Festival Of The Lodges In The Province Of Glasgow.

happiness depends upon the happiness of others—all is well illustrated by our meeting here together this evening . It is very remarkable to observe how mankind associate together , forming bonds of union . Studying the pages which record the history of the world , we find the inhabitants of this earth of ours united together , as it were , in different great families—each family speaking

the same language , following the same customs and laws , and living in peace together . But when one of these communities of mankind comes in contact with another , their difference of language , diversity of customs and laws—like two opposite electric currents—repel each other with violence , and war is the result . The weak succumb to the strong , but they unite with other weak

unions , and the strong is overcome in turn ; they , again , join others , and thus the strife is prolonged . Communities for common defence form common laws , learn to speak the same tongue , accept a common leader , and be come a nation . Such has been the history of all the nations in the world . But let us follow a little further the history of these peoples or nations . They again are

absorbed into kingdoms and empires . Where are now the different peoples united under the rule of the Czar of Russia , the Emperors of France and Prussia and Austria ? In our own land , the English , Scotch , and Irish nations are one . To the mam * , ancient tongues are but little

known ; and the time seems to be approaching when nearly all the civilised world will speak one universal language . Even now we might say there are but four or five useful languages . We find also that the different peoples all over the world are gradually assimilating their customs , habits , and laws . That great power , drawn from its hiding-place by an immortal Watt , has made

such highways in every ocean that nations run to and fro upon it , embracing each other in the peaceful arms of commerce , and the iron horse snorts iu every land , impatient in the work of carrying knowledge and goodwill to all men ; whilst the Spirit of Light , watching these great efforts , calms the ruffling tempers of men by flashing harmony and concord from polo to pole . Brethren , in

this wonderful age in which we live , the great walls which divided nation from nation seem to be crumbling down , and the peoples appear to be uniting to acknowledge the rights of civil and religious liberty . We may not be called upon , as the brethren of our most ancient Order were in ages past , to rear stately monuments and build great temples ; but let us go on in the noble work

of building up the moral and intellectual powers of ourselves and our fellow-men , and so leave nobler and greater living monuments behind us , rearing that temple where justice , charity , and love are supported upon the stately pillars of truth , making every stone praise to the great I AM .

The W . Bro . was enthusiastically applauded at the close of his speech . The musical part of the programme was sustained by Miss Bessie Aitken , Miss Lily Boyd , Mr . Hamilton Corbett , Mr . Robert Fraser , and Mr . J . AV . Crawford . Mr . E . Berger was pianist , and Mr . A . N . Banks conductor of the orchestra . A full dress assembly took place after the concert .

THE Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says"Not being a Freemason , to my great regret , I may be guilty of some indiscretion , but I can give that holy and secret body some news . France , as well as Norway and Sweden , has declined to accept the King of Prussia as a member of any lodge or lodges . It is on account of a feeling against the Jewish race which is strong in the breasts of that refined

very , clever , quick-sighted , intelligent people of Prussia . Heaven and earth ! could Prussia possibly get somehow a . little Oriental life into her ? Professor Opport , of ' arrowhead' celebrity , has been making brilliant speeches on this subject at many meetings of Freemasons in the North of Europe .

Poetry.

Poetry .

MASONIC DIRGE FOR THE THIRD DEGREE . By Bro , EMRA HOLMES , 31 ° . Author of "Lot thero bo Light , " & c . Ah , sad , sad day of grief and pain , AA hon sorrow followed closo on gladness ;

The Antiont Master ceased to roigu , AA'hon cruol hands had wrought thoir madness . And none wore noar to help and save , Faith , hope and lovo died with tho brave ; But only lovo shall riso again , AA'ith our Great Architect to reign . Our glorious templo is dofilcd

, And doath and sin have entered thoro : The gloomy portals of tho east—Are shadow-darkenod by despair ; Oh . Father ! load us to tho Light , Tho Life boyond tho gloomy grave ; The Secret dark shall bo mado bright , And thou Shalt all truo brothron savo .

FREE AJTD ACCEPTED MASOXS are an ancient society or body of men , so called either from some extraordinary knowlodge ( if masonry or buildings which they were supposed to be masters of , or because the first founders of this society were of this profession . In the present time we , as " masons , / are not operative . AVe are simply speculative . AA e are a body , composed of all sects and denominations . \\ e are are bound together by a secret and mystic tie . The result is , true friendship and

charity in its fullest extent . Even in the ordinary occurrences of life is not secresy essential ? And it ought to be more ri' -id in excluding those whose character will not hear the fullest investigation . It is very easy to be admitted ivito the Order , but not , unfortunately , to be so easily excluded . It , therefore , behoves all Masous never to introduce any one whose character is such that the least taint would bring discredit on our ancient and excellent institution . —Chambers' Encyclopaedia .

Scientific Meetings For The Week.

SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK .

Monday , 10 th Jan . —At the evening meeting of the Royal Geographical Society , held at the Royal Institution , at halfpast eight o'clock ( Sir R . J . Murciiison in the chair ) , the following papers will he read : —1 . " Visit of the Societ y's Envoy to the Opening of the Suez Canal , " by Lord Houghton ; 2 . Letter of Mr . G . AV . Hayward to the President , on " Central Asia , smd the l ' suni ? Steppe . "

Tuesday , 11 th Jan . —Institute of Civil Engineers , at 8 . AA ' ednesday , 12 th Jan . —Geological Society , at S . Thursday , 13 th Jan . —Royal Society , at 8 . 30 ; London Institution , at 7 . 30 .

List Of Lodge, Meetings, &C., For Week Ending 15th January, 1870.

LIST OF LODGE , MEETINGS , & C ., FOR WEEK ENDING 15 TH JANUARY , 1870 .

( Abbreviations . —F . M . H ., Freemasons' Hall ; M . H ., Masonic Hall ; M . T ., Masonic Temple ; Tav ., Tavern ; Ho ., Hotel ; Ro Rooms ; L ., Lodge ; St ., Street ; Sip , Square ) . , METROPOLITAN" LODGES AND CHAPTERS . Monday , Jan . 10 th . LODGES . —St . George's and Corner StoneF . M . H . j Fortitude

, and Old Cumberland , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . ; St . Alban ' s , Albion Tav ., Aldursgate-st . ; Royal Naval , F . M . H . ; Confidence , Andorton ' s Ho ., Fleet-st . ; Peckham , Maisinore Arms Tav ., Park-rd ., Peckham ; Mount Sion , Radley ' s Ho ., Bridge-st ., Blackfriars . !