Present Masonic Life.

by its teachings , it would shield us from many storms , and relieve us from many regrets , and at the end of our daily innrnfiv we can look back on onr nathwav and our labours W *¦

J *** -- ~ J ~ £ J of the day with satisfaction , and the sun of approval would rise to shine upon our works .

We spend the first half of our man s estate by holding our bodies in subjection by our intellect , for all the powers of a young man's mind are called into requisition in his early manhood to keep himself within due founds with all

mankind , but in after years , the rule is reversed and it is the body that becomes the tutor of the mind and guides it

to reformation , and governs it more rudely and imperiously than the mind ever governs the body . So tbat whether we are just beginning the active duties

of life or standing beneath the sun at its meridian height and beholding the glory and beauty of the day , or have reached the third step delineated upon our carpet , it is necessary that we cultivate this virtue of prudence so as to

guard our minds and bodies from tho vices of life and avoid the temptations we daily meet , and keep continually employed with life ' s duties and obligations . ¦ _ I ____ . *_ . n __»/___»•¦ __» ITHUAVH l __ . s _ . ____ VinH __¦_«_)_ . nm _ p _ . _ r _ . mit-li __•_ . ____ *«*_?__ -M n _ r _ r 1 An ______ r __ r __ _ n _ rt __ T _ r _ i I youth whom God has crowned wifch and cursed with

" see a power poverty , With bravest heart he struggles with his lot through toilsome years , Kent to his dail v task bv dailv want of bread .

And kept to virtue by bis daily task , He stands at last a master of himself , And in that grace a master of his kind . "

Justice is that standard or boundary of right which enables us to render to every man his just due without distinction . While this virtue is the very cement and support of civil

society , is is of like necessity one of the supports of our Institution . To be just to ourselves , our brethren and our Order should be onr constant study . In the ages past how much crime was committed , how

many rights trampled upon , how many injuries inflicted in the name of justice ! but in the years of civilisation and Christianity the virtue of justice has become the shield of all true men and women .

" 0 ! dreadful justice ! What a fright nnd terror Wast thou of old ? When sin and error did show and shape thy looks to me , And throngh their glass discolour thee , He tbat did but look up was proud and bold .

" The scale of thy balance seemed to gape , Like two great pits . The beam and scape Did like some tottering engine show Thy hand above did barn and glow . Daunting the stoutest hearts , the loudest wits .

" Bnt now that Christ ' s pure veil presents the sight , I see no fear . Thy hand is white , Thy scale like buckets which attend And interchangeably descend , Lifting to heaven this well of tears .

u For where before thon didst still call on me , Now I still touch

And harp on thee . God ' s promises had made thee mine ; Why should I justice now decline ? Against me there is none , but for me much . "

We should cultivate this virtue so as to be just to the imperishable part of ourselves , by improving our minds in true Masonic knowledge , using the days and hours of our lives in study , thereby living up to the full measure of our intellectual usefulness . Just to our bodies by avoiding

dissipation and excess , living out our allotted days in health , thereby enabling us to do the greatest amount of possible good . Just to onr neighbour by observing the golden rule , and just to our God by a godly life and conduct .

Whilo we believe the perfect ideal of Masonic character is never attained by even the highest type of morality , yet a steady purpose of mind in us to improve ourselves ,

making our daily lives in part an exempli-icatton of these Masonic virtues , will enable _ is to better appreciate the grandeur of true Masonic manhood .

So giving more attention to foundation stones , that our superstructure of Speculative Masonry may rest upon a rock , sure and stedfast , cultivating these virtues day by

day , using none but perfect ashlars in our Masonic edifice . These Masonic virtues are not perfected in an hour or a day , for the cycle of lifo finds them incomplete . " Heaven is nofc reached at a single bound , But we build tjhe ladder by whioh we rise ,

Present Masonic Life.

From the lowly earth to fche vaulted skies , And we mount to its summit round by round . " 1 < onnt this tiling to be grandly true , That a noble dred is a step toward God , Lifting the soul from the common clod To a purer air and a broader view .

" Wo use by tho things that are under our feefc , By what we have mastered of good and gain , By tho pride deposed and the passion slain , And the vanquished ills thafc we hourly meet . "

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — UNANIMITY AND SINCERITY LODGE , No . 261 .

1 'HE Festival of St . John was held at the Masonio Hall , Taunton , on Wednesday , 16 th ult ., when Brigadier-General Adair , the retiring Officer , installed as his successor in the chair Bro . G . Saunders junior . The newly-installed Masfcer appointed the Officers

following : —Bro ? . Aveling S . W . P . P . G . Chap ., Strawbridge J . W ., Wake S . D ., Chnffin J . D ., Hammetfc Secretary , Showers Treasurer , Rev . H . S . Hume Chaplain , Hartnell D . C , Lewis I . G ., Baker Organist , Barrett , Potter , Robert . " , and Loveday Stewards , Tidbury Tyler , Jones Assist . Tyler .

