Freemasonry At Pretoria.

H . Fiaher , now a Canon of the Pretoria Cathedral . Excellent instrumental mnaio was discoursed , whioh robbed the proceedings , especially during the gastronomic atasre , of that dnlness which is usual to mosfc banquets nntil the cloth is " removed , " and the influence of geneious wine begins to display itself , as toasts are

drnnk and respondpd to . The Qneen and Craft was tho first toast , followed by the President , both being received in au enthusiastic fashion , tbe English National Anthem and the " Volkslied " being sung with equal gosto . Bro . Van Alphen replied to th » t of the President , in Dutch . His Royal Highness the Grand Master , with a verso of " God Bless the

Prince of Wales followed , and then the toasts of the Grand Ea < "t of the Netherlands and the Grand Lodge of Scotland" were given , and heartily drunk . Bro . Carl Ueckerman responding for the first and Bro . Murdoch for the last , in pleasing and felicitous terms , expressive of the brotherly regard of the Masons of all Lodges in Pretoria towards each other , and the good which must ultimately

prevail throughout the land aa long as suoh feelings of fraternity and unity continue to exist . The health of the newly-installed Master , who had propoaed all fche formal toasts , was proposed by the retiring W . M , ( Bro . R . J . Holloway ) , who spoke in complimentary terms of the services whioh Bro . Frank Strange had rendered to hia Lodge in the past , and of the efficient servioea he gave promise of rendering

in the chair of the Lodge . The " Jolly good fellow " accompaniment to this toaat waa moat demonstrative of Bro . Frank Strange ' s popularifcy with the Pretoria brethren . The W . M . replied in brief and modest terms , expressing a hope that he wonld have the cordial co-operation of hia Officers , and assistance from Paat Masters iu conducting the work of tbe Lodge .

The toast of Visiting Brethren was given by the Junior Warden , and responded to in most happy manner by Past Maater Bro . J . E . Green . The health of the I . P . M . and Past Officers of tho Lodge was given by Pasfc Master Bro . J . Keith , and responded to by tho I . P . M . Present Officers was proposed by Pasfc Master Bro . T . W . Beckett , who spoke of the newly-installed Master in terms of warmest praise

the Senior Warden responding . Sister Lodges , given by the Senior Warden , was responded to by Bro . Kuijpor , in Dutch , and tho Tyler ' s toasfc to tho sick and distressed , followed by a collection on their behalf , closed the formal toast list . During the evening several Bongs were sung , those given by Bros . R . Fraser and IT . F . Strange

being especially in request . The electric light did not disappear from the Temple until an " early hour . " The hospitality of th « Pretorian brethren shown towards visitors from here was most cordial and generous , and when railway communication is open between the capital nnd Johannesburg , they hope to return the compliment . —Johannesburg Star .

Bro. J. Ross Robertson At Chicago.

BRO . J . ROSS ROBERTSON AT CHICAGO .

WE cull the following f ram the Chicago Daily Neivs : — Mr . J . Ross Robertson , of the Toronto Evening Telegram , is at the Auditorium , on his way home to Toronto .

"I have been np to Winnipeg , finishing np an eight-months' trip among tho Masons of Canada , " said Mr . Robertson to an Evening News reporter at the Anditoriuui , " and I am on my was homo ri & Chicago , and will visit your wonderful city for a day or two . " John Rose Robertson is the Grand Master of the Masons of Ontario .

Ho haa in his jurisdiction 21 , 000 members , and he has in tho last eight months visited 350 Lodgea and has shaken hands with 15 , 000 membera of fche Craft . To do thia Mr . Robertson has travelled over 25 , 000 miles . Ifc ia not , however , John Ross Robertson ' s stand in Masonry that ia hia chief claim to distinction among the Canadian people .

Throughout the beautiful Province of Ontario ho ia known as a newspaper man , as a success , aa one who started aa a " devil , " and is now one of Toronto ' s wealthiest men , and , unlike many who acquire wealth by persistent effort , ho has nofc become ono of fche sordid and grasping sort , and it is in th is connection that his name is ao often mentioned in his native city . His fame as a

philanthropist extends throughout the breadth of the Dominion . The kindl y nature of the man is BO proverbial that the ragged newsboys cheer him and call him " de guvnor " as he passes them by with a friendly nod . Some years ago he conceived tho idea of erecting on the island opposite Toronto a home for sick children . The scheme developed , and the Lakeside Home for Little Children became a

reality , its birth being commemorated by a 5000 dollar cheque from the publiaher . But Mr . Robertson waa not satisfied with thia , and a few yeara afterwarda he supplemented thia gift by the donation of 25 , 000 dollars . With thia sum one of the moat perfect homes for little children in the world was established . Mr . Robertson travelled the

globe over in search of modern ideas for thia resting place for the ' wee ones . " Ifc will accommodate 200 children , and is run in con-•neotion with fche parent hospital for aick cbildren in the city . In handing over the home to the hoapital trustees , Mr . Robertson stipulated that the child of any Maaon muat be admitted free to the Lakeside . This clause was greeted with much favour by the Masonio Craffc .

