Freemasonry In Cornwall.

referred to the success of the visit of his Royal Highness the Graiid Master , their Duke of Cornwall , to Plymouth , and stated that the Prince expressed himself exceedingly pleased at the fine display of Masonry made on that occasion in the Plymouth Guildhall . His Royal Highness , although accustomed to receptions , was unmistakably struck with that one . Since then there had been a still larger

gathering of Masons at the installation of the Prince of Wales as Grand Master , in London . That , also , was certainlya very fine gathering , and he was much pleased to find that there was a large attendance of Cornish brethren in that great assembly . Much credit was also duo to Bros . John and Conrtenoy for the facilities they had afforded to the attendance of the brethren . Progess was satisfactorily shewn by

the three new Lodges that had been founded in tho Province during the past year . Ho hoped it wonld not be long before they were consecrated either by himself or the D . P . G . M . He was much pleased at the gradual progress that was also being made in the Province in withdrawing Lodges from holding their meetings at places of public entertainment . A private room was no doubt in every way the

best for a Lodge room . In some instances that conld not be afc once obtained , from the expense that would be incurred ; but the opinion of the brethren generally was tending that way . Meridian Lodge at Millbrook , and Peace and Harmony Lodge at St . Austell had both , daring the past year , obtained that requisite ; and he had to thank the D . P . G . M . for consecrating the new Lodge room of the

latter . At present he felt it was more necessary than ever for the brethren generally to be exceedingly careful in selecting candidates for the extension of the Order . Now Masonry was becoming fashionable and popular , nothing was more likely than for unsuitable persons to desire to join their ranks from motives very wide from Masonic motives . To join from an idea that it would be useful in

their businesses and with a view to putting the square and compasses over their doors . W . M . ' s should be asked to be specially careful of what candidates they allowed to be admitted to their Lodges . He had no desire to encourage a diffusion of black-balling . On the contrary , he thought where there was an objection against a candidate , it should be communicated to the W . M ., in order that he might procure the

withdrawal of the proposition prior to tho contemplated day of election . It should , however , bo understood that it was not merely W . M . ' s who were responsible . On the contrary , every brother who took part in the election would be responsible , and should think before he voted . He thought an excellent test in admitting a candidate was to consider whether the voter would like to see that candidate W . M . of his Lodge .

Bro . Hughan was unfortunately not able to attend . They were much indebted to that brother for his successful exertions , which had involved considerable hard work and energy . To him , with others , they were indebted for the return of one brother last and another this year , as annuitants on the Institution for tho relief of Aged aud Decayed Masons , from which they each received £ 36 per annnm . It was the

duty of the Province to do more for the great Masonic Charities . It had , however , done a great deal daring the past year for a very meritorious local charity , the Royal British Female Orphan Asylum , and he had received a letter from its honorary secretary , Bro . L . P . Metham , expressing his grateful thanks for their assistance . Bro . Metham felt sure that in tho whole not less than £ 1 , 500 wonld be the

total of the Masonic contributions , about one-fourth of the money expended in making the improvement by which the charity could now accommodate two hundred children instead of one hundred as before . Of that money £ 150 had been contritmted by the Province . The report of the Cornwall Masonic Annuity and Benevolent Fund

was then presented and read b y Bro . Chergwin , and adopted . It showed a decrease in the subscriptions of £ 17 12 s less than last year , bnt an increase on the capital stock of £ 210 15 s 3 d over last year , making it £ 2 , 260 over last year , of which £ 1 , 999 Is 6 d was invested .

Ihe sum of £ 100 or less was voted to bo taken from tho funds of the Cornwall Masonic Annuity aud Benevolent Fund , to be dealt with by the subscribers at the next Provincial Grand Lodge , and a vacancy was declared in the Annuity Fund , The Committee of Relief presented their report . It recommended that £ 8 be given to an indigent brother of 510 Lodge , and £ 10 to an indigent brother of 967 Lodge .

