New York's Auspicious Day.

which they will lavish upon a charity so noble and so splendid . This confidence of speech , thia seeming extravagance of expression , is based upon a knowledge of the Craft acquired through years of labour in their midst , during which there

came with never failing liberality their reaponsea to one appeal after another for the payment of the debt—appeala which , however worded , after all depended for their success only upon the loyalty , the devotion and the generoaity of the brethren .

Most Worshipful Grand Master , you have made some allusion to events of the distant past , and it is well that at this time we should give thought not only to the lessons of fche distant paat , but to the probabilities of the coming future .

Here to-day , exposed before the view of all of us , lies a treasured memorial , which conneeta the far away past with the living present so vividly that , quickened by ita presence , we seem almost to behold that sublime event in history in which it played an important part . It ia the

Holy Bible upon which , more than a century ago , Robert R . Livingston , then Chancellor and Grand Master of the State , administered the oath of office to our Bro . George Washington , as the first President of the United States of America . It waa then , as it is to-day , the property of St . John's Lodge , No . 1 .

There is not in all the world a relic more priceless or more justly revered . What patriot can gaze npon ifc without emotion , what Mason without exultation ! We cherish with natural pride the memory and the Masonic career of the immortal signer of the Declaration

of Independence , who one hundred yeara ago was the Grand Master of Masons in this State . Bnt how small and feeble was the body over which Livingston presided when compared with the great Fraternity of to-day ! And how different the condition of this commonwealth at that

time and at thia ! At the beginning of this century , when Livingston laid down the Grand Mastership , to be succeeded by Morton , Western New York remained a wilderness , the

city of Buffalo was not laid out , Rochester did not exist , and it is a matter of historical record that in the year 1799 what is now the thriving and prosperous city of Utica " contained fifty houses , mostly small and temporary , "

These few brief illustrations indicate the swift and almost incredible changes wrought within less than a huudred years . Viewed in their light who will undertake to prescribe bounds or set limits to the achievements of the future , whether in the State or in fche Masonic

Craft ? The world advances to an age of incredible greatness and knowledge and power . The worth and usefulness of our Fraternity are no longer called in question , but are generally recognised and conceded . As knowledge broadens and enlightenment extends , may we not hope

that its capacity for beneficence will become infinitely extended ; and is it not possible fchat the Institution we to-day assist in establishing will attain proportions aa far beyond our preaent expectations as those which ifc has already reached exceed the designs of the original founder ?

Here in the centre of the great State of New York , upon the confines of a large and growing city , and on a spot of rare natural beauty , we begin to-day one of the noblest monuments to Freemasonry . Here henceforth will be enshrined our purest Masonic aspirations . Toward this

spot the Craft will turn as pilgrims toward a holy city year by year . Here , for consolation and assistance , shall the poor and afflicted come ; while from our gates we hope

that there will pass out , and into the world beyond , many of the young and poor in spirit , to practice through worthy lives the principles of rectitude and sound morality here implanted in their youthful breasts .

The story of the Temple of Solomon , its greatness and magnificence , is known to every Mason . " At its consecration , " says the Jewish historian , "Israel sot forth her thousands , and the assembled people beheld in solemn adoration the vast sacrifice of Solomon accepted . The

flame descended upon the altar and consumed the offering the shadow and the glory of fche Eternal proclaimed His presence between the cherubim , and the voice of His thunder told to the faithful of the Craffc that tbe

perfectness of their labour was approved . " Even so may the flame of the Divine favour descend and be impressed upon this endeavour of our beloved Fraternity . " May it go forward , consecrated by the hopes , tho endeavours , the offerings , and , if need be , by the

New York's Auspicious Day.

sacrifices of our Brotherhood . May it prove acceptable in the sight of tho Great Architect of tho Universe , and may fche benigu and charitable labour , for whose commencement

these proceedings in part prepare the way , continue through many generations , even to the latest time , to the elevation of man , and to the glory of Almighty God . —Voice of Masonry .

Ar00602

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — BRITISH UNION LODGE . No . 114

' MHE annual Feast of Rosea took place in the Masonio HaU , Ipswioh J- on Thursday , the 9 th inst ., when the national floral emblem graced the banqueting hall , in whioh tbe gathering was held in its hononr . The Worshipfnl Master ( Bro . P . De Lande Long P . G . D . ) occupied the ohair , and the other Officers and membera of the Lodge present were Bros . Palmer S . W ., Penraven J . W .. Rev . B .

N . Saunderson P . M . Chaplain , Boby P . M . Treasurer , Grimsey P . M . Sec , Tempest S . D ., Read J . D ., Ash-win I . G ., Wainwright Steward , H . C . Casley I . P . M ., R . K . Casley , M . D ., P . M ., Coloheater P . M ., Tedbary , Haywood , Cnrrie , Cobbold , EUiston , Flower , Jones , Bezant , Grimwood , Gibb , Gooding , Cotman , and Gould .

