American Items.

we shall be the last to belittle the value of the Masonic Press—but the magnetism of personal effort , the opportunity to see the men in whose behalf the Press labours so diligently , is an adjunct not to be slighted . " WHAT FREEMASONKY T EACHES . —Freemasonry impressively enjoins upon all its votaries _ the study and practice of all the virtues . It uses the beehive as an appropriate emblem of systemized industry , and it requires all

its members to intelligently , diligently and assiduously labour fur wise and beneficent purposes , lt cites the bee as a model-worker , and encouragess its handi-craftsmen to emulate its skill and its excellence . It says that all Master Masons shall work honestly and live creditably ; that they shall qualify themselves fully to earn wages , as a means of supporting themselves and their families , and of contributing to the relief of worthy distressed brethren , widows and

orphans . It thus inculcates not only the necessity but also the nobility of systemized industry , as regards both the present and the future life . It places every other object as secondary or incidental to this . Using Dr . Atackey's words : " As Alasons , we labour in our lodge to make ourselves a perfect building , without blemish , working hopefully for the consummation , when the house of our earthly tabernacle shall be finished , when the lost word of divine

truth shall at last be discovered , and when we shall be found by our own efforts at perfection to have done God service . " In short , the great aim of Alasonic industry is to erect the Temple of the Soul , and to that purpose all the energies must be employed . In accomplishing this the pathway of life must be strewn with good deeds , genuine acts of faith , and hope , and love . In Gadicke ' s language : " As we build neither a visible Solomonic Temple nor an Egyptian

pyramid , our industry must become visible in inorks that are imperishable , so that when vanish from the eyes of mortals it may be said of us that our labour was well done . Like that of the busy bee our labour is to be for a grand purpose . It must furnish a nectar that is fit food for gods ; it must be a blessing to ourselves and all around us ; must be a worship of the true , the good , the sublime , and a perfect adoratiou of Jehovah , as our Father and

Saviour . Again using Dr . Mackey ' s words : " We hear constantly of Freemasonry as an institution that inculcates morality , that fosters the social feeling , that teaches brotherly love ; and all this is well , because it t ' s true ; but we must never forget that from its foundation-stone , to its pinnacle , all over its vast temple , is inscribed , in symbols of living light , the great truth that labour is viorship . "

By our faith and our works we are to praise the Lord our God , now and evermore . Is our industry thus systemized ? If nay , then our work is not true , square , nor such as is wanted for the eternal temple , and it behoves us to go at once into the quarries and begin anew and aright , that we may not at last be rejected and cast into the endless rubbish . — Voice of Masonry .

Dancing In Lodge Rooms.

DANCING IN LODGE ROOMS .

We find this in an American paper : — "The propriety of dancing in a Alasonic lodge-room is a subject that heretofore we have had no occasion to discuss . If such a practice has existed in this or any other grand jnrisdiction , it lias escaped our notice until quite recently , when we first saw dancing in one of the lodge-rooms in

this city . At first it did not strike us as objectionable ; as when not carried to excess and late hours we have always regarded dancing as a harmless and p leasant amusement , especiall y at social gatherings and private parties , or even at dancing clubs and other places where none are permitted to participate except those holding tickets of admission from a reliable committee , To be a graceful dancer

is generally regarded as a desirable accomplishment in genteel society , and the sons and daughters of many of the best families are sent to dancing schools to acquire it . Granting then that there is no harm in dancing , under certain circumstances , is there any wrong in introducing it into our lodge-rooms upon festival occasions ? " It has been wisely said that' there is a time and place

for all things . ' Alany things that people generally regard as harmless in themselves are not appropriate to all places and occasions . Under no circumstances would anyone think for a moment of dancing inside a church edifice . And why is this the case ? It is not because all churches prohibit their members from dancing . Some churches do forbid it , others do not . But there are more or less

members of every church who think that dancing is wrong , and their own consciences forbid it even if their church discipline does not . Thev do not attend dancing parties nor could they consistentfy permit dancing in their home parour . As members of a church they would have the right to protest against dancing in any church building , but even that is not necessary , for a decent respect for tlieir feelings ,

on the part of all , whether church members or not , prohibits such a suggestion . No one would even think of inviting such a person to any social gathering when there was to be dancing , without informing them of the fact . This consideration for the opinions and feelings of others is every way commendable and cannot be too highly regarded . " Masonic halls arc solemnly dedicated to Freemasonry .

