Unjustly Defamed.

Lodge is , at hi ? installation , required to answer , in thc affirmative , these questions : "You agree to bo a good man and true , and strictly to obey tho moral law ?"

" You agree to bo a peaceful citizen , and cheerfully to conform to tho laws of the country in which you reside ?" " You promise not to bo concerned in plots and consp iracies against the Government , but patiently to submifc to the law and to tho constituted authorities ?"

¦ ' Yon agree to pay a proper respect to tbe civil magistrate , to work diligently , to livo creditably , and act honestly by all men ?" " You agree to avoid private piques and quarrels , and to guard against intemperance and excess ?"

Heroin , then , is our answer to our assailants aud traducers , ancl with reasonable and intelligent ; men ifc ought to be sufficient . We do not ignore the fact thafc men do nofc always livo up to their accepted principles , for tills is true in the relation of men to any and every association to

which they may belong ; but , like all other associations , we claim that we aro to bo judged by established principles , rather than by fhe failure of individual members to maintain them . Yefc this fact certainly makes ifc moro obligatory upon each ono of us to look to our individual habits and walk in

life , lest we bring onr ancient and honourable Order into disrepute . As to the papacy , ifc can justly condemn ns only when it has asserted its controlling and healing power over its own secret order of Jesuits , who have blackened tho pages of history by fcheir political conspiracies , streaking the fair fame of religion with the charred bones and blood

of its innocent and helpless victims . Your orator presents these thoughts to your consideration , nofc from any controversial attitude , or any feeling of bitterness or reproach , bat as a son ' s tribute to fche honour of his mother- and a filial vindication of her fair fame .

Let ns each and all , as in honour bound , see to it that the cause of Freemasonry takes on no reproach from our individual failure of duty , and so speed fche blessed cause of brotherly love , relief and truth—everywhere , at all times , and to all mon . —Voice of Masonry .

Presentation To Brother W. J. Smithson.

PRESENTATION TO BROTHER W . J . SMITHSON .

OUR readers will hear with pleasure t ' nafc thn loner- <*| nt"taine'l nnr ] invaluable work of this popular and eminent brother on behalf of onr Charitable Institutions , and hia moro rciont ; services as a member of tho Provisional Manasemrnfc Committee of the Bnys ' Rfthorvl , bave met with gratifying recognition by the brethren of his Province of Wesfc Yorkshire . The members of the Charity Committee of that Province , of which organization he has been Chairnmi

( and previously Vice-Chairman ) for some years , and other friends , afc a special meeting , on Monday evening last , in the Masonic llall , Ureab George Street , Leeds , presented Bro . VV . F . Smithson with the full regalia of office as Grand Deacon , and also that of Standard Bearer in Grand Chapter . The presentation was made on behalf of the subscribers by the Provincial Grand Master Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P ., who , conjointly with the D . P . G . M . Bro . Henry Smith , afterwards entertained the brethren , over 80 in number , to a substantial tea . j

Messrs . Ward , Lock and Co . have just published , in volume form , the extraordinary narrative , entitled " A Dead Man ' s Diary , " wbich has already attracted such wide attention as a serial in " Lippincott ' s M'Vsrazine . " The volume contains additional chapters of striking interest which wore withheld from the magazine issuo . Dishonest

claims have boon pnt in for the authorship , and a book having boon nlvead y widel y advertised as being by . the author of "A Dead Man' ? Diary , ' * Messrs . Ward , Lock and Co . wish to state thafc tho author has written no other book of tho sort , nnd thifc tlio announcement of any similar work as from his pon is absolutely untrue .

-Mr - Oscar Wildo will contribute to tho July number of " Lippincott s Magazine " a complete novel , entitled ' The Picture of Dorian « rey , " which , as tho first venture in fiction of ono of fche mosfc prominent personalities and artistic influences of the day , will be evory whore road with wide interest and enriosifcy . But the story ip , in uself , so atrong and strange , and PO picturesque and powerful in 7 e i that ifc must inevitably have created a sensation in the literary www even if published without Mr . Wilde ' s name on tho title-mse .

lowed morol y as a romance , ifc is—from tha opening paragraph own to tlio tragic nnd ghastly climax—full of strong and sustained " IR ! - ' aSfl ? ^ ln psychology it is phenomenal , and judged evpn 1 . ? . J as a piece of literary workmanship ifc is one of the most . ' •'" ant and remarkable productions of tho voir .

Ar00502

-t ~ i ' )•• ' . > ?• ^ instantly , ni » hfc ov day . Entire safety , llnvisid ' ^ I'l'tv I ' ll' ? " * ' ' lll ! o fixing in bath-room with proper vent , pipe , ensurirg Any o ' ion ¦ . " ' " LigtitT ] i * , . -r » licyscr , : ¦¦¦ ' * Euston ItoiUl , L-. IKIJII , >' . \\ . Hiiiyimvp . S 08 S , r , S » il G '' i ' '' of our inannfsu-Liirc , fixed witftout . veut pipe , i- ' Usrth-it i ' . ' !? "; T vetlt 5 : 1 > ° K-crt Vur 5 s , by applying to us before 30 th Juno 18 'Ji > . wat date thc value will l ; c char-c-d .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o : — PROV . GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX AND SURREY .

f | 1 HE annual Provincial Grand Lo ^ lgo was hold on JL Tuesday lasfc , at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queenstreet , under the presidency of Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bavt ., tho Provincial Grand Master , who has hold that office since the formation of the Prov . Grand Lodge in 1871 . Present—Bros . Sir Francis Bavdetl--, Bart ., Prov . Grand Master ,

