Must Be Immortal.

Once permit the sentiment of fancied security to become dominant , and the want of zeal will soon bo manifest in the gradual subsidence of mental and moral culture . Masonry is that beneficent guide that , faithfully obeyed , preserve .-its followers from the extreme of selfishness on tho one

hand , and ignorant simplicity on the other , and whonevei the cause languishes for proper interest and support , snch temporary lulls in its progress may bo sought for in the fact that the true spirit has not kept pace with numerical increase , and that the test of merit , without which no

cau . se can prosper , has not been applied in accordance with established aud infallible rules . No plaut can bloom in uncongenial soil , and no man can become a Mason who has not within him those natnal elements of character which ever unfold and expand under Masonic teaching . While the

physical danger to Masonry may , in a sense , be past , the moral danger is still apparent . The record of its brilliant exploits shonld be kept untarnished by its defenders of tho present . To us is confided the sacred trust , and if wc

permit that already gained through ages of sacrifice and toil to be lost , how justly will we be held amenable to tho bitterest execrations ! Its power is now established and its influences potent in all the avenues of social , moral ancl political life .

We are enjoying the fruits of a dear bought victory , and let us appreciate our present position and not fritter away by neglect or personal considerations , the result of such patient heroism . Let us preserve this priceless boon in its pristine purity . Coming down through ages of darkness ,

terror and blood y persecution , let us cherish the teachings and examples of a cause hallowed b y the memories of the greatest and the best of mankind ; enshrouded in a halo of immortal glory , let us defend not the shadow but the substance .

Let us remember with grateful emotions that a priuciple which can survive the struggles of barbaric forces , the throes of tyrants , the cunning sophistries of astute and wily counsellors , and the concentrated fury and hate of ecclesiastical power and dominion , must be immortal . Let

the li ght continue to shine with undiminished splendour ; let its influence be kept pure and unsullied , and uncontam inated by unworthy association ; let its power be felt as of old in tho councils of kings and in the humble walks of life .

Thus will it continue to flourish for the amelioration of mankind , until the darkest recesses of ignorance , and the lowest abyss of misery shall be penetrated by its light and relieved b y its charity .

" In silence Steals on soft handed oharity ; Tempering her gifts , that seem so few , By time and place , Till not a woe the bleak world see , Bat finds her grace . " Voice of Masonry .

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence , was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall , with Bros . Joshua Nunn President , James Brett Senior Vice-President , aud C . A . Cottebruue Junior Vice President .

The brethren confirmed recommendations made at the Jane meeting to the amount of £ 355 . 'I here were 31 cases on the new list . Five of these were postponed , being incomplete . The remainder were relieved , with a total sum of £ 615 .

A meeting of the Allied Masonic Degrees , Grand Council , England and Wales , & o . ( M . W . Rev . Canon fortal , M . A ., G . M . ) ; of the Metropolitan Council , Time Immemorial ( Bro . George Lambert W . M . ) ; and of the four Kings' Council . No . 7 ( Bro . C . H . Driver W . M . ) , will

° e held at 8 a Red Lion Square , on Thursday , 31 st , July , at five o ' clock , to admit dnly qualified brethren to the Allied degrees ; to elect the W . M ., Treasurer and T yler for the -Metropolitan Council and for the Four Kings' Council ; and to decide on day for holding the annual meeting for Installation of Metropolitan Council .

-tfro . G . S . Graham , well-known to many of our readers s a most versatile entertainer , is now on his way to New oik , where he has undertaken a musical tour . Wc doubt > ot the passengers by the good ship " Alaska , " the vessel ho flas selected , will avail themselves of the proverbial kindess of our worth y brother , who is ever ready to assist in raising the hours pass pleasantly .

Great Western Railway Tourist Arrangements.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY TOURIST ARRANGEMENTS .

rnilE other day His Royal Highness tho Grand Master , having I occasion to spouk of tho enormous amount of laboar entailed by our railway system , paid a well-deserved compliment to the un-Hagging zeal and industry of the railway servants as a body . Had it come within tlio scope of His Royal Highness ' s remarks , he wonld ¦ loiib'loss havo spoken iu tortns equally complimentary of the neverending anxiety of railway directors to promote aa far as possible the

comfort nnd convenience of tho public . We have daily evidence of this , not only in the ease and regularity with which the ordinary passenger and goods-traffic is worked , but likewise in the exceptional facilities for travelling which aro ottered at certain seasons of the year ; not only of what thoy do in respect of single holidays , when people are obliged to content themselves with a rush to the seaside

or into the country and back again within the space of twenty-four honrs , but , and especially , of their arrangements daring the summer time , when thoy are better able to spare time and money for that relaxation from business which is indispensable to health and profitable labour . It is , indeed , astonishing how cheaply , rapidly , and safely people can travel now-a-days , even the longest distances , and

