-
Articles/Ads
Article GRAND CHAPTER. Page 1 of 1 Article A MASONIC INCIDENT. Page 1 of 1 Article Obituary. Page 1 of 1 Article Obituary. Page 1 of 1 Article Multum in Parbo; or Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Chapter.
GRAND CHAPTER .
The quarterly convocation of Grand Chapter was held on Wednesday at Freemasons' Hall . The chapter was formed as . follows : —E . Comp . Samuel Rawson , as M . E . Z . ; E . C . Frederick Pattison , as IT . ; and E . C . Platt , 'J . There were also present Comps . Lieut .-Col . Creaton , as S . E . ; Benj . Head , as S . N . ; Hon . W . Warren Vernon , as
P . Soj . ; Gray and Saunders , Assist . Sojs . ; E . J . cBarron , Standard Bearer ; also Comps . Buss , Snell , Parkinson , Joseph Smith , Hyde Pullen , Hogard , John Boyd , H . E . Francis , W . Hammond , W . Stephens , Pendlebury , Adlard , and others . After the reading of the minutes of the last quarterly convocation , the reporc of the General Purposes Committee was taken , including a
report vouching the correctness of the accounts since 19 th April , 1876 , and reports as to the reception of petitions for four new chapters , viz ., a chapter to be attached to the Jumna Lodge , 1394 , to be called the Chalmers Chapter , to meet at Delhi , Punjaub ; a chapter to be attached to theTyne Lodge , 991 , Willington Quay , Northumberland ; a chapter to be attached to the Friends in Council Lodge ,
1383 , to be called the Friends in Council Chapter , to meet at 33 , Golden-square , London ; a chapter to be attached to the Lodge of Charity , 5 63 , Umballa , to be called the Umballa Chapter , to meet at Umballa , Punjaub , all of which , being found regular , were recommended by thc . Committee of General Purposes , and granted by Grand Chapter .
A petition from the Fortescue Chapter , 847 , Honiton , for a charter of confirmation , in consequence of the loss of the original , which was supported by Comp . the Rev . John Huyshe , Grand Superintendent of Devon , was also granted . The committee also reported an irregularity which had occurred in the Old Globe Chapter , 200 , Scarborough ,
where , on his simple assertion that he had been twelve months a Master Mason , a brother had been improperly exalted . The committee did not consider that it was a wilful error , and under the circumstances the Grand Chapter merely inflicted a fine of one guinea , with an admonition , and directed that the companion should be re-obligated at the next meeting . Grand Chapter was then closed in the visual form .
A Masonic Incident.
A MASONIC INCIDENT .
At the feast given by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in December last , Rev . Bro . Young , the Grand Chaplain , related the following incident , and made the following excellent comments thereon :
The other evening , on a certain occasion , I alluded to the influence of Masonry during thc rebellion . Since then 1 heard a story from one who was in the war , which beautifully illustrated the influence of Masonry in the direction of love and fraternity . In one of the battles ol Virginia General Woodsworlh—I think that is the name —of Vermont , fell , and his body was within thc enemy ' s
lines . His friends wished to obtain it , and a Federal officer , who was a Mason , said to the sentinel , who was also a Mason , " You go down to the shore of the stream , and if you see a man on the other side , make some signal to hi m of a Masonic character . " He went down to the shore , and by and by he saw a person on the opposite side . He gave the signal , but no answer was returned . The next
morning when he went down he repeated the practice with the same result ; no answer was given . Finally thc officer himself went down and made some signals , and he soon found them answered on the other side . In course of the day communication was had , the body was given Into thc hands of its friends , and carried home to Vermont for interment . The rebel officer said that the sentinel on the
other side did not know what those signals meant . Now , it ' s just that , brethren . The world laughs at our signs , and calls them nonsense . But their object is to touch the secret springs through which we are brought into close and intimate connection with others , and are enabled , as in the case illustrated , to close a bloody chasm , and bring enemies into the relation of friends .
