Why Lodges Are Dormant.

reason it behoves us all to be true to our country , just to the government in which we live , and to the end that we may continue to keep at the front in all refinement and civilisation ; let us , like brave men and true , struggle for those rewards which come to those who do not weary in well-doing . —Lucian E . Wood , Michigan .

- ' \ Oh , the contemptibleness of riches , when Masons and artists and poets and scholars and women and children die ¦ of want , while the plutocrat spends for houses and lands , for

yachts and horses , for women and wine , for a seat in the United States senate , that which would mean to them happiness , plenty , 'life itself ; and to mankind a step towards that ' elysium which poets and prophets foretell . —Wm . H . Upton , Washington .

********** ! ¦ .. Freemasonry is a patriotic out not a political organisa-. tion Obedience to lawfully constituted authority is one of the" first duties of a Mason . The Fraternity is distinctly

conservative of existing institutions , and yet sufficiently . . elastic to adapt itself to * changing conditions . No organisation has ever taught more vigorously the sacredness of contracts or the inviolability of private rights . —Jno . E . Sater , Ohio .

Man was placed upon the earth for some specific purpose , to perform some specific act in the great drama of the universe , one of which , I believe , is the acknowledging of the

-Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man ; and that Masonry was designed , instituted and perpetuated by God 'to ' make this principle universal . How else can her marvelious history be accounted for?—J . G . Monahan , Wisconsin .

********** \ Perfection on earth has never been attained . Therefore -it is not claimed that all Masons reach the high ideal taught in Masonry , but we do claim that any thinking , reasoning

man who on bended knee at our sacred altar takes the several Masonic obligations and Jiears the several Masonic lectures . must be persuaded to lead a better and more useful life than . 'he has hitherto been leading . — "Keystone , "

Freemasonry , though of the past in its origin , is of the present in the commands and duties it places on its members . With faith in its mission , it bids the many Brethren

study science , for Masonry would move in the forefront of the advancement of the people and reach to that full dominion of power given in the divine order to till the earth and subdue it . —Jno . L . Terrell , Texas .

* ********* " Let us live and die as Masons . With faith in God , and hope in immortality , and charity for all mankind , with hearts as pure and unsullied as the white lambskin apron , let us meet

ail men . on the level of honour , and when our summonses Come be prepared to stand without fear in the presence of -the Mason ' s God , the Supreme Architect of heaven and earth . — " Masonic Herald . "

********** , .. ; We do not think that there can be a shadow of doubt . but that the degrees of the symbolic Lodge were worked both in England and on the continent of Europe as early

as the fifteenth century , and probably much earlier . As to the esoteric work , the phraseology no doubt has changed , . biit the teachings are the same as always . —T . V . B . Bingay , Nova Scotia .

********** The Masonic Order is the . friend and protector of individual liberty and of local self-government . Let us

continue loyal to these fundamental ' principles . Let us not be carried too far away from our ancient national landmarks . Our children will declare our wisdom and posterity will rise up and call us blessed . —Edward . W . Pou , North Carolina . -

The Medical Student.

THE MEDICAL STUDENT .

THE "Students' Number" of the "Lancet" for the Session 1901-02 was published yesterday , and contains , as usual , all the

information that is required" by the medical student to guide him . in his . educational curriculum , whether he -is already engaged in medical study or is now entering upon his ' chosen career . In . particular the "Students' Number'' is designed to be a guide to

The Medical Student.

both parents and students in their selection of a medical school . The regulations of the examining boards in medicine attached to the different bodies recognised by the General Medical Council are published at length . A list of the English—metropolitan and provincial—Scotch , and Irish medical schools , able to afford the student a complete medical education , are given , together with full

information concerning the clinical practice in each . The scholarships and prizes offered for competition at each school are set out , and an inclusive list of the teaching and lecturing staffs are added ; so that the student will find in this special issue in portable form all the information that he can possibly desire to obtain concerning any medical school . The numerous institutions

in the kingdom otiering a partial or ancillary curriculum in the form of classes dealing with imrticula-r subjects or adapted to special circumstances are also noticed . Under the heading " The Students ' Library" a list is published of the necessary books on the various subjects required from the candidate for qualification and also for

success in obtaining the higher degrees . The " Students' Number " also contains full information upon the medical course required for the naval , military , civil , and public health services , and upon dental schools and the proceedings to be / taken to obtain a dental diploma .