FAITH AND FRIENDSHIP LODGE , No . 270 .

rPHE annual festival was celebrated at the Town Hall , Berkeley , on JL Tuesday , the 15 th ulfc . This is the oldest Lodge in the Province , nnd was founded on the 25 fch July 1789 . The ceremony of installation was performed by tbe P . G . M . of Glouceatersbire , Bro . the Right Don . Sir Michael Hicks Beach , assisted by R . V . Vassar-Smith D . P . G . M ., Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , and P . M . ' s of the

Berkeley Lodge , when Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Fitzhardinge was dnly installed W . M . for the ensuing year , and he invested the following Officeis -. —Bros . Wheatley I . P . M ., Cox S . W ., Smith J . W ., the Rev . A . Bond Chaplain , Thomas Secretary , Price S . D ., Harding J . D .,

Hadley D . C , Pearce I . G ., Morse and Gregory Stewards , and J . M rrefct Tyler . After the ceremony the banquet took place afc tho lioikeley Arms Hotel . Lord Fitzhardinge presided , and fche vice-chair was ncr . nniRd bv Bro . 0 . Cox . Tbe usual Loval and Masonio to a . ts were

duly honoured , and the brethren spent a most convival and enjoyable evening . LION LODGE , Np . 312 .

ON the 21 st ult . tbe members met at the Masonic Hall , Jobn . street , Whitby , for the annual installation of the W . M . The choice of tbe Lodge having fallen unanimously this year upon Bro . R . W . Whit , tho ceremony of his installation was proceeded witb , tho In . stalling Mnster beiug Bro . J . Stevenson , who performed the duty very imf ressively . The following were invested as Officers for the

ensuing year : —Bros . Stewart I . P . M ., Stevenson Chaplain , Lawson Treasurer , Atkinson S . W ., Thornton J . W ., Oliver S . D ., Smithson J . D ., Edwards I . G ., Burton Newbold Secretary , Rennison Organist , Walker D . C , Trneman O . G ., Watson and Robson Stewards . In the evening the annual banquet took place at the Crown Hotel , and was of a sumptuous description .

WILTSHIRE LODGE OF FIDELITY , No . 063 . THE annual meeting took place on the 18 th January , afc the Masonic Hall , Devizes . The ontgoing W . M ., Bro . W . M .

Tucker , opened the Lodge , and after the usual preliminaries installed his successor , the S . W ., Bro . Henry Joseph Johnson , according to ancient custom . The newly insta'led W . M . appointed and invested the Officers of the Lodge for the ensuing year , as follows .- —Bros .

Tucker I . P . M ., Sloper S . W ., Rev . W . Humphreys J . W . and acting Chaplain , Nott P . M . Treas . ( by deputy ) , Hopkins P . M . Secretary , Crees S . D ., Martin J . D ., Howse P . M . D . C , Bush P . M . Organist , Billingharn I . G ., Reynolds Steward , and Barnes Tyler . Tho usual addresses to the Worshipful Master , Wardens and Brethren were

delivered by the Installing Master aud P . M . 's Dowse and T . C Hopkins respectively . There was a good attendance of members and visitors , amongst the latter being Bros . E . B . Mercer P . M . 41 , G . J . Farrington P . M . 1271 , J . Pocock W . M . 632 , G . T . Blakeley S . W . 586 , A . Wallington J . W . 1271 . General rrgrefc was expressed afc the

absence of Bro . W . Nott P . M ., on account of ill-health , and the Secretary was desired to convey to him tho hearty wishes of tbe brethren for his speedy recovery . After Lodge was closed fcho brethren adjourned to the customary banquet at the Bear Hotel , towards which Bro . Watson Taylor had as usual sent a supply of venison .

STOUR VALLEY LODGE , No . 1224 . rilHE members , on the 16 fch ult ., presented Mrs . Mason , wife ol 1 . Bro . Dr . W . Inglis Mason , with a very beautiful gold bracelet set with 18 brilliants in recognition of the valuable services rendered to the Lodgo by Bro . Mason during his year of Mastership , and of his

great liberality and kindness . Thc presentation was made at Dr . Mason ' s residence , by the Rev . C . J . Martyn D . P . G . M . of Suffolk , and was accompanied by the following address , beautifully illuminated : —

" To Mrs . William Inglis Mason , —Wc , the Brethren of the Stour Valley Lodge of Freemasons , No . 1224 , wishing to express our appreciation of the many services rendered by our Bro . William Inglis Mason duiing his year of office , and in recognition of the kind interest evinced by him afc all times in the welfare of the Lodge , ask you fco accept the bracelet accompanying this as a small token of