Masonic Sermon.

leave provision for their dependents . Part 0 f the sum collected at both offertories would be sent to aid those excellent institutions—the Masonic orphan schools in Dublin- Suitably had that anniversary heen chosen as a time for co-operating in

the support of such Masonic institutions . Holy Saint John was the title under which Christian lodges were dedicated , to the Bap tist and to the Apostle and Evangelist of the same name ; and , while they met upon the feast commemorating the former

, taught by the Oh ureh to pray that , after his example , they might boldly rebuke vice , constantly speaking the truth , and , if need be , patiently suffer for its sake , they might well call to remembrance the teaching of the latter , his exhortations to

tho cultivation of that loving and lively sp irit by which his own character was so much adorned— " Let us love one another , for love is of God , and everyone that loveth is born of God , and knoweth God . " Let them not love in word or in tonguebut

, in deed and in truth . Not alone in the remote antiquity of her origin did the beauty of Freemasonry consist , but in the Scrip tural character of her ethics , the

morally instructive tendency of her ritual , and the unseetarian spirit in "which she ever laboured to minister to the good of the fraternity . Well had it been written of her that her " many works of mercy praise her in the gates , " and that " the grateful tears of those relieved by her

bounty sparkle like jewels in her crown . " Through much good report had she persevered in fulfilling the duties of her beneficent mission , lightening the . brow of the afflicted , pouring the balm of comfort into wounded and often well-nigh

broken hearts . It was true , indeed , that with its misrepresentations evil report had long been busy . So greatly have her members been maligned that they have even been classed with the disloyal , put in the same category with the rebellious

disturbers of national peace . Conscious of their integrity of purpose , of the firmness of their allegiance to the Throne , of their cheerful obedience to all duly constituted authority , submitting themselves as they ever did to every ordinance of man for the Lord ' s sake , they can bear unmoved the calumnies of their detractors . Freemasonry was a growing power ; no

weapon framed against her prospered , no anathema hurled against her availed to check her continuous and rapid spread . Her light , which gleamed through the darkness of early ages , increased as centuries rolled on , and was now shining with a brilliancy that gave earnest of still

greater effulgence . In this their large and extending town , in which some of her charitable institutions were so well supported , were many evidences of the development of industrial resources . Let their employments be sanctified by the

Christian principle which enobled whatever it touched , consecrate their earthly labours by the habitual cultivation of heavenly virtues . "Man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the evening . " If he went and returned in the consciousness

that he was always under the Omniscient inspection ; that he was accountable to Him who had ordained that he should toil tor his sustenance , he would find that secular occupation , so far from being a hindrance , would prove a means of advancement in the Christian life . As upon the

one hand a life passed chiefly among holy things must be unspiritual unless there be vigilant resistance of the temptations to absorbing worldliness , so upon the other a life spent in business pursuits must be spiritual if there be prayerful effort to

obey the injunction— " Let every man wherein he is called therein abide with Of all who diligently seek Him . He God "

was the liberal rewarder , with manifold gifts of His grace , benefits purchased by the death of that Surety , the sight of whom gladdened with joy unspeakable the Baptist's heart as he exclaimed , "Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world . " Can he liberally

recompense them in this life and hereafter ? He can reward them above all that they could ask or think in that life of which heaven shall be the scene and eternity the duration , when His " tabernacle shall be with men , and He shall dwell with them , and they

shall be His people , and God Himself shall be with them and be their God . " The Services were continued on the evening of the following day . The Offertory at both Services amounted to £ 120 .