" We Meet Upon The Level."

Tennessee . He was not expected before the wee , sma' hours ayant the twal . " No lodge at which Rob Morris was a visitor was ever known to hasten its closing , or to speed the departure of its guests . The loving and patient wife accepted what the fates decreed , and gave no encouragement that I should see mine absent host before the light of another day should

shine . The alternative was to enjoy the homely fare , the hard couch , and inspection of the treasures at hand , and await his advent . Forty years have passed ; but that Sunday in September , which was my first day in the home of Rob Morris , still " in memory is green . " In the afternoon , at the house of a neighbour , there was the customary

meeting for simple forms of worship at which he was the leader . The remainder of the day was given to exchange of thought and memories , at times in the office , at times in the woods , and as the sunset approached we were found by Charlotte , his little girl , seated on the fence near the house , she bashfully whispered in her father's ear . In a few moments , with an air nf reverence , he announced that the hour had

come in which it was their family custom to offer adoration to the Deity , and invited me to join them , if it was my pleasure to do so . I will always be glad that I accepted the invitation . On entering the room the children were seen to be promiscuously seated about the mother , who , with a child in her arms , was gently rocking and crooning to the babe . On a small stand near the centre were a

bible and book of hymns . The two vacant home-made chairs were taken by the host and guest . After a brief pause , Morris took the book , and read some selections in a manner most informal , and entirely void of all affection of solemnity , but with an air of reverence . Closing the volume , he took up the other and a hymn was suug , the air being led by the

wife . He then asked the children if they wished to sing something else . One of them mentioned a favourite piece . He rose , went to the melodion that stood near the door , where he wis joined by two or three of the older children . He played the instrument , while their voices joined in the song . At the conclusion , he inquired of each one , including the mother and

the guest , if they had another selection . One of the children named a hymn . The first stanza of which is Jesus , I my cross have taken , All to leave and follow Thee ; Naked , poor , despised , forsaken , Thou from hence my all shalt be . I have called Thee Abba , Father , Sic .

At the conclusion of this hymn , he rose , placed his chair near the centre of the room , kneeled upon his left knee , his right forming a square , across which two of his children bowed their heads , kneeling on each side ; and with his hands upon the heads of his children another one clinging to his shoulder , the wife sitting near the husband and father and friend raised his voice

in supplication . It was the most simple and unaffected devotion I had ever witnessed , and 1 am not ashamed to say that as he poured out his soul for blessings on his guest , I sobbed like a pentinent and grateful child . On Monday , after some hours of close application to the business that had brought us together , and

attention to his correspondence , he extended his hand to his clapboard files , and brought out a bit of paper . As he unfolded it , he remarked that on Sunday of the previous week , as he strolled through the woods , a certain musical air was in his mind , which insisted on expression by the voice , and seemed to connect itself without his will with the words , " We meet upon the

level , and we part upon the square . " He took a scrap of paper and his pencil , seated bimself on a fallen tree , and scrawled that which came to him . He read it , and asked whether it was of sufficient merit to justify its publication in his monthly journal . Being profoundly impressed I did not at once reply . With a shadow of impatience he asked the reason . On

being told that this was his masterpiece , that it was that by which he would be remembered through all time , he was almost resentfully incredulous . He mentioned various poems that he regarded as greatly superior to this one , and at the thought of which I smile as I write the fact . He gave it with some misgivings to the world , in the next number of the

American Freemason , of date September 15 , 1854 . He afterwards made many changes , some of which may bd classed as improvements , but I confess to the greater love for the original form with which are to me such pleasant associations . Ron MORRIS , J . Franklin , Ky ., August 13 , 18 94 .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CORNWALL .

Bro . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe has decided to hold the Prov . G . Lodge of Cornwall at Redruth on Tuesday , the nth inst . The meeting , which is sure to be a large one , is to be held in the Wesley Memorial Buildings at 10 . 30 a . m . At noon the brethren will

walk in procession to St . Andrew s Church , where a sermon is to be preached by the Rev . H . G . Ross , Prov . G . Chap ., and after which a collection will be made , two-fifths of which will be devoted to the Masonic Benevolent Fund of the county , another

twofifths to a local charity , and the remainder will be handed to the vicar for distribution in benevolence . The procession will then reform and return to the Memorial Buildings , and the remaining business will be transacted . Luncheon will be provided at Tabb ' s Hotel , at 2 . 30

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall.

p . m ., and arrangements have been made with the railway company to issue lirst and second-class tickets at a single fare and a quarter , as customary , from Plymouth and Devonport and all Cornish stations to Redruth , available from the ioth and to return on the 12 th inst . There is simply the ordinary business to be transacted , the members inthe province being united

happy and prosperous . The Druid's Lodge , No . 589 , was warranted on March 15 th , 1851 , and is one of the largest in the province , having some hundred members . The W . M . is Bro . the Rev . W . R . Erskine , M . A ., P . P . G . Chap ., and the Secretary is Bro . T . A . Kistler , P . M . Freemasonry was first established in Redruth so far back as 1754 , the lodge bearing the same name as the present No . 5 S 9 , but after many vicissitudes it fell

through about 50 years ago . There are 22 Past Masters who subscribe to the lodge , the senior dating from 18 5 6 . There are three applicants for the educational grant , £ 10 each being recommended for the full number of years , and there is one candidate for an annuity , being the widow of a late annuitant , to whom probably £ \ o per annum will be voted . The usual benevolent donations will also be made .

