the entered apprentice's apron and …...grand master himself—avhich authorised " every...
TRANSCRIPT
LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 27, I860.
The following lecture was delivered on the Sth.of July, 1861, by Bro. Francis Davidson , P. Prov.G. Sword Bearer of New South Wales, P.M. andSecretary of the Australian Lodge of Harmony(No. 556, late No. . 814). Sydney, New South"Wales ; and Ave regard it as no slight complimentto the FKEEJUSONS ' MAGAZINE that a lecture de-livered at so great a distance from Englandshould be first entrusted for publication to itscolumns :—
Worshipful Master, Worsh ipful Past Masters,Officers, and Brethren,—I purpose to concludeour proceedings this evening with a few remarkson the Entered Apprentice's Apron, more com-monly known as the badge of innocence and thebond of friendship.
It is only of late years, and in this colony, inthis lodge alone, I believe, that the system ofMasonic lecturing has been attempted to be in-troduced as part aud parcel of the regular workof the lodge; and we have modestly contentedourselves Avith our authorised lectures on thetracing board and the sectional Avorkings. ButAvhy stop there ? A Masonic lodge should be aschool of instruction. It certainly was so inancient days ; and even our first catechismteaches us that Ave come here " to seek a master,and from him to gain instruction "—the Wor-shipful Master, the Past Masters, and theWardens (under the Worshipful Master's di-rections) having, undoubtedly, full authority togive instruction to all properly seeking it.Nearly forty-five years ago, viz;., on the 1st ofDecember, 1819, a law passed the United GrandLodge of England—indeed, it emanated from,and was originated by, the Most Worshipful theGrand Master himself—Avhich authorised " everyMaster of a lodge to deliver lectures in a languagesuited to the character of the lodge over which hepresides, provided that the established landmarksbe not removed."" *
The system of public lecturing, or of oral in-struction, has very much increased of late years,and is justly, and very naturally, popular both inthe old and the now countries of the world, prin-cipally, perhaps, because it is—if I may suggesta phrase, and so term it—a system of brief , con-cise reasoning • and to quote the Avords of an oldauthor,f Avhich I cordiall y endorse, " He who willnot reason is a bigot ; lie who cannot, is a fool ; heAVIIO dares not, is a slave." Wo profess to be freemen and free agents. Wc thank God that He
has " endowed us with the faculty of speech, and,above all , bestowed upon us that noble instinctcalled reason." Let us use that reason, exercisethat speech , and avail ourselves of the liberalityof the Grand Lodge at home, and constitute each
I lodge a mutual instruction society for the promul-gation of Masonic knowledge—the disseminationof lore gained by the researches of ourselves and'ancient brethren under the guidance and sanction
of our venerated, ancient, honourable, and scien-tific Institution. What AVOUIC! more readily con-duce to the acquisition, of such knowledge thanthe more general establishment of lodge lecturesand lodge libraries ? Is it not, Ave may ask our-selves, a duty incumbent on us as Masons—asmembers of the Masonic fraternity—to employsuch mean s as are at our disposal—the giftswherewith Grod hath blessed us—to enlighten our-selves and brethren on subjects connected withthe principles aud origin of our noble Order ? Asystem of lodge lectures would enable brethrengifted Avith talents ancl capabilities to exercisethose talents and their, perhaps, dormant mentalfaculties, as AVOII for their own welfare as the in-struction and improvement of the human race,more particularl y their brethren in Masonry. Andtho frequent delivery of such lectures would havea tendenc}* not only to improve the mind mentally,morally, aud scientifically, but to develops themental powers, the intellectual capabilities, ofmany brethren AVIIO would otherwise have beendull or incapable.
Dr. Oliver states that " It has long been hisopinion that the most beneficial results would ensueto the science of Freemasonry, Avere the Masters oflodges to devote some portion of their time to the de-livery of explanatory lectures on subjects of generalinterest connected with the institution. Such apractice might be the means of elucidating manypoints on which our customary lectures leave usentirely in the dark."*
Freemasonry, as Ave all knoAv or ought to know,is an art or science, founded on allegory and illus-trated by symbols, a perfect knowledge of Avhichcan only be attained by time, patience, and assi-duity, certainly not by intuition, nor by a merelysuperficial acquaintance Avith its ordinary or extra-ordinary rites and ceremonies. The intelligent,Avell-informed Mason has of necessity exercisedmuch patient study, diligent research , perseveringapp lication, and untiring industry in the pursuit.There can be no doub t that Freemasonry embracesmany subjects to which our attention may be use-fully 'and lawfully directed. It is the enduringchannel through Avhich some of the earliest tradi-tions of sacred history have been preserved andtransmitted. It contains , the key whei-eAvith tosolve or elucidate many dark aud obscure passagesin the A'olume of the very Sacred Lav**. It liasnot "an. ornament, badge, sign, jewel , or clecora-
THE ENTERED APPRENTICE'S APRONAND MASONIC LECTURING.
* "Preston 's Illustrations/ ' and Free . Qua; : Revlca:f Drummond. * Signs ancl Symbols.
ftion belonging to it Avhich is not symbolical o:some beautiful truth or moral virtue."* I welknow that my remarks recoil upon myself. I knowin part, my many failings. Conscience reminds meof my shortcomings and imperfections. I fearthat I greatly disappointed those brethren to whosetoo favourable anticipations or part iality, I owedmy eleA-ation to the high position I once hold asMaster of this lodge—this lodge of high repute.I am aware how inadequately I discharged theonerous and important duties of that trust. YetI do not consider that with my year of office thoseduties are completed, that trust is Avholly dis-charged. I am still anxious, as a Past Master ofthis lodge, for its prosperity—still willing to exertmyself in its behalf aud work for its welfare—Avilliug even to incur the charge of egotism forthus attemp ting to lecture yon , many of whomcould so Avell instruct me; but I trust to yourcharity to disarm your criticism, and to your pene-tration to discover wherein I intended to be usefulin thus chartering for your edification.
To our A]iron , then . The apron is the bad ge,or sign, or emblem of tho labourer. To the Free-mason it is the badge of innocence , the symbol oflabour, the emblem of truth and friendship, andforcibly illustrates the principles a Freemason pro-fesses, as Avell as the polity and doctrines of theOrder. There are distinctive aprons, belongingto each degree in Masonry. As blue Masons AVCknow of three appertaining to the three degrees,although in truth there are four—for the " MasterMason includes the Supreme Order of the HolyRoyal Arcli."f Those three degrees "blondmorality, doctrine, science, tradition, and historyinto a grand and beautiful system , which, if studiedAvitli attention and practised Avith sincerity, Avillinspire a holy confidence that the Lord of Life willenable us to trample the king of terrors beneathour feet, and lift our eyes to the bright morning-star, whose rising brings peace and tranquillity tothe faithful and obedient of the human race."There being "scarcely a point of duty or moralityAA'hich man owes to God , his neighbour, or himself,under tho r-atriarchal, the Mosaic, or the Christiandispensation , AA'hich , in the construction of oursymbolical system, has been left untouched.""!:
The particular apron now before us, and AvhichAVC are more especially, considering, is that of anEntered Apprentice. Au Entered Apprenticemeans one AVIIO is entered , or beginning to learn.Masomcally speaking, lie should servo his Masterwith freedom, fervency, and zeal for the ful l periodof seven years ; but less -will _ IIOAV suffice if qua-lified , and AVO rthy of preferment. The anron ofan Entered Apprentice is, or should be, " a plainAvhite lambskin, from 1 1 to 1G inches wide, 12 to
14 inches deep, square at bottom, Avithout orna-ment, and white strings."* Such being the lawin the " Book of Constitutions," I consider Ave doAvrong Avhen AA*B admit, if ever it is done, substi-tutes for this apron to enter the portals of thelodge. There can be no doubt, notAvithstanding-any questions as to economy or expediency, orquibbles about thc spirit of the law, that AAre breakthe law as laid down for our guidance iu the" Book of Constitutions ;" and I fear AVO can havelittle regard for the ancient landmarks of theOrder, if AA*C encroach so closely as to make itdoubtful AA*hether Ave have or have not committeda breach thereof. Tho true symbolism of thisapron is in its colour and material . The colouris white ; the material , lambskin—both typical ofthat rectitude of life and conduct, so essentiallynecessary to those AVIIO seek admission into theCelestial Lodge above. It is the firs t gift be-stowed on a candidate after his initiation. It isthe distinguishing badge of a Mason—more ancientthan thc Roman Eagle or Golden Fleece—morehonourable than the Star and Garter, or any otherOrder in existence*!*—a badge of innocence andthe bond of friendship; one which every Masonought to Avear ivith pleasure to himself and honourto the fraternity, assured that if he never disgracesthat badge it Avill never disgrace him. You Avillobserve that this apron is of one colour only, andthat that colour is Avhite. The moment you changethis colour or cover it Avith fri ppery you destroyits pure surface, and efface the beautiful moral itis intended to convey . One (that is the numberOne) alludes to the unity of tho Godhead , and tothe union of the royal, the priestly, and the pro-phetical dignity in one person during the patri-archal ages. J The ancient philosophers held thatthe Monad was God, because it is the beginuina-and end of all—-itself having neither beginningnor end ; and also hermaphrodiso, because it isboth male ancl female, odd and cven.§ It partakesof both natures : being added to tho even, it makesodd ; to the odd, cven.j| Then as to the colour.White, as embodied in this apron of lambskin, isthe representative of external purity and internaltruth , that animal being the personification of in-nocence.f White bespeaks purity of soul, gentle-ness, humility. White, as the emblem of inno-cence, strongly points to that necessary qualifica-tion of the candidate—the brightest jewel of thenoviciate. White also denotes peace : " Lilyworkfrom thc purity of its whiteness denotes peace."**Dr. Oliver, speaking of the four Masonic colours,
"-' Sermon , by Rev. II. Tay lor, B.O.L., Lodgo 260,Trichinopol y.
t " Constitutions' ," 1813, and 18G8, page 1G, lines 10and II .
1 Dr. Oliver.
* " Constitutions" of 1SG3, page LIS.f Masonic Lectures, first.degree , section iii.% Dr. Oliver on Masonic Numbers— Freemason? Quay
terl y Review, 1834.§ Macrob. in Somn. Sci p. i. G|| Arist. in Pyth. cited by Tiicon. Smyrii. Mathom c. 5
Vide elia -M Thco. Philos. p. lf.l.IT Dr. Oliver, " Revelations of a Square-," p. -ill,** Lectures on Tracing Hoard , second degree,
says*:—White typifies the earth ; [purple, the sea ;skyblue, the air ; crimson, fire.] Dr. Mackay says,fspeaking of this Entered Apprentice's apron :—Bythe whiteness of its colour and the innocence of theanimal from which it is obtained, Ave are admo-nished to preserve that blameless purity of life anclconduct, Avhich will alone enable us hereafter topresent ourselves before the Great Master of theUniverse unstained Avith sin, and unsullied withvice.
White Avas the colour worn by all noviciates inall knoAvn ancient rites. In all parts of the Bible,whether in the New or Old Testaments, Avhite anclwhiteness are ever mentioned in most honourableterms. White robes are promised to those AvhoAvin the croAvn of glory. Receive the Avhite andimmaculate garment. The Avhite stone is promisedto him that overcometh. The Levites, the priestsof the ancien t JOAVS, Avere commanded toe cloth inAvhite. The sanctum sanctorum of King Solomon'sTemple Avas built entirely of white stone. " ComeIIOAV let us reason, saith thc Lord, though your sinsbe as scarlet they shall be white as snow."jDaniel, in his vision of the kingdom of God , beheldthc ancient of days, ivhose garment was white assnow.§ And St. John in his Revelation of theglorious coming of Jesus Christ, beheld one likeunto the Son of Man , ivhose hairs Avere white likeAVOOI, as white as snow. j| " My beloved is white."*!White ever has been a favourite emblem, too, Avithour poets and other celebrated Avriters. Drydenspeaks of
"A wince stone distinguished from the rest—White as thy famo."
Milton of"White handed hope"--" White robed truth ."
Pope thus apostrophises—"White robed innocence from heaven descend."
In HebreAv the significations given to the colourwhite designate or denote purity, candour, nobility;the noble, the pure, tho white, to be Avhite, topurge oneself from sin. The Egyptian priests ofOsiris Avore robes of snow-Avhite cotton in the ser-¦vice of Ceres.** The Grecian priests also woreAvhite. The Druids, the priests of ancient Britain,were apparelled in ivhitc. The Knight TemplarsAvore white. The Pope gave them a Avhite habit,the Avhite mantle being typical of their lives ancltheir professions. Witness their ritual : " To allprofessed Knights, both in Avinter and summer,Ave give, if they can be procured, white garments,that those Avho have cast behind them a dark lifemay knoAv that they arc to commend themselves totheir Creator by a pure and Avhite life. For what
is whiteness but perfect chastity, and chastity isthe security of the soul, and the health of thebody."* The Avhite vestment of the Temple setsforth the same idea. Further, " It is granted tonone to AY ear Avhite habits, or to have Avhite -mantlesexcepting the above named Knights" *j* [°f Christ] .Ancl the ritual throughout commends the pro-priety of the white vestment, as typical of that IIOAVlife so eloquently therein set forth. Scotch andEnglisii Knight Templars Avear white tunics[reaching to the knees], auclAvhite mantles [taper-ing to the knees iu front and tapering aAvay to theankle behind] .
But to proceed. This apron is composed ofthree principal parts, viz., the field , the flap, thestrings. It is quite free from stain—spotless ; itssurface is not marked by any device. There is noplan delineated thereon ; there is not even anoutlin e sketch on it. It is one unvaried blank,naked, and free from ornament.
The field is said to be nearly in the form of thogroundwork or plan of the Tabernacle in theWilderness ; and therefore also that of King-Solomon's Temple, Avhich has been supposed tohave been built in exact conformity Avith the pro-perly formed brain of a man. It symbolises theworld and represents the second grand principleon which Freemasonry is founded—relief. As acitizen of the Avorld and a member of thc Craft ,the Entered Apprentice Freemason must extendrelief and consolation to tho afflicted of the humanrace, and tho performance of this duty fills hissoul Avith emotions Ave may call divine. To ap-prove and lovo gives pleasure to the soul of man.To pity—a taste of the ideal, sweet heavenly sen-sation. But to relieve ! it makes him feel a greaterand a nobler being, as one capable of endoAvingAvith happiness his own equals—a prouder , as theentrusted medium or vehicle of God's favours tohis fallen race.
The field of this apron is meant further to repre-sent " the gavel," as ono of the Avorking- tools olan Entered Appren tice, teaching us to rememberthat labour is the lot of man, and no work olmanual skill can be completed Avithout it, for skillAvithout exertion is of no avail. The head mayconceive aud the heart devise in vain, if labourdoes not execute the design.J
The four corners of the fiel d of this apron sym-bolise the four cardinal virtues—temperance, forti-tude, prudence, and justice—duties incumbent ohus all, duties ivhich should eA'er actuate our minds,guide our actions, govern our passions, and regu-late our intercourse. Avith the Avorl d, thus proving-that thc name of Masonry is not an empty title,nor our emblems arc blown bubbles.
