Church Services.

CHURCH SERVICES .

AT the instigation of the Rev . J . H . Haslam , M . A ., Rector of Gravesend , a Masonic Service was held in the ancient Parish Church of St . George , last Sunday , when a goodly number of Freemasons in the district assembled to take part . The Brethren , who represented the various Lodges and Chapters in the town , met at the Church House ,

walked in procession to the Church , and occupied the newly restored northern aisle in face of the Memorial Stone presented by the Kentish Freemasons , and laid by . the Bishop of Rochester , on 3 rd . August last . The ordinary service of the day was used , but a special anthem and hymns were

arranged by Brother George R . Ceiley the Organist . The prayers were intoned by the Rev . A . C . S . Gayer , the lessons were read by Rev . J . H . Haslam . The anthem was taken from Psalm cxviii , 14 , " The Lord is my strength , " and was beautifully sung by the choir , the solo parts being finely

rendered . The sermon was preached by Rev . Augustus J ackson , M . A ., who wore his collar of Past Grand Chaplain of Kent over his surplice . The text was Mark xvi , 3 , and the

discourse was an admirable combination of the lessons of Easter and the teaching of Freemasonry . At the conclusion of the service a collection was made in aid of the Restoration Fund .

It may be interesting to note for the information of our general readers that this ancient Church , which is famed as being the burial place of Pocohontas , was first built in 1497 , was consecrated by Bishop Fisher in 1510 , was made the Parish Church of Gravesend by Henry VIII ., 1544 , and rebuilt during the reign of George II ., in 1732 .

AT All Saints' Church , Dunham Road , East Finchley , on Sunday afternoon last , a special festival Masonic Service was held under the auspices of the members of the Plunkett Lodge , the headquarters of which are at Woodside Hall . Admission was by ticket until five minutes before the commencement of the service , but long before that time ,

and despite the fact that the afternoon was showery , all the available seats in the church were filled . A space for the accommodation of the Brethren of the Craft was reserved in the body of the building and to these seats nearly aoo Masons went in a long procession from the vestry , all wearing the

collars , jewels , and other regalia of the Order , for the public display of which special permission had been obtained from the Grand Lodge of England . The service was an adaption of evensong , all those portions distinctly referring to the Christian Dispensation being studiously omitted , with

the exception of the Apostles' Creed . There was but one lesson I . Chronicles , xxix , 9-19 , and the four hymns , viz ., 167 , 273 , 308 , and 247 ( A . & M . ) contained no references to the Christian Redemption . The service opened with the hymn , "O worship the King , " during the singing of which

the combined choirs of All Saints' and Holy Trinity marched round the church , followed by the Revs . H . von Glehn , G . B . Childs , H . N . Collier ( rector ) , and the Very Rev . and Ven . Archdeacon W . M . Sinclair Past Grand Chaplain of

England , after whom came the Brethren in due order , including nearly all the members of the Plunkett Lodge , together with representatives from Highgate , Hendon , and other localities .

The Worshipful Master Brother W . J . Batho headed the procession , the duties of Director of Ceremonies being undertaken by Bro . A . Austin P . M ., in the unavoidable absence of Bro . W . C . W . Woodrow P . M . P . Z .., this gentleman having been called to the bedside of his mother , who is seriously ill .

Archdeacon Sinclair delivered the address , referring to II . Chronicles i , 7 . Wherever the gospel had been faithfully preached and truly understood , remarked the preacher , there the great doctrine of the Brotherhood of man had had its place . It could be seen how , in the year 074 , the idea was

beginning to penetrate barbaric society , when Edward the Confessor could express , in regard to ' human equality , that the thane had become a noble , the churl had become a squire , the singer had become a priest , and the scribe a bishop , just

as formerly the Galilean fishermen had become apostles , for there was but one Spiritual Father , God , and one Spiritual Mother , Ecclesia , or the Christian Church . It was not so in the ancient world , when men looked across the borders of

their town and country and thought it virtuous to hate those who belonged to another community . Even the citizens were divided into various classes , striving one against another , and they thought it right to hate those who injured them . It

Church Services.

was left for Christianity to teach us to love our neighbours as ourselves , to forgive our enemies , to forget offences , to live for the good of others , and so to spread through the whole of society the blessings and benefits of kindness and unity . The French revolution , one hundred years ago , gave an

awful and inextinguishable example of a mistaken endeavour to force the brotherhood of mankind by means of punishment instead of by gradual growth . Against the old conception of . regenerating the world by regarding everyone as wicked , according to the four evangelists , there was the gospel

according to the new evangelist , Jean Jaques Rousseau , who counselled men to regard themselves as wicked , and in on way to try to force the idea of the brotherhood of man . Men must be persuaded to attain truth and beauty by the teaching of personal example . By cultivating such a spirit of

sympathy and mutual knowledge , unity would grow naturally . Wherever the Christian faith had been there true brotherly love had always flourished , although there were multitudes of insincerely professing Christians . It was , however , one of the most striking characteristics of English Freemasonry

that it had always recognised the spirit ol brotherhood on a religious basis , although on the Continent the opposition of the Church of Rome had made Freemasonry somewhat atheistic and anarchical . The English Mason ' s official coat bore the emblems of the four Evangelists , their ceremonies

were distinctly religious , and the Masters of the Lodges were annually enjoined to guide their conduct upon the principles of Christian writings . Every Mason felt a real interest

and respect for other Masons , needing no formal introduction and recognising no difference or distinction known to the outside world , except that of proficiency in the mysteries of the Craft .

There were the great Masonic Charities for the aged , for orphan boys , and for orphan girls , all supported with unparalleled generosity , and conducted with exceptional

kindness and sympathy . At all their gatherings and common meals the collection plate went round , and the Brethren tried to vie with each other as to the liberality of their contributions .

Two hymns were then sung while the collection was being taken , large silver plates being used for the occasion . Proceedings closed with the Benediction , pronounced by the Archdeacon , and a recessional hymn , " Through the night of doubt and sorrow , " during the singing of which the choir , clergy , and Brethren left the chancel , and marched to the

organ vestry . The collection amounted to £ 21 , so that the friendly offices of the members of the Plunkett Lodge will materially assist towards reducing the existing burden . Being the

octave of Easter day the chancel screen was still beautifully decorated , and the whole service was bright and interesting . A large number of ladies attended . A peculiar feature of the service vvas the substitution of the quaint phrase "So mote it be , " instead of " Amen . "

It has already been mentioned that the worthy Brother Austin acted as Director of Ceremonies . In these duties he received assistance from Brothers J . E . Overbed P . M . Secretary and T . W . Hicks . — "Barnet Mercury . "

According to that eminent authority , Past Grand Master Josiah Drummond , of Portland , U . S . A ., there are 804 , 706 Masons in North America , which includes besides the grand jurisdictions of the United States those in Canada as well .

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ttOlZTJ ^ Tj MasonicInstitutionforGirls. The noth ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY , THE I 8 TH MAY 1898 , R . W . BRO . SIR REGINALD HANSON , BART ., M . P ., LL . D . Past Grand Warden , Patron , Treasurer of the Institution , IN THE CHAIR . . - Brethren -willing to act as Stewards are earnestly solicited to send iu their names to the Secretary , as early as convenient . Stewards are much needed , and their services will he gratefully received . F . E . W . HEDGES , Secretary . Office—0 Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C .