Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire.

year : —Bros . W . H . Smythe D . P . G . M ., T . Slator jnn . 838 G . S . W .. J . A . Thomas 272 G . J . W ., Rev . J . C . K . Saunders 1286 Chaplain , C . M . Nesbitt 712 G . Treasurer , H . Watson 13 S 6 G . Registrar , F . D . Marsdon 712 G . Secretary , G . Ford 271 G . S . D ., T . W . Thimbleby 426 G . J . D ., Alfred Parkin 1-182 G . Sup . Wks ., Wm . Pooles 838 Grand Director of Ceremonies , Geo . Nelson 1282 Grand Assistant

Director of Ceremonies , W . Swallow 1482 G . Sword Bearer , Wm . Barraclough 1386 G . Organist , Alfred Kirk , 422 G . Pursuivant ; J . W . Palmer 838 , W . B . Batley 838 , F . Watson 1386 , Wm . Sissons 1447 , Thos . Fryer 1282 , W . S . Bladon 422 , G . Stewards ; Benj . Box G . Tyler , Bros . Fowler P . P . G . J . W ., Griffin P . P . G . D . C , Auditors of Grand Lodge Funds . Tho next Provincial Meeting is to be held at Brigg .

Bro . Johu Sntcliue apologised , on behalf of Bro . F . Binckes , for his absence . The Deputy Prov . Grand Master apologised for the absence of the Prov . Grand Master , and Grand Lodge was then closed . Tho brethren afterwards dined at the Shodfriars Hall , presided over by the Deputy Grand Mas \ er , and honoured a very long list of toasts . The gallery was graced with the presence of ovor 100 ladies .

Antagonism To Masonry.

ANTAGONISM TO MASONRY .

( From the CANADIAN MASONIC NEWS . ) MASONRY , like everything else that is good , has always had its enemies—people who , whether they know anything about it or not , wero ever ready to speak of it and against it , aud who , in default of a specious reason for their opposition , have never hesitated to invent one . Of course an antagonism which cared nothing for the

strength of logic or tho weight of facts , but whoso scepticism , like Tertullian ' s faith , often glorified in being founded on au absurdity , must have continually changed its poiut of attack to vary with the changing phases of character in those who maintained it . Sometimes these changing aspects of opposition to Masonry havo been of a rather contradictory character to each other . It does seem to a

rational and impartial mind that sometimes , if one ot them was well founded , another urged at some past or subsequent period could not be false . But this has never made a particle of difference to the anti-Masons . Their war cry has always been " Delendo est Carthago , " and it mattered but little to them how the destruction was brought about , so that it could at last be accomplished . Grave divines ,

learned lawyers , astnto politicians , in their a nxicty to obliterate Freemasonry from the catalogue of human institutions have not declined to embrace any falsehood or foil }* , however monstrous or absurd , and to retail it to gaping multitudes , with all tho unction that they should have felt only in delivering a maxim of truth or a lesson of wisdom .

To tako up the history of this moral crusade against tho Institution only for more than tho last half century , we shall find at least four different changes in tho spirit and . maimer of the opposition . In the beginning of the century , or just before it , Masonry was deiiouuced by such men as Barrnel and Robinson , as a conspiracy against all government and religion , aud tho Institution was flatly

charged with encouraging rebellion to constitnted authority , aud with the unscrupulous inculcation of Atheism . " We cannot but ; suspect , " said Pope Pius VII ., " that the Freemasons wish to overthrow , not only thrones , but even religions , aud especially the Christian . " Hence edicts were issued by emperors and kings , aud bulls fulminated by popes , forbidding the meeting of Lodges , and

commanding the utter abolition ot the Society . These things havo died off among most intelligent peojile , but there are some men who can never get rid of an idea which has once taken possession of their miuds ; and , therefore , we still find many , even at this day , who believe as firmly in tho bull of Popo Pins as they do in their own creed , and who cannot bo persuaded that Freemasons are anything

better than Atheists in disguise . Bat the charge of Atheism against au Institution which publicly announced that a trust in God was an absoluto necessary qualification for admission into its mysteries , was too absurd to bo long believed even by fanatics ; aud the priests , whilo they still fulminate their anathemas against the Freemasons , and threaten them with

excommuuication , do not now deny them some sort of a religion , Bitch as it is , and which is at all events better than to have no religion at all of which they accused them . Accordingly , about the end of the first quarter of the century , the tactics of tho anti-Masons wero changed ; and a belief in God being admitted as a part of the Masonic creed , because it was

expedient to contend that his vengeance was most awfully invoked in the Lodges ou all recreants , the enemies of the Fraternity began to discover ( for we aro never sure that an auti-Masou means all that ho says ) that Masonry was an imperium in iniperio ; that the members sought to establish a commonwealth within themselves , which was to be in perpetual autagonism to the laws of tho country

iu which they resided , and that political proferment , trial by jury , and even success in business , wero all to be c \ ntrolled aud directed by Masonic influences which wore to put the ; , vws at defiance and bring to the support of tho humblest member , iu every affair of his life , even though it were a transgression against the laws , tho whole WHiirht-, ami inliiienco of the Fraternity .

But truth is great , and this opposition has all died away , except perhaps , in some few benighted spots aud dark corners of the country adjoining us , where the name of Morgan is still heard with a shudder , and every Freemason is supposed to bear somewhere about his person a fac-simile of the brand of Cain .

