Gloucestershire.

Zetland Lodge , Gloucester , No . 1005—25 ; Royal Forest of Dean Lodge , Newnham , No . 1067—11 ; Tyndall Lodge , Staple Hill , No . 1363—4 ; Hicks Beach Lodge , Stroud , No . 2407—18 ; St . Andrew Lodge , Avonmouth , No . 2541—2 ; Royal York Lodge , Nailsworth , No . 2709—18 .

Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed in due form . There were about 250 Brethren present during the proceedings . Subsequently the Brethren , to the number of nearly 200 , partook of an early dinner in the Corn Hall . The Provincial Grand Master , in proposing the Queen ' s

health , said he had the honour of being very near her at the ceremony at South Kensington , and was glad , on the eve of her 80 th birthday , to say how well she appeared to be . Pie hoped it would still be a long time before her happy and glorious reign was brought to a close .

Later , in acknowledging the toast of his own health , he said he had never felt prouder of his Lodge than he had that year , and he spoke warmly of the pleasure he felt in these meetings with his Gloucestershire Brethren , away from the atmosphere and surroundings of party strife and politics . — " Cheltenham Examiner . "

The Porch Of The Temple.

THE PORCH OF THE TEMPLE .

MOST striking and beautiful was the porch of King Solomon ' s Temple , worthy in itself of a journey to Jerusalem to behold . King David gave to King Solomon the pattern of this porch ( I Chronicles xxviii , 11 ) , and Solomon was chosen by the Lord to build it—together with the entire Temple . The two

chief features of the porch were the two famous pillars , named by Solomon Jachin and Boaz . Whether these two pillars stood in the porch , or in front of- it , has always been a vexed question—I Kings vii , 21 stating that "he set up the pillars in the porch of the Temple , " and II Chronicles iii , 17 , that " he reared up the pillars before the Temple . " These two pillars , of brass , were the

work of Hiram , the architect of Tyre , and ease under his direction , with chapiters of molten brass upon the tops of the pillars as capitols , with nets of checker work and wreaths of chain work , and upon their tops was lily work . Such , in brief , was the porch of the Temple , " a thing of beauty , " and through its verbal delineation " a jov for ever . "

Suppose a stranger had come to Jerusalem after the completion of the Temple on purpose to see it , and had viewed and admired its wonderful porch , but after doing so had turned his back on the Temple itself , after having been invited to enter it and behold all of its wondrous beauties ! What would be thought of the good sense , or the fine taste , of such a one , and if he were

a mystic disciple of King Solomon , what would be thought of his Freemasonry ? Standing in the porch , with the privilege of familiarising himself with all the marvels of construction and ornamentation of the Temple interior , and refusing to enter , such a one might be denominated intellectually blind , morally lame , and Masonically dumb .

Brother reader , have you not seen this blind , lame and dumb man , this blind , lame and dumb Freemason ? More than the

schoolmaster he is abroad in the world . Men who have eyes and see not , ears and hear not , minds and understand not . Men who have feet and walk not from the outer porch into the inner temple . Men who are initiates but not adepts . Brethren who are familiar with the exoteric , but ignorant of the esoteric . None of these

things should be . The eye was constituted to be the organ of sight , the ear to hear , the feet to walk , the mind to think . He who abridges his physical , mental or Masonic ability drags around with him for life a dead member , and makes himself a spectacle for men and angels .

Now we have reached the heart of this subject . Every Freemason is entitled , completely entitled , to enter not only the porch of the mystic Temple of the Craft , but to penetrate into its holy place , and its holy of holies , The entire triad is his . Especially

is it his privilege to enter the penetralia , the adytum , the most holy place . No Masonic secret is lawfully denied him . The complete secret , art and mystery is his , to master and enjoy—if he will ; but he must will if it is to be his . " Whosoever will" is the language of Freemasonry , as well as of Holy Writ .

What a rich reward does the Fraternity bestow upon every initiate who seeks to kn ' ow the entire mystery ! We would that it were in our power to make this so clear that every Brother might comprehend its truth and force . We would that every initiate might understand that one may be a Master Mason

without being a Master of Masonry . To be the latter is the work , the pleasure , the reward of a life-time ' s study . The student of the mystery of Freemasonry is no mere book-worm , no antiquated pedagogue , but an intelligent tourist through an intellectual paradise which is watered with silvery streams , flowing through flowery meads , shaded with stately trees , through which balmy

The Porch Of The Temple.

zephyrs play , birds of rich plumage sing , and every prospect is one of enchantment and beauty . This is the interior of the Masonic Temple . Those who remain in the porch of the Temple never behold it . The porch is the sign , it . is the thing signified . The porch is the type , it is the anti-type . The porch is the symbol , it is the symbol's hidden meaning .

