Masonry's Grandeur And Goodness.

Masonry . Among structures which manifest human greatness it may not be a magnificent temple , a miracle of man's skill , but it is a temple which reveals the heart , the essenco of brotherhood . It stands on its stone foundation a testimony to tho faith of him who , in the past , dropped

tho small Fe < d into tho furrow as a promise that the little one should become a thousand ; of the course of Masonry through tho sunshine and shadow of prosperity and persecution ; of its calm , persistent toil ; of its ideal of charity breaking into fruition ; of the fact that charity

should not be in word only , but in deed and truth ; of tho reality that it should bo a shelter from the pitiless rains of suffering for the worthy brothor , shelterod under tho large protection of Masonic love . The Home , as it represents a beautiful principle in

Masonry , is a constant admonition to its members to be faithful to every vow resting on their conscience . It is a prophetic intimation for the Fraternity to pass on its way , offering for others' good the higher things intrusted to it as a body ; a call not to forget that its ministry -is a

ministry to the suffering , and an inspiration to the moral nature to send forth all those things which shall be a benefaction to mankind . Fulfilling , such a ministry , its presence in society will be as lofty as it will be munificent . It will not be as the dead Pharaohs in their colossal

house of stone , with all their withered royalties about them , but a more kingly beiug moving among men , throwing from its hand in royal bounty charities and beauty , as the richer orchads shower the land with the tender and tinted leaves , when the buds aro roundiug themselvos into the prophecy of the perfect fruit .

The Home is the proclamation that while the past is sacred to Masonry , the present is its working time . It is the assurance that its golden age lies just on the horizon , the heig hts of which it can reach , and by its moral achievements and kindly deeds make grandly near . The

old will not be cast aside , but transmuted into the growth , as it were , of the grapes of Masonic thinking and acting , as the autumn leaves in the vineyards of France , contribute to the white and purple clusters of the branches . By the past , Masonry will pursue its course , guided by its wise

and masterly teaching , in the great march of the nations on the globe , to a more useful present and a nobler future . The Bplendid heritage which has come down to it will be a potent , stimulating influence to a larger , broader , more generous endeavour for the person and the State . The

sharper questions , the movements of the day , the problems th ' at sweep with unabated force against the law and religion of the land , the deformities of social living and the unsightly things that lie on tho surface of society , like the growths on the Saragossa sea , and hinder largely the best

efforts for reform , will be taken up and turned into clearer currents and rightly defined progress , and be changed into real and enduring benefits . For Masonry will recognise that this is an age for humanity ; for a more intelligent labour , for a wider diffusion of that culture which

beautifies ; for a more exultant inspiration , for the better employment of those energies which must toil either for good or evil ; for a fellowship which shall not only bind men together , but be a propelling force to achieve and

make them men among men , with all tho royalties of their manhood unstained , as the Creator proposed them to be in His wise and infinite design . To the brotherhood it will be true ! that :

Not in vain the dislanoe beckons , forward , forward let ns range , Let the great world spin for ever down the ringing grooves of change . Through the shadows of the globe we swoop into the yonnger day ; Better fifty years of Europe than a oyole of Cuthny . " ( To be continued ) .

Royal Masonic Institution Foe Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOE GIRLS .

1 THE Quarterly Conrt of Subscribers to this Institution . was held on Thursday , the 13 th hist ., at Freemasons ' Hall , Bro . Frank Richardson P . G . D . in tho chair . There wore also present—Bros . J . H . Matthew ? , Henry A . Hunt ,

J . Brett , A .. C . Spaull , W . H . Spaull , William Vincent , Hy . Massey , B . H . Finney , and F . E . W . Hedges Secretary . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of

Royal Masonic Institution Foe Girls.

the April Court , and the transaction of othor formal business , Bro . Hedges read a letter from BrOt Dr . Jabez Eojg , Honorary Oculist , thanking the General Committee for the

honour conferred on him by making him a Vice-Patron of the Institution , in consideration of his honorary services for many years . The letter was ordered to bo entered on tho minutes .

