Brothers Well Met.—A Lancastrian Sojourn.

weet ozonic air of Southport , and late as time was , tired as we were , we walked up and down the long promenade , listening to the music of the rolling sea , and striving to t from our lungs some of that Manchester carbon which rtie manufacturer so wastefully distributes from his chimneys , and with which the lungs of every Manchester citizen are so charged , that a doctor told me a post-mortem

w ;] l reveal the exact number of years a person has lived in the city , the thickness of the carbonic deposit being a sure guide to this fact . Well , now about Southport . We were taken in and done for most hospitably , and for the first time for a week awoke to sunshine . Out in the balmy air early , and we wandered across the deserts of sand , with the Cumberland Hills rising in the distance , and then

come to Bro . Deussen ' s , who has the Queen ' s Hotel at Southport—Bro . Deussen being the well-known wine grower , of continental fame , whose products were specially appreciated by our lamented Prov . Grand Master of Staffordshire , the Earl of Shrewsbury , whose kindly letters to " Dear Bro . Deussen " are an honour to both . Our Bro . Deussen , let me say , gave up his whole morning to our

company , for the doctor was on his professional visits to those poor patients who sought at Southport the health sacrificed at the shrine of Mammon in the Lancastrian towns , where sanitary appliances are disregarded and abhorred , as being opposed to the " interests of trade " —poisoned rivers and poisoned air thus being free to work their ills . To Southport—forty miles from Manchester

and eig hteen from Liverpool—the people fleck like panting barts to pellucid streams , and to great natural beauties the energy and capital of men like Bro . Deussen have added many charms , until Southport stands preeminent as perhaps the finest and most enjoyable health resort in England . It has a constant wind from the sea —the south-west ; a mild air in winter ; never has snow

or fog ; and its created attractions include the finest series of baths in the world—all the swimming baths being filtered sea water—a -winter garden , a glaciarium , a town built upon the continental system of boulevards , but without continental smells—for Southport is scientifically drained , and the sewage disposed of naturally and inoffensively . AU these things were shown to the medical

visitors from Manchester , whose fares were paid by the medical men of the town , and there is but one thing of which complaint can be made—Southport gave too much hospitality . A dozen places to visit in the course of a day and something to eat and drink at each , and a journey to sea in a steamer ( from the end of a pier a mile long ) , was likely to prove upsetting to any ordinary visitors .

There are at least two visitors who will remember Bro . Deussen ' s " extra sec . " and his German biscuits . May his shadow never grow less , and long may this brother of a Southport lodge live to join hands with his freres ; long may he wave his rod over his adjacent river , and may his memory never grow green among those whose town he has helped to glorify and improve by wisdom , strcngrh and beauty .

The British Association And The Freemasons.

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AND THE FREEMASONS .

The Freemasons of Plymouth on Monday gave a reception to the Masonic members of the British Association at the Huyshe Temple , in Princes-street . Bro . L . P . Metham , Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Devon presided , and a

company of about two hundred brethren , including Bros . J . Wordall , P . P . G . S . W . of North and East Yorkshire ; H . Pullen , P . G . M . of Egypt , & c , ; J . Glashier , P . S . G . D . of England ; R . R . Rodda , P . P . G . S . W . of Cornwall , ; L . Latimer , P . P . G . W . ; F . Aubrey Thomas , P . P . G . S . D . ; E . A .

Davies , P . P . G . S . W . ; J . P . Gover , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; L . D . Westcott , P . P . G . S . W . ; J . Dupre , P . P . G . D . C ; the Rev . W . Whittley , p . p . G . Chap ; H . G . Hearle , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; C . Godtschalk , P . G . J . D . ; F . P . Tomes , P . P . G . D . C ; C . Strib"ng , P . G . S .: J . f . Averv . P . G . T .: 1 . P . Bell . P . G . D nf

