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Look back at the dark ages—when civilisation was scarce , when violence and lust were for the most part limited by opportunity and controlled by capacity , when rapine and plunder were the rule rather than the exception ; and can we despise and scorn the efforts of those who strove , according to their lights and opportunities , to mitigate the trials and provide for the need 3 of men in those dark and troublous times ? Are Freemasons to be repudiated

because in other lands , but never in England , privy councils of our Order may have provided opportunities for plots and conspiracy ? Should we forfeit the respect and confidence of the men of this generation because the reputation of every single member of the Craft has not been always spotless ? What body of men is free from mixed motives ? What flock , not even

excepting the flock of the Great Shepherd Himself , is altogether without black sheep ? That we do not profess a form of godliness while we deny the power thereof is surely manifest from our deeds as well as words—our schools for the young , our refuges for the aged , our substantial and not seldom seasonable help to almost innumerable cases of distress .

That our gatherings are conducted in harmony with true religion is manifest from the number of clergymen amongst us , and that our tenets are compatible with true loyalty is evident from the fact that the Heir Apparent to the Throne is our Grand Master , and members of the Royal Family ( past and present ) have been and are Brethren , too . If we , as Masons , still seek to insure that none but those who are one with us should be members of our

Order , is there any blame to us that we are endeavouring , by the maintenance of the ancient customs of our predecessors , to secure for ourselves simply what other communities , in their own peculiar way , are endeavouring to secure 1 It may be said , " What your forefathers professed to seek has been found , what they tried to provide had long ago been established ; and

therefore for all practical purposes in these practical days your Craft may as well be swept away as something which has served and is effete . " I venture to submit , on the contrary , that such a Brotherhood as ours , with its high object , its long history , its grand traditions , if not more is as much as ever needed .

This age calls itself an age of civilisation , light and knowledge . But is it not also an age which , in its specious self-sufficiency , is spurning the old principles which our fathers laboured and bled and died for , and pressing on in quest of new and vague theories , which are to supersede those dry and played-out superstitions (?) and to be the religious and political creed of the

future ? In such a case it becomes us , as Masons , as citizens of a world wide family of our own Christian principles , to be more than " circumspect " in our lives and conversation , more than ever careful to proclaim and to promote those glorious truths which generations have tried and proved . I appeal to you , one and all , Masons and others who are here present , to make the principles you profess more than ever realities .

If our Craft had been mere antiquated pageantry , mere parading of costumes , mere histrionic ceremonial , you would not have found me here to-day , and my tongue should have been silent in such a holy place . But because I believe it has been , that it is still , and that it might be made far more than it ever has been a mighty engine for the religious , moral and social stability of our dear old England , I rejoice that I am called to speak

here before you . It is said that the times are too momentous for mere trifling , however harmless or picturesque that trifling may be . It is said that every institution is on its trial , and Freemasonry , therefore , amongst the rest . It is not enough , then , that we should point to the antiquity of our Order in the past and to the roll of honoured men who have filled our ranks ; it is not enough to claim for us the expediency of modern days ; and even to prove these by demonstration .

Our Craft is weighed and is being weighed , in a sterner , less sentimental , sometimes in a less friendly balance , by what Freemasons are individually , and not by what we profess our Craft to be , and it will be approved or condemned as regards its worthiness as it is professed by Christian men . If we would walk circumspectly , we must take heed to ourselves . There are and there must be in every ancient community deteriorations which need

restoring , abuses which need reforming , principles forgotten or overlooked which need to be re-asserted and re-affirmed . We have , as all communities halve , our own peculiar besetting dangers and temptations . We are liable to be discredited by false Brethren , by those who from selfishness or indifference expose us to obloquy and contempt . Much has been done to restore , to reform , and to give increased efficiency to our Order ; and we can thankfully and

boldly declare , what so many other national institutions may , perhaps , declare , that many blemishes and shortcomings of former days have long ago become things of the past . Still , as Freemasons , we must remember this is no time to fold our hands and rest contented , nor is it a time to assume that we are perfect and doing all we can do with the opportunities at our command . I

believe a great future is open to our Craft in the coming difficulties and complications of the future , if we will but be faithful and loyal members thereof . The more genuine we are the better we shall be appreciated , and the misrepresentations and misunderstandings with which we have to contend will be heard of no more .