On the motion of Bro . A . C . Spaull , seconded by Bro . W . H . Spaull , the brethren passed the following resolutions , on the recommendations of the General Committee : — " That tho General Committee be recommonded to grant a sum of £ 600 to enlarge the infirmary , according to the plans of Bro . Hunt . "

Bro . W . H . Spaull said it was of tho utmost importance to have a separate entrance for infectious cases to the infirmary . Bro . Hurst explained , and said the place was in a curious

shape . The gates of Lyncombe House originally came near the infirmary . His plan was to fill that corner up and make a separate entrance for infections cases . He also proposed separate rooms for the nurses .

Bro . Frank Richardson said with that alteration the place would do very Avell . The Committee next passed the following resolution : — " That the 10 eligible candidates remaining from the last

election , together with Gertrude M . Templer , and the 26 othor candidates whoso petitions have been this day approved , be recommended to the General Court as eligible to be placed upon the list for the October election , and that 15 vacancies be declared . "

A vote of thanks to the Chairman , and Brother Richardson ' s acknowledgment of the compliment , closed the proceedings .

Trips To Clacton-On-Sea, Harwich, And Yarmouth.

TRIPS TO CLACTON-ON-SEA , HARWICH , AND YARMOUTH .

WHOSE who desire an enjoyable and healthfnl day and a trip to JL sea oanoot do better than make for Old Swan Pier , London Bridge , about 8 * 45 a . m ., on ti Snnday or any week day , except Friday , and take a return ticket of the Victoria Steamship Association , which will secure them a journey by the magnificent " Koh-i-noor , " fitted with every luxury for ease and comfoit of passengers in any

weather . This Association , of which Bro . Edgar Shaud is the astute and indefatigable Secretary , has some of the most experienced navigators on the Thames—one of whom is Captain Arthur Owen , a cautions painstaking officer in command of this speedy and com . modious paddle steamer . The " Koh-i-noor" arrives at Clacton

abont 1 ' 30 , lands passengers , and proceeds to Harwich , calling on retarn at Clacton abont 3 * 30 , thus enabling passengers to spend fome time there , and continues the retarn journey , reaohing London Bridge soon after 8 o ' olock . There is a capital band on board to enliven the trip , and the catering for thepublio requirements at popular price **

are satisfactory and bountiful . The state saloon and dining and tea saloon are fitted in superb style , and the ventilation is well arranged . The vessel is illuminated at night by the eleotrio light ; all the seats and movables are unainkable—thus the safety of those on board are to an extent assured .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution held their regular monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , the 12 th inat . Bro . A . C . Spaull presided , and there were present : —Bros . C . A . Cottebrune P . G . P ., Charles Kempton , James Brett

P . G . P ., W . Fisher , C . Sheppard , G . C . Haslop , T . W . Whitmarsh , S . N . Abraham P . G . P ., A . R . Trew , W . J . Murlis , John Barnett , H . Mason , W . Vincent , A . H . Hickman , G . E . Fairchild , T . B . Purchas P . G . A . D . C ., C . J . Perceval , J . L . Anderson , W . Belchamber , A . Durrant , C .

J . R . Tijou A . G . P ., V . F . S . d'Arcy Brennan , Jas . Speller , J . Newton , T . B . Daniell , J . Hattersley , R . D . Cummings , R . A . Gowan , J . A . Farnfield P . G . A . D . C , C . F . Hogard P . G-. Std . Br ., J . P . Fitzgerald , and James Terry P . G . S . B . Secretary . The minutes of the June Committee

having been read and verified , the Secretary reported the deaths of one male and one widow annuitant . The Warden ' s report for the past month was read , and that of the Finance Committee read , received , adopted , and ordered

to be entered on the minutes . It having been resolved to withdraw £ 5000 from call and invest it in India three per cent , stock , the proceedings terminated with the customary vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding .