Religious Services In Canada.

fco tho realm of moral life , and you have the same lesson at its best iu the living person of Christ . There was more force in tho glance of his eye , than in the armoury of Borne . His integrity was immovable as the pillars of Heaven . In deportment , he was the most beautiful character on record . But we are told that he is our pattern , and that in him is wrought out God ' s idea of human life , strength ,

stability and beauty . These are the possibilities in human nature that become realities under the agency of the Holy Spirit who alone understands the material out of which to build our redeemed manhood . With him we are to co-operate , and when the perfect figure of a holy life is wrought out , it will not only be strong aud firm , but adorned witb beautiful graces .

3 . —The religion of Christ is a system of culture . It refines the heart , and in that refinement are developed the finest qualities that grace the social world . Suoh Christ will present at last " without spot or wrinkle or any suoh thing . " This is God's method . The strong firm column first , then the lily work . The useful and tbe fine arts combined . The useful , then the ornamental . Tbe most

perfect mathetio culture is found in the Christian civilisation . In tbe midnight of dark ages , not only the sciences but the arts were lost , and returned not till the Reformation . God bnilt tbe solid globe first , fixed its mountains securely , established tbe continents and filled them with the force of life , built up its masonry of rocks , then carved out the decorations , forests , orchards , harvest fields ,

groves , and all the beautiful scenery that fringes the river , aad orowns the mountain , and drapes the starlight , and floods the noon , tide . 4 . —The lily work is tho culmination of providentially arranged conditions . It is the crown of beauty growing out of the moral

character . Out of the self same material are the pillar and the lily work . Strength , firmness , and beauty . In the rough material we may discover neither , but the skilful artist brings out all . That material is an interesting study out of whioh characters and crowns are bnilt . As the visitor would look upon those massive pillars , eighteen cubits high and eighteen feet in circumference , he would be

inspired with admiration . There is something commendable even in the healthful physique of the well trained athlete . We admire the splendid force of the battlefield , the majesty of government , the great thoughts of the poet , the philosopher . In these there is a human force divine out of whioh God is building the temple of hnman excellence . Over the foundations of a solid Christian life

God is bringing the world to honour . Its strength and beauty , are in the life , not in the symbol , in the character not in fche badge , in regeneration , not in the initiation . 5 . —The lily work is the last thing to reach . The pillars seem to be growing np to the lily . The life of purity and beauty is a thing of growth . It begins in the new natnre born of the Holy Spirit and

we by His help are to build it out . The real beauty of the pictureits full effect—is not seen till the last touch of the artist ' s brush . He waa building towards that last touch . The full beauty of the Christian life is sot seen until its graces are matured . 6 . The foundation that makes this climax a certainty is Faith in God . Faith in God was away back of the Tyrian builders , and the

Jewish contractors . No man is a true Mason who does not believe in the existence of God . Masonry itself could not exist without it , and he who rightly understands Masonry will never be an atheist . The wise man builds his house on the rock . The mountain must be strong or it will bo shattered by the thunder shock . Faith in God is a necessity . Believe in nothing and life will be a failure . Every

man ' s soul cries oat for the Truth . Myths and fictions will not do for a soul that is to live for ever . God alono is true , and He pnts the reality of His own nature into His own works . Tho sunshine , the rain , the frost and the dew are factors of Truth , ministers of God , material blessings , carving out the numberless beautiful objects that greet us everywhere in God ' s natural world . Aud what is the Truth

concerning ourselves P Every true Mason lives under tho conviction and in the full and firm belief that " God seeth not as man seeth , for man looketh at the outward appearance , bat God looketh nt the heart . " " The precepts of the Gospel are universally tho principles of Masonry . " For the benefit of others let me quote a high Masonic authority , — " According to Masonio teaching , a Mason must be a

man of strict morality , humane , benevolent , charitable . He must be no gambler , no tippler , no profane swearer . He must be no revilar against the religion of Christ , or the professors thereof ; he must be strictly honest , industrious and upright iu all his conduct . " For this column of morality and flower of excellence thero is but one foundation—Faith in God .

7 . —This fonudation has a meaning tbat reaches all the way up to the lily work at the top . We are not done with the pillar till we have reached the lily , go on to perfection is the highest law of life . Tbe germ of the lily is in the foundation . We are not done building life ' s character till it is graceful and refined , as well as . strong and firm . The pillar aud the lily belong to each other . The foundation

is to be used , we are to trust it , build on it . We are not to trust in tbo world , it is vain , deceitful , unrefined , bnt wo are to build ou Christ , working life ' s thoughts and deeds into the pillar of Truth and lily of Purity . 8 . —To accomplish this is not an easy task . Applauding multitude !! may gather about the unveiling of some hero ' s statue , bnt no such

grateful enthusiasm swings the golded censer while yon build life ' s manhood . Paul says , " We wrestle not against flesh and blood . " He was not concerned about the fleets that sailed the high waters of tbe Meditenauean , nor djfi he fear tbe mailed worriors of Home . His contention waa with the weakness of his own nature , and the sins that assailed bim witb the lury of death , and with tbe

goJIessness that feasted in the palace of the rich , and overshadowed the throne of royalty ; yet he wont to the very courts of tho Cvoiam , and preached Christ in tho fulness of power . . But the greatest conquest of bis life was when he stood in tho presence of death , saying , "I am now ready to be offered . " We have something to tax our courage iiiuru than some temporal force , something better to build than even au Empire . The empires will go down to the uuremomuered vast ,

Religious Services In Canada.

