Epigrams.

for two or three hours . Upon being repulsed , he retorted , " He is King of England , and I am King of Painting ; why should not we converse together familiarly ? "

Frederick the Great , King of Prussia . " King , Author , Philosopher , Hero , Blusician , Freemason , Economist , Bard , Politician ; How had Europe rejoiced if a Christian he'd been ;

If a man , how ho had enraptured his Queen . " It is said that tho above lines were written by Voltaire , who received for his wit thirty lashes on his back , administered by tho King ' s Sergeantat-Arms .

To a Friend in Distress . " I wish thy lot , now bad , still worse my friend , ,: For when at worse , they say , things always mend . " Cowper .

A Hint to Gamester * . " Accept this advice , you who sit down to play , The best throw of the dice is to ' throw them away . ' "

Garrulity in Women . " How wisely Nature , ordering all below , Forbado a beard on women ' s chin to grow ; For how could she be shaved ( whate ' er the skill ) Whose tongue would never let her chin bo still ? "

From the Greek . Rapin in his remarks on " Eloquence " ( ii . p . 166 , 1684 ) , praises the Greek epigram ' as contrasted with the false taste exhibited in those of the Latins .

1 . " Father of flatterers , Gold , of pain and care begot ; A fear it is to have thee , and a pain to have thee not . " Paladin . 2 . " Grey hairs are wisdom—if you hold your tonguo : Speak , and they are but hairs , as in the young . " Philo .

3 . " The happy think a lifetime a short stage : One night to the unhappy seems an age . " Lucian . 4 . " Slow-footed counsel is most sure to gain : Rashness still brings repentance in her train . " Ibid .

Health . " The surest way to health , say what you will , Is never to suppose we shall , be ill ; Most of those evils we pppr mortals know , From doctors and imagination flow . "

Churchill . " Fields may extend ; our bags or titles swell : No man is happy , who can't say , I ' m well . "

Hear both sjdes . ' * That man ' s a fool who tries by art or skill To stem the torrent of a woman's will ; For if she will , sho will , you may depend on't ,

And if she won't , she won't , and there's an end on't . " " That woman's wrong who tries by force or skill To stop the torrent of a man ' s self-will ; For if he says he won't , he will , you may depend on't , And if he says he will , ho won't , and there's an end on't . "

Hook ' s Improvisation . That great genius for improvisation , Theodore Hook , once sang a song upon a company of sixty persons , each vorso containing an epigram . Sheridan , who was presont , was so astonished at his marvellous faculty , that

he declared he would not have believed such talent possible if he had not witnessed it . Here is a specimen of his humour . In the midst of an improvisation at his own house , a servant announced tho advent of " Mr . Winter , " who had " called for the taxes , " whereupon Hook without hesitation rejoined : —

" I advise you to give him whatever he axes ; Mr . Winter's a man who stands no sort of flummery , For though Winter's his name , his process is summary . "

How he knew . "' What 1 man and wife ? ' questioned a judge once chaffing , ' Come , tell the counsel how it is you know . ' When , spoke the witness , 'midst a roar of laughing , 'I ' veheard them quarrel fifty times or so . '" ( To be continued . ) " Book of Rarities , " by Edward Roberts P . M .

The Unanimity Lodge , No . 89 , has been removed from the Astley Arms , Chapel Hill , to the Angel Inn , Higher King Street , Dukinfield . The " Stalybridge Eeporter " understands the Lodge has been held at the Astley Arms for the long period of eightyeight years , and the enforced removal has created much sorrow and regret amongst the members of the Lodge .

o o o At the meeting of the Walthamstow Lodge , No . 2472 , to be held at the Masonic Hall , this ( Saturday ) afternoon , Bro . David

Hugh McGowan is to be installed Master of the Lodge for the ensuing year by Bro . William Shurmur P . P . G . T . of Essex . A full account of the proceedings will appear in our next issue .

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative to report iiodge or other proceedings . — : o : — CEAFT : METEOPOLITAN .

ROYAL ATHELSTAN LODGE , No . 19 . THE regular meeting was held at the Cannon Street Hotel , on Thursday , 14 th inst ., Bro . Miltoa Smith W . M . in the chair . He was supported by all his Officers , namely : Bros . John Henry Whadcoat I . P . M ., Edwyn George Young S . W ., William Ferdinand Stauller J . W ., Henry Glenn P . M . Treasurer , Charles B . Barnes P . M . Secretary , George Risdon Carsberg S . D ., William Stacey J . D ., Money Marsland I . G ., Witham M . Bywater P . M .

P . G . Sw . B . D . C ., William Pound P . M . Steward , W . P . Campbell-Everden Organist , G . Gilbert Tyler . There were also present Bros . F . E . W . Collard P . M ., George Sneath P . M ., Arthur Wormull P . M ., J . P . Hinckel , J . H . Merrett , M . Marsland , O . Marsland , G . Stevens , M . Miroy , A . C . Burnley , T . E . Williams , Chas . Smith , C . E . Wells , G . W . Capel , with Visitors : Bros . E . Powell P . M . 142 , Dr . J . Klein 1790 , Septimus Marsland 2184 , F . W . Dunn 137 .

