Traditions Of Freemasonry.

I can never forget tho many valued and delightful friendships , and the abundant sympathy and kindness Masonic association has secured for me ; and in no presence , and on no proper occasion , will my gratitude , 0 venerable and

august institution , permit me to fail to boar witness to thy merit and thy worth . Thou hast been to me , as to others , an unfailing source of satisfaction and delight , aud thou

hast furnished richest illustration of the truth of the Scriptural saying : " Behold , how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity ! " —General Horatio Rogers .

A Mystic Relic From Pompeii.

A MYSTIC RELIC FROM POMPEII .

rPHERE is in the National Museum at Naples , Italy , a - * - curious relic ( No . 109-988 ) possibly Masonic , certainly Mystic , which is thus described in S . Russell Forbes ' s " Rambles in Naples : " Daring explorations in Pompeii in 1874 , there was found a most

beantiful piece of Masonio work , whioh from its wonderful and unique formation and workmanship has caused much excitement . It is a Mosaic Table , of square shape , and little more than a foot square , fixed in a stroog , wooden frame . Ifc served as the top of the Pedestal ia the Masonic Lodge afc Pompeii . The ground is of a grey-green

stone , m the middle of which is a human sknll , made of white , grey and black colours . In appearance fche skull is quits natural , and iho beauty of its execution is snch as to render it a model of anatomical precision and truthfulness . Above tho skull is seen a Level , of coloured wood , the points being of brass , and from the top poiut , by

a white thread , is suspended a plumb line . Below the skull is a wheel with six spokes , and on the upper rim of the wheel is a butterfly , with wings of a red colour , edged with yellow , the oyes being blue . The outline of the entire piece is symmetrical , so that the skull , wings and wheel , throngh the protaction of the plumb line ,

become halved . Looking sideways , the objects correspond with each other . On the left is an upright spear , the bottom of which is of iron . Besting on the ground from this there hangs , attached to a golden cord , a garment of scarlet , also a purple robe . Evidently this

work of art is mystical and symbolical , and it appears to have some reference to the Royal Craft . The antiquity of the Brotherhood , and its fellowship with the Ancient Mysteries , becomes certified by this wondrous piece of Mosaic art . "

Bro . Alex . Tocher , of Calcutta , while stopping at Naples , secured a fine photograph of the top of this curious mystic table or pedestal , which he presented to Bro . Randall Clunas , of St . Ninian ' s Lodge , No . 575 , of Nairn , Scotland ,

but now of the city of Philadelphia , and Bro . Chuuas has fraternally given us a view of the photograph , and of the reference to it from which we have quoted above . —Keystone .

Prov. G. Lodge Of South Wales.

PROV . G . LODGE OF SOUTH WALES .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of South Wales , Eastern Division , was held at the Masonic HaU , Merthyr , on Tuesday , 9 th inst ., under the presidency of the Right Worshipful Bro . Sir George

Elliot , Bart ., M . P . Among the other Officers of the Grand Lodge present were : —Bros . M . Tennant Deputy Prov . G . M ., J . M . Jones P . S . G . W ., J . R . Davies P . J . G . W .,

Thomas Walters Prov . Chap ., Sidney Coleman Treasurer , W . Whittington Secretary , Robert A . Browning Assistant Secretary , Robert Parry and J . Sprague

D . of C , J . J . Jones Assistant D . of C , R . C . Roper Sword B ., L . Beha G . P . Geo . Bullewell Tyler . After the reading

of the minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge , the report of the Treasurer , Bro . Sidney Coleman , from August 1887 to 5 th July 1888 , was presented . The receipt side included £ 137 19 s 3 d , balance in the Glamorganshire Bank ,

Neath ; fees of honour £ 17 6 s 6 d , Provincial Grand Lodge dues £ 128 12 s , dispensation fees 10 s , total £ 289 17 s . The disbursements included £ 5 9 s 3 d for local charities , Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution £ 105 ( donation ) , Victoria

Fund ( Widows ) , £ 52 10 s , miscellaneous £ 44 18 s 2 d , balance in bank , £ 81 19 s 7 d . The accounts were duly passed . The Provincial Grand Lodge Committee , which met at the Masonic Hall , Caer-street , Swansea , on 5 th July , reported

that steady progress continued to be made by the various Lodges in tbe Province , and the most harmonious feeling existed . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , as Charity Steward for the Province , had great pleasure in reporting

that , at tho last Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , held in February last , under the presidency of the Right Worshipful Grand Master Sir George Elliot , he took up the handsome sum of £ 870 , including twenty

