Annual Launch Party Of The George Gardner Lodge, No. 2309.

amuse the company . At Bray Lock Bro . Curtis took a p hotograph of all on board , and another on the lawn of the Complete Anglers' Hotel , Host Kilays , where they arrived at three o ' clock p . m ., and sat down to a sumptuous dinner , to which ample justice was done . The toast list was confined to three , viz ., " The

Oueen and Royal Family ; " "The Success of the Annual River Party , " and " The Ladies . " Having visited the grounds and surroundings they started on the return journey about 5 . 30 . The whole arrangements were carrried out under the personal superintendence of the W . M ., Bro . Alfred Skinner ,

assisted by Bros . Smith and Gardner . Songs were g iven and the W . M . toasted and responded to , also those who had assisted him , and great praise is due to the W . M . for the excellent manner in which everything was carried out . Reaching Windsor at 8 . 30 the company repaired to

the Christopher Hotel , Eton , the new home of the lodge , and a pleasant hour was spent , all uniting in the hope that such meetings would bring them together for years to come . It was now time to retire , some proceeding by the Great Western others by the

Southwestern Railway , and so concluded this most enjoyable outing . The lodge holds its last meeting of the session to-morrow ( Saturday ) , and there is plenty of work to be got through—three Degrees with four initiates .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The Committee of Management held their monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday . Bro . J . S . Cumberland occupied the chair , and there were present Bros . W . J . Murlis , Joseph Freeman , C A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; G . Bolton , James Brett , P . G . P . ; S . Vallentine , Hugh Cotter , W . ; B . Hubbert , J . J . Berry , C . J .

Perceval , J . Newton , H . Garrod , C . Kempton , L . G . Gordon-Robbins , C . F . Hogard , P . G . Std . Br . G . Mickley , M . A ., M . B . ; A . Mullord , T . B . Purchas , J . P . Fitzgerald , A . Durrant , A . Forsyth , Lennox Browne , T . B . Daniell , Hugh M . Hobbs , and James Terry , P . G . S . B . ( Secretary ) .

The minutes of the August meeting having been read and verified , the SECRETARY reported the deaths of one male and one widow annuitant , and the Warden's report for the past month was read . The application from the widow of a recently

deceased annuitant for half her late husband's annuity was granted , and the petition of a widow candidate accepted , and her name ordered to be entered on the list for the election in May , 1892 . The meeting , after passing a vote of thanks to the Chairman , adjourned .

ANOTHER CATHOLIC ATTACK ON FREEMASONRY .

The Times of India of June 6 th concludes a long notice of a volume just issued— " Silent Writings of the Most Reverend Dr . Leo Mervin , S . J ., formerly Roman Catholic Bishop of Bombay , " as follows : " In another set of papers of which it is possible to speak more freely , the Bishop writes very fearfully and

wonderfully about Freemasonry . In his view that system is , we are sorry to have to say , ' naked Atheism . ' Not many Masons know it , which is at once their excuse , and adds to our puzzledom . The Bishop quotes with approval a comparison of the German Masons to a long line of camels , each tied by the nose to the tail of the other ,

and all led by one man . ' For the honour of the great bulk of English Masons , ' he goes on to say , ' we must believe this to be the case with them . If they knew who their secret leaders are , what their ultimate aim is , and what the means they use , ninety-nine out of a hundred would certainly forsake the Lodge . ' There

is a grain of comfort perhaps in the words we have put in italics . If they are as true as the rest of the account we are about to quote , it is just possible that the rank and file of decent Masons , being in the proportion of 99 to 1 , may , when the gulf before them is at last visible to them , draw back their leaders , instead

of precipitating themselves and all of us into the pit . For this ultimate aim of Masonry the good Bishop reveals . ' Freemasonry , ' he says , ' is a formidable politico-reli gious sect , with the object of establishing a world empire under the lodge , on the principles of Atheistic Naturalism , and on the ruins of not only the

Christian but of every other religion , of all political establishments , monarchical or not , and of the whole existing social order which is based on family life and private property . We have in it a repetition , or rather a resuscitation of the Manichaeism of old , whose virus and venom may be traced back to Cain , and will flow

on till Antichrist . It is the soul of the Kingdom of Satan . ' This is , indeed , a deluge of words . When we have recovered from it , we can only say that we ferventl y trust the Bishop is mistaken . If he is not , who , we would ask with bated breath , is the ' one man ' who is leading the Bombay string of Masonic camels along this awful road ? "

4 A ROUGH ASHLER . (( The following letter of inquiry , addressed to the Worshi pful Master of Masonic Fraternity , Kansas Cit y , Mo ., " has passed the rounds of the W . M . ' s of the cit y , and none claim the proud title of W . M . of the Masonic Fraternity of all the city .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

" July 6 , 1891 . " georgia co p . o . "to the worship ful master and wardens of the masonic fraternity of cancies cittey missowri we have two young men from that place by names of Jim and torn rines they want to goin owr lodge her if they will make good masons and air all right let us know if they hante good material let us hear from yeu as soon as you get this yours fraternial .

" direct to . " What a lover of the arts and sciences the author of this letter must be . Yet we venture the prediction that as he makes (?) Masons down in "georgia , " he crosses every t and dots every i in the work—a real good parrot—but when it comes to the lectures he invariably

postpones them " for lack of time . " This is the kind of a fellow who believes that King Solomon was a first cousin to Robert Morris because he " heard it . " Would it not be a good idea away down in " Georgia " to use the gavel vigorously and break off the rough

corners of some of the " material before it is put into our Masonic edifice ? Mental qualifications as well as moral standing ought to be considered before "Jim and torn" can " goin a lodge . " It " haint" good practice , even if they " air" all right morally . — Herald of Masonry .

« DOVER . A very pleasant summer or autumn holiday may be spent at this celebrated old Kentish stronghold , where one is not worried by crowds of noisy trippers from London , or such common objects of the seashore as nigger minstrels or German bands , even the Salvation Army does not make itself offensive ; there the wicked

cease from troubling and the weary may have rest . Dover is too dignified a place for all that sort of thing the glorious sea and grand chalk cliffs may be quietly enjoyed without the tinsel and rattle of Brighton —London-super-Mare . Those who know Dover well always return to it with pleasure , one cannot tire of

it , and especially to military people it has peculiar attractions . There is always something going on" the measured tramp of armed men , " be it for an inspection by the Duke , or the arrival or departure of batteries and battalions ; the trumpet calls from reveille to " lights out ; " the mid-day and evening

gun , the bands in the gardens or on the marine parade ; the sailings of the mail packets from the Admiralty Pier ; and what is often a source of glee to wicked mortals , the landing of the sea-sick after a rough passage from Ostend or even Calais . But how perfectly enjoyable a run across channel and back is on

a fine day . No pleasanter sea trip can be had than between Dover and Calais , and it was only on the last Sunday in August , one of those perfect days that we sometimes get , we had the deli ghtful experience of a glorious morning , and a quick run across by the Foam , one of the L . C . D . Railway Co . ' s boats , or rather steam

yachts , a pleasant day in the quaint old city of Calais , and a return voyage in the company ' s splendid steamer , Victoria , crowded with passengers of all nations . The boat was so steady that the steward ' s occupation was gone , except to supply excellent food and drink . It must be admitted that the view of Dover from the

sea rather puts that of Calais in the background , and it is well worth one's while to take the trip across to get the full effect of the magnificent contour of the English coast and the imposing view of the castle and heights , and this little trip is so easily within the reach of a tired Londoner , one can leave Victoria at 8 . 30 any morning , have dejeuner at Calais soon after noon , and

be back in good time for dinner—so hungry , too— at Dover in the evening . There are three excellent Masonic lodges at Dover , No . 199 , with an old warrant of 1791 , and still older records ; No . 1208 , the Corinthian ; and the Military Jubilee , No . 2195 , a flourishing lodge , well worked , founded , as its title imparts , in the Jubilee year , 1887 .

The Theatres.

The Theatres .

" A Sailor ' s Knot" was produced on Saturday at Drury Lane under the most favourable circumstances which Bros . Sir Augustus Harris and Henry Pettitt could desire , and the drama redounds greatly to the credit of both lessee and author . In our opinion the newest play in London is the best work Bro . Pettitt

has yet done , and this is saying a great deal , for our fraternal dramatic writer has been favourabl y before the public now for a number of years . He has every claim to term it what he does , an original drama . There are two heroes , Jack and Harry Westward , both sailors . The former has loved Marie Delauniy from childhood ,

but having gone on a naval expedition , it is believed that he is dead . His foster-brother Harry now loves Marie , who reciprocates his affections . Jack turns up and would realise his life ' s hope , but when he finds that Marie and Harry love each other as woman and man , he nobly withdraws , telling Marie that he has come to the conclusion that their relationship was

merely a boy and g irl love , and asks her to release him . It is a great effort for him to say this . He then says he will return to his real love , when she asks who that is , he replies it is what every true sailor should love , his ship . The action of the play takes place in the early part of this century . The press gangs are going into all seaports for men to serve the King and fi g ht against Bonaparte . Harry and Marie

The Theatres.

are going to Stepney Church to be married . The press gang seize the would-be bridegroom at the gates of the church , owing to the treachery of one Peter Pennycad , but who in his turn is betrayed by Count Delaunay , and Pennycad is himself forced into the service . The officer in charge of the gang is none

other than Jack Westward , but he is helpless to save Harry . Pennycad tells Harry that Jack has done this , and therefore deadl y enmity springs up between the foster-brothers . Harry puts himself as leader of those pressed into the service and acts as spokesman and declares mutiny .

