International Freemasonry.

INTERNATIONAL FREEMASONRY .

BY the special invitation of Dean Hole , whose guest he is , the Eev . Warren C . Hubbard , of Eochester , in the State of New York , U . S . A ., occupied the pulpit at Eochester Cathedral on Sunday evening . The reverend gentleman is the bearer of an offering—a processional cross—to the English cathedral church from the Freemasons of his city , he being himself a Past Master of the Lodge there , and Grand Chaplain for the State of New York . In honour of his visit the whole of the members of

the six local Lodges attended the service , wearing the full regalia of the Craft , and were accommodated with seats in the nave . After the service the Brethren adjourned to the Corn Exchange , where they were joined by the Mayor of Eochester , Dean Hole , and the Eev . W . 0 . Hubbard . The Mayor gave Mr . Hubbard a cordial welcome on behalf of the citizens of

Eochester . The Dean of Eochester , who wore Masonic regalia , on behalf of the Masters , Wardens , and Fellows of Gundulph Lodge , No . 1050 , and the other local Lodges , then begged the distinguished visitor ' s acceptance of an address of welcome . He spoke of the great kindness he himself met with during his lecturing tour in the United States , and said that Eochester , in

the State of New York , excelled all other places in the enthusiasm the people displayed in his reception . At the same time no community welcomed him so heartily as the Freemasons of that city , and he should never forget the affection and esteem with which he was made happy in their brotherly company . Eeferring to the present which had been given to Eochester Cathedral by

the Freemasons across the sea , the dean said it was a sign of salvation , of which they were not ashamed , and it was a sign of that religion from which they derived all that was best in Masonry , all that was best in manhood , and all that was best in their individual lives . In acknowledging the compliment the Eev . W . C . Hubbard said that many Englishmen did not understand America or the peculiarities of American people .

Americans who are bona fide Americans could never , while there was a living God , strike their own mother . They must not believe all they read in the newspapers . In the United States there were Americans and Americans so-called . The Americans themselves were loyal to the English people , and they must never forget , as the Americans never would , that without the English America could not have been . The proceedings shortly afterwards terminated . — " Morning Post . "

From far-off Australia we learn that the Parramatta St . George Lodge recently entertained the distressed Brethren , inmates of the Parramatta Benevolent Asylums , at a banquet in the Masonic Hall there , when fourteen out of a total of nineteen Masonic inmates were present , amongst them Colonel Ike Austin ( the erstwhile great American rifle shot ) and J . B . Steele / the

well-known actor ) . Worshipful Master Bro . W . E . Salter presided , and there were present a large number of the Craft , including some of the Grand Lodge Officers . The I . P . M . Bro . Dr . Phillips proposed the toast of the Visitors , and in doing so he said that Lodge Parramatta St . George gained more honour

by entertaining their distressed Brethren than by entertaining Vice-royalty . He said that it had been suggested to him that the Craft , with its wealthy benevolent fund , could take charge of all their Brethren now in the asylums , and house them comfortably . It was a credit to the Craft that there were only nineteen Freemason inmates of these two asylums out of a population of 1 . 400 .

Scraps For Spare Moments.

SCRAPS FOR SPARE MOMENTS .

••T ) 0 * LLY , " she said to the new girl , when the question of wages had JL been settled , and her ordinary duties enumerated for the ninth time , " there are times when my husband comes home in a— a—condition . " " Yes ' m . " " In a dazed , doubtful condition . " " Yes'm . " " Caused by overtaxing his brain at the Lodge . "

" Oh yes ' m , I understand , ma'am ; and if he comes into the kitchen and puts his arm round me I ' m to — " " Retain your dignity . " " That ' s it , ma ' am . That ' s just what has happened in my last two places ; and I'll warrant you I can behave in such a manner that he'll tako me for the lady of the house . Oh don't lot that dazed condition worry you as long as I remain , ma ' am . "

I have myself seen some queer things in Lodge , and in connection with it , in my time , and could write such an account as would make a nice commotion . But I am confident that what directly concerns Masons is best left to themselves , and no good was ever done by " exposures " of the Craft . One of my oldest Masonic friends is busy on " The Autobiography of a and curious it is

Mason , " reading . If the MSS . I have read be ever published there is no doubt it will have a " boom . " Literary style or composition is looked over when it is a question of " secrets revealed . " Of course the day has long sinco gone by when Masons had any fear of the Craft as a Society having power to punish . I have known more than one Mason practically kicked out of his Mother Lodge , only to find a more important one ready to

Scraps For Spare Moments.

receive him with open arms ; and I am afraid there is not much " solidarity ' and a great deal of jealousy at present among Lodges . However , there seems to be a growing animosity of Masons to Masonry that puzzles even me , and the only result to me , after giving an opinion I was asked for as a favour , has been to give mortal offence by suggesting that the title ought to be changed to " The dark side of Freemasonry . " After twenty years' acquaintance it is not very pleasant to find that on one side at least it has been self-interest , and not friendship ; but " all ' s well that ends well . "

Some years ago I drove about ten miles one evening to see a Brother who had given up business and retired to an outlandish place in the country . I found him in a very ill-humour , of which his wife forewarned me . " What do you think of this , Bro . P . M . Bright ? Somebody has sent me a parcel containing nothing but a length of rope with a noose at one end . Of course I need not guess the intended meaning . " " It ' s quite a delicate compliment , " I said , without moving a muscle . " What , a suggestion to hang myself ? " he shouted ; " I call it a gross insult . "

" Nothing of the kind . In the language of symbolism it means that the length of your cable tow is thus extended from the Brother who has sent it . It is a delicate way of saying , ' Don't forget your Brethren or your obligations to them in your retreat . ' " " Ah , I see ; I have been in such an awful state , because , yon see , Bto . Bright , I really don't deserve an insult from anybody . Mary , my love , will

you let us have a bottle of ' 47 port ; it will just wake us up before dinner . I could see Mrs . — had great difficulty in keeping her countenance . As for me , I was obliged to ask my friend if he did not intend cultivating orchids , at which he laughed immediately , and I had the satisfaction of joining in the chorus , to my great relief . Orchids were nevermore mentioned during a very agreeable four hours' visit .

At a Masonic ball I was once decoyed into writing four lines for a lady I knew very well , to be sent " in fun , " she said , to her husband as a Valentine . And I got into nice hot water thereby , or at least I suppose so , inasmuch as she has avoided me ever since . Here they are : —

FOHGET-ME-NOT . The sweets of married life , dear Cain , Depart , as all the world agree ; The family jars they say remain , And so will I—you'll still have me I

Whether it was that the lady did not read the lines , or for some other reason , she had them neatly inserted in a purchased Valentine gorgeous with billing doves and cupids peeping through'lace , and took it to the Post Office , where she bought a large envelope , and got one of the girl clerks to address it to her husband . Nest morning at breakfast there was a fine piece of acting , but he

laughed so inordinately on reading the lines , that I think I am right in saying she did not applaud . But some people are really very difficult to please 1 If Cain was able to see the joke , why not Clara ? That ' s what I want to know . Of course I had told him the night before what I had done , but that ought not to have made much difference . GENIAL JAMIE .

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