An Oration.

we apply the language and nomenclature of Masonry to the inculcation of moral truth and virtue . And in this sense we ask ourselves—What is the meaning of the ceremony in which we are now taking part ? What is the foundation-stone that we are laying this afternoon ? Or , to put the question on a wider basis—What are the foundations upon which the whole fabric of Freemasonry is built up ? I turn , for an answer , to the solemn ritual with which a candidate is admitted into the ranks of our Order . He is placed , you will remember ,

in the north-east part of the lodge , and is then told that he stands there , figuratively , Tto represent the foundation stone . Here , then , brethren , we have the real answer to our question . The foundations of Freemasonry are Freemasons . Or , to put it in other words , Freemasonry is built up upon the moral lives and characters of its members , and according to the strength or weakness of those moral lives and characters , so must Freemasonry be strong or weak . A holy man of old , who , if he were not himself a

Mason , which is by no means certain , at any rate frequently suggests Masonic thoughts , not only in the language and similes of his writings , but also by his very name—I allude to the Apostle St . Peter , whose name , as you know , means " a stone "—St . Peter addresses his fellow Christians in these words : " Ye , also , as lively stones , are built up a spiritual house . " Here , surely , my brethren of the province , and I would venture to address myself this afternoon more especially to my brethren of St . Ivo , here we have a thought which appeals very closely to our

hearts to-day . We are the living stones which go to make up the building of the Masonic Temple ; and it must depend , not only upon our own individual strength , but also upon the strength of the cement with which we are bound together , or ( to drop figures ) not only upon our own high characters , but also upon the ties of Brotherhood by which we are united , whether the fabric which we are rearing to-day is to stand firm or to totter . It is perfectly true that Freemasonry is not , strictly speaking , a religion . So far indeed is iFfrom being so ,

that every candidate for its mysteries is distinctly told that its claims upon his loyalty are not incompatible with his religious freedom ; that is to say , so long as he acknowledges the supremacy of the Great Architect of the Universe , his Masonic obligations leave him free to worship Him according to his own conscience ; and also ( and this is an aspect of religious liberty which is perhaps too frequently forgotten ) , also leave him free , without laying him open to the charge of narrow-mindedness or bigotry , to abstain from worshipping Him in a manner

of which his conscience does not approve . No , Freemasonry is not a religion . But neither is it , as some persons , ignorant of its principles seem to imagine , in any sense opposed to religion . Indeed , rightly used , it will prove itself a most valuable handmaid to religion . Again , Freemasonry is not , in the strictest sense of the words , a mutual benefit society . That is to say , a man does not become a Mason for mercenary or any other unworthy motive , but in order to render himself more extensively serviceable to his fellow creatures .

Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth—these are its three grand principles . ( And may I here just venture to remark , in passing , upon the happy idea which suggested the name of St . Ivo for our lodge . For not only does it connect usobviously , of course—with this ancient and historic town in which we are gathered to-day , and which is to be henceforth the home of our new lodge , but it also associates us with , may I not say places us under the patronage of , the saintly bishop of that name , who is represented in sacred art as ministering

justice and mercy to the suffering and oppressed . ) Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth 1 And I suppose the three things that more than all others hinder the growth and development of these grand principles are selfishness , pride , and discontent . These , brethren , are unenviable qualities which should find no place in a Freemason ' s heart . High position does not by any means necessarily connote greatness . A collar and jewel is no mere amulet or charm by which the wearer becomes a better man and a better Mason ; nor does the mere verbal knowledge of our

stately ritual , however perfect , enable a brother to act it out in his life . True greatness , in Masonry as in all else , consists in self-sacrifice , humility , and obedience to the will of the Most High . Each one of us has his particular place to fill in the Temple , and in proportion as he is more or less fitted to fill it , so will be the strength and beauty of the building . Each stone is , according to its form , size , and position , necessary for the completeness and symmetry of the fabric , but there are two things in this connection that are worth remembering—one is , that it is

quite possible to be ostentatiously humble ; and the other is that the foundationstone is not necessarily the most conspicuous stone in the building . And this thought brings to my mind some beautiful lines , well-known to some of the brethren , but which I will venture to quote in conclusion , not only on account of their intrinsic merit , but because they seem to me just to fill in the harmonies of the melody of which I have been trying , in a feeble , faltering way , just to strike the keynote . They run as follows : the poem may be

called—THE LIVING TEMPLE OF GOD . I looked at the beautiful Temple , The Temple that God had planned , And that He Himself had modelled By the skill of His own right hand . I saw there the lofty columns ,

