Consecration Of The Jubilee Lodge, No. 2633, Brisbane, Queensland.

both these motives are needful . In the beginning the first perhaps chiefly ; now certa / nJy the second . And what is true of the animal world , is equally or still more true of that limited portion of it called humanity . In men , too , from the earliest dawn of history these two principles are found active and competing . Now in the noontide of the race , the time has come when the supremacy of the second is becoming as assured , as was that of the first in those eaily days of the childhood of the race . And now we can give names to the opposing principles .

They are , in short , selfishness , and its contrary altruism . But for altruism I prefer to use the older word—religion . Selfishness then and religion are the two opposing principles . The one is the principle of deterioration , the other of advancement ; to incline to the first would degrade us to the brutes , to cultivate the other will exalt us to perfect manhood . And this religion is the principle of Freemasonry , for religion from its practical side is but the principle of brotherly love , the direct antithesis of selfishness . I believe , therefore , in the antiquity of

Freemasonry . Whether we can trace direct descent from King Solomon and the builders of the Jewish Temples , I do not care to enquire ; our principle is far more ancient than that . Earliest history tells us everywhere of guilds and brotherhoods . Ancient Greece was full of them ; from the Masters of these Greek lodges , it is said , that our word Bishop is derived . AU Latin historians speak of the multitude of sodalities in the Roman Empire . It was the fraternities , the guilds of crafts and merchants and priests and soldiers , that

carried men through the chaos that followed the break up of the Roman civilisation . Not only in the south were Ihese found but also equally active and widespread were they in Scandinavia among the Teutonic peoples and in Saxon England , and recently they have been found in Russia and among all Sclavonic races as well as in India and in Turkey . Such then is the principle that our Order enshrines , such we blazon forth in varied symbolism of quaint phrase and antique ceremonial . Masonry is religion . But yet Masonry is not a religion . Masonry

deals with the race as it now is and teaches us those great principles—Brotherly love , Relief , and Truth—by which we may purify and ennoble all our relations with our fellows in the life that now is . But Masonry does more than this . Its last lesson is to teach us how to die , and tells us often of the heavenlyjlodge over which the Great Architect of the Uuiverse eternally presides . Religion in the restricted and subjective sense deals with those more spiritual experiences to which these teachings lead—it is in this sense the complement of Masonry . Of this I cannot

speak now , except that I may , perhaps , be allowed to say that to me , it seems that a man would have greatly misunderstood the whole teaching of Masonry who should speak of it as his only religion . It is his religion—Yes , indeed ! and a very true religion too , but God forbid that it should be his only one , his only faith and creed . Only one more thought remains . I spoke of our work to-night as the consecration of a temple for the culture of that spirit of Masonry which I have called religion . But I spoke of no material temple . On one of our tracing

boards is depicted what we call Jacob's ladder . It was on the arid stony plain of Syria that Jacob once lay down to rest , stretched on the hard ground covered only by his cloak with but a boulder for his pillow . There he dreamed—a ladder seemed to reach from earth to Heaven , and angels appeared ascending and descending upon it . When morning dawned he awoke and thinking that a Divine relevation had been accorded to him , he cried , " The Lord is in this place , and I knew it not . This is the house of God , and this is the gate of Heaven . " What

was this House of God ? That dry unlovely Syrian plain ? No glorious epic of sculpured stone with polished marbles dight and quivering with varied tones of light and sound from tinted window pane and sweet-tongued organ pipe—No , not this , but there , that bit of stony ground—anywhere—there is His temple where the brethren together dwell in unity and love . No house our feebie hands can rear can be too grand , can be grand enough to express our homage , our

devotion to Him the Great Architect of the Universe , but while we build with all our strength and skill let us ever remember that His true Temple is the assemblage of those that love Him and love one another in Him and for His sake . That assemblage wherever it may be gathered , where brotherly love prevails , where each loves others better than himself , where man is true to himself and to his Maker—there is the true , the ideal Masons' Lodge , there is the House of God , there is the gate of Heaven .

The perfection of detail , and the generally impressive nature of the solemn service of consecration left nothing to be desired at the hands of Bro . BARNETT and his immediate assistant officers , the effect throughout being enhanced by appropriate music . The lodge being consecrated , it was then constituted by the District Grand Master .

