Thb Immortals.

THB IMMORTALS .

SOME things can never die . There is that within them which ensures their immortality . This innsfc have been the gift of the Lord of Light aud Life , the great Jehovah , the I Am that I Am , the Grand Architect of the Universe . That which was a part of Him has become a part of them , and hence , like Him , they live for ever .

Man shall live forever . He seems to die , bufc ifc is only seeming . Death is his new birth to tho higher life . He was created is the image of God , who breathed into him the breath of life and made him a living soul . Man ' s first birth makes him mediately , and his second birth

immediately , an immortal . There is no such thing possible as suicide . Man may launch his soul into eternity ; hat whafc does launching imply , but the preparation for a long , long voyage—nofc an ending , but a beginning . At death we begin to live for ever . How we shall live for ever depends upon how we have lived here . There are books which shall live for ever—the sacred

books of all nations which tell of the one only true and living God—the Old Testament of the Israelites , the Holy Bible of the Christians , the Rig Veda of the Hindoos , the Dhammapada of Buddhism . All of these bear evidence of

inspiration , some more than others , but in all of thorn there is a revelation of the true God , a laudation of virtue , and an appeal to man to have faith in God and love his fellow men .

There are ideas which shall live for ever . That of worship is one . In its elementary form this word signifies worthiness , and hence the respect of reverence due to worth , tho holding in sincere and high regard those placed over us for our welfare . For this reason the Master of a Lodge

is styled "Worshipful , and a Grand Master "Right Worshipful . " This language , as applied to man , is very ancient , but has almost entirely passed out of use , except in the Masonic Fraternity . Freemasonry does nofc change with the ages . The meaning of language may change , but

that does not lead ns to abandon our archaic words . We hold on to such expressions as " oblong square , " "Right Worshipful , " and "Worshipful , " because they were ours in tho olden time , which , among us , means for all time .

But the idea of worship is ono which was implanted in man by the Grand Architect of the Universe , and hence it shall never die . Wo are to hononr now our superiors in station here , and honour our Maker above all others for

over , for He only is Most Worshipful . Worship shall never cease . Man was created to worship . Knowledge shall never die—that ia , true knowledge , fche

hi ghest knowledge . Plato said , in his " Pbaadrus , " "Knowledge of God is true wisdom and virtue ; ancl ignorance of Him is utter ignorance aud wickedness . " Ignorance shall perish , but wisdom is immortal .

Tho Church of tho living God shall never dio , by whatever name it is called . Names are but labels , sometimes libels ; bufc fcho good , fcho true and the beautiful in religion ,

by whatever name called , the Church , that honours God , loves mankind and , labours to elevate man in thought and action to the standard of the divine life , shall live for over . It is founded upon a rock .

Freemasonry shall never die . When it began , no man or Mason can tell . It may be traced by history and tradition to the remotest ages of the world , where ifc is lost amidst the misfcs of antiquity . Somo erroneously suppose it to have had its origin at the erection of

Kino-Solomon ' s Temple . Not so . Ifc was there then ; but it was before thon , also . Egypt was the land of origins . Its civilisation was the earliest of all , so far as can now be traced . The Egyptians were a learned people , a devout people , a skilful people , a race of builders , in the midst

of whom was a noble company of mystics , who practised thc Ancient Mjsteries and taught the highest truths , touching God on one side and man on the other . Sinco then their doctrine and practice have never been lost . They were perpetuated because they were to bo perpetual .

