Rituals In Freemasonry.

the ritual as adopted by the Grand body . Tho oft-rcpcated statement was made that the Officer that repeats his ritual correctly gives it in " a menninglessand parrot-like manner . " Among those who were present os listeners on the occasion referred to were a considerable number of brethren who

have been careful , j > mistaking and accurate ritualists , who have for years been noted among the Craft , not only for their fidelity to tho ritual in the various bodies which they have served , but also " o . " Mio intelligent and effective manner in which they worked , conveyiug to the thoughtful

listener the deep meaning of the spoken words . Yet the author of tho paper referred to made frequent and ancallcd-for-allusio'is ti > Grand Lecturers and their work , as though a man ought to take upon himself this most important and laborious office and teach , not the Ritual ,

but whatever might suggest itself to his mind . And after all this talk against correct rendering of the Ritual , stated that he was much in favour of a " General " Grand Lodge in order that there might be a greater uniformity of work throughout the country .

Those who have for years been active and painstaking in behalf of uniformity in Ritual , believe rather in encouraging careful and earnest study among the officebearers , firm in the faith that those who know the Ritual thoroughly are the ones who may be depended upon to

teach the lessons which the work is intended to convey , in the most intelligent , manner , impressing candidates and mombers with the beauty of Faith , Hope , and that Charity which is synonymous with Brotherl y Love , strengthening in the minds of all a firm belief in the great and fundamental truth of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man . —Serawus Botven , M . B .

Masonry More Than A Benefit Society.

MASONRY MORE THAN A BENEFIT SOCIETY .

HOW infinitely removed from the true conception of the Masonic essence are those who see or expect in Masonry nothing but a society for ameliorations and benefits . These are temporal concerns ; material objects , sought according to convenience and circumstances . Far be it from my thoughts to detract , by remotest insinuation or

inference , from the merit of those institutions which men have organised for mutual benefit . They are praiseworthy ; they are useful ; they relieve distress and shelter against poverty and want . But they are neither a substitute nor an equivalent for Freemasonry . They are as far removed

from it as tbe image of some partial superstition is removed from the One Infinite . Masonry is more than " a beautiful system of morality . " No definition can lay down its scope or measure its extent . Its soul is truth ; its mission the brotherhood of man ; a vague generality ,

perhaps , to the superficial mind . But a welldefined substance to the thoughtful and the earnest . Ordinary morality , uprightness of life , charitable impulse , these are the common attributes of all good men , be they Masons or no . But Freemasonry combines them

into hi gher uses and nobler purposes . It teaches not only morality , but also equality ; not only charity , but also toleration ; the fraternity , not of Masons , only as such , but the fraternity of the human race . When we speak of the " universality of Masonry , " we assume something

more than a mere historic or geographical fact . We do not mean only than Masonry can and does flourish everywhere ; but that in its essence , it is universal ; in its nature , benevolent ; in its objects , ideal ; striving to fit man for a condition of perfect moral and social

communism where geography traces no boundaries and history erects no boastful monuments ; where we are content to forget and forgive , remembering only the

points of fellowship , our fears , our hopes , our common struggle and our common destiny . —Charles F . Buclt , G . M . Louisiana .

A warrant has just been granted by the Grand Lodge of England for a new Lodge to be held at Dore , in the Province of Derbyshire , to be called the Chantrey , No . 2355 . Bro . William Boden P . M . 353 P . P . G . J . W . of

Derb yshire is to be the first Master . The Lodge is named after the eminent sculptor , Sir Francis Chantrey , R . A ., who was born and buried in the district . Meetings will be held at the Licensed Victuallers' Institution , Dore .

Knights Templars.

KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

LOYAL BRUNSWICK PRECEPTORY . A CONVOCATION was held on the 20 th nit ., at the Sincerity Masonic Hall , Plymouth , when the E . P . elect Sir Knight John Da Pre was installed for the ensuing year , tho ceremony being performed by the V . E . Sir Knight the Rev . Dr . Lemon P . E . P . P . G . Prior nf Dovon , in tho presence of Sir Knights S . Jew P . E . P ., J . R . Lord E . C , Veterans G . R . Barrett P . E . C .. W . F . Wescotfc P . E . C ., — : o : —

P . B . Clemens P . E . C ., and E . Davies P . E . P . A Companion having been installed , the E . P . appointed and invested his Officers as follows : —D . Cross I . P . E . P ., F . Crouoh C , F . R . Thomas M ., Dr . Lemon , D . D ., P . G . P . Chaplain , J . H . Keata P . E . P ., Treasurer , J . R . Wilson Registrar , 6 . Dunsterville sub-M ., J . Leonard C . of G .,

A . J . Verdi Almoner , A . Tront Staud . Bearer , J . Holland Stand . B . V . B ., E . Aslafc P ., J . Gidley Guard . Regret was expressed at tho enforced absence , through illness , of Sir Knights J . H . Keata and D . Cross . The Knights afterwards adjourned to tho Freemasons '

Club in Princess Square , Plymouth , where they sat down to n . recherobe banqnet , which was well served under the direotiou of Bro . Harvey . A very pleasant evening was spent . Sir Knight Du Pn' was also iostalled E . P . of the Priory of Malta .

The Two Glasses.

THE TWO GLASSES .

There were two glassep , filled to the brim , On the rioh man ' s table , rim to rim ; One was ruddy and red aa blood , The other was clear as a crystal flood . Said tho glass of wine to hia paler brother , " Let ns tell the talea of the past to oaoh other ;

I can tell of a banquet and revel and mirth , And the proudest and grandest souls on earth Fell under my touch , as though struck by blight , Where I was king , for I ruled with might . From the heads of kings I have torn the crown ; From the heights of fame I havo hurled men down .

I have blasted many an honoured name ; I have taken virtue and given shame . I have tempted youth with a sip , a taste , That has made his future a barren waste . Far greater than a king am I , Or than any army beneath the sky . I have made the arm of the driver fail ,

And sent tho train from the iron rail . I have made good ships to go down at sea , And the shrieks of the lost were sweet to me . For they said : ' Behold ! how great yon be ! Fame , strength , wealth , genius before you fall , For your might and power are over all . ' Ho ! Ho . ' pale brother , " laughed the wine , " Can you boast of deeds as great as mine ?"

Said the water glass , " I cannot boast Of a king dethroned or a murdered host j But I can tell of a heart , once sad , By my crystal drops made light and glad—Of thirsts I ' ve quenohed , of brows I've laved , Of hands I ' ve cooled and souls I've saved .

I ve leaped throngh the valley , dashed down the mountain , Flowed in the river and played in the fountain , Slept in the sunshine and dropped from the sky , And every where gladdened the landscape and eye . I have eased the hot forehead of fever and pain . I have made tbe parched meadow grow fertile with grain . I can tell of the powerful wheel of the mill

I hat ground out flour and turned at my will ; I can tell of manhood debased by you , That I lifted up and crowned anew . I cheer , I help , I strengthen and aid j I gladden the heart of man and maid ; I Bet the wine-chained captive free , And all are better for knowing me . "

Ihese aro the talea they told each other—The glass of wine and its paler brother , As they sat together , filled to the brim , On a rich man ' s table , rim to rim . —Maine Farmer .

We have to record to-day the death , which occurred on the 2 nd instant , of Mr . J . C . O'Reilly , chief clerk in the Office of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , at Freemasons' Hall . Daring his torm of office ( some 12 or 13 years ) Mr . O'Reilly had gained the respect of a numerous band of the supporters o £ the Institution .

Authentic details of the inner life of the Court are so rarely published , that an article dealing with the question , " What does the Prince of Wales do ? " which appeared in the last number of Oassell ' s Magazine , from tbe pen of Mr . Edwin Goadby , merits special

attention . The Prince , whose relations with the press are always pleasant , gave special facilities for the illustrations accompanying the article to be obtained ; and the views of his study , both at Sandringham and Marlborough House , have been engraved from original photographs taken for the purpose .