Diary For The Week.

345—Perseverance , Old Bull Hotel , Church-street , Blackburn 367—Probity am ! Freedom , Red Lion Inn , Smallbrulgo 600—Harmony , Freemasons' Hall , Salem-street , Bradford 636—Ogle , Masonic Hall , Morpeth 659—Blagdon , Ridley Arms Hotel , Blythe

1011—Richmond , Crown Hotel , Blackfriars-street , Salford 1042—Excelsior , Masonic Hall , Great George-street , Leeds 1161—Eliot , Private Rooms , St . German ' s , Cornwall . 1182—Duke of Edinburgh , Masonic Hall . Liverpool , at 7 . 30 . ( Instruction ) 1299—Pembroke , West Derby Hotel , WestDorby , noar Liverpool

1320—Blackheath , Green Man , Bhickheath 1327—King Harold , Britannia Hotel , WalthamNew Town 1332—Unity . Masonic Hall , Croditon , Djvm 1576—Dee , Union Hotel , Parkgate , Cheshire 1580—Cranbourne , Red Lion Hotel , Hatfield , Herts , at 8 . ( Instruction )

R . A . 97—Strict Benevolence , Masonic Hall , Park Terrace , Sunderland R . A 107—Philanthropic , Masonic Hall , King ' s Lynn R . A . 317—Affability , Freemasons' Hall , Coopor Street , Manchester R . A . 1235—Phoenix of St . Ann , Court Hotel , Buxton M . M . —Canynges , Freemasons' Hall , Bristol

FRIDAY , 21 st AUGUST . House Committee Boys' School , Wood Green , at 4 Emulation Lodge of Improvement , HYoamasons' Hall , at , 7 . 25—Robert Burns , Portland Arms Hotel . Great Portland Street , \ V ., at 8 ( In ) 144—St . Luke , Whito Hart , King's-road , Chelsea , at 7 . 30 . ( Instruction ) 507—United Pilgrims , Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwoll , at 7 . 30 . ( Instruct . ) 766—William Preston , St . Andrew ' s Tavern , George St ., Baker St ., at 8 . ( In ) 834—Ranelagh , Six Bells , Hammersmith ( Instruction ) 933—Doric , Duke's Head , 79 Whitechapel-road , ar , 8 . ( Instruction )

1056—Metropolitan , Portugal Hotel , Fleet-street , E . C . at 7 . ( Instruction ) 1153—Belgravo , Jermyn-streot , S . W ., at 8 . ( Instruction ) 1298—Royal Standard , Alwyne Castle , St . Paul's-road , Canonbury , at 8 . ( In . ) 1365—Clapton , White Hart , Lower Clapton , at 7 . 30 . ( Instruction ) 1642—E . Carnarvon , Ladhroke Hall , Notting Hill , at 8 . ( Instruction ) 1789—Ubiquo , 79 Ebury Street , Pimlico , S . W ., at 7 . 30 . ( Instruction ) R . A . —Panmure C . of Improvement , Stirling Castle , Church Street , Camborwel R . A . 79—Pythagorean , Portland Hotel . London-street . Greenwich . ( Inst . ) M . M . —Old Kent , Crown and Cushion , London Wall , E . C . ( Instruction )

152—Virtue , Freemasons' Hall , Manchester 453—Chigwell , Public Hall , Station Road , Loughton , at 7 . 30 ( Inst ) 6 ) 6—Phoenix , Fox Hotel , Stowmarket 541—Do Loraino , Freemasons' Hall , Grainger-street , Newcastle 993—Alexandra , Midway Hotel , LevenshuVme 1096—Lord Warden , Wellington Hall , Deal 1311—Zetland , Masonic Hall , Great George-stroot , Leeds

1393—Hamer , Masonic Hall , Liverpool , at 8 ( Instruction ) 1773—Albert Victor , Town Hall , Pendleton 2005—Brooke , Forest Hotel , Chingford General Lodge of Instruction , Masonic Hall , New-street , Birmingham , at 7 R . A . —General Chanter of Improvement , Masonic Hall , Birmingham R . A . 521—Truth , Freemasons' Hall , Fitzwilliam-street , HuddersSeld R . A . 837—Marquess of Ripon , Town Hall , Ripon M . M . 65—West Lancashire , Masonic Hall , Liverpool

SATURDAY , 22 nd AUGUST . 198—Percy , Jolly Farmers ' , Southgate Road , N ., 8 . ( Instruction ) 1275—Star , Five Bells , 155 New Cross-road , S . E ., at 7 . ( Instruction ) 1364—Earl of Zetland , Royal Edward , Triangle , Hackney , at 7 . ( Instruction ) 1541—Alexandra Palace , imperial Hotel , HolDorn Viaduct 1624-KccU'ston . Crown and Anchor , 79 Ebury Street , S . W ., at 7 ( Instruction ) 1871—GoStlinrr . MlHTIV Tm » l ] Wnll HVinnsitnur '

2012—Chiswick , Hampshire Hog , King Street , Hammersmith , W . ( Instruct . ) Sinai Chapter of Improvement . Union , Air-street , Regent-street , W ., at 8 R . A . 820—Lily of Richmond , Greyhound , Richmond , at 8 . ( Instruction ) 149—Peace , Privato Rooms , Moltham 303—Prince George , Privato Rooms , Bottoms , Eastwood 453—Chigwell , Forest Hotel , Chingford 1982—Greenwood , Public Hall , Epsom

The Mason's Last Request.

