Notices Of Meetings.

There were present—Bros . J . W . Baldwin W . M ., E . H . Thiellay S . W ., J . T . Moss P . P . G . S . Middlesex P . M . as J . W ., T . J . Sabine P . M . P . G . S . Middlesex Treasurer , F . Walters P . M . P . G . P . Middlesex Secretary , S . Wolff SD „ E . W . Devereux J . D ., Wright D . C . ns I . G ., W . A . Simmons W . S . Tho Lodge was opened , and the minutes wero

confirmed . Mr . Harvey was initiated into the Order by the W . M . Bro . W . Hammond P . M . P . G . S . Middlesex was unanimously elected a joining member . Several propositions were handed in . The brethren then adjourned to banquet , when tho usual toasts were proposed , both Loyal , Provincial and Masonic , after which the brethren separated .

Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , No . 1507 . —A meeting was held at tho Metropolitan Club , King ' s Cross , on Friday , 11 th instant . Present : —Bros . Williams W . M ., Kingham S . W ., Side J . W ., Shand S . D ., Willing J . D ., Cavet I . G ., Adams P . G . P . Preceptor , Stiles Secretary , and Rapkin , Read , Ormiston and Scales . The Lodgo was opened and minutes of last meeting confirmed . 1 st section of 1 st lecture was ably rehearsed by the brethren , under the

dirpction of the W . M . 2 nd and 3 rd sections of 1 st lecture , under direotion of the Preceptor , also rehearsed . Ceremony of initiation rehearsed ,. Bro . Ormiston candidate . Bro . Scales examined and entrusted for passing , and withdrew . Lodge opened in 2 nd degree , Bro . Scales passed to degree of F . O . Lodge resumed to 1 st degree . Bro . Kingham S . W . was unanimously elected W . M . for ensuing meeting . Lodge closed in due form and perfect harmony .

Is Masonic Burial Honorable ?

IS MASONIC BURIAL HONORABLE ?

( From t 7 te KEYSTONE . ) IS Masonic burial any loDger honorable , or desirable ? We are led to ask this question by tbe fact that three Past Grand Masters of Masons in Pennsylvania have , by their own requests , within a short time past been laid in their last resting places without the rites of the Craft . When examples of this kind are set by eminent Freemasons , it is not a mattor of surprise that both Masons

and non Masons should inquire : Is there any propriety in a Masonic burial ? Is it an observance that is going into disuse ? Had it ever any merit ? Is it not an empty pageant and a vain mummery ? Lei ; us answer these questions , for they are important ones , and the sooner they are settled , the better it will be for the Fraternity . The custom of Masonic burial is a time-honored one . At tho samo

time it has never been voluntarily assumed by the Craft , but only at the request of the brother himself , prior to his death , or of his family after his decease . Just ns in the matter of laying the cornerstones of pnblic bnildings , so in the bnrial of a brother—Freemasons nevor proffer their services , but only act in response to a positivo request . The absence of such request , therefore , does not excite

remark ; bnt when prominent Craftsmen , who havo been honored with tho highest dignities in the gift of the Craft , expressly request that they shall not bo buried with Masonic ceremonies , wo may well wonder if these ceremonies are ont of joint . The burial of indigent brethren is always a matter of course , and has ever been so in the Fraternity . In Scotland , in tho thirteenth

century , the duty was even made imperative upon all incorporated companies , by legislative enactment ; and this was one of the conditions upon which tho Masons of Edinburgh held their charter . And in Germany , so Bro . Findel tells us , in his "History of Freemasonry , " in A . D . 1459 , tho Constitutions of tho German Masons of Strasburg required that all tho Masters and Fellows of the Lodge , on the death

of one of their number , should contribute to " a mass to be said for the repose of the soul of him who had departed . " And Bro D . Mnrray Lyon , in his " Freemasonry in Scotland , " mentions that it was the custom in the sixteenth century for Scottish Masons to " wear their api-ons at the funerals of brethren . " Whatever may have been tho forms and display observed in tho past , and whatever

they may be now in other jurisdictions , in Pennsylvania , a Masonic funeral , like everything else Masonic , is performed in a plain , simple and unostentatious mauner . Tho bluo ribbon on the lapel of the coat , and tho sprig of evergreen in the hand , are all the insignia of Masonry that we seo on such an occasion in pnblic . We think .

