Lodges Of Instruction.

The leading lodge of instruction in this country is the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , and the working there is 'according to Hemmings . In America , the working is chiefly Preston's . Lodges of instruction may be formed for specific purposes . In fact the capabilities are as ample as the name . Sometimes

they are to be found confined to brethren who have passed the chair . Some are concerned exclusively with the ceremony of installation , and others leave the ceremonies severely nlone , and go into history and polity . There are even in existence lodges which have been

-warranted , which exist for the sole purpose of disseminating . Masonic information . Such are the Lodge of Research , meeting in Leicester , and that of Quatuor Coronati , so widely ¦ developed by our late brother Speth . It is of course obvious that membership of such a lodge of

instruction as that described in Article 158 , confers by itself ) no Masonic privilege , beyond that of profiting by the instruction received . That is to say a brother who desires to save his Masonic standing must still be a subscribing member of a regular lodge .

One wishes that the whole question of instruction could be dealt with in a statesmanlike manner b y Grand Lodge . No ceremonies are worked either by that body or "by Provincial Grand Lodge , and thus when an erroneous method of working creeps into a lodge , there is often the

greatest chlticulty in securing an official opinion , and the error is perpetuated . In some foreign Grand Lodges there is a special officer of ¦ Grand Lodge , whose duty it is to advise as to the correct methods of working , and under his superintendence the whole of the ceremonies are gone through at regular periods ,

in an official manner , and it is not impossible that in time to come we may see a Grand Instructor or a Grand Preceptor appointed by the Grand Lodge of England . Already we have a series of practically permanent officers charged with the care of the records , the cash , and the regalia , and there

are further permanent oflicers whose duty is to organise the ceremonies and to interpret the constitutions ; and it seems quite as desirable that there should be some provision for the conservation of our traditions .

At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar.

At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar .

The growth of Freemasonry in the widely-extended province of Essex under the beneficent rule of Bro . Colonel Lockwood , M . P ., is evidenced by the rapid increase in the number of lodges . Another was added to the roll on Saturday , June 24 th , when the Canute Lodge , No . 3104 , was . consecrated at the Masonic Hall , Southend-on-Sea , this being

the 53 rd on the provincial list . < s > ® The new lodge is remarkable for two especial reasons . Firstly , it is founded on teetotal principles . It is not singular

in the Craft in that sense , though the number of such lodges is very small . The result of the experiment will be watched with some interest by other provinces . The lodge starts with excellent prospects so far as numbers and inlluential patronage are concerned , and it was afforded a promising

send-off by the attendance of a number of distinguished Craftsmen . Secondly , the lodge marks an interesting historical event . It is named after the invader , who , early in the eleventh century , secured the throne by right of conquest , and established an excellent reputation amongst monarchs by a wise and enlightened reign . It was at Ashingdon , six miles inland from Southend , that the decisive

battle of Assandune is traditionally said to have been fought , in which Canute obtained a decisive victory over Edmund Ironside in 1016 ; and it is recorded that in the neighbouring village of Hockley formerly stood a church built by Canute in commemoration of his martial success . The seal of the new lodge depicts King Canute seated by the seashore engaged in unequal contest with the invading sea .

« $ > < ffi > © The Provincial Grand Master , in addressing the brethren , said the consecration of a new lodge was a matter of congratulation not only to the Provincial Grand Master , but to the province . In the province of Essex the institution

was so thoroughly recognised and appreciated , and its virtues were , be was happy to say , so fully understood , that there was no necessity to enter into them at any length . He could only express to them the feeling of joy and gratification that he had that such was the case in his province . It spoke

volumes for Masonry that it took hold of men in such a way as to give cause for rejoicing . To the province of Essex he owed many thanks . It sent him to the festival of the Girls ' Institution with a noble and generous contribution . It was not as though Essex , however , had made spasmodic efforts

to accompany its Provincial Grand Master to the festival chair ; the flow of charity had been unceasing and unwavering . He congratulated them on having found funds to the generous amount subscribed , and gratefully thanked them for all the kindness bestowed upon him in that matter . Turning to the

immediate business of the day , Bro . Colonel Lockwood said he hoped brethren would remember the style and title under which he hoped to proceed to the consecration . He would think neither better nor worse of them , as Masons , for being temperance men , but he trusted they would remember the

name under which the lodge was founded , and that as time went on it would be found that the emulation was not one that had been , but one that still continued .

< 5 > © ' O In delivering the customary oration the Provincial Grand Chaplain observed that the foundation principles of the Craft were to fear God , honour the King , and love the Brotherhood , the Rev . gentleman said he had never seen a Mason

the worse for drink , and he hoped he never would . Whilst he hoped that all Masonic lodges , were temperance lodges in the sense of that self-control which temperance meant , he was glad to have the privilege of assisting those who were founding a temperance lodge . Of all things over which men

got a little too warm was cold water , for he had seen men get almost red hot when cold water was in question , and temperance meetings were on occasions very heated assemblies . But he would like to see our country , while remaining as rich , great , and free , more temperate than she is ,

that she might be indeed a sober nation . He took it that none of them believed in grandmotherly legislation in restricting eating or drinking ; but they hoped that Parliament would some day be able , without unduly infringing upon the liberties of English folk , to restrict the hours wherein

intoxicating liquors were sold , to keep a sterner and more severe eye upon the manufacture , not only of drunkards , but of that which made people drunkards ; by wise legislation make it harder for men to do wrong , and easier to do right ; and to enable Parliament to lead them in that benevolent

and kindly and truly religious path wherein they would endeavour to reclaim those who had fallen into the sad vice of intemperance .

© < 5 > © At the consecration banquet which followed , the Worshipful Master presided , and a bountiful menu having been gone through , the customary loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured . It had been announced that in accordance with

the principles upon which the lodge is founded no alcoholic drinks would be served at the banqueting table ; but there were some jocular expressions of surprise that champagne cider should have found a place beside gingerale , apollinaris water , lemonade , and other innocuous beverages . There