These recommendations were ultimately adopted . The brethren adjourned at noon in procession , in full rogalia , with banners and emblems displayed , and headed by the local volunteer band , to tho parish church , where an excellent sermon was preached to the brethren and townsfolk , from 1 st Peter , 11 th chapter , 17 th

verse— " Honour all men , love the brotherhood , fear God , honour the King" —by W . Bro . tho Rev A . H . dimming P . G . Chap . The church was crowded , and a large number of persons , including several of tho brethren , were unable to obtain admission . At the close of the scrvice a collection was made of £ 11 lis . The brethren then returned

in procession as oetare to the schoolroom . The P . G . M . announced the result of tho election for the vacancy iu the Annuity Fund to be for the brother of Lodge 330 , -50 S votes , and for tho brother of Lodge 699 , 40 votes , and tho former brother elected ; the result of the election for a grant to the widow of a brother of 318 Lodgo to bo for granting £ 5 , 23 votes ; £ 6 , 5 rotes ; £ 10 , 450 rotes ; and the £ 10 accordingly granted .

A long report was read from V . W . Bro . W . J . Hughan , showing the admirable working of the system of the loan of votes in tho Province during the past seven years it had been in use since recommended by him when P . G . Sec . During that time the Province had obtained , by carrying their candidates , tho value of £ : 1 , £ 00 from the charities . Bro . Hughan also pointed out how jjrcntlv the Province

was indebted in those successes to the R . W . tho P . G . M . The Treasurer , Secretary , and Auditors for the Cornwall Masonic Annuity and Benevolent Fund were re-elected . The Provincial Grand Treasurer and AnditoiM were re-elected . The collection at the church was distributed , one-fifth to the vicar of the pariah , two-fifths to the Callington Dispousary , two-fifths to tho Cornwall Masonic Annuity Fund . ^ The following votes wero made to tho London Masonic Charities : — 2 ' eu guiaeas to tho Boya' School , ton guiueas to tho Girls . ' School , ten

Freemasonry In Cornwall.

guineas to the Aged and Decayed Masons' Institution , and £ 25 to the Cornwall Masonic Annuity Fund . The Provincial Grand Master then appointed the following brethren his officers for the ensuing year : —Sir F . M . Williams Bart . M . P ., D . P . G . M . ; T . Chergwin , 131 , S . W . ; J . Peter , 557 , J . W . ; the Rev . A . Cummings , 131 , P . G . Chap . ; the Rev . J . Lethbridge , 789 , P . G . Chap . ;

W . Tweedy , 331 , Treas . ; J . P . Lyne , 510 , Regis , j E . T . Carlyon , 331 , G . Sec ; W . Middleton , 131 , S . D . ; H . Cochrane , 1136 , J . D . ; VV . H . Dunstan , 75 , S . Wrks . ; C . Trevithick , 1272 , D . C ; J . Sims , 589 , A . D . C . ; C . Trnscott , 496 , S . B . ; W . W . Dymond , 577 , O . ; F . Dennis , 75 , Purs . ; W . Rooks , 131 , Asst . Furs . ; —Dymond O . ; the following Stewards : —A . Grant , 318 ; T . Gill , 967 ; J . H . Filmer , 893 ; W . Polkinghorne , 1151 ; J . Hill , 970 ; J . Hawkins , 789 ; and R .

Penwarden , 510 , Tyler . It was voted that the sermon preached afc the church should be printed . Thanks were voted to the rector for the use of the schoolroom and his church . In the afternoon over 120 of the brethren dined at Golding ' s Hotel . The P . G . M . presided . Tho usual loyal and Masonic toasts were drank and replied to , and vocal and musical accompaniments given by a glee party , consisting of Bros . J . jRendle , T . Goodall , J . Congden , and Dymond .

What Freemasonry Has Done.

WHAT FREEMASONRY HAS DONE .