Temperance, as constituting honesty, decency,diffidence, instituting modesty, meekness, cle-
* Freemasons ' Magazine, 1860, page 228.t Masonic Lexicon, page 10.j Isaiah i. 18.§ Daniel vii. P.|| Rev. i. 14«{ Cant. v. 10.** Portal. Essay, " Egyptian Symbols."
* Rule xx., passed by the Council of Troycs on thesuggestion of the Abbot of Clairvanx, A.D. 1128.
t Rule xxii., ihideni.X Oliver 's " Symbolical Dictionary," p. 222.
mency, moderatin g our affections, restraining ouijDassions, and establishing chastity and sobriety,thereby promoting the health of the body and thedignity of our species. *
Fortitude, as teaching us to resist temptation,to encounter danger Avith spirit and resolution,to aA*oid fear ou the one hand, and rashness on theother, and to prove that one characteristic of actingunder the guidance of Masonic principles is theacting in all our aA*ocations in life firmly, butagreeably, to the dictates of rectitude and reason.
Prudence, Avithin Avhose starry guide ail virtuesare unfolded, makes us cautious and Avise in mea-sures ancl conduct—i s wisdom applied to practice.The emblem of prudence is thefirst andmost exaltedobject that demands our attention iu the lodge. Itis placed in the centre, ever to be present to the eyeof the Mason, that his heart may be attentive toher dictates and steadfast in her laws, for prudenceis the rul e of all virtues, prudence is the channelAAThence self-approbation IIOAVS for ever. She leadsus forth to Avorthy actions, ancl, as n blazing star,enlightens us throughout the dreary and darksomepaths of life.* '
Justice as the indispensable duty of every man,teaching him to clo right to all , to render to everybrother his just due, iiis obedience to the AA-JII ofGod, his attention to the sacred duties of this life,his love to his native country, his allegiance to hisgovernment, his reverence and respect to his su-periors, kindness to his equals, and to his inferiorsadvice, admoni tion, instruction, brotherl y love,and protection.
^ As such , in these four corners, the speculative
Mason beholds a symbolical allusion to the fourgreat rivers, AA'hich flowed out of the Garden ofEden, illustrated thus :—In Pison, our first parentsrevered the fountain of prudence ; in Giiion theybeheld the sacred stream of justice ; the rapid andirresistible torrent of Heddekel denotes fortitude ;and the Phrath, or Euphrates, the mild but steadycurrent of temperance. Happj* was their stateAvhile these sacred dictates Avere impressed uponthe minds, and happy may be our future life if Avethrough life observe the lessons which they incul-cate—instructed by prudence, guided by justice,strengthened by fortitude, ancl by temperancerestrained.f
The four comers ..also symbolise the four ele-ments, fire, air, earth, Avater, tho four GrandMasters, Moses, Solomon, Zerubbabel , and St.J ohn, and age, virtue, strength, and constancy.
The flap or triangle being the symbol of God,the essence of light and life, represents our first,originating gran d principle " brotherly love." Intheology it always was and still is considered themost sacred emblem, signifying eternity, science,power, morality, justice. The ancients Avorshi ppedit considering it thc grand principle of existence,
the summum bonv.m—they gave it the name of God.We, as worshippers of the Great Architect of theUniverse, must extend the divine principle, " bro-therly love," to all his children. The triangle,considered as a geometrical figure, is composed ofthree things Avhich , united, form one Avhole, viz., ofthree particular points and angles, by the union ofAAdiich the triangle itself is formed as one ivhole orcomplete figure. It is for this reason that it hasbeen adopted as a symbol of the triune God.*
This flap is likewise said to typify the " Age"of an Entered Apprentice Freemason, because iuFrench, Scotch, and some other rites each degreehas an emblematic age. Thus, E.\ A.- . = threeyears, because, in the system of mystical numbers,three is the number of generation , AA'hich comprisesthree terms—the agent, the recipient, the product ;*]*and also to al lude to the step s of an EnteredApprentice consisting of an equal number of rightlines and angles, morally teaching us upright livesancl well-squared actions. It likewise representsthe third of our Avorking tools—the chisel—sym-bolically, education—by Avhich means alone Ave arerendered fit members of regular organised socie-ties;:]; for as the effects of the chisel on the ex-ternal coat soon present their latent beauties to theA*icw, so education discovers the latent virtues ofthe mind , in order to display the summit of humanknowled ge, our duty to God and man.§ Thestrings symbolise Truth , our third grand principle—also the thread of life, Avhi ch lies in the passageof utterance between the gutteral and the pectoral,from Avhich is suspended that mysterious key,framed of no metal , formed by no mortal hand,AA'hich speaks as well of a brother absent as if heAvere present. Thoy also remind us of the straightand uncleviatino' line of conduct laid doAvn for ourguidance in the A'olume of the Sacred Law.
They further symbollise the first of our Avorkingtools, the twenty-four inch square, by the correctuse of AA'hich Ave may connect the central pointtime with the circle of eternity, Avhich two periodstheir dup licated nature renders them apt tokensof—as, though apparently two distinct things, theirreal use is only seen ancl felt Avhen properly united.Also they refer to the Number 2 and the geome-trical straight line, the nearest distance betAveentivo given points.
As this aprou*is " quite free from stain, spot-less," so should the character of every Mason be,and so of every candidate for admission to its mys-teries. "A perfect blank," symbolical of the mindof all men on their entrance on this their mortalcareer. And of the mind of the candidates forinitiation and of the neAvly-made brother, and tothe coAvan world a perfect blank. But in the caseof a neAA'ly-made brother, like a sheet of pure
* Hutchinson 's " Spirit of Masonry."" f Quoted by J. H. Stapleton , 3rd edition of "Handbook of Ereemasonry," p. 33.
* Oliver's " Dictionary of Sybolic Masonry," pp. 355350.
f "Mackey," by Campbell, p. 13.1 Masonic Lectures, first degree, section iii.S Oliver Diet. Symb. Masonry, p. 75.
tmd unpolluted paper, without spot or blemish,ready for the hands of the master builder to draAVthereon the grand designs of truth, Avhence maybe raised the hoped-for superstructure, perfect inall its parts ancl honourableto the builder . Naked,reminding us of the vanity of all things here below.Naked wo came into the world, naked Ave mustreturn . We brought nothing into it, and as-suredly Ave can take nothing out. Naked in tokenof humility ancl reverence.
Much more might be said, and better said, onthis subject ; but it is late, and I. fear that I havealready tired you. Let me, ere I conclude, assureyou, my brethren, that if a Mason acts faithfully,according to all the lessons he may learn from astudious application of the morals to be drawnfrom the symbolical emblems to be found in the¦apron of an Entered Apprentice Freemason, heAvill stand approved before heaven and before man,purchasing honour to our profession and felicity¦to himself.
AN vVDDRESS DELIVERED TO HIS LODGE.BY BEO. B. S.
The Freemason, in common, Avith most men ofthe present age, is brought into continual contactAvith others professing opinions differing from hisOAVU , and perhaps inconsistent Avith them ; but, un-like others, he professes a rule which prohibitshim from bearing himself offensively toAvards them,or making their opinions a subject of contention.
Solomon Avas similarly placed. He had largedealings AA'ith the Gentiles, he made alliances andtraded Avith them, he employed them also on hisAvorks. It may hence be reasonably concludedthat his charity towards them became enlarged ashis intercourse Avith them extended. To some-thing of this kind may be attributed the establish-ment of the Masonic system by jSoloinon, if, indeed,he Avas the founder, ancl to the same thing may beattributed his fall.
I am led, then, to ask how far may a man pro-ceed safely in laying aside his religious peculiari-ties for the time of his intercourse Avith others,and for the sake of stopping the progress of dis-union and. dislike in the human family ?
The case of Solomon SIIOAVS that there is dangerinmakingreligious concession. That of the Sepoysof this age, and the universal story of martyrdomancl persecution, SIIOAV that the disposition to standapart from others is the prolific parent of crueltyand crime. Men AVIIO stand apart from others onaccount of opinions are led to oppress and per-secute. Men Avho do not permit opinions to sepa-rate them from others fall into indifference totruth .
Is there no Avay of avoiding both these evils ?It cannot be denied that the divine law is " Loveall mankind ;" but as that IaAV also enjoins thesternest bearing toAvards, and the avoidance of, all
evil doers, it is evident that the former law must beread subject to the limitation of the latter. It canscarcely be intended that evil doers should be thesubjects of our love ; and as evil thinking mustprecede eA'il doing, does it not folioAV that illopinions should exclude men from the circle of ouraffections , as Avell as evil doers ?
Doubtless, extended intercourse of ChristiansAA'hose lives evince the Avorking of their principlesupon them is intended to be the great missionaryagent in the conversion of the unbeliever. Thespectacle of Christian consistency in olden timesconverted numbers. They were seen to love, nothate, each other, like Pagans ; and the Pagans feltthat the principle of their faith was active andbearing fruit.
To love always, that is under all circumstancesand changes, the proper subjects of our love, is theduty set before us. But who are the proper sub-jects of our love ? "Love not the Avorld." Whatsays the Bible ? The Israelite Avas bound to lovethe Israelite, and, contemplating that mutual lovein their better day, the Psalmist said, " Beholdhow good and pleasant a thing it is for brethren todAvell together in unity."
Was he bound also to We the Gentile ? TheJewish sprang out of the patriarchal church, thedifference between them lying in the possession ofa Avritten, in addition to a traditional, revelation.
Did the J ew love the Gentile of the patriarchalfaith, or Avas he bound to do so ? It is evidentthat in later days, Avhen idolatry had obscured thepatriarchal, and human opinion the Jewish, faith,that the teaching of the age tended to excludeall from the Jew's love who Avere not of the samenation and the same faith. This is shoAvn by thequestion put to our Lord, " Who is my neighbour ?"The Saviour did not ansAver as was evidently ex-pected, " The Israelite," but told the story of thegood Samaritan, AA'ho forgets all antipathies Avhenhe AA'itnessed the poor JOAY'S distress. But doesthis parable do more than inculcate the duty ofrelievina- the distress of all ? Does it show thatAve should seek out, and associate Avith men ofAA'rong A'iews ?
The Christian church springs from the JeAvishand patriarchal churches alike, but has again alarger revelation. Christian should love Christian ;but should he extend more than a neutral courtesyto those beyond the pale of his church ?
1. The Avill of God, as displayed in the religionof the early patriarchs, united men in brotherlybonds, and constrained them to 1OA*C one another.
2. The reception by some of them of the Mosaicrule in no Avay interfered Avith this prior obligation,nor does the acceptance of the Christian rule do so.
•3. Were it othenvise, one duty to God wouldbe o]:>posed to another duty to God, that is it wouldbe man's duty to love and not to love the sameobject. But God is the same yesterday, to-day,and for ever ; his obligations must consequently beconsistent Avith each other.
The patriot, the JCAV, and the Christian, enjoy thesame light, though in different degrees, and adorethe Father of that light, the one true God ; buthoAv is it with the Hindoo, the Mahomedan, andthe Mormonite, who have darkened that light ?
Nature witnesses to Scripture that natural laAvsoperate on all alike. " He sendeth his rain uponthe just and upon the unjust ;" but as universallyas they operate for the good of those Avho obeythem, so universally and inflexibly do they moveto the destruction of those Avho are disobedient tothem, just or unjust.
" Our charity,"—that is love, the many suspectno more than almsgiving Avas originally meant—"shall knoAv no bounds," i.e., of faith or politics," save those of prudence." We should extendkindness as widely as we are willing to receive it.There should be mutual concession, reciprocalfriendship, mutual obligation. Should we notrather abstain from prayer altogether than prayAvrongly ? May meetings rightly commence Avith-out prayer ? Masons mutually agree not to discussfaith nor politics, nor interfere Avith practice, butthey lay not aside nor weaken any opinion.
Christianity, or a higher privilege and morecomplete revelation than any Avhich preceded it,instead of denoting that love and goodwill Avhichman had previously cherished, AA'ould, as display-ing and manifesting the principles of a higher love,bring it into a more active and healthy existence.
" Do good unto all men," says the Apostle—Gal. vi. 10 ; the " especially," connected with it,does not neutralise the general proposition, butpoints out the more immediate object of tho dis-position to do good. He Avould be no ChristianAvho restricted his kindness to his OAVU party, andfailed to do s-ood to all mankind.
" Love not the Avorld, neither the things of thei T i t •Avorld, seems an opposite maxim to that of
" Love all men ;" but it must mean love not theopenly wicked, the men Avho live only for the pre-sent. The firs t blasphemy, the firs t impiety, shalldrive us; but it does not folloAv that Ave should,Avhen Ave fall into their society, shun those AVIIOhave not the same high views of truth as ourselves,but who Avalk morally in the light they have. Wemay not stand at the same time in tho spirit ofChrist, and say of such—stand by, 1 am holierthan thou ; but " none of us liveth unto himself :Ave have not only to obtain, but to impart edifica-tation. The company Ave fall into should receiveedification from us. We should not obtrude ; weshould argue more by conduct—by actions ratherthan Avords.
The enjoyment of higher privileges than otherscancels no general obligations. No sociality inother things can compensate for the Avant of love." If any man say I love God, and hateth his bro-ther, he is a liar."—St. John .
Such are the difficulties of this tAVofold vieAv.Scripture must be confronted Avith Scripture.Analogies must be sought.—Prov. xvii. 17,
PROGRESS OF FREEMASONRY IN INDIA.( From the Masonic Record of Western India.)
Since the publication of our last number AA*Chave ascertained the following changes in lodgesand chapters :—
A IICAV lodge under the English Constitution hasbeen formed at Bombay, to be called " The Starof India," of AA'hich Bro. the Rev. J. J. Farnhamis the Worshipful Master.
In Sincl tAvo HBAV Royal Arch Chapters underthe Supreme G rand Chapter of Scotland have beenestablished, one at Kotree under the designationof " Fidelity/'' and the other at Munora to be-called "Anchor of Haven." The Avarrants forthese tAvo neiv chapters have been received.
We also learn that Comp. Berne, M.E. P. Prov. Z..is to be appointed Provincial Grand Superinten-dent of Royal Arch Masonry under Scotland forthe Province of Sind.
The brethren of Lodge Industry at Kotree-have established a joint stock company with acapital of 5,000 Rs. for tho erection of a MasonicTemple at that station. It is believed the buildingwill be completed by the end of June.
A Lodge of Instruction has been formed in con-nection Avith Lodge St. Paul at MIIOAV, under thepresidency of Bro. F. Scrivener. The brethrenof Lodge St. Paul also purpose erecting a Masonic-Temple.
In Bengal a HBAV lodge has been established,under the English Constitution, to be called.¦¦' Temperance and Benevolence," and other lodgesare about to be formed at Gwalior, Sealkote, audUpper Assam.
