Masonic "Bitter-Sweet."

Masonic "Bitter - Sweet . "

" Die web of our life is of a mingled yarn ; good ami ill together . "—Slial-cxpcre . I am not argumentative and I never indulge in controversy , neither am I given to anger ; but I am vexed to find that last week somebody , compo . or p . d ., made mo say "Garter King at Arms , " when I had taken pains to Avritc " Garter King of Arms . " A little knowledge is a dangerous thing . ^ t- M . M , W -3 P -ft *

" AAliat is going to be done about thc report of thc Boys ' School _ " said I , to a witty and reverend brother the other day . " Why , " Avas the reply , " the General Committee will offer a humble apology to thc Secretary and give him another £ 200 a-ycar . " www

Talking about this , I am told thc Special General Court is fixed for 31 st May , and it is to be most earnestly desired that thc discussion Avill be as calm and dispassionate as the report itself , Avhich , to my mind , is a model of judicial language . * * Jt ? TF

If thc Committees and the Secretary Avill only mend their Avays , and give the AA'hole of their time and attention to the correction of irregularities and the softening of asperities , there is no reason , I can see , for any roAV , Avhich certainly , if it takes place , will damage thc cause Ave all have at heart .

*• _!& St-• 71 * * Jv " I have little " SAveet" this Aveek except to note that the Italian opera on Saturday night presented such a sight as no other country in thc Avorld could shoAV but good old England .

w w •«* At a " send off " dinner at thc Catfovd Conservative Club on the 14 th inst ., Bro . Harry G . Walker said " Good-bye " to a few friends on the eve of his departure for America . Amongst those present during thc evening were Bros . J . T . Axford ( W . M . Hornscy Lodge ) , Ackroyd , Blott , Daniel EarnshaAv , Morgan , G . A . Pickering , Jas .

Stevens and Thompson , and Messrs . Bush . Pakcman , Topham , Knevett , Selby , Dr . Saunders , Pratt , Trant , kc After the usual loyal toasts the health of Bro . Walker Avas proposed by Bro . Thompson in gloAving terms , and accompanied Avith hearty good Avishes for his Avelfare . To this Bro . Walker feelingly responded . Adjournment to a more commodious apartment having been made , numerous friends Avho were unable to be present at tho dinner

joined the company and " the mirth and fun grew fast and furious " until tOAvards the Avitching hour of night , Avhen , Avith the strains of Auld Lang Syne in his ears , Bro . Walker Avas " sent off " amidst expressions of best Avishes for prosperity in his new vocation amongst our cousins . There Avas a mingling of bitter-SAvect in the parting , for Bro . Walker had much endeared himself to those with whom he has of late sojourned . TIIE DINER OUT .

Questions And Answers.

Questions and Answers .

Q . —Jfow much of the ritual may a W . M . delegate to Master Masons ?—G . EPAVORTH , York . | jj A . —It is competent in the AV . M . to divide the Avork in the respective degrees amongst his Officers , or to call up any qualified brother to the E . for thc purpose of assisting him . The O . B . should not be given by any Craftsman beloAV the chair .

Colonial, District And Foreign Items.

COLONIAL , DISTRICT AND FOREIGN ITEMS .

The Report of the Punjab Masonic Institution for the Maintenance and Education of the Children of Deceased and Indigent Freemasons for the year 1888 , affords very interesting reading , particularly at thc present time , Avhen thc management of Masonic Benevolent Institutions in England has become a burning question . AVe wish AVC could do more than briefly notice this satisfactory Report ; for

there arc several particulars of management referred to Avhich merit attention . It Avill be sufficient , perhaps , as a proof that thc affairs of thc Punjab Masonic Institution , established in 1871 , have been and still are in good hands , to state that betAVcen £ 4 , 000 and . C 5 . 000 arc invested to the credit of the EndoAvmcnt Fund , and that notwithstanding increased claims , "the expenditure during the past year was below tho amount admissible under the rules . Avhilc the income

largely exceeded the estimate . " There is no " establishment" to keep nil , and the children are placed in suitable schools , under personal supervision of responsible members of thc craft . Altogether our brethren at Lahore have good reason to be pleased with the success Avhich is attending their charitable efforts , and AVC Avish them a long continuance of the present prosperity of the Institution over which the R . AV . Bro . E . AVoodall Parker , the District Grand Master for tic Punjab Lodges , 23 in number , presides in person .

PROCEEDINGS OP THE GRAND LODGE OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA . —Seventy-seventh annual grand communication . —It is the custom in the several States of America AA'hich have Grand Lodges , for the respective Grand Masters , once in every year , to read , or through some qualified officer have read , an address to the brethren over AAdiom they rule , in Avhich address they give an

account of their steAA'ardship during the previous twelve months . This is subsequently embodied in a voluminous printed report , exhaustive of every subject of interest Avhich may have arisen during that period in connection with the Craft , as Avell in a particular jurisdiction as in those of others . The detailed proceedings of the sittings , often occupying some hours on each of tAvo or three

days , arc also recorded in the same volume . It may well be supposed that to such of our Order as care to knoAV something beyond the mere working and ceremonial of our lodges these reports are of exceeding value , and frequently may be accepted as guides and mentors in the practice of the excellent principles we profess . Such a Avork is that HOAV before us , affording us both

