In War Time.

tinned to be troublesome afc times , and oven yofc prevent mo from indulging in active movements which my temperament would prompt . Ifc was nofc until the war was over , and around the paternal fireside that I gave tho details of tho caso as I now rolata them . My father

had expressed his antipathy fco tho Masonic institution with moro bitterness than usual even with me . As a reply , I told my story . He sat for some timo in silence . Then rising , he throw his arms around my neck and embraced mo iu tho most ardent and passionate

manner . Then , raising his hand 11 heaven , ho exclaimed : " God forbid thai I should war against an institution that loads us to bless our enemie ? , Tho Lord do so to mo , and moro also , if ever again I spoik against

Masonry . " And he kept his word . The grass grows above him , where hia body was deposited in hopo of tho resurrection by sympathizing brethren , accompanied by tho sublimely solemn and impressive burial service of Freemasonry . — -Illinois Freemason .

The Mason's Prayer.

THE MASON'S PRAYER .

BY Bro . LEE 0 . HARRIS , Great Architect of earth and skies , Fill Thon my heart with purity , And let its love , like incense , rise . A grateful offering unto Thee .

Teach me to labour for the right , Since labonr is Thy highest trust , To Soraph clothed with Heaven's light , Or lowest reptilo of the dust .

Nor let mo idly sit and see A stricken brother fainting go , But fill my soul with charity To lift his heavy weight of woo .

Teach me to guard with watchful care The treasures of Thy altar place , Nor let unhallowed hands impair

Ihy tomple s beauty nor its grace . Oh , let this thought my will control—Thore is an Eyo whoso searching light Pervades tho chambers of tho soul ,

And reads its every thought aright . Oh , when the storms aro fierce and dark , Lot down tho anchor of Thy Love , That Peace may smile within the Ark To welcome her returning dove .

So , let mo solve life ' s problem well , That when the working timo ia past , Tho voice of * after years shall tell , " Ho found its answer at tho last . "

Let crave endeavour s golden sand Run throngh the glass of life , till Time Shall wield his scythe to cut tho strand Thafc holds mo from a happier clime .

Thon shall I go withont regret , Confiding in thy power to save , Nor fear to lio where Hope has sot Her green acacia at the grave . —Masonic Advocate .

A Convocation of tlio North London Chapter of Improvement was held afc the Alwyne Castle Tavern , Sfc . Paul ' s Road , on Thursday . Comps . Radcliffe M . E . Z ., Jenkins H ., Barnet J ., Sheffield S . E ., Edmonds S . N ., Fraser P . S ., Edmonds Preceptor . Tho ceremony of Exaltation was rehearsed in a very instructive manner .

The monthly mooting of fcho Board of Benevolence—tho last meeting for tho year—was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bros . Robert CTrey ' P . G . D . President , James Brett P . G . P . Senior Vice-President , and

0 . A . Cottebrune P . G . P . Junior Vice-President were in their respective chairs . Among others who attended were Bros . Colonel Shadwell II . Gierke Grand Eecrdaiy , A . A . Pendlcbury , \ V . Lee , W . Dodd , aud II . Sadler Grand

Tyler , On taking his scat , for tho first time since his appointment as Picaidonfc of tho Board of Benevolence , hythe Grand Master , Bi-o . Groy was loudly cheered . He thereupon rose , and said that lie felt highly honoured bv

having the appointment conferred upon him by- His Royai Highness tho Princo of Wales . It , wa : * , indeed , a very exalted position to be placed in , and ho . should endeavour

to discharge his duties to fcho t * aiisf ; -. 'jtion of His Eoyal Highness and tho brethren . lie hoped that tho Board would work with the same harmony and unanimity as heretofore . Several grant ;* wero made daring tho meeting .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

* r \» ANCIENT EBOR PRECEPTORY , No . 101 . THE annual session for the election of E . P . took place on Tuesday , tho 14 th inst ., at tho Fromasons' Hall , St . Saviourgate , York . In tfio absence of tho E . P ., Fra . Christopher PalJiser , tha throne was occupied by Fra . T . B . Whytehead P ., and there were also present Fras . Win . Brown Constable , W . H . Cowpor Marshal , J . T . Seller

Snb-Marahal , Major McGachen Herald , W . B . Dyson V . B ., W . Watson C . of G ., aud others . A number of apologies were read from absent Knights , after which a sneessful ballot was taken for a candidate . Tho ceremony of installation was rehearsed for the benefit of tho Officers , and a scroll was then taken for E . P ., resulting ia

the election of Fra . W . H . Cowper , Fra . Bro * fin having expressed a wish to delay his own progress for a year . Fra . T . B . Whytehead was elected Treasurer for the tenth time , and Fras , Brown and Dyson were elected Auditors . Fra . Whytehead announced thafc he was in correspondence with some of the leaders of the Order of

the Templo in the United States , and trusted to be able to make arrangements for a grand Templar gathering in York next summer to celebrate tho Jubilee of the Queen , the Patroness of the Order .

