Old Memories.

OLD MEMORIES .

THE scent of sylvan groves after a summer shower ; The sound of the curfew bell at the evening hour ; The lowing of peaceful kine on the meads below ; The murmuring stream as it on to the sea doth go . The welcome musical note of fche cuckoo heard'Neath umbrageous branches of trees where no wind stirred ;

The carol of the gay lark as it upward'soars , And at heaven ' s gate its psalm of praise outpours . The old song heard once again , or the cadence sweet—Of the madrigal , chanted by voices for angels meet : These draw a sigh from the heart for the days gone by , As they touch the forgotten chords of memory .

EMRA HOLMES . Author of " Amabel Vaughan . " Aberdeen .

The Eev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., P . G . Chap . D . Prov . G . M . Durham dedicated , at St . Aidan ' s Church , West Hartlepool , on Sunday afternoon , a memorial window erected in memory of the late Eev . A . F . Sim by the Freemasons of Wesfc Hartlepool . The Eev . A . F . Sim was curate of St . Aidan ' s , and died afc the Universities Mission at Kota Kota .

Our readers may remember thafc at the installation meeting of the Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 , in July last year , certain Danish Brethren belonging to the Danish frigate " Valkyrien " were received and heartily welcomed . A letter has just been received from the St . John ' s Lodge , of Copenhagen , of which we attach a translation :

To the Brethren of the Lodge of Freedom , Gravesend . Our Chairman here , Master Brother Commander Sommerfeldt , as well as all the Officers of the St . John ' s Lodge , have commissioned me to thank the Chairman , Master , and Officers of the Lodge of Freedom , as well as all the Brothers , for the amicable reception and loving hospitality which has

been shown to our fellow Brothers during their stay in England in July 1896 . The Brotherly greeting which was sent through Commander Fugl has been read to this Lodge , and received with much joy and heartiness by the

Brothers present , and we send by this to the Lodge of Freedom an equally hearty and thankful greeting . With best wishes for the future welfare of your Freemason's Lodge , and with the hope of prosperity and progress for each one of the dear Brothers .

Yours fraternally , L . SERYN , Lodge Secretary . ooo Dr . Hime , whose services to the Masonic Order in Ireland are well-known , has produced 8 , book , entitled " Masonic hints , " with a Masonic map of Ireland , and excellent engravings of the

schools for orphan boys and girls at Clonskeagh and Balls Bridge . Dr . Hime sets forth the vast importance of these great charities which the Masonic body supports , and at the same time shows how much might be done by more general and systematic Benevolence . While some Provinces—notably that

of Dublin—do their utmost in the matter , there are many who are lamentably deficient . He proposes a scheme by which Masons should be afforded greater facilities for increasing the funds of the Institution , and in this connection publishes an admirable chapter by Mrs . Power O'Donoghue on the management

of amateur entertainments . He further deals in an eloquent and able manner with the connection between Freemasonry and religion , and shows the absurd and baseless character of the Papal attacks upon the Order . We heartily congratulate Dr .

Hime on the good service his book is likely to do the great cause of charity , and we commend it most heartily , not only to Masons in Ireland , but throughout the United Kingdom . — " Irish Ecclesiastical Gazette . "

We do not as a rule touch upon political matters , but there are exceptional occasions , when members of our Order are particularly concerned , that departures from custom are permissible . Such is the case in regard to a recent meeting which produced what is locally described as a veritable red-letter

day in the annals of the Primrose League in Torquay . In the afternoon the installation took place at Chelston Cross , the residence of Captain Phillpofcts , M . P ., of the members of the first Chapter of the Order of Imperial Knights , a new branch of the organisation which is likely to be of very great benefit to it , both

from a pecuniary point of view and also in bringing within ifcs borders and retaining there gentlemen who , whilst wishing the cause every success , are often precluded by professional and other

engagements from takiug an active part in its business and public meetings . In the regretted absence of the Earl of Lathom the Grand Prior of the Order , the ceremony of installation was performed b y Lord Poltimore , a member of Grand Council , the

Old Memories.

esteemed and popular member for the Division receiving the honour of being the Commander , and Bro . John Chapman ( with whom the idea of the Order originated ) that of Deputy Commander . This interesting ceremony was followed in tho evening by the Christmas meeting of the Torquay Habitation ,

which , held in the spacious Bath Saloons , was as splendid a success as ever . The principal speakers were Captain Phillpofcts , M . P ., Lord Poltimore , who explained the aim and object of the Order

of Knights Imperial ; and Mr . Lane Fox , who , more humourous and yet more earnest than ever as the Vice-Chancellor of the Primrose League , received a very hearty welcome after a rather prolonged absence from Torquay , where he was a former popular resident .

