Royal Arch.

Masonry never can be injured but by Masons , for every word , sign , and circumstance of Freemasonry teaches morality . Are not the robes worn by Masons emblems . of that purity of heart and rectitude nf conduct which should actuate all those who are admitted to its mysteries ? Pope says of tho great luminary of the heavens , " . Even from the sun may Vivid deaths descend . " Masonry is a great social compact uniting all sects and creeds

, who believe in the great Architect of the Universe , into one bond of brotherly love and friendship . Friendship , so common in the profession ' of men , and so uncommon in its practice . It is that virtue which all approve , but to which none but approved virtue can pretend . It is the lot of few to deserve , as it is uncommon among men to bestow the gifts of friendship . To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent on every man ,

particularly Freemasons , who are linked together by one indissoluble ' bond of friends . Hence , to soothe the unhappy , sympathise with their misfortunes , compassionate their miseries , and restore peace to their troubled and agitated minds , is the first aim Masons have in view , and on this they form their connection and establish friendship . It is a consolation that whatever objection be raised against the mysteries and secrets of

Freemay masonry , Masons can as easily refute the one as they can remove the other . Let their faith be governed by the volume of the sacred law , and their lives regulated by the Divine precept contained therein , they will render a more complete answer to any charge that can be brought against him , than can be adduced by the acuteness of reasoning , the flowers of rhetoric or the charms of eloquence . The externa I

would observe are candid enough to admit that they believe Masonry to be a charitable institution : so far they are right—for the most eminent of all theological virtues , charity is the very keystone of the whole Masonic structure ; but if they will enter

the temples of Masonry and dive into its mysteries , they will also learn that it teaches truth and science , faith and hope , and shedding its light throughout the habitable globe , it proves itself an universal tie . It is tho asylum where the care worn traveller finds a refuge from the storms which agitate and desolate mankind—there the traveller finds the good and true Samaritan ready with the corn , wine , oil , to relieve merit and virtue in distress . There also is adored that great light in

Masonrv the Great Jehovah , the Eternal Ruler of the Universe , the elemental life the primordial source of all its principles , the very spring and fount of all its virtues . Tho M . E . Z . said he had now the honour to propose the health of tho Exaltees—viz ., Comps . AV . Asbby , AV . R . Baker , E . Roberts , R . Bright , and J . Ferguson . The M . EZ . said it was a very pleasing duty to him to propose

. the healths of these worthy companions . He , the M . E . Z ., having bad the honour to initiate three of them into Freemasonry , and it now gave him the greatest pleasure in exalting them into tho highest degree in Masonry , and felt sure , as they had made themselves proficient in Craft Masonry , they would become bright luminaries in R . A . M ., and be would wish them to remember the sole scope aud aim of every companion is to seek

and propound truth and science , and forgive and forget offences , to love and edify ami assist one another , while any dispute which a zeal too ardent may elicit should soon disappear to make room for the general good , while the spontaneous avowal of" those who were in the wrong are attended by instant reconciliation , and brings back the pristine concord and peace among its members . He would not then go over the several duties of a Freemason , but , suffice it to say , the best man made the best Mason , and he would ask the companions to be upstanding and drink the healths of those five exaltees .

Comp . AY . Asbby said on behalf of himself and tho rest of tho newly exalted companions , ho bogged to tender bis heartfelt thanks , and ho could assure them it was tho first time siuco ho had boon a Mason , ho had been sowed with two baucjuote on tho night . Tho ono in tho chapter was a Masonic intellectual banquet for tho mind , whilo tho other in tho banqueting hall was for tho body , and what little ho know of Masonry ho certainly must prefer the first , for these were :

" That science pure with deepest wisdom fraught , Which angels' lips iu Edous' vale had taught . That secret art , that illustrative rito First named iu honour of its emblem light . But known to modern ages as our free Accoptod ancient science , Masonry . " ThoM . E . 'Z . then proposed tho "Health of tho LP Z . Comp .

