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THE CASTLE HOTEL , EAST MOLESEY , Adjoining Hampton Court Station , FACING THE RIVER AND PALACE . Special Provision for Lodge and other meetings , including A MASONIC TEMPLE with ample Ante-Rooms , Banquet Hall , and every convenience . FIVE LODGES ALREADY MEET HERE . Ample accommodation in the new wing of this old-established and noted Riverside Hotel for Banquets for any number up to 100 . Every convenience for Ladies' Gatherings . Spacious landing to river , whence Steam Lauches can start . Specimens of Menus , with prices , sent on application . TWO BILLIARD TABLES . GOOD STABLING ACCOMMODATION . Tariff , Seo . of Bro . JOHN MAYO , Proprietor .

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STAR & GARTER HOTEL , KEW BRIDGE , Brother Capt . W . T . PURKISS , V . D ., Proprietor . The accommodation at this Popular Establishment for MASONIC LODGES AND CHAPTERS Will be found of the Most Complete and Perfect Character . The Lodge Rooms are Commodious and well Appointed . The Banquet Hall will seat over ioo Guests . The Culinary Arrangements embrace every modern feature . Special Facilities for Wedding Breakfasts , Soirees , Concerts , Balls , and Evening Parties . The Stock of Wines comprises all the Best Known Brands , and will he found in Perfect Condition . Private Eooms for Large or Small Parties . Good Stabling . Scale of Charges ancl further particulars on Application . The Boyal Alfred Lodge , Chiswick Mark Lodge , Loyalty and Charity Lodge , Bose of Denmark Chapter , St . Mary ' s Chapter , and Boyal Alfred Lodge of Instruction hold their meetings at this Establishment .

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WHITTINGTON HOTEL , Moor Lane , Moorgate Street , E . C . EXCELLENT accommodation for Lodge meetings . Banquet Eoom holds over 100 guests . Brethren wishing for fresh quarters will find every convenience , combined with comfort . WINES , SPIRITS , and CIGARS ofthe best quality . The Booms can be had also for Instruction Lodges , Suppers , Concerts , Dinners , & c . For further particulars apply fco Bro . George Stevenson , Proprietor . Early application is requested .

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i^^^^^^^S gry . rti ^^ SATUEDAY , 2 ND OCTOBEB 1897 .

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CHURCH SERVICE .

THE annual Masonic Sermon at the Parish Church , Banton , was preached on the 12 th ult ., by Bro . Eev . John Livingston Chaplain 39 ( S . C ) , when upwards of fifty members of the Craffc attended , and marched in procession from and to the local Schoolroom . The preacher selected as his text Matthew vi , 9 " Our Father . " He said Freemasonry , which had been described

as " a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols , " was an institution which dated back to the time of King Solomon . It was generally regarded that the Order took its rise at the time of the building of the temple , and although its history was to a great extent obscure , yet they could

confidently say it was the most ancient society in the world . They were equally certain that its sentiments , its doctrines , and its principles were those of benevolence , brotherly love , and pure morality . It supported all that was good and kind and charitable ; all that was evil and cruel and hurtful it abhorred .

The church of Christ should encourage every society that helped men to lead purer , better , and nobler lives . Of all such Masonry had the strongest claim on Christian men . Freemasons had always been worshippers of the one true God . Masonry had always declared and taught the unity of the God-head . From

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the word of God the Mason derived his instruction . And the sum and substance of the teaching of Masonry was contained in those words which contained for many the sum and substance of the Christian faith , the words of the text , Our Father . Those

words were taught to them first by Christ , and they could only realize what they meant through His love . He was firsfc to reveal God as a Father . By His revelation of God the name Father took its place in human speech as the Christian name for God .

No doubt the doctrine of the Fatherhood of God was not entirely new . In the Old Testament God was spoken of as a Father , bufc it was Israel as a nation that was his son , whereas Christ placed God in this relationship towards individuals . This Father—God—loved all . What they had to remember was ; fchey

were His children and that through filial dependence and trust they would draw near unto Him . Jesus was the living way to God . In him God showed the depths of His unfathomable love . Should they doubt it ? Only when they had thoroughly grasped

this Christian idea of God , would they be worthy members of that Order whose distinctive belief was the Fatherhood of God , and true disciples of Him who was the great exponent of a God of love .

Every doctrine of God had its corresponding doctrine of man . Consequently with the Christian idea of God was associated the dignity and value of humanity . As Christ had taught in His life and work that every man was of infinite importance in the eyes of God , that all men , whether good or bad , depraved

or righteous , had equal claims on His love and mercy , so Masonry , believing like Christianity in the Fatherhood of God taught similarly the kindred doctrine of the brotherhood of man . Men might say that belief in the brotherhood of man was no creed : but human creeds no more contained the truths of the

gospel than a treatise on astronomy the splendours of a winter sky , or a treatise on botany the beauties of a May morning . Whatever the creed had omitted the scriptures made it plain that though a man had added to his faith , virtue ; and to virtue , knowledge ; and to knowledge , temperance ; and to temperance ,

patience ; and to patience , godliness ; the Apostolic call was , add to godliness , brotherly kindness . Only when thab was present could they add Love . A chain was only as strong as its weakest link , and whenever that link—brotherly kindness—was faulty , there was a tremendous hindrance to the charity life and to the charity influence .

One thinker had given it as his conviction that pride was at the bottom of all great mistakes . Their Order necessarily brought together men of different character , education , and position—they were all one in God the Father . Were they , however , invariably courteous and friendly to their brothers ?

He would fain hope so . He would willingly believe that they were all so knit together by the cement of brotherly love that among them no contention ever existed but that noble contention of who could best work and who best agree . For in a few short years all earthly distinctions would be as nought , and they would

be in the presence of the Great Architect of the Universe—the King of kings , who bade them do justly , love mercy , and walk humbly with Him . They were living either to weaken their fellow believers , or to hold up their hands and inspire them with new courage . They must therefore guard against quenching or

weakening the spiritual yearnings of those around them . They should pray and strive for more of the Master ' s spirit of sympathy and charity , so that filled with the charity of the Master—that golden link which bound them together into one brotherhood , they would be prepared to use every opportunity that presented

itself to do good according fco their individual light , and to further the cause of moral improvement according to their highest means and best abilities . As every good deed was the source of many

others might they never fail to stretch out hands of pity to the fallen and erring , and show brotherly love to their weaker and less fortunate Brethren . The preacher concluded with an ascription of praise , — " Kilsyth Chronicle . "

The widow of the late Bro . Alderman Sir Francis Wyatt Truscott is erecting a stained glass window in Truro Cathedral , as a memorial of her husband , who was a native of Truro . Sir

Francis was present at the laying of the foundation stone of the cathedral by the Prince of Wales , attending in the dual capacity of Lord Mayor of London and Junior Grand Warden of English Freemasons , says the " City Press . "

An Australian contemporary relates an incident in a Lodge under the Victorian Constitution where the Worshipful Master called the Brethren off for a week ' s refreshment . It is needless to say , adds the writer , this was to evade a law relative to fcho installation , which could not be conveniently gone through ou the night in question .