In the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons there are members of every church in the world . One of the principles of Masonry is to permit nothing inside a lodge-room to which any brother may justl y take offence . This rule should be made to apply to social and festival occasions as well as to the regular meetings of the lodge . At such times not only Masons but their families are brought together .

Is it ri ght upon such an occasion to make a programme of entertainment that all cannot participate in without doing violence to their own consciences , and what they believe to be wrong ? Among the families of all the members of a lod ge there must be a large number who are opposed to dancing . There are a still larger number who sometimes dance , but who prefer not to do so around a Alasonic altar with burning tapers beside it . All such must retire when the to ive offence

dancing begins , or , fearing g by so , K . they remain unwilling spectators of what they believe to be wrong . . ' On a recent festival occasion of one of the lodges in this city , in which there were some three hundred ladies and brethren present , all were highl y entertained by an interesting address from a distinguished minister upon the sub ject of Freemasonry . He had hardly taken his seat T'hen the band struck up a grand march , and then all were invited to " take partners for a quadrille . " The wife of a

Dancing In Lodge Rooms.

brother Mason sitting by our side , who has a high regard for Alasonry , exclaimed , in great surprise , ' \ Vhat , are they going to dance in the lodge-room ? I would as soon think of dancing in a church . ' On the opposite side of the hall , between two ladies who came with him , sat another distinguished minister , a Presiding Elder in the Methodist church , whose name appeared as Chaplain among the list of ofiicers of the lodge , as

printed on the back of the invitation we had received . We had no opportunity to enquire of him how he was enjoying himself , but seeing him there we were at . once reminded that among the first lessons we received in Alasonry was the important one that no man should ever "" "gage in any important undertaking without first invoking a blessing of Deity . His services had not been called into requisition at the beginning ot the exercises of the evening ,

nor were they at the supper table at the proper time , l'he propriety of dispensing with them under the circumstances could not be questioned . " We have referred to the occasion here presented , not in any spirit of fault-finding , but simply as an illustration of the incongruous surroundings when dancing is introduced into a lodge-room . It must be evident to every one that they are not calculated to strengthen the bond of friendship

and brotherly love among the membership of a lodge , nor to create a more favourable opinion of Alasonry in any community . " VVhileconfessingaweaknessfordancingupon all proper occasions , a little reflection has fully satisfied us that a lodge-room is not a proper place for it . Festival occasions can be made quite as pleasant and enjoyable without it , and much more profitable to Masons and their families . A majority of those in attendance do not dance , and it

must be poor satisfaction to them to spend an evening in seeing others enjoy themselves at their expense . If it is thought best to provide for dancing for those who can best enjoy themselves in that way , let it be in the ante-rooms or an adjacent hall , where they can get the full benefit of their favourite amusement without interfering with the happiness of others . Al ) will then enjoy themselves better , and the lodge will have thc satisfaction of knowing that no cause of offence has been given to any member or his family . " —Masonic Advocate .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . EDWARD HENRY FATTEN , P . G . S . B . Bro : Edward Henry Patten , Secretary for eleven years to the Royal Freemasons' School for Female Children , now called the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , died on Tuesday at his residence , Bolton Lodge , Eastbourne , at the age of eighty-three . He was for many years a resident of Camberwell , where he continued to live long after he was awarded a pension on his retirement from his Secretaryship

in 1 S 72 . It was a paralytic stroke which caused his resignation , and universal sympathy was felt for him on the event , as he . had been an admirable Secretary besides winning the good will and esteem of the brethren with whom he had become connected during a long Masonic life . At that time he had seen several generations of Alasons out , but hc was equally esteemed by the younger brethren who saw in him a careful guide to follow—a brother without

that intense gush which makes some men support Masonry at all hazards , whether they can afford it or not . Bro . Patten was one of the cautious school . His institution was founded on a rock , and he took care that he should not be the cause of tempests beating on it . True , in his day Alasonry was a more quiet institution than it is now , and it had amongst its members then many more Masons of the worthy class than it has now . But cautious

as he was , he brought the Girls' School to a noble position , though he had followed in the footsteps of even easier going Secretaries than himself . From the date of its foundation , in 17 SS , it kept on an almost sleepy course—at least , what would in these days be called a sleepy course—and the Secretary had to attend at his office only once a week for a couple of hours to receive subscriptions and answer enquiries . The other Institutions were on the same footing , and