Prov. G. Lodge Of South Wales.

guineas subscribed by tho Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master . The Deputy Provincial Grand Mastor , as Chief Commissioner for tho Province , also reported that ,

for the first time for some years , the account of votes with the Western Provinces Charity Association now showed a considerable balance—399 votes—in favour of the Province . The Officers wore invested , as follow : —

Bro . John Rogers 1573 - - - Senior Warden D . R . Lewis 110 - - - Junior Warden Dr . Walters 1573 - - . \ n . .. UT- iir-M- -iOAT i Lnaplains W . Williums 1807 - - -J r D . S . Vnrzopollo 1992 . - . Treasurer

J . Morgan 651 .... Registrar W . WhittinRton 361 - - . Secretary A . Peters 364 - - - - Senior Deacon N . Leieh 1573 - Junior Deacon St . Lewis 1573 .... Supt . of Works

James Radley 9 G 0 - - - Dir . of Coromoniea Georgo P . Harris 110 - - - Asst . Dir . of Cers . P . G . Hodges 1751 - - - Sword Bearer I- ™^ ± G 19 ¦ " " ) Standard Bearers

F . A . Miles 1822 - - - ) J . 0 . Vye-Parminter 1323 - - Assistant Secretary Jonah VVatkius 1807 - - - Pnrsnivant Edward Dawson 36 - - Assistant Pursuivant George Bullerwell 237 - - Tyler

John Williams 237 - - - ) W . P . U la wood 960 - - | James S . Harris 1752 . - - } - Stewards W . H . Rosser 1573 . - . | Arthur H . Roberts 36 - - - J

A collection in behalf of the new hospital realised £ G 18 s . A banquet was held at the Bush Hotel Assembly Rooms in the afternoon . Sir George Elliot proposed from the chair the toasts of the Queen and the Craft , and the Most Wor . Graud Master . Dr . Walters proposed the Prov . Grand Master and Officers of the Grand Lodge . Bro . Marmaduke

Tennant proposed the R . W . Prov . Grand Master . Sir George proposed the W . Dep . Prov . Grand Master ,

and Bro . Marmaduke Tennant the Visitors , to the latter of which Bro . Pritchard Morgan responded . The catering of Mr . Michael gave every satisfaction .

Province Of West Yorkshire

PROVINCE OF WEST YORKSHIRE

npHE half-yearly meeting of tho Provincial Grand Lodgo JL of West Yorkshire was held at Keighloy , on Wednesday , 10 th inst ., under the banner of tho Royal Yorkshire Lodge , No . 265 . It is thirty-three years since the meeting

was hold at Keighley before . The Keighley Lodge , ou the 23 rd August last , celebrated its 100 th year of unbroken existence , the Warrant of Constitution bearing the date 23 rd August 1788 , and the Provincial Grand Lodge visited

the town as a compliment to this very old Lodge . In the afternoon the business meeting was held in the Keighley Technical Institute , when about 200 members of the Order were present , from all parts of West Yorkshire . The Grand

Master , Bro . T . W . Tew , of Pontefract , presided at the meeting , and he was supported by the Deputy Grand Master , Bro . Henry Smith , of Wakefield . The Centenary Warrant and jewels were presented to the Keighley Lodge ,

and was accepted by the Worshipful Master , Bro . Edwin Lee . After the business of the Lodge had been concluded , the Brotherhood marohed to church in full regalia , where Bro . the Rev . J . Room , Chaplain to the Keighley Lodge ,

preached a sermon from the words , " He was called the friend of God . " Bro . Charles Blagbro sang the solo , " Bo thou faithful . " The Centenary Warrant presented to the Lodge is signed by the Prince of Wales as Grand Master

of the Order . In the evening a banquet was held at tho Devonshire Hotel . At the meeting in the afternoon the Provincial Master read the report . A collection was taken at the church for the funds of tho Cottage Hospital .

We learn that Sir Archibald Campbell of Blythswood , Bart ., M . P ., has consented to re-election as Grand Master Mason of Scotland , and that he will accordingly be nominated for his fourth year in that office at the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge in the begining of November .

The Editor of the Netv Zealand Mail announces that he has re-opened his Masonic column , under the supervision of a Master in the Craft , and that he will be glad to receive from Secretaries of Lodges , and brethren generally , short

reports of Lodge meetings and Masonic events of all kinds likely to be of interest to members of the Craft .