The Sweet Minstrel "Hope."

THE SWEET MINSTREL "HOPE . "

OH ! What should we do in the night of our trouble , When friends had departed and left us alone ; , When the help they had promised had burst like- a bubble ,

And the hearts of each one had proved hard as a stone ? Oh ! what should we do with our trials to cope If we e ' er should lose sight of that sweet minstrel " Hope " ?

Of what should we think in the day of misfortune , When poverty ' s pang stared us all in the face ; When a cold , blank refusal met every importune For help or assistance to soothe- our sad case ? Of what should we think when all blindly we grope If memory stole from us that sweet minstrel " Hope" ?

And how should we pray when from all sides deserted , When sneered and despised at because we were pool - , When everything tended to make disconcerted * . The heart that had always been trustful and sure ? Of what should we pray if we grasped not that rope , Whose strands are decayless , that sweet minstrel " Hope " ? CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D . Bradford . ******************

Entertainment Notes.

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES .

Grand . —The autumn season at this Islington Theatre commenced on Monday , when the great Drury Lane drama " The Price of Peace" was introduced . Crowded houses have been the rule during the week . Next Monday " La Cigale" will be given for six nights ; to be followed on the 16 th inst . with the stirring drama " The Dispatch Bearer , " and on the 23 rd with the successful comic opera " The Fisher Girl . "

Egyptian Hall . —It is always with great pleasure we pay a visit to this Hall , where we see Bro . J * . N . Maskelyne and his clever assistants mystifying large and appreciative audiences with their wonderful tricks and illusions . The series of Magical Problems by Herr Valadon are most bewildering , whilst the Psychological Problems by the same gentleman and Madam Valadon are wonderful . . The writer of this notice quite enjoyed his game of " Nap "

with a gentleman in the audience , but must admit he had not much to say in the matter , as Madam Valadon told both players what cards to play without seeing the hands . Bro . Maskelyne ' s magical romance , entitled " The' Entranced Fakir , " is a marvellous invention , and the way the author raises the Fakir in mid-air is as big a mystery as ever . The animated photographs shown are exceptionally good .

Mohawks' Hall , Islington . —A pleasant hour or two is to be had at this Hall , where the Royal Animated and Singing Picture Co . is presenting each evening some wonderfully clever illustrations of the different events of the day . The picture of the funeral of Her late Imperial Majesty the Empress Frederick is alone worth a visit . The singing pictures are exceptionally

good . It is a feature of this entertainment that new pictures are always being shown ; some clever ones have been added this week , including Mr . Montagu Holbein ' s channel swim , and several relating to the voyage of the " Ophir , " with their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York on board . A word of praise is due to Mr . William Neale's orchestra , ' which discourses pleasant music during the evening .

* ** **** *********** THE New Palace Steamers announce that " La Marguerite " will make a special trip to Dunkirk on 17 th or iSth inst . ' ' ( whichever date is fixed for the Naval Review ) , to view the French Fleet which is there to be reviewed by the Tsar of Russia ; leaving Tilbury at about 8 . 30 a . m ., with special first class trains leaving Fenchurch Street at 7 . 30 a . m . and St . Pancras at 7 . 5 a . m ., fare

for flie return journey one guinea , but only a limited number of tickets will be issued . This vessel will continue her trips to Boulogne and Ostend until Thursday , 19 th inst ., and on Sunday , 15 th , will make a special trip to Calais and back , calling at Southend and Margate . The Palace Steamer "Royal Sovereign " ¦ will continue sailing to Margate until Monday , 23 rd inst ., but will cease going to Ramsgate after Sunday , Sth inst .