And so in the secret character of our organization . Why , all grand forces of nature are secret . God himself is a great secret , a great mystery ; the eye does not look upon Him , the ear does not hear Him , the hand cannot reach Him , and yet we believe in His boundless love , and wisdom , and power , and we worship that Great Unseen and Invisible One . Life is secret and invisible . The surgeon ,
the dissector , can cut the body and lay open its parts ; but he cannot lay his knife upon the secret life and expose it to the eye . The air is invisible . We onl y feel it on our cheeks ; we hear its music in the forests . Electricity is invisible . Gravitation is invisible . All the secret powers and forces that move the world and hold systems together are unseen and secret , eluding the eye and hand . So it is in this grand institution of ours , which I believe we can
not too much praise and too much love , brethren , arid too much honour in our own manly" characters , in our own upright lives , and in our loving disj . isition . It is that very characteristic of Masonry which gave h . 'he ; power that is , to-day , in a hundred thousand ways thai wc don't see , moving the world onward , and lifting it up nearer to the skies , and preaching that love and brotherly kindness which shall make the earth we live on like the heaven we aspire to .
KNOWLEDGE AND SYMPATHY . —Good spirits may be readily restored to the late fortunate owner by a few doses of Holloway's revivfylngmedicine . Instant action alone is wanted to prevent the development of more disagreeable and dangerous symptoms . Kvcry one lias frequently experienced sudden personal changes 1 ' vom gaiety to gloom . ' Ttic weather oftimes receives the blame ,
when a faulty digestion alone is the cause of the depression . Holloway's Pills can be honestly recommended for regulating a disordered stomach and improving digestion . They entirely remove all sense of fulness and oppression after eating . They clear the furred tongue , and act as a wholesome stimulant to the J ivcr , and as a gentle aperient to the bowels . They healthfully T ouse both body ueut mind . —A UVT ,
Obituary.
Obituary .
BRO . RICHARD DANSON , P . M . 1064 . A large section of the Masonic fraternity in and around Liverpool will learn with regret that Bro . Richard Danson , P . M . 1094 , died at Heaton Moor , 011 Tuesday , the 25 th olt ., after a long illness . The deceased was best known professionally in Liverpool as the architect of the New Masonic Hall in Hope-street , and he was greatly esteemed by a large number of the brotherhood . Bro . Danson was only 41 years of age .
BRO . CAPTAIN JONES . Died at Liverpool , on the 21 st inst ., suddenly , Bro . Captain Jones , formerly one of the Deacons of thc Merchants' Lodge , who was very highly esteemed in Masonic circles by many brethren , and whose loss is greatly felt by many who knew him .
BRO . JOHN CHILDS , P . M . 1201 . On Thursday , the 27 th ult ., the remains of Bro . Past Master John . Childs were conveyed to their last resting place in Lewisham Cemetery , and , although little notice could be given , there were many present to show their high regard for one who did the highest honour to Freemasonry by his most consitent and exemplary life , and
whose uutiring zeal for the cause of temperance and thc general good of his fellows raised him in the highest esteem . It was , as far as the Craft is concerned , a private funeral . By request , Bro . P . M . Wm . Darley , of Adams Lodge , 158 , Sheerness , delivered the following oration at the grave after the usual service of the Church of England hail been
impressively performed by the vicar : — Brethren and Friends , — Not many days since I witnessed with pleasure a youth and aged sire shake hanels together in the street—both seemed cheerful and happy then . The youth wis taken ill , and so was the sire at the same time—the youth , most amiable and dutiful , a promising scholar , and on whom I
looked with the greatest hope and comfort fcr the future , was my own elear bny of 17 , whom it was my sorrow on Friday last to follow to the grave after but a week ' s illness , and his body rests within a very short distance eif us . The sire was my dear friend anel Brother Childs , whose body lays before us—both have left the clearest testimony that they died happy and have gone to a better worlel ;
they each mingle their voices with those before the throne of God . I have reasons to love the memory of Bro Childs as an honourable , straightforward Mason , and an ornament to society as a lover of Masonry , who religiously cariied out his obligation—ever reaeiy to do good anel to speak a word for those who were worthy . I hon . mr him because amidst persecution he supported me in my efforts
