"Christmas Comes But Once A Year."

As Freemasons , we should not be lacking in the general feeling of rejoicing that reigns at Christmas . We know that the inmates of the several Masonic Institutions will be provided with all that can minister to their comfort and

pleasure . Benevolent hearts will open in an especial sense at this festive period , and those who are the recipients of the provident care of others Avill find that they have been remembered with generous , even lavish affection . While those are cared for who are

prominentl y before the managers and friends of the several Institutions , it should be borne in mind that there are others waiting with anxiety to receive that help of which they stand so much in need . The rejoicing of the present , the superabundance of liberality that flows for

the hour , are good things in their way ; but to be complete , to be satisfying to the conscience , to afford food for lasting and happy contemplation , the future of the poor must be considered and provided for . We would not intrude a single thought that would mar the happy present ,

but we believe that the present would be more blissful still "were each one to strive to make help for the poorer brethren , who are still unprovided for , immediately possible . Let

rejoicing , therefore , abound now , but in order that its effects may be lasting , we recommend a larger generosity to our charities , and a broader sympathy with the unfortunate .

Essential Lessons Of Masonry.

ESSENTIAL LESSONS OF MASONRY .

MASONRY teaches us that the Holy Bible is the central luminary of the Order , while each member forms a satellite , revolving around and drawing his lustre from the great fountain of truth hidden within the depths of its sacred pages , which alone is capable of lighting his

pathway through the many tangled mazes of this life . And yet , while we profess this faith in its sacred precepts , and acknowledge the ability it possesses to awaken within the soul of man aspirations for and thoughts concerning his true and noblest good , do we not often permit the

dust of neglect to gather like a cloud and obscure its celestial radiance from our spiritual vision ? And while we are repeatedly taught that this is the immortal mine from which every Mason is required to discover and bring to light , for his own personal benefit , the glorious material

which the Divine Architect has stored away within its depths , out of which , by our own efforts and His assistance , we are to rear the temple of our Masonic manhood to its noblest perfection , is it not true of too many of us that we neither discover nor bring to light these important

truths , but to us they still lay hidden away in their native depths ? The result is that our Masonic building is imperfect ; because the very blocks we most need to give it strength and beauty are wanting , for we have left them in

the quarry untouched . With this lesson fully mastered , each Mason should constitute a column , rising with beaut y and symmetry from the midst of the checkered mosaic of this life , which we learn to behold embordered with the

manifold blessings which a bountiful providence strews around us along life ' s journey—whose foundation is laid in fche wisdom of faith ; whose tower is reared in the strength of hope ; while charity , like a vine of beauty , winds its spiral wreaths around the whole from base to summit .

Each piece of material that is needed in this tower of our Masonic manhood is plainly drawn upon this divine trestlehoard with its due proportions , shape ancl place in the building , so we need not be mistaken or go far astray . The lesson Masonry teaches in regard to the proper

adjustment of our time is worthy of universal attention . It is like a mantle of light which infolds God , our neighbour , and ourselves within the silken web of each day ' s experience , giving to each an equal part . He who but thinks a moment as this lesson opens before him can

scarcely fail to learn the immense value of time ; it is but warp and woof in the web of life . How few Masons remember and appreciate this lesson . And yet , it is one of the foundation principles of the Order ; one of the first truths taught us as we cross the threshold at onr entrance

in the Grand Temple of Masonry . Does Masonry so impress this lesson upon our minds that we never mention the name of God bufc with that reverential awe which is due from a creature to his Creator ? Alas ! is it nofc lamentably true that often Masons may be found with the twenty-

Essential Lessons Of Masonry.

four inch gauge in their hands , who take that Max uicalhj sacred name iu vain ? Do we appreciate the fact that Masonry not only teaches , bufc absolutel y requires that we shall do to our neighbour [ is we would lie should clo to us ?

While we readily admit that all men aro naturally selfish , would it not be well to inquire , are we selfish after a Masonic manner ? so as to avoid all irregularities , both of intemperance or excess , which would in the least impair our faculties or render us incapable of arising to the

highest point of thafc true and noble manhood which Masonry would have us aim at and possess . This is tho selfishess that Masonry inculcates . Here we have three great duties enjoined upon us , to

God , our neighbour , and ourselves , forming the three chief apartments in the Mystic Temple of Masonry , which is supported by the three pillars of Wisdom , Strength and Beauty ; while it is adorned with the three essential

virtues , or graces , Faith , Hope ancl Charity , —a triple triad—denoting perfection ; ancl yet we have only learned a few of the lessons of Masonry—have only plucked a few from the wilderness of flowers which bloom around fche threshold of our Mystic Temple . —JRev . W . H . Grim , in the Freemasons' Repository .

The Jordan Lodge , No . 1402 , Torquay , on the 11 th instant , voted £ 5 5 s to the Hughan Testimonial Fund . The Royal Cumberland Lodge , No . 41 , Bath , have voted a like amount ; and the Honour Lodge , No . 379 , of the same place , have placed two guineas on the subscri ption list .

Bro . Alderman R . N . Fowler , M . P ., the Lord Mayor , has been elected Master of Grand Master ' s Lodge , No . 1 , and will be installed on 21 sfc January . On Wednesday evening , 12 th December , Brother T . B .

Why tehead , of York , gave a lecture before the brethren of Scarborough , under the auspices of the Denison Lodge , in their Lodge room , at the Grand Hotel , upon " Lodge

Duties . " Bro . H . J . Morton P . M . presided , and the brethren expressed themselves pleased with the manner in which the . subject was treated .

A Convocation of the North London Chapter of Improvement was held on Thursday , the 20 th inst ., at 8 clock , at the Alwyne Castle Tavern , St . Paul ' s-road , Canonbury .

Companion Briggs performed the duties of Z ., Companions Hubbard H ., Dean J ., Radcliffe S . N ., Knight P . S . The various offices were sustained in a creditable manner b y the Companions who filled them .

On the 14 th inst . a Lodge of Emergency of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire was held at Goole , when the W . Dep . P . G . M ., ' Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P ., dedicated a new Masonic Hall to Freemasonry . There was a

large attendance of brethren from Bradford , Leeds , Wakefield , Sheffield , Pontefract , Howden , Hull , and several other towns iu the West Riding . The new Hall is situated in the Booth Ferry-road .

OFFICIAL VISITATION . —Careful perusal of the reports of tho transactions of the respective Grand Lodges , Graud Chapters , and Grand Commanderies , which we have received this year , has strengthened our opinion that official visitation and instruction of Lodges , Chapters and Commanderies is indispensible to their welfare and prosperity . We observe that wherever such work is faithfully and

efficiently performed there good results follow , and that wherever it is neglected there lukewarmuess , confusion and death prevail . Notably is this true in several Itoyal Arch jurisdictions , and therefrom the fact appears that the weak , discouraged and declining bodies are the ones which should receive the first and greatest

attention . This work should be provided for by the Grand Bodies , and they should adequately pay for it . To this end we favour reduction of mileage rates wherever they prevail , aud the increase of appropriations for official visitation and instruction . Upon this , we believe , largely depends the weal of the Fraternity . — Voice of Masonry .

The Revised Book of Constitutions ; Critically Considered , and Compared with the Old Edition . London : Simpkin , Marshall & Co ., 4 Stationers' Hall Court , E . C . Sent on receipt of stamp : ; , One Shilling , hy W . "W . Morgan , freemason ' s Chronicle office , Belvidere "Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , N— ( ADVI ) .