England , and D . P . G . M . of North and East Yorkshire ; P- G . Clemens , P . P . G . O . ; J . Hele , P . P . G . O . Cornwall ; W . K . Mitchell , P . P . A . D . C . Past Masters :-R . C . Bird , 70 and 1550 ; J . Gidley , 1205 ; [ . Goodall , g ; R . B . Triplett , 156 ; J . Rendle , 1247 ; J-H . Rogers , 151 : 0 ; G . Bignell , 105 ; J . R . Lord , 1247 ; Harries

w - , I . P . M ., 1205 ; D . Box , 156 ; J . C . Fly , I . P . M . 1 M 7 S H . Ranee , Cambridge ; , T . Kingston , 862 . & c . Worshipful Masters—J . Y . Ayrey , i 6 ; R . Pengelley , 70 ; S * "" - 'P- J M ° ! J- H . Keats , 1247 ; J . Pearse , 12 5 s ; J . «•Mephens , 159 ; R . N . Fowler , 626 . Senior and Junior Wardens-T . J . Smith , J . W . 1255 ; A . S . Stuart , J W . 'Sjo ; S . Roach , J . W . 70 ; J . H . Thomas , S . W . 101 ;

R 11 ' yarley' S , W * l 6 5 6 * Visiting and other brethren"•J" - "I . 778 ; P . Braham , See . 4 r ; D . Banks , J . D . JS *; L . J . Sydenham , 223 ; E . Hawkings , jo ; W . H . o ackmore , 16 50 ; C . D . Steniford , 159 ; C . Mutten , R . G . ' 'Ppett , S . D . 1550 ; F . B . Westlake , 70 ; J . K . Bond , A . Lea , ' , * # '•G-Mitch = » - 7 ° i T- E- Peek , , 205 ; A . E . Th 1 * 10 ' P - Po P > . 7 ° ; Odam , Tarrant , & c 1 ne lod ge was opened with Bro . Peneellev . W . M .. of

iVth c « John * in the chair ' and Bro - G * - Avery being The 1 A Chaif ' Br ° - KeateS in the J-W * chair-Gra H If ° P ened in du ;! forn * . and the Deputy Prov . were th astcr ' Wlth the distinguished visiting brethren , Gov , 11 recelved with the customary saluations , Bro . ver ably actincr as D . C . The formalities «„ ,.,

•Watihirt t 0 ok the chair ' and after expressing his Pleasiir * ¦!• reco ,, « y from a serious illness , and the - » ' ausnJ ' * afforded him at being present on such « ... . '" "" ''Us occasion , he said he na < extrpm ^ lv nlratcH

meeting , h *" which he had had the opportunity of * ho had S , Uld bc to introilttce to them the brethren who had h C "" so many parts of the countr y' ln S which attraeted here by the great scientific meet-With whiM , i " i . !? 0 VV bcin S he 'd in the town—a meeting '"•nail Masons in England and elsewhere ought to

The British Association And The Freemasons.

feel the deepest sympathy , because the questions broached there were questions which affected not only the progress of science , but , as a consequence , the happiness of the world —( applause ) . He mi ght almost say that it was through the distant brethren themselves that the present meeting had been brought about , they having expressed a desire to meet their Masonic brethren of the

neighbourhood , and it was impossible to have thrown cold water upon such a proposal . Accordingly they were now assembled , and he did not know that he could say any more than that they were most heartily welcome —( applause ) . He , perhaps , of all the brethren in the room , had the greatest reason for giving them a hearty welcome , because he had been most hospitably entertained when

he had visited other parts of the country , and he should be indeed an ingrate if he did not , when thc opportunity was afforded , join in exhibiting the same fraternal feeling now that they had so many brethren in their midst . Bro . Professor Glashier acknowledged the heartiness of the reception which had been given him and his brethren

from a distance , and offered some valuable advice as to the internal discipline and conduct of Masonic lodges , pointing out that private feeling ought to be sacrificed to the general welfare of the Order . Bro . Bell followed , and mentioned that he had an old book in his possession ( which he handed round to the members present ) of lodges that existed in the last century .

amongst them being three in Plymouth—the Oxford Inn Lodge . J ^ o . 67 , in Plymouth Dock , in 1734 ; No . 2 33 , the Three Crowns Lodge , in Southsidc-street , in 1758 ; and No . 237 , the Second Division of Marines Lodge , Plymouth , in 1 759 . It appeared that Plymouth had been for many years past far in advance of other towns as a Masonic town , and he was exceedingly glad to have had the

opportunity of fraternising with the brethren in thc district . Bro . Hyde Clarke also thanked the brethren of Plymouth for the cordiality of their reception , and said he was glad to find that the ritual of the Order was so closely observed as it was in this province , because it kept before the brethren the records of the past , and showed them the importance of maintaining and preserving them in the

future . Bro . Varley and other brethren also spoke , and before the lodge separated , cordial thanks were given to the Masonic body for their reception , as well as to the choir—Bros . Hele , Fly , Firks , Rendle , Bond , Harries , Goodall , Barter , Peek , and Clemens—for the excellence of their musical arrangements . During the evening refreshments

were provided , and this department , together with other arrangements , was admirably controlled by Bros . Whittley and Aubrey Thomas , who did all that was requisite to contribute to the comfort of the brethren . The refreshments were provided by Bro . Thorn , who , as usual , performed his task in the most satisfactory manner , and altogether the evening was most agreeablyspent .

