In The Heart.

IN THE HEART .

WE teach that a Mason ' s first preparation should be in the heart . In the heart ! Ah ! Brethren , there is the key-note of all Speculative Masonry , as it is the very pith and marrow of all manhood . With the heart right , how easy it is to practice that charity which " envieth not , is not puffed

up , doth not behave itself unseemly ; " and how naturally does the fulfilment of obligations become " at once our duty and our happiness . " Such a heart sends its red current to

the lips , and we speak words of encouragement and gjod cheer ; it courses along the arm , and we raise the fallen and succour the needy ; it extends to the feet , and they are quick to run on errands of mercy .

A heart thus tempered shrinks not from affiliation with all races and conditions of men ; the high and low , rich and poor . Under the glow of its inspiration , our jewels ,, or

working tools , all our paraphernalia , take an ideal import , transcending the limits of mere physical measurement ; and pregnant with infinite suggestions radiate a spiritual light even to the boundaries described in the answers to the

questions in the Eternal Apprentice degree— - " How long ?" "How broad ? " " How high ? " " How deep ?"—uplifting all those who have this " first preparation " into the full perception of the grandeur of our Order , and the profound significance of its symbols . —Samuel B . Spooner , in the " Canadian Craftsman . "

The famous Druce case—with its doubly-buried Dukeis likely to have a parallel , if report speaks truly regarding the death and burial of Mr . George Edward Lake , solicitor , of London , late Deputy Prov . G . M . Herts . He was dead , but is alive again , according to many witnesses who can have

no object in spreading abroad a false report . Last November a coffin , supposed to contain the remains of Mr . George Ed . Lake , was brought over from the continent to England , and interred with all the publicity attending the obsequies of the late lamented Miss Kilmansegg . " All I know , " said the

undertaker to a representative of the London " Daily Mail , " " is that I received the coffin from Germany , that the certificates of death—there were two , one being in German and the other in English—were quite in order so far as I could tell ,

the cause of death being given as ' collapse . ' Then you did not see whether or not there was a corpse in the coffin you received from Germany ? " was asked . " No , I did not open it . Tnside the wooden case was a metal coffin which would

doubtless be soldered down . ' How do I know wnat was inside the wood ? Because in one place where a screw nad been fixed the wood had split , and I could see the metal of the inside coffin . " At the graveside the Duke of Norfolk was one of the chief mourners ; several prominent Freemasons

also showed their respect for the deceased ; and every blind in Bushey , where he was buried , was drawn low . And now the whole affair is said to have been bogus , and the statement is of more importance from the fact that the recent failure of the " surviving " partner is alleged to be due to the

" dead man ' s " defalcations . The obvious method of settling the difficulty is to open the coffin and see if Mr . Lake is really there ; but if the Druce case counts for anything , the simplest remedy will be the most difficult to apply . — " Birmingham Gazette . "

* * * The Mason who cannot wholly divest himself of all party feeling before crossing the threshold of a Masonic Lodge might as well carry in with him the pestilence . Brethren should always remember that there is more danger

from within' the Lodges than without . Masters of Lodges cannot be too strict in rebuking the slightest political allusion in Lodge , whether at labour or refreshment . These principles should extend farther . We should , on all occasions , lend our influence and example in assuaging the bitterness of party spirit in the community around us .

* * » A proposal to have a dramatic performance of " Rob Roy , " or some other popular play , under the auspices of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow for the benefit of the

Prov . Grand Lodge Benevolent Fund was before that bod y on Tuesday , but they would have none of it . The proposal was declined by a three-fourths vote , notwithstanding the statement by the proposer that at a former performance of the kind a sum of £ 124 was netted .

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative , to report Lodge or other proceedings . GEAFT : PEOVINOIAL .

ROYAL SUSSEX LODGE , No . 353 . THE third annual pie-nic was held on Wednesday , 18 th ult ., in delightful weather . The party , to the number of fifty , left Burton at 9 . 15 a . m ., and journeyed per Midland Railway to Worcester , in two new and splendidlyappointed saloon carriages .

After a visit to the porcelain works , luncheon was partaken of at the Star Hotel , and then the historic cathedral was visited by several of the trippists . At half-past two o ' clock the party proceeded by the steamer " Jubilee " to Tewkesbury , where a leisurely stroll round the old battle-field formed an interesting and helpful prelude to afternoon tea , which was partaken of at the Bell Inn , a house rendered famous as the residence of readers of

old Abel Fletcher , the tanner , who will be remembered by all " John Halifax , gentleman . " A visit to Tewkesbury Abbey was the next item on the programme , and the ancient town was left at half-past five for the return journey to Worcester , which was reached , after a most enjoyable sail , at a quarter past seven . Half-an-hour later the party sat down to a recherche repast at the Star Hotel , the catering giving entire satisfaction .