The first portion of the evening ' s ceremonial having been concluded the lodge was closed in the Third and resumed in the Second Degree . Bro . John Fenwick , the District Grand Secretary , then took the chair as Installing Officer ; the Master , Bro . James D . Reeve , P . M ., being presented by the President of the District Board of General Purposes , Bro . Robert H . Mills . The new Master having been duly installed and saluted . Bro . Arthur W . Michael , P . D . S . G . W ., with all due ceremony placed the officers of the lodge in their several chairs , the final addresses being delivered by the DISTRICT G . SECRETARY in a deeply impressive manner .

The general conduct of the two ceremonies elicited high praise from those who were experienced in Craft ceremonial , while those who witnessed them for the first lime seemed to realise a new delight . A cold collation followed , after which the loyal toasts of " The Oueen and the Craft , " " The M . W . the Grand Master , " and " The Dittrict Grand Master " were duly honoured , Bro . GREGORY himself proposed the toast of the evening , " Success to the Jubilee Lodge . "

" The Consecrating and Installing Officers , " " The Visitors , " and other regular toasts were heartily responded to , and the brethren separated well satisfied that a truly profitable Masonic evening had been enjoyed by all present .

Ball Of The St. Marylebone Lodge, No. 1305.

BALL OF THE ST . MARYLEBONE LODGE , No . 1305 .

The popularity of this well-known and successful lodge was greatly enhanced hy a ball which was held at the Criterion , Piccadilly . circus , on the 16 th ult . The company present included the W . M ., Bro . A . C . Bonham , and Mrs . Bonham ; Bro . W . Humfrey , S . W ., and party ; Bros . W . Brett , J . W . ; J . J . Pope , P . M ., Sec ; L . Harcourt Coles , I . P . M . ; F . C Murflet , P . M . ; Bro . H . Ansell , P . M ., and part y ; Bro . W . D . Schwarz , P . AL , and party ; Bro . E . White , P . M . ; Bro .

R . Wright , P . M ., and party ; Bio . and Mrs . W . J . Bennett ; Bro . and Mrs . F , Hucklebrid ge ; Bro . and Mrs . S . R . G . Chapman ; Bro . and Mrs . A . Wheeler ; Bro . E . C Lane and party ; Bro . H . Rickettsand party ; Bros . W . H . Reid , W . A . Shaw , J . J . Gomm , Bro . A . Williams , P . M ., and Mrs . Williams ; Bros . R . Head , W . Henderson ; Bro . T . Durrans and party ; Bro . and Mrs . N . E , McQueen ; Bros . C J . Webbe , A . Orrain , Miss Pierpoint , Mrs . West , Bro . R . T . West , and others .

Ball Of The St. Marylebone Lodge, No. 1305.

The hall presented an animated appearance when dancing commenced to the strains of J . Gardner ' s band , which was highly effective and much appreciated . A dispensation having been obtained , Masonic clothing was worn by the brethren and their regalia , which , together with the charming dresses of the ladies , rendered the scene one of the brightest .

Shortly after 12 o ' clock the company , which mustered upwards of 100 , adjourned to a superb supper , which gave credit to the energetic manager , Bro . Mantell . The W . M ., Bro . A . C Bonham , presided , having on his right his charming wife and on his left Miss Pierpoint , his wife ' s sister , another charming lady . The toast list was appropriately short and a commendable extmple of brevity was set by the Worshipful Master .

In giving "The Queen and Craft , " the W . M . said , the Queen , God bless her , and God preserve the Craft . Bro . L . HARCOUKT COLES , I . P . M ., proposed "The Health of the W . M ., Brj . Bonham , " remarking that it needed no words of his to commend the toast to the company , as they were all proud of him as their Worshipful Master and they were glad to meet him on that happy occasion . The toast was received with great enthusiasm , and

Bro . BONHAM , W . M ., on rising to respond had an ovation . He thanked them from his heart for the cordial manner the toast had been received . He hid prepared a speech but the I . P . M . had been so brief in his remirks that he was at a loss to know what to say . He had endeavoured to do his duty and it w . is a great honour and privilege to be the Master of such an important lodge , and to preside over such a grand assembly . When he wis initiated he had no idea that

he would ever be able to go through the chair , and he thought that every Mason should aspire to the chair of his mother lodge . That was the second ladies' entertainment they had had , and he hoped others would follow . Might he siy they were not the selfish set some took them for . In referring to the three Institutions , he stated that many ladies were subscribers , which was a great assistance , and he trusted that they would always have their ardent support in the great cause of Charity .

