Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

PROV . G . LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND HEREFORDSHIRE .

rpHE Provincial Grand Lodgo of Gloucestershire and JL Herefordshire held their annual meeting at the Masonio Hall , Cheltenham , on Tuesday , the 13 th inst . The Provincial Grand Master , Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith

presided , and those present included the Provincial Grand Master of Monmouth ( Bro . Homfray ) , Bro . Baron do Ferrieres , & c . The Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge for the ensuing year were appointed , as follows : — Bro . O . Shellard P . M . 213 ... ... Deputy Master

T . G . Chanco P . M . 21 5 ... Senior Warden S . Moss W . M . 10 .. ... Junior Warden S . W . Hadingham P . M . 340 ... M . O . W . Merrick P . M . 218 ... ... S . O .

T . R , Oakley W . M . 340 ... J . O . Rev . C . E . L . Austin 10 ... Chaplain Balcoinb P . M . ... ... Treasurer E . W . Henley Sec . 439 ... .. Registrar G . Norman P . M . 10 ... ... Secretary

W . Margrett W . M . 243 ... Senior Deacon S . J . King 218 ... ... Junior Deacon W . Parlby 243 ... ... Inspector of Works W . R . Pelton P . M . ... ... Director of Ceremonies

W . Renwick 439 ... ... Sword Bearer P . H . Roa S . D . 10 ... ... Standard Bearer Calidcott P . M . 243 ... ... Organist W . B . Wood 439 ... ... Inner Guard

It was resolved to submitgto H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Grand Master , the name of Bro . Vassar-Smith as the nomination of the Province for a second term of office as Grand Master of the Province .

A Masonic Sermon.

A MASONIC SERMON .

ON the invitation of Bro . the Rev . Augustus Jackson , M . A ., W . M . of the Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 , a goodly number of brethren of

that and surrounding Lodges assembled at All Saints' Church , Percy Street , a suburb of Gravesend , last Snnday morning , to take part in the ordinary service and hear a Masonic sermon preached by Bro . the Rev . Fielding Provincial Grand Chaplain of Kent . Special hymns were selected , and the Lessons of the day were read by Bro . Joseph

Solomon I . P . M . The text of the sermon was taken from Exodus xxxi . 3-4 : — "I have filled him with the spirit of God , in wisdom , and in understanding , and in kuowledge , nnd in all manner of workmanship , to deviso ounning works . " Onr Reverend Brother said : —

When we were first made Masous the Volomo of God ' s Snored Law j was place 1 open before us and our attention was oalled to tho fact that I it should be the mainstay and the guide of our faith , and we were i further told that in all matters of doubt or difficulty we must rely on God . And it is my intention this morning to show you how in God ' s Sacred Law He has encouraged us to do so . Men are often inclined

to think that somehow apart from tho next world and from religion that they are not eo specially under the control , the protection , and the direotion of the Great Architect of the Universe . But you will see that this is not the case if you consider such a text as I have placed before you . In it we are told that when the Lord would first pitch His tabernacle amongst men , He in the first

place chose by name two men , Bezaleel and Aholiab , who wero to make the tent of worship and all its appliances even to the most sacred of its appurtenances , the Holy of Holies , the Ark , the Mercy Seat , and the Cherubim of Glory that overshadowed it , between which the mysterious presence of God was manifested to the Israelites by the glorious light enveloped in a cloud , and whence Moses heard the voice of one speaking unto him .

Now when the Lord chose Bezaleel and Aholiab we are specially informed that Bezaleel was filled , as we read in my text , with tho spirit of God , in wisdom , and in understanding , and in knowledge , and in all manner of workmanship , to devise cnnm ' ng work , and thus are we led to see that not only in the works of Nature that we see around us does God manifest His glory ; for whilo thus , says the

post—I read God ' s awful name emblazoned high With golden letters on the illumined sky , ' Nor less the mystic characters I see Wrought in each flower , inscribed on every tree , In every leaf that trembles to the breeze ,

I hear the voice of God among the trees . With thee in shady solitudos I walk , ; With thee in busy crowded cities talk , In every creature own Thy forming power In each event Tby providence adore .

And tbuB are we oonvinced at onoe of the errors of the Atheist and Agnostic when we examine into tbe hiddeo paths of Nature and see , in the painted wing of the butterfly flitting by in tbo summer suu or in the winter dress of beasts and birds in this native land , the pro- vision which an Almighty Creator has made for the welfare of his creatures . But I say my text bids us not only see in Nature the

A Masonic Sermon.

