Dr. Gray On Charity.

DR . GRAY ON CHARITY .

RARELY has there been seen within the walls of the historic Cathedral of St . Giles , Edinburgh , a gathering like that which was assembled there on the 27 th ult . To aid the annuity branch of Scottish Masonio benevolence , a Masonic service was held , and the fact that a charge was made for admission seemed only to render more eager the desire to be present . Long before tho hour at which tbe service was to commence—2 - 30—crowds pressed round the closed

doors of the cathedral , aud when these at last were opsned the available seats were immediately filled . Inside the cathedral the spectacle Y » aa very interesting . Moving abont were the Otfice Bearers of the Drnmatic and Arts Lodge , whioh had especially to do with the holding of the afternoon ' s service . Amidst the civilian garb of darker hue wero seen the bright scarlet of the splendid uniforms

nf the famous London Military Band aa the members of that o > mbination wended their way along the aisles to the choir , which had been set apart for them . It was a signal proof of the brotherly love engendered by the Masonic Order when the members of the band voluntarily offered to assist at the function , and delayed their departure from the city a day longer in order to enable them to do

so . Tbey were present to the number of 33—two of the members who made up the full band having had to leave for London the previous night . Near tbe Cathedral centre were the seats for the choir , stretching backwards into tbe transept into their customary position , and at a prominent place , and at a convenient attitude was the percentorial seat of tbe Grand Director of the Music , Brother James

A . Moome , under whose baton the choral and orchestral service was conducted . After an interval of expectant silence on the part of the immense congregation there came along the nave , preceded by the mace-beareis , the officiating clergy Bros , and Revs . W . II . Gray , D . D ., John Glasse , M . A ., both Past Grand Chaplains . The latter at once ascended the pulpit , Gounod ' s " March to Calvary " was then

played as a voluntary by tbe band , and amid the maguiticent strains of music , tbe head of a procession appeared , entering by tbe west door . Two by two , in full regalia , the members of tho various Lodges passed slowly along the nave , and round into the south aisle nnd chancel . Almost interminable seemed the silent procession , moving with quiafc tread and grave demeanour through the crowded eon .

gregation . The bright regalia and mystic ornaments lent a strange appearance to the scene . Old and young took part in the procession , workers with the brain and workers with the bands , toilers before furnaces , on the sea , on tbe fields , on tbe railways , men from merchants' desks and legal court * , men of the pencil , pen , and brush , following each other all bound in one common tie of brotherhood .

Difficult it is to estimate tho number of those who took part in the ceremony . Probably quite 700 were in that procession , whioh took a quarter of an hour to pass a given point . Last of all came the representatives of the Grand Lodge , preceded by the Mace Bearer and tbe Sword Bearer , and attended by tbo Stewards with their wands of office . There were 23 Lodges represented in addition to

the Grand Lodge representatives . Of the latter there were the Grand Master the Earl of Haddington , the Past Substitute Master R . F . Shaw Stewart , the Provincial Grand Master of Dumbartonshire T . M . Martin of Auchindinnan , the Grand Secretary D . Murray Lyon , the Grand Cashier David Reid , the Fast Grand Chaplains , the Senior Grand Deacon Charles Baxter W . S ., the Grand Marshal G . B .

Wishart , the Grand Director of Music , the Grand Sword Bearer James Thompson , the Grand Tylers James Hay and David Laird , and Grand Stewards W . Adamson , James Fairlie , J . Diammond W . S ., John Kay , George Eobertson W . S ., Alexander White of the Dramatic and Arts Lodge . There were amongst others present—W . Druramond Young B . W . M ., W . G . Stevenson , A . K . S . A ., P . M ., Thomas Bonner

