Notices Of Meetings.

meeting . The Lodge was closed , and the brethren partook of a very excellent banquet . Bros . Middlemas , Edwards and H . Massey were present as visitors .

Hemming Lodge , No . 1512 , Hampton . —This Lodge hold its regular meeting on Thursday , 20 th January , at the Lion Hotel . Present—Bros . Edward Hopwood P . M . 141 W . M ., W . Hammond P . M . 201 , 1326 and 1512 , P . J . G . D ., Middlesex , I . P . M ., D . B . Raw P . M . Treasurer , T . Hill P . M . S . W ., J . Hurst J . W ., John Hammond P . M . Secretary , T . W . Ockenden D . C ., acting S . D ., 0 . W . Fox J . D .,

J . C . Jessett I . G ., and Gilbert Tyler ; Bros . J . E . Hunt , T . C . Walls 1503 , J . Chilcott , T . G . Tagg , F . W . Kent , & o . Visitors . —Bros . Wilson P . M . 209 , W . Knight 574 , W . Kraeutler 1303 , Herbert Jones 1026 , H . Tozer 1326 , E . Clark 1503 , and Ewens . Mr . W . A . Messenger was initiated , Bros . Thomas Moody and Harry Tagg were passed , and Bro . B . R . Aston was raised to tho sublime degree of M . M .

The whole of the ceremonies were worked to the complete satisfaction of the brethren by the W . M ., who has but recently recovered from a long and serious illness . The brethren unanimously recommended the W . M . for the honour of P . G . S . Middlesex . Bro . T . G . Tagg was elected to the vacant office of Assistant Wine Steward , and Bro . T . W .

Ockenden D . C . appointed as Steward for the Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , to take place on Wednesday week , 9 th February . Bro . Walls having proposed a brother as a joining member , the Lodge was duly closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

East Surrey Lodge of Concord ( Instruction ) . —This Lodge met on Tuesday , at tho Fox and Hounds , West Croydon . Bros . Chas . Legge W . M ., Dickens S . W ., Streeter J . W ., Pitt J . D ., Shead I . G ., J . Sharp Preceptor , Pocock Secretary . The 1 st and 2 nd

ceremonies were rehearsed , Bro . Pocock candidate in the 1 st , and Bro . Young in tho 2 nd . Several matters in connection with tho Lodge were discussed , and the meeting was adjourned . Brethren resident in the neighbourhood of Croydon should pay a visit to this Lodge of Instruction , which is generally well attended .

Masonic Charity. A Story Of The Ancient Landmarks.

MASONIC CHARITY . A STORY OF THE ANCIENT LANDMARKS .

BY JEFFERSON .

" A look that is telling a tale Which looks alone dare tell—When a cheek is no longer pale , And has caught the glance as it fell ; A touch that seems to unlock

Treasures unknown as yet , And the bitter-sweets first shock One can never forget . The world is wide—these things are small , They may be nothing—but they are all . "

IT was on a palatial steamer , which was ploughing its way np the waters of the Potomac towards the capital of the nation , in the early winter months of 1861 , when the incipient incidents of this story began . Seated around the stove of the ladies' parlour were quite a group of travellers , chiefly from the South . Conversation was brisk , and in a few instances it was characterized by the most

animated and marked earnestness . The subject itself was deeplykeenly exciting j and the full force of a previous determination was very perceptible in the tones and gestures of a number of the speakers . They had come from the land of the orange groves , where the sun holds its rule of almost perennial empire , and where the life blood of nervous power but seldom lingers in its dull supineness . They felt

what they said and meant every word they spoke . With all of them , save one , the crisis of the hour demanded implicit devotion to the interests of the South , and in their view there was no room for hesitancy or indecision . In the crowd there was one who sat as a patient listener—so much so that his reticency might have been construed into a seeming indifference . Yet this was far from the

fact , for his whole organism of thought was at work with the most solemn reflections , and with an interest which was unfathomable . He seemed to see better than they all the terrible fearfulness of the coming tempest , and the wide devastations it would bring . He saw around him among his travelling associates the representatives of a number of the best families of the South , and among them

several young gentlemen , whose records of glory would probably soon be made in death . Sadness was depicted upon his countenance as upon one who was about to pass the ordeal of some terrible bereavement . He felt that he could not avert the calamity , and he resolved , whatever might transpire for the desolation of his country , that he would endeavour to be true to his Masonic charity , which thus far in

life had been the guide of his years . Arrived in Washington , they soon scattered to different parts of the " city of magnificent distances , " where , in a few brief hours , they were among their kith and kin , whom they had chiefly come to visit , in view of the impending national crisis . None saw the extent of the cloud which was gathering , and not one tho fierceness and rage of the coming battle-fields .

