At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

clothing of a Royal Arch Mason , it becomes a deterrent instead of an incentive to a brother however desirous he may be to attain the degree of perfection ; and thirdly , the fact that chapters meet at long intervals , and that there are no well organised chapters of instruction held in the meantime to give information and help the members along in their

pursuit after knowledge , often acts as a cold douche , both to those who have become Arch Masons , and a deterrent to others to join .

© © © The committee proceeds to express an opinion that the fee for exaltation should be reduced from two guineas , the present minimum amount , to a guinea-and-a-half , that the Worshipful Masters of Craft lodges should bring the Royal

Arch to the notice of Master Masons on attaining to that Degree , and that each chapter in the province should without delay form a chapter of instruction in order that its members may become thoroughly acquainted with the beautiful teachings and sublime principles of the Royal Arch Degree .

< £ > © © This movement is a strong proof of the zeal and activity of our Cheshire brethren , and we are heartily in accord with the views expressed as to the desirability of bringing the Royal Arch Degree more prominently under the notice of

Craft Masons , but we must confess to some doubt as to the object being satisfactorily attained by lowering the fee for exaltation . It is true that the proposed reduction is a very trilling one , but it is in the direction of cheapening the Order , which to our minds is undesirable .

© © © That the Degree of Mark Master Masons has a great hold on the bulk of its members has been abundantly proved on many occasions , but a recent exemplification we think worthy of note is that of Bro . Samuel Withers , of Shrewsbury ,

who a few clays ago was elected Wor . Master of the " Temperance in the East Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 350 , " who displays sufficient zeal for the Degree to travel to London six times a year , with the addition of emergency meetings , to attend to his duties in the two Mark

lodges of which he is a member . We congratulate his lodge on having elected such a zealous and enthusiastic brother to the chair .

© < S > © Bro . H . Halstead , the Secretary of the Hudson River Lodge , No . 667 , New York , writing from Newburgh , N . Y ., on behalf of the Past Masters , says : — " We have read with much pleasure and profit your Christmas number containing

an account of the election of Brother Frederick C . Van Duzer , of Canterbury Lodge , No . 16 35 , as an honorary member of Hudson River Lodge , No . 607 , which is located in his native city . The reproduction of the certificate reciting the fact of such membership is a beautiful work of art , and

it is much appreciated by the Craft in this city to whom it has been shown . But this action on the part of our lodge was preceded by such generosity and kindness on his part that we cannot permit it to remain unnoticed , although the publicity we give it may be contrary to his inate modesty and tastes . At our stated communication held in Masonic Hall on

the 21 st of October , 1903 , Bro . Van Duzer presented to our lodge , in person , a magnificently embroidered silk banner , made in London . It contains a scroll on which are the names of our charter members , or founders , as they are called by our English brethren , the names of our Past Masters , together with a facsimile of the seal of the lodge , Masonic emblems ,

and the name and rank of the donor . We doubt not that it is the handsomest lodge banner in the United States , and it has attracted the brethren far and near to look upon it . Such munificence and fraternal intercourse has endeared Bro . Van Duzer to the Craft by enduring social and Masonic ties , and our brethren will always appreciate his gift and hold him in affectionate esteem . "

The death of the distinguished American artist , Robert Gordon Hardie , has peculiar interest to English Masons , as he was the painter of the fine life-size portrait of George Washington presented to the Grand Lodge of England by Bro . Wellcome and unveiled by the American Ambassador last year . The circumstances of Bro . Hardie ' s death are most

pathetic . Mrs . Hardie died a few clays since , shortly after giving birth to a son . Mr . Hardie , who suffered from angina pectoris , was so overwhelmed with grief that his heart gave way , and he died actually of "broken heart" within a few hours of his return from his wife ' s funeral .

13 R 0 . ROBERT GORDOX HARDIE . Bro . Hardie was a Craft Mason and took great trouble over the production of the Washington picture to secure accuracy of Masonic clothing of the period as well as faithful

poitraiture . He was especially famous for his portraits of great American statesmen . Bro . Hardie was a pupil of both Gerome and Cabanal , and repeatedly exhibited in the Paris Salon .

© © © The 136 th anniversary and installation meeting of the Sincerity Lodge , No . 174 , took place at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham Street , on Wednesday , 20 th January .

Bro . Iggleden having installed Bro . F . G . Mustart , the latter afterwards , on behalf of the brethren , presented the outgoing Worshipful Master with a handsome jewel and a Past Master ' s collar and jewel . The brethren also gave Mrs . Iggleden a silver toilet set in remembrance of her husband ' s successful year of office .

© © © The half-yearly meeting of the Fidelity Chapter , attached to Lodge No . 441 , was held recently , when Comps . J . Dempster , F . W . Miller , and D . H . Berridge were installed in the Principals' chairs . Three candidates were afterwards

exalted by Comp . Dempster . The P . S . work was done by Comp . H . W . Dewberry . The work of all the Principals , and that of Comp . B . Chennell , Prov . G . H ., gave much satisfaction . The attendance included the Provincial Grand Superintendent of Cambridgeshire ( Comp . Colonel R . P .

Caldwell ) , Comp . E . M . Money , P . G . S . B . Eng ., visitors from Bishops Stortford and Saffron Walden , and a number of Present and Past Grand Officers of the Province of Cambridgeshire .