Deutscker - Gemutlich Freimauerei.

DEUTSCKER - GEMUTLICH FREIMAUEREI .

By fortuitous circumstances and my good tutelar saint I happened to be on the frontier of Westphalia , and in the midst of that hive of industry called the Wupperfeld , which is the chief gem in the crown of Germany ' s Emperor . This part of Rhenish Prussia is , and truly may be ,

callen the " Stockport of " Unservatcrland , " from Scbwelm to Elbcrfeld , witn the smaller towns being near Bei . A person knowing the district around Manchester mi ght be led to suppose that he suddenly had dropped into this quarter , through the countless shafts reaching from the valley to the mountain ' s top , as far as the eye can stretch , looking from the Johannisberg to Schwelm , or , which is

better , from the tower recently erected ( in remembrance of those who fell in the late Franco-German war ) in Barmen-Rittershausen—here on its top is one of the prettiest sights that the eye can behold . Down the deep Wupperthal , from mountain side to top , this long valley is studded with factories and mills , of unnumbered kinds , producing merchandise which is shipped to every quarter tf the

inhabitable globe . The people are very industrious , of the highest order ot intelligence , and keen competitors with ' •Old England " in most of the markets in the world . The river which passes through these centres of labour , viz ., Baomen-Rittershausen , Unter Barmen , and Elherfeld , near to which town is Solingen , known for its cutlery and swords , is called the Wupper , and it is only some twenty

yards to thirty yards wide . Sometimes it overflows its banks ; at oiher times you could walk over it as you would a country ford in summer time . Be this as it may , this tiny river has made the wealth and continues to build up the fortunes of the inhabitants living in the aforesaid towns from its chemical properties ; but it is larger in pro portion than the small stream which produces the beautiful

Lyon ' s black , and other colours , which are the admiration of the angel mundane sphere . This Rhenish-Wupper river is generally as black as midnight , and I doubt if the Styx on which old Charon plied his boat can approach it for blackness . But to continue my happy coincident , for the nonce I was staying at the grand Hotel-Vogeler in Barmen , and on Thursday evening , 7 . 30 ,, whilst busily engaged in

my chambers , there came three gentlemen , unknown to me , with the customary knock at the door , when the reply was , as usually is , " Herein , " and in they came . ** Gentlemen , to what am I indebted for this visit , and let me ask what is the nature of your business ? " " Permit us to enquire if you are Herr Yeoman . '" " Yes , that

is my name—but why this question ? " ' •You shall soon learn , Lieber Herr . We three are given to understand that you are an Englishman ( Dass ist wahr ) , and what is better , that you are an English Freemason ? " "Yes ; both Statements are true ; still I am at a loss to know the purport of your interrogations . " " Well , mein Lieber Herr , we are three Freemasons . Our good brother , the host ,

Deutscker - Gemutlich Freimauerei.

having informed us that he knew you to be an English Freemason ( my best thanks to him ) , and that no doubt you would like to be present in lodge tonight , moreespcpecially so through the gathering being an extraordinary one ; to-night is a grand festival ( some four years back I left with the proprietor of this hotel a ' Cosmopolitan Misonic Diary . ' )—we have been deputed to come and

invite you to honour us with your society , which we trusl you will accept , for the meeting and the occasion is ' Ausserordentlich . '" I accepted their generous and complimentary invitation , in the following words , ' •Brethren , for your courtesy and kindness , permit me to thank you most heartily . " On thus accepting their invitation , one of the three brethren

said , " Permit me to introduce you to the Worshipful Master . " This brother afterwards I found to be a merchant captain , who had informed me that one of the three was the " Meister Vom Stuhl . " Forthis voluntary information I at once said" Would you like to prove me , worshipful sir . " My reason for saying so was that I had a latent doubt thit he would like to

