Ladies' Night Of The Eccleston Lodge, No. 1624.

Forder , Asst . Tyler ; T . Coulthard , P . M . ; J . W . Ray , P . M . ; W . Weston , P . M . ; Bignold , I . P . M . ; W . Smith , and many others . Visitors : Bros . J . Holland , 1348 ; F . Larner , P . M . 858 ; E . R . Painter , W . M . 766 ; G . W . Younger , I . G . 1257 ; R . Hassell , 1623 ; C . W .

Evans , 2021 ; A . J . Beesley , 1 ( 092 ; C . H . Dancocks , W . M . 1671 ; G . Scarman , 1287 ; J . G . Bond , P . P . G . D . C Kent ; P . H . Clisby , P . M . 1623 ; G . Price , 193 ; C . Woodrow , P . M . 1708 ; J . W . Smith ; W . W . Lee , W . M . 2381 ; and others .

Masonic Veteran Association Of Illinoie.

MASONIC VETERAN ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIE .

The seventh annual " Report of the Masonic Veteran Association of Illinois " is nosv being circulated by the venerable and respected Chief , General J . 0 . Smith , oi Chicago , who is svell knosvn to many of the Craft in this country and is a member of the C . C . of Lodge

No . 2076 . As an esteemed Past Grand Master of Illinois , and a svar veteran , he has troups of friends , so it is not to be wondered at that his invitations are eagerly looked out for , and accepted by many eminent Freemasons in the United States and Canada , svho think nothing of the

journey of a fesv hundred miles to participate in the hospitalities of what is knosvn as " Smith ' s Inn , " but really his mansion in 65 , Sibley-street , where his good lady , Mrs . Smith , is the presiding genius , and gracefully sees to the comfort and happiness of the guests . This time the report is a large one , extending to

over too pages , and deals in part with General Smith ' s travels during the summer of 1892 in the East , on the Continent , and in Great Britain . Many of the illustrations are choice and most suggestive , and those of Masonic jugs and mugs are both valuable and interesting . The plate of marks , collected by the

indefatigable Craftsman during his sojourn from home , are curious and important , and the various letters sent to the General , by friends unable to be present at the annual gathering , make most excellent reading . There are 46 " honorary members of the Illinois Veteran Association , including Bros . W . J . Hughan , George Reynolds , J . Sykes Rymer , Henry Sadler , Geo .

VV . Speth , and T . B . Whytehead , from England ; also Bros , the Earl of Haddington , William Hart , R . S . Brown , V . Murray Lyon , and Col . Stirling , from Scotland , Sic . The report is by far the best of the kind ever issued , and is a credit to all concerned in its preparation , illustrations , and execution .

Consecration Of New Lodge Room For The St. Michael's Lodge , No. 2253,(E.C)

CONSECRATION OF NEW LODGE ROOM FOR THE ST . MICHAEL'S LODGE , No . 2253 , ( E . C )

On Thursday , the 5 th ult ., a special communication of the District Grand Lodge of Barbados , W . L , was called for the purpose of dedication of the new lodge loom at Bellville , built by the members of the St . Michael ' s Lodge , No . 3253 . The R . W . Dist . G . M .,

Bro . Col . John Elliott , C . B ., C . M . G ., Past Grand Deacon of England , presided , and was ably supported and assisted by the following ofiicers : Bros . John Locke , P . M . 2253 , D . Dist . G . M . ; the Rev . Clarke Holmas , Dist . G . Chap . ; R . J . Clinkett , Dist . G . Sec . ; Major J . C . Oughterm , Dist . S . G . W . ; H . T . Armstrong ( locus tcnems ) , Dist . J . G . W . j F . J . Price , P . M ,

159 and 196 , Dist . S . G . D . ; W . Howes , P . M . 196 , Dist . J . G . D . ; and J . J . Warner , P . D . S . G . W ., Dist . G . D . C . The lodge having been opened , Bro . J . LOCKE , as President of the Building Committee , gave a short resume ot the history ot St . Michael ' s Lodge , claiming that although not holding a warrant ot sufficient antiquity to wear the centenary jewel , that nevertheless No . 2253 was the actual representative of a very much

older lodge [ now 104 ] . * He then invited the R . W . 13 ist . G . M . to consecrate and dedicate the hall to Masonry . The R . W . DISTRICT GRAND MASTER having signified his pleasure in doing so , called on the District Grand Chaplain to give the oration , which proved to be a masterl y exposition and defence of the principles of the Order .

The anthem , " Hear the voice and prayers of Thy servants , " & c , having been sung by a choir of brethren under the direction of Bro . M . E . Doorley , Mus . Bac , 13 . G . Org ., the Chaplain , carrying a censer , proceeded three times around the hall , solemn music being played during the perambulation . A procession of District Grand Ofiicers and Past Masters svas then formed , and

"caring the elements of consecration , marched in order around the hall , halting in the east , west , and south , the "ist G . M . impressively rendering the usual invocatory ^[ "tences , dedicating the building to the purposes of ' ' reemasonry , Virtue , and Universal Benevolence , " concluding svith the prayer of consecration , after which another anthem was sung , and the Patriarchal Benediction was pronounced by the D . G . Chap .