A memorial has been addressed to the M.W..Grand Master of England by the Masonic bodiesof Shanghai, praying that a " Provincial GrandLodge of Northern China and Japan" may boestablished, and the empire of China thus divided-into two provinces—the former jurisdiction of theProvincial Grand.Master at Hongkong being re-stricted to the country as far north as Foochow,.and the IICAV Provincial Grand Ledge having itshead-quarters at Shanghai, to exercise jurisdictionfrom FoochoAv to the northern borders of Chinaand to include the ports in Japan.
ARCHiEOLOGIC ITEMS FEOM ROME.The longer one considers the procedure of those
responsible for the interests of antiquity in Rome,the more is one astonished at those inconsistenciesand the strange contrasts from time to time pre-sented, betAveen inertness and zeal, carefulnessand neglect. For some time have been progress-ing Avorks for a neAV road toAvards tho centralrailAvay station, AA'hich UOAV obtrudes a frightfuland paltry front on the planted esplanade Avherethe Therma. of Diocletian rise in ruins, to sogreat a degree obscured by the Carthusian mo-nastery in their midst. Yarious remains of those
imperial baths, in form of low brickwork vaults,extending in a direct line westward from theentrance to the monastic church, have beengradually laid open, ancl we may suppose these tobe bathing chambers for private use, of Avhosemasonry only remain inner Avails and hemicyclesthus preserved. Nearer to the church front havebeen found other objects—the remnant of a semi-circular structure in lateritial brick, tivo wells ofsome depth, tAvo marble baths, the imperfect shaftof an enormous granite column, and various otherfragments in marble. One detail worth noticingis the opus reticulatu m in these smaller structures,ii series of semicircles, like the inner extremities ofmany ancient Roman interiors, being in this styleof tufa masonry, said to have fallen into disusesoon after the time of Antoninus Caracalla, but inthis instance shoivn to have been continued byRoman builders till the beginning of the fourth-century. The absence of statuary from thesethermae is accounted for by Avhat several -writers ofpast ages—Albertini, Flaminio Vacca, Ficoroni—tell us respecting the successive discoveries anclremoval of buried sculptures from this site, be-tAveen the earlier years of the sixteenth and theend of the seventeenth century ; on one occasion¦eighteen busts of philosophers, immured togetherin a, recess like an oven, as described by Vacca.The same line of IIOAV road is UOAV being carried onthrough a hitherto solitary and picturesque region—the narroAV valley, occupied by gardens, betAveenthe Quirinal and Viminal Hills. Opposite theisolated old church of St. Vitale, on the slopes ofthe Viminal, has been laid open a long substruc-tion, partly of the same reticulated tufa, jnartly ofbrickwork, opening in several niches, or small¦chambers, along the front, AA'ith vaults retainingcoloured stucco on their surfaces ; in one of theseAvas a mosaic, not without beauty, representing afemale in the act of leaAnng the bath, Avhilst asei-A'ant-maid presents to her a mirror, Avhichvaluable art-relic, through the clumsy proceedingof those AVIIO endeavoured to detach it from theAvail, Avas totally destroyed. On the story sup-ported by this substructure are traceable the plansof several rooms, AA'ith some portions of Avail, onthe stuccoed surface of Avhich are painted orna-ments of graceful character ; elseivhere, on theareas of tAvo chambers, remains some tesselateclpavement ; and, under the accliA'ity of the hill,open several galleries, or tunnels, Avhose Avails arecovered Avith inlaid work knoAvn as opus sirjninu'm.As yet Ave are left quite in the dark respecting-the ' future fate of these lately disinterred ruins ;but antecedents must lead us to conclude that theywill share the destiny of various other antiquitiesin Rome, swept aAvay for utilitarian purposes.Thus Avere doomed to disappear the structuresfound, in 1862, near the raihvay station, consist-ing of a cupola-roofed hall, ancl several bathing-chambers, enriched by mosaic pavements andfresco pictures representing females in the act of
dressing or undressing before and after the enjoy-ment of the bath. Another interesting discovery,among results of the Avorks for levelling on thisspot, Avas that of the Agger, and a remnant inmassiA'e stone courses of the walls called afterServius Tullius ; and, though the originals of thosefrescoes have been destroyed, we may consoleourselves by the knoAvledge that, in copies atleast, they will be handed down to posterity, asengraved in the annals of the Archa_ologicInstitute.
TAVO sites, where the Papal Government is UOAVcarrying on excavations, are Ostia, and an estateon the Avestern slopes of the Palatine Hill. Atthat ancient part of Rome has lately been openeda sepulchre, Avhose OAvners were the Sacilian family,profusely adorned with stucco, reliefs, andpaintings;among the subjects of the latter, figures of a priestand a genius ; Saturn in the act of seizing one of hischildren Avhile a stone is presented to him by Rhea ;also the " Rape of Prosperine." In a sepulchrenear this had been previously discovered severalother mythologic paintings—" Orpheus and Eury-dice," "Pluto and Prosperine," and one of thenumerous mosaics, in temples or therma?, found atOstia, within recent years, is IIOAV being laid downin a hall (not yet public, but eventually to be so),in the Vatican.
The excavations ordered by the Emperor ofFrance, on the Palatine, are being prosecuted Avith.with regular acti-vity; and the public are admittedevery Thursday to see discoveries important inrespect to light thrown on topography ancl generalplans in the very complex structures on that Im-perial Mount.
The Pope has approved a project for enlargingthe Lateran basilica, by the addition of arcadesand pilasters, betAveen the transepts and the tri-bune, AA'hich Avould involve the necessity of taking-down (to be reconstructed) the most interesting,the only venerable ancl hitherto unspoilt antiqueportion of this church ; its apse, namely, Avith thefine mosaics of the thirteenth century, and the (forRome) unique example of the semicircular pillaredaisle, Avith groined vaulting, behind the. sameancient sanctuary, part of the buildings raised inthe tenth century. That such procedure shouldbe projected hy artists, and approved by highestauthority here, is a deplorable fact quite beyondcomment.
The English Archaeologic Association has heldfour meetings since its birth in the last month,—t'vo for the examining and explaining of ancientchurches in situ ; one at the Christian Museum,in the Lateran Palace, for the study of themonuments in that collection ; and one at theEnglish Consulate, for a lecture on " AncientRoman Mosaics in Great Britain," delivered Avithmuch ability and knoAvledge of the subject byDr. Wollaston, AA'ho illustrated his exposition byvarious coloured draAvings and engraA-ings as heproceeded. As this society is HOAV definitively
organized, its vice-presidents (Lord Talbot deMalahide being president) aro the Hon. HenryWalpole, the Rev. Dr. Smith (a Benedictinepriest and professor of Hebreiv), Mr. Severn(H.B.M. Consul), Mr. G. N. Parker, and Mr.C. D. Fortnum ; and a committee of six members,—Messrs. J. Lecky, Christie Miller, Charles Perkins,C. J. Hemans, Francis Samwell, Charles Wilshire,— meet, as occasion requires, at the houseof the secretary, Mr. Shakspere Wood. Afterthe last lecture, AA'hich gave general satisfac-tion and elicited a vote of thanks to Dr. Wol-laston, the committee met to bring to a close theproceeding's of the season, in the intent of resum-ing- operations, Avith ampler means and largerprojects it may be hoped, in the ensuing autumn.On an average about fift y ladies and gentlemenhave been the number of visitors hitherto at theseveral reunions, to AA'hich admission is by ticketor invitatiou, the party Avho reads on, or othei-Aviseexplains the archaeologic subject of the day being-entitled to invite six strangers : occasional hearersadmissible by tickets at one scido.
MASONIC NOTES AND CtTJEEIES .
THE PHILOSOPHER 'S STONE .Had the philosopher's stone anything to do with
Freemasonry ?—X.—[The philosophical stone plays aconspicuous part iu various forei gn rites, but thephilosopher's stone is a very different affajr—if youmean that Avhich was the crux of the Rosicruciansand Alchemists. There is another philosop her 's stoneof AA'hich you may gather some hints in Buhner'sZanoni. That AYHS—or rather is—Masonic]
BUDDHISM AND EEEEMASONRY.
"In what points cousists the similarity betweenBuddhism and Freemasonry ?" A correspondentfirst suggests that such similarity consists in theacknowledgment of a"Great Architect of tho Universe.lie next suggests that it consists iu the inculcation ofthe practice of world-wide chari ty. The formersuggestion is Avrong, as shall be slio-vn on a futureday. The latter suggestion is right. A question ,analogous to the foregoing, ivas asked by somebrother tiv o years ago ; see my communication tothe FREEMASONS ' MAGAZINE , vol . viii., p. 430. Inthat communication there is a slight error of thepress. The word " Avildes't" should be read " Avidest."— CHAELES BURTON COOPEE .
COLOURED -BANNERS.
Whose business is it to bear the Avhite , scarlet,purple, and blue banners in the Royal Arch ?—ANOLD COMPANION .—[They are no longer used, butwere home by the guards at the veils. The veils arediscarded , and the Eoyal Arch degree is a j umble.]
OLD DOCUMENTS , SUMMONSES , &C.Some littl e time ago I asked, in these columns, foi
any old summonses, hy-laivs, impressions of seals, etc.,which brethren might have by them hut consider use-less. I hai'e received several such packages. Onefrom Sir Knt. Icwiu , another from Bro, Evans, of
Constantinop le, others from 13. S., J. E. A., Ex. Ex,ancl tivo anonymously. Some of them contain muchcurious and interesting matter , and a code of by-lawsreceived from B. S., dated 1801, is so A'ery quaint andexplains such curious customs , long obsolete in theCraft , that I have made a selection of several -worthyof being read.-—MATTHEW COOKE .
The lod ge is not specified , for particular reasons,but the clauses are as follows :—
Article II.—Every member shall behave himself inthe lodge Avith due decorum , and appear therein iudecent apparel , and proper clothing. He shall notcurse, swear, offer to lay Avages, use any leiv d or un-becoming language, in derogation of God's name audcorruption of good manners ; nor behave himsel fludicrously, nor jestingly, while thc lod ge is engagediu any thing serious and solemn; neither is he to intro-duce or support any controversy or dispute aboutreligion or politics. He must never appear at thelodge disguised iu liquor ; he shall not hold any pri-vate committee in the lodge, nor go out of it during,lodge hours, without the Master's leave ; he shallbehave himself, out of the lodge, on all occasions, asan honest man, and avoid carefull y every action thatmay bring an odium upon his reputation , ancl a re-flection upon the fraternity.
III.—At home, and in his neighbourhood , he is to-behave as a ivise and moral mini. He is never to-communicate to his nei ghbours, friends , or acquaint-ance, the private transactions of our assemblies ; butupon every occasion , to consult his OAV*U honour , andthe reputation of the society at large.
IV.—At the third stroke 'of the Master 's hammer(ahvays to be repeated by the Senior Warden) thereshall be a general silence, which , on no pretence, shallbe broken by any one, without leave from the chair.No one shall speak more than once to the sameaffair , unless to explain himself, or ivhen called uponby the chair to speak ; the speaker shall ahvays rise,and continue standing, addressing himself in a propermaimer to the chair, nor shall any one presume tointerrup t him , unless the Master, finding him wanderfrom the point , shall think fit to enjoin him to order.The speaker , having been set right, may proceedagain , if he pleases.
V.—Any member offending in one or more of thoparticular clauses of the foregoing articles, shall be-subject to a fins not exceeding one shilling, nor lessthan sixpence for each offence, to be levied accordingto the nature of it, at the discretion of the Master ;but if admonition and fines are found insufficient toreduce any member to order , after the minutes havebeen three times taken by the Secretary, the Mastershal l demand , on the stated lod ge night, Avhere thereshall be present at least two-thirds of tho members,.Avhether the said member shall stand a ballot for hisexclusion or not, and if . a majo rity of hands deter-mines it iu the affirmative , on the stated lodge nightimmediately following, he shall stand such ballot, andthat determination shall be final.
Authority of Officers. I.—The Master for the time-being has a right and power to summon Lodges ofEmergency , or, iu his absence, the Senior Warden ;,he has likeivise poAver to levy the fines set forth inthe foregoing articles, as ivell upon Lodges of Emer-gency as stated lodge nights, but, herein, impartialityand candour, are l-eeommended.
II.—The lodge shall never be removed Avithout theMaster 's knowled ge, nor any motion be made for suchremoval in his absence. If such motion be made inhis presence, and that motion be seconded andthirded , the Master shall order an especial summonsto every individual member, specifying the business,and appointing a day for hearing and determiningthe affair , at least ten days before. The determina-tion shal l be made by a majority ; hut, if the Masterbe against removing the lod ge, the majority for aremoval shall consist of two-thirds of the memberspresent. In all ballots, aud affairs relating to thelodge, the Master is entitled to a casting vote uponan equalit y of numbers.
Achnission of Members.—A friend desirous tobe made a Mason , must be reported by a member inlodge hours , ancl ten shillings and sixpence be de-posited by such member. If he should not beapproved , his ten shillings and sixpence shall beimmediately returned. On the stated lodge nightfollowing after such report, he shall stand a ballotfor his admission , and may be made ou any statedlodge night, or Lodge of Emergency, as shall then benominated by the Master ; and if any person proposedto be made a Mason does not attend within sixmonths after he is balloted for and accepted , his tenshillings and sixpence shall be forfeited , and he shallstand a fresh ballot, in the same manner as aboverelated.
II.—A brother desirous to become a member ofthis lodge shall be reported ancl balloted for in likemanner, as is set forth in the foregoing article.
III.—No person shall be suffered , or admitted tobe made a free and accepted Mason in this lod ge, or,if a Mason , to become a member thereof , unless Avel lknown by one or more members to be a man ofvirtuous principles and integrity, and such as, bytheir own consent, are desirous to become brethren ,it being contrary to our constitution to persuade orengage thereto. And it is hereby recommended toevery good Mason , ancl particularl y to the brethrenof this lodge, that they be careful whom they recom-mend as candidates for Masonry, that they maynot bring scandal ancl disreputation on the Craft.
Expenses. I.—Each member belonging to thelod ge shall pay shillings quarterly, on the usualdays of quarterly payments, or the next lodge nightthereto ; but if not paid ou such quarterly ni ght , orlodge night ensuing, he shall be indulged tAvo clearnights after ; and , if he pays not the above-mentionedurn ou the third lod ge night after such quarterly
day of appointment , the said member, for such neg-lect, shall be disqualified from voting in the lodgeunless all his arrears are paid.
II.—If a member neglects to pay his quarterage forthe space of one year , his account shall be sent himancl payment demanded , and , if not paid ivithin onemouth after his account is presented , he shall nolonger be considered a member , and his name shallbe erased from the lod ge books.
III.—Each one for being admitted a Freemason iuthis lod ge shall pay three pounds three shillings , fiveshillings of which shall be paid to the Grand Lodgefor reg istering his name in the Grand Lod ge books.Every brother readmitted a member shall pay tenshillings and sixpence ; and every brother admitted amember, not having been made iu this lodge, shall
pay one pound eleven shillings and sixpence, IAVOshillings ancl sixpence of which is paid to the GrandLod ge for registering his name.
