Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

W . Vassila - ' [ Standard Bearers G . Tegg - - - - John Read - - - Organist W . H . Leo - - - Assistant Secretary J . T . Brigss 1603 - - \

E . T . Jollillb 1160 Thomas Gnrney 1307 - -L , , T > > . c- i n i-.- iQ Stewards P . A . Scratchley 70 s E . E . Cooper 1494 W . Tron 1579 John Gilbert - - - Tyler

A petition for assistance from tho widow of a late highly respected brother , a Prov . G . Steward for the past year , was read , and an immediate grant of thirty guineas was unanimously agreed to . Votes of thanks were passed by acclamation to Lady Freke , for the use of the Town Hall ; to

the Francis Burdett Lodge , 1503 , for the use of furniture ; and to the Sub-Urban and Citadel Lodges , for their kind presentation of a banner to the Provincial Grand Lodge . It having been remarked that the proper display of the new banner suggested a necessity for another as companion

thereto , Bro . W . A . Scurrah , Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works , stated that the Lodge over which he now presides , the Henry Levander , 2048 , would supply the suggested deficiency without delay . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master then addressee ! Provincial Grand Lodge ,

congratulating the members on the great success which had attended the proceedings of the past year , and especially the present meeting . He desired , however , to make it known that several of the Secretaries of the respective Middlesex Lodges were very lax in the performance of

that most essential duty , the making of returns at the proper time to the Provincial Grand Secretary—and he had the authority of the Provincial Grand Master to state that , if he had occasion to find fault for similar neglect in the future , he would most assuredly suspend the offending

brethren from their functions . It was to be hoped that this intimation would prove sufficient to prevent the exercise of that power which the Provincial Grand Master held , but which it would cause him great i * egrefc to enforce . The Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . Woodward , directed

the attention of the brethren generall y to the great trouble and difficulty in which the officials of Grand Lodge , and himself particularly , were placed by the neglect of attention to the request that intimation should be given in proper and stated time by those who intended or desired

to partake of the banquet . On this occasion , he regretted to say , from 30 to 40 of the brclhrcn Avho , within the past hour or two only had made np their minds to dine , would have to depart unsatisfied . It ivas impossible for him to help it ; provision had been made , to the fullest extent

available , for those who had taken and paid for their tickets , and he could not take money for that which could not be supplied . He hoped that the disappointment to some which this neglect on thoir part would occasion now , would in the future induce the brethren to attend to the

requirement expressed in the summons , for the purpose of preventing such disappointment . A sub-committee having been appointed to revise tho Bye Laws of the Province , Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed in form , and the Provincial Grand Officers left the hall in procession .

The fine old Parish Church of Twickenham , St . Mary ' s , which , with the exception of the ancient tower , was rebuilt between the years 1714 and 1720 , the roof of the previous Church having fallen in in the former year , at which date the

celebrated artist Sir Godfrey Kneller was Churchwarden , is full of interesting historical associations . It is the last resting place of the poet Pope and his parents ; and Kitty Olive , the actress , and many other celebrities ofthe olden days are buried here . To this- sacred edifice a lartrc

majority of the brethren wended their way immediately after the closing of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and wero received with every mark of respect and attention by tho Church officials . Prayers were read b y the Rev . Willoughby Flower , M . A .., the Cerate . The lesson was the

arc ! Chapter 1 st Cori * 'Mans , and -, va : * rend by Bro . the Rev . S . Saunders P . P . C . J ., aud tlie following interesting sermon was preached by Bro . the Eev . Spencer R . A .

Buller , M . A ., the Provincial Grand Chaplain . Mr . Walter G . Alcock , F . C . O ., presided at the organ , aud gave great expression to the solemn music of the pi-oper Psalms xlviii . and exxxiii ., r . v . d tho usn'd accompaniments of the service

generally . Lro . Spencer Bullor took his test from Col . iii . 23 : — " Whatsoever ye do , do it heartily , as to the Lord , and not unto men , " and said * . — BmnuiEX , —Religion is not a matter for the Church ancl stated

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

times of devotion only . It is for tho whole of life , its business and pleasures , its cares aud joys . Therefore , tho poet Cowper says , " Mine be tho friend less frequent in his prayers . " Therefore the Apostle speaks so strongly , " Whatsoever is not of faith is sin , " " Whatsoever ye do , do it heartily , as to the Lord , and not onto

men . " If ye are true servants of God , our daily life is our religionour religion is our daily life . And this is in a marked degree true of the Order of Freemasonry . I do not propose to deal with Free , masonry historically , nor of course to speak of things nnsuited to a general congregation , nor of things better known to many of my

hearers than to me . But this is a practical age , and asks not so much what a man ' s antececents are as what is his present valne . And though Freemasonry is a historical institution , it is also , notwith . standing criticism ( to which all are exposed ) , a practical institution . Though I do not claim for it that it is a new Gospel or another