to free our excellent society from the great national curse . At his grave I venerate him as a true friend and brother , of whose ' acquaintance I was prouel , as a man of superior intel ' . igence and scientific attainments , and whose memory I shall ever revere as a godly man . Eternal peace to his ashes ; and may thc highest honours deck his brow and enshrine his spirit in thc realms of light and life in thc
presence of the Most Holy . At his grave I elevoutly | ray the Most High God , and ask you present , and all lovers of genuine Masonry , to join me , that in His great goodness and wisdom He will shed His benign light upon His Royal Highness the Grand Master , the Granel Officers , and all possessing an honourable influence , inducing them to discontinue thc drinking customs , and thus help to
maintain pure and unsullied thc noblest institution upon which the sun has ever shone , which has bound anel is destined to bind together in sweetest harmony and love men of all nations , creeds , and politics . May the happiest consolations fill the breast of his widow and survivors , and the choicest blessings rest upon his children anel children's children for ever . Brethren , I ask you to look with me
into the open grave into which our brother has descended ; let the spectacle remind us of our inevitable destiny , and guide our reflection into that most useful of all human studies , the knowledge of ourselves . May the Most Holy prepare us by His grace for that change when thc great leveller of all shall come that we may join our brother in the Grand Lodge above , where the world ' s Great Architect
lives and reigns supreme for ever . Live , my brethren , for this ; show that there is in Masonry something more than a mere name , that you love one another " practically , " and thus honour God and your profession . Pour the balm of consolation into the wounds of the sorrowing , help one another in all" your lawful callings , do good in every way you can , and may God bless you and
yours with every happiness here anil hereafter . In closing allow me to pay a tribute to Masonry , a synonym of " Pure Religion , " apart from Creed . Creeds are but dogmas or obstinate wills for faith created by local circumstances . Masonry , rising on angel wings above the clash of creeds and the strife of politics , reaching beyond the narrow limits of particular institutions , civil or religious
redolent with the perfumes of heaven , is now flying through the earth on a mission to dissipate prejudices , to teach man to love God and one another , regardless of creeel , e *»? T ' . !~ , or caste , it has stood for thousands of years and braved the greatest persecution , it has promoted peace and goodwill among men , and raised thc happines 1 of heaven , to which the monarch and the peasant unitedly do homage ; whilst its heavenly charms draw together as
brethren those > v ! io would be in perpetual animosity . Nations fall ! Monarchs die I but Masonry , Heaven-born brotherl y love , shall flourish and fructify in undying summer , and survive thc wreck of matter and the crash of worlds . Finally , may it increase in its influence among all nations . May love and harmony prevail , and the God of the widow and fatherless bless the hand that helps its chariot-wheels along , or that removes impediments out of its way .
Obituary.
The whole . were much affected , and the vicar showed respect by remaining . Afterwards the rites of Good Templars were carried out , and the whole sang " For ever with the Lord . "
BRO . REV . FRANK W . C . SIMMONS . The funeral of the late Bro . Rev . Frank W . Churchill Simmons took place at Nelson , New Zealand , on the 18 th May , and was attended by a large number of the friends of the deceascet gentleman . The mournful cortege left ; the College at half-past two for the Stoke Cemetery . Im . mediately after the hearse were coaches containing the
nearest and dearest relatives and friends of the departed and behind these came the collegiate scholars , followed by a great many young men who had left the institution , but bore in grateful and respectful remembrance the valued services of a kind and able master . After these came a carriage with the College Governors and the masters of thc various public schools , then came two carriages occu .
pied by well-known members of the Masonic fraternity ( without the regalia of the Order ) , and the sad procession closeel with a long string of vehicles of every kind . The service in thc church was read by the Bishop of Nelson , assisted by the Rev . J . Kempthorne , after which his 16 rdship read the service at the grave in a very impressive
manner . At thc conclusion of the service , according to the time-honoured custom of Freemasonry , thc brethren pre . sent drew near the open grave and deposited sprigs of acacia upon the coffin , thus paying a last tribute of respect to the memory of the well-loved and deservedly es . teemed Bro . Frank W . Churchill Simmons .