prove me . Somewhat delicately , and with a twinge of diffidence , he said , "Yah , lieber H rr . " No sooner affirmatively expressed than I placed myself in position , when he seized my hand ' , and the three regular grips were given , which -were supplerr entccl by another when he said " That will do , brother . " I pressed for further proof . " No , I am satisfied ,

brother , we heartily greet you and invite you to join us on this very extraordinary occasion . I thanked the W . M . and brethren , at the same time asking at what hour . They replied , at 8 p . m . On being so unexpectedly invited , 1 was rather perplexed what to do , because the brethren were in full dress , which gratifk-d me to see it , but 1 sirn < ply was attired in travelling gear , and had no " Blacks "

in my portmanteau , to my chagrin . 1 stated this fact , and they kindly said " Of your attire have no regard , we will receive you . " At this announcement half my trouble was allayed , with myself I was not satisfied . At last I said I would be ready in twenty minutes ; they left and stated they would return at that time . On leaving my chambers , once within a minute again a knock— " Herein" my

salutation was . "Whata happy 'Puck you are . " Why ? "Because I am in a dilemma , and require your aid to get m * out of it . " What ' s the difficulty ? " Stated my case by relating to hira that I had been invited by the W . M . of ' •Lodge L-ssing , " just now , that I had accepted , but was not in regulation order , being without any " schwarze pumphosen , " can you assist me ? " Yes , I can—I have just-jo

ceived a new pair from Loudon , I will run and fete Cit ' em , " He brought them , I was soon into them , I was out of purga . tory . To the tick of time the brethren returned . and straightway I was ushered into a large ante-room , capable of holding some 200 people ; there were some one hundred and twenty to fifty ot more brethren present . After a pro forma " introduction , " I was lead to a seat and received

every attention . I was then challenged—all present being charged—acknowledged the salutation , chatted for a short time where rve were , was soon summoned by the "Tyler " to enter the lodge . Prior to this I registered my name in the lodge book , & c . We entered to sound of sweet ramie , whidh was solemn and stately ; every brother was gloved and every one kept his hat on his head , whiph was very

strange to me . When the brethren were all within the Temple , so full was it that they sat four deep , and ampitheatrically . The door was closed and the ceremonies began , and in the midst of breathless silence and profound attention the W . M . began . Some slight difference was noticeable , but the old Landmarks of the Royal Ctaft were all beautifully made manifest . These were most

acceptable , and testified to me the universality of our rites , and the oneness of the Order . The ritual was read , and impressively sa—even the late Sheridan Knowles could not . have thrown more pathos and charm into the utterances . I was delighted wilh the speech of the " orator , " there was a volume of thought and a freedom of words which no spoken ritual can convey ; net even a syllable awry , all

was in conformity with the object and purpose of the Order Permission was given for two others to speak , andthey did so from out of the fulness of their hearts , with fervour and zeal . Whatever may be the divergence of opinions on this point , it at least intellectually shows the " orator " to bc a man of thought , and by his power of speech to hold the brethren to attention ; there was no

apparent weariness nor noticeable yawning , neither leaving the lodge . I was pleased with allcharmed , delighted , spellbound . There was pervading the features of the brethren present a union of soul and mind . Music to hymns were sung , there was also a select choir . This gathering was , as I have before said , an

extraordinary occasion , for there was to be an initiation , and the gentleman was a man of note , Herr Traeger , the member of Parliament for Nordhausen , in the German House of Commons ; in politics , " Sukunft-pirtei ! a po ; t of the first order . On his enttance through the Temple doors in the usual form ( accompanied by two ) a solemn dirge was played , and all the brethren stood , after which the

rites proceeded . The ceremony materially differed from our own , being more elaborate ; in short , it reminded me of cathedral service , highly coloured . Before sealing the O . B . there was chanted a long kind of funeral solo , in very slow , measured time , and it appeared to me as if the voice came from the tomb ; the effect was most singular , darkness was all around , the voice ceased to intone , and it

died away gradually into a sound that could not be heard , The effect was that of awe . On restoration ( all standing ) , he was kissed thrice by the W . M . ( who on this occasion was no less a person than the well-known German poet , Emil Rittershaus , whose sonorous and magic voice gav e a charm and attraction to the whole proceedings . Th : orator now delivered himself of his oration , anoth :. * recited a poem -written to greet the newly-mvl :,