The New Masonic Hall At Dawlish.

Freemasons were united as a secret society , and whenever their " old charges , " or laws , were duly obeyed they required no apologies for their existence . Neither do we now , if , as Craftsmen , we are faithful fco our vows . Bnfc , though in one sense we are a secret society and protected by an Act of Parliament as no other is , yefc , strictly speaking , we are not really a secret society . We have

no secret aims or constitutions . The objects wo have in view are open to the world , our regulations may bo obtained by any one , and all our members are as free to leave us as they must be to join . There has been too ranch mystery made of our community , for unless it be connected , directly or indirectly , wifch the way we know each other in any part of fche globe ( by night or by day , knowing or nofc

knowing the language , and when meeting utter strangers ) , we have no secrets . In fact , it might almost be said thafc fche actnal secret of onr Freemasonry is thafc there is none ! Our motto is , " Fear God , " " Honour the Queen , " " Love fche Brotherhood . " In former times fche Fraternity was wholly Christian , bufc for nearly two centuries it has been cosmopolitan . Thongh wider in scope and inflnence , all onr

ceremonies and degrees are based on portions of the " Volume of the Sacred Law , " and no man can cross our threshold without avowing his " trust in God . " The Israelite , the Parsee , fche Mohammedan , and fche Hindoo , as well as the Christian , are welcomed to onr ranks , " provided they believe in the glorions Architect of heaven and earth ; and practise the saored duties of morality . " A man with no religion

cannot become a Freemason , nor can he continne to be one . We meet , however , on neutral ground , for no theological or political discussions are ever allowed in our Lodges . For the time being , we know neither creed , colour , nor clime . Hence this handsome and commodious hall is dedicated fco fche Craft only . The growth of Freemasonry has of late years been almost phenomenal , and calls for still

more rigid scrnfciny in fche admission of candidates , lest nnworfchy men may be initiated . Mere numbers are often more a source of weakness than of strength . We should remember this . One hundred years ago there were not 2 , 000 Lodges , and scarcely 50 , 000 members in the world ; whereas now there are over 15 , 000 Lodges and some two millions of Craftsmen , the income from all sources being about

£ 5 , 000 , 000 per annum . In this extraordinary growth England has had its fair share , and continues to be the largest , as ifc has always been the oldest Grand Lodge in both hemispheres . When No . 1443 ( Dawlish ) was warranted , the net number of Lodges under English rale woald not reach 1 , 400 ; but in 1890 , notwithstanding so many have left our jurisdiction ( to form Grand Lodges of their own ) , there

are yefc nearly 2 , 000 Lodges on our Register ; and the English Craft was never more prosperous than afc tho present time . This Hall is dedicated fco Virtue , for unless , as Freemasons , we are virtuous or moral , we are veritable frauds , and wholly unworthy of our privileges . If anywhere a Lodge is nofc the home of virtue , the fault lies with the members , nofc wifch the Institution . I am nofc aware of any society of human origin so ancient , with suoh a perfect constitution

as ours ; and there is not fche slightest need for me in open Lodge fco offer any proof that we belong to an essentially moral organization , formed on a strictly religious basis . If Freemasonry is not that it is nothing . The thonsands of ministers of religion wbo are enrolled iu our ranks abundantly confirm fche moral basis and virtuous character of onr society ; nnd fche tens of thousands of the greatest and best in this and other countries who have agreed

To aprons put on And make themselves one

Wifch free and accepted Masons testify fco their belief in like manner . If a knave joins us we tire deceived , but he will continue to be a kuave all the same , though hi : call himself a Freemason . Immoral men , alas ! havo been admitted into our Lodges ( for there are wolves in sheep ' s clothing in all bodies of men ) , bat I snbmit they are nofc really of us , though in our society .

