Church Service.

The aims and objects of Freemasons were no secrets . Their principles had been printed over and over again , and their doors were never closed against a properly qualified candidate ; all such could apply , aud be made free of the mysteries , provided they be good men and true . No ; Masonry was no secret society , but it possessed secrets of its own , which was quite another thing .

Those secrets would be of no use whatever to outsiders , although of great service to Freemasons . If they could be of the slightest benefit to mankind in general they should have made them public long ago , for the primary charge to a newly made Mason insisted strongly on the discharge of his duty , not only towards God and himself , but just as strongly upon that due to his neighbour .

And now to turn to the positive aspect of the question—what was Freemasonry ? It was a society of men of all classes in the social scale , of all nations , races , colours , and creeds . They must be believers in one sole personal God . Further , they must be of good position—i . e ., following some respectable calling . They must be of adequate means—i . e ., their income must be in

excess of their actual necessities . They must be of good repute or morals . That did not imply that every candidate should be absolutely faultless , but what was known of him must be , on the whole , to his credit . They must be free ; they must be sound men , physically and mentally ; they must be educated men ; they must be of a charitable disposition .

Time would not permit him to enter upon such questions as 1 why we meet , " " the origin of Freemasonry , " or " whence came our symbolism ? " But he would conclude by pointing out to them what was the use of Freemasonry in the present day . It was of value to ( a ) the community , ( b ) to the State , and ( c ) to humanity at large . A—In the Masonic Lodge all classes mixed

and learned to know and respect each other , and the great doctrines of fraternity and equality were practically exemplified . No greater boon could be granted to a town than such a society , nothing more conducive to the harmony of the community could be devised . B—Political rivalry easily degenerated into personal animosity . Set class against class and sooner or later civil war

ensued . But bring the two parties together , convert bitter opponents into generous rivals—provide a common ground on which all could meet in loving kindness , and bitterness would cease . Teach each class to respect the other , and their revolutions would be reforms . That was the mission the Craft performed in the State , and it was a blessed one . C—If the influence of

Freemasonry be good to the individual , the community , and the State , they had but to spread its influence widely to benefit humanity ; and the greatest boon of the Craft was its insistence on the holy doctrine of liberty—liberty , not licence . They , British , first won their own liberty , personal by Magna Charter , and spiritual by the Beformation , and they had sent out Freemasonry into many lands to proclaim to others how they might win it too .

A collection was then taken up on behalf of the Masonic Orphan Schools , and a substantial amount was realised . — " Newry Telegraph . "

GAINSBOROUGH MASONS AT SCOTTER RECTORY . rpHE Bector of Scotter , in addition to his many virtues , happens to be a I Freemason , and is attached to the Yarborough Lodge at Gainsborough , also holding the high office of Provincial Grand Chaplain of Lincolnshire . It occurred to him as a happy thought that a day in the country , and especially in the salubrious atmosphere of Scotter , would be a pleasant

change for the Brethren from the heated atmosphere of the sun-baked streets of Gainsborough , and his suggestion was accepted with alacrity . At noon on Wednesday , 18 th ult ., a considerable proportion of the members of the Yarborough Lodge assembled at the White Hart Hotel , and were driven by the medium of Bro . Oldham's char-a-banc to tho Bectory , where a hearty welcome awaited them from the genial Bector and his friends .

A short service at church had been arranged , the surpliced choir attending , and Bro . B . T . Adlard presiding at the organ . In the course of an interesting address , founded on David ' s conception as to the building of the Temple , the Bector stated that there were few things more wonderful in the history of the world than the building of the magnificent Temple by king Solomon . Interesting as that building was to the world at large , surely it was ten times more interesting to them as Masons , because their ancient Brethren in

times gone by were called upon to take part in the performance of that glorious work . In the idea of Brotherhood there were diiferences of degree , but there was an equality and dignity in the sight of God because each one laboured together for His glory , and they did their best work for him who had prepared them for it . They should all be working together for the main good , each doing what he could for the benefit of the whole . Their lives as men and as Masons should be exceedingly magnifical in their uprightness

and their honour . Pew things had excited so much curiosity and interest in the outer world as Masonry . Some had thought that it existed solely for the purpose of social undertakings or social pleasures . It was well they should show by the magnificence of their lives that truth and honour that did exist between all true members . It was well they should show the world that a good Mason was a man whose life was governed by the best of principles , by virtue and uprightness of conduct . It gave him great

pleasure to see them there that day . Most of them were Brethren , some were going to be Brothers . He trusted they would live together in harmony and work together on the principles of true Brotherhood , and that not only Masonry in general but their own Lodge might go on and increase and prosper , and that its great work might spread its wide , noble , and beneficent influence into the world at large . At the request of the Brethren , an offertory was made , which realised £ 5 lis towards the foundation of a Chapel ol Ease at Susworth ,

Church Service.