They were nofc born to die . Wo may trace them down through the ages . Whafc 'were tho Egyptian Mysteries , the Dionysiac Mysteries , tho Eleusinian Mysteries , the Mysteries of the mediaeval builders of Europe , are now

the Mysteries of Freemasonry . Down tho ages they came , with time itself , and with the unerring certainty of truth . Freemasonry can never die , because ifc teaches truth—so loug as it teaches truth . It is truth chat insures its life , as falsehood would entail its death , As lon #

Thb Immortals.

as it is not " ignorant of Him , as PJato phrased it—Him who is above all and throngh all , and in us all , so long it will live ; and we have faith to believe that will be for ever . Freemasonry , therefore , is not an experiment nor an

expedient ; it is not merely a social or convivial society ; it is not of recent origin nor of merely temporary nse ; but it is a world fraternity , a perpetuity . As it was in the aforetime , so it is in the now , and shall be in the hereafter . It is for the uplifting of the mind and the heart , for the

worship of the one living and true God , for social and convivial enjoyment , for the assistance of members of the Brotherhood wherever dispersed , and for universal

benevolence . If true to itself , it will be as immortal as its members . The Grand Lodge above is more than a figure of speech , since God , and man , and truth shall live for ever . —Keystone .

The monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence waa held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Eobert Grey President of the Board presined , and Bros . James Brett Senior Vice-President , and C . A . Cottebrune Junior Vice-President , occupied their respective chairs .

Bros . Alfred A . Pendlebury Assist . G . Sec , W . Dodd , and W . H . Lee attended from Grand Secretary ' s office . There were also present Bros . Henry Garrod , George B . Chapman , David D . Mercer , Butler Wilkins , Howard H . Room ,

George R . Langley , J . B . Grieve , W . P . Brown , A . 0 . Woodward , James Bunker , George Read , R . J . Taylor , Walter Hopekirk , Charles Lovibond , J . Milsted Spencer , J . J . Meakin , H . Nash , 0 . F . Luckhurst , F . H . Martin , E . C . Porter , J . Oldis , H . Jenkins , T . H . Thompson , Fred .

Burgess , C . N . Mclntyre North , H . Massey , S . H . Goldschmidt , G . M . E . Hamilton , Thos . C . Hodges , John Grey , W . Adams , G . A . Mackinay , Lewis Ascott , Donald Glass , F . J . West , F . Charles McQueen , 0 . D . Hume , H . Winkley , E . Bateman , Valentine Wing , R . F . Kirkaldy , 0 . A . Peters , "W . J . Gardner , H . J . Wicks , J . F . Rumball , J . Salmon , W . Radcliffe , and H . Sadler . Tbe brethren first

confirmed recommendations to the Grand Master made at the February meeting . There were 39 cases on the new list . Two of the cases were withdrawn , three were deferred , and two dismissed . The remainder were awarded a total

of £ 650 . There was ono recommendation to Grand Lodge of £ 50 , four cases were recommended to the Grand Master of £ 40 each , and three for £ 30 each . Ten grants wore niado of £ 20 each , four of £ 15 each , eight of £ 10 each , and two of £ 5 each .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire will bo held in tho Assembly Rooms , Mechanic ' s Institute , Burnley , on Wednesday , 21 st May , at 3 o ' clock , under the presidency of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Col . Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie .

Tho banquet will afterwards be served in the Church of England Literary Institution , tickets for which ( 5 s each , exclusive of wines ) may be obtained , nofc later than the 14 th May , from Bro . John Chadwick , Provincial Grand Secretary , Cooper-street , Manchester .

Bro . J . B . Molla , the spirited proprietor of the Greyhound Hotol , Hampton Court , announces that ho has made still further alterations and improvements at the abovo noted establishment , particularly in the culinary department . Bro . Mella is now open to book dates for parties , up to 150 ,

fco dine in the Grand Saloon , commanding views of tho splendid avenue in Bnshey Park , and the entrance to thc F > yal Gardens ; afc the same time smaller parties can be equally well accommodated . If necessary , lofty tents can

bo erected in tho Park . Hampton Court ancl its attractions command a large attendance of visitors , and wo arc p leased to note thafc the spirit and enterprise displayed by the Hotel proprietors in tho district is becoming well recognised and liberally supported .

Prince zu Carolafch-Schonaich has been elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Prussia , " Royal York xur Freundschaft . "

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FUHESALS properly carried out and personally attended in London and Country , by Bro . G . A . HUTTON , 17 Newcastle Street , Steand , WiQ » Monuments erected , Valuations made ,