Bro . C . C . KNOLLYS , CM ., P . D . D . G . M ., having "Pressed to the R . W . D . Grand Masier and his officers the thanks of the lodge for attending to perform 'ne ceremony , the lodge svas closed . An excellent banquet . was afterwards served in the spacious refectory under the lodge room , presided over by Bro . Major Oughtern , W . M . 2253 , at which R . W . D . Grand Master and his officers were

Consecration Of New Lodge Room For The St. Michael's Lodge , No. 2253,(E.C)

entertained , being joined by His Excellency . the Governor , Sir James Shasv Hay , K . C . M . G ., the Lord Bishop , and other distinguished visitors . The new lodge room is a substantial building of imposing elevation , situated in the Long Pine-road ,

Bellville , a rapidly-improving suburb of Bridgetown and reflects credit on the choice of the brethren of No . 2253 , svhose efforts svere first stimulated by the munificent gift of £ 300 by a young man , Bro . Fred . Taylor , late of that colony .

Masonic Ball At Torquay.

MASONIC BALL AT TORQUAY .

Vanity Fair has the follosving notice of the Masonic ball at Torquay * . "The Masonic ball which took place here last week in aid of the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons was a great success , though of necessity rather mixed . Among the patrons were Lord and

Lady Ebrington , Lord and Lady Exmouth , Lord and Lady Churston , Sir Stafford and Lady Northcote , Lady Macgregor , the High Sheriff , Mr . Hanbury , and the Mayor , Mr . Splatt . The ball room in the Bath Saloons was effectively decorated svith handsome palms , ferns , begonias , azaleas , poinsettias , and other flowering plants , and the banners of the St . John ' s Lodge were

placed about the room . The floor was very slippery , which perhaps accounted for the delay in commencing dancing . The supper svas remarkably well done , and the svine , for whicii the men paid ( a highly objectionable system ) svas about the average . Some merry little parties dancing the Lancers—the type so svell known at balls of this sort—were very amusing . Elderly

mammas , who had been persuaded to dance , skipped about with steps of days gone by , svhile the elderly fathers regarded their belongings with undisguised though sleepy admiration . The dresses were not remarkable for smartness ; just a fesv here and there svere noticeably pretty . Madame Cassavette , a blaze of diamonds , presided over a flosver stall , and sold beautiful sprays and choice buttonholes , the proceeds to be

devoted to the wives and orphans of the aged brethren . The flosver stall Was an excellent and novel idea , which commends itself to the notice of charity ball organisers . Among those present svere General Saunders Knox-Gore and his daughters , Captain Annesley , R . N ., Captain Livingston , Black Watch , and Miss Livingston , Mr . and Miss Hankey , MissF . Eardley-Wilmot , Captain Bedingfield , Captain Robertson , and Major Kilgosv , 5 th Fusiliers .

Leo Xiii.'S Letter To The Italian People.

LEO XIII . 'S LETTER TO THE ITALIAN PEOPLE .

Dear Sons ! As Guardian of that faith svhich the Christian nations should osve moral and civil obligation to , I should neglect one of my first and most sublime duties if I did not raise my voice again , and strongly , against

the impious war , which , my dear sons , has for its sole object to deprive you of a treasure svhich is so precious to you . Of this struggle , nosv too well knosvn by long and painful experience , you knosv svell the terrible consequences , and you are deeply deploring the same in your hearts as Catholics and Italians . And , indeed , ir * one

can be an Italian by name and deed , and is not annoyed at the insults svhich are daily inflicted on that Divine faith , whicii is the most beautiful of our victories , and which procured for Italy the first place among all nations , and Rome , the spiritual sceptre of the world , and which created out of the ruins of paganism and barbarism the svonderful edifice of the Christian

civilisation . If one can be in his heart a Catholic , and look on with a dry eye in this very country , in the heart of which our Saviour deigned to found the seat of his empire ; to look on , I say , and see how his doctrines are attacked , his Divine service scorned at , his Church fought against , his representative imprisoned , how so

many souls redeemed by his blood are lost , and the chosen people , having remained faithful to him for 19 centuries , are now exposed to a constant and imminent danger , viz ., of falling asvay from the faith into a multitude of errors and mistakes of positive misery and moral baseness

1 his war being waged at the same time against the celestial and terrestrial Fatherland , against the religion of our fathers and civilisation , against the sciences and arts is , you will understand , beloved sons , doubly criminal , and this not less to offended mankind , than to the insulted divinity . But from what other source should all this come , but

from that Masonic sect which sve spoke about in our two letters of 20 th April , 1884 , and 15 th October , 1890 , to the Bishops , the Clergy , and the Italian people . In these two letters we have torn the mask off the face of Freemasonry , behind which it concealed itself , and sve shosved it in its true form , in its dark and pernicious activity- This time we confine

ourselves to consider its lamentable effects on Italy . While it has since insinuated itself into the good graces of the people of our beautiful country under the mask of a philanthropical society , and by meansof conspiracy , baseness , and force ; and , with the final aim to dominate Italy and Rome , has paved the way to so many troubles of our Church by numerous misrepresentations .