Multum In Parbo; Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
Multum in Parbo ; or Masonic Notes and Queries .
SMOLLETT A FREEMASON . In an interesting article entitled "Smollett and Chelsea , " byT . IT . Gibson , M . A ., in the "London Magazine " it is stated— " From one of his last letters , addressed to a friend in Chelsea , it would appear that Smollett was a Freemason ; and that , as of course we might quickly infer from his works , h •was very fond of a little genial society ,
not even excluding that tavenious society to which literary men in all ages seem to have been occasionally prone . Smollett , in fact , makes pointeel references to the ' set' or convivial company meetings at some favoured and favour , ing tavern in the locality , and desires to know how the fellows are getting on , and that he may be remembered to them . " What is known of this gifted novelist as a Mason ? When and where was he initiated ? What
lodges did he visit ? Anel will any one forward to the " Fieemason " a copy of ihe letter alluded to in the above extract ? I strongly suspect that Sterne too was a Freemason . If the true history of the Craft could only be fully come , at , it would prove to be a much more glorious one than thc rubbish manufactured for us by the " won ' t go home till morning " class of scribblers , who seem to have forgot that truth is a Masonic vistue . Gi-oiioE MARKHAM TWEDOELL ,
MASONS'MARKS ON THE RUINS OF ANCIENT ROME . — It is only within thc last year or two that wc have been able to trace out the exact line of the walls of ancient Rome , as built by the kings , and this has been owing to the building of the new city , and thc excavations made for that purpose by the British and American Archaiologica ) Society ' s Exploration Fund . The marks found upon stone
buildings of all dates in various parts of thc world are those of the Masons , or builders , who were from the earliest times banded together in guilels , none being admitted without serving a specified time ; these , again , according to their ability , were divided into different classes , consisting of Apprentices , Fellow Crafts , Master Masons , Mark men , and Architects , as distinct from thc labourers , or men
who prepared the rough stone , mixed the mortar , or carried thc materials . These bands , guilds , or lodges were presided over by the most competent , forming a brotherhood , and as such existing down to the seventeenth century . Many of these loelges had charters and privileges granted to them by various kings anil emperors ; and because their art was taught only to the freeborn they came
to be called Freemasons , which name is retained to the present day by the Masonic lodges , though they are not operative , but speculative Masons . Charlemagne and Hugh Capet granted such charters ; also Pope Nicholas III . in 1278 ; in 1445 John de Medicis , Duke of Florence , became Grand Master of Freemasons ; and Pope Leo X . was Grand Master of the Order , also Clement VIII . In
our own country , St . Alban got a charter from the king and council for their protection ; in 926 King Athelstan likewise granteel a charter , and became Grand Master at York . Edward III . revised their constitution in 135 8 ; in the rtign of Henry VI . the House of Commons broug ht in an act to prohibit their meetings , which passed , and was revoked in 1450 , when the king and many lords , gento
tlemen of his Court were made Masons . But to return the marks . These were m : » de by certain men of the old guild , called Mark men , whose duty it was to mark the stones with certain signs . Thus , in the Masonic lodges of the present day , called Mark lodges , each member of the lodge has a distinctive and ' peculiar symbol , which no other member of that lodge can take . Although on different parts of the early fortifications in Rome we find
Maswis' marks often icpeated on stones close together , yet taking the existing remains which are at a distance from each other , we do not find the same marks repeated , with only one exception , a mark on the agger in the tower ot Servius Tullius , B . C . 580 , corresponds with a mark on we Palatine , B . C . 753 , and a curious trident mark here is also often found on the wall of Pompeii , near the Porta Romana . Many of the marks are used by th- eetnason * of to-day . — " Builder . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Chapter.
