Electa's Choice.

and offering the breaking of his right arm as an excuse for his apparent neglect , entered actively upon the duties which partially had called him thither . His business interests wero found to be in fairly good shape , but quickly improved under his judicious personal management , aud

prosperity attended him at every step . When he had lived in tho city sufficiently long to gain Masonic residence , his petition was sent to a Lodge , where it was favourably received , and , being a rapid learner , one after another ot tho degrees was taken , until he reached the sublime degree

of Master Mason . Nor was he yet content ; for , although himself able to travel and prove himself a Mason , and convinced that Masonry had opened to him a realm of

thought and study that might take years to thoroughly explore and master , yet he was unable , iu his own judgment , to make himself as widely useful as possible to others until he had received the desrrees of the Order of the

Eastern Star . These , therefore , were quickly and satisfactorily his , and he felt himself a new and better man . " 'Twas the night before Christmas , " when Dictum reappeared in his native village , after an absence of a little more than two years . He had nofc forgotten the way to Electa ' s residence ; and she was found " at home . "

" I am sorry , Mr . Dictum , " she said , " that this is the night of our Chapter ' s meeting ; but so it is , and as I am Worthy Matron , and we have some candidates to initiate ,

my absence could not well be excused . " " Certainly not , Miss Electa . Go , by all means , but allow me the privilege of escorting you to the door of tho Lodge-room , please . "

' The Chapter-room , you mean , Mr . Dictum , and . I shall be happy to have your company . " " Ah , Chapter-room ! That will do equally well . " The door was soon reached , and the room , too , for that matter—as , business not having been commenced , no

objection was offered to the entrance of Dictum . Precisely at the time appointed Electa ascended the dais , and rapped for order , remarking : Any that are not members of our Order will now please retire , that we may open the Chapter and proceed wifch business . "

Dictum retained his seat , without tbe least sign of being ill at ease , or feeling that he was out of place . The Worthy Matron blushed deeply , and was evidently much embarrassed at the strange conduct of the intruder ; bufc

the Conductress came to her relief by remarking : " Perhaps our friend Mr . Dictum did nofc hear the request of the Worthy Matron , that such as were nofc members of oat-Order had the privilege of retiring . "

The sister is mistaken , " remarked Dictum , with a world of nonchalance . " I heard and understood the request perfectly ; but it does not affect me . If I cannot establish my right to remain in the Chapter , it will be your privilege to turn me out . "

And establish ifc he did , not only to the satisfaction bnt to the delight of all , more especially to that of the Worthy Matron . When they parted at the home-door that night—strictly

speaking , morning , perhaps ; for , after Chapter closed , he related his two years' experience to Electa—he said to her "May I call at four o ' clock to-morrow afternoon , Miss Electa , and bring a clergyman ** with me ?" "A brief notice , Mr . Dictum , but be it so . "

And so ifc was ; for the wedding garments , prepared two years before , were still intact , and had parted with none of their original lustre . Not only the clergyman , but all the members of thc Chapter , and many members of the Lr ,- ' $ e , were present , all sincere as well as profuse in their

Congratulations . The presents were not numerous , as therehad not been time to procure them ; but of all those coming into the hands of Electa , there was none that she prized so highly as the Worthy Matron ' s collar , lavishly set with

costly brilliants . For his own present Dictum had caused those , sleeve-buttons to sparkle with the richest diamonds , These , with Electa ' s heart , were all he craved—the grandest and merriest Christmas of his life . —Voice of Masonry .

At the regular meeting of the Prince Edward Lodge held afc the Conservative HaU , Heaton Moor , on thc 18 tii ins ! ., Bro . S . I . Thomson , tho present S . W ., was uniaw mously elected W . M . for the eusuing year .

t' ^ l'KA ' . S properly carried out and personally attended at . on .-i-. a and Country , by Bro . G-. A . HUTTON , 17 STewcastl : iitioo ' - , Stru-nd , "W . C-. Monuments erected . Valuation nadc-.

Catholics V. Freemasons.

CATHOLICS v . FREEMASONS .

