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Grand Lodge Officers.

Grand Lodge Officers .

THE M ASONIC

ItiUSTRATED

.THAT which kept the army of Napoleon together and which stimulated their loyalty to both country and leader , was , to quote the well-worn phrase , the knowledge that in each soldier ' s knapsack , there might some day be found the baton of a field marshal . That there was not

batons enough to go all round was overlooked . Is it by any chance possible that the zeal in well doing with which the great army of Freemasonry is credited by the profane , has its foundation in that hope of reward which sweetens labour ? The Freemason ' s patient continuance in well-doing , his

cheerful acquiescence in the opinions of the majority , his praiseworthy submission to constituted authority , remembering always that our constitution is such that while some govern , some must obey , his ungrudging support of every charitable appeal that comes before him in the name of

Masonry , to what extent it may be allowable to wonder , is it encouraged by the possibility of two inches of garter blue ? The inadequate supply of this adornment and visible sign of Masonic merit has long been admitted , and legislation has taken place from time to time , which has either increased

the patronage of the Provincial Grand Master or reduced its area by the division of his province . But now we have entered upon a more comprehensive scheme than has hitherto been laid before the present generation . At the December Communication of Grand Lodge , a message was considered

from the Grand Master , and its adoption by Grand Lodge has the effect of increasing his patronage from twenty-nine to fifty-one . This large increase is one of collars , not of

offices . The distinction is important . Grand Lodge has always viewed with distrust any proposal to create any new office , or to disturb the existing precedence . There was a proposal for instance some years ago to create a " Grand Chancellor , " which was strangled in its birth , and there may be those in Grand Lodge to-day who remember the

indignation caused by the attempt to meddle with the table of precedence by degrading the office of Chaplain . There have in fact been very few new offices created since the Union . Deputies and Assistants of course have been added from time to time , but these do not represent a new office , but

only reflect importance upon those already existing . Since the Union , the Grand Standard Bearer , the Grand Pursuivant , and the Presidents of the Boards of General Purposes and of Benevolence have been added . These latter offices existed for many years before the precedence they now enjoy was conferred upon them , and when the

recognition eventually came , it seemed to Grand Lodge more like the rectifying of an omission than a new proposal . There are at present as nearly as can be computed , 790 living officers , past and present , of Grand Lodge . Happily the Masonic zeal of these 79 c distinguished brethren does not all come to fruition at coincident periods , or it might be

a bad look out for the dais . There are 94 Past Wardens , 67 Chaplains , 213 Deacons , 134 D . C . ' s ( and assistants , etc . ) , 67 Sword Bearers , 6 3 Standard Bearers , 21 Organists , and 39 Pursuivants , in addition to those of other ranks . The Chaplains seem to display most marked longevity , probably

on the principle that " Who leads a good life is sure to live well , " and moreover , in comparison with their numbers , these very worshipful brethren display the most assiduity in their attendances at Grand Lodge . There may be a correspondence between these two circumstances , at any rate we leave other brethren to meditate upon it .

The roll of Grand Lodge officers is one that no Freemason need be ashamed of . It contains names of men distinguished in every walk of life . In the ranks of Past Wardens titles of nobility abound , in fact , out of 3 6 Past Senior Grand Wardens no less than 26 are members of the House of Lords , and there are besides princes of the blood

Royal , and reigning monarchs . Not so rich in coronets , the list of Junior Wardens bristles , or shall we say scintillates , with the names of those who have adorned the judicial bench , and the front benches in the House of Commons . In the list of W ardens we come across such names as

Lord Wolseley , Lord Roberts , Lord Kitchener , Lord Methuen , Lord Charles Beresford , and others who have served their country . Nor must we omit to mention the connection of the Mansion House with the Craft . There are eight Bishops

entitled to be described as Very Worshipful , and quite a number of clerical luminaries of lesser lustre . The connection of the Order with the Mansion House , already alluded to , is most manifest in the roll of Past Treasurers , in which Lord Mayors and Sheriffs abound . In the minor offices , no name , it may be confidently asserted , occurs , whose selection has not

been endorsed by those best qualified to judge , and the long Masonic hierarchy is one to be proud of . Of course we are quite open to admit tlie validity of the contention that a list of the deserving brethren whose names are omitted might possibly shed even brighter lustre on the craft . That cannot

be helped , and meanwhile we are gratified to think of the Masonic spirit which induces those who are left out to acquiesce in the judgment of the Grand Master in carrying out what is probably his most difficult task .

Perhaps the list of Grand Organists contains more names in proportion to the whole number , that are well known to the public . The names of Sullivan , Wesley , Costa , Parratt , Maybrick , Lott , Cummings , Hoyte , Sinclair , are all a guarantee that the liberal arts and sciences have been a part of the study of Grand Lodge .

We have omitted from the enumeration of Grand Officers the long list of those who represent the Grand Master in the Provinces and Districts abroad . These dignified brethren are on a somewhat different plane . For fifty-four years the list has been adorned by the name of the veteran Lord Leigh ( recently deceased ) , Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire ,