The Second Of The Yearly Festivals.

THE SECOND OF THE YEARLY FESTIVALS .

WITH respect to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and its prospects for the year we have little to add to what has already been advanced . The result of the Festival last week fully realised the

most sanguine anticipations of the supporters of our Old Polks . The Chairman's munificent donation was staunchly backed up by the members of his Province , and the general body of the Craft evinced a keen interest in their struggle to nrovido the funds neces-\

— - ~ t . sary for the year ' s expenditure . Wo sincerely hope that as the months roll on now friends will present themselves , and that no call will have to be made on the invested funds of tho Charity . Well , then , the Old Polks having made their bow ,

we may give the order , —Clear , for tlio Girls . The rosy cheeked , twinkling eyed girls now claim our attention . We accept our brief with the knowledge that we have a congenial task before us . No need for " special" pleading on this occasion . For the timo being we may expect that the work of our three

great Institutions will revert to its normal condition , and each in its turn will receive the support of the several Lodges and other Masonic bodies who give their adhesion to each Institution in succession . There is one feature in connection with this , the second Festival of the year , that we can congratulate

the executive upon ; a nobleman has offered himself for the duties of President on the occasion , and the date has been fixed for the 17 th May next . It has often been said that in regard to our Festivals—as in all business matters—time is the essence of the contract . The machinery that has to be brought to

bear in the working of a Festival requires some amount of fixing and adjusting ere it can be expected to bring about the desired results . On this occasion no one can have cause to complain on this score .

Lord Euston , the Pit . Worshipful Provincial Grand Master for Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire intimated some months back that he would undertake the duties , and the brethren of his Province with a host of sturdy followers have signified their intention to do all they can to make his Presidency a

success . Lord Euston is not a novice in regard to the conduct of our Institutions . He has presided on two occasions for the Benevolent , and has done good service on behalf of the Boys . Ho has now undertaken to plead for the Girls , and we doubt not but that he will exert himself on this occasion , and that with equally successful results .

We have frequently heard the remark put forward that the Girls are sure to be well looked after . We hope this will always be the case . While the affairs of the Institution are conducted on the lines that at present find favour wo have no hesitation in saying _ that such will be the case . The existing Committee to a man are hearted in the work they

The Second Of The Yearly Festivals.

have undertaken ; tho educational staff possess m an eminent degree that rave gift of being able to impart knowledge , while the scholars go to their studios with

a determination to secure all the benefits that are so freely placed within their reach . It is to this , and to this alone , wo attribute the marked successes that havo attended tho several competitive examinations in which Our Girls have taken part .

Very Great Luminaries.

VERY GREAT LUMINARIES .

MASONRY'S ORIGIN , PRINCIPLES , EMBLEMS AND DESIGN . A Saint John the Evanqel ' isV s Day Oration , by Bro

James G . ITaswcll . ( Continued from page 117 . ) WE havo in a fccblo marmot * examined onv origin , principles and emblems ; and from ] what lias boon pre . sonted to yon , what can bo our design ? Is it to sow the

seeds of dissension in every society ? Is it to cast the lirebrands and arrows of death into every community ? Has our conduct hitherto pointed us out as selfish and illiberal ? Must an ignorance of our design cause ns to be driven

from our sanctuary ? Must we embraco a particular faith in order to tho favourable reception of onr tenets ? Must we be slain by tbe calumniator , or lay hold upon the horns of your altar ? No , we will not plead guilty by thus

doing , but we will flee to the city of refuge , and there bo safe until we have a fair trial before the proper magistrate . Sit in judgment upon us , those of the world who know nothing of our design—who understand not our

principleswe expect and wait our decision . Sit in judgment upon us , ye who know something of our design , and who believe in the correctness of the principles of a Washington , a Warren and a Franklin : ye who possess charity , judge ,

we will abide the decision . Bat it is often said , with an air of triumph , that Masonry will not answer the end of Christianity ; grant it , and in so doing we might ask what system , earthly , would answer

the end of Christianity ? We answer none , and because of this fact must we blot out every means of its attainment , except through the church . Must we overthrow every moral Institution , and thus destroy many of the means of

bettering our moral condition r Recollect that heaven works by means , and approves all the good done upon earth . Understand us when we say that it is our design to enlighten , to promote unity , brotherly love and charity ; nnrl it is in our Lodn-ns that we are often bronn-bt in

contact with those truths which teach the way to life everlasting . Many of the inquisitive , in this innovating age , object to our secrets , and the passage is often quoted , " Let your

light shine before men . " Now , we do not claim to have established and to have carried out a system of religion ; nor do we think that our system of ettu ' es is entitled to heaven ' s revealed will . With this view of tho subject , let

us make the contrast between the Christian Religion , ns revealed in the Scriptures , and . Masonry her handmaid , in reference to this thing of letting our light shine . One is of Divine origin , universal in its application , we'll adapted