The Late Bro. G. V. Brooke.

THE LATE BRO . G . V . BROOKE .

In our advertising columns will be found an announcement relative to the proposed memorial to the ate G . V . Brooke , to which we last Aveek drew the attention of our readers . Since that time the project has met wiih the warmest approval , and numerous subscriptions have heen promised . Several additions have likewise been made to the committee , among

whom we may mention Bros . Millwood and Donald Njeol ( ex-M . P . and Sheriff ) , each of whom has " contributed five guineas to the fund . The committee haA'e determined upon making the purchase of a lifeboat the first and chief object , leaving the question of any further memorial to bo entirely dependent upon the amount of surplus funds and the wishes of the donors .

The Benefits And Excellences Of Freemasonry.

THE BENEFITS AND EXCELLENCES OF FREEMASONRY .

An address by the V . W . Bro . Dr . Senior , P . G . C . of England , delivered upon the occasion of the laying of the chief corner stone of the Masonic Temple for St . John ' s Lodge ( 827 ) , Dewsbury . Freemasonry Avas the most ancient ancl honourable of all institutions : most honourable , it Avas , because it induced to make these men honourable Avho Avere

obedient to its precepts . It Avas founded on tho principles of piety and virtue . It was a religion of symbols . Every symbol , however simple or indecorous it might appear , and every figure they saw had in it some religious point and bearing tending to the promotion of the welfare of man and the glory of God . Freemasonry Avas founded for the furtherance

of the noblest and most holy objects : God ' s glory and man ' s happiness . It embraced men of all sects and all religions , who looked to God the great Jehovah , the Architect of the " Universe , as the Supreme Ruler of all things . They trusted that wherever there was a man of honour there was a

Mason ; and whoever did not discharge his duties with wisdom , fervency , and zeal , was not worthy the name of man , much less the name of Mason . He thanked those present for the kind and courteous attention they had bestowed . The temple they were about to erect would be

dedicated to God ' s glory ; as a meeting point Avhere all men might forget their differences : for the moment they entered on the Freemason's lodge , there they ahvays found charity , peace , and good-will . And jf _ those of the fair sex he saw before him did not join Freemason ' s courts here , yet they carried out

Masonry to the fullest extent , for Masonry had love as its foundation-stone , and he trusted that hereafter all present , when this life was ended , might be worthy to be raised to that glorious and eternal lodge on high , where God reigned the Great Grand Master of all , and they should reign with him in glory everasting .

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IDLENESS . —Idleness necessarily shortens life , because it makes us weaker . Idleness is a rust which wears faster than labour . " The more a key is used the cleaner it becomes , " says poor Jacob . If you love life , do not waste time , for it is the stuff of Avhich life is made . How much do we lose by sleeping longer than we need , without remembering that the sleeping fox catches no chickens . If time is the most precious of all things , then the wasting of it is the greatest waste of all .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

THE LODGE IN ENGLISH FBEEMASONET . The letter written from the London University contains a passage which , in my notion , is very far from being correct . In our English Freemasonry I consider the Lodge essentially a Christian Temple ; nevertheless , into this Temple are received those who are not Christians ; but upon this condition onlythat they acknoAvledge the Great Architect of the Universe . —CHAELES PUETON COOPEE .

PASSAA'OKDS . What is to be done with people pf nations , to whom sh is as unpronounceable as ever it was of old ; to Avhom B is a V , and J is a Y , or to those who have no vowels ? These are not imagiuery cases , but aAvkivard facts occurring in Masonic experience . If a can brother speak Avhat is ordinarilcalled a European

y language , he is all right ; but there are European languages ( Greek , for instance ) where he is all wrong , and there are many highly educated men ( Persians , for instance ) Avhose alphabet is very puzzling when applied to ordinary European examples . —P . M " .

BELGIUM . Have you noticed that the G . O . of Belgium is , one of the political bodies , or that political questions are distinctly proposed for discussion in its lodges ? If this state of affairs is countenanced , Ave shall learn Avhat took place in the end of the last century , Avhen Masonry Avas suppressed by some Governments , and suspended by the general consent of brethren in many parts of Germany ?—INVESTIGATOB .

MASONIC BANNERS . I shall feel obliged if you can give me a list of the countries which officially recognise Masonry , so as to form a set of suitable banners for the decoration of a lodge or festival ?—J . B .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The - Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents , FREEMASONRY IN ITALY . TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASON'S * mGAZIi'E AND aiAaONIC STIIUSOU , DEAE SIB AND BROTHER , —I send you an extract from a friend ' s letter containing a charming picture of the state of things in Italy . Perhaps the

fulminations of the Pope may be traced to their proper source , and even partially excused by the light of this information . I am , Sir , yours fraternally , W . " Leghorn .

* ' * * * " I have joined here , but am thoroughly disappointed , the whole thing being disorderly and unsatisfactory . The respectable brethren do not attend , and business is conducted by a set of violent democrats , who carry their principles into the

lodge to the detriment of all order and real progress . For joining they tried to fleece me of Lit . 25 pm . more than is usually paid , and swarm upon me for