The Lodge having been opened and the minutes of tho Installation Meeting confirmed , the business was proceeded with . Bro . Frederick Wm . Dunn , B . A ., of the Amity Lodge , No . 137 ( by request ) was raised to the degree of a M . M ., the W . M . performing the ceremony with great impressiveness .

Bro . Chas . Smith and Bro . Chas . Edmund Wells , who were initiated at the Installation meeting , were then passed to the second degree by the Worshipful Master . The ballot having been declared unanimously in favour of Mr . Charles Henry Barnes , Mr . William Chapman Barnes and Mr . John Walter Barnes

tho W . M . invited Bro . C . B . Barnes P . M . and Secretary to take the chair for tho especially interesting object of Initiating his three sons into tho mysteries of Freemasonry , which ceremony was performed according to ancient custom by Bro . Barnes in a most excellent manner ; the W . M . and I . P . M . assisting in part of the ceremony .

The banquet , as usual , was well served , and the customary Masonic toasts were afterwards honoured . The toast of the Grand Officers was responded to by Bro . W . M . Bywater P . G . S . B . P . M ., who remarked that Grand Lodge would never want Officers if all Lodges followed the example of No . 19 . It was a red letter day in the history of the Lodge , for such an event as three sons to be Initiated by thgir fatheT was unknown to him before .

The toast of the W . M . was proposed by Bro . J . H . Whadcoat I . P . M . who , in a pleasant speech , congratulated Bro . Milton Smith on tho successful manner in which he had commenced his year of office , and hoped that such success would continue throughout , and afford him a happy year in the chair . He also thought that the Lodge had reason to be thoroughly satisfied with their choice when electing Brother Smith to that important

position . The Worshipful Master thanked the Immediate Past Master , Past Masters and Brethren for their kind words of thanks appreciative of his efforts . His aim was to do the work of the Lodge as well as his humble abilities would allow him . He was not afraid of work , plenty had been given

him to start with , and there wero whispers of plenty more to follow . If they gave him the work and were not afraid to entrust their friends to his care he would promise to treat them kindly . He was gratified at the honour of having so good an assembly that night , which was the most practical way of exhibiting their goodwill and support .

On the Worshipful Master rising to propose the toast of the Initiates it was the signal for continous fire . He remarked that the Initiates had just told him that they had been used to calling their parent father , but now it seemod they would have to call him Brother , but he had no doubt they would soon get over that difficulty . He proceeded to say that three Brethren were that night received into the fold of Masonry , where they would discover tho

secret of much life giving sustenance , and that their admission into the Light of Masonry from the outer world would open to them new channels of usefulness and pleasure which he was sure they would make good use of . It was always a gratifying incident to receive a Brother into Masonry , but that was more especially so when the Initiate was the son of a member , and more than a threefold pleasure when it came to be three sons of so respected a

member as their beloved Secretary Brother Past Master Barnes . The event of itsolf was probably an unique one , and it was evident that the sons entered Freemasonry from a favourable opinion preconceived , imparted by the good example of their father , and that they appreciated their father's worth , and were satisfied to tread in his footprints . This was satisfactory to father and

son , and also to the Lodge , as showing that its members reflected credit outside its portals . The name of Barnes had long been a household word in the Lodge , and now they had three sons there might be hope some day of a grandson coming in to perpetuate that good name . On behalf of the Lodge he greeted them with the hand of goodfellowship .

In response , Bro . Chas . Henry Barnes expressed his sincere thanks for the members electing him a member of so ancient and honourable a Lodge-He had long wished to be a Freemason , and had heard a great deal about the Royal Athelstan Lodge , not only from his father , but from other sources . He thanked his dear father and Bro . Bywater for proposing and seconding him , and the Brethren for electing him . He had been much impressed with the ceremony , and expressed his readiness to do any work that might be required .

Bro . Wm . Chapman Barnes expressed his thanks , and said he hoped he might become a worthy atom of that great Brotherhood . Bro . John Walter Barnes assured the Brethren that he felt it a great honour to be admitted into the Lodge , and hoped in time to prove he was a chip of the old block .

The W . M . in one toast proposed the I . P . M . and Past Masters . The excellent services of Bro . J . H . Whadcoat were fresh in the minds of the members , and he felt satisfied that the spirit which animated him in doing so much for the Lodge last year had not left him , as was evidenced somewhat by his coming that day from Scotland to be at the Lodge . He was sure

that he would continue to be a valuable member . As to the Past Masters , they were always ready to do good service to the Lodge , and were capable of doing it , as was evidenced that night by the admirable way in which Bro . Barnes had for the first time for about nine years performed the ceremony of initiation , and in the way tho father of the Lodge , Bro . Bywater , always worked the Installation ceremony ; Bro . Bywater was W . M . of the Lodge in