Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

least in outline , to point ont the relationship the Masonic Craffc has to Christianity , seems to bo my duty a . a mini .-ter of Christ , and in this holy place this afternoon , during tho few minutes iu which it is my privilege to address yon . And lirst I would point out that Freemasonry has for ever been tho handmaid of-the Christian Church , at

least in this laud . It is said that Sr . Alban , who in the beginning of the fourth century became Britain ' s ti : sfc martyr , presided over a Masonic council . The present Dean of Lichfield , from whoso sermon on a similar occasion to this I get much information , also mentions a tradition that St . Augnstine took Freemasonry under his protection .

That missionary , when ho came over from Rome towards the close of the sixth century , found Christianity at a low ebb . Ho seems to have perceived at once that tho Masonic Craft would bo of great nse and power to him in carrying out his mission ; aud it is said thafc to thia policy we owe the foundation of no less than four cathedrals , one

being that of our own diocese , tho others Canterbury , St . Paul's and Westminster Abbey . Threo centuries later we find Freemasonry waa connected with the name of Athelstan , who encouraged the translation of the Bible into tho vulgar tongue , and also for the monasteries which he built . It is said that English Freemasonry

owes more to him than any other , aud that a Lodge still exists in York which traces its origin to him ns founder . It is noteworthy , though ifc is nofc surprising , that tho king , whoso reigns wero famous for ehm-oh budding elVov . s , wero all patrons of Freemasonry , Edward the Confessor in 1041 , when Westminster Abbey was

rebuilt ; Henry III . when the foundation of the present abbey was laid : Edward III ., when William of Wykeham founded Winchester ; and Henry VII ., when the first stone of the chapol at Westminster , which bears his name , waa laid . For the last two centuries Freemasonry has ceased to be an operative brotherhood , bat , none tho lrss , has

been ever active , especially of late years , in tho encouragement of chnrch building and restoration . This brief enumeration of facts will at least show to us in the light of history that Christianity has little cause to suspect Freemasonry , but on the contrary , we who aro to-day so justly prond of the great piles of Architecture which grace

our land aud give homes to onr religion , havo every reason to look gratefully to tho Order which has had so mnch to do with their erection , and has proved so loyal a handmaid to tho chnrch of Christ . And Freemasonry may say to-day what Christopher Wren said of St . Paul's Cathedral , " Civis monumentum circumsvice . " But we must

look deeper . The Masonic Fraternity litis a higher purpose for its association than that of building churches . It is a graud moral conception ; in a strictly trne sense it is a religious society . A Mason ia obliged by his tenure to obey tho moral laws , and if he rightly understands the art , ho will never be a stupid atheist nor an irreligious

libertine . He , of all men , shonld best understand that God sooth nofc as man seeth , for man lookoth at the outward appearance , but God lookefch to fcho heart . A man is therefore bound never to act against tho dictates of his conscience . Lot a man ' s religion or mode of worship bo what it may , ho is not excluded from the Order ,

provided that ho believe in tho glorious Architect of heaven and earth , and practises fche sacred duties of morality . Masons unite with fche virtuous of every persuasion in fche firm and pleasing bond of fraternal love ; they are taught to view the errors of mankind with compassion , nnd to strive by the purity of their own conduct to demonstrate the

superior excellence of the faith they may profess . Freemasonry is fcho centre of union between good men and true , and tho happy medium of conciliatory friendship amongst those who mnst ofcher . wise have remained at a perpetual distance . Now , brethren , I fully grant that some of these sentences might seriousl y disturb our

attachment to the Craft , and , indeed , trouble onr conscience if wo did not recognise the ancient origin of Freemasonry . If this association wero of modern origin it might appear to bo setting itself up as a Supplement fco Christian society . It might appear to say that Christuu ity had failed to bo tho centre of union , and so Masonry does so

instead . But it is not of modern origin ; and so far from posin" aa a supplement , it poses as a parable of Christianity . The age ' vvhich gavo birth to the Masonic Order was the age wherein appeared that greatest parable of God ' s greatest design for men . The Temple of Solomon was , liko tho old Jewish tabernacle before it , a parable that

was to prepare men ' s minds for tho reception of God ' s counsels when tho timo cnuio for them to be revealed . A parable is , as you all know , an earthly story with a heavenly meaning . It is nofc necessary that thafc story be told by human lips or by human writers . A parable may bo manifested iu some work of whafc we call nature , or in somo

beautiful work of man ; and so we may be sure that the great Temple of Solomon was not by accident a parable ; ifc was formed and fashioned by God Himself , in order that it might be for that age an earth ' s story with a heavenly meaning . Every detail of the buiTditi " and of the worship was devised hy the Great Architect , with the

special purpose that it might lead on His children to look for thafc which was to be revealed in the fulness of time , and to lift np fcheir hearts from tho things of earth to that great spiritual temple which the Great Architect was going to give fchem in the bod y of Jesus Ohnbt , born of Mary . And is nofc this position in which wo find

ourselves to-day the same as thnt occupied by Hiram of T yro und his brother Masons . Are we not still rearing up a parab lewhich is to t ach men of love , of fellowship , of duty ? Are we not layin . ' down the foundation of Jesns Christ ( and other foundation can no man lay ) , the foundation which Ho laid in His Sermon on tho Mountof

