All About The Goat.

tho partiality of your Holineas for long beards , I aoubt not he would have sent you a he-goat as an ambassador !" If tho coat is associated with Freemasonry as a type of sham wisdom , of course wo fail to see tho point of tho app lication . The Spaniards called tho Pleiades , or Seven Sisters

amon"" the constellation of tbe heavens , tho seven little o-oatsr and Sancho Panza affirmed that " no he-goat ever passes beyond the horns of t ! . e moon . " Azazel was the name of the scapegoat which , according to the Hebrew ritual , bore away tho sins of the people into the wilderness .

Iu the Gnostic philosophy , Azazel was the title of an evil sp irit . The word translated " devils" in Leviticus , xvii . 7 ) aQd 2 Ghronicles xi . 15 , is one of tho ordinary torms used for goats . If goats are devils , then Freemasons have nothing to . do

with them . Many of the old English inns had a goat on their sign . There was a " Goat Inn " at Hammersmith , and another at Fulham Road , London , and there was a " Goat in Armour " at Bristol . But there are some curious

corruptions , in which the goat unfairly plays a part . For example : The " Goat and Compasses" was a corruption of " God encompasses us ; " and the " Goat in Boots " was originally the German , " Der Goden Boodo "—the

messenger of the gods . These signs of the times are evidently unreliable , and the goat might as well walk out of them . This reminds us that Rabelais says , that " Goatsnose " was a prophet , born deaf and dumb , who gave his predictions

by signs . If they were such goat signs as the above , we may say , what we say of impostors , Look out for them ! The following is Bro . Gould ' s suggested explanation of the popular idea of " Riding the Goat " in Masonry : —

Alluding to the well-known tavern sign , " The Devil and Bag of Nails , " Mrs . Piozzi , in a letter , 5 th April 1819 , to Sir James Fellowes , observes : " Yonr idea of Pan among tbe bacchanals ( Devil amoDg a Bag of Nails ) is incomparable . 'Tis the only solution of so strange a sign , and Scaliger says that his Satanio Majesty , when visible to

his adorers , commonly does assume the port and person of Azazel , Hebrew for tbe goat . " As the Freemasons were anciently supposed to raise the Devil , can it be ( Bro . Gonld asks ) , that in the above we find a olue to the popular delusion that every newly-made Mason is obliged to take a ride upon a goat ?

In the medieval cathedrals the goat was often carved under the seats in church stalls , as a mark of dishonour and abhorrence , especially to ecclesiastics who had taken a vow of continence . Upon the whole we do not like the goat , and instead of

pormitting him to throw us , we will throw him out of Masonry . In fact , was ho ever in ? Is not the goat in Masonry a corruption of " God in Masonry ? " We arc not an authority on corruption , or we might tell . The anti-Masons know all about corruption—we refer it to them . —Keystone .

New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND .

LODGE ARA , N . Z . C .

fjlHE annual meeting of Lodge Ara , the premier Masonic Lodge in - * - New Zealand , and the first to hold an installation of Officers under the New Zealand Constitution , was held on the 24 th nit ., in the Freemasons' Hall , Princes Street . There was , notwithstanding the unfortunate dispute existing , and tho absence in consequenco of

many Masonic bretbron who desired to be present , a good attendance of 73 in the Lodge . Amongst those present wero the following Grand Lodge Officers : —Bros . A . S . Russell D . G . M ., M . Niccol G . S ., A . Kidd G . P . , W . H . Cooper Assist . G . S ., J . Craig G . S ., Page G . S ., and P . M . ' s Allen , Vosper , Anstiu , Franklin , and Parkinson . Those

represented the Grand Lodge . There were also present Bros . W . Lyell W . M . of Star of the Far South , Brufort W . M . Manukan , and ma Officers , Pago W . M . and Officers of Lodge St . Am ! row , and the Master and Officers of Lodge Albion . Bro . llathborne J . W . of Beta

^ Dt'ge , Hamilton , represented that Lodgo . A number of visitiug brethren from other Lodges woro also in attendance . Bro . S . D . ., ° > tne W . M . elect , and re-elected , presided at the opening of ° Lodge , and the business was then taken over by the Grand ^ ooge . Bro . A . S . Rustell R . W . D . G . M . and Bro . M Niccol G . S .

. presided as Installing Officers , and Bros . G . H . Powley and *»• ^ arkinson officiated as Presenting Officers , with Bro . A . Kidd * urand Pursuivant . Bro . Hunna was re-installcd with the most / "Pressive ceremony , and tbe following Officers woro invested : —

'"»• W . Parkinson I . P . M ., W . M . Chapman S . W ., Jas . IloskiU J . W ., < L \ / ae 11 D-G . M . Treasurer ( re-elected ) , G . Et . Powley P . M . ecretary ( re-appointed ) , A . Kidd G . P . D . C ., D . Robertson S . D ., W . H . Conlr ° « D - ' Hanaa 0 rgan' 8 t , J . U . M . McFarland I . G ., VV . R . Tvler ™ ° Steward > H- s- Poaseniskie Juuior Steward , E . Tonge * « -The investiture of Dr . Kidd aa Chaplain had to be postponed

New Zealand.

