Masonic Sermon In Oswaldtwistle Church.

ishments according to the deeds done in the body . We recognise the Grea A r chitect of the Universe in all our words and works . We are constantly rended that " Wherever we are , and whatever we do , He is always with u =, and H's all-seeing cye ever beholds us . " At every meeting of the lodge prayer is ffered to Him and His blessing is invoked . This is our first great principle , and f anyone after being admitted to our Society on such a solemn declaration ' , „ .. i ^ nf anv time repudiate the faith and become an Atheist , the duty of the

f . [ ljren is clear . As a natural consequence of our faith in the Supreme Ruler f the Universe , Freemasonry sets before its members the Volume of the Sacred Law , and charges them to consider it as the unerring standrd of truth and justice , and urges them to regulate their actions by the Divine precep ts it contains—since therein they are taught the important duties thev owe to God , their neighbour , and to themselves—lo God by never mention-• nf / His name but with tbat awe and reverence which are due from the creature to

his Creator , by imploring his aid in all their lawful undertakings , and by looking no to Him in every time of need for comfort and ^ support j to their neighbour by acting with him on the square , and by practising that golden rule— " Whatsoever would that men should do to you , do ye also unto them . " Deriving its inspiration from Holy Writ , Masonry includes the practice of every domestic as well as nublic virtue . Masons are individually exhorted to " let prudence direct them , temperance chasten them , fortitude support them , and justice guide them . "

Another great principle insisted upon by Masons , and the natural result ot what I have iust been saying respecting our belief in the Bible as the Word of God , is the duty of obedience to the powers that be . " Honour all men , love the brotherhood fear God , honour the King , " may be taken as the summing up of a Mason ' s profession . They " honour and obey" the Queen and all that are put in authority under her . They are enjoined never to countenance or support , much less propose , anv act which may have a tendency to subvert the peace and good order of society .

They are ready to defend their sovereign and their country " from sedition , privy conspiracy , and rebellion . " They are bound in one holy bond of brotherhood to maintain and support those institutions of our land which have made England so great , so glorious , and so free , and it is a speaking testimony to the loyalty of our Order that kings and princes have been from time immemorial promoters of the art and " have not thought it derogatory to their high dignity to exchange the sceptre for the trowel , " and happy are we in having as our Grand Master one so

worthy of all honourand respect as H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . Again , Masonry is the greatest charitable institution in the world , and when I speak of Charity I do not mean almsgiving alone . It is not a benefit society . No man joins , or ought to join , in order to benefit himself—but others . It abhors selfishness in all its forms , and we declare that a wish to render ourselves more serviceable to our fellow-creatures is the sole motive by which we are influenced in seeking to be admitted to the Order . A Mason ' s Charity should know no bounds , save that of

prudence . Such in belief is Freemasonry in its principles . It insists on a belief in the Great Architect of the Universe as an essential condition of membership—it recognises God in all its proceedings , it accepts the Volume of the Sacred Law as its rule ot life . By the doctrine contained in that Book of Books we are taught to believe in the wise dispensations of Divine Providence , which belief confirms our trust , strengthens our hope , and enlarges our Charity , for Charity is the greatest of all virtues , indeed , it

comprehends the whole , for when faith is lost in sight , and hope is realised to the full , still Charity has a work to do—a work which will never end , but only be fuller and brighter and more perfect , for it will live on and on to the countless ages of eternity in the Grand Lodge above , where the world's Great Architect lives and reigns for evermore . But now comes the question : How are these grand principles , this pure morality , these noble sentiments , this exalted piety , being carried into practice ? I have said that Masonry is

a religious Institution , hence our presence here in God s House to-day . I have told you its basis is the teaching of the Bible , where we read— " Pure religion and undefiled is this : To visit the fatherless and widows , and to keep himself unipotted from the world . " This holy , this practical definition of religion is exemplified by Masons in their practice . That Masons do " visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction " is no idle boast . As a body they exemplify their profession by their practice . I am unable to give you even an approximate

estimate of the amount of money raised by Masons alone for Charitable purposes , but one institution , and it is only one of many , the Royal Benevolent Fund , dispensed £ 16 , 140 last year in grants to aged Freemasons , their widows and orphans . In the Girls' and Boys' Schools 540 children are boarded , fed , clothed , and educated at a cost of over £ 12 , 000 a year . Coming to our own Institution in East Lancashire , it contributes nearly £ 800 a year to the same laudable objects . From these instances may be formed some idea of the extent of good which is .