even if they never have anything better to offer in the way of facilities for ch ' ap travelling , they are entitled to our thanks for what they have done . We have bnt to look at the special time-tables which are issued during the Tourist Season in order to certify ourselves of this fnot . Here , for instance , are the Tourist Arrangements marie by the Great Western Railway Company for the present year ,

and if we look carefully through them wo shall find it difficult , if not almost impossible , to point ont where , in reason , any improvement can bo made . The conntry traversed , or for which tickets are issued by this Company , includes some of the finest and most attractive parts of England , Wales , and Scotland , and we are not exaggerating when we say that in the arrangements tbey have made , whether we

look at the prices charged or the facilities that ate offered for breaking or extending the journey , the directors have shown themselves most considerate as well as most liberal . It may be stated , iu the first place , generally , that the directors issue tickets for all classes—first , second , and third—which are available , to bogin , with for two calendar months , and with some few exceptions are renewable on

certain by no means exacting conditions for any farther period up to bnt not exceeding the 31 st December 1884 . These tickets are purchaseable in London at Paddington , at the principal stations on the Metropolitan and Metropolitan District Railways , and at Cook ' s Tourist and Excursion Offices , Ludgate Circus , E . C . ; and at Birkenhead , Chester , Liverpool , and Manchester , at the stations and offices

indicated in the tables . Then the parts of the country which the line traverses , or with which it is in communication , is mapped out so as to suit best the convenience of all sections of the public , both those who prefer settling down in some given resort and there spending their holiday , and those who would rather move abont from place to place in some particular district , and making themselves acquainted

with its scenic and other attractions . Thus , taking the West of England , passengers in the North Devon Circnlar Tour travel by rail to Minehead via Tauuton , thence by coach to Lynton , Ilfracombe , and Barnstaple , or vice versa ' , and may break the journey at Watchet , Minehead , Lynton , Ilfracombe , & c , in addition to tho stationa at which tourists to Minehead or Ilfracombe may alight , that is , Bath ,

Bristol , Weston-super-Mare , Bridgwater , Taunton . As regards visitors to a particular place , all we need do is to refer them to the time tables for the prices of the several classes of tickets and the hours appointed for the departure of the different trains . These Circular Tours may be made in North and South Wales by no less than seven different routes , of which the following may be

taken as examples . By the First Route the passenger travels by rail to Tenby vty Whitland or New Milford and back to Carmarthen , thence via Pencader , Manchester and Milford , and Cambrian Lines to Dolgelly , returning from Dolgelly , viO , Bala aud the Vale of Llangollen to Rnabon , and thence to Shrewsbury , or vice versa ] , mid may break tbe journev at any station on the route between

Gloucester and Whitland , at Strata Florida and Lampeter , and at any Station between Aberystwith antl Dolgelly , Dolgelly and Ruabon , and Rnabon and Shrewsbury , euabliug him to visit Gloucester , Chepstow , Newport , Swansea , Tenby , Aberystwith , Dolgelly , Bala , the Vale of Llangollen , and all places of attraction on the Circnlar route . In the Fourth Route , which is one of the Tonrs of the Valley

of the Wye , passengers from London , Heading , and Oxford travel vid , Swindon , Gloucester , Hereford , and Abergavenny to Monmouth , returning via Pontypool Ruad , Newport , Gloucester , Swindon , or via Sytnond ' s Yaf , Ross , Gloucester , and Swindon , or vi & Redbrook , Tinterti , Chepstow , Gloucester , aud Swindon , or vice verstt , aud may break the iouruey ac Hereford , Ross , Sytnoud's Yat , Gloucester ,

Tinterti , Chepstow , Newport , Usk , Raglan , and Abergavenny . The charges are from London by tho First Route 1 st Class 95 s ; 2 nd Class , 70 s ; by the Fourth Route , 1 st Class , 58 s ( id ; 2 nd Class 12 s 6 tl . Other trips are marked out , to the Lakes of Killarney , to tho Channel Islands , via Weymouth , to Scotland , to tho English

Lake District , the Islo of Man , and to France , the fares being in all cases reasonable , and similar facilities being offered in each case . For particnlars we mnst refer our readers to the Time Tables , which coutaiu every information which is likely to be needed , while the directions are so explicit that the traveller will have some difficulty iu going wrong .

The Revised Book of Constitutions ; Critically Considered ancl Compared with the Old Edition . London : Simpkin , Marshall & Co ., 4 Stationers' Hall Court , E . C . Sent on receipt of stamps , One Shilling , by W . W . Morgan , Freemason ' s Chronicle Office , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville .