Church Aid.

" The new district of St . John , in the parish of St George-in-the-East , is situated on the borders of the London Docks , aud has a poor population of 6 , 000 souls . Moved by a conviction of the very urgent spiritual need of the district , the working men ( the bulk of whom are dock labourers , costermongers , and seafaring men ) have formed themselves into a committee , and are going

literally ' from house to house , ' to obtain contributions to the Church Building Fund . It may be interesting to state further , that the children in the free schools have also united to help on the work , and that there are at the present time no less than ' 166 contributing id . a-week , while there are other labourers in the district who are obtaining contributions that vary from Id . to

6 d . a-week . For three years the missionary clergyman has carried on his work in a school-room and from house to house ; he has a Scripture-reader , a missionwoman , and a district nurse labouring with him—a free school ( of which the Right Hon . the Earl of Shaftesbury is President ) , with 307 children on the books , and an average attendance of 117—a lending library ,

containing about 400 volumes of an interesting and instructive character—a penny bank , in which last year was deposited £ 54 9 s . by 179 depositors—a soup kitchen for giving occasional dinners to the more sickly and destitute children , and for supplying the poor of the district

with nutritious food during the winter months—a mother ' s meeting , average attendance 30—a sewing class three times a week for teaching the children to make articles of clothing for themselves—and penny readings , with the view of giving the working classes a pleasant and profitable evening , and to encourage in them a taste for intellectual pursuits . But while the

above has been done , and these agencies for good are all in active operation , the committee feel that very much remains yet to be accomplished before the parochial system is thoroughly established among them . They are convinced that a church should be built ; and that , when this is completed , they will then have secured for the ' labour of love' going on in their midst , that

permanency which they so ardently desire . The building , the site for which has been secured , will be of a plain and substantial character , capable of accommodating 650 , and all the sittings will be free and unappropriated . The total cost will be £ 4 , 280 , towards which the Committee of the Bishop of Loudon ' s Fund have granted £ 1 , 500 , on condition that £ 1 , 000 be

raised and the foundation be laid on or before the 1 st of May , 1868 . This sum has , happily , been obtained , aud the first stone was laid April 29 th , by the Bishop of the Diocese . Provided £ 2 , 280 be raised during the present year , the building will be complete in every respect , and open for the celebration of Divine Service in January , 1869 .

" The Building and Working Men s Committees venture to make an earnest appeal to all who value the blessed privilege of a House consecrated to the service of prayer and praise , to assist them in the proposed work by contributing at least a shilling in postage stamps . Should , however , any bo disposed , to make a larger donation , cheques crossed " East London Bank "

or Post-office Orders made payable at " Eastern District Post-office , " Commercial-road , E . may be sent to the Incumbent designate , the Rev . J . M . Vaughan , 33 , Nassau-place , Commercial-road , E . or will be thankfully acknowledged by any of tho following gentlemen : —• Rev . J . Cohen , M . A ., Rector of St . Mary ' s , Whitechapel ; Mr . Henry Mosely , 9 , St . Georgo's-place , St .

Georgein-the-East ; Rev . J . G . Pitkington , M . A ., Clerical Secretary , Bishop of London ' s Fund , 46 A- Pall Mall ; Rev . T . J . Rowsell , M . A ., Chaplain to the Queen , Rector of St . Margaret ' s Lothbury ; Eev . F . W . Russell , M . A ., 35 , St . Augustine-road , Camden-square , N . W . Contributors of 5 s . and upwards will be presenfed with photogragh of the new church .

Poetry.

Poetry .

THE MASONIC PASSWORD . By J A . H . A Mason pestered by his wile , A littlo joko did try ; He said tho ancient password was Concealed in " Brocoli . " Oh ! Brocoli , Oh ! Brocoli ,

A magic word is Brocoli . ' Tho Chaplain thought she was insano When slio said , " O fie ! fie ! You clergymen , indeed , should not Mix up with Brocoli . " Oh ! Brocoli , Oh ! Brocoli ,

A magic word is Brocoli , Tho Worshipful was much amazed , As , with a knowing eye , She said to him , " How do you do ; What news of Brocoli ? " Oh ! Brocoli , Oh ! Brocoli ,

A magic word is Brocoli . Tho Wardens woro astounded when , With manner nothing shy , She said , "I know Freemasons are A lot of Brocoli . " Oh ! Brocoli , Oh ! Brocoli ,

A magic word is Brocoli . Tho Deacons felt it rather strange When sho said , " Go and buy Tho very best and tondorest Of early Brocoli . "

Oh ! Brocoli , Oh ! Brocoli , A magic word is Brocoli . Tho Inner Guard was quite at sea Whon first ho hoard her cry , 'Tis all a sham your Masonry , I know your Brocoli . "

Oh ! Brocoli , Oh ! Brocoli , A magic word is Brocoli . Tho Tiler gave a curious start , As well might you or I , To hoar a lady ask aloud , "How aro you , Brocoli ?"

Oh ! Brocoli , Oh ! Brocoli , A magic word is Brocoli . All Masons' wives decided soon It was a scandal high , That husbands wore a sot of fools For sako of Brocoli .

Oh ! Brocoli , Oh ! Brocoli , A magic word is Brocoli . Then Masons now attend , I pray , Your system soon shall die , For all tho world has found at last 'Tis only Brocoli . Oh ! Brocoli , Oh ! Bi ocoli , A magic word is Broc- 'Ji .

Metropolitan Lodge Meetings, Etc., For The Week Ending August 22. 1868.

METROPOLITAN LODGE MEETINGS , ETC ., FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 22 . 1868 .

TUESDAY , August 18 th . —Board of Gen . Purposes , at 3 . Lodge : Salisbury , 435 , 71 , Dean-street , Soho . WEDNESDAY , August 19 th . —Gon . Com . of G . Lodge and Lodge of Benevolence , at 7 precisely- Lodge : Beadon , GI 9 , Greyhound Tavern , Duhvioh . THUI-SDAI ' , August 20 th . —House Com . Female School , at 4 . Lodges : Westbourne , 733 , New Inn ,

Edgwareroad . Cosmopolitan , 917 , Great Western Hotel , Paddington . EEEATCHI . —In our last issue , at page KM , "Antiquity of tho High Dei rea "—last line but one , instead of " Fable " read "Lodge . "