Christmas Is Coming.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING .

WHEN Jack Frost reminds us of his presence , by fche tingling of our ears , noses , and fingers , and good old King Christmas rears in onr hedgerows the sturdy heralds of his advent , the little robin redbreast is amongst the first of our cheery guests , aud there is not a threshold at whioh he is unwelcome in this season of " good cheer . " Bnt while in the homes of the affluent and well-to-do bright fires light up fche countenances of happy friends assembled around tho

richly-laden board , and glint on the holly and mistletoe that darkle on the walls , there are others who stand shivering and friendless on the doorstep , and like Lazarus of old , pine for some of the crumbs that might fall from the rich man ' s table . It is at such a season that Masons especially should remember a peculiar epoch in their history , when tbe finer feelings of sympathy and benevolence are

firsfc aroused beneath the benign influence of that Masonic light whioh has been newly vouchsafed to them . Of late years we have seen a happy and gratifying development of that unselfish solicitude for the starveling poor whioh forms so noble a picture of onr Christmas merry-makings , thanks to the self-denying and heroic exertions of philanthropists whoso names will live green in the

memory of future generations . When the Rev . Charles Bullock , the muscularly Christian editor of Tht Fireside News , Home Words , and other publications which have found a place and exerted such a leavening influence in the homes of the humbler classes , started his novel experiment of feeding the poor with what he is pleased to call "Robin Dinners , " scarcely any of us anticipated that the

beneficent scheme would have attained such gratifying and successful dimensions as we are proud to note to-day . "Robin"has started on another winter's campaign , and as the best thanks he can warble to the multitude of friends who have helped him in the past by giving wings to the " Collecting Forms " to flutter back to his nest at Blackheath , he has this year prepared a tiny booklet

whioh contains the story of two of last year ' s "Robin Dinners , " one given in London , and the other in the provinces . The booklet is called " How Robin did it ; and How Other Birds may do it too , " and a copy will be sent with a receipt to every one who sends a contribution for the London dinners , whioh now welcome yearly more than 10 , 000 hungry and happy guests .

The little brochure gives the story of an admirably managed dinner at Nottingham , and the author expresses a hope that this will be a model for " robin " dinners , east and west , north and south , whereever a human " robin " can be found . The author ' s special object this year is to extend his operations into Hie provinces , and we cannot do better that quote his own words when he points out that

" any benevolent ' bird ' wishing thus to originate a Robin Dinnei out of London , would find a supply of - How Robin Did it , ' useful itcreating interest and obtaining funds . For this purpose one hundred copies can be supplied for 4 s , on application to ' Robin , ' 7 the Paragon , Blackheath , S . E . If each copy only secures a shilling contribution , nearly -65 will thus be provided for the local dinner . Ancl

£ 5 will go a long way , ' Robin ' fares simply himself , and ' enough ' is always the best ' feast . ' Less meat and more plum pudding ( not as heavy as lead , but made according to Professor Buckmnster ' s recipe ; see page 27 of ' How Robin Did it' ) is an excellent rule , and good soup is often even better than meat . The chief point is to amuse tho ' Robins , ' and make the evening a happy one . As to

speeches , let them be full of anecdote , in words of one syllable , and in all cases only ' five minute guns . ' As to singing , let the ' Robins ' sing as well as the choir . ' Robins' can sing , and we all like to hear our own voices—at least' Robins' do . Supply also something worth singing , which can be taken home , and so do double service . Remember , too , if the room is not to become a perfect Babel , the

' Robins' must have something to hear , see , or do throughout tho evening . Five minutes unoccupied will upset the whole ' nest . ' ' Robin' will only add his wish that all his friends conld be present afc a Robin Dinner . Truly they would feel ifc is ' more blessed to give than receive . ' The ' Robins' are welcomed as ¦ guests . ' The object is not to ' relieve' them because they are poor , but to give

them as ' guests' a hearty welcome and a happy evening , because we remember those words of infinite tenderness and love , ' Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these . . ye did it unto Me . " Mr . Bullock , however , is not alone in this truly happy work , for there are appeals in the weekly and daily press which tell of other schemes which are in operation all around us for the relief of suffering and

the spread of the heavenly dictum , " Peace ou earth ancl goodwill to men , " by men who have set ; their hearts upon becoming " more extensively useful to their fellow creatures . " Amongsfc these comes a stirring appeal from Dr . Barnardo , whose homes for destitute children have extended from their original centres in Stepney , Limehouse , and Bow , to Ilford in Essex , Hawkhursfc , Kent ,

