Tom's Masonic Lesson.

table , at the same timo saying slowly and significantly , " Yon are no Mason , no matter how many degrees you havo taken , and you never will be . The Order which pulls down , and builds not up again—tho Order which destroys , and puts nothing in tho place of that which is ruined—the Order which magnifies self , and which never heard ol

fraternity—that is the Order for you , and this very night you shall be initiated therein . " Tom struggled violently , cried out inf (> ho ' . ntly—and niuolce . Mr . D and his visit had been only a dream The fire was out , the room was cold , and it was already twilight —a twiliyht which was rapidly darkening into night . Tom put

away the mortgage ; wrote a letter to his debtor , generously giving her more time , and then burned , without opening and re-reading it , a letter of a different tenor which he had written earlier in the day . " Thank God ifc was only a dream , " he said , gratefully , as he hurried along tho street , "bnfc such a dream—such a dream ! " he added ,

with a shudder . " Thank God it was only my other self , my better self , that attacked and humbled me , instead of being what it might have been ! Thank God that I have not been a bad man , and that now I shall not be ; thank Him that His heaven-sent vision fonnd me at the parting of the ways—at the crisis of my life . "

Tom called npon James Jones on his way home , and handed him another twenty-five dollars . Mr . Jones seem astonished . " I snp . pose you abided by your decisions , " said he . " Whafc induced you to change your mind ?" Tom laughed , which spoke well for the salutary effect of the lesson

he had received , and he pleasantly replied , " A little thoughtful con sideration of the principles of Freemasonry . " " I've been saving money for some time , " said James Jones , suddenly , " with the intention of applying for admission to fche Masonic Fraternity . I am going to try to be a Mason , and I hope I can gain

acceptance . Will yon get me a petition and recommend me ? " I will , " said Tom , aud then , as he walked slowly and thoughtfully homeward , he said to himself : " I have had an escape , to-day , which I will never forget . Jones is going to try to be a Mason , and so am I ! " — Voice of Masonry .

Obituary.

Obituary .

; o : — BROTHER T . LIDSTONE .

THE remains of Bro . T . Lidstone , one of the oldest members ancl a Past Master of Hauley Lodge , No . 797 , were interred in the family vault at Townstal , Dartmouth , on the 4 th instant . Brother Lidstone was also Past Prov .

Grand Superintendent of Works Devon , and Surveyor of Dilapidated Buildings for the Diocese of Exeter . Under a dispensation from the M . W . Prov . Grand Master of Devon , Brother Viscount Ebrington , the brethren appeared

in Masonic clothing . The funeral procession , which was a very long one , contained a large number of Freemasons of Hauley and other Lodges . The Revs . J . S . Exell and

S . Scragg were the officiating clergy . There was a very large number of wreaths , crosses , & c , among which was a handsome Masonic wreath from members of Hauley Lodge .

attended by a large following of friends and acquaintances who wished to pay this tribute of respect to his memory . The deceased , who was the eldest son , was in business with his father at Hereford , as a builder , but he was

well-BRO . W . CULLIS JUN " . Tii ]_ funeral of Bro . W . Cullis junior took place on Friday , the 6 th instant , at Hereford Cemetery , ancl was

known in this and the adjoining counties long before his father removed here from Tewkesbury , having usually been in charge of the many contracts entered into this district by his father ' s firm . The coffin , which was made by some

of the workmen employed by deceased , was of oak , with brass furniture . It bore a brass plate , on which were the words : " William Cullis , born 22 nd June 1848 : fell asleep in Jesus , 25 th June 1888 . " Twenty-four wreaths

and seven floral crosses , which had come from all parts of the country , were placed round the grave . One was " In loving memory and in deepest sympathy from the workmen at the yard . " A deputation from the Palladian Lodge ,

of which the deceased had been a member for some years , took part in the procession , and , as usual , bore sprigs of acacia , which they dropped in the grave at the close of the service . The burial service was read in an impressive manner by the Rev . H . P . Prosser , Vicar of All Saints .

At the usual meeting of the Lansdowne Lodge of Unity , No . 62 C , held at the New Hall , Chippenham , on Tuesday , lOfch inst ., the brethren presented Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney , Bart ., Deputy Provincial . Grand Master Wilts , P . G . W . England , with an address in commemoration of his attaining his year of Masonic jubilee .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF MIDDLESEX .

nnHE annual convocation of Royal Arch Masons of the _ L Province of Middlesex was held on Saturday , the 14 th inst ., at the Greyhound Hotel , Hampton Court , under tho presidency of the Provincial Grand Superintendent Sir Francis Burdett , Bart . The usual formalities havino-1 rt O

