Why I Became A Mason.

WHY I BECAME A MASON .

I remember , with an admiration that increases with coming years , my grandfather on my mother ' s side . The bottle-green coat with brass buttons that glistened in tho sunlight , tho snow-white collar that almost hid his ears , tho ruffled shirt , the high-cut satin vest , the velvet pants reaching the knee and clasped with bright silver buckles , and tho shapely foot encased in the softest leather shoe . His was an appearance that would have satisfied the most

sanguine expectations of the most ardent aesthete . I can hear Ins rich mellow voice as ho called " Horace ! Horace ! " and seo the bright black eyes sparkle , when in answer to tho call I mado my appearance . I was his namesake—his almost constant companion . Oft has ho told me that when calling my namo tho re-echo sounding through tho halls carried him back to tho hours of his youth , aud

brought recollections of his earliest days . Tho pleasant hours spent with him only made his company , to mo , tho moro desirable , for I well knew that I was to be entertained with glowing descriptions of sights seen in foreign lands , or the varied experiences of "A life on the ocean deep . " It was a clear bright September day , the leaves were just beginning to show that fall was fast approaching , and

thero was hardly breeze enough to blow the long curls back from my face . Grandpapa ancl I were sitting on tho doorstep , he had just finished one of his most interesting stories , when I heard in tho distance the soft sweet notes of " Nearer , my God , to Thee . " As it approached , we saw a funeral train headed by men wearing collars and aprons , and bearing other insignia indicative of secret organisation . With boyish curiosity I asked him what they were , his eyes

brightened , a smile , that made his dear old face appear the happier , played round his shapely month as he almost whispered , " they are Masons . " I had often heard the word , and as often desired to know its meaning . My opportunity had come . Grandpa—my store-house of wisdom , my cyclopaedia of all that was to bo known—could and wonld tell me .

" Grandpa , " I said , " what do they do ?" " Horace , " he asked , " have you never noticed in my room the picture that hangs just at the foot of my bed ? " Ho had hardly finished tho question when I recalled tho many times that I had

stood before it trying to spell the long words and decipher the meaning of the ladder reaching , Jacob's like , unto heaven ; the trowel , square and compass , and the great eye that seemed to follow me around the room ; I had seen and wondered often about it , and now told him so .

" Well , " continued he , " that announces my right to claim membersbip in a brotherhood that has existed from time immemorial , and whose object is to better the condition of mankind . " " Is ifc of any use ? " I asked . "Have I never told you of the ono benefit it was to me ?" I nestled closer to him , leaned my head on his breast , looked up

into his face with boyish admiration , and then said that something good was in store for me . After patting my cheek , ho began : " I wassailing the good ship ' Flora' when war was declared between England ancl the United States . I had loft Bombay with a valuable cargo of merchandise , bound for New York . One morning shortly after eight , the look-out announced a vessel astern that seemed to be

making directly for us . Nearer aud nearer sho came , until we could see that it was a man-of-war carrying the English flag . It was evident that she was chasing us . If there was doubt in the mind of any one it was soon dispelled by a ball that came hissing over us . I saw that to attempt flight was useless , that "discretion was the better part of valour , " and ordering the sails to be furlod I calmly

waited the approach of my captors . It was not long before they were abreast of us , the gig lowered , and in a moment more there stood on my vessel ' s deck an officer , whoso uniform told his high rank . He approached , asked for my papers , and on receiving them announced that we were his prisoners . We were transferred from the ' Flora' to the prisoners' quarters on board the ' Destroyer , '

and there left to refli-ct upon the horrors of an English dungeon and the anxiety and earnest longings of friends in our native land . " We had been thero some time sweltering in the heat , and almost choked by the musty atmosphere , when a marine came to the door and announced that I was wanted in the commander ' s room . He led the way , ancl I followed , and in a second or so I was standing

before the man to whom I delivered my papers , and who had conveyed to mo the news ' of capture . He addressed mo as 'Captain , ' and in response to my respectful ' Sir , ' told me his intention ancl what would be my final destination . I looked him full in the face , he coloured up , ancl in a moment I . knew that he recognised that I was a Mason . He extended his hand , took mine and shook it

heartily . I was sent back to my quarters . After a little while I was again summoned into his presence . This timo he invited mo to be seated , extended the hospitality of his cabin , ancl said that I shonld be assigned better quarters . " I thanked him for his kindness , but said that I would share the

fate of my men . I was again sent back . Within one hour from this last interview wo wero aboard the ' Flora , ' my papers were given me , and with all sail set we again sped homeward . " The joy of all knew no bounds , tho crew gave vent to theirs in shouting , * God save the King , ' while I sat down and wept liko a child at thoughts of what might have been .