The sweep of the arches free ; And I thought— "In this wonderful Temple O where is the place for me : When the Master Builder cometh And fitteth each stone in its place , Will He make me one of the pillars ,

A marvel of strength and grace ? Or one of those painted windows Where the light of Heaven streams through , Till the forms of the sculptured marble Are bathed in a living hue ?

Will He set me among the arches , All vaulted , and vast , and high ; Where the echoes of praise are treasured As daily they upward fly ; In a place of power and honour What a joy to would be to stand , And prove to all future ages The skill of the Master's hand !"

I wondered , and so I waited ; But the Master passed me by ; I cried in my passionate anguish" Great Architect , here am I I " One moment He gazed upon me ; All pity and love was His look ; Then others to grace His Temple As pillar and arch He took .

I am watching still , and am waiting , For I'm sure there's a place for me ; But now to the Master I leave it To chose what that place shall be . He may make me a . stone in the pavement To be worn by the worshippers' feet ; Even thus with joy will I serve Him , And the Temple shall be complete .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Beadon Lodge , No . 619 . The ordinary July meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday evening , the 20 th instant , at the Holborn Restaurant , under the presidency of Bro . E . Croft Wise , W . M . There were also present Bros . C . A Adams , S . W . ; Charles Hunton , J . W . ; Jas . C . Hayes , P . M ., Treas . ; Charles Norrinirton , P . M ., Sec . ; Lorenzo FauII , S . D . ; M . Beedle , J . D . ; Charles Meierhoif , I . P . M . ; Moss Chapman , P . M . ; H . Massey , P . M . ; Carl Fleck , P . M . ; George Perry , J . Cowling , Jam ^ s Swallow , Samuel J . J . Wise , N . Farmer , F . W . Philpot , W . Greenway , S . G . Murray , W . M . Foster , and T . Bowles , Tyler . The visitors were Bros . W . H . Moses . Scwd . 1200 ; J . Schmidt , W . M .

1250 ; S . Godden , P . M . and Treas . SG 2 ; and C . J . R . Tijou , P . A . G P . After the preliminary work had been disposed of , the W . M . initiated Messrs . C . J . Jones and VV . H . Lilly . He afterwards passed to the Second Degree his sin—Bro . S . J . J . Wise—and then raised Bro . James Swallow to the Third Degree . The Secretary , Bro . Charles Norrington , read the warning sent round to the lodges by the G . Secretary with reference to a brother who s-jlicitsalms . Bro . Norrington also read the message of the Prince of Wales to Grand Lodge , which was considered at the last Quarterly Communication , and the resolutions passed thereon by Grand Lodge , withdrawing recognition of the Grand Lodge of Peru .

After the closing of the lodge , the brethren adjourned to a choice banquet ,. and honoured the usual toasts . In proposing the toast of "The M . W . G . M ., " Bro . Croft Wise referred to the severe accident which had happened to the Prince of Wales , and trusted thit his Royal Highness would have a speedy and thorough recovery . Bro . Charles Meierhoff , I . P . M ., proposed "The W . M ., " and pointed out that what he had done that evening , was what they had expected of him , and that he had thus fulfilled their expectations .

