Church Services.

They thanked Him for the light which showed them the beauties that surrounded them , the dangers that beset their paths , and the truth that confronted them in life and in the departure from life—for their departure was not into the dark , but into fuller and more perfect light .

There were those before him who were his Brethren , and they would feel in a special degree what it meant that light had come into the world . But on an occasion like that it was not

well to speak altogether to those who were of the Masonic confraternity . Outsiders knew that their mysteries were things preserved from common observation and knowledge , that they had certain peculiar secrets , and the world had sometimes fallen into the great error of supposing that all that was

hidden must necessarily be bad . Freemasons knew better than that , but it was not quite sufficient for them to know it ; it was also well that the world should know it too . How could light be recognised ? Just in the old way— " as a tree is

known by its fruit , light is known by its shadow . ' There were things the world could know of the Masonic body ; that their whole system was founded upon God ' s Holy Word , and that without it there could be no genuine Masonic meeting .

Not long ago it became a matter of common knowledge that the Grand Master the Prince of Wales conveyed to the Brethren a command whereby all Masonic communion was cut off from France and its dependencies , and that not from any motive of nationality , no political difference , but simply

because they had held the Lodges without the Word of God and did not recognise the Deity . Therefore , he said , the fact that Masonry was founded upon the Word of God was made

patent to the world ; and although the superstructure might vary , it was thus put on the right foundation . There were other ways in which the world might know what sort of people Masons were . The first was by their fruits .

One of the characteristics of every Mason and Masonic body was a spirit of charity and love ; it was , as Christianity ought to be , a true and sincere brotherhood , a joining together of spirits that were congenial to walk together in Brotherly love and friendship . There was nothing more beautiful

m the Bible than the friendship of David and Jonathan , and that was the basis of the Masonic body . They could show stately edifices erected for the instruction and maintenance of the orphan ; they could point to the old Widows , who were receiving quarter by quarter their pension of maintenance from

the body ; they could also point to the old Masons , whose declining years were comforted by the help of their fellows . Their charity was not confined to their own body . Let some great war break out and cause great suffering—at once the body came forward to help .

In the Indian famine , in the various wars which in the last one hundred years had been waged by our country , in the great famine and pestilence of Russia , in the great Canadian fires , they had come forward and given largely of their storedup charity . But they could point to a great deal more than

that . Their body was not of yesterday . They could point to the magnificent structures that had been the work of their Craftsmen . Although that element was not predominant at present it was one of the things that had given its turn to modern Freemasonry . Those great cathedrals of the middle

ages were erected by the skill and wisdom of the Craftsmen of their body . They could point to works that made the world more beautiful to live in , and say that light had come into the world . Let them walk by the light that had been

given them , and look forward to the time when this frail body should be raised to everlasting life . In conclusion , the Rev . Brother mentioned the object of the collection , which he commended to their support .

Re-Opening Masonic Room At Holmfirth.

RE - OPENING MASONIC ROOM AT HOLMFIRTH .

FOR several months the members of the Holme Valley Craft Lodge , No . 652 ( in the Province of West Yorkshire ) have had their meetings in other buildings in the town , whilst their own Lodge room has been reconstructed and considerably enlarged . On Friday , 18 th ult , the D . G . M . 01 the Province honoured the Lodge with a visit on the occasion

of the first meeting following the alterations . Bro . Wilson D . Prov . G . M . and PastG . D . of England was supported by several Provincial Brethren and about thirty visiting Brothers , including Bro . Howard P . M . 106 , Williamsport , Pennsylvania .

The Worshipful Master Bro . John Stott Brierley , ably assisted by his Deacons Bros . T . M . Haigh and James Beardsell and Wardens Bros . Joshua Barrowclough and Shaw Haigh , took a ceremony ,

Re-Opening Masonic Room At Holmfirth.