IV.—If a Lodge of Emergency be called for theadvantage or particular business of auy brother , theexpenses of such meeting shall be discharged by suchbrother , mention whereof shall be made iu thesummons, provided always such expenses shall notexceed one shilling for every member that attends." V.—EA*ery A'isiting brother pays three shillings forthe evening's expenses.
Election of' Officers, and theirDull/ . I.—Upon thestated lodge night preceding the Feast of St. Johnthe Evangelist, the officers to be elected in themanner following, viz.,—The Master shall nominatehis successor for the year ensuing, but, if not unani-mously approved of, the lodge may nominate another,which tivo shall stand candidates for the chair. Thecandidates shall withclravy , and the Master shall collectthe votes m Avriting, each member to have one vote,and the Master tivo, in case of an equal number.The candidates being called in, the Master shall de-clare him duly elected who has the majority. TheMaster elect and the lodge shall each nominate acandidate for the Senior Warden , to be balloted foras before, and so in the choice of the Junior Wardenancl Treasurer , the Master elect choosing a Secretary,unless a standing one be appointed.
II.—Each member refusing to serve any of theaforesaid offices (past officers excepted) shall be sub-ject to the following fines .-—Master elect to pay 5s.,ancl the Wardens 2s. Gd. each for such refusal.
III.—On the feast day aforesaid , every member ofthe lodge shall attend the feast , between the hours oftwelve and two, if he possibly can , ancl, in case ofnon-attendance , he shall pay tivo shillings. TheWardens shall be Stewards for the clay, under theMaster 's direction.
IV. —No petitions or appeals shall be heard onthe annual feast clay, nor shall any thing be transactedbut the customary business of the day.
V.—Should the Master die during the term of hisoffice , or, by any other means, be rendered incapableof discharg ing the trust reposed in him , the last PastMaster may nominate a successor for the remainderof the year, to be voted for in the same manner as setforth in the first article for the election of officers ;and if the Master does not attend the regular lodgenights , the next Past Master shall take the chair(after the Senior Warden has congregated the lodge),or, in his absence, or declining of it, the next PastMaster. In the absence of the officers , any brother, aMaster Mason , qualified for it, may take the chair, andproceed upon the business of that night only.
VI.—The Master shall order the Secretary todeliver summonses to the Tyler, at least some timethe day before meeting, as well on stated lodgenights as Lodges of Emergency. The Master,Wardens, and other officers , shal l be punctual in thelod ge room at stated hours. They shall carefullypreserve order during lod ge hours , and the JuniorWarden shall give notice half-an-hour before thetime of closing the lod ge. During these hours, theSecretary shall take proper minutes of the evening'stransactions , Avhich shall ahvays be publicly readbefore the time of closing. The Secretary shall alsocarefull y execute the Master's orders , in the perform-
ance of such business as relates to the lodge and thenature of his office. All, or either of the afoiesaidofficers neglecting their duty as aforesaid , are subjectto the following flues, viz :—The Master to a for-feiture of a sum not exceeding two shillings, nor lessthan one, to be determined by a majority of theofficers present ; each Warden ancl Secretary to a sumnot exceeding one shilling and sixpence, nor less thansixpence, at the discretion of the Master and mem-bers present, to be determined by a majority, accord-ing to the nature of the offence respectively.
VII.—The Master shall cause the by-laws to beread once a quar ter, and at the admission of ei-crynew brother.
The Ty ler and Ids Per quisites. I.—The Tyler shallbe at the lodge room balf-an-hour on each lod ge nightbefore the stated time of meeting, to prepare theroom for the reception of the brethren , and shall tyleon the outside of the door during lodge hours (un-less permitted by the Master to enter the lodge), andkeep au exact account of the evening 's expenses ; heshall attend the Secretary some time the day precedingthe lodge night, for the summonses, which he shalldeliver on that day, or sooner, if he receive*! them.He shall take proper care of the things belonging tothe lodge, afte r it is closed , ancl his neglect or omissionin one or more of these clauses, shall be punishedwith a fine not exceeding oue shilling, nor less thansixpence, at the discretion of the Master.
II.—If any bo made to discharge the office ofTyler he shall be made gratis, but shall tyle one yearAvithout fee or reivard , save the expenses of ' theevening, Avhich shall ahvays be borne him , as shallalso the expenses of the feast day. After such yearhe shall be entitled to one shilling each lod ge nighthe discharges his dut y, two shillings and sixpence foreach making, ancl one shilling for the admission of abrother becoming a member of this lod ge. In ivantof a proper Tyler, the Master Masons, members ofthe Lodge, shall tyle in thoir turn as their names arcenrolled.
c. s. E . n.On a Masonic medal there is depicted a perfect
ashlar. The two sides expo sed to view shoiv a triangle,and the letters C. S. B. R. What does the latterstand for.—STUDENS ,
A JUDICIAL OPINION OP SECEESY.In a charge delivered recently to grand jury, the
jud ge thus expressed himself in relation to secre'sy.—'- One great reason wh y in every country the institu-tion of _ the grand jury is looked upon Avith respect, isthat it is the onl y branch of the court that performsits duty in secret.— LEX'MASONICA .
QUERY FOR KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.When Richard Coeur clo Lion led the armies of the
cross into D udea , Avhen , advancing I'rom his camp inthe valley of Aj alon , he had arrived at the MountNebi-Samuel , from Avhich is the first vieAv of Jeru-salem , covered his face Avith his han ds , forbearing tolook upon the Sacred City until he had uttered thisnoble prayer, " Ah! Lord God , I pray that I maynever sec thy Holy City if so be that I may notrescue it from the hands 'of thine enemies !" Whereis such an anecdote recorded ?—A POOR FELLOAYSOLMER .
TITTLE TATTLE .Almost every body you know has a "little bird
that told." I had a " little bird" that told me so once,and I'll give you its description. It was onl y six feethigh, AA'ith a Roman bill and dark eyes, perfectly whiteteeth that never scraped acquaintance with the dentists,and unexceptionable Avhiskers. Such AA'as my familiarspiri t, <: the little bird that told me everything." Ihave frequently seen the little birds of other fri ends.Some of them have hooked noses and frilled caps,though such are almost always the little birds of thechildren, ancl love to sit in the chimney corner. Littlebirds are generally close-mouthed aud observing, andso A-ery unassuming and innocent iu appearance thatmost people think thoy don 't mind , and tell statesecrets before them. Then when the secrets are eachand all handsomely feathered aud flying all over town,Avhy how do you know it—" oh ! a little bird told meso." To tell you the truth then , "little birds" arevery troublesome animals -, I don't believe lawyers aremuch Averse. Whenever I. go in company I invariablypicks out the " little birds," and take a stitch in mylips. If they come near me I am attacked by aA'ohmtary lock-jaw. One of these " little birds"ruined a respectable family once, by villifying a hand-some young man , the hope and idol of the home circle ;and since then I have never allowed myself to listento a " little bird ," or to have a familiar spirit in theshap e of a gossipping, scandal-loving, slauderiug manor woman. Beivare of "little birds," except they aredear old grandmothers AA*1IO sing to please little earsand never knoiv any harm of their neighbours, if youAvant them to ever so much .—A WELL WISHER TOALE AVHOM IT MAY CONCERN .
THE CIEMS OF OUE CRAFT .A brother once sung a song of which the princi pal
refrain Avas " The Gems of our Craft." If it is printedAvill some one tell me Avhere ? If it is in MS. Avherecan I get a copy ? —B.—[We never heard of it, but -some of our readers may know it, aud to them weappeal to help " B."]
A BATCH OF QUERIES.
Where are the proof 's that Frederick the Great Avasthe founder of the Ancient and Accepted Rhe, andthat the Constitutions of that syste m ivere made iu17S2, at Berlin ? That thc Cologne Document is agenuine one, of the year 1535 ? That thc Order ofKnights Templar is a continuation of the ancientTemp lars of the Crusades ? That there Avas really ameeting of a Grand Lodge at York (954?), held, orordered by Edwin ?—STUDENS .
TURKS AND FREEMASONRY.
In an old Revie'i*, the following passage occurs,in a notice of an Oriental book :—"It is found thatthe Freemasons exist in Turkey in large numbers,under the name of Dervishes, ancl use exactl y thesame sign words ancl gri ps found among their Euro-pean brothers. They have nineteen lod ges in Con-stantinop le, and no less than fifty thousand membersin Persia. The views of the Dervishes on religionappear to be far hi gher than those imposed by Islaism ,and at their banquet s their Avomen appear unveiled.They also content themselves Avith one wife. TheTurkish Freemasons Avear a smal l brcivn shawl , em-broidere d with mystical figures, and suspended fromtheir necks is a flat polished twelve cornered piece of
white marble with reddish broivn spots, symbolical ofthe death of Ali, the founder of their order, who wasput to death by the Sultan for refusing to disclosethe secrets to him." Is this the fact ?—J. S.—[No.See a' series of articles on the subject in our MAGAZINEfor 1S5L]
QUOTATION.
Where clo the folloiving lines come from ?—P. P.A tower of SIR E-TO-TH on Zion's mystic hills,
Girt round with llEAtTir of sweet Sharon's lines,"Model of WISDOJI, drawn from sacred rills,
All gift Divine , reserved for richest use:—Celestial Power , him in th y care embrace !
Keep him for many years out- guide and friend !Endue him plenteousl y with heavenl y grace,
Yes and with joy insp ire him to the end 
death his widow ancl orphans are assisted. But thereis no occasion for petition iu this case ; all paymentsare demanded as a legal right, aud the ju stly earned3'eward of the member 's prudence and ' forethought.The benefit of this friendl y union of interests is feltby the respectable Avorking man , AVIIO may be called ,through the presence of circumstances, to leave hishome and seek employment elsewhere : he is receivedin any lodge Avhere he may fix his UCAV abode, thesame as if he were in the town he AA'as made in. Thisobject could not be attained in any local friendlysociety ; hence the favour Avith Avhich this Order isreceived by those for whom it was designed ; andanother object Ave attain is that combined action isobtained , and petitions circulated through the Unityfor meetiug public calamity is sure to be Avell re-sponded to by the members. Amongst others I maymention that wheu distress prevailed in Irelaud in18-16-7, £2,152 12s. Id. Avas the result of the appeal .The national appeal to assist in raising the PatrioticFund in 1855 was responded to by our members with£2,579 4s. lOJ. ; and lastly, the recent appeal onbehalf of the distressed operatives , 18G3-4, produced*£4,83I lGs. lid. I hope, therefore, that my brotherMason will see that while Odd Felloivs possess warmhearts, they never seek to imitate Masonic work incarrying out the principles of friendshi p, love, ancltruth.
Tours fraternally,JAMES SPRY,
Gen. S. of the Plymouth District-Manchester Unity of Odd FCIIOAA'S.
MOUNT LEUAXON LODGE (NO. 73).—On Tuesday, the lGtlsinst., the last meeting of tho season of this old established,prosperous , ancl flourishing lodge was held at the Green ManTavern , Tooley-street , Southwark (Bro. C. A. Cathie 's). Thelod ge was opened and presided over by Bro. Henry Moore,AV.M. ; and there were also present Bros. E. K". Levy, I.P.M. ;J. C. Gooddy, S.W. ; G. Morris , J.W. ; E. Harris, P.M., Treas.;J, Donl-in, P.M., See. ,- T. J. Sabine, S.D.; P. II. Ebswortli ,J.D.; J. T. C. Powell, I.G.; M. A. Loewenstark , W.S. j V.Walters, P.M., Dir. of Cers. ; S. S. Sard , M. Spier , B. Fenn ,C. D. AVatlcins, W. H. Jarvis, C. A. Cathie, 11. G. Chippei-fiehl,P. E. Cooper , AV. C. Paraes, J. Retzbach , D. Eose, It. Stevens,J. Gale, D. Barclay, It. Ard, and many others. Amongst thevisitors we noticed Bros. Roberts, 14-7; Dr. Ly tic, P.M. 700 ;and others whose names wo were unable to learn. Bro. Bar-clay was raised to the third degree, Bro. Gale passed to thcsecond degree, and Mr. Bruce initiated into ancient Free-masonry. The AA'.M., Bro. H. Moore, rendered these cere-monies in a faultless and admirable manner. Bro. T. J. Sabine,S.D., was accep ted as the Steward for the Girls' School for186G, and Bro. G. Morris , J.AV., was accepted as tho Stewardfor the Boys' School for I860. It was announced that the lateesteemed ancl lamented Bro. Matthew Eltliam , P.M., who forsome few years before, and up to the time of his death , Avas thefather of this lodge, had left by his will as a legacy the muni-ficent sum of £337 10s. to the Eoyal Masonic Institution forthe Sons of Deceased Freemasons, which is one of the largestsums ever left by a private individual to any of the MasonicChavities. His executors had paid the money into the funds ofthat Charit y. The same worthy brother left a legacy of £100to most of the London police-court poor-boxes. The brethrenthen partook of an excellent banquet.
PHCEXIX LODGE (No. 173).—The last meeting - for the seasonof this excellent lod ge was held on Saturday, tho 13th inst,,Bro. Hubbard , WM., presiding. The minutes of the previousmeeting liaving been read and confirmed , Bro. Green was ablyraised , and Bros. White and .Taggers passed to their respectivedegrees by the WM. The W.M. elect, Bro. Geo. Wilson , Avasthen presented to the W.M., who went through the ceremonyof installation with great care and effect. At the close of theceremony the AA'.M. appointed his officers as follows :—Bros.Caldcleugh, S.AV. ; Faulkner , J.W. ; Hubbard , P.M., Sec.;Stanton , S.D.; Coppock, J.D.; Gridley, I.G. ; Greenwood , Dir.of Cers. ; AVatson , Wine Steward. Bro. States was reinvestedTreasurer. The new W.M. then initiated Mr. Haynes intoMasonry. The brethren then , to the number of about fifty,adjourned to the banquet , and spent a very pleasant evening,which was much enhanced by the talent of Bros. Coward ,G. Org. (who was initiated in the lod ge), D. King, AAreeks,Distiu , and Carter. AA'e had almost omitted that a P.M.'sjewel ivas presented to Bro. Hubbard in testimony of his services.
SEW CO>"COKD LODGE (No. 813).—The last meeting of thislodge prior to the summer vacation was held on the 19th inst.,and was signalised by a large attendance of members and visitors .The AV.M., Bro. Boyce, had an abundance of Masonic working-before him , which he discharged with his accustomed ability.The ceremonies consisted of one raising, five passings, and threeinitiations. It was unanimousl y resolved to hold a summerbanquet at Broxbonrne , early in July. After the despatch ofseveral matters connected with tho welfare of the lodge, thebrethren adjourned to the banqueting room, where an excellentdinner had been provided in Bro . Gable 's best style. The AV.M.was supported by Bros. Emmens, P.M., G. Purst., Hodges, P.M.,P. Prov. G. Sec", and several visitors from the Old Concord and
METE0P0LITAN.
