Church Services.

CHURCH SERVICES .

AS reported in our last issue Bro . the Eev . Thomas Lloyd P . M . P . P . G . Chap . Essex preached the sermon at the special service held at St . Mary ' s , Loughton , from Matthew xiii , 8 : " For one is your Master and all ye are Brethren . "

Our Eeverend Bro . said : " Masonry was , of all institutions , the most ancient and the most progressive . It was cosmopolitan , since throughout the length and breadth of the whole world one Brother might find another , ready to extend help and sympathy . That solemn service should help them to think for what purposes

Freemasonry was founded . Some said they made it a substitute for religion , and being ignorant of their object , called their customs profane mummeries . There was nothing within the grasp of human intelligence , no secret of the vast creation of the Father , into which Masonry did not go in the search for

knowledge and in the interests of science . Some spoke of their secrecy as childish attempts to conceal what would appear ridiculous and profane . It was a point of their fidelity that they had baffled the curious from prying into their hallowed mysteries , which none but themselves could understand and

fathom . Time was when they were denounced as dangerous , and many were called upon to leave the Society . But now the Sun of Freemasonry had dispersed fche clouds which darkened her sky for so long . Freemasonry lived , and was mysterious still , because it is an admitted anomaly in the history of the

world . With no power able fco militate against it successfully , it had survived the history of empires . The Jews , the favoured people of God , to whom it was first entrusted by the Divine Master , were a race now scattered over the face of the earth , and fche first temple raised by the Master Solomon , they asked

where was ifc fco day ? Not a stone was left upon the other . And Babylon had fallen , and classic Greece and Eome were gone , and only occupy their pages in the history of the earfch . Freemasonry at the present day shines throughout the world with as bright and undiminished " a glory and lustre as when she

first came from the hands of God . No other institution can be compared to her . She exists with herself , and every other Society is insignificant in comparison , Christianity only excepted . Many assaults against her in the past had only tended to strengthen her . God in the Creation had put the world in order ,

and had given man the power to understand , and in every step of investigation to be lifted towards things still more lofty , and to feel the Creator close fco the created . This was one of the first works of Freemasonry , to instruct fchem to glorify the Maker . Her work in the world to-day was to be true in her

original character , and to cause her charities to shine in . the eyes of her members and on the walls of her Lodges . She would continue the work by committing their truths to those who were yet to be born Masons in the same way that they received them from the departed ages , and would order the

silence and the sacred rules which had been imposed by the Craft to be kept solemnly and reverently . They were charitable , and helped the fallen , if any were overcome by adversity they would succour them . No man could follow the principles of Masonry and understand its truths , and be anything else than

one of the saints' of God in the world . They pointed to the charities of tbe Masonic world , of which any institution might be proud . Their children too were well cared for , and Masons would always deny themselves for the well-being of those dependent on them . They should not forget that after death

they would have to give an account of the use they had made of their opportunities for doing good . They should therefore live in works of charity towards their fellow men . He appealed to them that day to deny themselves for the London Hospital , and do all they possibly could for the support of the institution—to help those there who could not help themselves .

TORQUAY Freemasons , fco help the cause of the Unemployed Fund in the borough , held a special service at Upton Church on Sunday afternoon , by permission of Eev . E . P . Gregg , says the " Western Morning News . " The Prov . Grand Master Lord Ebrington granted a dispensation to Bro . T . A . Blackler ivi

vv .. ol at . John ' s Lodge , No . 328 , for Brethren to attend in Graft clothing , and the novelty of this event attracted a very large congregation . The W . M . of the Jordan Lodge , No . 1402 , the other Lodge in Torquay , accepted an invitation on behalf of the members of his Lodge to attend , and altogether there was a mUSter Of fl . Vimlt fiff . V Moartna TllQ ~ Rv . o _ . V _ v . __ in rv . nvnli __ . rl t-r . ^ Un

Church , large numbers watching fche procession . As soon as the Masons had taken their seats the clergy and choir marched to the west door , and there met the Mayor and Corporation , who aiienuea

- in state and preceded them up the central aisle , the National Anthem being played on the organ by Bro . F . J . VV . Crowe P . Prov . G . Org . of Devon , and Organist of the Church . Ihere was a full attendance of members of the Corporation , in

Church Services.