FREEMA SONRY has been the conservator of pure and sound religions morals in times of almost universal degeneracy . We do not claim too much for it when we say that , in the Fourteenth Centnry , more especially in Germany , and in Northern Europe generally , when corruption and licentiousness had invaded the Church of God ; when vice in its grossest form , and immorality in its most

revolting aspects , were sanctioned by those who ministered at the sacred altars of religious worship , Freemasonry entered its solemn and oft-repeated protests against the corruptions and profligacy of the time . The sturdy operative Masons , moved by these strong and vigorous words , engraved with their own honest hands upon the solid rock , which they wrought for building purposes , figures , words and

sentences that stood out in mute rebuke of the unbridled licentious , ness of the very priests themselves , who wero the moral and religious instructors of the people ! And many of those silent , but stern rebukes remain till the present time , in attestation of the high and healthful tone maintained by the Craft in mediawal times . In tho meantime , the lives and examples of the Fraternity were in exem .

plification of a higher and purer morality than was found , at the time referred to , in the Church itself . Thousands upon thousands of men at the present day , and all around us , iu every clay walks of life , aro made better by their Masonic vows than they could be in absence of those restraints . ' They are better husbands , better fathers , better brothers , better in all tho

social relations of life , than they would be if they were not Masons . Fi'cemasonry has administered an untold and incalculable amount of relief and comfort to widowhood and orphanage , and to distressed Masonic brothers . These deeds have been done iu secret . Darkened homos , where the shadow of death has been left brooding havo been visited by Masonic charity . Tears havo been dried up , bleeding

hearts have been soothed , bread has been dispensed by the noise , less hand ; guardian angels have been scarcely less silent and unos . tontations in their visits to the homes of poverty and want , and scarcely less lavish and unselfish in their offices of love and mercy , than the Masonic Fraternity in dispensing charity aud scattering its rich benediction upon the destitute and suffering poor . As tho

withered flowers spring up under tho refreshing influences of tho dew , gently distilled iu the silence of the night , so many a withered and broken heart , pining in poverty and want , has been refreshed and invigorated by the noiseless visitation of Masonic benevolence . The Masonic Fraternity , like the Great Author of every good and perfect gift , becomes the husband of the widow and father of the orphan ; and the'day of eternity alone will disclose the amount of

benevolent work performed in : ime by this Universal Brotherhood . Tho Temple is uot yet finished . Masonry has not yet accomplished its mission in tho world . Let ns work on . Work , work ! This is tho law . The time is short . It is past high noon with many of ns . Tho sun goes down . Soon we shall lay by the implements of our Masonic work ; aud soon onr offices of friendship and brotherly love and relief will ccaso . —Scotsman .

BEO . DANIEL Cox , THE FATHER or FREEJIASONKV IN AMERICA . — In 17 o 0 , Bro . Daniel Cox was appointed tho first- Provincial Grand Master of tho 1 ' rnvinccs of New York , New Jersey , aud Pennsylvania , by the Grand Lodge of England , and it was by his authority that a Lodge of Freemasons was warranted in tho same year , in Philadelphia , whereby this city became tho "Mother-city of Freemasonry in

America . " Wc arc glad to observe that our Brethren of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey are about to honour the memory of our earliest American Grand Master , by having prepared an accurate steel engraving of Grand Master Cox , at an expense of 275 dols . A coj > y of this engraving is to bo appropriately framed , aud presented to tho living

representatives of Bro . Cox , as a mark of the esteem of the fraternity of the present day for tho Father of Masonry iu America , and also iu appreciation of the courtesy extended to tho committee having the matter in charge , in enabling them to . jueccssfuily accomplish their labours . Bro . James If . Stevens , Past Scmior Grand Warden of New ¦ Jerscv , is chairman of this Committee . —The Keystone .

IT is one thing to make a man a Mason by initiation , ar . d anothr-r to constitute him ; uie iu heart and brains . This latter work is , in . part , that of the Masonic press , aud 'tis a pity printing was not in , vented prior to the lecture of tho second degree , so that we mi " : !!; havo had eight , instead , of seven , liberal arts ami sciences ,