A high-class luncheon was served in a marquee , and at the conclusion the W . M . of the Yarborough Lodge Bro . W . H . Hanson gave the toast of the Queen and the Craft , stating that the many virtues of Her Majesty had been so frequently dilated upon of late , and they so thoroughly appreciated what had been said , that he need not add any words of his . The toast having been drunk with enthusiasm the W . M . rose again and

in an eloquent address expatiated upon the kind hospitality of their worthy Brother and host , the Bector , wishing him health , long life and prosperity . He felt that day they were in a very atmosphere of Masonry , everything about them and around them tending to remind them of Benevolence , kindness , and consideration for everybody . He felt sure that high as the Masonic standard was fch « ra was no Brother who had tho c . ansn Wiirmer at

heart than had their Bro . Blew . It was indeed a red letter day for the Yarborough Lodge when he joined their ranks , and from his first joining and becoming a true and faithful Brother amongst them his object had been to promote the interests not only of Masonry in general , but of their Lodge in particular . He had assisted them in every way , he had joined them in their festivities , and now he had crowned his efforts by giving them such a happy day . He thanked Bro . Blew from the bottom of his heart , and on behalf of

the Brethren , for the eloquent address he gave them in church . The Masonic spirit he displayed then showed the feeling he had towards the Craft and everything belonging to it . The Bector had earned the gratitude , the respect , and love of everyone of them . Personally he desired to offer the Bector the best wishes for his domestic happiness . Masonry did not enjoin celibacy , and he was quite sure that the parishioners of Scotter would be glad to welcome a help-mate at the Bectory . Tbe Bector was about to

extend his work m the parish , and he felt sure that he would require someone to help him . Masons had many prejudices , but they were not at all prejudiced against wedding festivities , and given an opportunity they would be glad to co-operate in such festivities . They would be glad not only to assist * in laying the foundation stone at Susworth , but also to co-operate in the festivities for the foundation of a happy family at Scotter Bectory . He asked them to join in drinking long life , health and prosperity , and immediate domestic felicity to Bro . Blew .

The Bector sa ; d it had given him great pleasure to see them all there at Scotter . In the country , where one did not see much of Masonry , it was an especial pleasure to have a Masonic day . They all thought a great deal of Masonry , and they all appreciated it as a great honour to belong to the Masonic brotherhood , the most ancient order in the world , and one that had contained the most honourable names . The Order traced itself back till it was lost in the mists of ancient times . The

order of Kingdoms could be traced to their beginning long after Masonry , and one of the greatest honours a man could have in this life was to be a good Mason , belonging to one of the good orders of Masonry . He appreciated the great honour , and felt it a great pleasure to see them all there that day . He alluded to the fact that in Scotter Church had been found a Masonic mark which showed that some of those who lived in Scotter years ago were Brethren of the Craft , and he had no doubt if they looked at the foundation stone they

would find it was laid by a Masonic Brother . He was at Lincoln recently , and saw upon a stone a Master Mason's mark , so that Lincoln Cathedral was built by Masons and was erected by the Master of the Lodge at that time of day . Wherever they went throughout the world they would find the glories and usefulness of Masonry . He had a gentleman staying with him in the winter , who had been travelling through Persia , where they had exactly the same Masonic ceremony as they had in England , with certain small

exceptions . The ceremonial was much the same as ours , and when this friend had been at the Lodge he was safer in that out-of-the-way place in Persia than he might have been in Begent Street , London . The Master of his Mother Lodge also told him that he was in the wild parts of India among the natives one day when he saw certain evidence which proved to him that a Masonic Lodge was going to be held . He went into the Lodge and joined

in the whole ceremonial with those people whose language he did not speak , but they understood each other through their Masonic signs . There was one problem he should like to suggest for solution . These Indians had no reason for their Masonry from the Jews or any European country . Where did tbey get it from ? A fact like that disarmed scepticism and doubt as to the ancient origin of Masonry . It now only remained for him to hope they would have a pleasant afternoon .

On the completion of the toast list the visitors strolled into the gardens and admired their beauties . Tennis was played by some , others essayed their skill at the angle , but the most interest was attached to a cricket match . A cup of tea on the lawn in the cool of the evening terminated the day ' s entertainment , and the visitors returned to Gainsborough by the four-in-hand , arriving about nine o'clock , having passed a delightful afternoon and heartily expressing their great appreciation of the hospitality of the Bector of Scotter . — " Gauntlet , " in the " Betford News . "

There is still hope of our collection in Masonic literature being enriched by a revised and smaller edition of Bro . D . Murray Lyon ' s " History of Freemasonry in Scotland , " says the " Mallet , " in " Glasgow Evening News . " It is no doubt difficult , continues

our contemporary , in the midst of the multitudinous secretarial duties which occupy Bro . Lyon ' s attention , to find time to devote to the work necessary for the publication , but with the assurance that the possibility in not lost sight of there is still hope .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

ON Monday afternoon the remains of the late Bro . William Burns , who died at his residence , 114 Walton Boad , Kirkdale , were interred at Antield Cemetery . The deceased was well-known in engineering circles , being many years with the late firm of Messrs . James Jack and Co ., and the Waterford Steamship Company . The Ancient Union Lodge , No . 203 , was represented

by Bros . D . Nicholson W . M ., J . Craig I . P . M ., J . H . Hounsell P . M . P . P . A . G . D . C ., J . Worthington P . M ., A . Allsop J . W ., S . Fletcher S . D ., C . Birch jun ., S . G . Owen , W . H Stevens , J . Hughes , P . Spiers , E . Bowlands , H . Geach , G . Campbell , W . Thomas , C . Davies , T . Cuff , S . Edwards , J . M'Ewen , G . H . Ashton , and G . Armstrong ; while there were also present Bros . T . Jones 1756 , J . Bateinan 1035 , G . Thomas 1570 , and others .