The October Election To The Boys' School.

on their mother . The father was initiated in the United Lodge , No . 697 , Esses :. This child was a candidate in April , and on that occasion 20 votes were polled on his behalf . No . 16 , Martin Roddwell Bostock , is one of five dependent children , whose father is yet alive . He was initiated in the Friendship Lodge , No . 100 , Norfolk . 8 votes were

recorded on this lad ' s behalf in April last . No . 4 , John Grossman , is the other case brought forward . This lad has taken part in two previous elections , but so far no votes have been recorded on his behalf . He is one

of two left to a mother ' s care , and is accredited jointly to the Provinces of Cornwall and Devon , the father having been initiated in the St . Anne ' s Lodge , No . 970 , and

subsequently joined fche St . John , No . 70 . All of the remaining cases are first applications , and each presents some feature which calls for special sympathy , that it is not possible to accord this to the fullest extent , desired is the source of much regret , but while the

apolications for the benefits of the School are so numerous , it is impossible to do as much for all of them as we could wish . That so many children can be provided for as now find a home in the Institution proves much for the sincerity of Freemasons .

The Meeting And Parting Of Masons.

THE MEETING AND PARTING OF MASONS .

OUR Brethren will soon be re-assembling after the " long vacation , " and in many cases shortly the Master ' s summons will collect some well-known forms and faces under the old Banner of a time-honoured Lodge , or in all the greatness and glitter even of a new venture . At

such a time , whether we will or no , some thoughts and associations will intrude themselves , like unbidden guests in our social circle ; will supervene whether we like it or no , a truth and a fact which it may not be amiss for us to-day

if we seek to realise and master . The meeting of friends always inevitably and perforce seems to whisper to us of their parting too . Life is so

short and so uncertain that its best present gifts to man , health , happiness , prosperity , all seem at times to vanish away , suddenly and unexpectedly to crumble up , even when we least expect it , and we often are doomed to witness daily a sudden transition , as some one has poetically put it , from " sunshine to shade , from smiles to tears , " and

often , thunderstruck and awe struck , we behold one of those unaccountable changes in the aspect and personal routine of the passing hour , which often invests our earthly lot with sombre hues and saddest memories .

There is an old and favourite classic story which represents the Harpies , the three fabled monsters of ancient authors , watching the gay hours and festive gatherings of contented mortals , and suddenly appearing in the momentof anticipated

or supreme enjoyment , to touch and taint the viands , and send the gay assembly hungry and lamenting away . So in the same way we too are often sensible , very sensible , how much

change and chance have to do even with our Masonic life , and with the normal programme of that Lodge to which we have vowed , perhaps , the faithful attachment and confidence of years .

It is affecting often to look over old Masonic records of work and sociality , and note how few survive , alas ! after a very few years , often at the best , who once were foremost and famous in their day for Masonic work ; who once were

hailed with heartiest greetings ; who gladdened many a gay scene with their pleasant presence , or cheery wit ; who once could minister to the delight of others in the harmony of song , who were able to " set the table on a

roar , " and who were the trustiest of friends , the kindest of comrades , the stay , the pride , and the ornament of our good old Lodge . We look back a few years sometimes , and we realise sadly how few still remain with us , who

started in Masonic life side by side with us , and who now have either dropped out of the course , or failed and fainted by the way ; who no longer answer to the " roll call , " whose place in the Lodge knows them no more . How many

pleasant faces we must miss , as fond memory recalls the labours and refreshment hours of "Auld Lang Syne , "how many warm hands shall we clasp no more ; how many kind and genial spirits can we no more claim now as brethren , in sympathy , fellowship , interest and hope . Each year as it passes on seems to bring with it an echo

The Meeting And Parting Of Masons.

from the long past , a presence from the parted hours and gatherings of othor days . ^ In those early days of our Masonic existence , how often did we hear " the chimes at midnight , Master Shallow , " and found no fault with it , and saw no blame in it ; in those

merrier days of old , when we formed a glad part of a joyous company , and let the ascetic or anchorite say what he will which we can still recall , with pleasurable remembrance , as some of our " besfc things , " and " happiest days . "

How much , we make bold to say here , did many of ns find then in that ancient sociality and sincere sympath y , and honest goodwill to help us along life ' s dusty pathway ,

and to bid us move on serenely and cheerfully , and manfully breast the waves as they rolled in sometimes upon us , from a boisterous sea of care , and sorrow , and trial .

We shall , never probably , be able or allowed to welcome the same pleasant days again . We can hardly expect to find mates as blithe , as true , as kind . Life in its lingering later years may bring to us other pleasant associates to

grace the scene or cheer the board , but for ourselves we should be the most ungrateful of mortals , if we ever affected to class the new with the old , or forget the years that are past , and the friends who are no more .

Even each opening year of Masonic work and sociality suggests to us many changes in our Lodge " personnel , " which ifc is painful to realise , and hard to speak of without some little emotion . The Lodge companions we parted with so amicably in

June or July we do nofc always again hail in October or November . Each week , almost , in its obituary of sad and silent memento , reminds us of some well-known and valued

confrere who has " joined the Grand Caravan , " and therefore when next we all meet in Lodge , let us learn to valuo more than ever our great privileges of Masonic union , concord , and amity , and let us gladly take home to

ourselves this truth , that we belong happily to an Order whose highest aim is to increase our own store of happiness , by the happiness and welfare of others , and that our labours would be useless , our teaching unreal , our success incomplete , unless we succeeded in imparting to our

Brotherhood what we feel BO truly and value so deeply our selves .

Ornaments Of A Masonic Lodge.

ORNAMENTS OF A MASONIC LODGE .

A CANDIDATE being instructed in Freemasonry has his attention called during the progress of the work to the ornamental parts of the Lodge , which include the Mosaic Pavement , the Indented Tessel , and the Blazing Star . He is told that the first form of ornamentation

represents the ground floor of King Solomon ' s Temple , and that about the floor there was a rich skirting of like Mosaic work denominated the indented tessel or tessellated border to which frequent reference is made . The third ornament is

the blazing star in the centre , -which , like other forms , has a special reference , being commemorative of the star which appeared to guide the wise men of the East to the place of our Saviour's nativity .

These symbols , that constitute an essential part of the ornamentation of a Masonic Lodge , have a moral meaning alike beautiful and significant . Indeed , they are somewhat

differently applied and understood by ritualistic writers who treat on the subject . As commonly represented the Mosaic pavement is said to be emblematic of human life

checked with good and evil ; the teisellated border suggests those blessings that a worthy craftsman may hope to obtain by a firm reliance on Divine Providence hieroglyp hically represented by the blazing star .

All this symbolic instruction is in accord with the moral teachings of Freemasonry . It is valuable whether or not we connect the Lodge ornamentation with the Temple of King Solomon ; and it is not important that there should be

any change in the established ritual pertaining to this section of Masonic work . Nevertheless every intelligent Mason desires to be informed as to the historic accuracy of references and statements set forth in the work of the

degrees , that he may not accept for facts propositions which rest only on a legendary or traditional basis . Now in regard to the Mosaic pavement it will not do

to claim such a form of decoration as belonging to the first temple , or even to that second edifice erected after the captivity . Very likely Mosaic ornamentation entered into the elaborate decorations which Herod caused to be made