GRAND CHAPTER .
The quarterly convocation of Grand Chapter was held on Wednesday at Freemasons' Hall . The chapter was formed as . follows : —E . Comp . Samuel Rawson , as M . E . Z . ; E . C . Frederick Pattison , as IT . ; and E . C . Platt , 'J . There were also present Comps . Lieut .-Col . Creaton , as S . E . ; Benj . Head , as S . N . ; Hon . W . Warren Vernon , as
P . Soj . ; Gray and Saunders , Assist . Sojs . ; E . J . cBarron , Standard Bearer ; also Comps . Buss , Snell , Parkinson , Joseph Smith , Hyde Pullen , Hogard , John Boyd , H . E . Francis , W . Hammond , W . Stephens , Pendlebury , Adlard , and others . After the reading of the minutes of the last quarterly convocation , the reporc of the General Purposes Committee was taken , including a
report vouching the correctness of the accounts since 19 th April , 1876 , and reports as to the reception of petitions for four new chapters , viz ., a chapter to be attached to the Jumna Lodge , 1394 , to be called the Chalmers Chapter , to meet at Delhi , Punjaub ; a chapter to be attached to theTyne Lodge , 991 , Willington Quay , Northumberland ; a chapter to be attached to the Friends in Council Lodge ,
1383 , to be called the Friends in Council Chapter , to meet at 33 , Golden-square , London ; a chapter to be attached to the Lodge of Charity , 5 63 , Umballa , to be called the Umballa Chapter , to meet at Umballa , Punjaub , all of which , being found regular , were recommended by thc . Committee of General Purposes , and granted by Grand Chapter .
A petition from the Fortescue Chapter , 847 , Honiton , for a charter of confirmation , in consequence of the loss of the original , which was supported by Comp . the Rev . John Huyshe , Grand Superintendent of Devon , was also granted . The committee also reported an irregularity which had occurred in the Old Globe Chapter , 200 , Scarborough ,
where , on his simple assertion that he had been twelve months a Master Mason , a brother had been improperly exalted . The committee did not consider that it was a wilful error , and under the circumstances the Grand Chapter merely inflicted a fine of one guinea , with an admonition , and directed that the companion should be re-obligated at the next meeting . Grand Chapter was then closed in the visual form .
A Masonic Incident.
A MASONIC INCIDENT .
At the feast given by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in December last , Rev . Bro . Young , the Grand Chaplain , related the following incident , and made the following excellent comments thereon :
The other evening , on a certain occasion , I alluded to the influence of Masonry during thc rebellion . Since then 1 heard a story from one who was in the war , which beautifully illustrated the influence of Masonry in the direction of love and fraternity . In one of the battles ol Virginia General Woodsworlh—I think that is the name —of Vermont , fell , and his body was within thc enemy ' s
lines . His friends wished to obtain it , and a Federal officer , who was a Mason , said to the sentinel , who was also a Mason , " You go down to the shore of the stream , and if you see a man on the other side , make some signal to hi m of a Masonic character . " He went down to the shore , and by and by he saw a person on the opposite side . He gave the signal , but no answer was returned . The next
morning when he went down he repeated the practice with the same result ; no answer was given . Finally thc officer himself went down and made some signals , and he soon found them answered on the other side . In course of the day communication was had , the body was given Into thc hands of its friends , and carried home to Vermont for interment . The rebel officer said that the sentinel on the
other side did not know what those signals meant . Now , it ' s just that , brethren . The world laughs at our signs , and calls them nonsense . But their object is to touch the secret springs through which we are brought into close and intimate connection with others , and are enabled , as in the case illustrated , to close a bloody chasm , and bring enemies into the relation of friends .
