At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar.

The recently deceased secretary of one of the most important districts abroad , was a very imposing brother , much in request at consecrations and installations , and a perfect mine of information on all questions not only of Masonic laAv , but often of Masonic fact . Addressing the

W . M . elect on the occasion of an installation , he directed his attention Avith a magnificent wave of the hand to the place on the Avail , immediately behind him , where the warrant usually hung , and went on to inform the installee that here Avas that which Avas the most precious possession of the

lodge , the charter of its very existence , etc ., but at this point , his observations were interrupted by laughter , which caused the wrathful installing master to look behind him , Avhen to his dismay he found , not the Avarrant , but his own portrait in oils , recently procured by the lodge .

© © © The same brother was once asked a question about the status of honorary brethren , or honorary members rather . His reply Avas that during the early part of his career he Avas an honoured guest at whatever lodge he visited , and at the

social board , partook of the lodge hospitality . But as he grew to be celebrated , he was accorded the compliment of honorary membership of many of these lodges , and now when he went , he had to pay for his own dinner . This particular feature of honorary membership seems to have occupied his mind to the exclusion of all others .

© © © Among others who have tried to find out the real reason for the exclusion of the fair sex from the Craft , was General Sherman . That gallant Freemason seems to have unearthed some ancient records in whicli it is narrated IIOAV Eve Avas

the Junior Warden of the Eden Lodge No . i , in which capacity she allowed an expelled member of the Order to enter the lodge , under the pretence of being a representative of the Grand Lodge . His evil counsel not only led the lodge to be called to refreshment before the work was half done ,

but led to irregularities in the matter of regalia , which it appeared had not previously been worn in that lodge . The net result was that Adam and Eve were both expelled and the lodge placed in abeyance . Like a good brother Adam made clue submission and in proper time obtained grace ,

whereas Eve showed a most unbecoming spirit and proceeded to raise Cain , and her permanent exclusion was then confumed by Grand Lodge . All this may or may not be true , but it has the merit of proving the case completely .

© © © Bro . General John Corson Smith , who A \ 'as appointed Departmental Commander of the Grand Army in the State of Illinois last year , has had the distinction of a medal being struck in his honour by his army comrades . Five of the

medals in bronze have been sent to Scotland , the recipients being Bros . Major F . W . Allan , Dr . Geo . Dickson , Dr . John Foulds , R . S . Brown , Grand Scribe E ., and " The Mallet . " The bar with pin bears the word " Representative , " the second bar connected by a scarlet ribbon has a representation

of an anchor and a group of instruments of war , from whicli the medal is suspended , bearing a splendid likeness in threequarter profile of the General himself , with his name and the year ( 1905 ) of his appointment as commander . The reverse side has a record of the occasion on which the medal was struck , " The 40 th annual encampment at Galesburg in May last . "—Glasgow Xcivs .

The Mayor of Brighton , whose year of office has been distinguished by the most lavish hospitality , entertained recently at a garden party in his Masonic capacity as " W . Bro . James Colborne , P . M . 732 , P . Prov . J . G . Warden , " the brethren of the Craft throughout the province . About 3500 invitations had been issued to members of the Grand

, Lodge and the masters and brethren of all the lodges in Sussex , though , of course , the distance of the pleasant carnival from the remoter strongholds of Masonry in the county militated against the general acceptance thereof . Quite a thousand guestshoweverwere received and welcomed by

, , the popular host and his amiable wife , who Avent through one of those long hand-shaking ceremonials to Avhich practice and experience have , by this time , well accustomed them , standing beneath the shade of a huge Japanese parasol planted at one end of the sunlit lawn . With them stood the

Duke of Richmond and Gordon , K . G ., Provincial Grand Master , a striking type of British patrician nobility , and Bro . Weller Poley , the Deputy P . G . M . and Mrs . Weller Poley were also there . Several more of those big Japanese sunshades , Avith dainty little wicker-Avork tea-tables and garden chairs

beneath , graced the velvety laAvn , while the Pavilion rooms and a spacious flap-topped marquee were also available for the more fleshly ecstasies of the proceedings , and the splendid band of the Coldstream Guards filled the air with a rare distinction of melody .

© © 0 We have the following incident vouched for as true as regards a military brother raised in a regimental lodge in the East . In due time he applied to be exalted , and in the ordinary course of things was admitted to the Chapter .

Asked afterwards what he thought about it , he replied that although it was all very nice there seemed to have been a mistake about it . It wasn't that kind of apron he wanted , but Avhat he had expected to get was a pinky one Avith a lot of gold and a bird on it .

On Wednesday evening , June 20 th , an interesting event took place in connection with the Old Globe Lodge , Scarborough , No . 200 . W . Bro . W . Milner , on attaining his jubilee as a member of the lodge , was presented by the

Worshipful Master , Past Masters , officers and brethren , Avith a handsome marble timepiece , suitably inscribed , to mark the esteem and respect in which he is held by the brethren . The presentation was made by the Worshipful Master , Bro . Dr . Hunt , in appropriate terms , and Avas feelingly acknowledged by the recipient .

© © © The ceremony of laying the memorial stone of a new central hall for Bury Grammar School Avas performed on Monday afternoon , June 27 th , with Masonic ceremony by Lord Stanley , R . W . Prov . G . M ., East Lanes . Lord Stanley said

some people might think that the laying of the foundation stone of a school with Masonic honours was inappropriate ; but if they really knew Avhat the rites of Freemasonry meant it would not seem so strange . Freemasons were entrusted with certain secrets . Those they kept , but he

could assure those who had never been initiated that the whole of their rules were framed with the object of making themselves better citizens in this world and more lit for the world to come . Therefore , he thought it was not inappropriate that they should be associated with the laying of the foundation stone of a school .

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