owing to his unavoidable absence . The address to the W . M . waa given by Bro . Powloy , that to the Wardens by Bro . Parkinson , and that to the Brethren by Bro . Niccol . The addrosa of Bro . Niccoi was more of a general reference to Masonry than the ordinary discourse . After the Officers were installed , congratulations were received , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet prepared in the lower

hall by Bro . Robson , of the Commercial Dining Rooms . The toasts of the Queen and Craft and H . R . H . the Prince of Wales were duly honoured . Bro . Powley , as Toast Master , and acting for the W . M ., thf > n proposed tho toast of Bro . Thompson M . W . G . M . of N . Z ., and on rising to propose it . he was received with applauso . He said he could only speak of Bro . Thompson from his biography , bnt ho waa

a trno and worthy Mason , who took a deep interest in the building up of the Craft . It was the first time tho health of their Grand Master had been proposed on an occasion of this kind in New Zealand , and he asked them to drink it with bumpers . Bro . Cooper , Assistant Secretary , responded . Bro . Powley , in a neat and eulogistic speeoh ,

proposed the health of Bro . A . S . Russell , and the Grand Lodge Officers . Bro . Russell responded , and returned his hoarty thanks for the honour conferred on him . The toast of tho W . M . was responded to by Bro . llanna , and tho other routine toasts wero duly honoured . There were several nice musical intervals , and ono of the most interesting waa a zither performance by Mr . Hoinitz .

LODGE HARMONY .

THE annual meeting was hold on 1 st July , in the Masonio Hall , Otahohu , Bro . Robert Garrett W . M . presiding . Tho principal business of the meeting was the installation of the W . M . and Officers for tbe ensning year . The attendance was very large , fnlly fifty of the Auckland brethren being present , including Bro . George S . Graham Deputy Grand Master E . C , and tho Officers of tho Distriot

Grand Lodge . The following wero the Officers installed : —Brothers John Hunt W . M ., John W . Wallace S . W ., James Todd J . W ., C . Farnsworth S . D ., D . Kidd J . D ., Rev . F . Gould Treasurer , J . M . Baxter Secretary , Franklin P . M . D . of C , F . George Steward , W . Hepburn I . G ., and W . R . Wills Tyler . The installation ceremonies

were conducted by Bro . R . Garrett , assisted by Past Masters Franklin , Windsor , and Clark . Bro . Garrett , in a few well-chosen words , welcomed Bro . G . S . Graham to the Lodge , and expressed tho gratification which it gave the brethren to see him present .

Bro . Graham , in reply , thanked the members of the Lodge , and complimented the Installing Master upon tho excellent manuer in which tho ceremonies had been conducted . The Masonic choir during the evening ga , ve , with excellent effect , the musical portions of the ceremonies , led by Bro . Major Pirio , who presided at tho organ .

FRIENW . Y SOCIETIES xv CHURCH . —Since tho building of Solomon's Temple , if to that epoch we are to refer tho first rudimentary incorporation of the Brotherhood sinco known as Freemasons , wo question whether any nobler work has been done by them or any kindred Society thau that to which they have of late lent themselves so freely . Disease and accidents are common to the whole human

race . No single member can claim to expect exemption from them . As all aro alike subject to the possibility of suffering , the moans taken for alleviating it when it occurs should be supported by all . But it is unfortnnatoly too common that that which is everybody ' s business is neglected by all ; so the charities which Bhould obtain universal support are left without any effectual assistance from any

one . This neglect is perhaps not altogether wilful , it ia more that each individual feels that his contribution muBt be too small to bo of nso , and that he has some dim idea that others will provide what ia needed . But large sums are made up of smaller items . If every ono would give but a trifle a very handsome amount would be obtained . It is here that our Friendly Societies become so useful .

Their sympathies are already engaged on the snbjoct . They are possessed of those external attractions , uniforms , banners , and music bands , which create enthusiasm among spectators . How valnable is the aid thus afforded may be gatherod from tho reports we published yeBterday from Littlehampton and Burgess Hill . At the former a church parade of the local Friendly Socioties resulted in a collection

of nearly £ 33 for the Chichester Infirmary , while the Biighton Dispensary benefited by the collection at Burgess Hill . When we remomber that the sums collected are made up of trifles which the givers will never miss , while they form such large additions to the incomeB of the assisted hospitals , when wo consider how much pain and sickness may be removed by tho aid thus obtained , it ceases to

be a surprise that church parades are becoming so popular . We rathor wonder how it happens that so useful an institution was not earlier thought of ; and wo begin to foar lest it may be diverted from its present channel and made an instrument for the promiscuous collection of fuuds without inquiry whether the purposes for which they are collected are BO closely allied with tho special objects of the

Societies as to justify their employment . So long as our Friendly Societies lend their aid only to such purposes aa those of Sunday ' s collections , they will do good work on the very lines for which their associations oxist . We must trust to their managers to provide that so * valuable an instrument may not be diverted to other purposes . — Sussex Daily Neios .

HOLLOWAY ' S PILLS AND OnroiKirr . —The combined ill efforts of overcrowding , sedentary occupations mill monotony of life aro only too well known to those who have to pass tho best part of their lives labouring in factories unit crowded workrooms . Tho compulsory confinement weakens tho general health and induces chronic constipation , indigestion , and various forma of

skin diseases . Holloway ' s remedies arc of priceless value to persons of this class , for they can be used without entailing loss of work , being purely vegetable in their composition , and consequently act without harshness on tho most delicato system . The experience of more than forty years nroves that no means surpass Holloway ' s remedies for curing bad legs , bad breasts , piles and wounds of all kinds .