Charles Hammerton Deputy Grand Master , Henry Lovegrove S . W ., Dr . J . T . Griffith . T . W ., J . Hugh Thompson and Nelson Prower Overseer ;* , Rov . J . Cater Chap ' ain , L . G . Gordon Robbins Treasurer , W . G . Brighten Secretary , W . T . Heath S . D ., J . H . Clare J . D ., T . C . Edmonds Dir . of Cers ., Walter Potter Sword Bearer , It . J . Chi'gon

Standard Bearer , Charles Lea Organist , Henry Burgess , John Barnett jun . and J . T . Briggs Stewards , and the following Grand Officers : —Bros . Charlos F . Matiar Grand Secretary , D . P . Cama P . G . O ., Frederick Liwrence P . G . O ., F . Driver P . G . I . W ., 0 . F . rtogani P . G . Standard Bearer , 0 . H . Pearson P . U . O ., G . H . Newington

Bridges P . G . W ., E . J . Hoare P . G . Organist , John Catea Collier Prov . Grand Steward , Edwin Storr P . G . Steward , Reginald J . Mure P . G . Overseer , A . B . Cook P . G . Overseer President General Board , J . W . By ford P . M . 350 , Goo . Gardner P . G . D . C , T . Clark P . P . G . D ., W . A . Scurrah P . P . G . B ., H . R . Cooper Smith P . P . G . O ., W . Balfour

Clarke , John Larkin P . M . 315 , 0 . Wood W . M . 173 , J . S . Tamburini J . O . 104 , Thos . Hood 331 , J . B . Lancaster 139 , Ernest C . Bliss 234 , Geo . Gregory P . M . 355 , A . Tremoarno and H . M . Hobbs 198 , Rev . Henry P . Oliver J . O . 197 , W . F . Hawes and John Rhodes 19 ** i ,

J . N . Frye 211 , Joseph Clever 176 ; H . Dickey , A . H . Scurrah , Captain C . J . Knightley , H . Longman , W . M . Stiles , W . J . Ferguson , all of 355 ; besides very many other Brethren and Officers of tha various Mark Lodges in the Province , and the following visitors : — Andrew Oliver 376 , Colonel Vausittark 2 * 26 , and others .

Tho brethren assembled in the Large Hall , and the attendance was the most numerous of any Lodge yet held in the . Province . Tho Lodge was opened in due form , and the Grand Master sainted . The minutes were read and confirmed . The report of the Committee of General

Purposes showed that the number of Lodges in the Province was 37 , and the members 760 , au increase of 41 during the year . The Treasurer ' s account was read , and shewed a satisfactory balance . Tho sum of £ 10 10 s was voted to the Mark Benevolent Fnnd . The Depnty Grand Master

Bro . Hammerton undertook the Stewardship this year . The Secretary announced that the Bisloy Lodge would be consecrated on Friday next , and the Ubique Lodge shortly afterwards . The Roll of Lodges was called over , and every Lodge satisfactorily represented except ono , which

was excused on the ground that this date was their own installation meeting . The Bye-laws of the Province were ordered to bo amended and reprinted . The Treasurer , Bro . L . G . Gordon Robbins , Grand Overseer , was unanimously re-elected Treasurer , and was awarded a vote of thanks for his services . The appointment ancl investiture of Officers

was then made , as follows : — Bro . Chas . Hammerton 114 .,. Deputy P . G . M . Col . Ambrose H . Birrbam 361 ... Senior Warden John Gates Collier 114 ... Junior Warden John Barnett jnn . 315 ... M . O . Cant . C . J . Knisrhtlev 284 & 355 ... S . O .

Arthur H . Bowles 361 ... J . O . Ret * . Joseph Cater , M . A ., 407 ... 7 ru , „~ i ¦ ., Rev . Henry F . Oliver 197 ... j 0 ha lainB L . G . Gordon Robbins 361 ,., Treasurer J . T . Briggs 181 ......Registrar W . G . Brighten 4 ... ... Secretary Hnrry Tipper 385 ,.. ... Senior Deacon Henry Bnrgeas 198 ... ... Junior Deacon

J . T . Norman Callaway 333 ... Inspector of Works T . 0 . Edmonds 139 ... ... Dir . of Cers . John Byford 350 ... ... Assistant Dir . of Cers Frederick Mead 393 ... ... Sword Bearer William Clowes 357 ... ... Standard Bearer Edwin Wilding 244 ... ... Organist Murray Haynes ... ... Apsutant Secretuy Thomas Hood 331 ... ... I . G . Lewis P . Coubro 23 G ... ... * >

JohnT . Skinner 211 ... Arthnr J . Hone-Goldnev 239 ... j- Stewards * John T . E . Crcsswell 224 ... | J . B . L . Lancaster 407 „ . ) A sum of 'ten guineas was voted from the finds o" tho

Lodgo to the Organ Testimon i al , to the memory ofthe late Canon Portal , lata Grand Mark Master . A brother of tho Kintore Lodge offered - £ 5 5 s more as his own contribution .

The four following Lodges wero selected and approved on the rota to nominate Stewards to Grand Lodge , viz ., Cliiswiok , Onsfow , King Sjiomon and Sir F . ancis Bordet . The Committ 3 e of Gen : ral Para sei was elected , as follows : —