Yes , the joys of the porch are great . All the initiated resort there . There are social pleasures , and there is Masonic recognition . But why remain there ? Why be satisfied ? Why not enter the Temple ? Why not become more than mechanical Masons ? Why not discover the hidden beauties and excellencies of Masonry ? Why not understand and enjoy the meaning of our symbolism ? If you are a Mason , why not be a thorough one ?

There is a sublimity in Freemasonry which justifies the phrase , " sublime degree of a Master Mason . " Every Brother should be a sublime Mason , and he may be if he will . There is ravishment for the sight , enchantment for the imagination , satisfaction for the understanding . All are invited to this

intellectual banquet . The gates of Corinthian brass in the porch of the Temple are thrown wide open , and every Master Mason is invited to enter the Temple itself . — " Keystone . "

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

SYMPATHY CHAPTER , No . 483 . rriHE annual installation of the Principals of this Chapter took place afc a JL convocation held at the Royal Clarendon Hotel , Gravesend , on 23 rd ult ., when a full muster of the members and their friends assembled to take part in the proceedings . The Chapter was formally opened by the M . E . Z . Comp ; 3 . P . White , and the Companions were admitted . After the minutes had been confirmed , the ballot was taken for Bro .

Edward Caspar Paine , of the Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 , as a candidate for exaltation . Bro . Paine having been approved , was admitted and regularly exalted into tha Holy Royal Arch degree by Comp . White , whose working of tho ceremony was everything that could be desired . The lectures were delivered by Comps . R . J . Beamish , Orlton Cooper , and John Read P . G . O . Eng ., the last named Companion giving the mystic lecture at the request of the M . E . Z .

A Conclave of Installed Principals having been formed under the presidency of Comp . John Read , the ceremony of installation was commenced . Comp . White presented Comp . Orlton Cooper M . E . Z .-elect , who was duly obligated , invested and installed as First Principal . Comp . R . J . Beamish was afterwards inducted into the chair of H ., and Comp . William Hawker into that of J . The various ceremonies were beautifully rendered by Comp . Read , who was subsequently accorded a hearty vote of thanks by the Chapter .

The Companions having saluted their new Principals , the following Officers were invested , viz ., Arthur Ronaldson S . E ., Ernest Ingman S . N ., Thos . T . Hogg Treasurer , W . Spencer Bowen P . S ., J . A . Gillett and Percy Bowen Assistants , T . A . Mummery D . C ., A . J . Walklin and Geo . Masters Stewards , and George Martin Janitor . A candidate was proposed for exaltation at the next meeting , and the Treasurer ' s report was presented .

Comp . Ronaldson announced that the Provincial Grand Master and Superintendent Earl Amherst would l \ v the foundation stone of the Passmore Edwards Hospital , at Heme Bay , on 12 th June ; that the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent would be held ac Sevenoaks , on the 14 th June ; and thafc on the 23 rd his Lordship would consecrate a new Lodge at Margate . Also that the Provincial Grand Chapter would meet on 14 th July , afc Plumstead . The Chapter was then closed and the Companions subsequently dined together , when the customary complimentary speeches were given .

An improved service o £ trains has been arranged b y the Great Western Railway Company between Paddington and Henley , commencing on 3 rd June . Extra trains will also be run on Mondays and Saturdays , leaving Paddington at 10 . 10 a . m . and Henley at 9 . 0 p . m . On Sundays an extra train departs from Paddington at 9 . 55 a . m ., and Henley at 9 . 0 p . m .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

WE much regret to announce the death of Mrs . Hemmens , widow of the late Bro . Henry Hemmens , which occurred at "Calabar , " Coronation Road , Bristol , on Wednesday evening , ioth ult . Since the death of her husband , some seven years ago , the health of Mrs . Hemmens

has only been moderately good , and an utter collapse appears to have followed on the death of her eldest son , Bro . George Hemmens , on the 3 rd ult ., as reported in our recent issue . During his illness his mother undertook a journey to Bournemouth for which she was physically unfitted . The whole of

the mental strain , anxiety , and grief finally culminated in complete prostration , and resulted in the actual and immediate cause of death , a clot of blood upon the brain , and failure of the heart . Mrs . Hemmens will be long remembered as an agreeable and accomplished lady , and one of the most genial

and entertaining of hostesses . To mourn her loss and respect her memory , she leaves a numerous family of sons and daughters , her mother ( Mrs . George Williams ) , and her only surviving sister ( the wife of Bro ~ A . J . Tonkin ) , and many friends and relations . The funeral took place at Arno ' s Vale , on Monday afternoon last week .