, universal love , of doing to others as we would be dono by , of absolute purity of thonght and of deed , of trust in tho Heavenl y Father , tho Great Architect of the Universe . Are we not b y our association , in its reverence Cor the first master , with its emphasis on the lovim * fellowship which sous of God should havo one to anotherwith its

, active charities , its joyful meetings , its mystic initiation , its strict rnlop , its fearful penalties . I say aro wo not , by an association such > . s this , holding out 10 men a parable , an eartnly story , with a

heavenl y meaning of a still far greater societ y , with even closer ties of love and fellowshi p , with deeper , closer communion , with more world-wide ^ scope of the energies of love , with mystic emblems and ntt-i ! _•_ ' _ .: !! dwp . r imp . j . fc and my . tiui . in , with . tricter rules , more

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

fearfnl becanse more unearthly penalties . Yes , brethren , our Jlasouio Craft is a parable . May God the Holy Ghost bless it to us by unfolding its meaning more and more vividly . Alas , that it is not •i 1 ways so , the old parable which God gave intended to educate them —to open thoir minds to revelations , to excite their curiosity . They

were fco ask themselves , what mean ye by these signs ? What is meant by fche sin ottering , the bnrnt offering , the peace offering ? What is meant by all the details of the building of the temple , the corner stone , the Holy of Holies , the veil . This was God ' s purpose , but they lost the opportunity . They wero so taken up by the

earthly story . They so enjoyed this part that fchey never cared to ask God to interpret it . All this is most true , but we may also add , A man cannot be a good Mason unless ho is a good Christian . He may be generous , he may be loving and dutiful to man , bat ho will not be pointing out Him who was to be the light of the world , and

therefore not worthy of the Craft whioh for centuries has been a parable of Christ . And now , brethren , my task of speaking of the relationship of Freemasonry to Christianity is ended ; it has been hurriedly done—that was a necessity ; ifc has been very badly done , that was inevitable , I knew , when I began . I hope

that I have spoken as a Mason . It now remains for me fco thank the Great Architect for bringing us together to-day to praise His Holy Name . And so when Christ appeared , when He spoke as it was natural for Him to speak of tho Temple which is His body ; when He spoke of Himself as being with the Father for all Eternity , who

Himself was architect , and had fashioned the world and that very Temple ; I say when He came to speak of this parable , and had a right to expect that they would understand Him , He found them stupid , earthly , and the only result these words , "Destroy this Temple , and in three days I will raise it up again . " The only result

of it all was that thoy bronght these words as an accusation and a proof that he was worthy of death . How sad this was . How sad ifc will bo if this beautiful Craft of ours shonld share the same fate ; that we should be so taken up with the study of Masonic art as to

forget the striving to enter in at the straight gate which art is pointing us ; and it is in Christ alone'that we can enter into that gate . Ifc has been often said—If a man is a good Mason he mnst be a good Christian .

The arrangements for the banquet had been entrusted to our energetic brother Alfred Verdon , of the Greyhound Hotel , and his catering gave unqualified satisfaction to tho large number of Companions and Brethren who had taken part in the clay ' s proceedings . Bro . Frederick West

presided , and a very full toast list was entered upon , but tbe exigencies of the train service and the exceptionally heavy nature of the day ' s work produced a natural sequence , — many were compelled to take thoir departure ere tbe proceedings were finally brought to a conclusion . However ,

everything passed off satisfactorily , and universal approval was given the brethren of tho popular Wallington Lodge for their exertions , several of the speakers especially complimenting Bro . Wm . Pile P . M . P . P . G . Standard Bearer for the zeal and assiduity he had personally displayed in furthering the preliminary arrangements .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

PROV . G . LODGE OF FORFARSHIRE .

ON Tuesday , tbe 10 th inst ., ameetiug of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Forfarshire was held in tho Operative Lodge Hall , Overgate , Dundee . Substitute Grand Master Brother Campbell jun ., of Stracathro ,

presided ; Bro . D . Henderson acted as Senior Warden , and Bro . Kinnear as Junior Warden . A letter was read from the Hon . Frank Lyon , resigning his office , and expressing his regret that be could not continue to discharge the

duties of Provincial Grand Master . The Rev . Bro . Crabbe , Brechin , moved that the best thanks of the Province be accorded to the Hon . Frank Lyon for his services during the past six years , and that Bros . Berry

and tho Secretary be asked to prepare , sign , and transmit a minute to that effect . This motion was unanimously agreed to . Bro . Herald , Arbroath , iu moving the nomination of Bro . James Berry , Dundee , as successor to fche

Hon . Frank Lyon , as Provincial Grand Master of Forfarshire , said he had known Bro . Berry for a long number of years ; indeed , since he had the honour and pleasure of being connected with the Grand Lodge . Bro . Berry had

been known par excellence fco have taken the position of leader amongst them . During the reign of several Grand Masters Bro . Berry had been the right hand man , and from expressions he had heard from Past Masters , he knew

their appreciation of the assistance Bro . Berry had always rendered them . Probably all the members of the Craft knew Bro . Berry as the most enthusiastic , as well as themosfc

learned and most experienced amongst them . He had been associated with Bro . Berry in the visitation of Lodges from Loci tee to Lochlee , and lie could say that , beside all