The Agricola Lodge , No . 1991 , had its annual excursion on the 29 th ult ,, when thirty of the brethren , under the conductorshi p of tho Worshipful Master Bro . Councillor Manton , visited Bolton Woods . The weather was dull , but in spite of this drawback the trippers spent a very pleaaant day in this far-famed resort .

Gleanings.

GLEANINGS .

— : o : — PKEJUDICE AGAINST MASONRY . —It ia hard to believe that in thia advanced age there is any strong prejudice against Masonry outside of that begot by religious bigotry , and yefc there ia . The writer chanced to hear au expression of it not long since as a Masonio procession was passing along the street , from quite an intelligent person , who expressed it aa his opinion that Masonry was used regularly in all casoa before Courts of Justice , aa well in civil as in

criminal oases . Upon a nofc very close study of the question I waa surprised to find a very general idea to prevail that such waa the faot , and that Masonry was nsed as a pull npon courts and juries . Thoae who know in tho only way that the trnth can be ascertained upon Masonic aubjects need not be told how falso and fooliah thia impression is , but it struck mo aa being worth mentioning , and thafc Grand Maafcera and Orators and othera might very properly touch upon it at suitable moments . —Bro . Bobert L . Fulton , of Nevada .

Beware of anger of the tongue ; control the tongue . Beware of auger of the mind ; control the mind . Practice virtue with thy tongue and with thy mind . By reflection , by reatrainfc and control , a wise man can make himaelf an island whioh no floods can overwhelm . He who conquera himself ia greater than he who in battle conquers a thousand men . He who ia tolerant witb the intolerant , mild with the fault-finders , and free from passion with the passionate him I call indeed a wiae man . —Advocate .

A very interesting question arose in one of the Detroit Lodgea lately , and one which provoked considerable discussion pro and co-n . Some seven yeara ago , a resident of Detroit received the first and aecond degrees in Craft Masonry , after whioh he removed to Buffalo , New York , where he entered upon bnsiness , and remained in that latter city for six years , but during that time making no profession of

being a Mason , and living an exemplary life . He has lately returned to Detroit , and now aska to be returned to the sublime degree of Master Maaon in hia mother Lodge . The qaeation reata on the necessity of a committee on character again reporting npon hia paat six years' life before he be further advanced . Not a breach of suspicion haa aaaailed the brother all theae years , and it only remains

to see that he haa made suitable proficiency in the preceding degrees in order to his advancement . It ia a curioua and very exceptional caae , and the Tyler believea the Lodge waa right to permit the brother to progress , especially when he avows thafc his desire waa to take hia M . M . degree where ho received the two former . —American Tyler .

During the hours of refreshment , a free conversation ia permitted ; but no discussions on religion or politics can be allowed even here . Should a private dispute between two brethren be heard , the Master will suppress it afc once , and firmly ; for whatever relation the membera may bear towards each order in the world , here they are brothers ; and nothing can be admitted but what ia strictly in character with tho dictates of fraternal harmony nnd love . —Oliver .

Thafc mind will be the more vigorous whose physical habitation is kept in fche besfc repair—that is , taxed sufficiently to render it healthy , but not overtaxed . The inability of any Officer of a Lodge to do his work well mars the beauty and destroys tho good effect of the perfect work of hia asaociato Officers . As no chain ia stronger than its weakest link , ao the standard of the work in any Masonic body will be measured by

the quality presented by its least qualified Officer . Brethren who accept official position shonld hear thia in mind and not permit the body to suffer on their account . If they have not time , ability and inclination to qualify themselves to do good work they ahould afford some one a chance to do better . There is plenty of good working material in almost every Lodge and ifc shonld be brought into the right position . —Advocate .

The origin of Freemasonry is placed by the moat intelligent writers at the time of Dionysiua in Asia Minor , at the time of the Ionic migration . The date of tho Ionic migration has been fixed at 1010 B . C ., abont half a century before the commencement of King Solomon'a Temple , giving ample opportunity for the Dionysian Fraternity to become well established in Tyre at fche time when Hiram was called upon to assist King Solomon . "The Cream of Masonry " mast nofc be lightly skimmed . Drink deep , or nofc at all of the Sansomain theme , the Crime de la Crime .

Masonic Sonnets.—No. 4.

MASONIC SONNETS . —No . 4 .

What noble thoughts arise when busy brains , With eloquence almost too much to dare , Would fain define the Compass and the Square , And wonld exalt them with no measured strains . For heedless of the World and its complains , His mind meanders off to dwellings where

BY BRO . CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D ., 2417 — : o : — THE COMPASS AND SQUARE . —I .

He ' s eloquence sufficient , and fco spare—And where that eloquence for ever reigns . So I , my pen , would in sweet dewdropa dip , Then , like the eagle , would ifc fly through space , Or glide along like some magnetic ship ,

Who with the world would wage a winning race And it would tell in choaen worda and rare How bleat the Compass—how anperb the Square , Winder House . Bradford .