'doneand done unostentatiously—by Masons to their fellows in need through the thousands of lodges established in the world , and each lodge is a dispenser of Charity . I must now , my brothsrs , bring the matter more closely home , and give my remarks a more personal application . I earnestly appeal to you , my brethren of the Craft , to see to it that you ever bear in mind your solemn obligations to maintain in your own person , by your character , life , and conduct , those Masonic virtues you have promised to observe . It has been truly said of the vnrisiian

religion that its worst enemies are those ot its own household . It is the un-Christian lives of professing Christians which causes men to scoff at Christianit y , and I believe the same is true of Masonry . One chief reason why our Order has been disparaged—and it has—and why it has been looked upon with suspicion—and it has—is because the uninitiated can only judge of its character Dy what they see in the character and conduct of those who belong to it . And can you blame them ? Every Mason has the honour and credit of the Craft in

. ° Rceping . when one member suiters , then all the members suiter with him . \ vf " note we " " obligations under which we live . Let us ask ourselves : What am 1 doing , how am I living with reference to my profession as a God-fearing ?*? \ Am ' fulfilling in my Degree the high and holy purposes I have promised 0 fulfil ? If our principles are right ( and they undoubtedly are ) , seeing they are winded on the rock of eternal truth , then consistency , to say the least , demands rom us that we make the practice of ourselves square with our profession . Then , tnen

,. ' . ""¦ u » , shall we stand before our fellows true men , upright and honoure in our intercourse with mankind . Religion never was intended to make our P easures less , but the contrary . The practice of true Godliness does not turn P ° P'e into stone , freeze up every smile and check every innocent amusement . It not reli gion , but the want of it , that cause people to be gloomy and miserable . hi e , P reacher dwelt at length upon this point , and concluded by strongly urging fearers to live consistent Christian lives .

bea rf Ur , ' ' » tne c ° Hection Bro . Benjamin Bury rendered in a skilful manner the and fr S u Cred solo ~ " With over-flowing heart we meditate on Thy goodness , " er 'he- Benediction , the National Anthem was sung , concluding the service .

COUD IP ( AK NUAL GATHERING at Dunmow tcok place on Monday , when three married » crna c ! : ercu - themselves for the flitch of bacon whicii is presented to a man and 'hat th ? are a k ' e t 0 ut ° ve to the satisfaction of a jury of maidens and bachelors lj , ej r I . . j ver been an approach to a quarrel bitween them during the term of Mrs AII " , ''''' On this occasion there were three sets 1 f competitors , viz .: Mr . and ton . ; oad . j liss > of Blis Cou't i Oxford ; Mr . and Mrs . Henry Johnson , of Kenning-Sa 'itfact ' ^ ' * ^ " Edwaid Rorke , of Anwell , Herts ; and the evidence being chaired aV /\ ' 1 case > a "itch ° f bacon . was pretented to each couple , who were and taken to a stage in a field , where they took the customary oaths .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

We have been requested by the Secretary of the Institution to publish the following , which has been extracted from the minutes of the Court in question , and forwarded by him to the Secretaries of all the Provincial Grand Lodges : At a Quarterly Court of Governors and Subscribers held at the Freemasons ' Hall , W . C , on Friday , ioth July , 1896 . The V . W . Bro . Richard Eve , P . G . Treas ., Patron and Trustee , in the chair . Read letter ( attached ) from the Pr . iv . Grand Secretary of the Province of North and East Ridings of Yorkshire , with copy of resolution passed by that Provincial Charities Association , objecting to the sale of the Institution and the purchase of a new site .

Reported that the letter had already been submitted to the Board of Management , who had ordered it to be placed before this Quarterly Court . Moved by Bro . Glass , Vice-President , seconded by Bro . W . Russell ( Province of Kent ) , and carried

unanimously" That this Court having heard the letter read , takes no action thereon . " The Secretary placed before the Court a circular dated " Hull , June , 1896 " ( copy attached ) , which , he was informed , had been issued by the Prov . Grand Secretary of the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire to each Prov . Grand Lodge , and that he had received the copy only after application to Bro . Peck on the 29 th June . On receiving the circular he had at once communicated with Bro . Peck and asked him for the authority for the statement made , viz .:

"The Board of Management having decided to build a new School and sell the present Institution for what it will fetch . " Up to the present moment he had received no reply from Bro . Peck . Bro . J . S . Cumberland desired to repudiate an allegation which had reached him that he was a party to the issue of the circular . He wished it to be distinctly understood that he had no knowledge of the circular until after it had been issued , aud that for his own part he was quite satisfied with the decision of the last Quarterly Court . After some discussion it was unanimously resolved :

"That the Secretary be instructed to state that some of the statements named in the Yorkshire Circular are not accurate in fact and that this Court is satisfied to draw the attention of the province to the announcements already made by the Board of Management that it * will shortly issue to the Subscribers a statement of the reasons for the proposed removal of the School from its present position as sanctioned by the last Quarterly Court . '" ( Signed ) J . M . MCLEOD , Secretary .

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

The De Tabley Preceptory . The regular meeting of this preceptory took place on Thursday , the 16 th ult ., at the Town Hall , Altrincham , Sir Knight the Rev . C . Chetwynde-Atkinson , M . A ., Prov . High Prelate , E . P ,, presided . There was a good attendance of sir knights aid visitors and the principal business of the evening was the regulating of by-laws , Sic . The following were present—Sir Knights J . M . Sinclair , Treas . ; Stanley Derbyshire , Reg . ; J . Davenport , ist Std . Br . ; E . G . Parker , P . E . C . j and John Cliffe , C . of L . Visitors : bir Knights E . Pike , P . E ., P . P . G . Reg . ; F . W . Lean , P . G . V . C . ; G . S . Smith , P . G . S . B . ; and others .

