"Maine" Lodge Of Sorrow.

"MAINE" LODGE OF SORROW .

WE learn , per Bro . T . S . Parvin Grand Secretary and Librarian of Iowa , that the " Mexican Herald " of 4 th March records the proceedings of a Lodge of Sorrow held by the seven Lodges in the city of Mexico , working under the , Gran Dieto of the Bepublic , as follows : Last night in obedience to a joint call issued by the Spanish

Lodge Eiego , No . 4 , and the Mexican Benito Juarez Lodge , No . 3 , a Lodge of Sorrow was held at the Lodge rooms on Puerfca Falsa de San Andres , No . 14 . The object of the meeting was in commemoration of the death of the eighty-three Masons who were

victims in the " Maine " catastrophe . The two officers who were killed , Lieutenant Jenkins and Engineer Merritt , being respectively the Senior and Junior Wardens of the Lodge which held its regular meetings on board the unfortunate battle-ship .

The Lodge of Sorrow was attended by full representations of all the Lodges working under the Gran Dieta Simbolica de Mexico , and included the following : Eiego , Benito Juarez , Germania ,

Grand Lodge , Toltec , Cuauhtemoc , and Anahuac . The hall was fittingly draped in deepest black , and the Grand Master and other Officers , who assisted in the ceremony , were also emblematic of the sorrowful occasion .

In Memoriam speeches were made by representatives from each of the Lodges present , and by the grand representative of the State of New York Hon . D . Whittemore . At the request of the Cuauhtemoc Lodge G . M . Ermilo Canton , of the Grand Lodge , spoke . He made a most moving speech , and his tributes

to the deceased Brothers were most beautiful and eloquent . Eiego Lodge was spoken for by Lie . Diodoro Batalla and Sir Villada . The Benito Juarez Lodge orator was Lie . Maldonado . Lodge Germania , August Pfeffer . Grand Secretary P . Ielesias

spoke for the Grand Lodge . The Toltec Lodge orator was F . E . Young J . W . The Anahuac Lodge was spoken for by W . M . Morgan . After the speeches the funeral ceremony of the Order was performed with all its impressive solemnity .

There was a large attendance of the visiting Brothers among the tourists at present in the city . Among others may be mentioned Z . L . Tidball P . G . M . of New York , S . W . Eeynolds of Massachusetts , the G . M . and entire corps of the Grand Lodge Officers . The Guatemalan Minister , J . F . Eodriguez Castillejo , and many others .

Between the 18 th and 25 th instant there will be a " Public Lodge of Sorrow " held by order of the Gran Dieta Simbolica , to which all Masons and their families and friends will be invited .

New Temple At Torquav.

NEW TEMPLE AT TORQUAV .

THE Brethren of the Jordan Lodge , No . 1402 , at Torquay , are building a home of their own . Hitherto they have been tenants of St . John ' s Lodge , but not content with that arrangement they have commenced the erection of a " Temple " on the Tor Hill Estate , one of the most central sites in the town . On Wednesday , 4 th inst ., the corner stone was laid with full

Masonic ceremony by Bro . G . C . Davie P . A . G . D . C . Eng . Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Devon . The building will be Gothic in style , and mainly of red sandstone with bath stone dressings . On the ground floor will be a dining hall 38 ft . by 23 ft ., an

entrance hall 9 ft . by 15 ft ., a kitchen 18 ft . by 14 ft ., pantry and offices . Above will be the main hall 24 ft . by 23 ft ., a reception room 18 ft . by 14 ft ., a small ante room , steward ' s store , & c . Messrs . Bridgman are the architects , and Mr . S . Hawkins the builder , the price being between £ 900 and £ 1 , 000 .

There was a large attendance of Brethren from the district at the ceremony . The opening prayer was offered by Provincial Grand Chaplain Eev . E . W . J . Smart .