to Guernsey , Jersey , and Ontario , Canada . Oar readers are already familiar with the gigantic and admirable work thafc has been performed by Dr . Barnardo , who has jusfc returned from a four months' visit to Canada , undertaken in the interests of the destitute and orphan children under his care . It will be gratifying to those who have lent fche worthy Doctor a helping

hand in fche good work , to know that of the many hundreds of boys and girls sent to Canada , and placed out in life there during fifteen years ( 300 during the past three years only ) only four boys have failed , and of these two are now doing better ; while nofc one girl out of the very large number emigrated is known to be living other than a respectable , virtuous and industrious life . Dr . Barnardo promises , in the pages of Night and Day , to give an acconnt of his

visit ; but meanwhile , with the dork ancl cold days of winter npon us , ifc is proposed to continue the blessed work of rescuing from peril , suffering , ancl shame the little orphan or destitute children who still throng the streets of onr four million peopled City . He , therefore , appeals for help in the prosecution of this philanthropic design , and in doing so assures the charitable public that the treasury of the institution is sadly in need of assistance . We have often alluded to tha admirable work which is being pro-

Christmas Is Coming.

secuted by Mr . Walter Austin and hia co-workers iu fho Last of London , and merely refer to it now in a single word in the hope that tho hint may in some measure be helpful in the way of providing for the half-starved children of Stepney and tho district something more than Irish stew for their delectation at Christmastide .

Ad00702

THEAMERICAN PORTABLEMUSICSTANDS. J . F . WAI / I'I-ItS' PATENT . ' Iron , from 10 / 6 each . Brass , from 30 / - each . M M ft _ - _ -L __ r -J _ A l \ r PHESE Stands are unsurpassed in simplicity , strength , portability , J- cheapness , ancl elegance of finish . They are suitable for Military Bands Orchestras , Reading nnd News Rooms , Libraries , Studios , and Drawing Rooms When opened to their full capacity they stand 5 feet high , and can bo folded and enclosed in a case 21 inches long by 2 inches diameter . The weight is about 3 lbs . 12 oz ., and they will support a weight of 50 lbs . To be obtained of all Music Dealers , and of the Manufacturers and Proprietors of the Patent , HARROW & CO . MUSIC SMITHS , BRASS WORKERS , & c 13 and 14 Portland Street , Soho , London , W . DESCRIPTIVE CIRCULARS FREE .

Ad00703

BRO . G . S . GRAHAM , The Popular Tenor and Buffo Vocalist , from St . James ' s Hall , Crystal Palace , & c . P / incial Grand Organist Middlesex ) IS OPEN TO ACCEPT ENGAGEMENTS FOR Concerts , ( BnUxttxhxmmis , itgtasunic Jjaitqiufs . Bro . G . S . Graham ' s Party of Eminent Artists can bo engaged for Masonic Banquets , Consecrations antl Installations , & c . For Opinions' of the Press , and terms , address—G . S . GRAHAM , St . John ' s Villa , 91 Fernloa Road , Balham , Surrey .

Ad00704

Free by Post , Price One Shilling . THE REVISEDBOOKOFCONSTITUTIONS; CEITICALLY CONSIDEEED , COMPAKED WITH THE OLD EDITION . A SERIES OF ARTICLES , REPRINTED FROM THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . : o : LONDON : W . W . MOKGAN , BELVIDERE WORKS , PENTONVILLE SIMPK - , MARSHALL & Co ., 4 STATIONERS' HALL COURT ; AND OF ALL BOOKSELLEBS . " All Freemasons interested in the Revision of the above , should read this work . "

Ad00705

HOLLY BUSH TAVERN , HAfYIPSTEAD ( Close to the Pire Station ) . A CCOMMODATION for MASONIC LODGE MEETINGS and / A . BANQUETS ; BALLS and ASSEMBLIES ; PAROCHIAL DINNERSRIFLE , CRICKET , and FOOTBALL GATHKUINGS , & c . Bail aud Bus within easy distance . Tho members of the St . John ' s Lodgo iNo . 107 , havo held their meetrao-g at thin establishment for many years . = _ Tul 1 partic-liars * and Tariff on ay > plication to C . M . FROUD , Proprietor .