A baton for the use of the E . P . —the gift of E . Fra . C . Pallisserwas presented , and a vote of thanks for the same was passed , and , after the alms bag had been passed round , the Preceptory was closed .

MEXICAN MASONRY . —The prospects of the Craffc in Mexico are very bright ; fcho funds of fche Mexican Grand Lodge being in a flourishing condition , and much good work is done in thafc far-away republic , notwithstanding the continued opposition of the Jesuit party . Previous to the invasion of the French , and the erection of

tho Empire , thero existed in tbe city of Mexico quite a large body of Scottish Rito Masons ; but the wholesale assassination of antichurch leaders , by virtue of the infamous decree of Maximilian , putting to death , during his short reign , no less than 11 , 700 patriots ,

whose only crime was fighting for national liberty , more than decimated their ranks . However , after the pacification , Masonio matters took a turn for the better , and the prosperity and unity of the Craffc aro now accomplished facts . President Diaz , a liberal-minded Mason , is Grand Master of tho Grand Lodge of Mexico .

How often must it be affirmed that fche Institution of Freemasonry does not rest on merely selfish grounds ? Men will be disappointed who seek entrance into tho organization impelled chiefly by fcho desire to advance their personal interest ; . Ifc is fche mission of tho great Brotherhood to bring its members close together and make

them helpers of each other in all laudable ways ; but this work is done in no narrow , precise , or technical way , hence fchoso who como influenced only by a selfish motive will surely be disappointed . They

will find thafc Freemasonry has a broader scope of teaching and endeavour than they had supposed , and thafc it is nofc held to ministries in the line of a merely personal gaiu for those admitted to its fellowship . —Freemasons' Repository .

Of the multiplying of Rites and Orders thero seems to be no end . Clubs , associations , fraternal and beneficial societies , can bo organized afc tho present time with but ; slight effort . Wc have nothing to say in opposition to these rapidly increasing societies , and we reeognizo the right of their projectors and upholders to work in

all legitimate ways for the strengthening of such organizations . Bub Freemasonry ought not to be regarded as holding any close alliance with many of these organizations , however much some of them claim

relation to ifc . Let the newly established rites and fraternities stand by themselves and do their own work ; and lot the members of fche Graft hold to tho ancient system and support fcho well approved organizations that represent its true character and life .

Inter-visitations are of untold value to all secret organizations . If o ; J Lodge visits another iu a body , it widens the usefulness of both . If one member visits another , it creates a universality of

feeling , and inaugurates new friendships ; it shows that the citizen loves his neighbour , and desires him to put shoulder to shoulder in tho plan to maintain order against every foe afc all hazards . Therefore , let tho Lodges inter-visit frequently ,

THE MASONIC PKKSS . —The Masonic press cannot rely upon the means of gaiu ancl sustenance that tho popular press does . Tho importance of tho Masonic press , as aa institution , can scarcely be over estimated . Ifc occupies a higher and moro tranquil sphere of ionrnali . iin than thafc of tho secular press . Its influence , however ,

mnst not be forgotten in the estimate of tho social forces . Unobatructivo iu its utterances , when compared with the clamorous voices oi ? tho political newspaper , its tones , nevertheless , fall upon calmer hearty ancl sink deeper into the convictions aud life of society . As a medium for communication ot' moral aud Masonic

intelligence—au educator , refining and elevating—a fireside mentor , quickening lhe intellect , expindiugthe heart , and bearing treasures to myviaeto , tho Masonic journal wields an influence which cauuofc well bo dispensed with , nnd one that no other moral force can wed supoly . The duty of the Mason is therefore plain . Ho has

\ duty to perform iu extending tho civiuUtiois , awl in widening . ho influence of tho Masonio press . He should not excuse himself ' . ' oni this outy . It' ho is a Master or Officer of fc ' io Lodge , ho may •ccomni ' jiid it fco his members . If he is not an Officer , ho can urge

r ts claims vheaevc . ' ! . ' an opportunity occurs . The I ' ratcrnity should awaken to tho imporlauco of a more general and decided effort iu !> ebai £ of the Mnsonic newspaper aud Masonic literature . —N . Y . Sunday Times .

lN a \ v Yon : ; HALL A . VI . > A 3 rr , u . \ L FUND . —Tho subsciiptkin to fche r . Iajcnio HaU and Asylum Fund in New York have rescind the sum cf 90 , 300 dollars .