Provincial.

were well filled . The W . M . of the Mother Lodge Bro . John Worth occupied the chair , and was supported by Bros . S . W . Keene P . M . S . W ., C . G . Hatt P . M . J . W ., M . Spring acting Preceptor , J . H . . Gumming P . M . acting Sec , Alfred J . Tavlor S . D ., H . G . Cox J . D ., R . R . Young I . G ., W . Binfield Steward .

Lodge was opened to the second degree , Bro . Binfield was examined and entrusted and the raising ceremony was rehearsed . Lodge was resumed to the first degree and called off and on . Bro . Gilbeart having proved his efficiency , the Lodge was again resumed to the- second degree and the W . M . rehearsed the ceremony of passing .

This Lodge of Instruction meets every Thursday evening , at the Greyhound Hotel , within one minute's walk of the High Street Kensington Station , and any Brethren desiring of joining will meet with a hearty welcome from Bro . H . J . Cousens the well known and courteous Secretary .

Some Masonic Points.

SOME MASONIC POINTS .

WE are asked to give a more extended report of the speech of Bro . James Oxley P . M . 1306 , who was one of the Brethren who responded to the toast of the Visitors on the occasion of the recent installation of Bro . Alfred B . Clayton as W . M . of the Paxton Lodge , No . 16 S 6 , as reported in our issue of iSth May . Bro . Oxley is a

well known enthusiast of Masonic work in the east end of London , and has at different times given addresses on subjects of interest to members of the Craft , one of his best efforts being a lecture entitled " Golden Thoughts , " delivered at a meeting of the Israel Lodge of Instruction , the members of which , on another occasion , made Bro . Oxley a presentation of an exceedingly handsome hand-painted testimonial on vellum , beautifully framed , together with a cheque for twenty-five guineas .

At the meeting of the Paxton Lodge Bro . Oxley said it was with the most boundless pleasure imaginable that he sincerely congratulated the W . M . on his unanimous election as Monarch of one of the best and most stable Lodges throughout the entire south of London . He also congratulated the W . M . upon the high

efficiency of his working , which was really good and highly praiseworthy ; not only extremely commendable , but actually deserving of honorable mention . And so it was with the Officers in their different departments ; from the Worshipful Master down to the Tyler of the Lodge , everything was carried out with noiseless exactitude and high class -ability .

The Paxton Lodge was composed of Brethren of good standing , and maintained an unassailable status of spotless respectability and an unblemished reputation , in which he hoped the W . M . would conspicuously figure as one of its chief adornments , for to occupy a humble niche in the Temple of Freemasonry , as he had done that evening , was an honour of which he had a right to fce . 1 justly proud ; they had an accomplished and most indefatigable Secretary ,

mellowed to perfection by years of practice and ripe experience , who was in himself an exhaustless storehouse of valued and varied information upon everything appertaining to our beautiful ritual , of which he was a perfect Master . An efficient Secretary was not only the backbone of a Lodge , but also the official adviser upon all complex and technical points , and so the W . M . might confidently rely upon him as his solicitor in Freemasonry during his term of Office .

He had also for a guide and mentor one of the best and most perfect Immediate Past Masters it would be possible to select . Certainly neither elaborate oratory nor theological speculations were in his line , nor was he at any time too pragmatical ; but he always spoke with a manly straightforwardness , which must at all times commend his theories to the hearts of his hearers ; for his

mind was at all times as nicely and as evenly balanced as a tightrope dancer ; his great aim was to reach the heart , rather than tickle the fancy . How noble it was when the Brethren found a man like their Past Master Ross , who cared for facts , and not for effects ; one who would not tamper with truth to win popularity , who made accuracy his first and chief aim , and left eloquence to take care of itself .

Under such encouraging auspices he could not see how the W . M . could possibly err , but on the contrary he hoped at the call of the bugle he- would go forward , with unswerving and unerring instinct , in the discharge of his duty of teaching the Masonic faith in all its ripened fullness , in all its traditional simplicity , in all

its burnished and golden splendour , tastefully garnished with those touches of which the W . M . was such an accomplished expert , so that his expounding should be as pleasing to the ear and instructive to the minds of the students in Freemasonry , as the perfume of flowers in the month of June was refreshing to the Botanist .

Freemasonry was the greatest and noblest institution on the face of the earth ; it was the concentration of that glorious and lovely virtue , Charity , which represented the motto and beacon light of the entire Craft . It breathed a language known and felt far as the pure air spreads its living zone . It was as mighty in its growth as it was brilliant and diffusive in all that was good and just ; and he hoped it might always receive that encouragement and support so grand and powerful a cause deserved .

