unfortunately at present accompanies the cigar .

If on some festive occasion we hear a Lodge described after the manner , or in the words at the commencement of this article , we should strive mightily to make it so—not merely by rendering ourselves thoroughly au fait with our various duties , and able to fulfil whatever ritualistic tasks are alloted to us , but also—by our intelligent application of the grand , solid truths which our Freemasonry

teaches us ; not being content to leave them all behind when the Lodge is closed , to be thought about again only at the next meeting , but taking them along with us , acting upon and making them a law to our lives ; and if perchance it never falls to our lot to be classed among those who " rule and govern , " by following out

their teachings in their most ample sense we shall at least attain the summit of a Freemason ' s ambition—a position which , no matter what our station in life may be , is " second to none . "

Fraternity.

FRATERNITY .

OYE who , sunk in beds of down , Feel not a want but what yourselves create , Think for a moment on his wretched fate Whom friends and fortune quite disown ! Ill satisfied keen nature ' s clamorous call , Stretch'd on his straw he lays himself to sleep , While through the ragged roof and dinky wall ,

Chill o ' er his slumbers piles the drifty heap ! Think on the dungeon ' s grim confine , Where guilt and poor misfortune pine ! Guilt , erring man , relenting view ! But shall thy legal rage pursue The wretch already crushed low By cruel Fortune's undeserved blow ? Afflictions sore are brothers in distress , A brother to relieve , how exquisite the bliss ! ROBERT BURNS .

At a meeting of the Royal Scottish Corporation in the boardroom of their hall , Crane-courf , Fleet-street , on Thursday , June 27 , the application of Mr . Vero Shaw , a London journalist , for the use of the Royal Scottish Hall as a place of meeting for a new Masonic Lodge was unanimously granted . It was stated that

this Lodge , the petition for the founding of which was favourabl y received and granted by the Grand Lodge , would be exclusivel y Scottish , and only Scotsmen of fair fame and good position in the metropolis would be eligible as members . Its first Master would be the Right Hon . Earl Euston . It is the determination of the

founders , amongst whom are leading members of the Caledonian Society and prominent London Scotsmen , to make the Lodge as select as possible .

Round And About.

Round and About .

When the Queen goes to Wales at the end of this month I prophesy for her an enthusiastic welcome . A number of arrant impostors are prone to say a deal against the loyalty of the little principality , but if any of these gentlemen make their appearance in either of several towns I know of , they will meet with a very

warm reception . If only we could induce our most Worshipful Grand Master to come among us more often we should be very much flattered . Many people forget our scenery and us .

* * * The greatest social event in the Craft for many a day will be the marriage of the Pro . Grand Master of Banffshire , his Grace the Duke of Fife , K . T ., with the eldest daughter of the Prince of Wales . A deal of nonsense has been written about the motive of the alliance

between a daughter of a future king and a subject of the Crown , but the Duke , besides being a very great personal friend of his Royal father-in-law , has possessed the admiration and attachment of his wife for the past two years , who firmly resented long ago the suggestion of accepting a husband from any of the Royal foreign

houses . The Duke has noble possessions , is a man of stainless reputation , and has very little of the " Canny Scot " about him . As for the Duchess , no greater praise can be given her than by saying she is a daughter of H . R . H . the Princess of Wales . We may wish the bride and bridegroom a peaceful life , as peaceful and as happy as that of their illustrious parents has been .

* * * Itchtham Mote did not secure a bid when " put up " at the Mart the other day . Perhaps it was that the famous old place protested against the sale out of the hands of the Selby family , which has possessed it for the past three centuries . The possession of these

historical houses must be somewhat of an inconvenience to the proprietors , but Atlas does well when he hopes a new owner will be as courteous to visitors and tourists as Colonel Selby and his wife have been .

* * * The Mark Masons of Oxfordshire will find a very excellent Provincial Grand Master in Viscount Valentia , who was initiated on the 30 th ult . in the place of Earl Jersey , who had held the office for the past ten years . The proceedings took place at the Alfred

Lodge Room , under the presidency of the retiring Provincial Grand Master , assisted by the Earl Euston , P . S . G . W ., Sir Lionel Darell , and many other Grand and Prov . Grand Officers . The ceremony of installation was performed by the Earl Jersey , who delivered a short but very excellent speech in reply to the presentation of an address from the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge .

* * * Mr . Frith , R . A ., has become terribly annoyed with a certain enterprising tradesman , who purchased for 150 guineas a little picture of his exhibited at the Academy , and which was immediately made use of for purposes of advertising the certain tradesman ' s

goods . I am afraid Mr . Frith has not obtained much sympathy , and that he deserved less than he got , for why an advertising firm should not patronise art and artists , and make use of both to publish their wares , I can ' t imagine . For my part , I commend Messrs . Lever for their action , and although I know nothing of Sunlight Soap , I

know from my own perception that this firm has enlivened the dull advertising pages of our weekly periodicals with " blocks " which would honor the letter-press of any of the illustrated magazines . If Messrs . Lever will send me a guinea for this free advertisement of them and their soap , I will remit it to one of the charities , or if they

will send our publisher their " So Clean " block , for insertion in our next number , and 300 cakes of soap , accompanied by a cheque for ten guineas , we will distribute the soap among the scholars of our girls' school , and present five guineas to the young girl who has the highest reputation for cleanliness and neatness .