Visitora—Bros . Hansard , Tracy , Prentice , Rev . T . S . Raffles , Bell , Raokham , Read , Taylor , Copeland . At the conclusion of the banquet tbe W . M . gave the toasts of the Queen , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales M . W . G . M . Earl of Lathom M . W . Pro G . M ., the Earl of Mount Edgoumb * R . W . D . G . M ., nnd the Grand Officers Present and Past , the lattfr

toast being responded to by Bro . Ootaviua Hansard . The toast of the Rt . Wor . Lord Henniker P . G . M ., the V . W . Rev . 0 . J . Martyn P . G . Chap . D . P . G . M . Suffolk , and the Officers of P . G . L . Present and Paet , was also given by the W . M . Bro . Casley proposed in happy terms the Worshipfnl Master , whioh was appropriately acknowledged . The Masonio Charities was given by Bro . Boby , and

responded toby Bro . Tracy . Iu coarse of the proceedings the W . M . mentioned with regret the absence of the Grand Secretary ( Col . Gierke ) , Sir John Monckton P . P . Board of G . P ., and many other distinguished brethren , who were unable to attend on account of the festivities in London consequent npon the visit of the German Emperor . Mr . Harris's string band performed a choice selection of musio daring tbe banqnet .

SUN , SQUARE AND COMPASSES LODGE , No . 119

r "pHE members held their annual meeting for installing the W . M , -L and investing tho Officers for the year on the Sth inst ., in the Freemasons' Hall , College Street , when upwards of 70 members and visitors were present . Tho Lodgo was opened by the W . M ., assisted by hia Officers , at . 4 ' 30 p . m . prompt , when the minntes of the former meeting were road and confirmed ; and Worshipful Bro . Sir J . Bain , M . P ., and Worshipful J . R . Bain wero balloted for as joining

members , and unanimously acooptod . Bro . Broadbent S . W . and W . M . elect , wns presented to Bro . Starkie by Worshipfnl Bro . Dr . Harris I . P . M ., and he was duly installed in the chair , in the presence of 25 Past Masters , and invested the following brethren as his Officers . —Bros . Starkey P . G . Steward I . P . M ., Rev . Anderson S . W . and Chaplain , Hinde J . W ., Johns P . M . P . P . G . Standard Bearer

Treasnrer , Thompson Secretary , Chapman Assist Secretary , GafFney S . D ., Bennett J . D ., Meajeen D . C , Cook P . P . G . Organist Organist , Thombnrrow I . G . and Almoner , Laohlison and Oswald Stewards , and Richardson P . P . G . Tyler Tyler . Letters were read from Wor . ahipful Broa . M'Kay Grand Standard Bearer of England , Colonel Sewell P . P . G . S . W ., and many others from a distance , who were

unable to bo present , conveying the best wishes to the newly installed Master . The ceremony of installing Bro . Broadbent was performed in a most able manner by Bro . Starkey , whioh fully merited the praise bestowed upon him during the evening , and his year of office has been everything that could be desired . Perfect harmony has prevailed , and many candidates have been initiated during his

Mastership , and the members of the Lodge supported a Stewardship to the Royal Masonio Institution for Boys on tbe 24 th June last to the tnne of nearly forty guineas , and the emblem of power has been handed to a successor that we have no doubt will maintain the dignity and hononr of the old Lodge . Previous to closing the Lodge , Bro . Broadbent AV . M ., said , on behalf of the Officers of 119 , it gave

him ranch pleasure to present Bro . Starkey with a Past Master's jewel , and he hoped he wonld be long spared to wear ifc as a Past Master in tho Lodge he had ao ably filled the honoured position of Worshipfnl Master of . Bro . Starkey feelingly thanked the W . M . nnd brethren for their kind and unexpected present , which he wonld ever hold in tha highest esteem . The usual compliments were then

tendered by the visitors , and the Lodge was olosed in due form ; and at Bro . Broadbent ' s invitation all adjourned to the Globe Hotel , where Bro . Cowan , as nsual , was well to the front , with enough for all and to spare . The usnal loyal toasts were proposed from the chair , and responded to with musical honours . Bro . Barr proposed the R . W . P . G . Maater and the Wor . D . P . G . Master ; and Bros . Dalytnple and Starkey responded . Bro . Starkey proposed the health of

the newly-installed Master Bro . Broadbent , and allnded at length to the great cara and attention that had been paid to the varions offices tho W . M . had held , and there was no doubt aa Master nothing would be left undone fur the good of the Lodge . Bro . Broadbent briefly roplied , and said he folt it a great hononr not only to be Master of a Lodge , but the oldest Lodge in the Province , and no effort would be spared to further the intarests of the Craft . Bro . Paitson said it