MASONIC MEM.The Treasurer of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys has
recentl y received from the executors of the late Bro. MatthewEltham, of Deptford, £337, being the amount of a legacy leftby the will of that gentleman. Bro. Eltham was a member ofthe Mount Lebanon Lodge (No. 73).
THE MASONIC MIRROR.
TO TIIE EDITOE OF Till! FKEKJlASOXs ' MAGAZINE .VXD MASOSIO MIKIIOK.
_ DEAI. SIB AJ*U BBOTUEK ,—Among the many tra-ditions relating to the Craft, there is ono by whichwe learn that in some remote corner of the offices atGreat Queeu-street , perhaps even in a cup board underthe stairs, a number of papers ancl documents aredeposited , referring to the history of Preemasonryduring the last sixty years. It is said they Avere col-lected by the late Grand Secretary. I believe in aformer number of the EEEEMASONS ' MAGAZINE men-tion was made of these archives, but unfortunately,I cannot find ivlien ?*
JSTOAV that all the papers are being removed intothe neiv building, I beg to suggest that an excellentopportunity is afforded to commit these Masonicstate papers to a Masonic Mr. llertslet to collate, tosift , and to prepare for publication , at the cost ofGrand Lod ge, all those that are of value or interest.
Yours fraternall y,ALIENI APPETEUS .
[•¦ Within the last three months.—E D . P.M.]
11ECORDS OF MODERN E11EEMASOM4Y.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FHEElrASO:iS' JIAGAZI.VE AXD MASONIC HIBIlO.'!.
DE^B SIB AND BEOTIIEK ,—As mistakes may arisefrom similarity of name, trade, and street , will youkindl y permit me to state that I am not the personAvhose name appeared in the list of bankrupts onSaturday, the 20th inst. ?
Yours trul y and fraternally,ED AVD . EABTHUTU , P.M. 101,
119, Cheapside, E.C. May 24th, 1805.
BEO. EA11T1IKNTG.
other lodges. After tho usual formal toasts , the health of theAV.M. was drank with true Masonic fervour , and also (separatelyproposed) the healths of Bros. Emmens and Hodges, both ofAvhom appealed to the brethren to afford their aid towards ren-dering the inauguration of tho new Boys' School on the SthJuly a memorable event. A most agreeable evening was spentby the brethren.
EOYAL ARCH.METROPOLITAN.
Ci'itus CnAi'i'BH (No. 21).—The last convocation of theseason was held on Tuesday, May 23rd , at the London Coffee-house, Lud gatc-hiil. Comp. Harrison , M.E.Z. ; Comp. How , asH.; Comp. Churchill , J. Bro. George Borlase Childs , of theBurling ton Lod ge, was exalted , Comp. Williams efficiently dis-charg ing the duties of P.S. The summer festival was settledlor the fourth Tuesday in July, to be held at the CrystalPalace. On tho motion of the M.E.Z., three guineas wero votedto the Building Fund of the Boys' School .
STARK MASONRY.
CORNWALL.TBUBO — Forlilv.de Lodge (No. 78).—This lod ge held its first
regular meeting on Thursday, the 18th inst., at the FortitudeMasonic Rooms. The warrant was granted on the 4-th of Mayby the G. Master, Viscount Iloliuesdale, M.P., in answer to a
PROVINCIAL.
DURHA M.HA RTLEPOOL.—St. Helen's Lodge (No. 531.).—This lodgo
¦met on Thursday, the 18th inst., in the Masonic Hall , fov thepurpose of instruction. The AA'.M., Bro. Dr. Georgo Moore,P. Prov. G.AV., occup ied the chair , and exercised the brethrenin the ceremony of initiation , and in the opening and closingof thc three degrees. Bro. Leighton took the place of thecandidate ; Bros. Stonier Leigh and Thos. Forbes officiated asWardens; J. Parker, as S.D.'; L. M. Hill , as J.D. ; and J. J.Armstrong as I.G. There were likewise present Bros. JamesGroves, I.P.M. and p. Prov . G.S.B.; J. Mowbray, &c., anclvisitor Bro. Stevenson , of No. 7G.I- . The lod ge was finall yclosed at half-past nine o'clock, and the brethren retired for ashort time to refreshment.
OXFORDSHIRE.OXI-OED.— Churchill Lodge (No. 178).—The Annual Festival
¦was held on Friday, the 5th, when the brethren assembled atthe Masonic Hall lor the purpose of installing the AAr.M. Elect ,Bro. the Hon. AVilliam Henry North , M.P. The ceremony otinstallation was performed in an able manner by the retiringMaster Bro. AA'. E. Gumbleton , P. Prov. G. Reg., of BrasenoseCollege. On the conclusion of this ceremony tho WM.appointed his officers as follows -.—Bros. AV. E. Gumbleton ,Brasenose College, P.M. ; E. Handley, Magdalen College,S.W.; C. C. Webster, Corpus Chrisfci College, J.W.; Rev.F. AV. Short , New College, Chap lain ; Alderman R. J.Spiers, Treasurer ; G. II. Rainy, University College , Sec :W. Birch , Assist. Sec.; Sir D'Arcey Legai-'d, Oriel College!S.D.; Geo. Gumbleton , Christ Church , J.D. ; 11. S. Haw-kins, S.M. of Cers.; S. G. Beal , Exeter College, J.M. of Cers. ;Lionel Darell , Christ Church , I.G.j J. G. Tetley, MagdalenCollege, Org. ; J. H. Phill potts , Christ Church , Stew. The busi-ness of the lod ge being broug ht to a termination , the brethrenproceeded to Kenning ton Island , where they celebrated thefestival by a sump tuous entertainment , served up in excellentstyle by the host , Mr. Harrison , and to which thc AA'.M. andAVardens presented the wine . About twent y brethren werepresent , and under tiie presidenc y of the AV.il.," who fulfilledthe duties of the chair in an admirabl e manner , a very delightfulevening was spent. —[In our report of this lodge given lastAveek one or two errors escaped our notice. AVe, therefore,reprint it in a corrected form."]
NEVKB seek to be entrusted with your friends secret , for , nomatter how faithfully you may have kep t it, you will be liablein a thousand contingencies to the susp icion of having betrayedit.
of and represent the following lod ges individuall y:—No. 121,Penzance; No. 131, Truro ; No. 318, Helston ; No. 331, Truro;No. 589, Redruth ; ancl No. 1,006, St. Day—several of whomheld, or have held, high rank in the Provincial Grand Lodge ofCornwall. A banquet was provided at Bro. AVades's, RoyalHotel , where the brethren assembled , aud after a blessing waspronounced by the Chap lain , Bro. Stephen Holloway, theyregaled themselves with the substantial viands ancl choiceluxuries of the table. Bro. WiHiam Jas. Hughan , AV.M., wasin the chair , and he was supported by several distinguishedbrethren from Plymouth , being members of tho Grand Lod geof Eng land , and of the Province of Devon. Among the numberwere Bros. Francis G. Irwin , P.M., P.G.M.O. ; Samuel Chappie,P.M., P.G. Dir.of Cers., P. Prov. G. Reg. for Devon; RichardRodda , P. Prov. G. Dir. of Cers., Prov. G. Sec; I-I. B. Kent ,W.M. No. 61, Prov. G.S.B. for Devon ; John R. II. Spry, S.W.61; and Viuceiifc Bird , J.A\r. 64. Thanks being returned bythe Chap lain , various toasts were given and dul y honoured." The Health of the W.M." was proposed by Bro. RichardRodda, Prov. G. See. for Devon , who hi ghly eulogised Bro.WiHiam James Hughan and the other promoters of the lodgepreviousl y mentioned , and expressed the desire of all in wishingthe W. Master a prosperous term of oflice, and the degree ofMark Masonry the success its great age and-value deserve.Thus was concluded one of the most interesting, important , andinfluential Masonic assemblies ever hold in Truro.
petition sent by Bros. Hughan , Chirgwin , Elliot , and AViHyams.The lod ge be ing opened in the Mark Master 's degree, a Boardof Installed Masters was formed at two p.m., Bro. SamuelChapp ie, P.M., p. Prov. G. Dir. of Cers., P. Prov. G. Reg.,officiating as Installing Master, aud ably placed the W.M.appointed by the Grand Master in the chair of the lodger—theInstalling Master being supported by three other influentialPast Masters in the degree. Subsequently several candidateswere balloted for ancl accep ted. Bro. Francis G. Irwin , P.M.,P.G.M., Overseer, &c., occupy ing the chair , kindly and efficientl yadvanced the whole who presented themselves as candidates,properl y prepared to become Mark Master Masons, the AA'ar-dens ' chairs liaving been filled by Bros. John U H. Spry andVincent Bird , the Senior and j unior Wardens of St. Aubyn ,Dovonpovfc. AA'hen this ceremony was concluded , Bro. WilliamJames Hughan , W.M., invested the various officers , interspersingthe pleasant duty with appropriate remarks relative to theirdifferent stations. The following was the election , Bro. Chirg-win , S.\Ar., and Bro. G. A. Elliott having been nominated bythe Grand Master -.—Bros. A. AViHyams, M.O.; E. T. Carlyon ,S. 0.; W. J. Johns, J.O. ; S. Holloway, Chap lain ,- W. Tweedy,Secretary ; T. Solomon , Reg istrar of Marks ; AV. H. W. Plight ,Senior Deacon; F. AA'. Dabb, Junior Deacon ; AV. Lake, InnerGuard ; E. Michell , Director of Ceremonies. Bro. ThomasChirgwin was elected Treasurer pro tern., and Bro. AA'yatt theTyler for the lodge. The brethren so advanced are members
TURKEY. .The Grand Lod go of Mark Masters for Turkey (American
Constitutions) was held in the Masonic rooms, Smyrna , ou the10th May, the two chap ter rooms being specially decorated. Tiic-rcport of the Committeo of General Purposes showed consi-derable progress in this degree, under the auspices of Americanbrethren. The lod ge of instruction at Constantinople is nowchiefl y under the direction of brethren from tho United Statesand Ireland. A Grand Stewards' Lod ge had been charteredfurther to develop the ritual woiking. Bro. C. G. Carrer, LL. T>.,I ' M . Nos. 2 and <_ , was elected G.M. for the ensuing year. Bro.Lang don , of Now York , of No. -1-, D.G.M. The G.M. was in-stalled with due solemnity, and proceeded to nominate his offi-cers for the ensuing year, and announced his intention of grantingtwo warrants for Egypt. A special vote of thanks to Bro. HydeClark e, tho P.G.M., was voted , directed to be drawn up onvellum , signed by the members of Grand Lod ge, and presentedto him. A vote of thanks was passed to Bro. Green , of Cincin-nati , Ohio, W.M. of No. 5 and P.D.G.M. Bro. the Rev. AlbertLong, of Concord Lodge and Chapter , New Hampshire , wasadmitted under the Constitutions as a member of Grand Lodgeand appointed Grand Chaplain.
NEW ZEALAND.NEW PLYMOUTH.
INAUCHJEATIO-* OT- THE DE Brao-n ADAMS LODGE.As the political economist finds subject for congratulation
when in a hive of industry he sees a new mill or factory raisingits walls above the ground , so must it have been to the philan-throp ist—the man to whom the angels address, " Peace onearth , and good will to men," is not a form of idle words—asource of deep satisfaction to have witnessed and reflected onthe meaning of the procession that was seen wending its way inorderl y array to St. Mary 's Church on AA'ednesday, the Sthinstant.
This was the first procession of a new Lodge of i recmasons ,which this day was starting into real existence.
It had long been considered desirable to have a Lodge underthe 'Irish Constitution established in Taranaki , there beinghitherto only oue, under the Grand Lodgo of England, in thewhole province .
Circumstances having lately appeared to indicate the presentto be a favourable time for the inauguration of such an under-taking, a petition signed by a number ot worth y brethren(anxious for the formation of, and membershi p in , the new lodge),and recommended by the AV.M. of the Mount Egmont Lodge(No. 670 E.G.), and three Past Masters, was forwarded to theRight Worshipful the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of New-Zealand , under the Irish Constitution, pray ing that he wouldbe pleased to procure from the Grand Lodge in Ireland a war-rant for the formation of the new one. This petition waspromptl y acceded to by the R.AA'. D. Prov. G.M., who sent by re-turn of post a dispensation for the lod ge to be hold until theAvarrant of constitution from Ireland should arrive. He alsoaddressed a comp limentary letter to Bro. Newl-ind, P.M., ap-pointing him Installing Master on the occasion oftho forthcom-ing inauguration.
According ly, on the Sth instant , at hi gh noon , the B.B. ofthe English lodge met the intending members of the Irish one,about to be formed, in the room of the Mount Egmont Lodge(kindly lent for the occasion) for the purpose of being presentat the installation of the W.M., ancl the investiture of theAVardens nominated in the petition , and also the election andinvestiture of the other officers of the lodge.
Bro. Newland, P.M., associated with him in the duty of in-stalling the AA'.M. Bro. Black , P.M., when , according to ancientcustom, the De Burgh Adams Lodge of Free and AcceptedMasons, I.C., was declared open.
Bro. L. 11. Castray , P.M., was installed first AV.M., who thenproceeded to invest with the insi gnia of their offices:—Bro. E. F,Hemingway, as first S.W., and Bro. E. S. Willcocks, as first J.W,The following brethren were then elected to their respectiveoffices , and invested Avith their insignia by the AA'.M. :—Bros,Black , P.M., first Treas.; Hanvmerton, first See. ; Cooper , firstS.D.; Sliaug linessv , firs t J.D. ; Carrington , AA'.M. Mount Eg.moiit Lodge, firs t I.G.
The AV.M. then appointed and invested :—Bros, tbe Rev.II. II. Brown , firs t Chap. ; A. F. Turner , firs t Dir. of Cers. ;Morshead , first Org.; Laing and Lay, first Stewards ; Howell ,first Ty ler.
A blessing on the undertaking having been devoutl y imp loredby the Bro. Chaplai n , an anthem was sung, accompanied on theharmonium by the Bro. Organist.
The brethren after this formed in procession , being marshalledin due order by the Bro.JAirector of Ceremonies, tiie Tylerleading with a drawn sword , ancl the Director of Ceremonies inadvance and to the righ t ; the Worshi pful Master, supportedby the Worsh ipful Installing Past Masters, bringing up therear, and being immediatel y preceded by thc officers of the newlodge, each of whom was accompanied by the correspondingofficer of the sister lod ge; in advance of whom were thebrethren of both lod ges, two and two, the juniors in front.
The brethren marched in this order (without music) to theporch of St. Mary 's Church , where they halted , those in frontopening out into two lines , one on each side of the porch , leav-ing an avenue between , up which first marched the Bro. Chap-lain , wearing his robes and insi gnia of oflice, carry ing a cushionon which to lay the volume of the Sacred Law open , and withthe proper Masonic symbols on it. He was escorted by theSenior and Junior Deacons , one on each side, with his wand ofoffice. Then followed the Worshi p ful Master , attended by theAVorshi pful Past Masters ; after whom came the officers and
brethren—the procession inverting itself so that those thatarrived first entered last.
