The Masonic "Poet's Corner."

The Masonic "Poet's Corner . "

AN OPENING HYMN .

By BRO . JOHN FAAVCETT SKKI . TON . P . jr ., I ' . Z . Tunes— " St . George , " " Easter Hymn , " & e . Come , yo Brethren , stand and sing . Opening welcome , let it ring , Till this honoured place resound

From thc dormer to the ground . Here our sorrows we forget—Here the sun doth never set—Here all vexing cares Ave fly , Where thc mystic Brethren hie .

NOAV for duty at the shrine , With Masonic rule and line ; Now for Avorship , wrapt in awe , Round the Book of Sacred Law ; Now for prayer and solemn rite—NOAV for glorious work this night ! Then may AVC expect reward , At the Avcll-carn'd festive board .

Guide us , 0 Thou Mighty Power , From this solemn opening hour ; Give us grace that we may see All Ave OAve thc Craft and ' Thee . All our ritual be Thine , Great Masonic source divine ! Let us love our Lodges here , Till in Thine Ave all apjiear .

By BRO . JOHN FAAVCETT SKELTON , P . M ., P . Z . Tune— " Abide Avith me . " Now all in harmony ju'epare to close , Like the sA \ eet leaves Avithin the evening rose ; Safely lock up our Avorking-tools again , With all our secrets from the Avorld orof ane .

Let ev ' ry Brother join Avith voice and heart , These closing strains before in love Ave part ; And in the treach ' rous Avorld as on Ave move . Keep Avell within the safe Masonic groove .

A CLOSING HYMN .

Meeting and parting ! such is life all through , Till lov'd ones catch our A \ diisper'd last adieu : Till then , 0 Thou Great Architect Divine . Keep us " close-tyled " in that dear heart of Thine !

Our Trestle Board

OUR TRESTLE BOARD

" For the Master to lay lines and draw designs upon . " IGNORANS wrote to us last Aveek on a point of difference with his preceptor as to the proper time for bringing forward matters not provided for in the Lodge Agenda , and requested information through our columns . We find that Ave cannot do better than quote " Chips from a Rough Ashlar , " page 130 , on this subject : — " As all things should be begun in order so should they conclude , and

especially amongst a body of men Avho have supplicated for that quality in conjunction Avith peace and harmony . In brief , I submit tho following arrangement for your consideration , Bro . Secretary , and Avould assure you that your business arrangements Avould be facilitated by its adoption . Of course you know that whatever is named in the summons as part of thc lodge work must be disposed of before the first enquiry by the W . M . for the good of

the order in general and his lodge in particular . Then on ' first rising' let only propositions for initiation and joinings , and any payments to yourself or treasurer , occupy thc interval between ' first' and ' second . ' The ' second' should call you up for the reading of communications , the reception of . ^ plications , and notices of motion , if there be any . This will leave the 'third rising ' clear for the greetings of visitors , who alone are expected to offer 'hearty good Avishcs' on behalf of their respective lodges . "

Thc S ydney Mail , in its illustrated supplement of ( ith ult ., details the proceedings connected with the inauguration of the Grand Lod ge of Victoria , and gives its readers a page engraving of the line concert hall as it appeared during the ceremony . We are accustomed to think that tho assemblage of Craftsmen at a Communication of the United Grand Lodge of England is as superb a

spectacle of its kind as any can bo ; but it would seem as though pur Victorian brethren can improve upon it . Thc concert hall Jtself appears to be much more spacious than our Grand Hall , the Magnificent organ occupying nearly the entire width at thc eastern c'id , and producing a line effect . The lodges are really " ranged under

their respective banners , " and these latter arc displayed to advantage . There were 3 , 000 Masons present at the time chosen * or taking the photograph ( by C . ltudd , of Melbourne ) , from Avhich the engraving was prepared , and so Avell has the Avork been done that individual portraits are distinguishable , Avhich is not always wie case in our illustrated home journals .

Our Trestle Board

the Cheltenham- ( hron-iclc , referring to the richness of illumination and harmony of design in the stained glass windows , for which the Parish Church of Cheltenham is becoming famous , and to which an addition of a ' lesser Avesteni light" is proposed , remarks : —Though the Masonic Brotherhood of Gloucestershire have so recently contributed a very fine , Avindow . I see that in tho

subscription list lor the lesser western window a goodty number of tho brethren are represented . Tho Freemasons of Gloucestershire , in their sienl for the beauty of the temples of the Great Architect , seem to be worthy followers of tho . c '' wise master-builders" Avho have loft their marks , and left them well , upon our ecclesiastical edifices at home and abroad .