in the early part of the century even Grand Secretary had no more arduous duties to perform than to attend on Saturday evening at Freemasons' Tavern for a few hours " on the business of the Society . " Masonry was not in a much more impetuous course than this when Bro . Patten was initiated , on 13 th January , 1825 , in the Jordan Lodge , now 201 , but it showea the thorough Masonic feeling of the man that he kept up his Masonry

during all those steady going years of the Craft , and worked with alacrity at the business of the lodge . Four years after his initiation he became Master of the lodge , and nearly forty years later he joined the Grand Masters ' Lodge , 1 , of which the Lord Mayor ( Sir J . Whitaker Ellis ) is now the Alaster . He did not lose much time in joining the Royal Arch , for on the 1 ith Alarch , 1 S 34 , he was exalted in the Jerusalem Chapter , 1 S 5 , and in 1 S 41 be became

AI . E . Z . of that chapter . Seven years after , the late Earl of Zetland made him Grand Sword Bearer in Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , lt isa comforting assurance for the brethren to know that a liberal pension , granted ten years ago , has lengthened thc life of a most worthy Mason , for whom no one had a hard word to say , and who himself never had a hard word for any one . Tbe Times , oi Thursday , in its obituary notices , says :

" Edward Henry Patten died at Eastbourne on Tuesday , at the age of S 3 . Freemasons who are not yet gray know neither the name nor the man , but to the elder of the present generation both the name and the man are familiar . Fifty-seven years ago he was admitted into the Order in the Jordan Lodge , at a time when the Masonic Girls ' Schools , to which he became Secretary twenty-two years ago , bad a modest , unpretending house in St . George ' s-

fields . When more than sixty years of age he was helping that Institution to become a gigantic educational establishment , and it was developing into a scheme far beyond his power to keep pace with , when a paralytic stroke compelled his retirement from eleven years' honorable energetic service . In 1 S 72 he was awarded a pension by thc Institution . He lived to sec the Alasonic Girls' School , which Chevalier

Ruspini bad founded in 17 SS , and which had afforded an inexpensive education and maintenance to daughters and orphans of poor Alasons for nearly seventy years , grow into a school with receipts of £ 17 , 000 a year , whicli dispensed an unnecessarily costly education to 240 female children mostly drawn from the humbler ranks of life . He saw the unpretentious building in Lambeth closed and the present building in Battcrsea-nse built in 1 S 51 . After hc

Obituary.

became its Secretary , in succession to the late Bro . Crew , he strovehard to increase the funds requisite for its support , and in this he was eminently successful . His example has been followed by his two successors , and an annual subscription , which was in his early days only ecjual to £ 1000 , is now considered unworthy of the Craft if it has not five figures in its £ column . Bra . Patten wove the ' ' purple , ' having been appointed Grand Sword Bearer in 1 S 4 S by the late Earl of Zetland . "

Births, Marriages And Deaths.

Births , Marriages and Deaths .

[ The charge is 2 S . 6 d . for announcements not exceeding Four Lines under this heading . ]

BIRTHS . COWELL . —On the 5 th inst ., at St . Ann's Ccttagc , Rosslynhill , Hampstead , the wife of Alberi G . Cowell , of a daughter . M'CLURE . —On the th inst ., at Verandah House , Worlc , Somersetshire , the wife of T . M'Clare , AI . D ., F . R .

G . S . I ., of a son . NEAME . —On the Sth inst ., at St . David ' s , Sydenham , the wife of G . H . Neame , of a daughter . PRVOK . —On the 7 th inst ., at Weston A ' anor , Herts , the wife of AI . R . Pryor , Esq ., of a daughter . ROSE . —On the 6 th inst ., at South LodgeCampden-hill

, , the wife of Edward G . Rose , Esq ., of a daughter . SMITH . —On the 7 th inst ., at Bromfelde Park , Clapham , the wife of H . Smith , of a son . W , W ? . ?" ~' 0 n the Sth inst- > at Rock HaIl > Cricklewood , N . W ., the wife of Air . James Willing , iun ., of a daughter .