Having taken their respective seats, Divine Service was con-ducted , and an excellent and appropriate sermon preached bytho Bro. Chap lain , the Rev. II. II. Brown; the members of thochoir liaving kindl y managed to be present. Divine Serviceover, the procession then wended its way back to the lodge-room in the reverse order to that in which it arrived at thechurch ; the Tyler and Director of Ceremonies in their placesas before.
At half-past six a banquet was tasteful ly spread in the largeroom of the Masonic Hotel , when the tables had the good tastenot to "groan ," but rather to rejoice under the load of goodcheer they willing ly bore. Pomona and Flora both added theircontributions on the festive occasion. The AV.M. Bro. L. R.Castray, presided.
The enjoyment of the brethren during dinner was much en-hanced by the deli ghtful performance of the band of the 43rdLight Infantry (kindl y lent hy the commanding officer and offi-cers), under the direction of Bro. Lay.
The cloth having been removed , and ,The AA'ORSniPi-ur , MASTER having given the usual toasts, ho
proposed as one of the princi pal toasts of tho evening, " TheRight AVorshi p ful tile Deputy Provincial Grand Master of NewZealand (I.C.), Bro. H. de Burgh Adams." The AA'.M. believedhe had but to mention this toast to meet Avith a warm andhearty reception from every brother present. Tho subject ofthis toast was a worth y Mason and a good man , who practisedthe princi ples he professed , yet in such a way that he did " notlet his left hand know what his right hand doeth." He standsforth as a bri ght examp le in Masonry—one that he (the AA'.M.)would be glad to tak e as a model. To him thoy were largelyindebted for the proceedings of that clay. He had already s^ntto Ireland for a warrant of constitution for the lodge, and hadin tho meantime given them a dispensation , under which theycould work until that warrant arrived ; and he would no doub tcontinue to take a strong interest in their welfare. The AA'.M.felt honoured iu having this toast to propose.
Bro 1IEJII -S*G'\'AY, S.AA'., being personal ly accpiaintod withtho Right Worshi pful brother whose toast had just now beenproposed and received so cordiall y, though as eager as any presentto share in the honour of drinking it , felt he was in a positionto respond to it. Bro. Henry De Burgh Adams was wel l knownto most of the brethren present , as one who carried out Masonicprinci ples to their extent. To him has been afforded abundantl ythe satisfaction of succouring the distressed and cheering thebroken hearted. He is also known to be a most active promoterand partici pator in every laudable public undertaking, and , itmight Avell bo said , was about the most popular man in NewZealand. Those circumstances taken into consideration , alongwith the fact that he has long desired to see an offshoot of theGrand Lodge of Ireland planted in the fertile soil of Taranaki,and that he holds such a distinguished position in Masonryunder the I.C., suggested the idea that tho young lodge thathad that day started into existence would both be honoureditself and also be honouring him by assuming, with the sanctionof the Grand Lod ge of Ireland , the name of the De BurghAdams Lodgo of Free and Accepted Masons. Such a comp li-ment has been paid before now to less distinguished Masons thanhe; it has also been conferred on somo of the hi ghest rank ,Masonic and social , in Great Britain. In no instance was itmore hi ghl y merited than iu the present one. He (Bro. Heni-ingivay) trusted that the same would go down to posterity andbecome a household word in New Zealand iu after ages. Itwould afford him (Bro. Hemingway) the greatest pleasure tointimate to the Ri ght AVorshi p ful Deputy Provincial GrandMaster , that this toast had been proposed and received so cor-dially, and he begged in tho meantime to thank the AA'.M.,P.M., and brethren for the honour.
The health of the newl y-installed AA'.M., Bro. L. R. Castray,P.M., was then proposed in very complimentary terms, by theInstalling Master , Bro. Newland , P.M.
The W. MASTEU responded.—In thanking the InstallingMuster ancl brethren for the honour that had just been done him ,he expressed his obli gations to the Installing Master , Bro. New-land, ami to iiis colleague Bro. Black , Installing Master (whoseabsence from indisposition he regretted) for the fraternal assis-tance they had rendered that day ; and trusted , that , ably sup-ported as ho had no doubt he would be by the Wardens andofficers of the 1 idge, he would so rule it as to produce a feelingof satisfaction in the breasts of tho Masonic brethren generall y
at the important part they had taken in the management of thelod ge that day, winch he was happy to say already numberedover forty brethren.
" The Past Master , I.C.," was then proposed by Bro. Hoius,who (in the absence of Bro. Carrington , AV.M., to whom thetoast would have fallen) paid a tribute to the amiability andworth of the worth y and worshipful Bro. Perceval , whose healththey were about to drink.
Bro. PEHCEA -AL, P.M., ably responded to the toast."The Wardens and Officers of the Lodge," was then pro-
posed by Bro. NEWLAND, P.M .The Senior and Junior AVardens responded , and expressed
their earnest desire to do their utmost to support the AV.M. inconducting the affairs of the lod ge.
" The AV.M. and P.M's. of the Mount Egmont Lod ge (670E.G.)" was then given by Bro. CASTHAT, AA'.M., who alluded to.the very kindl y assistance and countenance they had given tothe new lod ge-—the AV.M. (Bro. Carrington) even condescendingto take the humble post of Inner Guard , thereby shoAving him-self to be imbued with a deep Masonic feeling of humility ; andBro. Black , P.M., very kindly undertaking the onerous, and , toa lod ge just forming, most important , duties of Treasurer.
"The Installing P.M's." was proposed by the AV.M., whoagain reiterated his obligations for their kindl y services thatday.
Bro. NEAVLAJOI, P.M., in the name of his absent colleague, Bro.Black, P.M., and in his own , acknowled ged the toast in suitableterms. He could answer , he thought, for his absent brother andhimself, that as long as their faculties lasted their zeal in thecause Avould not wane.
"The AVardens, Officers , and Brethren of tho Mount EgmontLod ge," Avas proposed by Bro. PERCEVAL, P.M., who trusted therewould always be the samo good feeling between them and theAA'ardens, officers , and brethren of the De Burgh Adams Lodgo,that it was so pleasing to find existed betwen the individualmembers of either lodge.
Bros. AVEIIS-I.-EI!, S.AV., and BREWER, J.W., responded infeeling terms.
The DIR . OE CERS. gave "The A'isitors."Bro. AVYXN had had great gratification on his visi t to Taranaki
during the sitting of tlie Supreme Court. He had always heardof the beaut y of this part of the country and the fertility of thesoil. He had gone over a great part of the province; hispersonal observation corroborated what he had heard fromothers. He was satisfied that this miserable Avar being oncebroug ht to a close, tho capabilities of this province would draw alarge population , and that nothing Avould then be wanting torender this one of the foremost provinces of New Zealand , but asuitable harbour. He considered himself happy to have paid avisit fo New Plymouth at this time. He had been receivedwith great kindness by Masons in this town. Ho should returnto Auckland very favourabl y impressed with Masonry inTaranaki. He wished success to the " De Burgh Adams Lodgo;"expressed his appreciation of the honour he had in his healthbeing drunk as one of the visitors, in Avhose name he beggedlo return thanks. ; Z_^^ -'-<-v': ."* .'.- ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ -i
A variety of other toasts were drank and the proceedingsbroug ht to a close about eleven o'clock. Thus terminated , in" peace, love, and harmony," a day we consider a most importantone for this province , for Masonry, and for this branch of theIrish Grand Lodge, in particular.
©tutuarjj -
BEO. THOMAS RICHARDSON.On Monday last tho funeral of Bro. Thomas Eichard-
son , late Junior AVarden of Pleiades Lodge (No. 710),took place at Totnes, Avliere lie had for some years pastresided and carried on business as a builder. The age ofthe deceased ivas 56 years. He AA'as a self-made man , ofgreat activity and enterprise, one of the largest employ-ers in Lis business in the toivn, and ivas very highlyesteemed by his felloAV-toAvnsmen, nearly all of Avhompartially closed their shops during the time that themournful proceedings were taking place. Bro. Richard-son ivas in partnership with Mr. Reeve. He had beenfor a long time past very seriously ill , and during his
illness he expressed a desire that Iiis Masonic brethrenAvould attend his funeral.
In consequence of the expression of this Avish an appli-cation Avas made to the E.AV. and Eev. Bro. Huyshe,the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Devon , for a dis-pensation to enable the brethren to accompany hisremains to their last rosting-place. This dispensationAvas immediately gran ted , and in a letter from Bro.Moore, of Exeter, P.S.G.W., accompanying it, thatgentleman said he was sorry that business engagementsprevented his personal presence ou the occasion. Thedeceased was one of the earliest members of his lodge,and at the time of his death filled the office of Junior War-den. As the dispensation Avas not in the hands of Bro.George Heath , the hon. sec, till Saturday, he Avas unableto issue invitations to the brethren till the afternoon ofthat day, and thc consequence ivas that the attendanceof brethren of distant lodges, though numerous, ivas notso large as it would otherwise haA'e been.
This ivas the first Masonic funeral that had taken placeat Totnes, and it excited very groat interest , the streets-being lined people.
The brethren assembled in tbe IICAV lodge room, inMill-lane, a A'ery beautiful temple, Avhich has been erectedfrom the desi gns of Bro. John Heath , jun., and will , whencomplete, bo ono of tho handsomest lodges in the county.It has been erected on trno Masonic princi ples, andbeing an isolated building it will be set apart wholly forthe purpose. At about 11.15 , the brethren havingappeared in full Masonic clothing, with. Masonic mourn-ing, namely a Avhite crape ban d Avorn on the left arm ,Avhite gloves, and carrying a sprig of acacia , the lodgeivas opened in due form by the W.M. Bro. John Heath ,,jun. The folloAving brethren ivere present in the lodge :—John Heath , juii . , _ AV.M. ; John Marks, S.W.; JamesWherry, acting J.W ". in tho place of tho deceased ; BCA*.James Powning. Chap lain ; Henry Bartlett , Treasurer ;George Heath , Secretary; G. W FOAV IO, S.D.; John Haiiis-vJ.D. ; James Willcocks, J.D. ; W. H. Taylor, Organist; J.Crocker, Ty ler; James Dronnan , J. P. Heath , Thomas E,.Owen, T. Seccombe, E. P.. Eeod, M. J. Oldrey, DavidManning, W. Knapman, W. -Piillincr, John Mackay, P.Prov. G.D.C.; B. W. Morgan (True Love and Unit}', 348);AV. S. Sawyer (Harmony, 156) ; S. Thomas (late 954),P.M.; Georgo Glanaficld (St. John's. Torquay, 328), AV.M.;AV. A. Goss (of 328), P.M. ; H. I. Ward (of 328). S.AV. ; E.H. Dyer (of 328), Secretary ; P. D. BOAVOS, I.P.M. ; B, H.AVatson, P.M. ; H. Edmonds, P.M. ; John Heath , P.M. ;Frederick Stokes, I. Latimer (Fortitude, 105. and Sin-cerity, 189), AV. Thos. Searle Hangworthy (BrunsAvick,159), E. Dennis (Harmony, 156), M.M.; J. Johnson (TrueLove and Unity, 24-8), P.M.; John MoCollough , (Harmony,248), S.D.; W. Howard (True Love and Unity, 248), P.M.;E. Lambswood (ditto 248), P.M.; P. Bartlett (ditto), P.M.
Bro. Distiu and several olhcr Masons Avho Averc unableto bo at the lodgo were on the ground.
During the preparations for the lodge Bro. Taylorperfornied Avith much solemnity tho "Dead March hiSaul."
AVhen the lodge had been, duly opened the brethrenproceeded in Masonic order to the late residence of thedeceased. Tho body ivas placed in a hearse, folloAved by acouple of mourning carriages, iu Avhich were thc widow,children , and near relatives of tho deceased. There Avasa very large attendance of the tradesmen of the town, whofolloAved the carriages on foot. Tho Freemasons headedthe procession , walking tAvo and tAvo, and when theyarrived at thc entrance to the old church of Totnes theyopened file to allow the hearse ancl mourners to taketheir proper place. Here the corpse Avas taken out andborn e into the church , the Chap lain of the lodge (theEev. Jas. Powning) reading the service Avith great feelingand solemnity. On the pall Avere the Masonic badge andcollar. That portion of the burial service Avhich is usuallyread in church having been concluded, the processionformed as before and proceeded to the beautiful cemetery
on the Plymouth-road, where the mournful service wasbrought to a conclusion. After tho bereaved relatives ofthe deceased had taken their last survey of the departed ,each Freemason advanced to the grave, and droppingtheir sprigs of acacia upon tho coffin , exclaimed " Alas,my brother !" This concluded the sad ceremonial , afterwhich the Masons returned to their lodge and shortlyafterwards separated.
Bro. Heath, of the Seven Stars, who had acted asDirector of the Ceremonies, invited tho brethren fromdistant lodges to a substantial luncheon , Avhich Avasserved with true Masonic liberality. Before the brethrendispersed, Bro. Heath , proposed that a letter of sympath yand condolence should be sent to thc widoiv and familyof their deceased brother. The proposal ivas at onceseconded by several brethren and unanimously agreed,to.
LITEEAEY ESTEACTS.
THE GREAT FIRE OP LONDON —"While London Avasburning, tho citizens ivere haunted ivith the notion thatit had been caused by incendiaries. The crime ivasattributed to a class. Eoman Catholic emissaries, it ivasbelieved, had contrived and caused the fri ghtful castas-trophe. Many strangers and foreigners ivere arrestedon the charge of depositing fire-balls in empty woodentenements, or scattering imfiammable missiles to increasethe fury of the conflagration. A Portuguese passingalong one of the streets ivas seen to jilace a 2iarcel withinthe shutters of an unoccupied house, ancl Avas takenbefore a magistrate on tha charge. He declared hisinnocence, but owned that he did placo a piece of breadAvhich ho had picked up, in the shop as described. Beingled to the spot, he pointed out the aperture throughAvhich ho passed his hand , and the lump of bread Avasfound there. He declared it vra,s a custom in Portugalnever to lcaA*o bread in tho street—citing the text," Gather up tbe fragments, that nothing may bo lost."He ivas immediately liberated. At the same time, a manunknown, went to a police-office , and confessed he AA'asan incendiary, having actually assisted in spreading theflames. ISTo evidence could be found to criminate him,and the tale he repeated Avas altogether improbable ;nevertheless, in the then excited state of the publicmind, it AA'as considered right to bring him to trial.The judge AVIIO presided thought there ivas no case ; butthe jury choosing to credit his confession , ho AA'as de-clared guilty, and suffered death.— The Old City, ilsHighways and Byways.