Party spirit , like the angel of death , was calling for its sacrifices , and nothing less than a holicaust oi victims would glut its voracious jaws , or satisfy its insatiate appetite . The genius of liberty stood weeping in the halls of the capital because of the national confusion , while civil war , more terrific than ever cursed the earth before , threatened the boasted integrity of the Republic . Even Masonic Charity—the highest pride of the ages—seemed to be forgetting its

Masonic Charity. A Story Of The Ancient Landmarks.

ancient landmarks , and Christianity itself the nnity and fellowship of its divinity . For the time being , Mars , the god of war , held supremacy over the American people , and a baptism of blood was demanded , the crimson of which would flow as the rivers . A few months later , war had actually begun , and the month of

July witnessed the stubborn , the terrible conflict of Bull Run , where the forces of the Union army were ignominiously driven from the field and the Confederate forces were so exhausted as to be unconscious of their victory . Neither in Europe nor America had tho world ever made record of such a battle , a clash of arms of Christian kindreds and of Masonic brotherhoods . When the dark storm had

passed away , and the dead were buned , the life story of every man , save two , of that steamboat company waa in his grave—the unfortunate victims of that fratricidal battle field . Two , we said , were yet living . One was a prisoner , dangerously wounded , in one of the hospitals of Washington , and the other was Worshipful Master of one of the Lodges of that city . Engaged in

official business in one of the departments of the government , he had not witnessed the battle , nor did he have any knowledge of the disposition of the wounded of either army . The scenes in the different hospitals were pitiable indeed—the groans of the wounded , and the pale cheeks of the dying , in connection with the bloody operations of the surgeons , gave to the hour

a blackness of darkness which made the heart sick , as it was such as none of them had ever seen before . Lying on an improvised straw bed , the wounded Confederate prisoner learned from the surgeons that ho only had a few more hours to live . " Do you know any one who is a Master Mason who will come and

see me ? he asked , in feeble tones , of one who was serving as e , nurse . " The doctors tell mo that I can't live , " said he , and I would be glad to see some brother Mason before I die !" " I will find one if I can , " responded the nnrse , who , obtaining leave of absence , started out at once to hunb a Mason . Within a short time he had at the bedside of the dying prisoner the Worshipful

Master , who six months before had been his travelling companion on the Potomac steamer . The recognition of the young Southerner , and of his dying condition , gave his soul to fresh sadness , and opened up the fountains of his sympathy with the keenest anguish . He soon became satisfied that the young officer was a Master Mason , and he at once determined to govern himself accordingly .

" The surgeons tell me , " said the dying prisoner , " that I have only a few hours more to live , and I have sent for you . to ask that you will stand by me until I die , and when I am dead that you will bury ma with the honours of the Craft . Am I asking too much ? " he inquired , piteously . " No , my brother , not in my judgment , " said the Worshipful Master , " yet , " said he , "I do not know what the brethren of the Craft may

think of performing such a duty in the present state of public sentiment . Many , if not all , of the people are so deeply prejudiced , that even such an offering would be looked upon as conniving at treason . The spirit of Masonic charity , however , I know , would not thus designate it , and I will promise you that if my Lodge will consent to it , your body shall be thus buried . " " I thank you , I thank you , " said the dying soldier , as the tears choked his utterance .

Within three days he was dead , and the Lodge purchased a rich coffin , which was appropriately ornamented with compass and square , in which tho body was decently and solemnly placed . The following day tbe Craft assembled in respectable numbers , and to the tread of martial music followed the hearse containing the mortal remains of their departed brother to their last resting-place . The full honours of the Masonic burial service were performed at the

grave , solemnly and beautifully , and tho brethren returned to their Lodge-room fully satisfied that they had only been complying with the obligations of Masonic charity , as taught by the Ancient Landmarks . Thousands witnessed that funeral who thought it a strange tribute , "but tbey had never learned the sublime moral beauty of Masonic philosophy , of Masonic charity . Esto perpetua . —Masonic Advocate .

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