Christmas Entertainments.

pendens Spectacular Splendour , " entitled " A Night in Pekin . " Hengler ' s Circus , tho Royal Polytechnic , and other places of entertainment will also offer many new and attractive items to this ordinary round of amusements . Thus , if tho weather is not over propitious for out-door sports and pastimes , there is very little likelihood of there being a lack of choice , to judge from tho brief outline wo have given above of tho spectacular and dramatic representations which are either promised us or have already been began .

Consecration Of The William Of Wykeham Lodge, No. 1883.

CONSECRATION OF THE WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM LODGE , No . 1883 .

THE Rev . A . A . Headley Prov . G . Chaplain , W . M . elect of the Lodge of Harmony , No . 309 , Fareham , delivered tho following oration on the occasion of tho Consecration of this Lodge on Monday , 13 th inst .: —Right Worshipfnl Provincial Grand Masters , Officers and Brethren , —The duty of saying a few words by way of customary oration has now fallen upon me , and let me assure yon thafc I esteem

it a high privilege to be invited to address a meeting nfc which so many brethren of Masonic eminence and ability aro gathered togather . I feel , in the presence of somo who may be well called " Fathers in Israel , " that it may appear almost presumptuous on my part to tell them what is the foundation on which Masonry rests , and what is the nature and design of the institution . Tho words of the

great Hooker must plead for me . I must ask yon , in his words , " Regard not who it is that speaketh , but weigh only what is spoken . " If in anything I am goincr to say to-day I travel over ground well trodden before , if my oration seem in somo respects a thrice-told tale , I mnst ask your Masonic indulgence for two reasons . First , although the ground may be well trodden , it is for that very

reason that I would ask you to pass over it once more . There is bnt one royal road in Masonry as in everything else , and along that royal road so many men of eminence have passed that we shall do well if we follow in their footsteps . We have a very high authority which bids us " ask for the old paths . " Secondly , if tho tale be a thrice , told one , what of that ? If we reallv love Masonry the recital of its

good qualities will ever be refreshing to our minds . We shall be like children who , having heard us tell a charming story , beg us to tell it over again the very moment we have finished it . The wise man will ever bring out of his treasury things old as well as new . We have met together to-day to consecrate a new Lodge , and , at the opening of a new Lodge the question naturally occurs to many minds , " Why

should this Lodge be opened ? " Wo within its walls are at no loss to supply an answer . But what reason can wo give to the ntiinstrncted world who are not Masons ? When the Masonic clothing has been laid aside , when we have locked our secrets in a safe and sacred repository , when we mingle with the outer world , are wo nob sure to have the question asked us , "What is the use of another Lodgo P "

This question is intimately connected with another— " What is tho use of Freemasonry ? " We must be ready to give an answer . We must remember that we live in an age of inquiry ; an age , to a certain extent , of rooting up and pulling down ; an age in which the dearest traditions which the human heart can cherisli will not be respected , merely because they are traditions in which old institutions will not

be preserved merely because they are old . There is a want of reverence in the present generation of which our forefathers knew nothing . There are many who have a genuine contempt for the past . It is dead and gone . It has nothing to teach them , nothing to impart to them in the way of vigour and of life . It has no claims on living , working , thinking men . Do not ; let us imagine then for one

moment that the antiquity of Masonry is in itself a sufficient reason for preserving it in the present day . But there are two ways in \ vhich a thing may be old . Look at two trees ! Tho one old , decayed , losing by every winter ' s storm some of those branches which were i ts glory , till it becomes a mere wreck of a tree , old and unsightly , an eyesore on the fair landscape . Look afc another tree , in whose

very age consists its massive beauty . I have such a one in my mind ' s eye afc present—a giant oak , which has been spared while its neighbours have been felled , which has a space cleared round it , so that nothing may interfere with a fall view of its magnificent proportions . We need not ask , brethren , which of these trees Freemasonry resembles . Decay and decrepitude and distortion have found no place

in the fabric of our noble science . Vigorous and healthful it rears its head above all its brethren of the forest—above any institution in any way claiming kindred with it . It is only while it keeps in this state of vigorous old age that we have an answer to give to the outside world to their questions—Why does Freemasonry exist ? Each one who loves Masonry must surely desire that it should be kept in this

prosperous condition . How is this to be done ? There is one way , and one only , by which it can continue its healthful career , namely , by adhering closely to the ancient landmarks of the Order , by resting firmly on that fonndation of which we , as Masons , boast . Dr . Anderson , who was Grand Warden in 1723 , declared that ' * the end and moral purpose of Masonry is to subdue onr passions , not to do our

own will ; to make a daily progress in a laud .-ibL- art ; to promote morality , charity , good fellowship , good nature , and humanity . " Whence is it that this end is derived ? There can be but one sourer , the first of those great though emblematic lights which greets each nowly-obligated candidate in our Lodges—the Volume of the Sacred Law . That is the real fonndation . Do not let me be mistaken . It has been well said that Freemasonry is not a religions society ,

professing to teach and define theological truth , but a peculiar system of morality , voile 1 in allegory and illustrated by symbols . It is no more part of her domain to lay down theological truth than it is tie part of tlio musician to prescribe regarding artistic beauty , thongh mnsic and painting are twin sisters , even as religion and mornlitv mnst go hand in hand . Freemasonry is a religions society , so far : \< this—She is founded on the Volume of the Sacred Law . She declares thafc unless a man believes in a personal God and a future state that

Consecration Of The William Of Wykeham Lodge, No. 1883.

man is not to be entrusted with the sacredness of an obligation , that man is not to bo permitted oven to cross the threshold of the first decree . Think how important this is ! T may have seemed to dwell on this point , but at the consecration of a new Lodge I cannot well do otherwise , because the prosperity of the new Lodge will depend upon the characters of the individual brethren who form it being moulded upon the principal laid down iu that sacred volume .

