Thoughts As They Occur.

that her only support , her natural protaotor , has bean „„ llnd awav . and she feels an utter loneliness , a total

forlorn condition . In such cases the bretcT-en should use every effort to strengthen end cheer the poor stricken widow and aid and assist her wherever they cm , or whenever she needs them . —Hebrew Standard .

Why We Are Masons.

WHY WE ARE MASONS .

IF you were asked wherein you most admired Masonry , you might perhaps give some thoughtless reply ; but tho answer of thoughtfulness , intelligence and loyalty to our better selves would be that Masonry is to be most admired for its unceasing direction of man toward God and in its recognition of our dependence upon , and obligations

to , tbe Creator . The Templar Knighthood has been created about the most stupendous fact of all history—a fact that like a never fading , never setting sun has sent its rays down these eig hteen centuries , gilding the moments with the splendour of divine love and warming the human

heart with the glow of an eternal hope . The loveliest light that laughs and quivers over the Mason ' s pathway is the star of Bethlehem that so sweetly illumines the cross upon the Knight Templar and g ilds the Commandery room with a reflection of divine splendour . The sweetest melodies

that have ever charmed the ear have been the sacred songs that told in eloquent measures of Christ , of His mission here , and of his ascension yonder , that are sung by Masons all over the world . The ignorant , bigoted critic declares that Masonry is Christless . Take from the teaahing to

which the Mason listens , take from the song 3 which he sings and the Scriptures which he reads all references to Jesus Christ , and you will deprive him of P ! 1 that he prizes most dearly as he journeys through Templarism . I have seen and you have seen the Knight Templar standing with

uplifted eyes and reverential soul as on Assencion Day he has thought and sang of the risen Lord . We have listened to the prayers that have ascended from his lips to tho listening ear of the Almighty Father , and we have heard his frank confession : " I believe in God , the Father

Almighty , the maker of heaven and earth , and in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord . " While there is no assumption upon the part of the Mason , in any degree , high or low , to take the place of the church , he properly claims that there is not a step in the purpose of Masonic

rites of which the church cannot approve and which heaven cannot bless . As the seed is sown in the rich soil and warmed into life by the heat of the sun , the human heart is deposited amidst Masonic utility and its virtues are developed by the glow of divine love and influence . The

natural place for man is in close , harmonious relationship with his Creator , and his plan of divine government . The more discordant he becomes with the divine economy , ( he less satisfied he is with himself and with his surroundings . He may walk in the gilded paths of sin , and think that the

gratification of passion and appetite is happiness : he may drink deep and long at the sparkling fountains of passing pleasure and dream that it is all bloom and fragrance , but while the smile plays upon his lips the heart is weeping , aud while he thinks he is living sumptuously the immortal soul

is famishing ; and at last he takes up the cry of one of old , inevitable verdict of misspent opportunities : Vanity , vanity , all is vanity . Whatever else may come to you and to me ; however beautifully our path of life may be lined with fragrance and bloom ; however lightly the heart

maythrob and however fragrant may be the soul's burst of joy , there is night ahead of the day that fortune may make brilliant ; a night whose shadows are deep and damp ; a night whose gloom freezes the heart of man and pales the

cheek with the blasting touch of death . None living can escape this still , cold , solemn end of living ; and the highest wisdom that mortal man can show is to tune his voice and heart to sins when the

shadows have lengthened into night , when with all his powerful intellect and strength he is helpless as a mite in the mi ghty ocean , " 0 ! Death where is thy sting ; 0 grave where is thy victory ? " It is solemn to live and

it is solemn to die . In many beautiful descriptions of the destiny and possibility of the son of man , the poet has inferentiall y reduced the ordinary things of life that command the devotion of men to an unspeakable wrong reference , and has imprudently elevated whatever may tend

Why We Are Masons.

