The Ringing Of The Bell.

THE RINGING OF THE BELL .

PWAS abont the time of Christmas , a many years ago , When the sky was black with wrath and rack , ancl the earth was white with snow , When loudly rang tho tumult of winds and waves afc strife , la her home by the eea , with her babo on her knee , sat Harry Mildred's wife .

And he was on the waters ; she knew not , guess d not , where , For never a lip could tell of the ship to lighten her heart ' s despair ; And her babe was slowly dying , the pulse in its tiny wrist Was all but still , while its brow was chill , ancl pale as tho white sea

nnsfc . The night grew deeper and darker , and fcho storm had a stronger will , And buried in deep and dreamless sleep lay the hamlet under the hill .

Tho fire was dead on the hearthstone , within May Mildred's room , But still sat she , with the babe on her knee , afc prayer , amid the gloom—When a light leapt in afc tho lattice , sudden , and swift , and red , Crimsoning all tho whited wall , and the floor and the roof o'erhead .

It fell with a radiant glory on the face of tho dying child , Like a first fair ray of the shadowless clay of tbe land of tho undefiled For one brief moment , heedless of the babe upon her knee , With the frenzied start of a frighted hart np to her foot rose she , And through the quaint old casement she looked npon the sea ;

Thank God , the sight sho saw that night so rare a sight should be . llommed in by hungry billows , whoso madness foamed at lip , Haifa mile from shore , or a little more , she spied a gallant ship Aflame from deck to topmast , aflame from stem to stern , There appeared no speck ou all tho wreck whore tho fierce fire did not burn .

She looked aghaifc , till terror crept cold through every limb , And her breath came quick and her heart turned sick while her sight grew dizzy and dim . Silent sho stood , and speechless , with her babe to her bosom press'd ,

Like a figure of stone , with stiff arms thrown , round a tiny form at breast . Rooted she seemed , till tho angry noise of the winds aud waves at strife

Recalled again to her heart ancl brain tho active thinking life ; And then there came the rnshingof swift resolution made , And her knee bent low with fervour ' s glow , ancl this was tbe prayci she said , — '" Christ , who didst boar great snfi ' ering , but now dost wear a crown ,

I , at Thy feet , oh ! True and Sweet , vvouldsfc lay my burden down . Thou badst me love and cherish tho babo Thou gavosfc me . I have kept Thy word , nor stepped aside from truly following Thee But , lo , the boy is dying , and vain is all my care , And my burden's weight is very great ; yea , harder than I can beat

Still , Lord , Thou know ' sfc what peril doth threaten theso men ' s lives , A lone woman , weak aud human , doth pray for their anxious wives . Thon wilt not let them perish ; up , Lord , in Thy might aud save From tho scorching breath of thia terrible death on tho cruel wintry wave .

Tako Thou my babe and watch it , 'tis safe with Thee I know , And I will try , with Thine aid , Host High , to rouse tho vale below . " Aud thus her prayer it ended , and rising from tho flour , Aud faltering not , in his tiny cot sho laid tho babe sho bore . The light of an inspiration gleamed bright from her lighted eye ,

And on lip ancl brow was written now a purpose pure and high ; With a last fond look at the cradle nook , where down she'd laid the child , She noiselessly lifted fche latch , and sped forth in tho night so wild . And though her breath came quickly , and her heart was sore aud

lamt , Still with mind possess'd with the strengthful zest and ardour of a faint ,

She boldly faced the tempest , and bravely held her way , By slippery deep and toilsome steep to where her sad goal lay . Silent it stood and ghostly , amid its countless graves , The old grey chnrch , on its rocky perch , whilo below were the v >

ring wares ; And down beneath in the valley lay tha hamlet calm and still . For howe ' er the sea and tho wind might be ' twas quiet under the hill .

iho snow lay deep ancl drifted , far as tho eye could reach , Save where alone the dank weed strewn did mark tho sloping b ? ach The night was like a sunset , and tho sea like a pool of blood , ° And tho rocks on the shore were bathed all o ' er as by somo gory flood But whether 'twas sea or sunset , or deeply drifted snow , Or sky o ' erhead , on all was abed the same fierce fatal glow .

With eager haste , all breathless , sho reached the old church door , But the oak waa tough and had bolts enough , and her strength was frail and poor ; Si she crept through a narrow window , and climbed the belfry stair ,

And grasped the rope , sole cord of hope , for tin mariners in despair Bnt tho wild wind helped her bravely , aud she tuuged wit , h a vigorous will , And the clam ' rous bell spako out right well to tho hamlet under th hi 1 :

And it mused the slumb ' ring lhhfirs , nor its warning task gave o'er Till a hundred flctfc and eager foot wero liurrji ;; . ; uAhe shore . And then it ceased its ringing , for tho v / oniun ' s work w . ts done . And many a boat that was now afloat simwul man ' s work had bo-am . And tho ringer iu the belfry lay motionless and cold . With tho cord of hope- the church bell mpo-atill in her frozen huh How Jung sho lay it boots not , but she wuke from her awoou at kit ,

The Ringing Of The Bell.