St . Joseph Preceptory , No . 9 . On Friday , the 24 th ult ., the regular encampment was held at the Freemasons ' HaU , Cooper-street , Manchester , when Sir Knight John Hardwicke Marsh , E . P ., presided , supported by his officers . The muster roll was called and the . minutes of the

previous meeting read and confirmed . Comp . Joseph Jackson was installed by the E . P ., assisted by Sir Knight F . W . Lean . Present—Sir Knights E . Pike , P . E . C , G . Reg . ; F . W . Lean , P . E . P ., P . G . V . C ; G . S . Smith , G . S . B . ; J . T . Richardson , P . E . C , G . W . of R . ; J . W . Arnott , S . M . ; Sergeant Searle , C . of L . ; J . H . Bennett , ist Herald ; and Chas . Swinn , 2 nd Herald . Visitors : Sir Knights J . M . Sinclair . John Cliffe , and Stanley Derbyshire .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . SAMUEL SWIFT , No . 16 75 . The great respect cherished for the memory of Bro . Samuel Swift , who died at his residence in Windsor-street , Liverpool , the 17 th ult ., in the 48 th year of his age , was shown on Monday , the 20 th ult ., by the very large attendance at the interment of his remains at St . Mary ' s Cemetery , Walton-road . Deceased had been identified with the shipping trade of the port for about 30 years , and was for many years a prominent and enthusiastic member of the Craft ,

The principal mourners were Mr . Thomas Swift ( brother ) , Messrs . J . Cuff , H . Chaffer , and R . Williams ( brother-in-law ) , Messrs . T . and A . Harrison and J . Hughes ( of the firm of Messrs . James Hall and Son ) , Messrs . J . Fare , J . Garniss , J . Johnson , and the Rev . J . W . Baker , curate of St . Clement's Church , of whic ' a deceased was a member . He also held the position of J . D . in the Antient Briton Lodge , No . 16 75 , and the representatives from the Iodge present were Bros . W . Cottrell , W . M . ; T . J . Smith , S . W . ; R . Lloyd , I . P . M . ; R . M'Gee , P . M . ; J .

Raymond , Sec . ; T . Hunt , I . G . ; J . Lunt and J . Brown , Stwds . ; J . C . Higgins , H . Collen , F . J . Broom , tV . Parry , R . Gornall , F . Gillett , J . H . J . Peake , P . M . W . J . Bakewell , C . R . Fitton , T . Trevitt , S . W . Murphey , W . Rowney , H . Croaisdall , W . Gornall , H . Collins , E . Francis , F . Jones , J . Bingham , G . Creighton , J . Smith , W . R . Harvey , T . Roberts , R . Slater , and F . Jones . The general body of Masonic mourners also included Bros . P . Armstrong , P . S . G . D . ; G . A . Harradon , P . P . G . Treas . ; W . B . Sweetman , P . P . J . G . D . ; S . L . Fraser , P . G . S .: J . R .

Bottomley , P . P . G . D . C . ; A . Cotter , P . P . G . S . B . ; C . A . Trevitt , P . M . 2316 ; W . Rawsthorne , P . M . 1182 ; R . Tunicliffe , I . P . M . 1182 ; D . Lowthian , W . M . 1182 ; T . B . Trevitt , 1356 ; J . Casev , P . M . 1325 ; C . Swift , 1086 ; J . Molloy , 249 ; J . Bingham , 6 73 ; . Captain T . Grey , 220 ; F . Beedle , 6 73 ; J . B . Jeffrey , 823 ; G . Barnes , 667 ; H . Williams , P . M . 2463 ; W . Lodge , 15 + 7 ; J . Wheeler , T . Kneen , G . Davies , W . M ., T . H . Porter , S . W ., J . C . Lowe , J . W ., D . M'Farlane , P . M ., T . Williams , Sec , and T . Stevens , all of 1356 ; T . Fargher , P . M . 2012 ;

J . Grace , S . D . 1182 ; R . Wright , 1182 ; J . Rawsthorne , 1325 ; M . Nixon , 249 ; and T . R . Ainsworth , 1182 . There were also at the funeral Messrs . A . M . Ronald , A . N . Mallalieu , T . Quinlan , J . H . Thompson , and J . L . Parry . The funeral service was conducted by the Rev . ] . W . Biker . Wreaths were sent from the members of the Antient Briton Lodge , the firm of Messrs . J . Hall and Son , Bro . G . A . Harradon , Mr . R . Slater , Mrs . Eaton and family , Messrs . R . aid E . Williams , Mr . and Mrs . W . Skinner , and others .

BRO . R . E . FAIRCLOUGH . We regret to announce the death of Bro . R . E . Fairclough , which occurred on Sunday , the 2 nd inst ., at his residence at Upper Clapton . Bro . Fairclough was initiated in the Clapton Lodge , No . 1365 , and quite recently vacated the chair after a very successful year of office ; he wis exalted to Royal Arch Masonry in the Islington Chapter , No . 1471 . The Dake of Connaught Lodge ot Instruction by his death has lost the services of an able Preceptor .