Captain Vernon informs them that death is the penalty , but that as men are much wanted in the navy he will remit the full sentence , and orders Harry to be publicly flogged . Harry denounces J ack before the officers and crew of betraying him because they both loved the same girl . Jack pleads to the captain to spare Harry

and then shows how Pennycad is the real traitor . Pennycad still goes on in his wickedness and they all become prisoners to Count Delaunay , who would marry Marie , his cousin , for her money , but who , it is needless to say , loathes him . He , however , with his smooth tongue , makes her believe he is

her friend , and , assuring her that Harry is dead , she gives him her hand . They have just been civill y married according to the Code Napoleon , when Harry rescues her , but trouble again awaits him , for the Count being shot , Pennycad accuses Harry as the murderer . He is tried by court martial , and sentenced ; but Jack

comes forward and declares himself as having killed the Count . He is also released , as it is proved that the Count and Pennycad drugged him , and it was while under the influence of the narcotic that the shot was fired , and , therefore , whilst not accountable for his actions . So

Harry and Marie are united , Jack joining their hands together . Bro . Charles Warner , as Jack , and Bro . Charles Glenney , as Harry , have fine parts , every line of which they made the most of . Mr . Julian Cross runs them a good second ( or third ) as the villain , Pennycad . Bro . . Harry Nicholls , the Drury Lane

favourite , in his comedy scenes with Miss Fanny Brough is highly amusing throughout . Miss Millward makes Marie a heroine we must all fall in love with . The stage-mounting of the drama by Bro . Arthur Collins leaves nothing to be desired , and Bro . Sir Augustus Harris

must now be resting on his laurels ( if he ever does rest ) satisfied that the National Theatre is again in for a run of luck , which no doubt will be extended shortly to the provinces , for our country brethren will revel in " A Sailor ' s Knot . "

Ireland.

Ireland .

ROYAL ARCH . FERMANAGH . Enniskillen Chapter ( No . 205 ) . — This chapter held its usual quarterly communication in the Town Hall , on Tuesday evening , the ist inst . A dispensation having been granted for the induction of a serving brother , he was accordingly duly invested for the office . Bros . VVm . Crowe and S . R . Gibson , of S 91 , having been

regularly proposed at a previous meeting , were balloted for , and the ballot being unanimously in their favour , they will be exalted at the next regular meeting . The officers , as under , having been elected for 18 92 , the chapter was then closed : Comps . Dr . Gunning , M . D ., 205 , M . E . King ; VV . Ritchie , S 91 , High Priest ; J . L . Carson , S 91 , Chief Scribe ;

J . Vanes , 473 , Cap . of Host ; G . B . White , S 91 , Sup . of Tabernacle ; Geo . Elliott , 473 , R . A . Capt . ; B . Gamble , P . K . 205 , Capt . of Scarlet Veil ; W . Gait , P . K . 205 , Capt . of Purple Veil ; W . Purdon , P . K . S 91 , Capt . of Blue Veil ; O . Ternan , P . K . 205 , Chap . ; and W . F . Jones , P . K . S 91 , Treas .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . F . B . WILLIAMS , 977 , P . P . G . S . B . The funeral of the late Bro . F . B . Williams , of Fowey , was held on Thursday , the 3 rd inst ., with full military honours . The deceased brother was honorary captain of the 3 rd Battery ist Cornwall Artillery Volunteers . He joined the force in i 860 , holding a commission for 30 years ; he retired three years ago .

The coffin was carried on a gun carriage , drawn b y members of the corps , Capt . W . J . Graham , Lieuts . J . Thomas , Polkinghorne , and A . Carnall acting as pallbearers . It was covered with the Union Jack , on the top of which were wreaths and the deceased ' s helmet and sword . The band played the " Dead March , " and

the mourners included Mr . John Williams ( brother ) , Mr . Lamb , Mr . R . Nichols , Major Tracey , R . A ., Mr . Geach , Mr . F . Geach , Dr . Davis , Dr . Boger , Mr . Geo . Treffry , Mr . Tucker , Mr . B . Hicks , Mr . W . Hicks , Mr . Westlake , and Mr . R . Rendle . The deceased was a Freemason of long standing , and held the rank of

P . P . G . S . B . He was a member of the Fowey Lodge , No . 977 , the members of which formed in procession . They were followed by the Foresters of Court Treffry , of which deceased was also a member . The burial service was read by the Rev . H . N . Purcell . The firing party , as usual , discharged three volleys of blank cartridge over the grave .

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