creating and directing and preserving power of tho Almighty , but bids man turn his thoughts to himself and see not only that he is foarfnlly and wonderfully made , but aho como down from his pride aud own that his boasted wisdom , hia vaunted knowledge , his mnch pervaded understanding even in his trade or profession are proofs of tho infltieoco of God ' s Spirit over him . To give us instruction in this

the Bible is filled with how the Lord hath wrought great glory by men through His great power from tho beginning , for such love rule in their kingdoms men renowned for thoir power , giviug couusol by their understanding aud declaring prophecies . And in this passage from which I havo taken my tost wo have a distinct assurance that it is tho Holy Spirit of God

who gives mon those powers of tho brain by which ha adapts things to his own wants , and woaves tho cloth , or shaped the timber , or the metal to his requirements . I need hardly remind yon of this fact , you that are members of our Craft , for it is pointed out to you by the success that King Solomon and Hiram had in building the Temple of the Lord . And would we , as

it is our duty , roar up a building to the honour of God , it must be by our souls being guided by the Spirit of God , to use that holy aud heavenly wisdom which alone can raise ns to those eternal mansions whence all goodness emanate . It is thus we are led to produce those virtues which ounse that unity whioh shonld always exist among all trne worshippers of God , and specially amongst those who profess to

admire brotherly love . And thns wo are biddon , my brethren , to perceive the power of thnt Great Spirit who exercising His authority upon onr souls out of weakness makes ns strong . For Ho makes ns strong when we pnt onr whole trust in Him , as the Volume of the Sacred Law bids ns do to perform the task set before us . Thns did Joshua subdue the enemies of the L ' rd , tons did Aloses give the law to Israel , thus did Hiram build the Temple , and thus did the royal

Solomon in his wisdom allow the superior arts of his inspired architect . And still if we are true Masons , when times of doubt and times of difficulty arise , we shall be safe in the end if we are inspired by the Holy Spirit . There are , parhaps , times you may doubt this , bnt if we search the Holy Scripture we shall not only find that as it is , 'in Nature , so in Arts ; but through all man ' s works he is inspired to do tbem by the Spirit of God

for—Every virtue we possess , And every conquest won , Aud every thought of holiness , Are His alone . It is He who works in us that we may have a good will , and work with UB when we have that good will so that the perfection of our

ohnraoters , of our actions , and of our deeds is His . And thus it is that we learn that the designs of a Bezaleel and a Hiram , the wisdom of Solomon , tho bravery and strength of Samson as well as the virtnes of Samuel , of Moses and Elijah , wore the work of the Holy Spirit of God . And thus , brethren , the Volume of the Sacred Law calls upon us to pray tint the Great Creator may of His goodness

give ns of His Spirit that in all our works begun , continued , and ended in Him wo mny glorify His holy name , and thu 3 when we are snmmoiiol from this snbliminary abolo we may pass in safety through tho valley of the shadow of death aud rise from the tomb of transgressions to those eternal mansions wh-3 re tho world ' s Grot Architect lives and rcigiiB for ever .

In covteUition , I havo to a , sk your alms for the Church rostoration . I need hardly remind you , for yoa must have all felt this to be the cn 3 o a long time , that it is the duty of Masons to build the Temples cf tbo Mo 3 t High , both those within and those that aro open to tho sight of all . Therefore I do not hesitate to believe you will giro most generously to this purpose , tho more ospocially as close here wo have a Church thoroughly restorod by tho Craft .

The collection proved a generous one and will mateiially assist Bro . Jackson to complete tho work upou which he has worked so long . After tho sarvico tbe brethren rotnrned to tbo Vicarago garden , where light refreshments were served , and proved acceptiblo to those who had walkod along the hot and dusty roads . Tho brethren thanked lirothor Jackson for his hospitality , and wero able to

con' gratulato him upon his approaching Masonio honour , as a little bird had whisperod that ho had been selectod as Provincial Grand Junior Chaplain at tho forthcoming Provincial Grand Lodge moeting of Kent . Among those present at the meeting were representatives of the Loige of Freedom , No . 77 , the Lodge of Sympathy , No . 483 , the Guudolph Lodge , No . 1030 , the Erasmus Wilson Lodge , No . 1461 , and others .

Athletic Sports At The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ATHLETIC SPORTS AT THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

IN magnificent weather the annual sports took place in the School Gronud on Saturday , the 17 th inst ., beforo a large and fairly representative gathering . Tho different events were keenly contested , the bero of the afternoon being Master Giblett , who won no less thau throe fir . t priz , by which means he gained the title " Victor-Ludorum , " t . r Champion of tho Spjrts , for which ho wa j presented

with it silver wntcb and chain . I he events secured by this rising young aLhleto wero tho 100 yards , tho high jnrap with a jump of 4 feet 2 ins ., and tho 300 yards . If we say that the 100 and 300 yards wero run in heats it will be scon that Mostor Giblett had plenty of work to do to seenro these prizes . Wc may mention that Mr . Bnlcombc won tho Old Masoniar . s' prize for tho third year in

; succession . Tho arrangements were good , everything passing off in cupital style . Miss Everott presented the handsome prizes at the conclusion of the sports , after which Bro . tbe Rev . If . Hebb proposed a vote of thanks to Miss Everett in again coming forward to present the prizes . This was unanimously carried , after which Bro . George Everett thanked the company for tho hearty vote of thanks that