THE MASON'S LAST REQUEST .

TT was a very hot day in the summer of 1778 . The British General -L ^ Clinton , with a formidable army , was hastening across the sandy plains of New Jersey to join tho forces of General Howe , at Sandy Hook . Washington , with an army regenerated into life , determined if it lay within the bounds of possibility , to prevent that junction

and , to effect his purpose , sent a large detachment of li ght troops , under General Lee , to harass their movements and retard ° their progress until he could come up with the main force and effect their capture or destruction . As soon as the American sharpshooters in the van of Lee ' s division

began to annoy the British , the latter drew up in order of battle and prepared , for defence . The Americans pushed on , and were driving all before t' em , wheD , to their nttor astonishment , and to the deep mortification of their gallant officers , who wero flushed with the hope of victory almost in their hands , General Lee ordered a retreat .

_ Shame mantled many a brow then and there , and , in spite of discipline , angry words broke out from many a lip ; for even then , as now , the word retreat sounded strangely , aye , almost harshly upon an American ear . Bnt the order had been given b y him who had command , and he most be obeyed . But so angry and unwillino- were those

who fell back that they did not preserve the order which they would have done had they only been yielding to the stern necessity . And the British , overjoyed at a victory so easy , were pushing their advantages as they ever did , mercilessly ; aud our brave men were falling fast before them , when suddenly dashing forward upon a horse which was white with foam , rode that matchless man upou whom a nation ' s fate depended .

"What means this cowardl y retreat ? Who dared to order it ?" he demanded . " I did , " was the angry response of General Lee . "Bally your men , coward , go hide yonr face in shame ! " cried VVashington , that day giving vent to a passion which hitherto , under all circumstances , he had managed to control .

" Halt , and form ! " he cried again , and in a voice so loud that it tell alike upon the ears of friend and foe . Aud though the bullets fell like hail around him , and brave men dropped upon his right and upon his left , he sat unmoved upon his

The Mason's Last Request.

horse , stemmed the tide of retreat , and checked the advance of the triumphant foe . The carnage was terrible . B » yonet clashed upon bayonet , sabre met sabre , whilst the sulp hurons smoke almost hid the combit-vuts from view ; and thoy sprang at each other like fiends , lighted by the

flashes of cannon and the blaze ot musketry . One gallant officer whose hairs had become tinged with blood fought directly under the eyes of Washington , whom he loved nob only as a general , but as a Brother , bound by that mysterious and holy tie whioh equalises a peasant with a prinoe . By hi 3 side three

son 3 of lesser rank , the yonngest scarce eighteen years of age , fonght as bravely as himself . It was at that moment when , with Washington at their head , the Americans drove back the foe at the b lyonet ' s point , that he whom I will call Major Carroll , who was leading his battaliou on , himself on

foot ( for two horses had already gone down under him on that day ) , and to whom I jasfc ' alluded , saw a British officer fall who had , with heroic gallantry , striven to stem the changing tide . Though wounded and down , the brave officer still struggled , and drawing a pistol disabled a man whose bayonet was at his breast ,

Major Carroll's sword was raised above his head , but quickly a sign , a word , and tho widow ' s son was safe , for the foe whose arm had ust been raised was now a Brother , whose extending hand was read y to lift him who lay upon the earth in such distress . But , ah ! fatal pause ! that generous bosom , so fall of fraternal

love , which did not forget duty even there amid the wild carnage of battle , was pierced by a ballet ; and the brave Carroll sank dying by the side of him who had called for help , and had not been refused Washington's eye was on him—he knew who and what he was , for he had sat with him where Light abounded ; but he could not

waitthe enemy are flying and must be pursued . " On . '" cried the dying hero to his men . " Forward . '" he shouted to his boys . We are victorious and I am content . " The battle was over . The British had been swept baok over the gory field which they had taken ; and night had drawn its mantle

over the horrors which the day had exposed . And by Major Carroll ' s side knelt the only one of his race that was left to life—his youngest born . His two eldest sons had fallen on that dear bought field—like himself , contented , that they died for their country , and fell in the hour when victory was theirs .

" Father , what can I do for you ? " said the boy hero , as he grasped his dying sire by the hand , and sustained his head upon his breast . " Be a man , and do your duty to your conntry first , and to your mother next . And , lad , save my Masonic regalia . He , our nation ' s Father , invested me with it ! Save it , and act so worthily that when

you are of full age you may be entitled to wear it . It is my last request . ' " And soon the noble spirit of that brave , good man left his bod y ,

and went to dwell with the Great Architect of the Universe . Years after , when peace smiled on our land , the son fulfilled the father ' s request , and that cherished regalia is still in the possession of his descendants . —Masonic Eclectic .

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