It was dazzlingly beautiful as the rose was lovel y , with the difference that the flower bloomed only to fade , whereas Freemasonry he hoped , would continue to bloom on to the end of time ; for he felt sure- they all hoped that none of its iridescent charms , none

of its golden graces , its silvery amenities , or the sun-burnt ivory of its polished facial beauty , would ever suffer the slightest obscuration . He could never believe that the minds of the students in Freemasonry would tire of paying homage to its rich mezzotints and lustrous empyrean beauties , any more than the human eye

Some Masonic Points.

would grow weary of the stars . There , was a kingly dignity and a halo of glory about Freemasonry , like the softening and shaded beauties of a richly coloured autumn , wherein the hearts of the Brethren thrilled to it as thrilled the harp when smitten by a cunning hand .

There were two essential qualities which distinguished Freemasonry from every other society ; its humanity and its catholicity . It did not seek to trample under foot the desires or emotions of man ; it did not seek to withdraw him from the world in which he

had been placed , it did not disparage the dignity or the beauty of life ; but it showed to man what he might become in this our beautiful faith of sunlight if he chose . He felt the argument was most forcible , and the key of colour sober but eminently truthful and effective .

The gates that lead to the throne of Ireemasonry stand open to all , wreathed in the golden bloom of the rich petals flung from the corolla of the Craft in the most beautiful glittering profusion of scattered loveliness , of majestic glory , bright as shooting starrays , and pure as the silvery rim of mountain snow .

It was not reserved for a class , or country , any more than it was for the distinction of rank , of wealth , of power , and of learning , yet those attributes were so nicely blended as to cloy with sweetness in the beauty of the sentiment . The majesty of Freemasonry being fraught with so much guileless enchantment as almost to silence the tongue , yet still they might drive along joyously linked in Brotherhood , and united in one common cause of Fraternal affection and mutual delight .

Holiday Arrangements.

HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS .

THE usual summer excursions on the Great Western Railway are announced to commence next week , when trips will be run for a week , a fortnight , & c , from Paddington Station , on different days , to the chief resorts of the West of England and

other parts served by this system . The usual daily excursions are also running to the riverside resorts , at the cheap fares which have so long been in vogue on the Great Western , and which have proved such a boon in years gone by to the holiday makers who desire to visit the picturesque and pleasant upper

reaches of the Thames . As already announced in our pages , the day tickets for Henley , including launch trip up or clown the river , luncheon on board , and dinner at the Red Lion Hotel , at the inclusive fare of one guinea , are also issued daily , including Sundays .

j *_ lt it JL It . It . JUL it . JL It . it . Jt ^ lLit-it . iUI It A ¦ Jrif 7 r 7 r nT" ** iMr' 7 r ^ w-R" * - 7 t"K Court . — "Women are so Serious" is the title selected by Mr . Brandon Thomas for his adaptation of " Celles qu'on respecte , " the- French comedy by M . Pierre Wolff , in which Monsieur Noblet made such a success in Paris . The play will be produced at the Royal Court Theatre , Sloane Square , on Friday evening next .

There are but half a dozen characters of importance in the play , and for these characters Bro . Brickwell and Mr . Kerr have succeeded in engaging a company of exceptional strength . Mr . Kerr , who will of course play Noblet's part , will be assisted by Miss Ellis Jeffreys , Miss Constance Collier , Miss Mabel Terry-Lewis , Mr . Herbert Standing , Mr . R . C . Herz , and Mr . George Giddens .

W K n « o iTA AH ) l Jl ft 7 * A AA Jl / r The Freemasons of Eastern France are holding a congress at Macon . An interesting feature of the proceedings was the vote of an address of felicitation to the Ministry of

Republican Defence for the work which it had accomplished , and urging it to carry through Parliament as soon as possible the Associations Bill , the Workmen ' s Pensions Bill , and other measures . The delegates of sixty-five Lodges signed the address . — " Daily Chronicle . "

********** Charing Cross Hospital men who are Freemasons will be pleased to hear that a Warrant has been granted by the Duke of Connaught to found a Lodge in connection with that Institution . Its designation is the Chere Reine , No . 2853 , and it will be Consecrated on the 7 th June .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

WE regret to announce the death of Bro . Robert Moffat , of Gloucester , which took place on Sunday , 28 th ult The deceased was born at Tweedmouth , Berwick-on-Tweed , on 27 th April 1817 , so that his death occurred just after the

completion of his 84 th year . He served apprenticeship in a printing office at Hull , but on the expiration of his time he went to Shields , and shortly afterwards joined the Inland Revenue . After going through the various grades , in 1866 he became Collector of Inland Revenue at Gloucester , where

he lived until his death . Bro . Moffat became a Freemason in 1844 at Carrickmacross , and was one of the oldest members of the Royal Gloucestershire Lodge . He resigned his

Collectorship of Inland Revenue in 1885 , when he received a testimonial from his many friends . The funeral took place on Wednesday , 1 st inst , among those who sent floral tributes being the Royal Gloucester Lodge ,