Lowell , Mass . TT is stated that the Catholic clergy of this city will offioi-- ¦* - cially express their disapproval of the arrangements whereby the Freemasons are to lay the corner - stone

of the new City Hall Building . Tho grounds of objection , it is understood , are that Freemasonry ia opposed to the Catholic Church , and that Catholics as tax payers are entitled to consideration in the matter . The Aldermen , it is

said , will be petitioned for a change in the arrangements . The above remarkable paragraph appears in the Boston Journal of 4 th October , and to those in the membership of the Society of Freemasons nothing need be said in reply . But those not of tbe Craft should not be p laced under any

misapprehension regarding tho facts . The statement that Freemasonry is opposed to fche Roman Church is not only misleading , but absolutely and entirely false . Had it been said that the Roman Church is opposed to the Society of Freemasons that statement would not be disputed , and tho

opposition of that Church is all there is to it . It ts opposed to Freemasonry as it is to the common school and to every other organisation which it cannot control . Sectarianism manifests itself whenever it has opportunity , but the possibilities have been sustained in this instance to make the

issue indicated . Freemasonry is the friend and helper of education , of loyalty and obedience to government , and of liberty—spiritual as well as personal—and it is perhaps as well that the Roman Cnurch now , as at some future time ,

should attempt interference with matters which do not concern it . It has already shown its disposition to take such action , though it is possible that such interference is at this time premature .

A petition was presented to the Board of Aldermen of the city of Lowell , signed by twenty-three Catholic clergymen and four thousand six hundred and forty Catholic laymen , asking for such action as would prevent fche laying of the corner-stone by other than purely civic ceremonies , and

that such ceremonies be conducted by representatives of the city government ; the petition was referred to tho City Hall Commissioners , who ev idontly did nofc sympathize with tho protest . Tho corner-stone was laid , with the usual

Masonic ceremonies , by the M . W . Grand Master of Masons in Massacbuflcfct-f , assisted by his Officers and the several Lodges in the city of Lowell . —Correspondent of the Freemasons Repository .

Consecration Of The Carnarvon Lodge, No. 2376.

CONSECRATION OF THE CARNARVON LODGE , No . 2376 .

Trims new Lodge , located at Ley-land , is the lateat addition to the X already long West Lancashire list . The consecration ceremony was performed by Bro . Colonel White P . G . S . W ., and the installation function by Bro . W . Goodacre P . G . S . B . Eng . P . G . Secretary . Bro . Boden P . G . D . C . acted as Dir . of Cera ., and there were also present Bios . G . A . Hurradou P . G . Treasurer , J . R . Jolly P . P . G . Treas .,

J . C . Robinson P . P . G . A . D . C . Bro . E . Barber was installed first W . M ., and the other officoa wero allocated as follows : —Bros . J . de Pen . nington S . W ., J . Clarko J . W ., Rev . A . B . Beavan , M . A ., Chaplain , J . Christian Treasnrer , H . Archer Secretary , J . Hauseman S . D ., J . Tlirelfall J . D ., J . T . Whalley I . G ., J . Carr , H . Bretherton , J . Addon , and J . Derbyshire Stewards , J . G . Entwistle Tyler .

Ifc will bo remembered thafc in 1888 and again in 1889 a Masonio Concert wna held at tho Bow and Bromley Institute , with gratifying results . On the first occasion the sum of £ 17 5 s was realised and paid over to the Royal Masonio Bonevolonfc Institution , aud on the fecond occasion the sum of £ 36 15 a was handed over to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . This year tho project has been once

moro revived , tho objoct being tho benefit of the Eoyal Masonio Institution for Bfiy .-- . W"dnes'b < . y , th' * 18 th I'abrnary 1891 , has been fixed a « the ditto of tho Concert ; and tho joint honorary Secretaries ary Bros . C . W . Bayraond and A . Pafcerson , to whom at the Bow Vi-atry Hull applications for tickets shonld bo made . A recherche programme has been arranged , full particulars of which will bo dnly announced . —East End Nexvs .

CHRISTMAS PUBLICATIONS . —Yule Tide . —Messrs . Cassell are again to tho foro with their ChriHttnas Annnal . Their issues are always well received , and tho present ono dooa not snffer in comparison with preceding atuinals . As regards tho pictorial portion , nono bnt a fastidious tasto could call it other than a success . " Prince Charlie's

Farewell to Flora Macdonald , " "Sweeter Seventy , " and other plates and pictures , form , as it were , a very substantial foundation for its success . A capit-. lly told , and well illustrated tale , entitled " I saw throe Ships , " aud dealing with Cornish life , ia a good complomont to the remainder of the annual .