Freemasonry In Bengal, 1740—1813, &C.

. ^ 832 , numbered 284 , as presumed to be taken by orig'nftl 325 " Atholl , " and thus is now 234 , dating from 1801 , not 1773- Now , either the recital of the warrant of confirmation is wrong , or all our Calendars are wrong from

igl 5 . To discover which , I should like to know what ] icrht any of the earlier records throw on the subject , prior + o December 1813 , for according to our Registers , 292 ( in

1792 ) became 371 in 1814 , and died out in 1817 . I await particulars with much interest , and hope that some competent brother will find a solution , and that speedily , in time for Bro . Lane ' s new work . —Masonic Record of Western India .

Called Off From Labour.

CALLED OFF FROM LABOUR .

"TT 7 " E are at the close of the annual period of labour . YV and about to enter on the succeeding season of refreshment . Ten months of continuous work in the Craft prepares the brethren for the enjoyment of one or

two months of rest . The sweltering nights of July and August may be spent in more airy quarters than those a Masonic Lodge or Chapter affords , and to the majority of Freemasons , therefore , the announcement of one or two

months' refreshment comes with no unwelcome sound . It means , called off from labour , which , however pleasaut , will be the more enjoyed after its cessation for a brief space of time . It means a break in our usual Masonic

employment . It means a seasonable change , which must he for the better , since it rests and recuperates those faculties which have been habitually called into action . As men we recognise the utility of a season of midsummer

rest for the body and mind , and as Masons we may analogously profit by being called off from the Craft ' s customary labour . There is a just analogy between the refreshment which

follows labour at the meeting of a Masonic body , and the summer rest which comes from the closing over during the months of July and August . Among the Jews , on the great day of the Feast , at the beginning of the Christian

era , the Rabbis tell us that when water was drawn from the fountain of Siloam , and borne into the Temple , with the sound of the trumpet , "he who hath not seen the rejoicing on the drawing of this water hath seen no

rejoicing at all . " So he who has not seen Freemasons go from labour to refreshment , in the Lodge , Chapter or Comraandery , and from the continuous labour of ten months to the enjoyable refreshment afforded by a two

months vacation , has failed to see the Craft when it is happiest , when its members are most gleesome , and their fraternal feelings most unmistakably manifested . The gavel never falls with happier sound than it does at

the close of the leafy month of June , when in its own language it says , " closed until the next stated meeting in September . " The green doors of the year are thrown open to us , and we all step out into God's first Temple , amid the

foliage of nature , where we see around us the buttercups and daisies , poetically styled " splashes from the chariot wheels of the sun ; " where we breathe the perfume-laden air , and listen to tbe carol of birds , and perchance to the

music of the waters as they play over the rocks in some sequestered brook . In these June and July days nature is giving us " more light" materially than ever during the year . We may gain more light Masonically , also , if we will well use our time . Times of rest are not times of

waste . It is a pleasant time to read , to enjoy The Keystone , to do a little missionary work for it among the brethrenf ° r , if it has proved entertaining aud iustructive to you , it

may be the same to them . As the days are lengthened , both body and mind may thus be strengtened , and you be Prepared to take a higher place in the Craft during the ensuing winter , when St . John ' s Day rolls around again .

Brethren who fail , during this season of Refreshment , to : i ote and admire the temples of Wisdom . Strength and f'eauty which tho Grand Architect of the Universe is rearmo- fror , » 1 , 1 .- 11 . _ J-., „ ,. r , „ ., ! ., .. 1 .:.. J . T . _

o " w j \ v liuiw us— xuuuu j ^ itjuu , uuti oti-shos crowned with bloom , the grass as glossy as velvet , ifl'l to derive the best enjoyment from this season . In these Summer days we may realize more potently than at any lutl

" period ox the revolving year the Wisdom oi the Creator , the Strength of His laws , which govern the 1 Ppearance of reviving vegetation , and the beauty of forest , T | . neld , city and country , seaside and mountain , now w hile thostin shines brightest , the southern breezes blow

Called Off From Labour.

the balmiest , and human faces all around us manifest the happiest play of countenance . We are " called off " from vocation to avocation , from thinking of Masonic work to

enjoying Masonic rest , from contemplating self and man to contemplating Nature and God . That Masonic body which labours ten months is entitled to refreshment for two

months ; and yet there are times when it seems impossible to take such refreshment . Exigencies arise which seem to forbid a cessation of labour . There may be a continued request for the degrees , or an urgent demand for

advancement , and either of these justifies a Masonic body in not closingover . Duty before pleasure should always be our rule , and however much we might enjoy a midsummer

rest from Masonic labour , if that rest would be at the expense of the welfare of the Lodge , or to the detriment of the individual interest of some of the members who are

seeking advancement , it would be indulged in at too great a cost . The Masonic refreshment that refreshes is that which comes from general consent , and is not forced upon a bodv , when a large minority is opposed to it . We haveatteuded ,

as many of the readers of The Keystone no doubt have , most enjoyable Masonic meetings held during the months of July or August . When the weather is warmest sometimes the fraternal feelings are strongest . At all events not a

few Freemasons are ready to yield to the call of duty , and yon may sometimes judge as to who are the most assiduous , and perhaps self-sacrificing members of a Lodge , by noting those that are present at a meeting held during the " dog days . "

One thing let us never be " called off —from our ceaseless devotion to the highest interests of our Fraternity . Neither summer nor winter , labour nor refreshment , youth nor age should weaken Our attachment to Freemasonry .

Its principles are so pure , its membership so noble in character as well as strong in numbers , its past is so glorious , its present so prosperous and its future so promising , that it is worthy of our continuous admiration and our unflagging support . —Keystone .

We regret to have to record the death of Bro . William Mann P . M . 186 , which occurred on Sunday , the 18 th inst . at St . Leonards . It will be in the memory of our readers that Bro . Mann for many years occupied tha position of Secretary of the Industry Lodge . The funeral took place on Wednesday , the 21 st inst . *

•It is with extreme pleasure we hear that Bro . John Purrott , who was one of the earliest members of the Halsey Lodge , No . 1479 , and who , during the past few years , has risen to high rank in the Province of which he

is a •member , is fast recovering from his recent indisposition . With the characteristic bluntness of Bro . Purrott , he writes us that he has " left off the crutches . " We

trust he may never have occasion to bring them again into use , bat that he may enjoy continued good health for many years to come .

Ad00704

FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended in London or Country by Bro . G . A . HTJTTOU , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , "W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .

Ad00703

flipPRf^llSQ.fli^fiHIIHi!If215" A Weekly Record of Masonic Intelligence . Reports o United Grand Lod ^ o aro published with tho Spec i al Sanction of H . 'R . F . tho Prince- of Wales tho M . W . tho Grand Master of England . 'PUE FREEMASON'S CHRONICLE will be forwarded direc--1 . frc-m tho Otlice , Belvidere Works , Herme 3 Hill , Pentonville , N ., on receipt of Post Offices Order For the amount . Intending Snbcribera shonld forward their full Addresses to prevent mistakes . Post Office Orders to be made payable to W , W . MORGAN , at Pentou Street Office . Ctieqnea crossed " Loudon and County . " Tbe Terra 3 of Subscription ( payable in advance ) to THE FREE . MASON ' S CHKONICXR are—Twelve Months , post free ¦ - £ 0 13 6 Sis Months , ditto - - 0 7 0 Three Months ditto - 0 3 6 SCALE OF CHARGES FOR ADVERTISEMENTSPer Pago Jb' is 8 u Back Page £ 10 h ) 0 Births , Marriages » U ( 1 Deaths , la per line .