May we indeed be " rooted and grounded in love . " May our exemplary firmness and integrity of conduct prove we have noble purposes in view . Then shall we become ornaments to that glorious society of which we are each a part , and may our Order defy the storms of time and the winds of malice , however fiercely they may beat upon it . May it stand firm and

unshaken , being built upon an everlasting rock I For you , my Brethren , here assembled , yes , for the whole family of man , let us " bow our knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , that He would grant us all , according to the riches of His glory , to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man ; that Christ may dwell in us by faith ; that we , being

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' rooted and grounded in love , ' may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth , and length , and depth , and height ; and to know the love of Christ , whioh passeth knowledge , that we may be filled with all the fulness of God . "

Entertainment Notes.

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES .

Empire Theatre . —In addition to the two grand ballets , " Faust" and " La Danse , " the Empire management have added this week five new items to their interesting programme . One of the best is the performance of the baboon and donkey in a miniature circus . The baboon is an accomplished jockey , and executes very cleverly the usual "daring act" which is the ambition of all circus performers . Mons . Grais and his baboon were seen here a few years ago . The Dayton Family of acrobats made their first apperance in England , as did Taffary ' s very comical performing dogs .

Another " first appearance " was that of the Sisters Abbott , who sing duets very well , but apart from that there is nothing remarkable in their performance . The photographs depicting scenes of every day life in movement are still a popular item here as elsewhere . The new scenes include a very spirited charge of dragoons , apparently at Aldershot , and a march out of the Guards , with their band , the orchestra playing " The British Grenadiers , " and keeping time to the marching of the troops . This is an excellent picture .

In order that the proposed memorial to Sir Augustus Harris shall take practical shape , a meeting of some of his business associates and friends , with Mr . Sydney Smith and Mr . Hermann Klein as Hon . Secretaries , was called for yesterday afternoon , at the Opera House . Sir Henry Irving , Mr . Tree , Mr . Wyndham , and Mr . Alexander were among those who represented the theatrical managers , and Earl de Grey , Lord Londesborough , and Mr . Higgins the opera subscribers ; while actors , music hall managers , city men ,

Freemasons , and journalists were also represented . This Executive Committee will , a week or two hence , call a much larger meeting in the Crush Eoom at Covent Garden , for the first step clearly is to collect the money , while the question of what is to be done with it may afterwards be settled by the subscribers themselves . As a laree nronortion of the total will come from

musical circles , there is a certain well-understood feeling against devoting the whole to a theatrical charity ; but the result will probably be a certain grant to such a charity after a mausoleum has been built over the grave at Brompton . This , the " Daily News " understands , is the plan fovoured by Lady Harris , who , however , will , of course , leave the decision to the subscribers .

SIGNOB CAELO Dtjcci announces a Grand Morning Concert for Tuesday next , 14 th inst ., at the Queen ' s Hall , Langham Place , Regent Street , under the immediate patronage of H . E . H . the Duchess of York , on which occasion he will have the assistance of several eminent artists . The concert will commence at 3 o ' clock , tickets ( 10 s 6 d , 5 s , 2 s 6 d and Is each ) being obtainable at the usual Agents , or of Signor Ducci , 18 Great Marlborough Street , W .

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GAIETYRESTAURANT, STZR ^ ZCsflD . LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)—At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and EESTAUEANT ( on 1 st floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in the GEILL EOOM . AFTERNOON TEAConsisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter , Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , at 1 / - per head ; served from 4 till 6 in EESTAUEANT ( 1 st floor ) . DINNERS IN RESTAURANTFrom 5-30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 5 / - ) and a la Carte . In this room the Viennese Band performs from 6 till 8 . Smoking after 7 - 45 . AMERICAN BAR . THE GRILL ROOM is open till 12-30 . PRIVATE DINING E 00 MS POE LARGE AND SMALL PARTIES . SPIERS AND POND , Ltd ., Proprietors .