Prior to laying the corner-stone in the north-east corner of the building , the D . Prov . G . M . said it was a great pleasure to him to accept the invitation of the Brethren of Lodge Jordan to come to Torquay to lay the corner-stone of their new building . It was now a quarter of a century since the Lodge was founded , and they

all congratulated it upon the progress it had made , and upon its now obtaining for itself a habitation of its own . During the quarter of a century Freemasonry had made great progress in England , and especially in the Province of Devon , and no healthier sign of that progress could be had than the number of

Lodges which had provided for themselves suitable buildings for their own use . As they were aware , in the earlier days of Freemasonry , and up to quite a recent date , the usual place of meeting was in some hotel . Without in any way meaning to

utter a word of disparagement to hotels , and whilst fully recognising their great usefulness , he could not help saying he did not think them suitable places for Lodge meetings . The accommodation in them did not allow of that secrecy and privacy which was the gist of their proceedings , and whatever might have

New Temple At Torquav.

been the case in past days it was now against the spirit of the times to meet on licensed premises . Therefore , claiming as he did to have the good of Freemasonry at heart , he was glad indeed to hear when a Lodge left the hotel and occupied premises of its own . His remarks respecting hotels were not applicable to the Jordan Lodge , as the Freemasons of Torquay had lor many years

had a meeting place of their own . It was not sufficient , however , to only build a hall , for that was merely a means to an end . There was use of the hall and the spirit in which it was used to be considered . If they looked at the elements of consecration they would point out the spirit in which ifc should be used . The corn signified abundance , not only of material blessings , but of

the higher blessings of virtue and honour arising to the Brethren in increased degree . All who attended the hali should come with the determination of carrying away with him and putting into practice the precepts he heard inculcated , and those who used it should as far as possible take care that no member was admitted to the hall who was not worthy of it , remembering that the lapse

of a Brother from the paths of rectitude not only injured him , but almost infallibly inflicted discredit and produced dishonour upon the Society to which he belonged . Especially was this the case with Freemasonry . The wine was emblematic of joy and . cheerfulness . He was quite sure the meetings in that hail would be bright and happy , and that friendships formed there would last

for ever . He hoped the Brethren would never despise cheerfulness . He thoroughly believed in the full enjoyment of the pleasures of life , but not in their abuse . Then there was the oil , the symbol of peace and unanimity . He trusted the calming influence would act on the passions and prejudices of all . There would always be differences of opinion on religious and political matters , and a good thing to , for to those differences the progress

of the great Empire was due , but within that hall there would be no differences . There they would all be equal , the only Brother who stood above his Brethren being the W . M ., in execution of his office , and he would be placed there by his own merit and the free vote of the members . In conclusion he trusted that plenty and abundance , joy and cheerfulness , and peace and unanimity might rest upon that building as long as it stood .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master was presented with a parchment recording the proceedings , and it , with Masonic papers , was placed in a cavity beneath the stone , and after the block of limestone had been lowered into place he declared the stone truly squared , levelled , and plumbed , and properly laid according to the

custom of the Craft . Corn , oil , and wine were scattered over the stone . The plans were handed by the architect ( Mr . Bridgman ) to the D . Prov . G . M ., who remarked that he felt sure the building would be worthy of the Craft and worthy of the builder . A second prayer by Eev . E . Windle P . P . G . C . followed , and the Benediction concluded the ceremony .

The Brethren subsequently marched in procession to the Pavilion Hotel , where a banquet was served . — " Western Morning News . "

A Duty.

A DUTY .

FBEEMASONEY has been in existence for generations . In all these ages it has been essentially the same organisation , its principles and its characteristics have never changed . Its traditions , the source of so much Masonic knowledge remain

unchallenged . The regulations , laws and landmarks that have constituted its identity from the earliest of days are yet as obligatory and authoritative as at the beginning . Freemasons now are the inheritors of these characteristics which to-day mark what is the only true Masonry .

Therefore a most solemn duty is imposed on every Mason to protect Freemasonry from any and all attempts to impair , weaken or destroy the integrity of the Institution . When the profane seeks to obtain the rights and privileges of Masonry he is required to do certain things before he can receive admission into the

Fraternity . These are all fully explained to him . He voluntarily agrees to all that is required . The duty therefore devolved on him is by his own consent . If he understands it in its true character there can be ho excuse for a neglect to obey the dictates

of this duty . To plead ignorance is to charge the Lodge with improperly instructing him . Every Lodge tries to be free from any such imputation , for its existence depends on its fidelity to the duties imposed on it , else it would be deprived of its functions . So , then , the excuse of ignorance cannot be accepted .

But there are a very , very large number of Brethren who are not ignorant of the duty to which a member is called . They know what that duty means ; more than this , they also know how to perform it

Hence if any persons are engaged in efforts , or plans , or pretences , to set up a clandestine association of men as Masonic , it is not difficult for any of this large number of well-informed , ¦ well-trained , well-instrucoed Brethren to detect such a scheme ,