' The mystery of their escape was to the crew a source of continual wonder , and often , unknown to them , I heard their speculations and mysterious tales as to the reason for it . I never knew my benefactor ' s name , but am quite sure that if earnest prayer ever secured any heavenly guidance in this life , ancl an immortal

existence hereafter , that was and is his fate . " "Horace , " some one called . I hardly heard it , so great was my nterest in what had been told me . "Mother ' s calling , " grandpa said . I kissed him , and ran off , with his promise to tell me at another time something more about Masons .

Why I Became A Mason.

The monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held at Freemasons ' Hall , on Saturday last , when there were present Bros . W . Roebnck Past Grand Steward ( in the chair ) , C . F . Matier , John L . Mather , Edgar Bowyer , G . P . Britten , C . H

Webb , E . E . Barrett-Kidder , Rev . Richard Morris , D . D . ( Head Master ) , Frederick Adlard , Donald M . Dewar , H . Massey , James Terry , W . Mann , Alfred Williams , W . Maple , H . S . Goodall , W . Paas , and F . Binckes ( Secretary ) . After the confirmation of the minutes , the Chairman was

authorised to sign cheques in payment of sums due . It was also resolved to invest £ 1 , 000 in Indian Threo Per Cents . Petitions were examined on behalf of five boys as

candidates for admission to the School , who were placed on the list . Two grants of £ 5 each were made to two former pupils of the Institution , and a grant of £ 10 was made to another . The Committee then adjourned .

Thursday was the forty-first anniversary of the birth of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , who first saw the light at Buckingham Palace , on the 9 th of November 1841 . The County Ball , given at Sandringham , in honour of this aus .

picions event was arranged to take place yesterday ( Friday ) . It should also be added that on the day itself there were the customary demonstrations in honour of the anniversary in London , at Windsor , Sandringham , Balmoral , and elsewhere in the United Kingdom .

Bro . Kuhe ' s twelfth annual Musical Festival at Brighton commenced on Tuesday , under favourable circumstances as regards attendance , though the weather was far from being satisfactory . Mr . Sullivan ' s " Martyr of

Antioch , " ancl Mr . Cowen's Scandinavian Symphony constituted the programme . Wednesday was devoted to the performance of miscellaneous classical music , and on Thursday " Elijah " was presented .

During the recent Egyptian campaign , according to the Portsmotdh Times , there were no less than fourteen members of one Lodge among the British soldiers engaged . The Lodge in question was the Roman Eagle , No . 160 ,

held at the Iona Hotel , Edinburgh , and the fourteen members were in the Royal Horse Guards , the Scots Guards , the Royal Marine Artillery , the Royal Marine Light Infantry , and the Royal Highlanders ( Black Watch ) .

The Installation meeting of the Grey Friars Lodge , No . 1101 , Reading , took place on Wednesday . There was a large attendance of Craftsmen , and the proceedings

throughout were of a very agreeable character . Brother Richard Dowsett is the new Worshipful Master , and the ceremony of the day was performed by Brother Moxhay P . M . A full report shall appear in our next .

A Freemasons' Hall At Banbury.

A FREEMASONS' HALL AT BANBURY .

ON Friday next , the 17 th inst ., H . E . H . theDuko of Albany , K . G ., will hold his Provincial Grand Lodge at Banbury , for the purpose of laying tho stone of a Freemasons' Hall , now being erected by the brethren of the Cherwell Lodge , 599 . His Eoyal Highness will be escorted by a squadron of the Queen ' s Own Oxfordshire Hussars to the building , and will afterwards hold his Lodge , and preside at a luncheon in the Exchange Hall .

From the Lifeboat Journal we learn thafc casualties to ships in our rivers and harbours continue to be numerous ; the number during tho year having been 821 , of which 31 were total losses , and 790 were partial casualties . Of theso , collisions numbered 540 , founderings

14 , strandings 180 , and miscellaneous 87 . The 821 casualties caused tho loss of or damage to 1397 vessels , of which 727 were British sailing vessels , 562 British steam vessels , 80 foreign sailing vessels , and 28 foreign steam vessels . The lives lost in these casualties were , happily , only 13 .

There was a capital gatheri ng at the Doric Lodge of Instruction , No . 933 , at Bro . Clayton's , Du ke's Head , Whitechapel-road , on Friday , 3 rd November , under the able presidency of Brother 0 . H . Bardoulean , who was ably supported by Bros . B . Cundick P . M . Preceptor , William Musto P . M . Secretary , and numerous

brethren . The evening was devoted to rehearsing the firs '' ceremony , which was ably rendered , especially when wo remember that our Brother Bardoulean is but a young Mason . Some sections were also worked from the chair , a « d a capital evening ' s instruction was enjoyed .