And so in the secret character of our organization . Why , all grand forces of nature are secret . God himself is a great secret , a great mystery ; the eye does not look upon Him , the ear does not hear Him , the hand cannot reach Him , and yet we believe in His boundless love , and wisdom , and power , and we worship that Great Unseen and Invisible One . Life is secret and invisible . The surgeon ,
the dissector , can cut the body and lay open its parts ; but he cannot lay his knife upon the secret life and expose it to the eye . The air is invisible . We onl y feel it on our cheeks ; we hear its music in the forests . Electricity is invisible . Gravitation is invisible . All the secret powers and forces that move the world and hold systems together are unseen and secret , eluding the eye and hand . So it is in this grand institution of ours , which I believe we can
not too much praise and too much love , brethren , arid too much honour in our own manly" characters , in our own upright lives , and in our loving disj . isition . It is that very characteristic of Masonry which gave h . 'he ; power that is , to-day , in a hundred thousand ways thai wc don't see , moving the world onward , and lifting it up nearer to the skies , and preaching that love and brotherly kindness which shall make the earth we live on like the heaven we aspire to .
KNOWLEDGE AND SYMPATHY . —Good spirits may be readily restored to the late fortunate owner by a few doses of Holloway's revivfylngmedicine . Instant action alone is wanted to prevent the development of more disagreeable and dangerous symptoms . Kvcry one lias frequently experienced sudden personal changes 1 ' vom gaiety to gloom . ' Ttic weather oftimes receives the blame ,
when a faulty digestion alone is the cause of the depression . Holloway's Pills can be honestly recommended for regulating a disordered stomach and improving digestion . They entirely remove all sense of fulness and oppression after eating . They clear the furred tongue , and act as a wholesome stimulant to the J ivcr , and as a gentle aperient to the bowels . They healthfully T ouse both body ueut mind . —A UVT ,
Obituary.
Obituary .
BRO . RICHARD DANSON , P . M . 1064 . A large section of the Masonic fraternity in and around Liverpool will learn with regret that Bro . Richard Danson , P . M . 1094 , died at Heaton Moor , 011 Tuesday , the 25 th olt ., after a long illness . The deceased was best known professionally in Liverpool as the architect of the New Masonic Hall in Hope-street , and he was greatly esteemed by a large number of the brotherhood . Bro . Danson was only 41 years of age .
BRO . CAPTAIN JONES . Died at Liverpool , on the 21 st inst ., suddenly , Bro . Captain Jones , formerly one of the Deacons of thc Merchants' Lodge , who was very highly esteemed in Masonic circles by many brethren , and whose loss is greatly felt by many who knew him .
BRO . JOHN CHILDS , P . M . 1201 . On Thursday , the 27 th ult ., the remains of Bro . Past Master John . Childs were conveyed to their last resting place in Lewisham Cemetery , and , although little notice could be given , there were many present to show their high regard for one who did the highest honour to Freemasonry by his most consitent and exemplary life , and
whose uutiring zeal for the cause of temperance and thc general good of his fellows raised him in the highest esteem . It was , as far as the Craft is concerned , a private funeral . By request , Bro . P . M . Wm . Darley , of Adams Lodge , 158 , Sheerness , delivered the following oration at the grave after the usual service of the Church of England hail been
impressively performed by the vicar : — Brethren and Friends , — Not many days since I witnessed with pleasure a youth and aged sire shake hanels together in the street—both seemed cheerful and happy then . The youth wis taken ill , and so was the sire at the same time—the youth , most amiable and dutiful , a promising scholar , and on whom I
looked with the greatest hope and comfort fcr the future , was my own elear bny of 17 , whom it was my sorrow on Friday last to follow to the grave after but a week ' s illness , and his body rests within a very short distance eif us . The sire was my dear friend anel Brother Childs , whose body lays before us—both have left the clearest testimony that they died happy and have gone to a better worlel ;
they each mingle their voices with those before the throne of God . I have reasons to love the memory of Bro Childs as an honourable , straightforward Mason , and an ornament to society as a lover of Masonry , who religiously cariied out his obligation—ever reaeiy to do good anel to speak a word for those who were worthy . I hon . mr him because amidst persecution he supported me in my efforts