At the banquet that followed , the Worshipful Master gave the first Masonic toast the Queen , which was enthusiastically honoured , Bro . William Riley P . M ., with grand effect supplying the musical honours . The Worshipful Master then , in suitable terms submitted the G . M . of England and members

of Grand Lodge present and past . Plaving been loyally received Bro . Richard Wilson D . Prov . G . M . in powerful words of advice dealt with the important question of the management of the London Charities ; of the abuse of Masonic gatherings , and the firm manner it was purposed to deal in the future with

applications for parades in Masonic clothing ; and the high qualities possessed by the Grand Master of the Province Bro . W . L . Jackson M . P ., and his ability , to deal with all critical matters that were brought before him relative to the well being of the Province , or Freemasonry at large .

Bro . James Lancaster P . M . submitted the visitors , and the responding Brethren were : for Lodge 106 Pennsylvania , Bro . Ploward P . M . ; 149 Peace , Meltham , Bro . C . R . Plampshire I . P . M . ; 275 Harmony , Pluddersfield , Bro . Jas . Kaye P . P . D . C ,

521 Truth , Pluddersfield , Bro . Arnold W . M . ; 1246 Plolte , Aston , Bro . Rigby P . P . D . C , 1783 Albert Edward , Pluddersfield , Bro . J . Marchant P . P . A . D . C , and Bro . Longbottom ; 1514 Thornhill , Huddersfield , Bro . Joe Sykes P . A . D . C ., and Bro . Monroe W . M .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master next submitted the health of the Worshipful Master and congratulated the Lodge on its working . The W . M . Bro . Brierley acknowledged , and proposed the Officers , the following responding : Bro . Joshua Barrawclough

S . W ., Bro . Shaw Plaigh J . W ., Bro . Tom Pleeley Sec , Bro . T . M . Haigh S . D ., Bro . James Beardsell J . D ., Bro . R . T . Plardy D . C ., Bro . Albert Tucker Organist , Bro . Richard Bowyer Chaplain , j-. ro . Jesse Shore Tyler . Bro . J . C . Barrowclough P . J . W . next submitted the Past Masters of the Lodge , and I . P . M . Bro .

Ingham , and Past Masters Lancaster , Graham , and J . MeDo : replied . Before the Tyler gave the last Masonic toast , the following Brethren ' s services were acknowledged for the classical musical programme rendered ; Brothers Haley , Riley , Threapleton , J . W . Brierley , and Joshua Marshall P . P . G . Organist . The latter briefly replied .

It has been suggested that the Freemasons of Islington should join in the Carnival being arranged there on behalf of the War Fund , but the " Islington Gazette , " in referring to the matter , very rightly observes that there is a difficulty in

the way of a demonstration on the part of the Brethren , " as they cannot appear in public in their regalia without the permission of the Grand Lodge , and dispensations are very seldom granted . " Our contemporary might have gone much

further , as we believe it would really be an unprecedented event—at least within the last hundred years—if such a procession were permitted within the metropolitan area . It might be possible in some of the outlying Provinces , but very unlikely even there , and we can but express the opinion that

in our estimation the interests of the Craft are best served by a rigid adherence to the rule which limits , as far as possible , public displays of Freemasonry . Happily the matter is being taken up by Grand Lodge , and we believe every right thinking Brother will support the authorities in any endeavour they

may make to preserve the secrecy and the good name of the Brotherhood . Freemasonry is too good of itself to require any outside show or other form of popular advertisement , and although as a body the Brethren are ever ready and willing

to assist any good cause , they must not be expected to parade their regalia in public , even though it may be to benefit a deserving object , if at the same it may bring discredit and ridicule upon the Craft .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Shropshire Bro . R . G . Venables has presented each of the four Lewises who took part in the recent Masonic service held at Holy Trinity

Church , Oswestry , with a handsome copy of the Volume of Sacred Law , in which is inscribed the recipient ' s name . The names of the recipients are Masters Donald Nicholson , Arthur Redfern , Denis Poole , and Keith Minshall .

Thursday next , the 7 th inst ., is the latest day by which petitions for the October election of the F . oyal Masonic Institution for Girls must reach the offices of that Institution , at Freemasons' Hall , London , but it is desirable they should be received as much before that date as possible .