The Ministry And The Lodge.

I ask : What is our duty as Protestant ministers toward such Orders as will bury the dead , support the widow , and educate the orphan ? Ought we to suppress them or uphold them ? Look at our many Orders who do this work , and

who will stand by the Constitution of the United States , against which the Roman Church is continually fighting . The light of the United States is too bright for them , but the motto of the Protestant clergy , as well as of these Secret Orders , is in substance as follows : " Cry aloud , spare not ,

lift up thy voice like a trumpet and show my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins " ( Isa . lviii . i ) . And the object : To fieht " Popery and all that crushes free thought , free press , free worship , free schools , free shops , and a ' free ballot . And now , in order that our many

young Americans may be rightly instructed in these things , let them take an obligation , and let the minister of to-day do likewise , and go to these meetings of these Secret Orders , and there try to instruct them in their various duties as

Protestant American-born citizens . There are many things of major importance about which the minister does not like to talk from the pulpit , but in the halls of these Secret Orders he will find all the encouragement necessary , and thus he will be able to enlighten his Brothers .

While I am ready to admit that not all the workings from time to time may be just in harmony with all the teachings of the Bible , in these Secret Orders , so I also admit that not all the workings in our churches are always in best harmony with Holy Writ . Our being members of Secret Orders will

never injure us if we will but act in accordance with the Obligation . Being that the work is secret will never harm us . Secrecy of plot and execution are wrong only when the objects and ends are nefarious . Every family is a Secret

Society , or at least ought to be ; so is every business firm and every banking and insurance institution . Those men who have no capacity to keep a secret are unfit for positions of trust anywhere . There is a time to keep silence as well as a time to speak .

There are Secret Orders in this and other countries centuries old , and I have hundreds of friends who belong to them , friends who are consecrated to God , pillars in the Protestant Church , faithful in all relations of lifeexamples

, of virtue and piety . They are the kind of men whom I would have to carry me out to the last sleep when I am dead . Nobody can make me believe that they would belong to bad Institutions .

Can we denounce , with an open heart , the Secret Orders who give annually millions of dollars for the relief of the sick and the burying of the dead ? I am a member of Secret Societies , and when one gives me the grip I know it , but when I give it to one that is not

a member he is ignorant , and so it is with the password . All things are easy when you know them . To conclude then , my idea is that the relation of the ministry to Secret Orders

is so close that they ought to belong to at least one or two good Christian Secret Orders who have for their membership only such men as believe in the inspired Word of God , and in God Himself . — " Keystone . " TVST

''A Sprig Of Acacia.''

''A SPRIG OF ACACIA . ''

BY the death of Bro . Samuel Moore P . M . 992 1117 and 1773 P . P . G . Supt . of Works East Lancashire Freemasonry in all its branches has lost a beloved and distinguished member . The industrial world of Cottonopolis has also

sustained a blow which will be rar-reaching in its effects , for our late Bro . Moore was a' prominent citizen , and one of those men whose name will be enshrined amongst the multitudinous ones who have added to the prestige and renown of Manchester city . He was a link which connected the

old school of work with the new school of thought . By sheer perseverance and indomitable labour he built up a printing and bookbinding concern which to-day stands as a monumental evidence of what faith and hope , steady devotion to a set purpose , and absolute " grit" can do . He began life

with poor materials , but he reached success , and in his striving for the latter , did not ruthlessly push on one side those equally deserving ones who were pilgrims to the same shrine . The prosperity happily vouchsafed to him was to

prove a blessing to others , inasmuch as he identified himself with many educational and charitable objects , and became an enthusiast for good works effected in an unobtrusive and unostentatious manner . In his younger days he was an

''A Sprig Of Acacia.''

athlete of some standing , and as a result of careful training evinced in the days of his maturity signs of remarkable constitutional vigour . Though he developed into a prominent and well-respected citizen , yet he absolutely declined to become a candidate for those public honours which he could

easily have obtained , and which are generally conferred as the reward of industry and popularity . Bro . Moore was a man possessed of a sunny temperament , and unconsciously insinuated himself into the good graces of those around him , for his especial attributes seemed to have had a bracing ,

vigorous and helpful effect upon those who came into contact with him . The fragrance which clings around his memory will sanctify every object with which he was connected , and the best condolence we can offer to those nearest and dearest who are left to mourn his loss is

contained in the admirable lines of a popular poet : " Only the future can reach up to lay The laurel on that lofty nature . " WE regret to announce the death of one of Middlesbrough ' s leading citizens , Bro . William Henry Cowper , J . P .,

which sad event occurred at a late hour on Monday night , 8 th inst ., entirely unexpectedly , as he was of robust and powerful physique and in the prime of life , and as late as Saturday was at business and his club . Few gentlemen in the North of England have been more prominently identified

with Freemasonry than Bro . Cowper , and he rose to the highest Offices connected with the Craft , holding the distinguished position of Standard Bearer-in the Grand Lodge of England . Bro . Cowper ' s initiation as a Freemason dates back to 18 / 1 . Eight vears later he filled the position of

Worshipful Master of the North York Lodge , No . 602 , and in 1 S 80 he founded the Ferrum Lodge , Middlesbrough . In 1881 he was appointed Provincial Grand Registrar , and in 18 94 Provincial Grand Senior Warden . As a Royal Arch Mason Bro . Cowper filled numerous high Offices , and he

was a Past Grand Sojourner in the Grand Chapter of England . He also attained high rank as a Mark Mason , having been Worshipful Master of the Middlesbrough Lodge , Provincial Senior Grand Warden , and Inner Guard in the Grand Lodge of England . As a Knight Templar he was

admitted into the Ancient Ebor Preceptory , York , in 1884 , and became its Eminent Preceptor in 1887 , and Provincial Grand Constable in the Priory of North and East Yorkshire in 1895 . He was also Past Eminent Prior of the Knights of Malta , Past M . W . S . of the Rose Croix degree , a member

of the Allied Degrees , a founder and Past Senior Grand Guardian of the Yorkshire Provincial Grand Lodge of the Royal Order of Scotland , whilst he further filled the Office of Celebrant of the York College of the Rosicrucian Society of England in 1895 . Masonic Charities benefitted largely

by Bro . Cowper ' s generosity , and he was Patron of the Provincial Education Fund of North and East Yorkshire , and a Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and the Boys and Girls Institutions . Brother

Cowper was always most helpful to the Brethren of his own town and neighbourhood . His valuable assistance was never looked for in vain , and his presence as a Past Officer of Grand Lodge was an honour always very greatly appreciated . His loss will be keenly felt .

BRO . WM . BALDWIN , of the Duke of Fife Lodge , No . 2345 , editor and proprietor of the " Clapham Observer , " after many months of severe suffering , passed away on Easter Day . He had always been a very hard worker , and his health had not been good for some time . He took Office for some

years , being A . D . C . in 1896 , but relinquished it as his health did not allow him to perform his duties , when he became I . G . Pie was very highly respected , and ever ready to give a helping hand in any good work . The poor will miss him

much . Only a short time since a testimonial was presented to him by those who wished to cheer him in his sufferings . The first part of the burial service will take place in Clapham Parish Church at 2 o ' clock this ( Saturday ) afternoon , and the interment will be in Nunhead Cemetery .

THE interment of the remains of Bro . Sidney Dean took place on the 3 rd inst , at the Wolverhampton Cemetery , and was attended by a large number of Freemasons and the choir of St . Leonard ' s Church , Bilston , where he had been organist for a number of years .

REPRESENTATIVES wanted for the "Freemason ' s Chronicle , " in all the principal towns of tlie Country . Apply to the Publisher , Fleet Works , New Barnet ,