Scotland.

Scotland .

MASONIC BAZAAR AT BALLATER . A grand Masonic bazaar , held with the view of raising funds for the erection of a lodge room for the St . Nathalan Lodge of Tullich-in-Mar , was opened at Ballater on the 24 th ult . Thelodge room is estimated to cost , £ 600 , but a portion of this has already been raised by subscription , while the first day's work

brought in a little over ^* 200 . It is thus expected that the total result will be that a large proportion of the costs will be in the hands of the committee . The bazaar was held in the Albert Memorial Hall . The hall was finely decorated , and on the end wall was hung a painting of the late Bro . Farquharson , of Monaltrie , the founder of the St . Nathalan Lodge , the

picture having been sent from Monaltrie specially for the bazaar . At the opposite end of the hall a most beautiful effect was produced by the arrangement of the Royal Arch stall , the goods for sale here being all shown inside a large arch formed of rich material in the blue and red colours of the Royal Arch . The stallholders were—Lady Mackenzie , of Glenmuick , and

Mrs . Farquharson , of Invercauld , at the Royal Arch stall ; Mrs . Deans , Coilacriech , Ballater ; Mrs . Duguid , Ballater ; Miss Farquharson and Miss Sarah Farquharson , Ballater ; Mrs . Middleton , the Manse , Ballater ; Miss Reid , the Crofts , Ballater ; Miss Stewart , Tullich , Ballater ; Miss Neil , Ballater ; and Mrs . Anderson , Ballater . The garni stall was under

the charge of Mr . James Harper and Miss Harper . There was a large attendance at the opening ceremony . Among those present were : Bros . Sir Allan Mackenzie , of Glenmuick , Sub . Prov . Grand Master of Aberdeenshire West and Prov . Grand Superintendent of Aberdeenshire ; Sir Algernon Borthwick ; James Forshaw , Prov . Grand Master of Aberdeen City ;

Farquharson , of Invercauld , Depute-Master St . Nathalan Lodge , Ballater ; Mr . C . H . Wilson , M . P ., and party from Dinnet ; the Rev . J . R . Middleton , Glenmuick ; the Rev . Mr . Garvock , Ballater ; Master Jas . Mackenzie , Sir Henry Ewart , Lady Ewart , Lord Borthwick , Miss Borthwick , and Mr . Oliver Borthwick from Glenmuick ; Mr . D . Morgan , North of Scotland Bank

Dr . Mitchell , Dr . Hendry , Provost Barnett , Mr . Blake , Mr . G . Ogilvie , Aberdeen ; and Mr . John Macgregor , Invercauld Arms . The members of the St . Nathalan Lodge attended in large numbers , and before the opening ceremony took place they marched through Ballater in full regalia , headed by two pipers . Bro . Sir Allan

Mackenzie presided at the opening , and Bro . Sir Algernon Borthwick and Bro . Forshaw occupied seats on the platform and assisted the ceremony . Bro . Sir ALLAN MACKENZIE said it had fallen upon him as Masttr of the St . Nathalan Lodge to say a lew words in introducing those brethren who had so kindly come to Ballater to assist with the opening ceremony . He

appeared in the clothing of tne Royal Arch Order , and probably there might be somecritics present who would ask why he did not appear properly clothed as Master of St . Nathalan Lodge But he was sure his excuse would meet with their approbation when he told them that owing to his near relationship with the lady who had so much to do with the Royal Arch stall , he thought

he might be permitted to appear in the clothing of the office to which he had recently been promoted . He had to intimate apologies for absence from Lord Haddington , Past Grand Master for Scotland ; Lord Saltoun , Grand Master Depute and M . E . First Grand Principal of Scotland ; and Mr . Gurdon , of Newton , Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Aberdeenshire West .

