Bombay.

God wonld protect them and bless them wherever they might be ; . we see them herding together for mutual safety , filled with a slavish dread of tho powers of nature ( afraid that is , of auother flood ) , aud actuated by a selfish anxiety , which made them cling coward-like to one spot and to one another . AVhat stir ! aud what commotion must havo marked their efforts ! Yet after all what result ? So far from

completing a comuiou landmark and a rallying place for all , discussion and dispersion grew out of their very task , and doubtless for many an after ago men pointed to those uutiuished towers of Babel , and told from father to son how iu tho babble of divers tongues , in tho strife of selfish and varying interests man ' s puuy , ill-directed labour had come to nought .

Thus it may bo said of much that man endeavours after and undertakes . There is confusion and turmoil , sound aud strife , jarring iutorcsts , selfish struggles ; ho loves tho roll of tho drum and the fanfaro of trumpets , nor is ho deterred by garments rolled in blood God's work on tho other hand is over calm and peaceful . True power , trno greatness is ever distinguished by repose and assured

rest . Under a great variety of figures is this feature of Divino working inculcated in Scripture , but never moro strikingly than in this instanco when tho Templo on Mount Moriah grew silently ^ to its completion , scarce challenging man's notice or admiration , till it stood forth iu all its finished beauty . As a ship's track npon tho water , which no eye can trace—as a bird ' s path in air , which none can

follow—as showers npon the tender herb , or dew upon the mown grass , thus does God reveal His presence and impart His influence , and thus peaceful and quiet growth aro the distinguishing traits of His followers . God " hides them in His tabernacle secretly from the strife of tongues , " they know nothing of tho Babel warfare of the world . God teaches them the power of the still small voice " when

the whirlwind , and the earthquake and tho firo hath passed by : they aro partakers of a kingdom that cometh not with observation , and ever , when weary with earthly toil , God speaks to them the words of comfort . In quietness and confidence shall be your strength . " Yonr predecessors , my Brothers in the Mystic Craft , were working Masons guided by divine wisdom . Both the Tabernacle and the

Temple with their furniture wero constructed after the pattern of heavenly things . But it is remarkable that our first Grand Master was of mixed birth—of a Gentile father though of a Jewish mother , one among many indications that God's gifts are not confined to any one race or people , aud that Freemasonry especially is the heritage of tho world . To the nations of Europe and the AYest , and even to the

sea-girt home of the Anglo Saxon race , has passed by regnlar descent and transmission some share at least of that Masonio love . It has come now to be generally acknowledged that most of the Cathedrals of England , France and Germany were built by guilds or associations of Masons who passed from country to country and continent to con . tinent and left behind them memorials of labour that havo been ever

since a world ' s wonder and a nation ' s pride . Those clays are past and gone ! Not now , my Brothers , are you called upon to rear stately fanes consecrated to God ' s honor , or houses dedicated to the cause of Charity and Humanity . But other work lies before yon . Still aro you builders , collectively as well as individnally , and Solomon ' s Temple remains an eternal type of what each

Lodge and the united body of our order should be ; and secondly what each separate and individual Mason should be . In " majestic silence the Temple rose ; " so only in peace and order should and does Freemasonry work its quiet way ; * still it labours to leave behind monuments more enduring than those earthly piles that crumble to the touch of Time ' s " effacing fingers . " Still secret and unostentatious is its

working . It doth not " lift up its voice , " or " cry aloud m the streets . It seeks no addition to its members by argument or solicitation or proselytism . It seeks only that the Grand Master above may accept the work of Charity and Love with tho approving sentence " well done ! Good and faithful servant !" Now , to accomplish such nndertakings there must be unity of

purpose , mutual endeavour , brotherly love and sell-sacrifice . Dispute and contention never yet effected a good purpose . Axes and hammers cannot build np . " Now they break doivn all the carved-work thereof with axes and hammers . " They can destroy but not build up . Tho test memorials a Lodge can rear are works of charity and piety such as that whioh claims your sympathies to-day . The alms-house which

shelters four widows and their children has of lato received but cold . and insufficient support . I trnsfc to yonr liberality to place it beyond the reach of want for many a clay to come . Lastly , of that Temple who each man in himself is hero too the law of its building , is identical with that enjoined on Mount Moriah . Slowly and gradually is each soul moulded to receive the most High . Secretly and silently

does God reveal himself . Not in tho noise aud bustla of excited audiences , not in the passing emotions of a quasi religious fervor , is the heart of man prepared and edified . In all true religion is quietness and peace . Thus doe 3 God manifest Himself to His chosen ones . God is Love , and he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God , and God in nirn .

And now , Brothers , in tho words of the Apostle , " I commit you to God and to the word of His grace who is able to build you np " into the living temples of His Glory . So mote it be . After the sermon a collection was made on behalf of tho " Widows-Home" by the Master and Senior Warden of " Union , " when the

Brethren responded most cordially . After the business of tho Lodge was completed the Brethren , numbering about 52 , sat down to a most sumptuous Banquet , got up under the management of Brother Miller of H . M . 's 8 : 3 rd Regiment ; the full band of the 10 th Regiment N . I . discoursed sweet inxisn during the Banquet .

NATIONAL RULE ASSOCIATION , AVUUILEDON . —Lieut . G . Fenton . oi H . M . ' s 77 th Regiment , was the winner of the Quarter Cask " Speoia . ite" Sherry given by Messrs . Feltoc and Sons , of Albemarlestreet , AY ., whioh was shot for on tho 16 th July ; and Major Burt , oi tho 1 st AVarwickshiro , was tho winner of tho Three Dozen Casi 11 Speciality " Saumur Champagne ,

Badge Of A Mason.

BADGE OF A MASON .