Shortly after ten o ' clock the homeward journey was commenced , and Burton was reached after a capital run . The whole of the arrangements were in the hands of Worshipful Master Bro . Arthur R . Price , who is to be heartily congratulated upon the success of the outing , which was generally pronounced to have been the most successful one of the series .

* * SYDNEY LODGE , No . 829 . LADIES whose husbands , brothers , or cousins are members of the Ancient Order of Freemasonry , do not hear much of Masonio doings , « ays the *! Sidcup Times , " but the Brethren of the Sydney Lodge organised a ladies ' day outing which took place on Wednesday , 25 th ult ., to Sevenoaks .

The party made an early start , leaving the Rose Inn , Plumstead , at nine o ' clock in the morning in four smartly-equipped four-in-hand coaches . The Black Horse , Sidcup ( where the Lodge holds its meetings ) was reached at 10 . 30 , and the Royal Oak Hotel , Sevenoaks , at one o ' clock . The charming scenery passed through was greatly enjoyed , the old town being probably more famous for its delightful situation than for any historic interest . In the grounds of the hotel a sumptuous luncheon was partaken of . At 3 . 30 the

return journey was commenced , and at Sidcup tea was provided and the evening spent with a musical entertainment . The last stage of the homeward journey was entered on at ten o ' clock , and home was reached about eleven , when the Masons and their ladies were found to have agreed that the drive into the " Garden of England , " on such a perfect summer ' s day , had been so delightful that it will be strange if another such outing is not arranged next year .

WILTON LODGE , No . 1077 . LIKE the Egyptians , who are said to have had their benish-days , or periods of emancipation from the cares and exactions of every-day life , so members of Masonic Lodges are glad to throw off the restraint of ceremonial , and endeavour to disprove the saying of old Froissart that " the English take their pleasures sadly , " by an annual trip into the country , and a supreme effort to erowd into one day an amount of enjoyment which , to an ordinary individual , would suffice for a week . Those lucky people who ,

at an early hour on the morning of Wednesday , 18 th ult ., assembled at the Gentral Station , Manchester , with the intention of supporting the pic-nio of the Wilton Lodge , No . 1077 , were well rewarded for the trouble they had taken to be present . In the first place the weather was all that could ba desired ; in the next the Cheshire Lines Company had furnished three excellent saloon carriages for the convenience of the party ; thirdly , Knutsford , the objective of the visit , was very judiciously selected ; and lastly , the W . M . had supplied plenty of refreshments for consumption during the

journey . On arrival at the pretty Cheshire town , conveyances in the shape of ten open landaus and a brake were in readiness , and the party , consisting of members and friends to the number of eighty-five , were driven to the Bear ' s Head Hotel , Brereton , a distance of fifteen miles , through a lovely stretch of country , the route being via OUerton , Marthall , Chelford , Astle ; Withington , where a halt was made , refreshments again provided , and a

snap shot taken of the group , * Holmes Chapel , and on to the Bear ' s Head Hotel . Here a hot dinner was partaken of in a large marquee erected in the hotel grounds , the afternoon being spent in games of cricket , bowling , & c , Brother W . H . Lowry Worshipful Master had offered some very valuable prizes to lady competitors , as follow ;—for the cricket match , a silver tea-pot and lady ' s purse ; and for bowling , a silver cruet ( cut glass ) , and a lady ' s satchel . The foresight of Bro . Lowry had also been the means of furnishing a supply of fruit and other delectables which were offered unsparingly .

At last tea , that welcome feminine nepenthe , was announced , and partaken of with a relish . There was no time for speeches of any kind ; every arrangement had been so carefully made , and was acted upon with such exactness and precision , that directly tea was over the carriages were in waiting for the party , and another drive of about ten miles was undertaken via Holmes Chapel , Allostock , Higher Peover , and Toft , to Knutsford and thence to Manchester by train , arriving at the Central Station shortly before 10 p . m .

Brother Lowry was well supported by his Officers , all of whom were present , and he may be congratulated upon the fact that thepic-nic projected under his auspices was one , if not the most successful ever held in connection with the Wilton Lodge .