He was sure , however , all would be agreed in saying that the brethren had been very fortunate in securing the services of the Provincial Grand Master of Aberdeen City and of Sir Algernon Borthwick . He could only say , with reference to the Provincial Grand Master for Aberdeen City , that no man , despite the

many able men who had occupied the same position in Abeideen , had done so much tor Freemasonry as Bro . Forshaw . It did not matter which part of Scotland a person went to , Mr . Forshaw ' s name , when mentioned in connection with Masonry , was always received with applause , and there was no man in the north-east part of Scotland who did not remember with pleasure and

Scotland.

satisfaction the work that had been done by the Prov . Grand Master for Aberdeen City . With reference to his friend Sir Algernon Borthwick , he was perhaps not able to speak so well . Sir Algernon Borthwick , unfortunately for them , was an English Mason , although they wished they could claim him as a Scotch Mason . But he was certain that Sir Algernon Borthwick

had proved to them that he had not forgot the lesson he was taught—perhaps some time ago—of his duty to his neighbour . It was well known that they were sent into the world for the moral support , the aid and protection of each other , and there could be no doubt but Sir Algernon Borthwick had proved a very fair example of that brotherly love which they one and

all wished to promote . The people of Ballater should not be afraid to help in the object of the bazaar . He granted that it was rather an unfortunate year for a Masonic bazaar at Ballater , for when two bazaars , both for great and noble objects , were held within a short time of each other , it was very hard to get people to open their hearts , and undo their purse-strings . But

they should not be afraid , because by helping the bazaar they would be helping on the very good object of providing a hall for the Freemasons of the district , and afterwards they would be able to rest in peace , knowing , when they saw and heard that Freemasonry was flourishing in Ballater , that they did their part in assisting the good work .

Bro . Sir ALGERNON BORTHWICK said , as a wanderer in the Highlands , like so many of those before him , and especially as he was by the beautiful banks of the Deeside , he felt that it was absolutely his duty , as a Mason , to come forward in any small way he could to assist in the work going on at Ballater . He could not say too much in praise of Freemasonry . Many of

those who had not received initiation to the Order mig ht have some idea that it was a curious kind of secret society , possibly with benevolent objects , but with something rather strange about it . But they should know that Masonry was the most ancient thing in the world . They could hardly trace the origin of Masonry , and it revealed at once to man what he could

learn by no other source except by Divine inspiration . When Adam was turned out of the Garden of Eden , he took to delving and digging , and found that as he sowed so he reaped . That seemed to Adam but a simple process of nature ; but when Cain and Abel raised their altars , they were the first Masons , and from these initial altars raised to God came that

vast succession of temples such as they saw in Egypt , and down through history to the time of King Solomon and that magnificent jewel of a temple he raised in Jerusalem . Through that , man learned that he could create , and not only that he could create , but that he could create with truth and exactitude ; that he could measure , that he could

plumb , and that he could be absolutely accurate in what he was doing ; and therefore Masonry became a revelation to man of some Divine power in himself Although he knew that the work of God ' s creation was perfect and magnificent , he had no idea , till Masonry revealed it to him , that his own work could be so useful , so accuiate , so exact , and so worthy of Divine

assistance . And having learned this , and that there was also a beautiful accuracy in the human frame , it came to him as a revelation from Heaven that , as in the material world he was able to fashion and hew stone and so build and raise up magnificent temples , so in the moral world he could do the same thing ; that he could so regulate his conduct to his brother

man according to the principles of truth , accuracy of measurement , and justice , that he should in morals as in physics make himself a true and perfect Mason , and thus morally to raise up temples all round anil about him to the worship of the true , to the greater sanctification of man , and to the aid of the brotherhood . He asked the general public of Ballater to earnestly

support this good cause , because they had a valuable and large lodge worthy of possessing a proper habitation , and he hoped that by their contributions that day they could further the object most materially It had been thought in foreign lands Masons were revolutionists , and that all kinds of mischief might be wrought by them , but they in England

had learned that the safe thing was to give mankind its own way to work out for itself , as the Masons had done , to the great benefit of the community * If people supported Masonry and its Institutions , they would do the greatest benefit to the Empire they possibly could . From the little country of Scotland went forth the Livingstones and Gjrdons , the great

conquerors ol the world ; so from the little lodge in Ballater might go torth such intellects and such abilities as might enable them to help out with the solution of these social problems to which he had referred , and be the greatest credit to themselves , to the world at large , and to the people of Ballater , who had sent them forth .

Bro . FORSHAW declared the bazaar open . He assured those present that the members of the Craft in the Aberdeen City Province were very pleased to see the new life and vigour that had been awakened amongst thc Freemasons in Ballater . He had « ° hesitation in saying that in a great measure this was due to the enthusiasm with which Sir Allan

Mackenzie had taken up the cause . The business of the day was then proceeded with . The bazaar was very liberally patronised . In addition to the usual attractions and amusements , vocal and instrumental music was supplied during the day , and a special feature was the employment of Mrs . Nathan Lee , described as the original Epping Forest gips Y ' who had a special room for the practice of palmistry , for which she carries seven gold and silver medals .