Bro . E . Croft Wise , W . M ., in responding , said he felt very great pleasure in beinjf able to fill the chair in the lodge and at the binquet tible . Bro . Meierhoff hid Slid what he had done that night had been expected of him . That was nothing but what was expected , and ought to be expected , of every Mister , and what every Master ought to receive as being expected of him . He maintained—although he might not be able to sustain it as he should like—that no person should tike ths chiir unless he found ha could perform the duties in a somewhat satisfactory manner . There were ,

howevercir-, cumstances of business which frequently overrode our own endeavours . He hid mide a strong study , as all the brethren knew , to dj the work properly . Hiving put his hind to the plough he did not look back . As he told the brethren the night he wis initiated , he meant to go on to the chair . Although he did not feel he had perfo med his duties quite as they ought to be performed , yet he had done the best his abilities would allow . Most of them were men in business , and he , like them , being a man of business , hid

many things which deterred him from quilifying himself to take the chiir , particularly as lately he had had a very , very severe blow by the loss of a principal of his firm with which he had been 30 years . It was a very great blow to him , and it interfered with his efficiency in the chair . But the Past Masters assisted him . The Past Masters were always ready and willing to assist . The office was no sinecure , and it went very bad with a W . M . if he had no assistance . He was glad to siy he had excellent assistance both from the Past Masters and officers .

Bros . Lilly and Jones responded to the toast of " The Initiates , " and each hoped he would arrive at the chair of the lodge . Both promised to do his best to promote the interests of Freemasonry . Bros . Schmidt and Godden replied to the toast of "Thi Visitors . " Bros . Massey , Moss Chapman , and Meierhoff responded to the toast of " The Past Masters . "

Bro . J . C . Hayes , P . M ., Treas ., in acknowledging the toast of " The Treasurer and 4 ecretary , " said the lodge had at the bank now over £ 250 , including the Benevolent und . He trusted it would be the endeavour of the W . M . and those who followed him to increase and not diminish that amount . The study of the Treasurer and Secretary was to keep the lodge up to its state of efficiency . Bro . Norrington , P . M ., Sec , also responded . The other toists followed .

Nelson Lodge , No . 700 . The installation meeting of the above powerful lodge took place at the Misonic Hall , Mount Pleasant , Plumstead , on Wednesday , the 20 th inst . The lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . H . Pamment , and the minutes having been confirmed , Bro . H . Tufnell , P . M ., acting D . C , presented Bio . T . Sidney Smith , S . W ., and W . M . elect , to the W . M . to receive at his hands the benefit of installation , and with the usual ceremony Bro . Smith was installed and saluted . He aDDointed and

invested his officers as follows : Bros . H . Pamment , I . P . M . ; W . Long , S . W . ; W . Chambers , J . W . ; J . H . Roberts , P . M ., Treas . ; W . Lawson , P . M ., S ; c ; S . E . Southgate , P . M ., D . C . ; W . J . Harris , S . D . ; E . Carter , J . D . ; F . S . Folkes , I . G . ; W . J . Bidgood , Org . ; and G . H . Porter , P . M ., C . F . Perry , H . J . Roberts , W . Rey . nolds , and H . Sanford , Stwds . The addresses were given by Bro . Tufnell in a most eloquent and effective manner , the brethren , old and young , being especially delighted with their clear and perfect delivery by our esteemed brother . Bro . Pamment was

presented with a handsome and valuable Past Master ' s jewel , and then the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Holborn Restaurant where an admirable and well-served banquet was partaken of . The following were among the other brethren present : Bros . W . Webber , C . Sweeting , G . R . Nichols , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . Middx ., H . King , P . M ., P . P . G . P . Kent , rl '„ . , < J ? rson ' £ ' ^ V 9 / - Taylor , P . M ., T . Butt , P . M ., E . B . liobson , P . M ., C . Jolly , P . M . ( Hon . ) , P . P . A . G . D . C . Essex , G . B . Davis , P . M . ( Hon . ) , F . Usall , A . Clamp , 0 .