A FAITHFUL SERVANT /—Some eight years ago I tookThomas from the plough to be general out-door man-servant, groom, coachman, and gardener. It ivas alsointended that he should occasionall y Avait at table. Buthis early training ivas against this. Natara.ni cxp cllasfurca , you know, and habits acquired in early life ren-dered his presence? -.inadvisable in tho dining- room, andincapacitated him from playing the part of occasionalfootman. I shall neA'er forget his first efforts, in thatdirection , and. his evident astonishment that master anclmissis, and the ladies and gentlemen, should make sucha fuss over their victuals by having them in " courses,"instead of setting them down upon tho table at once, andeating them np as appetite directed. It was evidently amatter of deep and long pondering with him , and I donot knoiv Avhether ho has solved the problem to this day.But as groom , coachman , and gardener, ho does fairl y
well ; though, in his capacity of coachman, I haA'e thegreatest difficulty in getting him to touch his hat to myfriends Avhen he passes them on the road. With thosewho are simply acquaintances , I belieA*e he does gothrough the form ; but Avhen I see my friend Macaulayin the distance, I am pretty certain that Thomas willturn round fro m his perch and say, " Here's MasterMacool y acoming, sir;" and that ho Avill greet my friendivitli a broad grin of AA-elcomo, instead of thc customarytouch of tho hat. Tho fact is, that Thomas thoroug hlyidentifies himself Avith ns and Avith our fortunes. AVhenI took him into my service, somo eight years back , hoivas utterl y bankrupt in body and purse. Ho had beena farm labourer out of Avork for some month s, down Avith.a IOAV fever ; had run up a long bill at the shop and Aviththe miller ; and his Avife and children Avere nearlystarving. When I told him that I Avould take him intomy emp loyment, he fairl y broke down , and sobbed like achild. But from that day to this ho has proved himsel fa most faithful and attached servant—a living specimenof the " antique service of the ancient world "—one ofthose headless, honest , hard-working, civil creatures AV!IOAvill spend their lives in. your service, if you will let them—soon to be extinct, I suppose, as the dodo.— OornhiUMagazine.
AVATI-R SUPPLY OF THE METROPOLIS IN OLDEN TIME.—The old AA*ater supply of this metropolis AA'as ludicrousl y-simple. Neither pumps nor cisterns, much less reser-voirs Avorked by steam-engines, wore thought of by menof primitive London. DOAVIA to the 13th century theydepended for Avater entirely upon the rivers, brooks, andwells of tho vicinity in their natural condition , andthought of no artificial means to collect or distribute thehealth-giving fluid , tho utmost attempt at improvementbeing a clay tank or stone basin near the ivells. As thepopulation increased , ancl tho supp ly grew less efficient—-for the streams of the Eiver Fletc, "the Old Bourne,the AVall Brook, and tho Lang Bourne became scanty,or were obstructed by their courses being impeded orAvailed over, as houses ivere erected and the soil raised—" thon the citizens," says Stow, " ivere forced to seeksweet AVivters abroad, whereof some, at the request ofHenry III., 1236, were, for the profit of tho City andgood of the realm , thither repairing, to Avit, for the poorto drink, ancl for the rich to dress their meat, granted tothe citizens by ono Gilbert Sanford, Avith liberty toconvoy Avater from the town of Tyburn by pipes of leadinto tho City." This Avater supply Avas received into arough stone basin, for there wore no leaden cisterns inLondon bef ore 1285. Tin's usef ul novelty was providedby Henry Wallies , Avhile Mayor, and Avas called the GreatConduit iu AVest Chepo, and the water ivas brought fromthe distance of three miles and a half. In the 15th cen-tury, public benefactions for thc repair or restoration ofthe conduits ivere very general , and John Pope, citizenand barber , gave his estates, by will , 1437, to his felloiv-citizens, for ever, to keep up the City conduits.— TheOld Oily, its Jf .irj liiwys and Rij ivays.
PniLic BEADING AND SPEAKING .— All public speakingand reading must be a little heightened above ordinarynature, the pauses being longer and more frequent, thetones stronger , thc action more forcible, and the ex-pression more highly coloured. It should be the samein quality, but larger in quantit y. Thus , in reading aloudin a largo building, to a numerous auditory, the readingshould be as natural as in reading in a small room to afew persons, but it should be stronger. The greaternumber of the auditors being at a distance, it must havestronger touches and greater light and shade than wouldbe correct or necessary for a near hearing and view alone,but j'ot so moderated as not to disgust the nearestauditors by gross exaggeration—as a statue or picture,placed at a distance, must be larger than life, but yet aperfect resemblance; the features must be colossal , butnot exaggerated.—0. W. Smith's Clerical Elocution.
f)oe%THE BROOKLET.
(From the German of Bro. GOETHE .)Thou brooklet 1 silver-bri ght and clear,
Thy waters ever onward roll;Upon thy brink 1 stand ancl muse.
Prom whence thy source, and where thy goal r
"My birth is from the mountain hoar,O'er flower and moss has flowed my stream ;
Ancl ever has ray tranquil breastMirror 'cl yon blue vault's heavenly beam .
"Ami thus my happy childhood' s thoughtsGo with me to the boundless tide .
He who hath called me fro m the stoneI think Avill ever bo my Guide."
—J. K., P. Prov. G.C
(From the German of Scnrr.LEK.)Wilt thou not the lambkin tend—
Pretty lambkin , soft and mild ?Peed it ivith the meadow flowers,
Sport with it, my darling child."Mother , mother, let me goOn tho heights to Iravit the roe.
Wilt thou not the herd call homeWith the merry clang ing horn ?
Loudl y sound the bells' sweet tonesIn the Avoods, when shines the morn.
"Mother , mother , let your childRoam upon the mountains wild."
Wilt thou not the flow'rets tend ?See, upon their beds they pine.
On tho hei ghts no garden blooms .-See what plensures hero are thine.
" Let the flow 'rets fade or blow;Mother, mother , let me go."
Ancl, through many dangers sore,Passed the boy, and journe y VI on :
Restless, strove with hazards greatOn the mountains dark ancl lone.
The gazelle, as swift as wind ,Flees before, the youth behind.
By the rocks her bones are bar 'd;Climbs she them with active spring
And the fissure, yawning wide,Clears she with a watchful swing.
But behind her sure, if slow,Follows he, with bended bow*.
Just upon tho craggy ledgoOf the highest mountain 's brow,
AVhere the path is lost in ni ghtHangs she. Fearful prospect now!
Under her the cliffs of gloom—Nearer conies her dreadful doom.
With a meek, beseeching glanceTo the cruel man, she flees !
Needlessly—for on the groundHim, now hel pless laid , she sees !
Hark ! Avhat power the mountain tears ?See ! the Mountain God appears !
He, with his strong, godlike hands,Frees from death the stricken deer.
" And must death and woe," he cries,"Be broug ht hy you even here ?
Surely, the world for all is large ;Wh y harass, then , my mountain charge?"
-J. K., P. Prov. G.C.
THE ALPINE HUNTER.
TEE WEEK.
THE COUBT.—Her Majesty, w-ith Prince Leopold and thePrincesses Helena, Louise, and Beatrice, left Windsor Castlefor Scotland on Friday (the 19th) evening. The royal partyreached Balmoral safely on Saturday afternoon. On the pre-vious dny the Princess Helena held a Drawing-room on behalfof her Majesty. A very large number of the nobility and
^gentry attended , and the introductions were unusually numerous.The state rooms have indeed seldom contained a more brilliantassemblage. A grand concert was given ou Monday at Buck-ingham Palace, which was attended by tl-o most eminent per-sonages in rank, title, ancl fashion. The Prince of Wales received visitors in the absence of the Soverei gn. The Queenattained her forty-sixth year on Wednesday . Her birthdaywas celebrated by a grand parade of troops in front of thaHorse Guards. The inspection was performed by the Prince ofWales in person. The usual royal demonstrations were made inthe metropolis and at Windsor. The Prince of Wales has hada busy lveek of it. On Friday he formally opened the Inter.,national Reformatory Exhibition , which has heen got up partlyto exhibit the industry and ingenuity of the children nowtrained in our reformatory institutions , ancl mainly hy thatmoans to give an additional stimulus to tho public interes t inthem. Tho Archbish p of Canterbury, the Earl of Shaftesbury,and othr-vs wove -present to meet his royal highness, and tookpart in the opening ceremonies. On Monday ha opened the newwing of the Sailors' Home, in which accommodation will beafforded for t-.vo hundred more persons. Great preparationsAvere made to receive the Prince, "both in the Institution andthe adjoining seafaring district. On Tuesday, after being pre-sent at a militia review, his Royal Highness proceeded to laythe foundation stone of a new wing for St. Mary 's Hosoital ,Paddington. There Avas a gay assemblage, and tho Prince Avasreceived with lend cheers. The usual formalities were gonethrough on the occasion , and a A'ery handsome sum AVIIS raisedby purses laid on the foundation stone. The neiv wing is tobear the Prince's name , and it is to consist of two wards—onenamed after the Princess Alexandra and the other after thePrince. On Wednesday, after inspecting the troops in iionoiu-of her Majest y 's birthday, the Prince left London for Sheerness,on a visit to the Great Eastern , which lies at tho month ofthe Medway. The Prince's object Avas to examine the Atlanticcable, 2,000 miles of winch have alread y been shipped onboardof the great steamer.
IMPERIAL PABHAMEXT.—Iu the House of Lords, on Thursday,I8th inst., the Earl of Shaftesbury presented several petitionsfrom artisans, pray ing that tho British Museum be opened threeevenings a week.—Earl Stanhope moved that in the case of SelectCommittees being appointed to consider and subject the repor tof such Committee be not only laid upon the table, but shouldbe printed and circulated , and that notice should bo given ofthe day on Avhich it may bo intended to take such report intoconsideration. Agreed to.- On Friday, the MetropolitanHouseless Poor Bill Avas read a third time and passed.—ThoIndia Offices Site and Approaches Bill was read a second time.
On Monday, Lord Kinnaird Avithdrew his bill for tho regu-lation of tin , copper, ancl other metalliferous mines. It is hisintention to re-introduce it, ivith certain modifications , nextsession. Lord Derby called attention to the report of Dr. AngusSmith ou the operation of the Alkali Works Act, and expresseda hope that the success of that measure Avould encourage theGovernment to legislate for the removal of kindred evils in con.nection with other manufactures. The Customs and InlandPicvenuc Bill Avas read a third time, and passed. Several other
bills wero advanced a stage. On Tuesday, Lord Chelmsfordmoved an address for a copy of the correspondence relating tothe imprisonment of British subjects iu Abyssinia. The nohloLord strong ly censured tho conduct of the Foreign Office inthis matter ; Avhile Lord Russell, of course, contended that theGovernment had done their best for their unfortunate country-men. He added that the captives were IIOAV treated Avith greaterleniency, and he trusted they Avould soon be set at liberty. On adivision , themotion forpapers was carried by a majority of one. The HOUSE OF COMMOXS, on Tuesday, the 18th instant, Aventinto Committee on the Union Chargeability Bill ; and uponthe second clause, Mr. Henley raised the question of the entireabolition of the system of removal . He argued that the periodwithin which paupers could be removed having been graduall yreduced down to three years, it ivas desirable at once and forever to do aivay with the system altogether. By that meansthey ivould confer a great boon upon tho poor. He proposedan amendment which would have that effect. The amendmentAvas, after some further debate, negatived by 181- to 110. TheBill then passed through' Committee, and Avas reported , Avithamendments , to the House.—The House again went into Com-mittee, when the Public-house Closing Act Amendment Billwas introduced. Sir George Grey stated that he was willingto allow publicans whose iiouses should be within fifty yardsof a market to supply those frequenting such markets withnecessary refreshment , but objected to other classes of personsbeing allowed this privilege. After some discussion , the Billpassed throug h Committee , powers being given to two justicesto determine what houses ought to bo opened. On FridayMr. Darby Griffith asked whether her Majesty's Governmentintended to make any representations to the Government ofWashing ton on the proclamation issued by President Johnson ,offering a re-vard for the apprehension of Mr. Jcflerson Davis.Lord Palmerston replied that the Government had no intentionof interfering in the internal affairs of the United States.—Mr _Dennian moA'ed a resolution declaring that it AA-as just that theannual duty payable on the certificates taken out by attornies,solicitors, and proctors should be abolished. Mr. Hunt pro-tested against the resolution , as a sop to the attorneys on theeve of a general election . Mr. Gladstone also held that "ex-ternal proprieties Avould have been better satisfied if the ques-tion had been introduced at a period more remote " from adissolution. He further opposed the motion on the groundthat the Treasury ooulcl not bear the loss, and submitted thatthere Avas no more reason Avhy solicitors should be relievedthan auctioneers, pawnb r okers, and hawkers. On a division ,however, the motion ivas carried by a majority of three in ahuose of 289.—Sir John Hay moved a resolution condemningan Admiral ty regulation with respect to the pensions to widowsof Avarrant officers , hut on a division the motion ivasnegatived hy a majority , of twenty.—Some questions tothe Government having been disposed of, the Housewent into Committee on the Civil Service Estimates. On Monday, Sir Charles Douglas asked ,' a question respectingthe want of an adequate system of checking the accounts of thePatent Oflice, but Mr . Gladstone could onl y reply that thematter was under the consideration of the Government. —Mr.Darby Grifiith moved for the papers connected with the lateCourt of Inquiry into the case of Colonel Dawkins , of the Cold-stream Guards, Avho has been put upon half pay. Severalmembers expressed sympathy with Col. Dawkins, but doubtedthe propriety of appea 'ing to the House of Commons, on sucha question. Lord Palmerston " deprecated the interference ofthe House," while Mr. Bri ght protested against the doctrinethat the House " onght not to he the court of final appeal for
any department of the public service." On .a division themotion was rejected by a majority of GO. After some furtheropposition from Mr. Knight, Mr. Henley, and other members,the Union Chargeability Bill passed through anothei\stage, andThursday was fixed for the third reading. On Tuesday Sir-George Grey, in reply to Mr. Waldegrave-Lcslio, said he con-sidered it most desirabl e that one uniform oath should be takenby the whole of Her Majest y 's subjects ; but if Mr. Monselldecided to proceed with the Roman Catholic Oaths Bill, thethe CioA'eriiinent Avould give the measure all the support intheir power. Mr. Monsel l observed that he intended to go onivith his Bill.—Lord Palmerston , referring to Mr. Ferrand'squestions respecting the resignation of the late registrar of theLeeds Bankruptcy Court , said the Lord Chancellor Avas desirousthat the whole matter should be fully inquired into, and noopposition would therefore be offered to the member for Devon-port's motion for a Select Committee to investigate the case.At a later period of the evening it ivas agreed to appoint acommittee.—In reply to Mr. Darby Griffith , Lord Palmerstonsaid the Government did not intend to take any steps in thecase of Colonel Dawkins, of the Coldstream Guards ,—it beingtheir opinion that it would be subversive of all discipline in thearmy if the Commander in Chief Avere not allowed to usehis own discretion as to who should or should not be consideredfit to command a regiment.—Mr. Maguire moved a resolutionto the effect that tho position in which the British paper tradehas been placed by the abolition of the import dut y on foreignpaper , leaving the forei gn export on rags in full operation , isone of great hardshi p to the British manufacturer . Tho hon,gentleman stated the pipe makers' grievances nt someleng th , and after a rep ly from Mr. Milner Gibson , themotion Avas negatived by a majority of 55.—Mr. Whalley movedfor a Select Committee to inquire as to the mode in ivhicii theservices of the Church were conducted at St. Paul's, Bri ghton ,and especiall y as to the use of the confessional by the incumbent ,.Mr. Wagner. Ho also proposed that the inquiry should extendto the services at other churches. The hon. gentleman spokeamidst constant interruption , and his motion Avas negativedivithout a division , as was also a second motion that the Houseshould go into Committee to enable him to obtain leave to bringin a bill for better enforcing the law against illegal usages inthe Church of England. The House was counted out at abouthalf-past eight o'clock.——Wednesday being the Queen 's birth-day the House did not sit.