One of our "old charges" declares that "Masons unite with th < r virtuous of every persuasion iu tbe firm and pleasing baud of fraternal love ; they are taught to view the errors of mankind with compassion , and to strive , by the purity of their own conduct , to demonstrate the superior excellence of the faith they may profess . " No Master of a Lodge can be placed in the chair without first promising , " To be a

good man and true , and strictly to obey the moral law ; " " to live creditabl y , and act honourably by all a . eu ; " " to guard agaiust intemperance and excess ; " " to promote fche general good of society and to cultivate tbe social virtues , as far as his influence and ability can extend . " And I fail to discover how any institution , moral or religions , eoald possibly bo more exacting than oars as to these

matters for such » . purpose . Masters of Lodges are empowered to refuse admission to visitors " of known bad character , " and I only wish that ; a more strict attention would sometimes be paid to this rule . At any rate , I have offered sufficient reasons why this and other Halls of toe kind should be dedicated to Virtue . Finally , this Hall is dedicated to " Universal Benevolence , " and all who are acquainted with

the eventful past and present customs of our Fraternity , will nob bo alow to acknowledge our right so to do . The term , however , includes much more than the word charity , for ifc means genuine love , not onl y for Freemasons , but for all mankind . Our Grand Lodge is always among fche first to seek to alleviate distress , to grant aid in great calamities , and patriotically to bear its share of national burdens and

claims . ^ Q „ thousand pounds each was readily granted to the patriotic , tho Indian Relief , the Lancashire Cotton , and the Indian * amino Funds . Fonr thousand pounds was voted to the National ^ 1 'eboat Institution , and £ 500 each to tho National Society for the £ 'd of the Sick and Wounded in War , Chicago Fire Relief Faud , "engal Famine Relief Fund , relief of distress in Ireland , and to

eiinvo the distress amongst the deserving poor of tbo Metropolis uur own Charities , under the wing of the Grand Lodge of England , & fe both numerous aud important . The Institutions iu London for he Boys and Girls , and Aged Fremasons and Widows , cost soim ¦ ^ 50 , 000 , and in the Metropolis and provinces , at least one thousand mjdren are being clothed aud educated , aud the great majority "" untamed aa well , besides which hundreds of indigent Masons and

The New Masonic Hall At Dawlish.

widows are annuitants on our funds , and are thus preserved from want . In this systematic form of charity wo in England spend overy day in tho year at least £ 250 , and sometimes much more , in tho relief of tho destitute ; and tho helping hand is mos ? i gladly offered " to tho fatherless and widows in their affliction . " Wo make no parade of these facts , for the extent of our benevolence is not even

known to many of our own members , and the bloom ot a kind deed is lost by being published . Yet , great as are onr charities afc home and abroad , I maintain that the primary object of the Society is not obarifcy , bufc fraternity . Freemasonry is not ; a benefit society . We seek to realise practically the sublime truths of the " Fatherhood of God " and " the brotherhood of man , " and we look upon all the world , rich and poor , as our kin . It is my firm conviction , after an

experience of fche society for nearly thirty years , and famzhanfcy with its varied and extensive literature , that the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons is one of the most beneficienb and useful institutions under fche sun ; and thafc it requires only fche consistent condnct ot its members generally to ranks it tho moat blessed organization of fche kind in fche universe . In conclnsion let me offer the words of Charles Mackay—slightly altered—as the pith of fche whole

matter—If thon'rfc a Mason In deed and thought , Loving thy neighbour As craftsmen ought ; Sharing thy wealth Wifch the suffering poor , Helping all sorrow

Thafc hope can cure , All God ' s angels will say , Well-done , Whenever thy mortal race is run .

The D . P . G . M . proposed a cordial vote of thanks to Bro . Hnghan for his eloquent address . Thero were few brethren in the Craffc who had more completely made Freemasonry their study than Bro . Hughan had done , and few who conld not go to him and learn something of the true principles of the Craffc to which fchey belonged . Bro . G . B . Avonfc , who seconded the motion , spoke of Bro . Hughan ' s

address as a beautiful oration , and said he hoped it would make a deep impression upon the minds of all who had heard it , and thafc all those who had nofc acted np to ifc in the past wonld feel themselves called upon to do so in the future . The motion was carried wifch acclamation . This concluded the business of fche Provincial Graud Lodgo , aud

the D . P . G . M . having vacated the chair , ifc was taken by Bro . G . B . Avant , and the installation of Bro . J . F . King as W . M . for the ensning year was proceeded with . The whole ceremony of installation was admirably and impressively carried oufc by Bro . F . C . Halletfc P . P . G . S . D ., and at its conclusion the newly-installed Master invested his Officers , as follow : —Bros . G . B . Avant I . P . M ., E . W . Locko S . W .,