to free our excellent society from the great national curse . At his grave I venerate him as a true friend and brother , of whose ' acquaintance I was prouel , as a man of superior intel ' . igence and scientific attainments , and whose memory I shall ever revere as a godly man . Eternal peace to his ashes ; and may thc highest honours deck his brow and enshrine his spirit in thc realms of light and life in thc
presence of the Most Holy . At his grave I elevoutly | ray the Most High God , and ask you present , and all lovers of genuine Masonry , to join me , that in His great goodness and wisdom He will shed His benign light upon His Royal Highness the Grand Master , the Granel Officers , and all possessing an honourable influence , inducing them to discontinue thc drinking customs , and thus help to
maintain pure and unsullied thc noblest institution upon which the sun has ever shone , which has bound anel is destined to bind together in sweetest harmony and love men of all nations , creeds , and politics . May the happiest consolations fill the breast of his widow and survivors , and the choicest blessings rest upon his children anel children's children for ever . Brethren , I ask you to look with me
into the open grave into which our brother has descended ; let the spectacle remind us of our inevitable destiny , and guide our reflection into that most useful of all human studies , the knowledge of ourselves . May the Most Holy prepare us by His grace for that change when thc great leveller of all shall come that we may join our brother in the Grand Lodge above , where the world ' s Great Architect
lives and reigns supreme for ever . Live , my brethren , for this ; show that there is in Masonry something more than a mere name , that you love one another " practically , " and thus honour God and your profession . Pour the balm of consolation into the wounds of the sorrowing , help one another in all" your lawful callings , do good in every way you can , and may God bless you and
yours with every happiness here anil hereafter . In closing allow me to pay a tribute to Masonry , a synonym of " Pure Religion , " apart from Creed . Creeds are but dogmas or obstinate wills for faith created by local circumstances . Masonry , rising on angel wings above the clash of creeds and the strife of politics , reaching beyond the narrow limits of particular institutions , civil or religious
redolent with the perfumes of heaven , is now flying through the earth on a mission to dissipate prejudices , to teach man to love God and one another , regardless of creeel , e *»? T ' . !~ , or caste , it has stood for thousands of years and braved the greatest persecution , it has promoted peace and goodwill among men , and raised thc happines 1 of heaven , to which the monarch and the peasant unitedly do homage ; whilst its heavenly charms draw together as
brethren those > v ! io would be in perpetual animosity . Nations fall ! Monarchs die I but Masonry , Heaven-born brotherl y love , shall flourish and fructify in undying summer , and survive thc wreck of matter and the crash of worlds . Finally , may it increase in its influence among all nations . May love and harmony prevail , and the God of the widow and fatherless bless the hand that helps its chariot-wheels along , or that removes impediments out of its way .
Obituary.
The whole . were much affected , and the vicar showed respect by remaining . Afterwards the rites of Good Templars were carried out , and the whole sang " For ever with the Lord . "
BRO . REV . FRANK W . C . SIMMONS . The funeral of the late Bro . Rev . Frank W . Churchill Simmons took place at Nelson , New Zealand , on the 18 th May , and was attended by a large number of the friends of the deceascet gentleman . The mournful cortege left ; the College at half-past two for the Stoke Cemetery . Im . mediately after the hearse were coaches containing the
nearest and dearest relatives and friends of the departed and behind these came the collegiate scholars , followed by a great many young men who had left the institution , but bore in grateful and respectful remembrance the valued services of a kind and able master . After these came a carriage with the College Governors and the masters of thc various public schools , then came two carriages occu .
pied by well-known members of the Masonic fraternity ( without the regalia of the Order ) , and the sad procession closeel with a long string of vehicles of every kind . The service in thc church was read by the Bishop of Nelson , assisted by the Rev . J . Kempthorne , after which his 16 rdship read the service at the grave in a very impressive
manner . At thc conclusion of the service , according to the time-honoured custom of Freemasonry , thc brethren pre . sent drew near the open grave and deposited sprigs of acacia upon the coffin , thus paying a last tribute of respect to the memory of the well-loved and deservedly es . teemed Bro . Frank W . Churchill Simmons .