GENERAL HOME Ninvs.—The Observer says the dissolution ofParliament " is most likely " to take place before than aft er thc20th July. The Gazette contains a notice from EarlRussel l that in the existing state of the civil war in America ,and the uncertaint y which may be felt as to its continuance , theGovernment has resolved to relax the stringency of those regu-lations respecting the ships of both belli gerents which prohibitedthem from obtaining in British ports more supplies than werenecessary for immediate use , ancl which required them to leavethe port within twenty-foui-hours after havingobtained them. A review of the different militia regiments, raised in the countyof Middlesex , took place in Hy de Park on Monday, under theeye of the Commander-in-Chief , the Duke of Cambrid ge. SirHugh Rose, who has just come from India , Avas on the ground ,and his bronzed countenance and martial bearing attracted tohim much attention , while his gallant deeds in the suppressionof the Indian mutiny Avere the theme of every tongue. ThePrince of Wales was also on the ground , and the Princess alsodrove up in an open carriage. Tho evolutions of the regimentswere simple, and were as well performed as could be expectedfrom a fortnight's training. There Avas an inspection of the
Westminster (Queen's) Volunteers in Regent's Park, ou Satur-day, which ivas unfortunately attended by an accident of rathera serious nature to Colonel Erskine, tbe inspector-general. Inthe course of their evolutions the regiment fired a volley whichso -startled the high-spirited horse which the colonel was riding -,that he reared up, and being unable to recover his balance fellheavily, rolling over his rider, who Avas taken up stunned andseverely bruised. Ho Avas conveyed to a carriage which wasnear, but recovering himself he refused to leave the ground,ordered the manoeuvres to proceed , and at the close addressedio the regiment a fe-.v words of advice and encouragement fromthe carriage. Sir Hugh Rose, AV IIO played so conspicuous apart in the suppression of the sepoy mutiny, has arrived in thiscountry from India. He assumes the command in chief inIreland—a more comfortable, if less distinguished , post thanth-it which he has occup ied for several years past in the East
The annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society washeld on Tuesday at tho society 's rooms, in Hanover-square. SirEdivard Kerrison , the president of the society, was in the chair ,•and after the report Avas read, Lord Tredegar Avas appointedpresident for the ensuing year. It Avas stated that the pre-parations for the SIIOAV in the west of England is proceedingsatisfactorily. The show next year is to take place at Buryt_t. Edmunds. At the last meeting of the Metropol i tanBoard the congratulations of the members ivere expressed totheir Chairman on his kni ghthood—a compliment which, itAvas assured, was offered through him to the board of which hewas chairman . Sir John Tinvaites expressed his gratitude, and arecord of tne discussion was ordered to be entered on the minutes.Protests Avere received from several parish vestries against theproposed grant of .610,000 to their eng ineers , over their salaries.
The annual dinner of the Press Fund took place on Saturday•night at the Freemasons' Tavern. Mr. Charles Dickens was in¦the chair, supported by Lord Truro, Ri ght Hon. SpencerWnl pole, M.P., Mr. Scholefield, M.P., General Boileau, AdmiralBurney and several other distinguished persons. The speech ofthe chairman, in proposing the toast of the evening, Avas distin-guished by more than his usual play ful kindness of manner, andcontained some interesting reminiscences of his own early con-nection with newspaper reporting. Tho musical arrangementswere of the first quality. The subscriptions at the close woreannounced to be £1,200. -Mr. Bri ght has Avritten a letter toa friend at Carlisle upon the course to be adopted by the Radicalsat the next election. He expresses a hope that they " will en-deavour to bring their members up to tho point of refusing tosupport a Government not willing to fulfil the pledges of 1859and 18G0," for, he observes, " when it is a question of reform orexpulsion from office , the Whi g statesmen will decide in favourof reform."' The inquiry into the case of the two paupers inthe St. Pancras -.voi-khouse who had comp lained to the Poor-lawBoard of their having been confined in an offensivel y smellingroom of the Avorkhouso for several week s together , has been con-cluded. Mr. Morrison , the master of the workhouse, Mr.Chapman , the superintendent of the ward Avhere the men weroconfined , Mr. Roberts , the surgeon , and Mr. Parker, the assistantclerk to the directors, AVCI-O examined and cross-questioned bythe complaining paupers. Mr. Farnall , who conducted the in-quiry, then went to examine the rooms for himsel f, and statedthat he Avould report tho result of his inquiry to the Poor-lawBoard. There were some interesting experiments in gunnerymade at Shoeburyness last week, when the 300-pounder Arm-strong muzzle gun was fired against a granite wall representingthe strength of the casemates in which our troops are to becovered in the fortifications now erecting at Portsmouth , Ply.month , &e. Three shots tore up the casemate, and a fourth
would have burst into it altogether. A fragment from thagranite struck an artillery cadet from Woolwich, inflicting uponhim a severe Avound. The annual meeting of the RoyalGeographical Society Avas held on Monday, under the presidencyof Sir Roderick Murchisoii. The society's gold medal ivas pre-sented to Captain Montgomery of the Punjaub Survey. Thepatrons' medal ivas awarded to Mr. Samuel Baker, the Avell-known African explorer. A special testimonial Avas given toDr. Arambery, who, disguised as a dervish, travelled throughTurkistan. In the Upper House of Convocation the Bishopof Oxford moved an address pray ing the Crown to create threeneiv sees, of ivhich , St. Alban's, Southwell, and Bodmin orTruro should be the cathedral cities. After a brief discussionthe address w*as adopted. The Bishop of Winchester, in pre-senting a petition which prayed for the extension of the epis-copate , made somo interesting statements concerning hisdiocese. He recommended that Surrey and the ChannelIslands should be erected into independent sees. Two petitionswere presented in reference to a court of final appeal. A curious dispute arose a shoit time ago between tho directorsof the Bank of England and the managers of the In-dustrial Exhibition in the Floral Hall, Covent Garden.Among the many ingenious objects there exhibited iverethree specimens of penmanship, representing letters, pub-lications , ancl other documents on a table, among which w*as a£a note so cleverly executed, that the directors of the Bank,under their act of Parliament , insisted that the particularobject should be left out. The trustees of the Exhibitionnaturall y demurred , unci tho matter was brought before SirThomas Henry, at Boiv-street , and as the law on the subjectAvas very clear, the representation of the notes was obliged tobe cut from each of the specimens exhibited. A man namedRichardson , AA-IIO had been cashier in the large establishment ofMessrs. Holdsivorth, of Halifax, was last week brought upbefore the magistrates of that borough on the charge of havingdefrauded his employers to the extent of £8,000. Witnesseswere examined in support of the charge, and after hearingtheir statements the magistrates committed him for trial. A curious caso of alleged fraud ivas brought before the LordMayor, in which a Mr. Spoltz, a merchant of Liverpool, wascharged Avith liaving defrauded the Bank of Hindostan of tbesum of £1,073, which they had advanced him on the collateralsecurity of invoices of six cases of quinine, valued at nearly£2,000. The complaint ivas that these cases, instead of liaving1,000 ounces of quinine each, only hold 250 ounces. The matterivas complicated by the failure of a forei gn house, of which theprisoner , it was admitted , AIMS an agent. The Lord Mayorremanded the case; but the prisoner , Avho had not an oppor-unity of entering on his defence , was allowed to find bail. At the Middlesex sessions, Eugene Mitkiewicz, a pretendedRussian count, was tried on various charges of fraud. Thisperson appeared to have adopted the. career of a swindler as aprofession , and had signalised himself not only in various partsof this country, but in Franco and the United States. Duringhis residence in the latter country ho robbed more than onelady of her ring, and became a '-'bount y jumper.'' "TheCount " having been convicted on three indictments , he Avassentenced to five years' penal servitude.—On Tuesday afternoona soAver which passed under the North London Railwaybetween the l.ingsland and Stok e Newing ton stationsburst and flooded a portion of the line. Thc accidentwas due to the heavy fall of rain which floodedthe seiver. The traffic was, however, soon resinned.A serious accident happened on Tuesday at the now station ofthe North London Railway now being built in Liverpool-street
Several of the massive iron girders fell, carrying ivith them alarge quantity of brickwork . Unfortunately several workmenAvere seriously injured. One of the New River water pipesin the neighbourhood of the Caledonian-road burst on Tuesdaymorning. A great deal of earth Avas displaced ; but, fortu-nately, owing to the early hour at Avhieh the accident tookplaco, no one sustained personal injury. A fatal accidenttook place at the works of the Thames Embankment , nearWestminster Brid ge, on Wednesday morning. Seven men werepushing a loaded truck across a wooden stage, when the sup-ports gave way, ancl truck and men were precipitated into thesemi liquid mud beneath. It was with the utmost difficultythat six of the party ivere got out alive by tho exertions oftheir companions. The seventh could not be recovered tillseveral hours afterwards , when he ivas quite dead. Otherparts of Eng land , as well as London , were visited by a fearfulthunderstorm on Monday. At Preston, the storm raged withsuch fury as to terrif y the inhabitants, and the town ivasflooded in many places. Similar reports have been receivedfrom other towns. In Scotland severe damage was done to theCaledonian Railway, two bridges being swept away.
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE .—On account of tho importanceattached to the recent American news by the French Govern-ment, at the close of a Cabinet Council last Aveek a specialdispatch was sent off to the Emperor, requesting him to hastenhis return to Paris. The packet for America carried out a dis-patch from the French Minister, in which tho hope is expressedthat the Federal authorities will not disgrace their victory bycarry ing out the vindictiv e policy enunciated in several of therecentl y published manifestoes. The French Government hasevidently made up its mind to discourage as far as possible thealarmist reports about Mexico. The Conslilulionnel remind thepublic of the many pacific declarations mado by the FederalGovernment , and points to other facts tending to show that theuneasiness occasioned by the recent news from America had noreal foundation. It is stated in Paris that this is the result ofa special Ministerial Council held under the presidencyof the Empress Regent, and at Avhich it ivas con-sidered of high importance to allay all alarms ou thesubject of the relations between America and France.—TheEmperor appears to be going throug h an amount of businessin Algeria that speaks Avell for the state of Iiis health. Theofficials at Toulon have been informed that his Majesty willland there about the end of the month. Tho Emperor of theFrench has received the Embassy from Morocco sent to welcomehim to Algeria. It is stated that the Emperor of Austria willcertainl y visit Pesth early next month. The Palrie states thatthe Turkish Government has announced to the Empress of theFrench its readiness to accep t the decision of the Emperor asarbitrator in the Suez Canal question. 'Telegrams from Con-stantinop le report that Sir Henry Buhvor has returned tothat city, and has had several interviews with the OttomanGovernment on tho subject of the Suez Canal . The com-mercial treaty between Belgium and the Zollvcrein was signedat Berlin on Monday. The Patriarch of Constantinop le latelydespatched a bish op to Bucharest to make a declaration thatthe law of civil marriage, the secularisation of convent pro-perty, and the institution of a national Roman Church , asdecreed by Prince Couza , are contrary to the doctrines of theGreek Church, and liable to the penalt y of excommunication.Prince Couza , however, is evidently determined to be master inIiis own house. He ordered the bishop '-barged with this mis-sion to be conducted back to the frontier by gendarmes.
AMERICA .—The Africa , with New York advices via Halifax,to the evening of the 11th instant, has arrived at Queeiistown.
The trial of the persons accused of partici pating in the plot toassassinate Mr. Lincoln bad commenced before a military tri-bunal at Washing ton , but as ehe .investigation was being con-ducted with closed doors, nothing AV-.IS known of the proceedingsbeyond the fact that the prisoner had pleaded not guilty. It isasserted that "the evidence implicating Mr, Davis and theConfederates in Canada is so conclusive that foreign govern-ments cannot hesitate to surrender them." Tho ConfederateGeneral Dick Taylor ivas still at tho head of .an army, andthe people of Houston , in Texas, had passed resolutions declaringthat " the trans-Missisi pp i department Avas sufficientl y A*ast andfull of resources to repel invasion , to ensure independence, audto sustain Mr. Davis." President Johnson has notified that"if foreign nations claiming to have been neutral continue toextend hospitality in their ports to such cruisers, the Govern-ment will refuse hosp itality in Federal ports to the publicA'essels of those nations, and adop t measures towards vindicatingthe national authority ." Federal troops ivere being- distributedthroughout North Carolina "to secure the interests of theGovernment, and to protect the people until the civilgovernment is re-established ," and persons found in armsin that state and in Virg inia after the 20th instantAvore to be dealt ivith as "outlaws and robbers." By the Peruvian we have two days' later intelli gence fromNow York. General Dick Tay lor definitivel y surrendered onthe -1th, to General Canby. Kirby Smith refuses to surrender ,ancl has issued au appeal to the soldiers, exhorting them to standfirm to their colours, and assuring them that he has resources toprotract tho struggle till they can secure terms worth y of a proudpeople. The trial of the Booth conspirators was being still con-ducted in secret, to the great dissatisfaction of the New Yorkpress. Nothing furtheir is known of Jefferson Davis's move-ments. It is reported from Mexico that a fight had takenplace between the Liberals and Imperialists , near Monterey,that tho latter Avere defeated , and that the Liberalshad occup ied Monterey. A " Mexican emi gration scheme "Avas exciting much attention iu the Northern States. Accordingto the advices brought by the Africa , a large number of "mili-tary emigrants " had accep ted the tempting offers held out tothem . All this it is affirmed, ivas being done " under the autho-rity of a special invitation " from Juarez , the Mexican Republican leader, who is said to have actually issued letters of marqueagainst the French. The Republican press generally is said toview this movement with disfavour, and a Washington despatchin the French organ at Ne iv York states that "if the schemeassumes larger proportions President Johnson Avill warn thethe people against the violation of the neutrality laws, and thatregardless of his personal views on the Monroe doctrine, he willnot depart from Mr. Lincoln 's policy of neutralit y." The newFrench Minister, M. De Monfcholon , had arrived at Washing-ton—onl y j ust in time to do Avhat he could to induce the FederalGovernment to adop t measures against a movement so full ofdanger. It is also reported that preparations wero being madeby the French to meet the threatened blow against the Mexicanempire.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.S. L.—The Point, tho Deity ; the Circl e, Eternit y. Webb's, is
the American teaching. It is Preston spoiled.J. S. S.—Wo will endeavour to ascertain.P. M.—Never in our columns.AV. S.—Any day but Thursday.T. S.—The by-laws of a lodge cannot override the "Book oi
Constitutions."