but the invisible and the Eternal , wrought into the moral life , will become established as the strength of the throne , and crowned with the lily of moral beauty , whose gracefulonp will forever drink in the sunshine of un approving God . Difficult as the task may be in squaring life with the law of God , the result is worth the effort . "He that loseth his for my sake and the gospels shall find it . "

i > . —The presence of the hly work reveals to us the lesson of love . It was a matter of sentiment . It was there for effect . The architect thought of its appearance . He wanted it to look well . Hiram applied to the bra- < 3 something more tban his hands . His love for the work said , " These pillars shall not only be strong and firm , but graceful , symmetrical , and adorned with the beautiful symbol of

purity . The head and tbe hands say , I will build a house , the heart says , I will build a home . Masonry when true to herself inculcates this principle , and she never appears tr > better advantage than when translating her creed into deeds of kindness . Tbe hi ghest principle of life is " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart , and love thy neighbour as thyself , " and where this love prevails , the

plain substantial pillar of morality will blossom into life ' s most attractive forms . 10 . —Add to this obedience , itself a Masm io virtue . Obedience transferred the authority of the architect to the lily crowned pillar . We are to build as God commands . The bee , true to its own laws , builds a perfect cell . The bird , a perfect nest . Human natnre . true

to its own laws , i . e ., obedient to God ' s laws , builds a temple in whioh God himself will take pleasure in dwelling . Lastly . —Let me urge the divine order of life . "Seek ye first the kingdom of God . " Masonry is nothing if it is not methodical . She believes in perfect measurements and proportionate forms , in regular steps and degrees , as orderly aa the coarse of time . Every member

must prove himself worthy before advancing to deeper mysteries . Life is not to be spent only in gathering flowers ' for decorations . The ornament will soon perish if it have nothing to support it . Build the pillar of a Christian character first , and out of it will bloom the lily work . Christ was strong enough to burst the bars of death .

and raise the dead , yet his ministry was a fine art of tenderness and kindness . The Christ life is at once the strength , stability and beauty of society . Let ns build according to the divine measurements , that life may be like the city of God tbat lieth four square , the length , and the breadth , and the height of it being eqnal .

Masonic Charity In West Lancashire.

MASONIC CHARITY IN WEST LANCASHIRE .

THE most numerous attendance of Freemasons ever seen at the Masonio Hall , Hope Street , Liverpool , was witnessed on the 2 nd ' nst ., when the annual meeting of the Court and Governors of the West Lancashire Masonio Educational Institution was held , under the presidency of Bro . E . Wylie P . G . D . There were nearly 200 brethren present , the chief item of interest on the agenda being the election

of an honorary Secretary to the Charity , in place of Lieutenant Maocab , K . N ., P . G . J . W ., who resigned his position . Six children , on the motion of Bro . Dr . J . Kellett Smith P . P . G . R ., were elected on tho foundation of the Institution , and grants were also made in kindred cases .. Cordial votes of thanks were given to the Officers of

the Institution for their services during the past year , the work being purely voluntary ; and in the course of the evening Bro . J . T . Callow P . P . G . Treasnrer , was nuanimonsly re-elected Treasurer j Bros . G . Broadbridge P . P . G . D . C , and T . H . W . Walker P . P . G . Treasurer , honorary Secretaries ; Bro . W . E . Coxon P . M . 1675 ,

being elected by a large majority to fill the place on the honorary secretarial list so admirably filled by Lieutenant Maonab , who retired , to whom a cordial vote of thanks was extended in view of the admirable work which he had done . The auditors ( Bros . Goodacre , Johnston , Pierpoint , Salter , and Tyson ) were re-appointed ; the

honorary medical officers ( Drs . J . K . Smith , H . Pitts , J . Christison , J . H . Irvin , andR . P . Whitp ) were also again choien unanimously to fulfil important fa notions ; Bro . K . H . Leake was once more selected as the honorary folioitor ; and the general committee ( consisting of 30

members ) , tbe finance committee , and tbe bankers were subsequently approved . The by-Jaws of tbe institution were adopted , and it was resolved that tbe annual ball in aid of the funds of the institution should be held in the early part of January . A vote of thanks to fche chairman concluded tbo proceedings .

FKEEMASONKV IN BERKSHIRE . —We hear tbat Bro . Geo . J . Cosborn P . P . G . A . D . C . ( Craft ) , and P . P . M . O . ( Mark ) , of the Caxton Printing Works , Newbury , has undertaken the publication of a Calendar and Directory for the Masonic Province of Berkshire , and the Mark Province of Berkshire and Oxfordshire . The contents will be of a complete

and comprehensive character , and the work , which will extend over 100 pages , promises to be an acceptable handbook to the members of the varions Masonio bodies in this and the adjacent Provinces . The publication will bo edited , for the first year at least , by Bro . John T . Morland , of Abingdon , Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire .

In connection with recent discussions at Licensing Sessions , ifc ia interesting to read in " Tbe Fortnightly Review , " for the current month , the following remarks contributed by " A Son of Adam " in his " Impressions of England " : — "One of the first places of amusement I went to in London happened to be the Alhambra . The entertainment was of its kind good ; but what struck me was the quietude , decorum and order kept throughout the House . . . . "

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IMPORTANT NOTICE . —Confidential Advice free per post to all in weak and failing health , with loss of strength anil vitality . Fifty years experience in Nervous Ailments . Address , the Secretary , 3 Fitzallan Squaro , . Sheffield . Form of Correspondence Freo . Write to-day . CO years experience . All diseases arising from impurity of the blood absolutely cured .