In her own bright room , to find the gloom and the grief and fche peril past , A sense of joy within her , and fche Christ ' s sweet presence near ,

And friends around and the cooing sound of her babe's voice in her car ; And they told her now the story ; how a brave and gallant few O ' ercamo each check and reached the wreck , ancl saved the hapless

crew . And how the curious sexton had climbed tho belfry stair ; And of his fright , when cold and white , he found her lying there ; And how , when they had borne her back to her home again , The babe she'd left with hopo bereft , and bosom wrung with pain ,

Was found within its cradle in a quiet slumber lain ; A peaceful smile on its lips the while , ancl fche wasting sickness stay'd ; Thoy said , ' twas the Lord who had watched it , and brought ifc safely through :

And she praised His truth and His tender ruth that had saved her darling too . Now , soon there came a letter , across the surging foam ; And next a breeze that over the seas brought Harry Mildred home . And they told him all the story , which still their children tell , Of the fearful sight on thafc winter ' s night , and the ringing of the bell . Milford Haven . PHILLIP W ALKER . DUFF .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

JORDAN LODGE , No . 819 . A REGULAR meeting of this prosperous , though comparatively young , Lodge of Mark Master Masons was held on Wednesday the 16 th inst ., at tho Masonio Hall , Tot quay , when there was a gratifying attendance of brethren and visitors , under the presidency of fche Worshipful Master , Bro . W . Bradnee . The minutes of the last regular Lodge having baon read and confirmed , Bro . W . . f . Hughan ,

P . G . W . England , delivered an interesting address on recent historical researches relative to tho Mark Degree , in which he embodied much information with reference to the new Mark Constitutions . The subject was handled in a manner snch as might have been expected from Bro . Hughan ' s erudition and painstaking researches into all

matters appertaining to Freemasonry iu nil its degrees , and fche fact that tho address was followed by inquiries , and questions extending over au hour was a sufficient proof , if indeed any were needed , of the appreciation of the brethren of Bro . Hughan ' s intelligent exposition of the subject treated of . Afc tlio conclusion of tho meeting a hearty vote of thanks was tendered to Bro . Huurhan for his kindness in

delivering tho address , and for hi < painstaking efforts to enlighten the brythm \ upon many points of historical interest connected with tho Mark degree . It ia to bo hoped that our worthy brother Avill have opportunity of repeating elsewhere tbo valuable address with which he so delighted ami edified tho brethren of tho Lodge in the charming watering-place which he has adopted as his home .

The ceremony of installation will bo rehearsed by Bro . John Jacobs , W . M . 161-1 , at the Covent Gai'deu Lodge of . Instruction , No . 161-1 , held afc tlio Bedford Head Hotel , Maiden-lane , Covent Garden , W . C , on Thursday evening-, the 31 st instant , at eight o ' clock .

Obituary

Obituary

— : o ; — BRO . SAMUEL LAWTON P . M . 78 . IT is with a deep feeling- of iegrefc wo record the death of Bro . Samuel Lawton , P . M . of tho Imperial George Lodge , No . 78 , Middleton , Lancashire ; which sad event occurred at his residence , Birchwood , Middleton , on Tuesday , tho

1 st instant . Brother Lawton , who was m his sixty-first year , had been in an indifferent stale of health for some time past . Oar lato brother joined the Imperial George in 1872 , mid was elected W . M . in 1883 . He took a lively interest

in all matters appertaining to 1 reemasonry , and to his oxeriionr . the present prosperous condition of tho Imperial George Lodge is largely to be attributed . His funeral took place ou Saturday , 5 th instant , and was of a , very

interesting character . Upwards of twenty of his fellow members ( including the W . M . Brother Burbles , and the W . M . elect Brother Wi thing-ton ) assembled at the Lodge room , and proceeded to the residence of the deceased , and thence went

in procession to the Middleton Cemetery , where an impressive service was conducted at tho grave side , before a large concourse of spectators , by the Rev . Adam linch ton ,

of Macclesfield , and Rov . W . Wcst'ill , of Aiicktieton , after which tlie brethren . sang '' Brief life is hero our portion . " In due courso the benediction was pronounced and tho service brought to a o ' . nclusiou .