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lily work—all spoke to the intelligent Israelite of eternal truth , and revealed the power and the mercy , the grace and the salvation of the Almighty . ( II . J A thousand years after the building of Solomon ' s Temple , and shortly before the destruction of its successor ,

another use of the word is given to us . At the commencement of His ministry the Jews asked Jesus Christ , the Son of God , for a sign , and He answered : " Destroy this temple and in three day ' sl will raise it up , " The Jews said , " Forty and six years was this temple . in building , and will Thou raise it up in three days' ? "

" But , " says the Apostle John , " he spoke of the temple of His body . " The word spoken there made a wonderful impression . It was remembered , touching as it did the most sacred though of the Jewish religious life , and it was used as the basis of a charge

against Him when He was brought to trial ; it was remembered and thrown in His face as He hung on the Cross , when they scoffingly called to Him to save Himself ; it was remembered by His disciples for the confirmation of their faith after that He was risen from the dead . Both the truths which we took from the

ancient temple find their perfect illustration in Chrisb . He is the dwelling-place of God . " In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily . " He is also the perfect revealer . "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father . "

( III . J Both the temples we have spoken of have passed from human view . But God has not left Himself without a visible temple . The Apostle gives us the completed thought when he says to believers : " Ye are the temple of God , and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you . " The Divine life is in us if we truly belong

to God's Kingdom . The Spirit of God is promised to abide with us and dwell in us , a constant presence , a continuing fellowship , a purifying power . The word used here for in-dwelling is a word which signifies occupation of us as a tenant occupies a house : might I enlarge it in a homely but eminently true way ? As the

house shows something of the rank of its occupant , and tells us afc once whether its occupant be . a rich or a poor man , so surely if God dwells in us we shall show something in life and walk that will proclaim the majesty of the in-dwelling power . And as-the house , by its neatness , cleanliness , and order , shows the difference in character and taste between one and another among men or women ,

so also will the adoption of the Divine order and laws manifest God ' s presence in every Christian man . And as men seek by rich furniture and costly pictures to make a house a worthy dwelling for a resident of refinement and wealth , so likewise shall we , if we have risen to the conception of the Divine honour put upon us , seek to make ourselves fit dwelling places for the majesty , the holiness , and the purity of God .

And , my Masonic and Christian brethren , we may all of us have our part too in revealing God to men . We can reveal His Divine forgiveness , in some little measure when we show forgiveness , remembering our own need of it ; we can reveal God ' s love and charity when we put forth our efforts to meet the wants

of the suffering and distressed . The books of our Uvea with their daily page of words and actions which touch our fellow men will be in many a case the only revelation of God read and pondered by human hearts , and well will it be for us if we always seek to represent God faithfully and show His nature in our kindly and

generous deeds . . . . The sun in heaven dwells in every flower-cup with its varied colour , and in every fruit with its different use , so in every true man with all the variety of thought and gifts and usefulness the Divine presence dwells , and with every good man God is fitly framing together His glorious temple ,

and by every Christian man God is revealing something of Himself , and accomplishing some part of His unalterable purpose . The object to be served by our service this evening is a twofold one . lb is not necessary that I should make any formal appeal : the very mention of the charities is of itself sufficient to

draw forth your liberality . The Masonic Orphan Schools in Dublin , founded , one of them—the Female School—in 1792 , and the other—the Boys School—in 1867 , have made their name and proved their usefulness . In them the orphan children of members of our Order have been educated and fitted to fill honourable

and useful positions in the world . The Down Masonic Widows Fund , though of recent origin , has already in a number of cases proved a blessing to widows and families who , in the providence of God , have been left in circumstances of distress , and we hope that in this county as the Fund strengthens and enlarges that its beneficent aid may be more and more useful .

To every Masonic Brother , bound as we are by the obligation of charity , and to every Christian worshipper here this evening , the opportunity of helping to do good will be in itself a blessing . " Pure religion and un defiled before God and the Father is this , to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction , and to keep

himself unspotted from the world . " Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling , and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy , to the only wise God , our Saviour , be glory and majesty , dominion and power , both now and ever . —Amen . The collection was then taken up . The singing of " 0 God

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of Bethel" was followed by the Benediction , and as the brethren reformed in procession and left the Church the choir rendered the hymn " Onward , Christian Soldiers . " On the conclusion of the service ! the brethren from a distance were entertained in the Masonic Hall .

The Prince of Wales may find one consolation in his enforced idleness in the reflection that he has , by his action as Grand Master of the Freemasons , secured peace within the borders of the New Zealand Craft . It is not too much to say that the Colonial Masons were until a short time since

possessed by many dissensions , and not a little personal rivalry . However , the Prince himself took the matter in hand , and the result has been eminently satisfactory . His Royal Highness resolved to recognise the Grand Lodge ot

New Zealand as a separate entity , supreme within its own territory . He found a ready helpmate in that burly Radical , the Right Hon . "Dick" Seddon . The colonists have in their gratification at the restoration of peace made the Right Hon . " Dick " their first Grand Master . — " Daily Chronicle . "

ST . HELEN'S MASONIC PICNIC . WINDEBMEBB was the place chosen this year . The Committee had made arrangements for luncheon and tea at Storr ' s Hall Hotel . About sixty Brethren and friends left St . Helens by the 8 * 43 a . m . train , arriving at Windermere shortly after 11 . Luncheon was served at 12 o ' clock , after which members of the party visited Ambleside , Lake Side , and other picturesque and interesting spots . Tho party re-assembled at 4-45 for tea , and left the Hotel in coaches , for the station , about 7 o ' clock , St . Helens being reached after 9 . The proceedings were most enjoyable throughout .

The quarterly number of the " Life-boat , " the journal of the Boyal National . Life-boat Institution , issued under date of August 1898 , contains many items that must arouse interest on behalf of the work of this splendid Fund . The Institution has now 292 Life-boats under its charge , and during the past year it granted rewards for saving 659 lives from shipwreck on our coast . Pecuniary aid is much needed to assist the Committee in maintaining its great Life-saving fleet in a state of thorough efficiency , which can only be effected by a large and permanent annual expenditure .

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