And then thero came another phase in the opposition . When men Were obliged to admit that Masons wero not Atheists , and to confess that they were very often excellent subjects or citizens , they began to discover that the secrets of the Institution were a "humbug "for those anti-Masoua are by , ao means choice iu their expressions ,

Antagonism To Masonry.

and very often sacrifice elegance to strength—they declared that its ceremonies were puerile , and unworthy of men of sense , and that a study of its principles was nothing less than a sheer loss of time . But as these philosophers , who , of course , always devoted their time and talents to something of more importance than tho pursuit of Masonry—such , for instance , as making money or seeking

officevery candidly acknowledged that they knew nothing about tho Society , because they had always deemed it derogatory to their dignity to seek admission into the ranks of an Institntiou which , at best , could only be considered as a remnant of tho dark ages , the world has paid less attention to their invectives than to either of tho preceding classes , and , therefore , Masonry has continued to be cultivated and

admired by some of the highest intellects of tho age . The literaturo of the Institution as it now stands before the world , has been the most effective answer to tho cavils of those wonld-bo wits , who think that it , like their own heads , contains nothing of value or importance worthy it . And now , lastly , thero is beginning to bo presented a now form

and substance ot objection , which , however , as it is equally unfounded iu truth , will , wo doubt not , like all others , meet with the same fate . That Masonry , which once was charged with being tho teacher of Atheism , tho violator of law ; and tho conservator of absurd trifles is now clothed with another garment , different from all these , and is accused of endeavouring to establish a religion for itself , and

to teach its members how to get to Heaven in its own way . Its object is now said to be , to offer itself as a substitute for true religion , and to present its own teachings exclusively as a way of salvation . Although this exchange of tactics is undoubtedly very absurd , it was a very natural change in a system of absurdity . When it was found that men would not believe that Masonry had no religion , it was a very absurd policy to eudeavour to persuade them that it

had too mnch . The accusation came out bran new ; it is perhaps the last Parthian arrow from the quiver of anti-Masonry , and has already becu shot too wide of its mark to effect any harm . Tho pious and intelligent clergymen of all faiths and denominations , who fill the ranks of Masonry , and who wonld long ago havo abandoned it if it had sought in tho most indirect manner to interfere with their hopes of eternal safety , is in itself the best answer to such a charge .

We do not intend making any sort of argument on this subject . In a pleasant littlo story from the pen of Mrs . Iuchbald , thero is a character—a learned but arrogant priest—who once declined entering into an argument with a lady , on tho ground that ho never disputed with anybody under a doctor of divinity . Wo confess we are somewhat in favour of his views , so far at least , as never to argue

with a man on a subject of which he is totally ignorant . No man who is at all acquainted with the nature , tho history , and tho true design of Freemasonry , would over , for a single iustaut , undertake to sustain either of the four accusations which we havo recapitulated . When , however , an opponent shall present himself armed with a knowledge of all that has been written in favour of Masonry by its

disciples , as well as all that has been said against it by its enemieswhen such an opponent will prelude Ins intended combat by tho declaration that lie has carefully studied its principles from the authority of its toachors , and knows them to be wrong , then will we consider such a foe as worthy of onr lance , and will freely enter tho lists . But for hearsay , scandal , aud gratuitous abnse , no inau or

Mason should ever have any other answer than silent contempt . And , after all , what has boon aud what will be ever tho effect on Masonry of this absurd , if not always unconscientious antagonism ? Tho stoiy of Galileo will give the response in the way of parable . When Galileo was on his knees before tho Inquisition of Rome , the greatest mind of the age prostrate before tho least , and making

the required recantation of his heretical dogma , that the sun stood still , and the earth moved around it , ho turned to a friend , aud whispered in his ear these words of solace : " Never mind , tho world will keep moving ! " and so whisper we , in spito of all that benighted popes , and despotic kings , and wily Jesuits , and cunning politicians , and frightened old women , may say about it or against it , " Masonry will still keep moving . "

Railway Traffic Returns.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS .

The following statement shows tho receipts for traffic ou the undermentioned railways for the past week , as compared with the corresponding week in 1874 : — Miles open . Receipts . Bailvvay . 1875 1375 187-1 £ P .

Caledonian 737 | - 54 , 801 52 , 571 Glasgow and South "Western . . 315 a L 18 , 077 10 , 839 Great Eastern .... 763 48 , 277 44 , ( 105 Great Northern .... 523 51 , 052 49 , 023 Great Western .... 1 , 525 100 , 307 100 , 718 Lancashire and Yorkshire . . 430 60 , 786 60 , 725

London and Brighton . . . 376 * 34 , 796 41 , 870 London , Chatham and Dover . . 153 * 20 , 149 17 , 602 Loudon and North Western . . 1 , 532 ^ 176 , 314 168 , 304 London and South Western . . 626 J 43 , 067 40 , 970 London , Tilbury and Southend . 45 1 , 951 3 , 407 . i ; i . nrrn-.-r . Hr find . S ' neh ' i .-id . . 2 i ) 9 . V Oii . l ) .-I ui .. L : «

itidlanci ...... 95 b . i lUii , 6 « y' / \ io , \ ivyj Metropolitan 8 9 , 51 . 6 8 , 301 „ District ... 8 5 , 313 4 , 182 „ St . John's Wood . . 1-J 490 410 \ T .. LI . T 7 ...-J .. ' T _ oon JO XH J on o t = r North British 839 4359 39315

.. . . . J , S ' orth Eastern ....1 , 393 126 , 286 10 . 4 , 322 N Jorth London .... 12 7 , 4-16 6 , 618 Sorth Staffordshire Railway . . 190 9 , 960 9 , 177 „ „ Canal . . 113 1 , 684 1 , 625 South Eastern .... 350 39 , 338 36 , 166