Some Practical Remarks.

with ns in our greafc and good work , to become perfect ashlars , good work , square work and true work , in tho construction of our mystic temple . It is not every man who pays his debts , or who has never been detected in an infraction of the moral or statute

law , who is fitted to become one of us . The investigation should not be only as to these things , but as to his probable purpose in entf-rir-ir fcho Fraternity , and whether his mind and soul would prove a hospitable soil for the growth and nurture of the seed of Charity , Fraternity , aud

Brotherly Love . Tho most mercenary applicant will make tho proper answers to the necessary questions with the utmost glibness , but the brethren should be well satisfied that he possesses positive qualifications for our work before admitting him , and not merely content themselves with

the want of knowledge of negative qualifications . The Lodge is nofc an asylum for the mentally halt and maimed , or the morally blind of the world , any more than it is for those wanting the physical requirements of the perfect man . There is no room in it for the man given to small ,

mean intrigues of any kind , nor for the man who will withhold from another the commendation and kindly consideration which he merits , or who will supplant him in any honour or position which ho has justly earned by honest conscientious effort . The true Mason will be the

first to see and commend a meritorious act , and the last to admit that a man is depraved beyond redemption . If a brother ' s conduct appears to bo wrong or questionable , the good Mason will cast about for some proper motive , or at

least some mitigating circumstance which will palliate a brother ' s offence . If we are not satisfied that the applicant does possess these fine qualities and capacities , it were far better to merciless eject him on the start .

I have thought it more profitable to thus address myself to a few questions of present practical importance , even afc the risk of the commonplace , rather than to grope in the dim , uncertain vistas of a traditional past , after doubtful Masonic circumstances connected with the buildiner of the

temple of Karnac or tho pyramid of Cheops , or some other structure of the ancients more sanctified by age than by its motives or purposes . The tracery of the past has been written , is ineffaceable , and is only valuable for its lessons . The present is intensely real , and in a true sense is all we

havo whereof to mould our Masonic or spiritual structure . To some of us a useful future in which wo may be capable of doing as we would may never come . It is , therefore , more fitting that we as Freemasons and as men should rather build for the future than draw accounts against ifc to be repaid with usury and tears . — Voice of Masonry .

Influence Of Masonry.

INFLUENCE OF MASONRY .

WHEN wo look back upon tho terrible ordeal through which the country has gone , wo can scarcely realize it when compared with the peace and prosperity now existing from one end to the other of our Union . Plenty and peace havo taken the place of poverty and war , and we are once more a united and happy republic .

From first to last Freemasonry has preached and practised fraternity , and haa stood undaunted through all the troubles which Burrounded it . The long lines of bayonets of tho contending hosts wero powerless to stay its progress , and tho uplifted sword has been returned bloodless to its scabbard iu obedience to its tny . slie mandate .

Can any one doubt the influence ifc had in this fratricidal conflict ? Masonry , to be sure , was powerless to avert ; the strife , but it was all-powerful in ameliorating the evils with which it was attended , and mado its influence felt wherever the bloody hand of strife was uplifted over its victim .

Lodges in almost every State met and worked through all tho turmoil , except were the ground was occupied by the contending armies . Thus has Freemasonry won for itself an imperishable monument .

The pulpit was given up to warlike harangues , and had no power and even no desire to pour oil upon the troubled waters , but wherever Freemasonry showed itself , it was like the command of our Saviour to the troubled waters , ' Peace , be still , " and immediately there was a calm .

And as Freemasonry was instrumental in forming our Union ( fifty-two' out of the fifty-six of the signers of tho Declaration of Independence being members of the Order ) , so it has been a strong power under Divine Providence m

Influence Of Masonry.

restoring that Union . And the perpetuity of the Union is safe while Freemasonry exists . The extent to which it has been operative during the

war will probably never-become moro fully apparent to the world , because its operations have been so private in their character , but none the less effectual by reason of their silent workings .

The Masonic fire has been maintained upon innumerable altars , and its glow has been felt from tho east to the west , and from tho north to the south . Those outside of tho Order can seo only tho effect , but

cannot see the cause , and in the harmony which now prevails between the two sections they fail to see tho power which had so great an influence in bringing about this state of things . —Masonic Review .