Multum In Parbo; Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
Multum in Parbo ; or Masonic Notes and Queries .
SMOLLETT A FREEMASON . In an interesting article entitled "Smollett and Chelsea , " byT . IT . Gibson , M . A ., in the "London Magazine " it is stated— " From one of his last letters , addressed to a friend in Chelsea , it would appear that Smollett was a Freemason ; and that , as of course we might quickly infer from his works , h •was very fond of a little genial society ,
not even excluding that tavenious society to which literary men in all ages seem to have been occasionally prone . Smollett , in fact , makes pointeel references to the ' set' or convivial company meetings at some favoured and favour , ing tavern in the locality , and desires to know how the fellows are getting on , and that he may be remembered to them . " What is known of this gifted novelist as a Mason ? When and where was he initiated ? What
lodges did he visit ? Anel will any one forward to the " Fieemason " a copy of ihe letter alluded to in the above extract ? I strongly suspect that Sterne too was a Freemason . If the true history of the Craft could only be fully come , at , it would prove to be a much more glorious one than thc rubbish manufactured for us by the " won ' t go home till morning " class of scribblers , who seem to have forgot that truth is a Masonic vistue . Gi-oiioE MARKHAM TWEDOELL ,
MASONS'MARKS ON THE RUINS OF ANCIENT ROME . — It is only within thc last year or two that wc have been able to trace out the exact line of the walls of ancient Rome , as built by the kings , and this has been owing to the building of the new city , and thc excavations made for that purpose by the British and American Archaiologica ) Society ' s Exploration Fund . The marks found upon stone
buildings of all dates in various parts of thc world are those of the Masons , or builders , who were from the earliest times banded together in guilels , none being admitted without serving a specified time ; these , again , according to their ability , were divided into different classes , consisting of Apprentices , Fellow Crafts , Master Masons , Mark men , and Architects , as distinct from thc labourers , or men
who prepared the rough stone , mixed the mortar , or carried thc materials . These bands , guilds , or lodges were presided over by the most competent , forming a brotherhood , and as such existing down to the seventeenth century . Many of these loelges had charters and privileges granted to them by various kings anil emperors ; and because their art was taught only to the freeborn they came
to be called Freemasons , which name is retained to the present day by the Masonic lodges , though they are not operative , but speculative Masons . Charlemagne and Hugh Capet granted such charters ; also Pope Nicholas III . in 1278 ; in 1445 John de Medicis , Duke of Florence , became Grand Master of Freemasons ; and Pope Leo X . was Grand Master of the Order , also Clement VIII . In
our own country , St . Alban got a charter from the king and council for their protection ; in 926 King Athelstan likewise granteel a charter , and became Grand Master at York . Edward III . revised their constitution in 135 8 ; in the rtign of Henry VI . the House of Commons broug ht in an act to prohibit their meetings , which passed , and was revoked in 1450 , when the king and many lords , gento
tlemen of his Court were made Masons . But to return the marks . These were m : » de by certain men of the old guild , called Mark men , whose duty it was to mark the stones with certain signs . Thus , in the Masonic lodges of the present day , called Mark lodges , each member of the lodge has a distinctive and ' peculiar symbol , which no other member of that lodge can take . Although on different parts of the early fortifications in Rome we find
Maswis' marks often icpeated on stones close together , yet taking the existing remains which are at a distance from each other , we do not find the same marks repeated , with only one exception , a mark on the agger in the tower ot Servius Tullius , B . C . 580 , corresponds with a mark on we Palatine , B . C . 753 , and a curious trident mark here is also often found on the wall of Pompeii , near the Porta Romana . Many of the marks are used by th- eetnason * of to-day . — " Builder . "