which body are the following Freemasons : —The Mayor ( Alderman Dr . Eichardson ) , T . H . Wills and F . S . Hex ( town clerk ) , F . J . Crocker , J . Glantield , Lorimer , Pike , T . Harrison , E . Appleton , T . Taylor , H . A . Garrett ( borough surveyor ) . The service was bright and hearty . In fche Magnificat , a very pretty

setting was- a treble solo , excellently rendered , and the anthem was a pleasing composition . Eev . E . P . Gregg , rural dean , read the prayers , and Preb . Wolfe the lesson . Eev . R . F . Fleming , Chaplain of St . John ' s Lodge , preached from Galatians vi ., 2 , " Bear ye one another ' s burdens , and so fulfil the law of Christ . "

Speaking of the widespread distress in the town , the Eev . Brother said generous and prompt aid was absolutely necessary if they were to prevent large numbers of respectable families from the shame and humiliation of being cast on the poor-rates . As Secretary of the Belief Committee at Sfc . Marychurch , he had

ample and painful proof of the prevailing distress . It had pained him to see the long line of pinched faces patiently waiting for soup and bread . One woman , on being asked why she did not go for soup , said she had nofc got the necessary penny and could not borrow one . He need nofc urge on his Masonic Brethren

their duty . They stood doubly committed to the relief of distress , first as Christians and secondly as Freemasons . Their presence was the strongest proof that their sympathies were not

confined to their Order or Masonic Charities . It was also another evidence that Freemasonry was not opposed to the spirit of Christianity . A collection was taken on behalf of the Belief Fund , and amounted to £ 20 12 s , £ 12 2 s being from the Masons .

AT a special meeting called by Bro . W . Watson W . M . of the Phoenix Lodge , the Brethren of Sunderland enthusiastically agreed that on Sunday next the Masons belonging to the various Lodges in the town shall be invited to meet at 10 o ' clock afc fche Masonic Hall , Toward Eoad , and walk in procession to Sunderland Church , where a special sermon will

be preached by Bro . Eev . T . Eandall , D . D ., P . M . P . P . G . C . Tho whole of the collection taken will be given to the Children ' s Breakfast Fund , says the " Sunderland Herald , " three-quarters

to be given to be disposed of on the south side of the water , and the remaining quarter on the north side . The Orphan Asylum Band has promised to head the procession , and it is hoped that the church will be filled by Masons and their friends .

Cornwall Masonic Charity Association.

CORNWALL MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION .

nnHE annual meeting of Subscribers was held at Truro on I Wednesday , 13 th inst ., Bro . E . D . Anderton presiding . It was reported that subscriptions amounting to 227 guineas had been received , and the following distribution by priority and ballot was made : Class A . —Subscribers of one guinea annually obtaining a life vote in one

of the great Masonic Charities : —Falmouth , Eev . L . Pocock and Mrs . Gooding ; Penzance , B . P . Couch ; Bodmin , Miss Shanks and W . E . Brewer ; Hayle , j . W . Wilkinson and Hannibal Tredinnick ; St . Austell , J . W . Higman ; Liskeard , J . W . Chegwidden , Thomas White , C . Mitchell , and

Gilbert ; Eedruth , B . M . Milford ; Launceston , Dr . Andrew and F . Downing ; Lostwithiel , Mrs . Gibbons ; Millbrook , W . E . Evans , J . Duckett , W . Wilton , and Eev . Millett ; Camborne , T . H . Bunt , W . Black , and W . Middlin ; Wadebridge , W . H . Coombes .

Class B . —Lodges subscribing two guineas annually and receiving a vote in perpetuity in the same charities : —Mount Sinai , Penzance ; True and Faithful , Helston ; •Phcenix , Truro ; Cornubian , Hayle ; St . Martin ' s , Liskeard ; Boscawen , Chacewater ; Zetland , Saltash ; Tregenna , St . Ives ; Cothele , Calstock ; Eliot , St . Germans .

The Officers were re-elected ( Bro . Anderton succeeding the late Bro . Chirgwin as Vice-President ) and thanked for their services . The sum thus distributed ( 230 guineas ) will now be at the disposal of the above-named subscribers , and it is strongly

recommended that , as far as possible , it should be handed to the Stewards of fche Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , whose next Annual Festival is to be presided over by the Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall the Earl of Mounfc-Edgcumbe . — " Western Morning News . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

'A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

WE regret fco have to announce the death of Bro . John Wilson of Congleton , Cheshire , which took place on the 20 fch insfc ., at his residence there . Deceased was a Doctor of Laws of Dublin University , and was for more than forty years

Town Clerk of Congleton . He was a Past Master of the local Lodge , and a Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden of Cheshire . An In Memoriam tribute from the pen of Bro . Dr . Forshaw appears in another column .

WE regret to hear of the death of Mrs . Worrell , wife of Bro . W . Worrell P . M . of the William Preston Lodge , No . 766 , who had on many occasions contributed to the enjoyment of Masonic Brethren by her fine singing .