The foundation is laid to-day , bnh the superstructure is left to tho brethren who form tho Lodgo . It ia in their hands whether thoy rise , oven as our Grand Master King Solomon did , a beautiful homo abounding in glory and exelloncy , or whether it be marred and disfigured . If each member of this new Lodge be etrcfnl in th" building up of his own individual temple , the temple of his body according to the principles of Freemasonry , thon the united temple , this Lodge , will bo fnir and harmonious . Let oach remember tho foundation on

which Masonry rests—tho Volume of tho Sacred Law , let each remember the duties it inculcates—the practice of every moral and social virtue , let each remember the important duties ho owes to God , his neighbour , and himself , lot prudence direct him , temperance chasten him , and justice be the guide of all his actions—then , and then only , will he bo ablo to give an answer to the outer world , " Why

Masonry exists ? " "Why this new Lodge has been consecrated ?" The best answer of all is tho epitaph on our alleged Grand Master Sir Christopher Wren , " Si quan-is monumentnm circinnspico . " Do you want to know what . Masonry is ? Look around . Regard its unselfish labours of love . It educates the orphan , and cheers the widow ' s heart . It relieves tho distress , and comforts the sorrowing . It helps

ns all to become better men , wiser men , holier men . Let us afc tho opening of this now Lodge determine that within its walls tho theory and practice of Freemasonry may never be divided , nnd that its true principles may accompany ns when we leave this room and engage in our daily avocations . If this be so , may we not bo sure that the William of Wykoham Lodge , at Winchester , will be as great , in its day and generation as ho after whom it is named was in his .

Meeting Of The Lodge Of Benevolence.

MEETING OF THE LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

THE Lodge of Benevolence held its monthly meeting at the Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday oveniug . Tho chairs of the President , Senior and Jnnior Vice Presidents , wero occupied by Bros . Joshua Nnnn P . G . S B ., Senior Vice President , James Brett P . G . P . Junior Vice President , and S . Rawson Past District Grand Master of China . There was a large attendance of brethren . Recommendations to the amount of -6500 made at last meeting were first confirmed . There were forty-five new cases on tho list , the largest number the

Lodge has over had before it at one meeting . The President called the brethren's attention to this fact , and stated that the Lodge had this year already exceeded its income by £ 1200 . Tho brethren then considered these cases . After sitting nearly four hours and a half , the list was disposed of . Threo cases were deferred , being incomplete . The remaining forty-two were relieved , with a total sum of £ 958 . The amount granted by the Lodge during the year is £ 9 , 223 , and 308 cases have been relieved .

Presentation To Bro. E. S. Main.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . E . S . MAIN .

rPHE services of a zealous member of the Craft were on Thursday -L evening , the 16 th inst ., recognised in a manner that must have been highly gratifying to tho recipient of a substantial expression of appreciation of his efforts iu tho cause of Masonry , moro especially iu connection with the foundation of the Landport Lodge , No . 1776 , which is held in tho Freemasons' Hall , Commercial-road , Landport , and had already attained a large measure of success . Bro . E . S . Main

P . M . aud P . Z . P . P . G . D . C . having intimated his desire to retire from tho Secretaryship of the Lodge , of which he was ono of the Founders , and the duties of which he has performed with conspicuous energy and ability , it was thought that the time had arrived for the presentation of a testimonial . The readiness with which the brethren contributed must enhance the value of the testimonial , which was

presented on Thursday evening at the sapper which followed the regular meeting , when , in the unavoidable absence of the W . M . ( Bro . C . G . Adames ) , Bro . G . A . Green P . M . P . P . G . D . C . occupied the chair , aud about fifty brethren were present . The presentation to Bro . Main consisted of a handsome black marble fourteen day clock ( supplied by Bro . G . Dimmer , of High-street , Portsmouth ) . A silver slab bore the following inscription : —

Presented to Buo . E . S . M _ u \ , P . M ., P . Z ., and P . P . G . D . of the County of Hants , By his Masonic Friends , Iu recognition of his great services , on his retirement from tho Secretaryship of the Landport Lodge , No . 1776 . 16 th December 1880 .

A fine tricord piauo , by Warnc , of the value ol ¦ £ - !;> , was presented to Mrs . Main . The presentation was made in suitable terms by the Chairman , and Bro . Main tendered his thanks in a lengthy speech , relating principally to Masonic matters . A large portion of tlio evening was devoted to harmony , Bro . Miles , tho Lodge Organist , rendering welcome assistance .

Tfoj .-OWAY - Or . VT * . n-: xT ASD PILLS . — . "Much watchfulness must ho exorcised nfc the present lime , and | li- > earliest evidences of il ! -hoa , lth must be immediately cheeked or a slight illness may result iu a serious malady . Relaxed and sore throat , influenza .. ' | Uiiisoy , coughs , chronic coii - li , bronchitis , and most other niiliiiimarv affections will lie relieved bv ruhbiii - this pooling "hitmeat into

the skm as ne r as practicali ' e to tlie seat ol : mischict . This treatment , so simple mid yet so effective , is admirably adapted for tlio lvmoval of these diseases during ini ' aney and youth . Old asthmatic invalids will derive marvellous relief from the use of Holloway ' s remedies , which have broiu-dit round , many such sufferers , and re-established health , after every other means had signally failed .