James Hearn J . W ., W . Southwood , Secretary , J . S . Whidboorne Treasurer , H . L . Friend Chaplain , D . C . Powell S . D ., F . Webb J . D ., J . Cole I . G ., W . Locke Or « auist , R . G . Underbill and E . B . Betty Stewnrds , J . Luscombe Tyler . Tho brethren afterwards adjonrned fco the Albert Hotel , whero a

largo number partook of an excellent banquet , presided over by the W . M . Bro . J . F . King . The usual Masonic toasts wero proposed and congratulations exchanged on the fact that the Dawlish brethren havo boon nble to provide themselves with such an excellent Masonio h » H ai ! had that dav been dedicated . Reference was nlso mado tn tho

splendid oratun delivered by Bro . Hnghan , ancl his eloquent justifAtinn of tbo aims at . d objects of Freemasonry , and a . hope was « Kpr < 'ssed that tdre orafcit n would finds its way into tho hands of every Mason hi the Province . The bo-data wero interspersed wifch vocal and instrumental music , aid . a very pleasant and harmonious evening was spent .

IuI E members of the Salem Lodge . No . 14113 , made elaborate arraugoments for a grand function on Monday last , the 20 th inst ., at Dawlish . On that day they not only installed their nevvlyelected W . M ., Bro . J . F . King , bufc also held a special Provincial Grand Lodge for the dedication of the new and handsome Masonic Hall , which ha ' -i been erected in the Now Barton Road . For many

years tho brethren have , for want of a habitation of their own , held all their large meetings iu a room afc the Town Hall—an obviously inconvenient arrangement , aud one which became increasingly so as the membership increased . The matter was discussed at various meetings , and eventually in waa determined to form a company , and

to raise tho necessary money for the purchase of a site and the building of a new Hall by means of the issue of shares . Tho response was so satisfactory thafc au excellent site was purchased from Mr , W . Gray , in tho Now Barton Road , and on it a very attractive and imposing-looking building has been erected . It haa been builfc by

Mr . W . J . II . Hatcher , of Dawlish , from designs by Mr . Bridgmau , architect , of Torquay , and in addition to reception-room *] and a commodious library , ifc has a Lodge Room which , when furnished and laid out , will bo one of tho handsomest in the Province . It ia 3 f ! feet long by 25 feet wide , is lofty iu proportion , is thoroughly well

ventilated , and will bo heated by moans of hot-water pipes . Tho floors all throngh arc laid with tiles of Mosaic pattern , the doors and staircases are of varnished pitch-pine , and tho building as a wholo is riduiirubly adapted to the purposes for which ifc will be used . — Western Morning Newt .

HOLLOWAY s OINMIMT AND Pir . r . s . —Counsel Ibr tl ' . u Delicate—Thoso to whom seasons of changeable temperatures arc protracted period .- ! of triri I slum ! t seek the earliest opportunity of removing all obstacles 10 good health . This cooling . Ointment peiseveringly rubbed upon tho skin , is tho most , reliable remedy for overcoming all diseases ! of tho throat and chest . Qnin . soy , rol ircol r . ousils

sorre throat , swollen glands , orum-ay catarrh , and li :-r : nehiti > , u-uaUy provniling at this season , may he arrested as soon as diseownd , a'ldA . er-r jymptoin banished by Holloway ' s simple and ed ' tK'Uve f . ri' -itmom . 'I'l-. ' n Ointment and Pills aro highly commended for the facility with ' . vUicn th-.-v . -mccessfully conquer influenza : thoy allay in an incredibly short timo the dstressing £ ovor and teasing cough .