We had hoped that tho attention Avhich has of late been directed by thc respective chairmen of scrutineers at the elections of candidates for our several institutions Avould have borne bettor fruit than appears to have been the ease on Friday last , when the selection of twenty men and thirteen Avidows for the privileges of the

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution took place . Of thc proxies polled for the men there were as many as 80 , representing 182 votes , lost , and of those for Avidows . representing 285 lost votes . The effect in thc former instance was a demand for a scrutiny , involving a further attendance of brethren Avho had already devoted

considerable time and labour to the business of counting up with earnest care the large number of votes issued and returned . It will doubtless be found that thc disappointment of those on Avhosc behalf the scrutiny was required , has been occasioned through such neglect on the part of their friends as sending in 27 unsigned

proxies representing 78 yotes , 10 proxies signed and not filled m representing 273 votes , U ) proxies for 42 votes filled in for 83 , and therefore enforcedly lost , and 3 proxies representing 45 votes filled in for only 8 , Avhich lesser number Avere polled , the remaining 37 being lost .

As every paper sent in for polling undergoes the inspection of at least four of the appointed scrutineers , it Avill be seen how extremely necessary it is for thc utmost care of the supporters of the several candidates in polling clean sheets if they desire to be successful , and at the same time Avilling to avoid trouble to those Avho voluntarily assist in the count . Wc shall hope that that care Avill in future bo accorded in a larger measure than at the recent elections .

How could the friends of Sarah Wills ( case No . 80 ) expect success when they sent out her circulars requesting favour of vote and interest " closed contrary to regulations , " thereby involving the recipients in the payment of extra iiostage ? We have had several of these circulars , on AA'hich the pence have been paid , placed in our hands as evidence of this careless mode of canvassing .

The many kind friends Avho fonvarded to us proxies for Bros . Knill and Dodson and thereby assisted materially in securing their election to the privileges of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution will please receive our best thanks . They will doubtless bo gratified to learn that Bro . Knill stood highest on the poll Avith 3 , 17 ") A'otes on first application , and Bro . Dodson second with 2 , 918 A otes on second application .

Supreme Grand Council A. And A. Rite.

SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL A . AND A . RITE .

A meeting of the Supreme ( . rand Council was held at 33 , Golden Square , on Tuesday , the 14 th inst . Col . Lc Gendrc N . Starkie . :.:. deg ., Prov . Grand Master for East Lancashire , took his scat as a member of the Council , in succession to V . 111 . Bro . Gen . J . Studholme BroAvnrigg . C . B .. deceased . The following candidates were advanced : To the 32 deg . —III . Bros . Ralph Gooding , M . D ., 1 :

Baron de Ferrieres , I !) ; and Captain Charles Henry Gamett , 52 To the 31 deg . —111 . Bros . George Mickley , M . B ., 10 , and Dep . Insp . Gen . T . B . Purchas , R . N ., 72 . To thc 32 deg . —Bros . George Beech , 5 ; Lennox Browne . M . R . C . S .. 10 : William Robert Palmer , 10 ; Col . EdAvard Stock Hill . 34 : Henry Daily Marshall , 42 ; W . Silver Hall , 03 ; Alfred Eugene Craven . 07 ; Wm . Henry Bull , F . R . C . S ., 07 ;

Captain Robert Roach , 08 ; Captain Robert Watson , OS : Frederick West , 7 . 1 ; Edward Lukcy , 82 ; Wm . Alfred Scurrah , ' ' .. 7 ; Jabe / Church , C . E ., ' . 17 ; and the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , 10 ] . Also—in extenso—111 . Bros . J . C . Macglashan , 48 , and Col . E . C . Malet de Carteret , 108 . The brethren dined together at the Cafe Royal , under the presidency of thc Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , Sov . G . C ., when thc usual loyal and masonic toasts were given .

At the meeting of thc Board of StcAvards for the forthcoming ' festival of the Boys" School in . Tune , held on tho 20 th inst ., after the difficulty of obtaining a Chairman of the Board under existing circumstances had been explained by thc Secretary , it Avas arranged that thc Festival should bo held at thc Alexandra Palace , other places having been first suggested but not receiving sufficient support .

Ihc Knight Templars of Mary Comniandery , No . 30 , of Philadelphia , arc arranging a special excursion to Europe , and for visiting thc Paris Exposition . They are to leave New York by thc steamship " City of New York " on the 20 th June , and will lie due to reach Liverpool on tho 3 rd July . Thence they proceed to Glasgow and Edinboro ' , and on the Nth will leave the latter city for London , Avhere they will have their headquarters at the Inns of Court Hotel

until thc 12 th . After a Continental visit extending over eight days they Avill return to London on the 21 st . and finally leave for New York on thc 24 th July . Wc Avish our brethren hon voyage and much entertainment during this triji . and arc certain that they will bo received amongst tho masonic brotherhood in the " old country " Avith the utmost cordiality . Bro . Charles E . Meyer , of 1717 , Chestnut Street , Philadelphia . Pa .. Avill furnish further information if desired .