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

lingering spirits hover around these mouldering relics , whispering any intelligence of their present existence . The eternal country for which they embarked returns us no intelligence of their safe arrival . Speechless is the gentle breeze that fans their verdant covering . The statesman , hero , philosopher , theologian , whose eloquence or arms have shaken empires—who have united the

language of earth and heaven , or plucked proud laurels from fields of war—are resting in silence . Their hearts that once beat high with hopes of life and glory , are unaffected with the interests of earth , and susceptible of nought but the feelings that appertain to another world . Not only these are gone , but even the youth whose cheeks are mantled with sunny smiles , and whose cyo

sparkles all the clay . Those lips that now echo tho sentiments of inexperience must be silent , and the heart that now palpitates and rejoices at the sound of pleasure must be stilled in the cold and cheerless mansions of tho dead . Another generation will arise to occupy outplaces and stations in life . The sun will rise aud set , the earth revolve— -strangers will tread upon our sepulchres

ivithout knowing that we ever existed . A few surviving relatives may remember us and mourn , but those few will soon follow to the land of silence- No one here will concern himself with our past joys and sorrows , while we shall be conversant with tho amazing realities of another world . Under these feelings and impressions we are now about to commit the body of our departed friend

to the silent grave . And , under a full and solemn conviction of the nothingness of all earthly and perishable objects , we here renewedly , as Masons , pledge to each other our fraternal love ; and may we so improve this dispensation of Divine Providence , and so live , that when these feeble frames shall slumber beneath the clods of the valley , the needy and distressed , the widow and the orphan , may point with regret to our sleeping ashes , and

each exclaim— -These be tho men whose compassion soothed my woes , whose maxims tranquillized my perturbed spirits , and whose bounty relieved my pressing necessity . An impressive prayer having been offered , The R . AV- Master then proceeded to read the following address : —Brethren—We have taken a solemn and

impressive survey of human life in all its blended li ghts and shades , and learned that all on earth is change . We have seen that , as tho lightning writes its fiery path on the dark cloud and expires , so the race of men , walking amidst the surrounding shades of mortality , glitters a moment through the darksome gloom , then vanishes from our sight for ever . They rest in the stilly shades .

There the worm shall cover us , and darkness and silence reign around our melancholy abode . But is this the end of man , and the expiring hope of faithful Masons ? No ; blessed be God ! Wo pause not at our first or second step , but , true to our principles , we look forward for greater light . As tho embers of mortal life are feebly glimmering in the socket of existence our

religion removes the dark shroud , draws aside the sable curtains of tho tomb , and bids hope and joy to rouse up , sustain , and cheer the departing spirit . She points beyond tho silent tomb to tho breaking light of a resurrection morn , and bids us turn an eye of faith and confidence on the opening scenes of eternity . She teaches us to advance boldly onward and ask more lihttillat the

g , , Grand Master ' s word , we shall bo raised to the blissful Lodge which no time can remove . Then li ght unmingled with darkness shall reign unbroken and perpetual . There , under the sunbeam smiles of immutable love , and beneath the benignant bend of tho All-Seeing Eye , ive , as faithful Masons , cherish the fond and immortal hope that we shall meet againmeet to part no more . Unto

, the grave we now resign the body of our departed brother . At its conclusion , sprigs of evergreens , as emblems of faith and immortality , were placed upon the coffin , which was then lowered into the grave . The brethren then

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

returned to the Forfar and Kincardine Hall , where , after a few appropriate remarks , the Lodge was duly closed . Bro . Chalmers was about sixty-two years of ago , and for some months previous to his death he had been in failing health . Bro Chalmers has been a zealous Freemason for forty years , and before coming to Dundee , about ten years ago , he was a member of St Peter ' s

Lodge in Montrose , where he for a long period resided . In that Lodge he held the office of R . AV . M . for about seven years , tho dignity of which he ably upheld , and reflected great honour on tho Lodge . He was esteemed and respected by all the Provincial Masonic Lodges on account of his frank and genial disposition and his deep interest in the cause of Freemasonry . Bro . Chalmers also held an office in tho Prov- G . Lodge of Forfarshire and Kincardineshire .

Obituary.

Obituary .

DEATH OF BRO . OAPT . G . SP . EIRS , PROV . G . M . OF GLASGOW . Wc regret exceedingly to announce the death of this highly-esteemed brother , which melancholy event took place at his residence on Wednesday last . A \ c purpose giving a full obituary notice in our next .

Metropolitan Lodge Meetings, Etc., For The Week Ending January 9th, 1869.

METROPOLITAN LODGE MEETINGS , ETC ., FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 9 TH , 1869 .

MONDAY , January 4 th . —Lodges : Robert Burns , 25 , Freemasons'Hall . Royal Jubilee , 72 . Andertons' Hotel , Fleet-street . United Lodge of Prudence , 83 , Albion Tavern , Aldersgato-street . St . John ' s , 90 , Radley ' s Hotel , Bridge-street , Blackfriars . St . Luke's , 1-14 , Pier Hotel , Cheyne AA alk , Chelsea . Amity , 171 , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street . Joppa , 183 , Albion Tavern

, Aldevsgate-street . Chapter : Old King ' s Arms , 28 , Freemasons' Hall . TUESDAY , January 5 th . —Colonial Board at 3 . Audit Com . Female School at 2 ' 30 . Albion , 9 , Freemasons ' Hall . Old Concord , 172 , Freemasons'Hall . St . James ' s , 765 , Leather Market Tavern , New Weston-street , Bermondsey . Chapter : Temperance , 169 , AVhite Swan

Tavern , Deptford . WEDNESDAY , January 6 . —Stability , 217 , George Hotel , Aldermanbury . Mac Donald , 1 , 216 , Head Quarters 1 st Surrey Volunteers Corps , Brunswick-road Camberwell . Chapter : Prince Frederick A \ illiam , 753 , the Knights of St . John ' s Hotel , St . John ' s-terrace , St . John ' s-wood .

THURSDAY , January 7 th . —Lodges : Strong Man , 1-5 , Freemasons' Hall , Good Report , 136 : Radley ' s Hotel , Bridge-street , Blackfriars . Lion and Lamb , 192 , City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street . St . Andrew ' s , 231 , Freemasons' Hall . La Tolerance , 538 , Freemasons ' Hall . Yarborough , 551 , Green Dragon , Stepney . Excelsior , 1 , 155 , S ydney Arms , Lcwisham-road . Perfect

Ashlar , 1 , 178 , Gregorian Arms , Bermondsey-road . Chapters : Westbourne , 733 , Now Inn , Edgware-road . Crystal Palace , 74-2 , Crystal Palace , Sydenham . FRIDAY , January Sth . —Bedford , 157 , Freemason' Hall . Dematic , 177 , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . Chapters : Britannic , 33 , Freemasons' Hall . London , 108 , Freemasons' Hall .

To Correspondents.

TO COKRESPONDENTS .

* * All communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury street , Strand , London , W . C . G . B . Cox . ( Masonic Library , Troy Rennselaes Co ., Xew York ) . —Draft received . —Thanks . J . 0 . ( Lisbon ) . —Many thanks for your contributions . They will appear as soon as the blocks can be cut .