Plain , sensible , aH-round men , are the ones fchat besfc serve the world . A genius is likely to pursue an erratic course , moving about in ways of brilliancy that may result in much good or ill . There is always something of uncertainty or of risk attending the movements of impulsive men , possessed of extraordinary gifts ,

who are inclined to despise ordinary methods and follow new and untried paths . In the Masonic organisation there is found now and then a man of this stamp , fiery and aggressive , who has set his heart upon reforming the institution .. He has little or no

respect for rules and precedents ; he does not wish to do as other people do , but marks out a new course and calls upon Brethren to follow him in the strange paths . Such a one rends but small service to the Craft . — " New York Tribune . "

The New Zealand Grand Lodge recently received some new regalia for its officers from London , the cost being £ 123 , on which customs duty amounted to no less than £ 32 9 s 6 d . Thus , says the " New Zealand Craftsman , " a benevolent Institution

which spends hundreds of pounds annually in assisting the State , by the relief of distress , is taxed to keep up the farce of " Protection . "

The Lodges of Natal working under the Scottish Constitution have petitioned the home authorities for the formation of a District Grand Lodge .

Ye Olde Friends.

YE OLDE FRIENDS .

THE fifth annual Smoking Concert of " Ye Olde Friends " took place on Friday of last week , at the Freemasons' Tavern , with extraordinary success , the great Hall being occupied to its utmost limit . The "Friends' - are a number of benevolent gentlemen , most of whom are members of the Craft , who have organised these concerts for the double purpose of meeting together from various parts to enjoy a pleasant evening , and to give a similar

entertainment to those who are not blessed with this world ' s goods , but who , from circumstances of unavoidable calamity and misfortune are reduced to the lowest ebb of poverty and distress . Mr . Bobert G . Barber occupied the chair , and was supported by the following Committee : —Messrs . T . M . Browning , G . T . King , W . Blanchette , G . A . Farman , M . Fournier , J . H . Gerard , C . James , C . Humberset , F . A . Heymer , F . B . Janetsky , Otta Luer , L . Mantell , T . Flatten , H . Beed , L . Sehmitt , J . K . Taylor , A . Thomson , S . F . Vandyke , B ,. Vorley , G . A . Wells , F . Williams , and H . Cross ( Secretary ) .

An excellent programme was provided by Mr . Percy Fitzgerald , and comprised such artistes as Maldwyn Humphreys , Franklin Olive , the Minnesingers Quartet ( Bogers , Hobbs , Burridge , and Davis ) , A . W . Sawyer , Fred Stephens , Arthur Melrose , Sydney Gandy , and Howard Beynolds ^ all of whose names are so many guarantees of excellence in fcheir respective styles . The concert was evidently much appreciated , to judge by the liberal applause bestowed .

During the evening Mr . T . M . Browning gave a short account of the good work done by the " Olde Friends . " Out of the proceeds of the lasfc concert they had entertained three hundred children of London to a substantial tea , followed by amusements and presents of toys and sweets . They all thoroughly enjoyed themselves , and returned to their homes bright and happy for their recreation . The Committee hoped in about six months to give another entertainment , when perhaps a still larger number would be

invited . He concluded by asking the company to accord a vote of thanks to their chairman . This was done with much enthusiasm , accompanied with musical honours . Mr . Barber , in acknowledging the compliment , said that he had much pleasure in assisting the Committee , as he looked upon these concerts as a means of bringing old friends together , thus helping to cement

their friendship and so knock off the rough knots as they passed on their business ways . The proceeds realised went to lighten the hearts of those who were not so well off as those present , and he was sure that all were glad to contribute to the enjoyment of others . He heartily thanked the Committee , and hoped their endeavours would be further extended by tbe result of the concert .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

nnHE funeral of Bro . Isaac Smith , of Grassendale Villa , St . I Ann ' s , St . Helens , who was a respected member and Past ; Master of the St . Helens Lodge , No . 897 , one of the founders of the Ionic Lodge , and a member of the Eoyal Arch Chapter , took place at St . Helens Cemetery on Thursday , 11 th inst . The cortege started from the house at two o ' clock , and was met at the cemetery by a large number of Masons ,