S . M ., J . M . Henry Senior Warden , D . W . Stevenson , K . S . A ., Junior Warden , and William A . Davis Secretary . The Lodges in processional order were—Dramatic and Arts , 757 , Dalhousie Roswell , 720 , N . B . R ., 597 , St . Leonards , Loanbead , 580 , Oswald of Dunnikier , Kirkcaldy , 468 , Eifle , 405 , Caledonian , 342 , Portobello , 226 , Trafalgar , 223 , Eoman Eagle , 160 , Defensive Band , 151 , St . Stephen , 145 , St . John ,

Fisherrow , 112 , Edinburgh , St . James , 97 , Kirknewton , Ratho , 85 , St . Andrew , 48 , Sfc . David ' s , 36 , St . John ' s , Falkirk , 16 , Dalkeith Kilwinning , 10 , Journeymen , 8 , Canongate , Leith , 5 , Canongate , Kilwinning , 2 , Mary ' s Chapel , 1 . Including the members of the Masonio Lodges there was a congregation of over 2000 persons . The service commenced with the 122 nd Psalm , "I joy'd when to

the honse of God . " Although somewhat strange to Scottish ears , a magnificent effect was created jvhen the hymn sung by the choir , and accompanied by organ and full band swelled through the lofty Cathedral . As the last notes died away tbe beautifully clear voice of the minister of Old Greyfriars was heard offering up prayer . The combined choir and band then rendered the Magnificat in B fiat by

Gaorge C . Martin . Thereafter the Rev . Mr . Taylor from the lectern read a chapter from the Book of Isaiah . With true devotional feeling the whole congregation , aided by choir and baud , next sung ths fine " Old Hundredth , " and after another lesson a solo , "The King of Lovo my Shepherd is , " from Gounod , was delivered by Mr . L . A . Guthrie . Intercessory prayer followed , and thereafter the anthem

from Handel ' s Messiah , " Comfort ye , My people , and the Glory of the Lord , " was sung . The collect and Lord ' s prayer came next , after which the Eev . Dr . Gray replaced Mr . Glasse in the pulpit , and preached a short sermon of twenty . five minutes' duration . Brother Moonie ' s Masonio hymn was followed again by prayer , and Nunc Dimittis in B flat by George C . Martin , splendidly given by choir and band , preceded , the collection in aid of tbe Annuity Fond . As an

offertory the band played Handel's " Largo . " The Hallelujah chorus from Handel ' s Messiah was played by choir and band , after which Dr . Gray pronounced the benediction . The concluding voluntary , Costa ' s March from " Eli , " was given by the band . Slowly the vast congregation dispersed , and a memorable service came to a close . The total amount of money contributed was £ 140 , of which £ 50 was collected in the Cathedral . Dr . Gray took his text from Hebrews i . 13 , "Let Brotherly

Dr. Gray On Charity.

Love Continue . " Man , he said , was not only a creature , ho was also a child of God . Their faith in that Fatherhood brought ulong with it a belief in the brotherhood of man . Believing in God thoy most also believe that He desired them to be like himself . They could not have a likeness to God unless they had partaken of the spirit of love , and they conld not even know God without love . "He

that loveth not knoweth not . " How was this love to be made theirs , nsked tho preacher . Through faith in Jesus Christ . Those who believed in Him , in His divine character and work must have faith in the love of God . Love begot love , and knowing this faith , despair and hatred wero driven from their hearts , and they not only had lovo begotten there , but the likeness of Him dwelt within them . They

had thus brotherly love , for as God loved them , they loved one another . As an exemplification of this brotherly love in human life , Dr . Gray pointed to Jesus Christ—the very manifestation in the flesh of that personal spirit of Sonship . He dwelt from everlasting to everlasting in the Father ' s bosom . He wished them to look to Him nnd see some of the characteristics of that brotherly affection that

Ihey were called npon to show . ( First ) Their love must be practical in its nature . Jesus Christ ' s precepts were enforced and His teaching illustrated by His own example . Like him , therefore , theirs must be practical in its nature . While they cherished loving thonghts and uttered practical words , they must live in deed and in truth , serving and sacrificing , living and labouring , teaching and guiding ,

aud if need be , sutler aud die for the cause and in the service of love . It was not enough to shed tears in tbe theatre or in the ohnrob , or even over a novel in the home when they saw or heard or read of great unmerited suffering , of goodness struggling amidst trouble and destitution ; it was not enough to feel for snob sufferers if otherwise they did nothing to mitigate human cares and enlighten human lives .

