Masonic Freedom.

we are oftentimes prone to blame others because their dispositions are not as ours and forget our duties in adapting ourselves to one another ' s peculiarities , and so often a

complexity and multiplicity of dispositions form that harmony which is the acknowledged " strength and support of our institution . "

The Mason should be a gentleman in every sense of tho term ; that is , a gentle man , gentle towards others who differ with him , gentle towards a brother found in a fault ,

if perchance he may convert his brother from the errors of his way by love . Our love and charity may be a strong power where our logic will fail .

Freemasons by tho terms of their contract must regulate their labours according to the designs of the Grand Architect . If each one is permitted to use his own discretion in the plan of building , harmony of purpose is

destroyed , and the edifice which they might erect would be a monumont of ridicule , ever building and ever falling . Masonry carries out only part of the design

of the Grand Architect . We are building up only part of the structure designed , the social fabric ; it may be complete in itself , but incomplete as far as the whole structure is concerned . The Grand Master of the Universe has far

eublimer conceptions than those comprehended by Freemasonry , and it is an injustice to Him and to Masonry for any man to assert that Masonry is a sufficient religion for him . Freemasonry does not claim to be a religion , and

when men claim for it the virtues of a religion they are imposing upon it a burden too heavy for it to bear and from the weight of which it must needs groan and die ,

unless supported by defenders against such an unreasonable imposition . As a rule those who make this claim for Masonry are those who pay little regard to the author of religion and the great Head of Masonry , the Almighty God of Heaven .

The power that Masonry ought to exert in society should be immense . We have far more social power than we give ourselves credit for ; but I fear we allow our power to lie dormant . It is not exerted sufficiently enough because

men fail to manifest its precepts in their lives . We have not yet learned brotherly love . Outward actions of kindness should be the expression of inward feeling of affection , and not because one of the laws of Masonry

requires attention to a needy brother s wants . It would not be an acceptable service to me to minister at my bedside if I were spurned on the street . Our actions should be instigated by brotherly love , and brotherly love knows no

law , but acts spontaneously and without force or constraint . Love produces love , and brotherly acts of kindness become reciprocal . But we cannot attain to this high state of

social purity unless we leave it at the feet of the only exponent of it , " the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother . "

Some of us expect to find a perfect manifestation of it in the life of the learners at the feet of the Great Teacher and turn away in disgust and reject the Master , because the

disciple is not as good as his Master . Perfection in anything apart from God is impossible , and every true disciple of the true Nazarene will acknowledge himself to be only a learner at his feet and an imperfect exponent of his doctrine .

As long as men will attempt to separate Masonry from Religion , and set it apart by itself , it must fail in its work . The great Master Mason has manifested his designs through the medium of the church . It is there that

Masonry has borrowed its plan of work , and if it is to succeed , its individual and representative Craftsmen must there learn the designs by which they are to labour , and their temple will then have a sure foundation .

This I consider to be the true conception of Masonry ; to knock off the rough corners of our own characters , and while this is in process to cement it with brotherly love so

that others may be cemented to us and the work of building up socially may go on harmoniously and successfully . —Voice of Masonry .

Frederic the Great was a Mason and not only wise , but also very witty . On one occasion a Catholic priest refused to allow an Officer , who had not complied with all his religious duties , to be buried in consecrated ground . Frederic sent for the priest , and asked

him : " Yon say that the grave yard is consecrated ? " " Yes , your Majesty . " " How far down does your consecration go ? " The priest , somewhat puzzled , replied , "Five feet . " "All right , then the Officer shall be buried six feet under ground . He will then be one foot outside your jurisdiction . "—Exchange .

Consecration Of The Western District United Service Lodge, No. 2258.

CONSECRATION OF THE WESTERN DISTRICT UNITED SERVICE LODGE , No . 2258 .

A Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon was hold on tho 2 nd instant , at St . George's Hall , Stonehonse , to consecrate JI new . tf . v-onio Lodge entitled tho " Western District Lfni ' el Service Lodge . 2258 . " In tho provinco of Devonshire Freemasonry tins of lute ypars become exceedingly popular , and the result has been the extension of its Lodges to tho almost unparalleled number of fifty-one in aotive work .

Of this number seventeen nr > hold in tho Three Towns , and there has therefore be « n of late a ^ cuorai indisposition to grant any more warrants for Lodges in that district . The claims for the institution of a second Service Lodge was , however , immediately recognised , and the warrant was promised even before the petition of its founders was

presented . Only seven names are attached to the warrant : —Major Michael Tracy R . A ., Prov . G . S . W . of Dovon P . P . G . See . of Jersey and tho new W . M ., Col . J . Phillips C . B ., R . M . L . I . ( S . W . ) , Sergeant-Major Alfred lievill K . M . L . I . ( J . W . ) , Staff-Serjeant G . Huxtable R . M . L . I ., D . Cross P . M . and Treasurer 1205 P . P . G . T ., W . Powell P . M .

aud Secretary 1205 , and Major C . B . G . Dick . But the Lodge opens with eighteen founders , including Qnnrterniaster N . Page Tt . M . L . T ., S . Jew P . P . O . T ., Major P . W . Watts Royal Irish Regiment , Lieut . W . Jamiepon Royal Irish Regiment , Quartermaster-Sergeant FitzReger , Captain H . M . Hatchell Royal Irish Regiment , Major J . Wall R . A .,

Dr . S . I . 0 Grady Surgeon R . N ., Lient . H . Bowman R A , Captain Kelly R . A ., and Lieut . VV . E . Donohne R . A . As a larger attendance of brethren was anticipated than conid be accommodated in any of tho Masonic Lodge rooms in Stonehouse , the ball room of the St . George ' s Hall was fitted up as a temporary Lodge room for the

occasion . It wns handsomely drappd with flags , ornamented at intervals with glittering stars formed of military weapons , and the vestibule and stairways were adorned with flag . - ' , shrubs , and plants , presenting a very attractive appearance . Tho business commenced with the opening of the Prov . Grand Lodge by R . W . B-o . Vi 3 count Ebrington

M . P ., Prov . G . M ., who was well supported by his Officers . The Provincial Grind Lodgo having been duly formed Bro . G . C . Davie the P . G . Secretary announced that certain biefchren having obtained a warrant desired to be constituted into a regular Lodge in ancient form . The P . G . Master desired the P . G . Secretary to read the

warrant , which was from the Most Worshipful the Grand Master of England ( the Prince of Wales ) , duly signed and countersigned . The founders of the Lodge were then called up , and signified their assent to the Officers named in the warrant . An oration on Masonry wag then delivered by the Prov . G . Chap . Bro . the Rev . R . Tvacke ,

after which the Lodge wa 3 placed in its proper condition , covered with white satin and dedicated . The appropriate psalm was beautifully rendered by the choir , and the P . G . Chaplain and P . G . M ., with the further assistance of the choir , having completed the dedication , the Lodge was uncovered . The ceremony of consecration followed ,

in which the Consecrating Officers were Bro . the P . G . M .. Bros . S . Jones as D . P . G . M ., Major Trai .-v Prov . G . S . W ., Kev . T . W . Lemon Prov . G . J . W . andRev . T . Tyacke P . G . Chap . An anthem , snug by the choir , followed . The P . G . M . Viscount Ebrington then declared the Lodge duly constituted and dedicated . The final benediction was

pronounced , the grand honours were given , and the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed . The P . G . M . having vacated tho chair , the Prov . G . Sec . Bro . Major G . C . Davie presided , and in an admirnble rnauner carried out the duties of installing Bro . Major Michael Tracy R . A , the W . M . designate , as tbe W . M . of the Western District United

Service Lodge . Bro . D . Cross was chosen as Treasurer , and Bio . S . Jew P . P . G . T . was elected as the representative of the new Lodge on the Committee of Petitions . Propositions were then announced of three candidates for initiation and Bix as joining members , among the latter being Captain G . S . Strode Lowe , Major St . Clair , of the

Western District ( St . Luke ' s Lodge , Edinburgh ) , and Bro . E . Binding , 202 ( of H . M . S . Royal Adelaide ) . The Lodge was then closed . The Officers of the new Lodge appointed and invested were : —Bros . Major Tracy R . A . W . M ., Major Watts I . P . M ., Colonel Phillips C . B . S . W ., Sergeant-Major Revill J . W ., Surgeon O'Grady R . N . Chaplain ,

Staff-Sergeant Cross Treasurer , Superintending Clerk VV . Powell Secretary , Lieutenant Page S . D ., Major Dick J . D ., Lieutenant Donohne R . A . I . G ., Lieutenant Bowman R . A . D . C ., Staff-Sergeant Huxtable A . D . C ., Lieutenant Jamieson and Captain Kelly R . A . Stewards , Gidley Acting Tyler . In the evening the foundation banqnet was held

at Bro . Routly's Farley Hotel , where about ninety of the brethren dined together . Bro . Viscount Ebrington presided . An excellent band provided from the Royal Marine band was in attendance . Viscount Ebrington and several other brethren were obliged to leave early by train , and on the Prov . G . M . leaving , tbe chair was taken by Major Tracy . Several songs , toasts and recitations were given .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has been fixed by the Provincial Grand Master , the Right Worshipful Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., for Tuesday , the 14 th August next , at Ringwood . .

We learn from a German contemporary that the Emperor William is strongly prejudiced against Freemasonry , and has , in consequence , never joined the Craft , unlike his father and grandfather , who were both distinguished Masons .

The first petition for constituting a Military Lodge abroad , un . " e ? the Grand Lodge of England , was in 1728 from Fort William , in Bengal , and in the following year a similar petition was granted by the Grand Master the Duke of Richmond , to open a Lodge of St . John ' s , at Gibraltar .