Our Girls And Boys.

OUR GIRLS AND BOYS .

HPHE following results will be gratifying to the JL supporters of the Institutions : — GIRLS . CAMBRIDGE EXAMINATIONS , CHRISTMAS 180 * 2 .

SENIOR . —CLASS II . —Lucy Smith ( A ) ami Bertha Dunn , Honours . SENIOK . —CLASS III . —Amy Cutbush , Honours ; nnd Ethel Gil let ft , Passed . A . —DISTINCTION IN ARITHMETIC .

JUNIOII . —CLASS II . —Jessie Beilley ( D ) , Evelyn Confci , aud Florence Bexford , Hononrs . JUNIOR . —CLASS III . —Hester Burt , Nellie Cooper , and Helena Tans , Honours .

D . —DISTINCTION IN DRAWING . Mary Allen , Ethel Croft , Kate Grundley , Nellie Grammer , Hilda Korap , Florence Obey , Edith Pouudfoot , Ethel Saunders , and Kato Bronghton , Passed .

Boys. Junior Cambridge Examination, Christmas 1892.

BOYS . JUNIOR CAMBRIDGE EXAMINATION , CHRISTMAS 1892 .

HONOURS . —1 ST CLASS 2 ND DIVISION . —Coupland ( with mark c _ f distinction in Religious Knowledge ) . 2 ND CLASS . —Higgiaon ( with mark of distinction in Mathematics ) ; Bingham ( with mark of distinction in Arithmetic ); Crompton , ami Matthews . <•••

3 RD CLASS . —Fortune . Passed . —Broad , Brewer , Davis , Doughty , 0 . W . Green , "Groombridge , Jarmain , Jewitfc , C T . Jo . hnson , J . H . Marsdon , Molhuiah , Murloss , Scarfo , Sladeu , Stephenson , and Steward . TOTAL . —Six honours and 16 pass certificates .

The Old Masonians.

THE OLD MASONIANS .

THE last of tho present series of Cindorellas given by this Association took place on Monday , tbe fith inst ., afc Anderton ' a Hotol , Fleet Street , when a most enjoyable evening was spent . A a usual the indefatigable M . C . ' s , Messrs . W . J . Packer , E . S . Chandler , and E . A . B . Conch , worked hard , nnd they must have felt proud of the success thafc was achieved during * tho evening . Mi * . F . J .

Evans' band started by plnyiug a lively polka , and this being well taken up the company soon got into working order . The ladies and gentlemen responded to the call of the M . C . ' s with unflagging energy as dance followed dance , and we feel sure that the interval must have been a welcome time to somo of the more energetic .

Some twenty minutes was spent in seeing after tho " inner man , " after which Mr . Evans' band played a charming valae as a kind of preliminary to the dance of the evening , " The Old Masonians . " So far as wo could see nofc a couple were allowed to stand aloof , and tti « room had a most animated appearance during fcho dance , which as a

matter of course was enthusiastically encored . Shortly after eleven a few of tho members of the Koyal Jubilee Lodge , No . 72 , joined the company , tho regalia of some of the brethren adding to

the effect . Among theso visitors we noticed Bros . G . Horton S . W ., E . Horton Wine Steward , Bantick , and Williams . Dancing was kept up till twelve o ' clock , tho company then separating , after having spent a most happy and enjoyable evening .

HOLIOWAT ' S Pitis . —For the cure of debility , bile , liver , and stomach complaints this inappreciable medicine is so well known in every pnrt of tlio world , aud tho cures performed by its use aro so wonderful , tlmi , it now stands pre-eminent above all other remedies , more particularly for tho cure oi bilious and liver complaints , disorders of the stomach , dropsy , and debilitated constitution . In theso diseases the beneficial effects of the Pills aro so

permanent that tho whole system is renewed , the organs of di ^ ostinn strengthened , and a free respiration promoted . They expel from tho secretive organs and tho circulation tlie morbid matter which produces I inflammation , pain , fever , debility , and physical decay—thus annihilating , by thoir purifying properties , tbe virulence of the most painful and devastating I diseases ,