profit and pleasure , the latter , unfortunately , mixed -with regret that English masonry has not the advantage of similar instruction The communication of Avhich Ave are noAV Avriting was held at Grand Lodge Hall , NCAV Orleans , on the 11 th , 12 th , and 13 th of February last , the AV . M . Grand Master Bro . Charles F . Buck , presiding . There are some portions of his admirable address which , if

space permitted , Ave should quote HOAV in extenso . Some extracts AVC reserve for future reference as occasion may offer . So , in respect of the " Report on Foreign Correspondence , " Avhich is full of valuable information , such subjects as the "Ballot , " the "Universality of Masonry , " " Physical Qualifications , " the " Ritualism of the Order , " " Prerogative , " the " Landmarks , " and "Masonic History , " being

learnedly discussed by well known and intelligent men who have dignified the Craft by association Avith it , and by great ability in Masonic discussion . AVe thank our Bro . Dr . James C . Batchelor , the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana for the opportunity afforded us to note thc manner in Avhich Freemasonry is conducted in his particular district . NEW ZEALAND . —At the annual meeting of the District Grand Lodge of AA estland ( South Island ) , at Hokitika , on the 20 th March ,

Metropolitan Lodge And Chapter Meetings For The Current Week.

Metropolitan Lodge and Chapter Meetings for the Current Week .

"All Lodges held Avithin Ten Miles of FREEMASONS'HALL , LONDON , are LONDON LODGES . " —General Laws and Regulations .

LodRc NA 5 IE OP LODGE AND CIIAI-TEH . PLACE OF MEETING . ( THIS DAY ) ( 4 th ) THURSDAY , MAY 23 rd . 31 Mount Moriah F . M . H . 89 Sliakesjioari . Albion Tav ., Aldcrsg _ itc Street , E . C . 211 StMichael ' Cale RoyalRecent StreetAV

. s , , . 507 United Pilgrims IJridjre House Hotel , London J . riilge 8 fil Finsbury _ 11 ) 1 , Kisliopspilc St ., E . C . 1421 Lnnfltl-orno An ;; el Hotel , llloi'd 1823 St . Marv Magdalen Cafe Royal , Regent Street , AV . I « 23 AVest Si __ I . J . _ i . 'J . I F . M . H . 1 G 5 S Skelmcrsdalo Surrey M . 11 ., S . E . 1074 St . Mary Abbotts Town Hall , Kensington R . A . C . 5 St

. George's F . M . H . 29 St . Albans ... Albion Tav ., Aldersgate Street 157 Redford F . M . H . G . > 7 Canonbury . Alason's Anns , liasingliall Street 7 « i AVilliam Preston Cannon Street Hotel , E . C . 1 G 0 I Haveiistiounic Town Mall , Cut-Cord Ki 23 AVest Sniillilicld Anderton' . s Hotel , E . C . Mark . 13 Hiram Greyhound Hot ., Richmond

( 4 th ) FRIDAY , MAY 24 th . 197 Jerusalem F . M . H . R . A . C . i [\ lot i Mill iSnrrev Surrey M . If ., Camberwell Jy ] . >!)! ! Studholme 33 , Golden Square , AV . 1839 j Duke of Cornwall F . M . H . ( 4 th ) SATURDAY , MAY 25 th .

1297 AVest Kent Crystal i ' alace , Sydenham 1 S-I 1 Alexandra I'alace Imjierial Hot ., Holborn Viaduct , E . C . , 1 ( 179 Henry Muggeridge AI . H . Tav ., EasinghaH Street , E . C . 17 ( 1 Caviae . ' Albion Tav ., Aldersgate Street , E . C . 1185 j Lewis i King ' s Anns Hot ., AVood Green , N .

Lodgcf NAME OF LODGE AND CHAPTER . PLACE OF MEETING . ( 4 th ) MONDAY , MAY 27 th . 1 Royal Som . Ho . & Inverness ... F . M . H . 20 Castle Lodge of Harmony ... AVillis ' . s Rooms , King SI ., St . , J . 'iiiies ' , s , AV . 13 Guildhall Gresham Street

S Traniiuilily Tav ., , E . C . ! M ) 2 llurgoyiie Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , E . C . 905 De Grey and Ripon F . Jl . II . 1032 Stuart Bridge House Hot ., S . E . 1 S 28 Shepherd ' s Hush Athena'um , Godolphin Road , AV . Mark . 1 rrinee of AVales 8 a , Red Lion Square , AV . C . ( 4 th ) TUESDAY , MAY 28 th .

11 Tuscan F . M . H . -t « Old I'nioii Holborn Viaduct Hotel 1 ( 15 Honour and Generosilv Inns of Court Hotel , AV . C . 2 M ' rrinee of Wales ... ' Willis ' s Rooms , St . James ' s , AV . 2 ID 8 Empire Criterion , Piccadilly , AV . H . A . C . j 21 : Cyrus Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall Street iwi StJames'L ' ltwm FMH

) . ... 2 M | Iris Greyhound Hot ., Richmond 158 !) j St . Dunstau ' s Anderton ' s Hot ., Fleet Street , E . C . H . C . i 29 ' Palestine 33 , Golden Square , AV . ( r , th and last ) WEDNESDAY , MAY 2 !) th . 89 K : Tctiiperunce-in-Uie-East ... ( i , Newby Place , Poplar , E . i 78

C Progress F . M . H . Mark . 17 ( 1 j Era 8 a , Red Lion Square , AV . C . ( 5 th and last ) THURSDAY , MAY 30 th . ASCENSION DAV—NO MEETINGS .