rightly , that this is not a timo for display , but only for sincere f raternal grief , aud its manifestation in an unprofessional manner . Thorefore it cannot be urged against a Masonic funeral that it is an empty pageant . Neither is a Masonic funeral a holiday enjoyment , to which Crafts-

Is Masonic Burial Honorable ?

men crowd from selfish motives . A large Masonio fnneral is quite exceptional . There is far oftener only a corporal's guard than an army of followers on such an occasion . Freemasons are not a vulgar crowd , who love to air themselves by a ride through a cemetery . There are such crowds at almost overy funeral , but they are

not composed of Masons . Therefore there is nothing selfish about a Masonic funeral . Nor does it cost anything to the family of a deceased brother , for the Lodge always furnishes its own carriages , being glad to expend the requisite sum for the purpose of paying honor to the remains of a departed brother .

But is there any propriety or merit in the pecular fnneral ceremonies of the brotherhood ? If simplicity of language , beauty of thought , the teaching of the sublime doctrine of tho immortality of soul , constitute merit , then there is merit ; and if the brevity of the ceremony , and the dignity of the actors , constitute propriety , then thero is propriety .

But perhaps the custom is going into disuse—becoming antiquated ? It has not dono so as yet , but what may be the result , in case many more brethren who have been honored by a supreme position in the Craft , continue to ignore the Fraternity in their last hours , wo aro not prepared to say . Probably the aversion of age to anything that even savors of formality or display ( which feeling often

characterizes tho aged ) has something to do with snch action ; but there is no good ground for such aversion . As wo have stated , and as every brother knows , tho brotherhood is especially careful , in its fnneral rites , to avoid every form of display . Freemasons do not , like tho military , carry fire-arms to the grave , nor do they wear swords , nor are they rosetted , or aproned , or jeweled—they are

dressed simply as gentlemen . In other jurisdictions it may be different , bnt this is the rule in the Masonic jurisdiction of Pennsylvania . And wo trust that it always will be , for if there is anything that we deprecate , it is pnblic Masonic display . Before tho Masonic public , in the Lodge room , let our ceremonies be as

effectively performed as possibly , but on the street , in secular halls , and at the grave , let our bearing be dignified , and distinguished by its absence of ceremony . Such a course shall presorve us from tho world ' s familiarity , which breeds contempt , and should prevent any Brother ' s urging , witli reason , the display incident to a Masonio funeral , as an excuse for ignoring the Fraternity at his death .

It has been frequently assorted that America produces the greatest advertisers of our day , and while admitting to a great extent the truth of this statement , still we find that we can point to several of our own countrymen who equal , if not surpass , tho greatest of our transatlantic brethren as advertising giants . Perhaps the most enterprising advertiser of our timo is Mr . F . J . Clarko , of Lincoln ,

proprietor of Clarke ' s world-famed Blood Mixture who must have expended several largo fortunes in placing his now popular medicine before tho world . Trnc , he has been backed , in his Blood Mixture , by an article of wonderful efficacy ; but there are few who possess the spirit , or rather faith , necessary to inako a thoroughly successful advertiser . Within a few years onl y his Blood Mixture has become

" world-famed , " and his advertisements aro to be seen in every newspaper and periodical throughout tho world , and we notice , this week , as if to prove beyond question his belief in advertising —at the same time as effectually showing the acknowledged range of his medicine—a WIIOLK I > AOK advertisement in the threo great

London daily papers—Daily Telegraph , Standard and Daily News This is certainly the most astonishing thing in advertising that wo remember . Had the great Blood Mixture fallen into loss enterprising hands tho world mi ght never have had the benefit of this wonderful medicine .

CARELESSNESS IN PUROING A LODGE . -Upon a recent occasion we were present at a meeting of one of the oldest Lodges in this State . This Lodge for many yea's was presided over by one who now holds the rank of Past Grand Master , and he was present at the time of onr visit . Before opening the Lod go the only test applied to nscertain whether all present were Master Masons , was simply a password

, which was taken up in the usual form . Upon this the S . W . expressed himself satisfied , notwithstanding there were some present who wero unable to give the word until it had been communicated to thorn , and others who were personally unknown to him as Masons , as he afterwards informed us . For the safety of the Order , we trust that such carelessness as this is not of frequent occurrence in onr Lodges . —Indianapolis Masonic Advocate .

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