AIARRIAGES . ELLIS—SCHOFIELD . —On the 3 rd inst ., at St . Peter's Church , Cranley-gardens , by the Hon . and Rev . T . E . C ' d & nfir ' ' G- Cha P-. Greyson Ellis , barrister-at-Iaw , to Mildred Agnes Schofield , of Cranley-gardens . HAWKINS—Moss . —On the Sth inst ., at Christ Church , Sefton Park , Liverpool , by the Rev . Robert Irvinsr .

i . I . A ., I'redenck James Hawkins , to Annie AIoss . AIAV—SCOTT . —On the 5 th inst ., at St . Alildred ' s , Lee , Kent , Charles Nunn May , of Holmleigh , Grove Park , Lee , to Isabella , daughter of W . Scc . t , Esq ., of St . Boswell ' s , Roxburghshire , N . B .

SHORT— hVAN'S . —On the jth inst ., at the parish church , South Hackney , James Huron , son of T . Short , Esq ., of Brant House , South Hackney , to Emmie Marion , daughter of the late F . VV . Evans , Esq ., of Highbury . STOEOER—LANE . —On the 5 th inst ., at St . Matthew's , Bayswater , Ernest Augustus Stoeger , cf Dorset House , Ledbury-road , Bayswater , to Louisa B . S . Lane .

DEATHS . BAKER . —On the 6 th inst ., at Clifden , Gravesend , Caroline Jane , widow of T . E . Baker , Esq ., J . P . DRAYTON . —On the 5 th inst ., at Brockley , Henry John Drayton , many years resident of Clarence-street , Islington .

EiA . vs . —On the 4 th inst ., at Cromwell House , Maldon , Essex , Arthur Evans , aged 39 . GlHlis . —On the 5 th inst ., at Marine-parade , Worthing , George Gibbs , in his 85 th year . GRAHAM . —On the 31 st ult ., at Brighton , John Sainter Graham , son of Robert Graham , late of Doncaster , aged 57 .

MEEK . —On the Cth inst ., at The Ferns , Great Berkhamstead , Richard Perry , son of the late R . Aleek . FATTEN . —On the Sth inst ., at his residence , Bolton Lod _ c , Eastbourne , Bro . Edward Henry Patten , P . G . S . B . late Secretary of the Royal Alasonic Institution for Girls , aged S 3 .

The Temple Of Diana.

THE TEMPLE OF DIANA .

, It seems that further steps are about to be taken with a view to continuing the work of exploring the ruins of this celebrated Temple at Iiphesus , one of T T \? r ™ onders of tlle ancient world . In 1 S 69 , Mr . J . 1 . Wood , after a search of six years , was fortunate enough to discover its remains at a depth of more than twenty feet below the level . The trustees of the British Museum , who had already supplied the means with which

to explore some of the public buildings in the ancient city , thereupon authorised thc exploration of the Temple , and by the aid of government grants , amounting to £ 12 , 000 , the work was continued for five years till 1 S 74 , when owing to the important excavations that were being proceeded with at Nineveh and Babylon , it was suspended . Though Air . Wood had since made repeated applications to the Government for further supplies , the time li . id __¦»_ . __ M _ , F _ I .. _ .,. _ . _ .

able , and latterly it had been proposed to form an intluential Committee , under the patronage of the Duke of Albany , P . G . Warden , and with Mr . Beresford Hope , M . l ., as its president , with a view to resuming the explorations by means of funds raised by public subscriptl . "f * . J ° th's en < J . a meeting was held a short time since at the ftlansion Houseunder the residency of Brothe

, p . Lord Mayor , who explained its object , and letters of sympathy with the movement having becn read from H . R . H the Prince of Wales , G . AI . ; the Dukes of Connaught and Albany , P . G . Wardens ; the Archbishop of Canterbury , Cardinal Alanning , Bro . the Ear ! cf Shaftesbury , K . G ., Sir 1-. Leighton , P . R . A ., and others . A motion was unanimously carried , that the completion of the work of

excavating the temple , was worth y of the nation , which , already 111 the British Aluseum , possessed the only portions ot the beautiful sculpture as yet discovered , and that a subscription list be at once opened for the purpose . In our opinion this is an object worthy of the support of our Grand Lodge , which might fairly be asked to make its contribution as it has done already more than once to thc Palestine Exploration Fund .

Brjs . bedford Lemeie , and Co ., ( Architectural Photographers to the Queen ) , 147 , Strand , London , attend ftlasonic Gatherings , Wedding Parties and Social Reunions and execute every description of Out-door Photography with promptitude , in first style and at moderate cost . A large collection of photographs on view and sale . Catalogues and printed terms free by post . —[ Aim * . ]