Royal Arch.

A . Pendlebury , " and said that worthy couipanionion had won tho ostoom oi ovory mombor of this chapter , by his faultless working and urbanity of manner . Ho would ask thorn to drink tho health of that worthy companion . Comp . Pendlebury , replied in an appropriate speech . Comp . C . Hosgood , the M . E . Z ., then said he bad now a pleasing task to perfuvmwhich was to propose the health of the

, officers of this chapter , aud in so doing , should not detain them long , because the subject did not require it . If he ( the M . E . Z . ) had left anything' to their imagination in the preculiug toasts , he should not do so on this occasion as I hey had the personifications in this instance before them . Neither would he attempt to pass any eulogiuin on the offices of tbis chapter whose correct rendering of the ritual were the admiration of the

fraternity at large . But in justice lie must mention the name of one officer of this chapter , who had jrisfc received grand honours from the M . AA ' . the G . M . He would say without fear of contradiction , that the appointment < f the worthy Treasurer , ( Comp . James Brett , ) to the A . G . P . of Grand Lodge , was the most popular appointment , and reflected I be greattst honour on the advisers of the M . AA' . tlie G . M . Fur the annual

appointment of Grand officers , very materially influences the proceedings of the year , not so much by the rank in 1 fe of those selected , as by their Masonic attainments , and the manner in which those attainments will at least for the current period of office , become available assels in the general stock of Masonic deliberation . The time of this woithy companion is devoted entirely to Masonrv in the disseminating of those principles

which are the guide of every mason , and should be the unerring standard of his practice . The p : hie--of-being the exclusive possessor of knowledge does uot in tho least influence him , for ho freely imparts bis mental store to all who desiro it , and that without Joe or reward—fooling himself amply repaid iu the consciousness of having performed his duty . Ho tho M . E . Z . would not say any more iu bringing this toast to thoir noticebecause by so doing ho should undorvaluo tho subject

it-, sell—by acting as if it required tho stimulation oi strong argument . Having said thus much in bringing this toast to your nofcieo— "Truth and Justice , " demanded I could nob say loss—I now propose to you " Tho health of tho Officers of tho A'ictoria . Chapter , coupling wilh it tho name o £ Comp J . Brofct . " Comp . James Brett then rose , and on thanking the M . E . Z . ¦ and companionsadverted to the unsolicittd honour which had

, been conferred , upon him by the 1 A 1 . AV . the G . M ., and expressed his gratitude for the same , and begged oi' tlie companions to be strict observers of the laws and established customs of our noble order , and called the attention of the companions to the laxity which had prevailed in the admission of persons who could do but little credit to Masonry , and ever bear in mind that the chief ornaments of Masonry were rectitude of conduct

, and the practice of all the moral virtues that adorn mankind , which he strongly recommended to all present , and he earnestly hoped their meritorious career would create emulation in their successors , so that when the billowy ocean of life had ceased to roll , they would shine as a glorified constellation adorning the firmament above .

The Janitors toast was then given , and brought tho evening to a close with that harmony aud satisfaction which characterises the fraternity . The companions separated at an early hour , fully bent on tho extension and practice of the viitues of loyalty , morality , brotherly love , and benevolence which have ever been the great objects of Masonry to inculcate , and of its laws to enforce .

Meetings Of The Learned Societies.

MEETINGS OF THE LEARNED SOCIETIES .

MONDAY , 10 th May . —Royal Geographical Society , at S . 30 . — Papers to be read : "Tile Gulf Stream in high latitudes , " by Adml . Irminger ; 3 . "Surface temperature of the North Atlantic , " by Nicholas AA'hitlev , Esq . ; 3 . " On open water in the Polar Basin , " by Capt . R . ' Y . Hamilton , R . N . TUESDAY , llth May . —Institution of Civil Engineers , at AA ' EDNESDAY , 12 th May . —Society of Arts , at 8 .