Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

the great pleasure it gave English Masons to honour the toast of their Grand Master . Ifc was now some years since the Prince of Wales had accepted the rulersbip of the Craft , and as long as he had been associated with it he had done all that lay in his power to advance its interests . We

have heard of him on several occasions lately , associating Freemasonry with bis good works—laying foundation stones , and in other ways doing what he conld for the good of the conntry . He was equally afc home on any , subject Only the day before he had been present at the meeting

held to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery , and then he had spoken in a manner thafc had seldom , if ever , been equalled . The speaker felt that every Mason who had the opportunity of reading the Grand Master ' s speech on that occasion wonld be prond of their

ruler , who might truly be said to hnve taken up the position of first man in the country , and to thoroughly uphold it . As Masons , we should be proud of him as Grand Master , while , as Englishmen , we should honour him as heir to the throne . The next toast , thafc of the Grand

Officers , was another always received with acclamation , nofc only in the Province of Middlesex , bnfc all over tbe conntry . We have some of the ablest men in the kingdom serving as Grand Officers , notably among them being the Pro Grand Master and the Deputy Grand Master . The Grand

Officers not only fulfilled their duties during their term of service , but continued to take a leading part in the Order afterwards . It could be said thafc they nofc only did all they could to promote tbe interests of their more particular friends , but also of the Craft afc large . With the toast was

coupled the name of Bro . F . Richardson , who felt that the Craft was never better presided over than it was at the present time . He could but notice at the table one who might justly be denominated a shining light in Masonry—Brother Bnss , tbe Assistant Grand

Secretary . When appointing Bro . Buss as Treasnrer , the Prov . Grand Master expressed a wish that he might live for ever , as he did not know what the Province would

do without him . If this was the case in their district , what could be said of Freemasonry at large ? truly it would be an all but irreparable loss should they lose the services of Bro . Buss .

Bro . Raymond Thrupp , the Deputy Provincial Grand Mauter , then proposed the health of the Provincial Grand Master . He considered it the toast of the evening , and was proud of proposing it in honour of the good old English gentleman who ruled over the Masons of Middlesex—Bro . Sir Francis Burdett . He knew that few words

sufficed in thafc district to ensure a heartv response , and accordingly gave them " the health , of their Provincial Grand Master . " The Chairman considered tbe task of replying was perhaps tbe most difficult , which fell to his duty . He had held the position of Provincial Grand

Master for a period of seventeen years , and felt great pleasure in reappearing among them , feeling assured he bad many friends around him . He had been anxious so long as be had presided over it to see the Province advance , and was proud of its present position . In 1867 , when the

Provincial Grand Lodge was formed , there was only three or four Lodges ; now he was happv in having 34 , all of which were a credit , not only to Middlesex , but they would also be to any district of the country . He felt proud to preside over such a section of the Masonic

community . He might not be able to do as much in the future as he had in tbe past , and regretted that calls in various parts of the country were likely to take him away from them more than formerly , but he should be among them at heart , and should continue to devote all his exer

tions to the Province of Middlesex . Ifc had been a great pleasure to him to confer tbe various offices on the brethren who had that day been appointed , and he hoped the honour thus conferred on them might be stepping stones to higher positions in the Order .

Bro . Richardson proposed the health of the Provincial Grand Officers , coupling with the toasfc the name of Bro . Thrnpp , wbo briefly replied , and then ( fche P . G . M . having left ) gave tbe toast of "the Charities . " In the course of proposing it he announced that the collection at the church

had amounted to £ 8 12 s Pd , which amount had been increased by a grant of £ 2 2 s from Prov . Grand Lodge funds , a course which Sir Francis had felt would meet

the approval of the brethren . Bro . Terry replied to the toast of the Charities , in an able speech . He hoped the increase made that day in the sums given to tbe Institutions was but the first of many . He felt that in so pros-

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

perous a district as Middlesex tbe brethren would not long be content with giving only forty-five guineas among the three institutions . The proceedings shortly after were brought to a conclusion , and the brethren separated .

The Assistant Grand Secretary.

THE ASSISTANT GRAND SECRETARY .

rpHERE are some men who make themselves so much a - *• part of the office they fill , that it seems almost impossible to disassociate the one from the other . We learn to look upon certain work as falling by right to certain individuals , and can hardly imagine any one else undertaking to perform it , much less taking the place of he who

has carried it on for years , and yefc , in tbe ordinary course of things , changes must occur . The oldest and most valued of servants cannot continue their labours for ever , and there unM in every case come a dav when a desire for a quieter life or the more exacting claim of death , compels

us to realise that a man and the work he has been engaged on for years are to know each other no more . Such , ia the case among English Freemasons of to-day , and we are pleased to say that it is a desire for well earned rest , after a long and useful association with the Craft , that threatens

to rob us officially of one of the best known Masons of the day . Bro . H . G . Buss , the Assistant Grand Secretary , is about to resign his appointment , and ifc may truly be said of him that ifc will be hard to find a successor . He is one who by kindly bearing has wou the respect of all with

whom he has come in contact , and while he is personally known to a a very large number of English Craftsmen it would be a difficult matter to find one to whom he has given offence , or by whom feelings of animosity are entertained towards him . He is universally respected , and few men arc more worthy of respect than he .

It will be in the recollection of our readers that a short time since Bro . Buss had a severe attack of illness , from the effects of which it can hardly be said he has yet fully recovered , and as he has already been engaged some thirty Years in the Graud Secretary's office , he has acted wisely

in deciding on retirement . He has well earned the rest he ia about to seek , and which , we trust , he will enjoy for many years to come . We have little doubt but that the brethren of England will show their appreciation of his services in a practical mnnner when the announcement of

his resignation is formally made in Grand Lodge , which it is expected will be at the next Quarterly Communication , in September . Meanwhile , we feel sure that Bro . Buss has the best wishes of every member of fcho Craft , not only that he may be restored to the blessings of health , but that

he may live for many years to enjoy his well earned repose . We trust even though Bro . Buss may close his official association with Freemasonry , thafc he will nofc wholly sever

his connection , and that we shall see him at Lodge meetings in the future as we have in the past , if not so frequently as hitherto , afc least as often as his health will permit .

Operative Masonry And The Printing Press.

OPERATIVE MASONRY AND THE PRINTING PRESS .

IN" its early history , Freemasonry everywhere applied the unlimited resources of architectnal skill to developing divine ideas through symbolised stone . Operative Masonry erected to God the grandest temples on earth , and filled them , with aspiring pilasters and mystic arches .

Freemasonry worked out in granite blocks the thoughts and aspirations of the middle ages . Popular imagination found its correct exponent , and religion conveyed its mosfc impressive lessons of faith and submission , in these works of art . No other means could so accurately evoke that

Christian emotional element underlying the rude and rugged character of social life at this period . The single object which presented itself to the Masonic architect was to find suitable expressions for the heart-yearnings and moral aspirations of the people . This purpose was pursued

with a persistent zeal , which resulted in art productions of wondrous beanty and uniformity . So long aa architecture realized the anticipations of the middle ages ; so long as Freemasonry , through the erection of superb edifices , furnished an adequate outlet for national ideas , just that long