Masonic Festivities.

Universe for all the blessings we enjoy , and next in exhibiting our gratitude in return for those blessings , by showing to our poorer brethren the love we bear them and the charity we owe them . Your Chairman has informed j'ou , and I learned it with great satisfaction , of ihe progress which the system of benevolence is making

in the Prov . G . Lodge of Glasgow . Believe me , there is nothing by which our order can be more exalted , nothing by which its interests can be more or better advanced , than by the liberal practice of opening tho benevolent hand . The poor we have always with us ; and we should be ahvays ready , if possible , to relieve them . But , brethren , it must be distinctly understood , that while

these benevolent societies exist iu masonry , masonic lodges should not be looked upon as benefit societies . It is true we hold out the hand of assistance to those brethren among us who may be overtaken with mis ( orturn ; hut we invite not brethren to come among us for the purpose simply of finding a refuge in our charity . There is another thing in masonry which I would recommend all to cultivate , and that is , obedience to the Constitution and laws under which we live , and by which we are governed . There is nobody in this country so

loyal as a good mason . He is loyal to his Sovereign ; ho is loyal and obedient to the laws ; and he is loyal to the craft , and tho authorities of the craft , to which he belongs . If a man is a good mason you may rely upon it that man is in every respect also a good citizen , will not detain you upon the present occasion further than to add that I trust the benevolent institution which

is connected with the Prov . G . Lodge of Glasgow may increase in strength and flourish prosperously . I trust also that another object you have in view—an object which I think ought to be assisted by your brother masons , not only in the province but out of the province —that , namely , of establishing a Freemasons' Hall iu this great com muni tj ' , will prove completely successful .

When once the brethren get housed in a house of their own I am quite certain they will find that many of their schemes will prosper more largely , and that all their interests will bo better attended to , and flourish more entirely . The musical programme was sustained by the Misses Blair , Miss Dunsmore , Mr . Hamilton Corbet ( an excellent tenor ) Bros . Robt . Frazer , James Houston , A . AV . Banks ( pianist ) , ancl Bro . H . A . Lambeth ( organist ) . An assembly followed the soiree .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

Masonic Photographs . Two photographs , by Bro . Mayall , published by Edward Fox , Brighton , in connexion with laying the corner-stone of the Masonic Hall at Lewes , by the ' R . WBro . Lord Pelham , on 2 isfc October , 1868 , have just reached us . The first represents the ceremony , and we regret to

have so much fault to find with it . It is badly grouped , the Grand Officers being swallowed up in a crowd in the middle ground , and the brethren appear in the act of flopping down on their knees to worship an upright beam , which is carefully guarded by a Steward . The light , too , is bad . In photographs of such subjects—we must confess very difiicult to produce with any

excellence—great care should be taken to give prominence to the principals , and attention should be paid so as that the groups may each come out distinct . Almost without exception the heads here are hazy . This may , however , have been caused by some movement in the crowd . The second , representing the jewels , clothing , and vessels used in the ceremony , is all one could desire in a photograph , and is really a work of art , and worthy of being hung up in the lodge-room . We trust the next occasion

Reviews.

on which Bro . Mayall officiates as photographer he will adopt our hints as to grouping , for his second photogranh shows that he wants for nothing to turn out a first-class specimen of photographic art . Dramatic o . ud Musical Almanack for 1869 . By Bro . J .

AV . ANSOX . Bro . Anson , Secretary of tiie Eoyal Dramatic College has just issued this almanack , ivhich no one who possesses the slightest taste for theatrical and musical entertainments will be without . It is carefully compiled , from correct data , and a reference to it will save many postage stamps in referring to Bell ' s Life on disputed points . ID is a highly creditable production .

Funeral Of The Late Bro. James Chalmers With Masonic Honours.

FUNERAL OF THE LATE BRO . JAMES CHALMERS WITH MASONIC HONOURS .

The members of the Lodge Forfar and Kincardine , 225 G . L . S ., having expressed a unanimous wish that the remains of a deceased brother , who had long held a high place amongst them , should bo consigned to the earth according to the ancient usages of Freemasonry , the relatives of Bro . Chalmers gave their consent , and the sanction of the Prov . G . Lodge being obtained , the

funeral took place on Saturday the 19 th tilt . A funeral Lodge having been opened at twelve noon in the Forfar and Kincardine Hall , and the preliminary ceremonies having been gone through , tho Lodge was adjourned , aud the brethren proceeded to tho Western Cemetery , where they awaited the funeral cortege . On the arrival of the hearse at the gate , the coffin containing the bod

y was entrusted to the brethren , aud the procession moved to the grave in the following order .- —Deacons of the Forfar and Kincardine Lodge ; brethren two and two ; Masters of various Lodges , their jewels and emblems covered with crape ; Bible bearer , the Bible and masonic emblems on . a cushion of black ; Alaster of Forfar and Kincardine Lodge ; the coffin , borne by six brethren in

masonic funeral costumes , following b } ' the relatives aud other mourners who had accompanied the bod y from the deceased ' s residence . On the head of the procession reaching the place of interment , the ranks wore opened , and the coffin , borne to the grave , over which it was placed . The following masonic funeral service was

then impressively read by Bro . Royal , R . W-M . of the Lodgo Forfar and Kincardine .- — Brethren , —We are now assembled around the final resting-place of these mortal remains , and are about closing the last solemn duties of respect we owe to our departed friend and brother . A few reflections , therefore , applicable to the solemnities of this occasion , and

salutary and impressive to the living , may bo with great propriety offered on this spot , a spot where departed friendship lingers and steals in melancholy yet pleasing reminiscence on the heart . Wo are born to die ! We follsw our friends to the brink of the grave , and , standing on the shore of a vast ocean , we gaze with exquisite anxiety till the last dreadful struggle is overand see

, them sent on the fathomless abyss . We feel our own feet slide from the precarious bank on which we stand , and , but a few suns more , and we shall be whelmed amid death's awful waves . The younger are crowding the next older off the stage of action , as though each were anxious to exhibit his part in the strange and everchangeful drama of human life . Not a solitary

individual re-enters the world ' s theatre . All take their exit ; and are known beneath the sun no more for ever . We are now in the solemn graveyard , and hero learn the only language of the tomb—the ejjitaph declaring they once lived . Lettered stones and monuments aro more instructive than the once living thousands whose memories they preserve from oblivion . All , except those , is speechless as the chambers of eternal silence . No