Bro . E . C . LANE , in giving " The Ladies , " said that he had been suddenly called upon to propose that important toast , because Bro . White , P . M ., who had been the one selected , had been called away . When the brethren looked round and saw the charming ladies who had honoured them with their presence that night , it made their hearts glad . Man ' s life would be a very weary one without the fair sex . Ladies often said , and , perhaps , with good reason , that men were always out at Masonic lodges , and if that was so , it was only right that they

should be entertained on every possible occasion in the Masonic world , as a slight return for when they were left alone . In the name of the St . Marylebone Lodge , he gave them a hearty welcome , and said they were delighted to have them there . Mr . BERTIE FINCH , whose name was associated with the toast , responded for the ladies , and , for the time being , he adopted the role of a member of the gentler

sex , and , on their behalf , thanked the company for the very hearty way the toast had been received . The male kind did not appear to be so fond of eating and drinking as they ( the ladies ) imagined they were , because they seamed to bi anxious to get away to resume the dancing . They had enjoyed themselves very much , for which they thanked the good Worshipful Master and the members , and they would look forward with much pleasure to the next ladies' gathering .

The company then adjourned to the ball-room , where the dancing was continued until the time arrived for a most enjoyable entertainment to terminate a night of nights , which was carried out without the slightest hitch , and the W . M ., Bro . Bonham , and the Committee , Bros . W . Humfrey , E . C . Lane , C J . Webbe , A . Wheeler , R . Wright , and J . J . Pope , Secretary , are to be congratulated upon its great success .

New Year's Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

NEW YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENT AT THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The usual New Year ' s entertainment to the pupils who remain in the School during the Christmas holidays was given at the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls at St . John ' s Hill , Battersea Rise , on Monday evening , when Bro . Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., Chairman for the month of the House Committee , presided , There was a large party of brethren and ladies who . attended to assist in the amusements of the evening , among them being Bros . Sir John-B . Monckton , W .

G . Kentish , Bro . L . B . Avehng , Herbert Kentish , Bro . Alfred C . Spaull , Bro . H . A . Hunt and Mrs . Hunt , Bro . Eugene Monteuuis , Louis E . Monteuuis , Maud M , Banks , Arthur Banks , A . Sadler , Bro . Henry A . Tobias and Misses J ., F . M ., and E . B . Tobias , Col . A . B . Cook , A . L . FitzRoy Cook ,. Mrs . A . B . Cook , A . W . Oxford , Bro . Edward Terry , T . G . Bullen , James H . Matthews , Bro . R . Loveland Loveland , Bro . F . R . W . Hedges , Bro . W . T . Massey , Miss Massey , and Miss Mary Massey and M . W . Darke .

The company partook of tea and coffee at five p . m ., and were afterwards treated to a Punch and Judy performance , which amused them very much . Dancing followed , until a yentriloquial exhibition was given by Mr . Fred Russell which displayed exceptional talent on the part of the artist . It had the great merit of keeping the whole of the observers hi ghly amused , and it won enthusiastic applause when its termination was regretfully witnessed .

Before the visitors left further refreshments were provided by the generosity of the House Committee , and more dancing was engaged in , the National Anthem concluding the proceedings of the day . Visitors , House Committee , governess , matron , and children threw themselves thoroughly into the spirit of the entertainment , with the result that an unqualified success was produced .

Charities' Association Of North And East Yorkshire.

CHARITIES' ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE .

REMOVAL OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL . The following are the reasons which Bro . W . H . Cowper , P . Prov . G . W ., Prov . Charity Representative N . and E . Yorkshire , gives in the address we referred to in our Notes of last week for his opposition to the proposed Removal of the Boys' School from Wood Green : " That the case made out by the Board of Management in their special report —a copy of which each of you have received , and 1 hope read—was too weak to warrant the sacrifice of a large portion of the capital invested in the School at Wood Green .

That whilst admitting that the 13 acres in Lordship Lane , Wood Green , would not now be selected as the most eligible site for the School if we were about to build , it has not been conclusively shown that the present buildings and location are inconvenient , unsanitary , or unhealthy . See the medical officei ' s