uegan , H . Roberts , li . 1 nomas , E . Park , I . Noakes , A . Martin , A . Fenn , G . Jenkinson , G . Martin , C . Mettrop , E . J . Vallon , E . Hepburn , C . Benstead , E . Lonergan , G . Palmer , H . Knowles , ] . H . Lloyd , J . Plume , P . Head , J . Walter , F . Wright , A . Saunders , G . Pallett , h . Moore , S . Blackler , T . Punter , T . Mannings , G . Tapp , H . Balk , J . Hodgin , F . Marfleet , T . Collins , K . Kettley . jG . Laurance , H . Wadman , W . West , W . Goodman , P . Auld , W . Holmes , R . Taylor , A . Crouch , J . Dhonow , A . Walkehn , P . Stevenson , R . Williams , J . Brown , T . Bond , A . Johnston , J . Adamson , Bell

M . , W . Shenstpne , E . D . Gouse , E . Bright , H . J . Dalby , G . R . ^ Kirk , S . Burnard Dr . Jas . Tees , E . Clapthan , C . Bisby , A . Abbey , Jas . Liwson , F . G . Thomas , C . Berry , and J . H . Pryce , all of the lodge ; C . Tijou , P . G . P . Eng ., A . McOueen , W . M ., Rev . W . Casely , P . G . P ., Chaplain , H . Jacobs , S . W ., H . S . Syer , J . P ., P . M . and Treasurer , W . H . Turton , P . M ., A . W . Russell , P . M ., J . H . Attenborough , J . Lee , W . Skinner , T . Moore , and VV . Abbey , of 13 ; F . Thomas , W . M ., Dr . H . Bernays , P . M ., F . G . Nichols , P . M ., and H . Mason , I . W ., of 71 G ; J . I . Murphy , W . M ., Jas . Stratton , E . W . Sampson , and VV . H . Pryce , of on ; F . Reed .

W \ . « V !' , \ i ¦ U , ? h A . Simmonds , J . W ., and J . Jones , of 1536 ; Jas . Palmer , W . M ., T . Lait , S . W ., C . H . Canning , P . M . and Treas ., P . M . and Treas . 2184 , P . P . G . D . F . ? fJ' A \ . ' , ' E ' , " W . Turvey , P . M ., and F . Charlton , of 1472 ; G . Dyer , W . M ., J . Wheatley , S . W ., and R . Rawlinson , J . W ., of 2399 ; G . R . Cashfield , P . M . G 15 ; J . Spencer , W . M . 1437 ; L . Potts , P . M . and Treas ., S . Kirk , P . M ., C . W . Raymond , P . M ., J . Carpenter , P . M ., J . Mosey , Sec , W . Bland , S . W ., and H . Treby , of 171 O ; A . Pringle , P . M . 92 ; A . Avery , 1314 , P . P . G . R . Kent ; W . Lowery , P . M . ft

A ' rV , A 31 * ' , ; V IS 7 ; W * ^ Donald , W . M . 2504 ; J . Medcalf , P . M . 212 ; A . Duck , P . M . and W . Legg , P . M . of 8 9 S ; C . Chandler , S . D . 1259 ; F . Benson S . D . 115 S ; 1 . Lawson and W . Bailey , of 1 Sg ; S . Dickson , 89 S ; A . Gill , 7 S 1 ; A . Richards , 201 ; H . Mitchell , 1 C 9 ; G . Grant , 1765 ; J . Harvey , 1314 ; F . Skinner , 704 ; R . Marsh , 205 ; J . Hasley , 1099 ; E . Thompson , 2501 ; A . Wickham , 1024 ; J . I'olkes , 147 ; H . Cherry , 12 C 0 ; R . Walker , 27 ; and ( as . Beck , S . D . 214 G . The toast of " The Queen and the Craft " having been honoured .

The W . M . proposed "The Heilth ol H . R . I I . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of England , & c , " and said he regretted , as he felt sure their lodge and every brother in Masonry did , the painful accident that had befallen him , and wished him a speedy and safe recovery . The toast was heartily responded to by the brethren present . Bro . Tijou , whose genial presence always adds a pleasure and indeed honour to our meetings , in responding for " The Grand Officers , Present and Past , " said Grand Lodge Officers always felt interested in the success of all lodges , especially those which came under their own cognizance , and more especially in the installation meetings of lodges , for at them there is an opportunity of seeing and estimating