' pHE true aud onl y badge of a Mason is a LAMBSKIN , not a piece A- of linen or muslin , or any other material , even though it bo white . It must be a lambskin , and why ? Because in all ages tho lamb has been deemed an emblem of " innocence ; " and iu wearing it , the Mason is remiuded of that purity of life which ho ia required to exhibit , aud which is an essential prerequisite to his admission into " tho Grand Lodge above . "

Tho lambskin , therefore , is a very important Masonio emblem . It is a speaking , impressivo , pleading emblem ; always uttering its voice and eloquently urging its monitions upon him who wears it as a Mason . It not only pleads for , but demands , " purity of life , " aud ho who will not hear and heed its pleadings , should lay it aside at ouco . I confess to an admiration for the lambskin apron , not alone for its

symbolic instruction , but for its inherent beauty . Purely white , iu size about 1-1 by 10 inches , with a trimming of heavy sky-bluo ribbon about an inch and three-fourths in width , —a Mason cauuob wear anythiug moro elegant and becoming , especially at a funeral , or other public Masonic procession . Indeed , I think there should bo a prohibitory statute against permitting a Mason , when ho appears

in public as such , wearing an apron of any other material than the lambskin . And in addition to that , the Grand Lodgo should prescribe tho material , size , form and fiuish of a Masonic apron , aud require that none other shonld be worn in public by Master Masons . Tho General Grand Chapter has doscribed what the apron of a Royal Arch Mason is , and tho Grand Encampment of tho United States

has prescribed the uniform of a Knight Templar , and permits none other to bo worn . The symbolism of Ancient Freemasonry defines the material of tho apron , or badge , of tho Order , and every Grand Lodgo should enact a law describing its form , size aud finish , and then forbid Master Masons to wear any other in Masonic processions . Tho exhibition of material , size , stylo and finish of aprons worn ,

sometimes , in Masonic 2 'roccssions , is enough to mako ono shed tears of chagrin , or go oft' in convnlsions of laughter : aprons of all sizes , materials and finish , and , if a novice , who had been told that a lambskin was tho only badge of a Mason , wero to see such a procession ho would certainly discredit tho information he had recoived , and , perhaps , concluded that all tho instruction given him might as

appropriately be disregarded . Why the lambskin ? It is not onl y its whiteness that is iudicativo of unstained purity ; but the animal itself is the very personification of innocence . ' Some years ago , when I was dealing in Masonic cloth , ing in connection with the publication of the Masonic Review , in Cincinnati , I received a letter from a Masonio acquaintance residing

in central Pennsylvania . Ho was a very intelligent physician , as well as an earnest Mason , and one of those stern , honest , old-fashioned Presbyterians . He desired to wear " the badge of a Mason , " and was told at his initiation that it was a lambskin . Ho had written to a dealer in Philadelphia for a Masonio apron , and a very beautiful apron was sent him , made from white satin , with the proper emblem

of his rank upon it . He was greatly surprised , and immediatel y returned it to the manufacturer , with instructions to send him a Masonic apron . The dealer , concluding he would not be caught napping again , made and sent him a beautiful apron of the finest goatskin ! This was too much for the stern old doctor , and he sent it back at once . " Why , " said he , " the badge of a Mason is a

lambskin , because of the purity and innocence of that animal ; but you have sent mo an apron made from the skin of one of the most repulsive , loathsome and beastly creatures in the land . I will not wear an apron from the back of such a creature ; it is not a badge of innocence , but of everything low and sensual and disgusting ! " I sent the good man an apron made from a lambskin—plain , white and

neat ; he was satishod , and wore it with pride . If there be anything in symbolism moro than a name , why nob apply it ? If there be only a name , discard the whole system a once as a mockery and false pretence . For a man iu mature years , as Master of a Lodge , to gravely inform the Neophyte that tho badge a Mason should wear is a lambskin , and give him the reason

in its impressive instruction as a symbol , and then invest him with an apron made from cotton or linen , is simply ridiculous . It is a warrant for discarding all other symbolic instruction , aud will justify the young brother in neglecting the entire symbolic code . Indeed , is not Masonry suffering from that laxity in the practical exemplification of the instructions our symbols give ? VVe teach

one thing and do something else , •we are taught to do or not to do thus and so , and promise to obey ; and then , by example , we are instructed to regard this pledge as mere idle verbiage ! I once met an old Mason who must needs show me his apron as a curiosity , and it was a curious affair . It was made of heavy , coarso linen , and had once been nearly white . It was three and a half feet

m length by two and a half in width , and would nearly cover a small man from hi 3 armpits to his ankles . On it was depicted almost every emblem known to Masonry , from those pertaining to the degree of Entered Apprentice up to thoso belonging to the orders of Christian Knighthood , not omitting the cock ! It was a wonderful nprou , and seeing I was greatly pleased with it , he presented it to

mo . I deposited it in the archives of my Lodgo—Kilwinning—in Cincinnati , to be preserved for "future ages" to wonder at . Tho . ambskin , brethren , the lambskin , is the budge a Mason shonld wear . In conversing with a prominent and experienced Mason recentl y , on this matter , ho referred to the practice of some Lodges where a piece of cotton was substituted for the lambskin as the badge of

i Mason , and the use of jewels made of tin or pasteboard ; said iic , " Such Lodges never amount to anything , aud such Masous aro rare ! ; . in honour to tho Craft . " AYasho not substantially correct ? Perhaps , howuvpr , I am pursuing this subject too far ; but I wish I could « eo the teacLi'ir-s and injunctions of the Lodge-room

rxemplilierl outsic ' p of it , especially in the uso of tho plain , simple iniform and sp ^ lesa iarrbskin as the true and legitimate batlgo if Masonry , with iu , . ^ nqneat and touching symbolism recognized everywhere and by every Masou , — " Voice of Masonry , "