Masonry's Full Mission.

countries , there have been some individuals who have proved recreant to its principles and teachings , and by their un-Masonic conduct sought to bring discredit upon it ; but not a pillar of the temple has been shaken , not a stone moved from its bed nor an ornament defaced . " Tho lapse of time , the ruthless hand of ignorance , " & e .

It is a beautiful system of morality , veiled in allegory and illustrated by symlvils . Its throe great tenets are brotherly love , relief and trur . ' i . The fonr cardinal virtues of temperance , fortitude , prudence and justice , are

inculcated as the constant practice of every Mason . Tbo sublime teachings of faith , hope and charity are * onr guides : faith iu God , hopo in immortality , and charity towards all mankind .

There is nothing more perfect and beautiful than the lessons of life inculcated by tho fundamental teachings of Speculative Masonry . Their very simplicity is of inestimable value in impressing them upon the minds of thoso who seek instruction . Tho wisdom of all ages has been utilized

by master minds in conceiving and successfull y developing this most ennobling moral science , in order that humanity mig ht be benefited , that man might not trudge through life without moral and intellectual activity , or pass down the scale of existence to a life of shame and debauchery . But

that ho might , as each successive year rolls by , grow stronger in all those qualities which make him a littlo lower than tho angels , and stand as a monument of usefulness before those who aro to succeed him in tho important dnties of life .

Masonry is but another name for that pure spirit of brotherly love which should unite all men under heaven , and this love will teach men , first of all to desire the welfare and happiness of all mankind , and to labour to promote that welfare and happiness by thought , word , and deed .

It is to think no guile , to do no wrong , to speak no evil , to enwrap our brother in our sympathies as in a cloak -, to shelter him from tho blight of calumny ; to ward off

the attack of the open enemy ancl tho insidious foe ; to make his sorrow our sorrow , and , in times of distress and affliction , to extend to him tho hel ping hand , so far * as his necessities may require and onr ability will permit .

The mission of Masonry is to promulgate and enforce the doctrine of the Fatherhood of God and tho Brotherhood

of man . It has done wonders . Never opposing force with force , under its subtle influence tho walls by which bigotry would have divided man from man have been shaken or thrown down , so that now around . one common alfcar people of every race and every creed unite in adoration of the

universal God . This it has accomplished—it is its glory . It has yet to subdue the prejudice of class ; this is its work . And this work will be accomplished when , and only when , each member of our Fraternity individually , and for and of himself , applies the"principles contained in the five points

of fellowshi p , the golden rule of Masonry , to the varied transactions of every day life . _ When that time comes , if come it ever shall , the full mission of Masonry will have been accomplished , and , f ollowinc

the sun round the world from east to west , and back to east again , Lodge will hail Lodge with the joyous greeting , " Glory to God in the highest ! On earth peace , good will to man !"

Such is the mission of Masonry , the grand and universal science which includes all others contemplating as it does a universal brotherhood , meeting and uniting upon a plane of action far above the petty and changing creeds which enter into the religious and political organisations of this world .

We are here in these earthly temples , preparing for the spiritual temple of Almighty God above . And we are to be living stones , not inert masses of rocks , and senseless blocks of marble , but full of lifo and action in all that is good and true .

-out , it may be said , if these things are so , why he need of so much secrecy in Masonry ? I answer : ° r history , philosophy , and principles are open to the ° ™ , but our degrees and their inner teaching , which erve as a bond of union , and a means of recognition 8

^ UC necessaril y he secret . If they were in everybody ' s Possession , they would be lightly valued and abused " by any who have neither tho mind nor the heart to t \ rl temte them > and the g ° od desig » o * f our InstituwhT be frusfcrated - "World ! a ^ ^ ° 0 (* an <* trae men ' " P ' oi their ai J wealth or honours , are welcomed within our

Masonry's Full Mission.

