The Past And The Future.

our doing so , while the contrary is equally ! true ; it we are opposed to their writings wo shall fearlessly say so , with the hope that between us as much ultimate good may result in the future as has attended

our united efforts in the past . i ^^^^ ^ r Another important feature in Masonic Journalism is the reporting of Lodge and other meetings . To carrying this out properly the Secretary or other

Officer of each Lodge should render assistance . It is hardly fair that such papers as are possessed by the Freemasons of England should be expected to send a representative whenever a notice is desired , nor is

there always sufficient of interest to enable one to make a satisfactory report when he does attend , but a few lines from the officials in connection with each meeting wonld entail but little

trouble on any one and would supply the very best account of the doings of Freemasonry in our midst . We have always been prejudiced against long reports of ordinary meetings , and we hope the Craft will

aisist us in carrying our views on this subject into operation . We should like to devote our space to general summary of doings rather than exhaustive details of particular events , but in this matter , as in

all others that may come before us , we shall endeavour to study the desires of our patrons , and fall in with their wishes as far as we possibly can in view of our expressed determination to continue our course of thorough independence .

Masonry's Excellence.

MASONRY'S EXCELLENCE .

Extract ? from the annual address of Bra . John S . Davidson , Grand Master to the Grand Lodqc of Georgia , 25 th October 1892 .

( Continued from page 404 ) . IET us be like Mooes of old in our undertaking . J Let us bear the heated sands of the desert , if need be ; let UB contend with heathen cohorts , il required ; let us endure the suffering and the hunger ,

if necessary , that those who come after us may lift thoir voices to declare that because we lived the world was better and theirs was easier made . And if we may not hear below their accents of praise aud thanksgiving , I

verily believe that beyond the limits of the sun , and far above the watching stars , the winds of God shall be lifted , and gathering fresh melody and sweeter utterance as they rise , will greet us with a rhapsody as sublime and

entrancing as the music of the spheres . My brethren , let us consider this matter carefully , slowly but with well defined purpose . Pnt it into the keeping of your best and safest members . Let them think about it , and bring to

you the fund of their reflection for your own examination . Bid them consider all your sources of income , the probable annual excess over expenditures , and let us make this

surplus a sacred fund to be devoted to the glory of Masonry , and of God who gave us Masonry as one of the instruments for His glory .

We are told , my brethren , that when tho Temple was finally completed , when the last stone had been laid , when tbo cbembims were hovering above the mercy seat and the Ark rested in security within the Holy of Holies , the Great

Master called the Craft together to receive his last injuuction to practice ever and always the sublime principles of Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth . With every recurring anniversary of this communication we , as Masons , complete

the Temple on which our labours for the year were spentthe Temple of that Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth with which our ancient brethren were so affectionately charged .

And it comes from our hands only as a result of labour . It is said that " Grecian genius moved a magic wand aud tbo Apollo from cold marble sprang ; that it looked upon a human model and tho chisel turned hard stone into

undulating Venus ; that Raphael clipped his pencil into tints stolen from the rainbow , attuned his heart to a song chanted by the angels , and the Madonna exorcises 3 in from

its beholder ; that Murrillo caught a flame from genius , and his ascending Mary couvinces the looker on that the Immaculate Conception was a possibility . " But no genius

Masonry's Excellence.

with omnipotent spring ! bears us beyond the reach of struggle and of effort . Our du'ies and our mission hind us to the masses of men . The Institution is very near

( he lives , the thoughts , the hearts of all our fellows . When the celebrated arctic explorer , Dr . Kane , planted a Mnsonic banner nearest the frozen pole , it was an emblem not only ( if Masonic devotion but of Masonic labour and trial and

perseverance . It boro eloquent witness to the sublime truth that Masons were risking all for Masons lost , daring every danger , braving every peril , and courting oven violent death itself to rescue the suffering and succour tho distressed . Love of man hath many forms , and its

expression often lives beyond the grave which hides from view the human recipient . There is a story told that in his younger days a poet loved a maid whoso heart was deeply touched by his affection . Ho sang to her in melodious verse which kept wing with the song birds of tho forest

trees . But'his lays were turned into dirges of sorrow when she faded from the earth . But oro she passed beyond his sight she begged that the songs he sang to her heart should ho her pillow in eternal sleep , and the wish was gratified . When , in after years , the poet had grown great

in fame and power , those who loved him much desired to reproduce the lovo songs of his youth , but he could not recall them . At last it was determined to uncover tho maiden ' s tomb and give the buried music hack to life again . And when the grave was reached , it was discovered that

the long tresses of the loving dead had twined and intertwined with the verses of the poet lover , and held them in tender embrace even after death had sealed the lips which so gladly responded to the appeals of his affection . Perchance , my brethren , when in that solemn morn tho son

shall wake upon the earth to look for the last time upon the face of man , there shall come to us the sight of many hearts bearing from their resting place and fondly entwining in their arms the gifts which Masonry bestowed upon their lives . How beautiful the picture , bow invigorating tho

thought , and how splendid the hope ! It will be like unto unnumbered tresses of countless maidens fair , each bearing with exultant reach the memory of loving deeds , which living , blessed them , and in death wero still preservedpreserved to respond as witnesses to the Master ' s demand ,

"What temples hast thou builded ? " And as bv each hand the deeds are laid in evidence at the Master ' s feet , if wo have done the duty placed upon us here , thoy shall rouse to sweetest utterance the Master ' s blessing and His praise . — Voice of Masonry .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended lor Review should be addreasotl to the Editor of the Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidero Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , N \ — : o : — " Memories of Mulling and its Valley . " Rev . C . H . FIELDING , M . A .

( C . H . OUVKR , West Mailing , Keut ) . TIII ' . KK is hardly a spot in the British Islands that has not some historical associations , but from many points of view the South Eastern counties of Keut and Sussex may porhaps be said to take tho highest place . Bto . C . EI . Fielding :, Provincial Grand Chaplain of Kent , has just published a most interesting and entertaining volume on ono of the prettiest spots in the doligbtful county of Kent , so deservedly

denominated the Garden of England . Among its maoy lovely valleys , nouo exceeds in beauty tho Vale of Mailing , bounded as it is with high chalk hills covered with woods and verdure . Tho district dtscribed is not of very cousideiable extent , bnt is intensely interesting , and Bro . Fielding has certainly left no point unnoticed . Commencing from the earliest period of English . History , he referB to tho

Dmidical remains known a ^ Kit ' s Coty House , and tracing his » tory through the Saxou and Norman eras , brings it through the Tudor , Stnavt , aud Geor ^ iun periods to the present day . But even hero it is not finished , for the natural history of the district is fully set forth , including the bird ? , beasts , fishes , and reptiles , while the varied flora

and ( anna urn detailoa with grent care . In addition , we have extracts from p irochial and family registers , and the quaint county proverbs nro also given . It is a moi-t instructive book , not only for the inhabitants of that port of the county , but to all interested in antiquarian research .

" A Crisis in Egj pt , " by T . UUA-TEK BOYD . ( ELMOT STOCK , 62 Paternoster Row ) . Tins interesting little pamphlet does not refer to modern times as ony might imagine , but as is explained by its sub-title to "Wlmt

happened on the u » y of the Exodus . It is really a detailed account of the magnificent picture by Professor Edmund Berningor , of Munich , which has attracted so many tbousaeds of visitors to the Niagara Un . ll , at Weatmineter , from which Bro . Ilunter Boyd selects