-.. - ..,. - ,, _ - . . been complied with , the roll of Chapters in tho Province was called over . The draft bye-laws submitted by the Special Committee appointed for the purpose of preparinothem were received and adopted . The Audit Committee ' s

report was also adopted , and the Auditors were appointed for tho ensuing year , Comps . Tickle , Gregory and Scurrah being elected , and Comps . Webb , Lee and Walls beinonominated by the Grand Superintendent . The following were appointed the Provincial Officers for the year : —

Comp . R . H . Thrupp - Second Principal J . Tickle - - - Third Principal J . F . H . Woodward - . S . E . Dr . G . W . Marshall - - S . N . G . Soppet - - - Treasnrer

A . Haig Brown - - - Registrar J . Batting - - - Principal Sojourner H . Bentley Haynes - - First Assistant Sojourner

W . A . Scurrah - - - Second Assistant Sojourner Henry Clark - - - Sword Bearer W . G . Kentish - - - Standard Bearer E . G . Lewis ... Director of Ceremonies

G . J . Jonea - - - Asst . Director of Cers . W . H . Lee - - Assistant S . E . G . J . Dnnkley - - - Organist J . Gilbert - - - Janitor

Letters regretting absence were announced from several Companions , and Provincial Grand Chapter was closed . Many of those present subsequentl y dined together under the presidency of the Provincial chief .

PROV . GRAND CHAPTER OE SURREY .

rilHE Annual Convocation of this Provincial Grand JL Chapter was held on Wednesday , at the Public Hall , Carshalton . The Companions assembled at two

o ' clock , under the banner of the Mozart Chapter , No . 1929 , ancl the attendance was larger than we recollect ever seeing at previous meetings of Grand Chapter in this Province . In the unavoidable absence of the Provincial Grand

Superintendent , the M . E . Comp . General J . Studholme Brownrigg , C . B ., through illness , Comp . Frederick West P . G . A . S . Prov . G . H . presided as M . E . Superintendent . Amongst those present were : — Comps . C . H . Woodward Prov . G . J ., H . J . Strong P . Z . 452 , S . P .

Catterson 452 , Jno . Rhodes 452 P . P . G . Org ., H . M . Hobbs P . Z . 2094 P . P . G . D . C , S . Lambert 1556 P . Z . P . P . G . R ., A . Saxelby 4 G 3 P . P . G . Reg ., D . P . Cama P . G . Treas ., R . T . Elsam , J . S . Fraser P . Z . 214 , H . E . Vickers J . 1556 P . P . G . Org ., George Price Prov . G . Treas .,

H . J . P . Dumas P . P . G . J . Surrey , A . H . Jeffery P . Z . 452 P . G . Std . Br ., J . H . W . Rogers 452 P . G . It ., W . P . Morrison Dorking Chapter , H . E . Frances P . P . G . D . C , C A . Smith G . P . S . 114 , W . W . Morgan , W . W . Leo 1524 , P . Hicklin P . Z . 1149 , W . Chapman S . W . 889 , D'Arcy J . Blackmore J . 370 , Theodore G . A . Barns P . S . 370 , E . H . Gale

Crowdy 370 , Hugh Dumas S . JST . 410 , J . K . R . Carna 1503 , Thos . Clark H . 1524 , Michael Christian M . E . Z . 860 , Geo . S . Horsuail 2096 , W . H . Hawes P . S . 463 , F . Cambridge P . S . of W . 96 Prov . G . Org ., W . Stevenson Hoyte 1728 , T . C Walls M . E . Z . 1929 , Jas . W .

Baldwin 7 , H . J . Lardner P . P . G . S . B ., H . E . Turner 1149 , C J . Pettit 889 , R . E . Catterson 548 , A . E . Taylor P . P . G . S . B ., W . Parker 1851 , W . Tarn P . S . 889 , G . Moorman J . 889 , H . Cox 463 , G . Yaxley P . Z . 463 , Francis Carter P . S . 7 , H . C Leigh

Bennett P . P . G . J ., H . Burgess S . E . 1556 , H . G . Thompson P . P . G . A . S ., A . W . Wells P . P . A . S . P . Z . 1556 , M . E . Levey S . W .

2096 , J . O'Connell A . S . 1851 , & c , & c . After Provincial Grand Chapter had been formally opened the roll of Chapters in the Province was called , and each was found to be adequately represented , while the attendance of Present ancl Past Prov . Grand Officers

clearly showed Royal Area Masonry was firmly established in the Province of Surrey . The minutes of last annual convocation having been duly confirmed , the Reports of the Finance ancl Audit Committee was presented . This

showed that although at the corresponding period last year a small amount was due to the Treasurer , there was now a balance in hand of something like £ 14 , while the number of registered Companions was steadil y on the increase . Comp . George Price was unanimously re-elected