The Junior Deacon.

THE JUNIOR DEACON .

A LTHOUGH the responsibilities of the Junior Deacon in s Lodge of Freemasons are certainly not very great , the qualifications for the performance of the duties attached to the office in a perfect manner , arc by no means slight . We have always held to the opinion that it rests with the Junior Deacon to produce that necessary solemnity which shall impress the initiate with a deep

sense of the importance of the business upon which he is entering , and even more than , perhaps , in any other portion of the beautiful ceremony , is the opportunity afforded , whilst the candidate is in his charge , for laying that foundation in the novitiate's mind which shall make him either a brig ht or careless workman in his future Masonic

career . It would not be fitting that we should be more explicit in our remarks on this head , but such of our brethren as can and will reflect upon their introduction into Freemasonry can easily understand the allusions we make , without extended observations on the Junior Deacon ' s duty towards the candidate for our mysteries . To perform that all-important duty well and thoroughly requires careful

preliminary preparation , and herein lies that one essential qualification for the office , without which no member of a Lodge should be offered , or if offered , accept the position . It is not necessary that the Junior Deacon should have filled any other office in the Lodge before accepting such position , and it should , therefore , be the aim and desire of each and all of the Lodge members not yet selected

for office not only to emulate each other , but to strive to excel in efficiency . Those Worshipful Masters do the most good to the Order who , on their installation into the chair of K . S , select and reward by promotion , without reference to rota , the brethren who may enjoy the reputation of having made themselves thoroughly

acquainted with our ritual and ceremonial by means of attenelance in Lodges of Instruction or the services of a qualified Preceptor . Wc repeat , and cannot too often do so , that the capable Junior Deacon is not only very frequently the making or breaking of the new material , but when the time arrives , proves to be the most fitted for the rule and government of the Lodge .

The Junior Deacon is the medium of communication between the Senior and Junior Wardens , and bis duty is to assist the Senior Deacon in all matters relating to the Master's commands . The remarks we have made in the article on the Senior Deacon apply equally to the Junior , and not in any- diminished degree , in relation to the peace , order , and regularity of the Lodge and its

appointments . As in former days the Senior Deacon had to " see that the pillar of strength in the west was elevated whilst the Lodge is at labor , " so it was the Junior Deacon ' s duty to see that the pillar of beauty , the Junior Warden ' s column in the south , was " not elevated at any time but when the Lodge is at refreshment , "

neither before nor after . And as the symbolical meanings of those emblems have not in any way been disturbed since they were first expressed , so should the ancient custom still be retained in its integrity . The jewel of the Junior Deacon is the same as that of the Senior , and the like characteristics attach to the emblem . In

the Greek Church the Deacons were always pylori , or doorkeepers , and we may still further and consistentl y extend the meaning of the symbol to the reception of the novitiate within the peaceful walls of a Mason ' s Lodge . There is one matter which we take this opportunity of impressing upon the Junior Deacon of every Lodge , small as it may possibly

be considered by many , but very important in connection with the landmarks of the Order . It is that of prompting the answer to a solemn and most important question addressed to the candidate by the W . M . in the early part of his reception . We quote from a recent work : — "The required reply should never be prompted . The

enquiry itself leads up to the expected answer , and , following on the solemn appeal which has preceded it , a short pause would , in the great majority of instances , ensure a satisfactory and indeed the only and proper admission . If not then forthcoming , the enquiry should be repeated with mi / r / i emphasis , and the . reply awaited . Without a spontaneous acknowledgment there is no

The Junior Deacon.

evidence of that deep-seated reverence and dependence which alone renders a candidate suitable for admission to our Order . A prompted reply is worthless in this instance . '' We commend these words to the parties concerned , agreeing with them in every respect , and believing that the practice enjoined is not only beneficial but such as we are bound to pursue if we would consistently discharge our

Masonic duty 7 . We have not much more to add as to the qualifications and duties of the Junior Deacon which could be published here without betrayal of Lodge working ; and shall be content to conclude in the words of an address to that officer in use some half century ago : — "What is delivered to you in the West faithfully

carry to the South . To that which is more immediately your care be particularly attentive . Prepare duly . Lead upon the Square , and prompt like a workman . Your regular and early attendance upon the Lodge is highly necessary . " J AMES STEVENS .

The Late W. Wiggington.

THE LATE W . WIGGINGTON .

BRO . W . WIGGINGTON died on the 8 th ult ., at his residence , Buckhttrst , Forest Hill . He was the son of the late Mr . W . L . Wigginton , Professor of Astronomy , and was born at Eton August 22 , 1 S 26 , where he was educated in the same form with the late distinguished Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Shrewsbury , the father of the present Peer . He was trained as an architect ,

and was for nearly thirty years a Fellow of the Royai Institute of British Architects . Among the buildings he designed and erected were St . James ' s Church , Vicarage , and Schools , Hampton Hill ; St . Paul ' s , Bethnal Green ; St . Barnabas Vicarage , Bow ; St . Paul ' s , Charlton , Christ Church , Clapton ; Christ Church , South Hackney ;

St . John the Baptist , Islington ; St . James ' s , Halford , Berks ; Aimhouses for the Dutch Church , Charlton ; and a wing to St . Mary's Hospital , Paddington . At the commencement of the Volunteer movement he became one of its most ardent supporters , and after serving many years in different positions , eventually was

gazetted Lieutenant - Colonel of the 1 st Tower Hamlets Artillery , and on several occasions was appointed and served on the Staff at various reviews . In 1 S 74 he sought Parliamentary honors , and was the accepted candidate in the Conservative interest for Hackney . After a very successful canvass , in the course of which he expended considerable time and money , he was induced to withdraw his candidature in favor of a Mr . Gill , who ,

however , did not win the seat . He was initiated as a Mason in December , 1852 , in St . Paul ' s Lodge ( 43 ) . Shortly afterwards he joined two Lodges , then known as Nos . 313 and 730 . He also resuscitated the Vernon Lodge , then distinguished as No . 819 . He acted as Secretary to both Nos . 313 and 819 , and became S . W . in each . For his Masonic services in Worcestershire he was

respectively appointed Prov . G . S . B . and P . G . D . C . In 1862 he founded and was W . Master of the Tower Hamlets Engineers Lodge , now the Burgoyne Lodge ( 902 ) . In 1 S 68 he founded and was W . M . of the Royal Standard Lodge ( 1298 ) . In 1874 ) 16 founded and was W . M . for two successive years of the Francis Burdett

Lodge ( 1503 ) , and held the office of Secretary till 188 4 . He was shortly afterwards appointed P . G . S . of W . Middlesex . He was exalted , we believe , as a Royal Arch Mason in Chapter No . 43 . He was the founder and first M . E . Z ., in 18 7 S , of the Francis Burdett Chapter , 1503 , and was appointed P . G . S . N , of

Middx . He was advanced to the Mark Degree in the Macdonald Lodge , No . 104 . He founded in 1875 and was first W . M . of the f ' rancis Burdett Mark Lodge ( 181 ) . He was also the founder and first W . M ., in 1879 , of the Prince Leopold Lodge ( 238 ) . His late Royal Highness the Duke of Albany , KG ., took a great interest in t hi 3 particular Mark Lodge , and Bro . Wigginton was summoned to Claremont on one occasion to see him on matters connected with

the Lodge , and was the recipient of the Prince ' s photograph and autograph . Bro . Wigginton was a P . G . S . of W ., and P . P . G . S . of W . Middx and Surrey , in the Mark Degree . He held the office of Secretary to No . 238 till the year 1886 , when failing health compelled him to resign . The deceased Brother was , in his palmy