Great hardships has'e been suffered in this short time by our Fatherland . The religion of our fathers has been made the signal for all sorts of persecutions , svith the satanic aim to replace Christianity by

Leo Xiii.'S Letter To The Italian People.

naturalism . The cult of faith by the cult of reason , the Catholic teaching of morality by the so-called independent morality , the progress of genius by that of materialism . Without exaggeration the power of Freemasonry , svhich it osves to the direct and immediate results of all its evil deeds , causes us at present great chagrin

in our religious community . In those deeds which sve have experienced , and in many other acts which we could recall to our memory , sve feel its spirit , that spirit svhich , as an irreconcilable enemy of Christ , and of the Church , trys all ways , uses all arts , takes advantage of all means in order to rob the Church of her primogeniture , to rob Christ of

His chosen people , of the seat of His representative on earth , and of the centre of Catholic unity . The bad and powerful influence of Freemasonry on our affairs is manifest to-day , not judging by a few and passing signs , nor by the series of evil deeds committed for the past 30 years , but rather because , made proud by success , this sect has spoken out openly ,

and related svhat it has done in the past , and svhat it purposes to do in the future . The public authorities are consciously , or , unconsciously used as its tools , which means that this impious sect boasts of the religious persecutions which have disturbed our Italy and still cause trouble , as its principal svork , carried out by orders , but kindled ,

encouraged , and assisted by means of flattery or threats , by seduction , or revolution . They have dared to put against the holy dogmas and laws of the gospel principles and laws which may be called revolutionary , a teaching denying the existence of God and misbelief in the school , the sciences , and all Christian arts . After having broken into the temple

of the Lord by confiscating the Church property , the hereditary possessions so necessary to the holy priests svere destroyed , and by the power of the learned men , the number of the holy servants was reduced to the most urgent requirements . Since they svere unable to prohibit the administration of the Holy Sacrament , they are trying to introduce in

every way civil marriages and other pernicious customs . Although they have not yet succeeded in taking from the hands of the clergy the education of the young and the administration ot the benevolent institutions , still they are trying by continuous endeavours to misrepresent them , meaning to do away altogether with the Christian ( doctrines .

As they could not stifle the voice of Catholicism , they tried every means to bring it into discredit and lo make it contemptible . And svhat contradictions and sects nosv exist solely svith the desire to do asvay svith the Catholic faith ! While monasteries and convents are being closed , Masonic lodges and breeding places of sects are allosved

to multiply as they like . While every society may obtain judicial ri ghts , this right is denied to the reli gious brotherhood . Divine services may be held publicly by every sect , but odious intolerance and oppression is inflicted on thc reli gion svhich is that of Italy , and svhich on that " account

should enjoy special reverence and protection . Instead of protecting the dignity and independence of the Pope nothing but protests and great promises are being made , while , on the other hand , impious brotherhoods are in existence svhich bind their adherents by frivolous oaths , and ask blind and absolute obedience and secrecy even in case of a crime .

And you see hosv my person is daily made tjie object of so many sneers . Manifestations of every description find the field free . But it happens that some Catholic manifestations are prohibited or interfered with . The discord in the heart of the Church , the giving up of the faith , and the rebellion against the legitimate

superiors are encouraged . The religious vows and principally thc reli gious obedience are rejected , as opposed to liberty and human dignity . From the religious decay to the social decay the svay is very short . When the capable and always yearning

human heart is no longer directed to the hope of divine love , it throsvs itself svith insatiable avidity on mere earthly blessings , and there is , of necessity , antl inevitably a constant struggle of passions to enjoy , to enrich oneself , to elevate oneself , and in consequence an inexhaustible source of intrigue , strife , immorality , and crime .

The moral and social troubles in our Italy find as before nourishment in the present events . But svhat painful spectacle is shown to our eyesV ln families that amiable reverence , svhich forms the domestic concord , has much diminished ; fraternal authority is too often not recognised cither by the sons or by the fathers ; discord is frequent , divorce not rare ; in the town , discord among the citizens ; bad feeling among

the different classes of the people ; the frivolity of the nesv generation increases , svhich , growing up in the spirit of an ignorant liberty , respects nothing either high or losv ; the inclination to cursing and early crimes and public scandals is growing . The Government instead of fulfilling its highest and sublime duty by recognition , protection , and assistance of the Divine and human rights in tlieir harmonious entirety considers itself as arbitrator .

Social order is shaken in its foundations ; booksand journals , school and university , society and theatre , monuments and political speeches , photographs and fine arts , all work together to turn asvay the souls and destroy the hearts . In the meantime the oppressed nations are raging , the anarchistic sects agitate , the working classes make the beginning and increase the