Loving purposes carried out after they died were all very well , but it was better to relieve and benefit their brethren while they were living . Again , looking at Jesus Christ , they must also see that their love bestowed itself by a variety of manifestations . It must adapt itself to the circumstances and characteristics of 'its objects and their relations tn themselves . They must have gratitude for benefactor ? ,

pity for sufferers , help for the needy , appearance for the forward , and pardon for the offenders , while they had help for all . Their Lodge must have regard to priority of claims . They could not do all the good they wished , and having regard to the character and circumstances and relatedness of cases , they mnst consider whom first and fore , most they ought to benefit and relieve . They did not believe this ,

Dr . Gray said . They were cosmopolitan in spirit , and regarded it as a sign of a narrow and parochial mind and not to give any one person , or family , or people priority j others did acknowledge priority of claim , but often with little regard to those connected with them , selves . There was also a telescopic philanthropy in giving to the savage in distant lands chiefly dominated the gaze . They wonld

care for the temporal welfare of the Hottentot and the spiritual interests of the Hindoo , while they would not give even to the brother beside them in his distress , or care for the moral welfare of the servants in their own houses , or help in any way the country or neighbourhood in whioh they dwelt . This was all opposed to the instincts of human nature and to the exhortations of Scripture . It

was only reasonable to love their own relatives , their fellow Christians , their fellow subjects , their own Queen , and their own country better than others who were no such relations of theirs . They might love every regiment in the Christian army , and yet love their own best . Assuredly did Scripture not speak of family love , or human friendship , or social brotherhood and patriotic loyalty , aa

showing weaknesses of human nature . It acknowledged even in love a priority of claim . There was also a microscopic philanthropy whioh saw only that which was under its very nose , and very little even of that . Those who were fond of saying thafc charity began at home were often those with whom charity found no home . Such a brotherhood as the Masonic Order was not only justifiable , it was

sanctioned and commended on Scriptural grounds . There was a danger in all such associations that the operations of benefit might be confined to the members themselves . Experience , however , showed that where love is exercised in such a circle , it ia thereby strengthened , and is more prepared to pour itself out on objects unconnected with the special order to which ifc belongs . It is the

man who has given in the past that is likely to give in times to come . The Masonio Order , went on the preacher , to whioh he had the pleasure to belong , had charity in its wider and Scriptural sense as one of its watchwords . It had long shown to the world that charity was a watchword whioh the Order deserved to bear , and ifc would also be found that the Order had been instrumental in training its

members for yet wider spheres of benefit , and the fact that they looked first to those in their own household had not prevented and would not prevent them doing good generally . Thafc afternoon he appealed to the members of the Masonio Order for help to those of their own house , for annuities and other aid to their brothers , destitute widows , and fatherless children . Let it be seen that in

their Order brotherly love continued to be felt , show that they believed in those characteristics of love which he had referred to , and act accordingly . They might give their money with confidence , as in many ways it was guaranteed from abuse . The measure we mete to others it is meted to us again . After a stirring exhortation

to the Masonic members present to give plentifully , he reminded those outside the Order that it was not a case of helping the Order alone , the recipients of the benefit would be their brethren ; Scotch , men , Christians , and brothers in distress , and he urged them to help as they would be helped themselves if the places were changed . —Scottish Leader .

The St. Giles' Masonic Service.

THE ST . GILES' MASONIC SERVICE .

To the Editor of the Scottish Leader . Sm , —Permit me a small place in your valuable paper to express my very great pleasure at tbe Masonio service last Sunday , in the St . Giles' Cathedral , in aid of the annuity branch of Scottish Masonic