faith , I do hold that it is , in its precepts and principles , in accord with Christianity , and if with Christianity , d fortiori , with all religion natural and revealed of which Christianity is the climax and crown . And I take this line for two reasons . First , that others may have a jus tor knowledge and appreciation of Freemasonry , and , secondly ,

that Freemasons themselves may be reminded that though users of forms they need not be formal , and that their ancient usages of rites and ceremonies , if the life does not carry oufc what the lips profess , become meaningless , nay , deserve to be called solemn hypocrisy . Freemasonry gives many proofs thafc this is not so ; and my few

words to-day have for their second object to deepen our sense of fche spiritual and practical meaning of our Order . Religion has two sides , described in the Prayer Book as the duty towards God and the duty towards man ; the first of cardinal importance , as being the foundation of all religion , tho second declared

by Christ to be like nuto the first , the chief result and test of the first . What does Freemasonry teach about the firsfc ? Ifc teaches reverence in the use of the holy name of God , thus being ia agreement with the Jewish commandment , —Thou shalfc not take fcho name ofthe Lord thy God in vain j and the Christian prayer , —Hallowed

be Thy name . It teaches the authorship and ownership of God ia the world . His is the power and wisdom thafc made and rules all . In studying the laws of nature we are studying the mind of God . The very art of Masonry itself is an instruction , for there is no true art or scieuce that does not obey or study the laws of nature , and

the pursuit of art or science is therefore the exploring of the mind of God . " The Lord by wisdom has formed the earth ; by understanding hath He stablished the heavens . " It teaches the duty and inculcates the practice of invoking the assistance and blessing of God upon all labours ; to which agrees the Psalmist ' s declaration— "Except the

Lord build the house , their labour is bnfc lost that bnild it . " Ifc teaches tho duty of devoting to prayer to God , as the Father wh hears and answers , again to be paralleled by a thousand passages of Scripture . " The eyes of tho Lord ore over the righteous , and His ears open unto their prayer . " Snch are somo of the teachings

of Freemasonry about the duty towards God , obviously mosfc thoroughly in accord with tho spirit both of Old and New Testainents . "But it is when we come to the second part of religion—the duty towards man—that we find the teaching of Freemasonry so

definite and Scriptural . The highest authority thut ever spake on earth declared , "This is my commandment , that ye love one another . " This is the test and proof of gennine and sound religionusually the host—often the only—proof that man can see .

" There is—there is--one primitive aud sure Religion pure , Unchanged in spirit though its forms and codes

Wear myriad modes , Contains all creeds within its mighty span , The love of God displayed in love of man . " Hon ACE S . UITH .

Our Order teaches what some call the old-fashioned virtue of royalty . It teaches allegiance and obedience fco the laws . Both are paralleled in Scripture . " Fear God , honour the king . " " Let every soul be subject nuto the higher powers , for there is no power but of God . " Our Order teaches the brotherhood of men of different

nations . It embraces men of varying race , language , and even creed . " Homo sum , nihil bninani a me alienum puto , " said the ancient ; Roman poet . He was in those days one crying in the desert . Bufc now our Order , among many other associations , declares the return of the world to the truth revealed of old , " God hath made of one

blood all nations of men . " Again , Freemasonry teaches both that some are to be in authority aud others under it , and also at the same time that social distinctions are not to be unduly pressed . Both of these are important truths . For one can only learn to rule by learning to aud at the time tlie acknowled of the

obey , sau . e gment equality and brotherhood of men of various grades of society , and the consequent diminution of class feeling ; , are of -manifold advantage to tho body politic . The body of the Church , says Scripture , is " not ouo m . i-: bo ;* , bnt i * .:.- * . * iy . " It * ( . he -. , ' iolu were au eye , whore were the ¦¦

h . arui . ; F If . !* .. ; whole were hearing , where were tho smelling ? But now are they - n-uiy member .- * , yet but one body . Freemasonry te .-iche . " * tlie duty of friendly help , company aud sympathy . Tho words might havo been written for us : —

' No ! "'' * ,- ; not hero tha ' v solitude is known , Through the wide world ho only w alone Who lives not for another . " ROOKKS . The "M . ir-oi . ic d : * ::.:, * :: of auii'b : « y , crisidoration , respect for tho

io * li * i '' * j iind op ; . * ik . ** a of , ; u ' , r-is ; or liberal dustribution to tho poor ; i * f . ' •(¦ chibiiit . y , Jir .-pit . dity , of respect for the rights of others * are ;*" i ! .-. i Chri-i' -. n duties , and ¦ „ ; , to umke : . -, that virtue which St . Paul ¦

;*' ¦ ' ' ' - ¦; . i . y , * -Liio .. iy e *>; i ; ' of j ^ tee and all vin-ues ; " the : jewel or great price , without which * : he Christian , though he had all i gifts and powers , is nothing . Fo . ' the ardent belief in , and rcaliza-I tiou of God , which is faith , a ' aull one clay bo lost iu sight . The