to draw the soul upward and heavenward , even beyond human conception in point of value to the world . Masonry has gilded above its portals and on its altars the glorious fact of immortality , and he who wishes to be impressed with the significance of that awful sacrifice of love on that

middle cross which ridicule , denunciation , infidelity aud persecution have made only the more conspicuous in tho history of the world , need only follow the beckonings of the spirit of Masonry as it le ids along its magnificent wayB and through its harmonious combination of truth . —Masonic Tidings .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution held their regular monthly meeting at Freemasons'Hall , on tho 10 th inst . Bro . J . A . Farnfiold P . G . A . D . C ., Treasurer of the Institution , occupied the chair , and there were present Bros . James Brett P . G . P .,

W . H . Hubbert , S . Vallentine P . G . P ., W . H . Murlis , Robt Griggs , C . J . Perceval , C . F . Hogard , J . S . Cumberland , G . E . Fairchild , W . J . Crutch , R . C . Cummings , A . Durrant , S . V . Abraham G . Pursuivant , S . Cochraue , H . J . Strong G . A . D . C ., C . Kempton , C . H . Webb , James

Bunker , A . Moore , F . Mead , and John Mason ( acting Secretary ) . The minutes of the preceding Committee having been read and verified , the acting Secretary reported the death of one widow annuitant . The Warden ' s report for

the past month was read . The Committee having taken into their consideration and approved the petitions of five candidates ( three men and two widows ) and directed their names to be entered on the lists for tho election in

May 1893 , Bro . W . J . Murlis proposed , and Bro . C . F . Hogard seconded , and it was unanimously agreed " that in consideration of the purchase of £ 50 , 000 India 3 per Cent . Stock having been effected by Bro . James E . Terry without

any commission being charged , saving the Institution a sum of over £ 140 , and in pursuance of Law 26 , he be elected Honorary Vice-President of the Institution with all tho rights and privileges pertaining thereto . " Tho proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman .

Tho senior member for Merthyr intends giviug a Worshipful Master ' s chair to tho Loyal Cambrian Lodge , at Merthyr . Bro . T . C . Wakcling has been entrusted with the designing of the chair , and the execution of the work will be done by Bro . Thomas Williams .

Members of the Masonio brotherhood ia Devonshire will onco moro welcome that neat and capitally printed little " Bluo . bnok " of Freomasonry , whioh is issued annnally by Bro . W . P . Wostcott , of 14 Frankfort Street , Plymouth , and is popularly known us the Devon Masonio Register . As a book ol" reference this register is one of the- best of its kind that is published . It is issued by thti

authority and under the sanction of the Provincial Grand Muster ( Viscount Ebrin

Masonio Charities , these votes numbering in all over 3 , G 00 . The names are given , also , of the officers of tbe Devon Masonic Educational Fund and the Exeter Masonio Charities Association , both of which are doing excellent work in charitable directions . The Devon Masonic Register is altogether an admirable book , and ought to be in the hands of every Devonshire Freemason . —Western Morning News

At the Prov . Grand Lodge held at Southampton , on Monday , at which there was a large attendance of members of the Croft , the chief honours were divided between Southampton and Portsmouth , the Mayor of the first-named town ( Bro . J . Lemon ) being appointed Senior Warden , and Bro . T . H . Williams ( manager of the Portsmouth Royal Sailors' Home ) Junior Warden . The selection of our towns .

man has given great satisfaction , as in addition to being a Past Master of two Lodges he has for many years takon an active part in support of the Masonio Charities , and in 1883 , when he served as Steward at the Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonio Institution for Boys , his subscription list reached the handsome total of £ 342 . —Portsmouth Time * .

It is a well attested fact , true as wonderful , that Froemasonry is universally existing in every nation , among all peoples , and its mysteries taught iu every known language . Ifc is an historic fact that Colonel McKinstry , a Mason and a soldier of the Revolution , was saved by giving a Masonio sign when about to be burned by an Indian tribe under command of the celebrated Mohawk chief Joseph Brandt , who though an Indian was also a Freemason .