portals , we are not permitted to persuade or even invite anyone . From those whoipply wo endeavour to select tho good and true only , to tho end that the honour and reputation of tlio Instituti > n may be fully sustained , and tho world at . large convinced of its good effects . —Voice of Masonry .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Gaiety . —With every desire to extend a cordial welcome to a comedian so highly recommended to ua aa Mr . "Nat Goodwiu , ifc ia impossible for us at the present to form an opinion of his genius . The sooner the piece presented on Monday evening is withdrawn tho better it will be , both artistically aud financially , for the nctoruianager , otherwise he will find that his " Gold Mine" will realise a fate similar to many another , and moro money will be wasted npon

it , than can ever be extracted from it . Under the circumstances it would serve no good pnrpose to speak of the play , but onr readers will bo glad to hoar that Mr . Goodwin possesses undoubted talent could ho only have the proper medium for exhibiting it . Smart and dapper in appearance , the American artist has a qniet , quaint and effective delivery that would prove very taking , though , to judge from the ono short scene on Monday , ho is somewhat deficient in pathos . We shall therefore lcok forward with much interest to another

opportunity for renewing his acquaintance . It only remains to to noted that Mr . William Farren again trends the Gaiety boards , and plays , with all his old fire , tho part of an elderly financier , and is assisted by Mr . Charles Glenny as an Irish M . P ., Mr . Eversfield , Mr . Frank Wood , Miss Carlotta Leclercq , Miss Kato Forsyth and

Miss Jenny McNnlty . Mr . Goodwin was received with much appreciation by a large number of his compatriots , but we hopo tho heartiness of his reception will not delude him into the belief that his first venture can be anght else but a failure with an English audience .

Lyric . —Mr . Robert Buchanan has gracefully conceded to Miss Rhocla Broughton tho honours that have been achieved by his adaptation of the popular novelist ' s work "Nancy ; " bnt it cannot be denied ihat tho clever dramatist has encountered no little difficulty in preparing tho novel for the stage . The story is pretty , unconventional , and decidedly interesting , though hardly of sufficient

incident for a threo act play . " Sweet Nancy , " the innocent schoolgirl of nineteen has married General Sir Roger Tempest , who is old enough to be her father . Owing to the exigencies of his profession tho soldier has to leave his young wife while he departs abroad on active service , and upon his return is informed that she has seriously compromised herself with Frank Musgrave , a yonng man who

is sister Barbara ' s sweatheart . Instead of seeking an explanation with hia wife , Sir Roger tries to elicit the truth from others , and fo-iliah Nancy prefers to rely npon her stainless honour rather than toll her husband the true facts of the case for fear of causing Barbara pain . Of course all is properly and dramatically settled in the third act , but the crisis and denouncement are unduly prolonged . Miss

Annie Hughes , one of our brightest little actresses , gives a charming rendering of the impulsive and good natnred Nancy , and in the earlier portions of the play was simply perfect , but in the trying last act was rather weak . Mr . Henry Neville was admirable cast as the good genial old soldier , and Mr . Bucklaw was well placed as

Musgrave . Miss B . Ferrar was sprightly as Tow Tow , Mr . Henry Y . Esmond plays young Algy Grey most efficiently , and Miss F . Ivor , Mr . E . Hendrie , and Miss Ethel Hope are all worthy of praise . The piece was originally intended for a short run of three weeks , but it is possible that its favourable reception may induce the management to extend its representation .

Mr . Sydney Alport , the genial manager of the Vaudeville , announces his annual benefit for to-night ( Saturday ) . " Miss Tomboy , " will bo played by Mr . Thorne and his able company , after which a miscellaneous entertainment will be given .

From tbe returns for the examination in Mathematics afc Sonth Kensington last May , recently come to hand , we learn that our scholars at Wood Green are well to the fore . In stage I . we have gained 15 firsfc class and 6 second

class ; in stage II ., for the higher work , 3 first and 2 second . This is the first time the Boys' School has sent in candidates for the South Kensington examination , and wo may fairly hope , therefore , to see a much larger and better result nexfc year .

Bro . John Ross Robertson , of Toronto , has been elected Grand Master of Canada , and tho Hon . J . M . Gibson , Provincial Secretary of Ontario , Deputy Grand Maater .

Two new additions are announced to Messrs . Dean and Son ' s series of shilling novels . The first of these will be " Tho Missing Captain , " by Mr . J . Laurence Hornibrook , author of " The Shadow of a Dream , " and the second will consist of " F . R . S ., and other Stories , " by Mr , William H . Stacpoole .