Bro. Keyser At Home.

BRO . KEYSER AT HOME .

A CCEPTING the fraternal invitation of Bro . Keyser , a distinguished memter of the Masonio body , the Officers and Brethren of the Beading and Newbury Lodges passed several hours most pleasantly at Aldermaston Court on Wednesday afternoon of last week . Tho majority of visitors from Reading drove over in brakes , but tho Newbury Brethren travelled by rail , the whole party reaching the stately residence in detachments between three and four o'clock . Brilliant weather favoured the outing , and the natural beauties of the picturesque and richly wooded domain were seen at their

best . Bro . Keyser gave his guests a hearty reception , and when they had all assembled beneath the shade of the wide spreading trees on the lawn overlooking the lake , the worthy owner proceeded to communicate to the visitors a mass of interesting information relating to the Manor of Aldermaston ( Alderman ' s Town ) , of which thero are authentic records dating back to the

time of Harold . The existence of a mansion on this commanding and delightful site is traceable to tho eleventh or twelfth century , and Bro . Keyser spoke of tho various families who successively held possession here down to the ownership of tho lato Mr . Iligford Duval Burr , whose son , Mr . Higford , sold the property to the present squire , who has materially enlarged and improved the mansion , and opened up new drives .

A gentleman of high attainments and refined taste , and also an accomp lished antiquarian , Bro . Keyser has judiciously utilised his knowledge of architecture and art in rendering his new home extremely beautiful and comfortable , and he has , withal , manifested much hospitality since his residence hero , and has shown the deepest interest in everything associated with the estate and its surroundings , realising to the fullest dtegree the truth

of the maxim that the holding of property imposes upon its possessor certain responsible duties as well as recognised rights . Bro . Keyser gave proof of this by freely intimating that after he had " got over " tho new works at the Court—which , by the bye , must have involved an expenditure of many thousands of pounds—he hopes to undertake the restoration ol the parish

church , which possesses some Norman carving , and examples of nearly all the later periods of architecture , rendering it an unusually interesting , although somewhat puzzling , object to antiquaries , the presence of whitewash and plaster making it difficult to define the original design , or trace out the subsequent additions and alterations .

Bro . Keyser ' s remarks upon the manor and mansion were supplemented with some observations on the early history of the placo by the Bev . J . M . Guilding , who complimented Bro . Keyser upon the graphic way in which he had presented the facts . Bro . Keyser also conducted the party through the principal rooms of the house , pointing out the additions and alterations that had been effected .

After tea had been served , Bro . Keyser led the way through some of the wildest and most romantic portions of the park , halting to point out several of the venerable oaks which had braved the storms of a thousand years . The " snakery " which existed in the late Mr . Burr ' s time has disappeared , but the attractions of the park remain intact , and ono and all of the visitors were

charmed with the sylvan scenery , the stroll along the broad avenues , through the mossy yew tree walks , tbe curiously wooded dells , or along the banks of the lakes . Deer , disturbed by the approach of strangers , bounded away to their secluded retreats , and countless rabbits disappeared from view almost as soon as they were seen .

The Masons thoroughly enjoyed the outing , and tendered their warmest thanks to their host . Bro . W . J . Maurice W . M ., speaking on behalf of the Union Lodge , observed that it was a matter for congratulation that such a splendid domain had passed into the possession of a gentleman who had already shown how much he appreciated it . Bro . the Bev . J . M . Guilding W . M . of the Greyfriars Lodge , Brother A . S . Cooper W . M . of the Kendrick

Lodge , and Brother S . Knight P . M . of the Lodge of Hope , also added a few words of thanks , and Bro . Keyser , in reply , said he regarded it as a privilege to have become the owner of such a beautiful estate in the Royal County of Berks , and it had given him much pleasure to receive the Brethren of the Masonic Lodges at Reading and Newbury , in two of which he had the honour of holding high office . — " Reading Mercury . "

Freemasonry In Great Britain.

FREEMASONRY IN GREAT BRITAIN .

A CORRESPONDENT writes : —I am glad to see by your notice of the anti-Masonic Congress that Catholics in Britain as well as abroad are beginning to wake up to the mischief which surrounds them . Masonry in this country is by no means the harmless thing people imagine . For many years I have caiefully studied all the anti-Masonic works published , from Abbe Barruel up to the July issue of " La Revue Mensuelle , " and that of Miss Diana Vaughan , inclusive of those of Leo Taxil and Dr . Charles Hacke ( Dr .

Bataille ) , and am a correspondent of their publishers in Paris . Granted that the great mass of Masons in England and Scotland are what the French call " gogos , " i . e ., mere tools , there are in every largo town certain "Arrieres Loges et Triangles " in direct communication with Charleston and Rome , and the exact calibre and utility of even every " gogo " is well known . All the agitation in England for secular education , land and labour agitation ,

strikes , and all social and Anarchist disturbances are distinctly got up by tho secret heads of Freemasonry . All the leading professors of Materialism in our colleges , all our leading Parliamentary democrats and Freethinkers aro far up in Masonry , which is working for a terrible social revolution in England and Scotland . It is all vory fine to say , " Oh , but Royalty and aristocracy is Masonic . " Ah 1 poor " gogos 1 " if they only knew the "

underneath I " I am not romancing in telling you that Lucifer himself is the admitted head and director of Masonry . He has his vicar on earth with whom he visibly held conference in the Sanctum Regnum at Charleston , South Carolina , and which is now transferred to Rome . Diabolic evocations are quite a usual thing in the Triangles of the Arriere Loges , all over the World , from Charleston to China , and . if I am not mistakenin manv nf tho

, large towns in Britain , or at least there are those there who have assisted at them when visiting elsewhere . In proportion to its population Scotland is , perhaps , the most Masonic country on earth . Presbyterianism , being a revolt against all authority , lends itself especially to Masonry , to say nothing of more or less true traditions of Masonry , and " Le Itite Ecossais " in connection . No one there can get on really well in trade unless a Mason . I suggest that England and Scotland join thc anti-Masonic Congress . Full

particulars are given in the last July number of the " Revue Mensuelle , " and by Miss Vaughan . The English Catholic Press will probably receive an invitation , and information , direct from Paris . My own communications being on press matters , have been to MM . Delliomme et Briquet , 83 Rue de Rennes , but I see the namo of M . Varaigne , 60 Rue Lanriston , Paris , in the Conference notice . Miss Vaughan ' s agent is M . A . Pierrett , 37 Rue Etienne-Marcel , Paris . — " Catholic Times . "

Masonic Free-Will

MASONIC FREE-WILL

IT is perhaps unnecessary to urge a single argument , in addition to what has already been adduced , to prove the beauty and excellence of our Sublime Institution ; but we cannot refrain from sa ) ing to thoso who are not members , of the Fraternity , and especially to those who , in their ignorance , have traduced the Masonic Order , that there is not a single

advance made—no step taken by the noviciate in its mysteries , but must , according to the principles of Masonry , be of his own free-will . This principle is inherent in tho laws , is one of the landmarks of the Institution , which the candidate for the degrees is made acquainted with , prior to his entrance . And connected with this landmark is a privilege that all

candidates possess , of stopping at any stage they have arrived at ; it being altogether a matter of choice with them to proceed . Masonry uses no compulsory means to cause the candidate to advance in the Order . And it is right that he should enjoy this privilege ; for did he see , or was he obliged to conform to any rite or ceremony that was opposed to his views of religion or morality ,

he would bo violating his conscience if ho proceeded . Masonic degrees are usually conferred at stated intervals of time , and the candidate has ample opportunity for reflection ; and were ho to seo anything in the progress he had already made , that he conceived to be inconsistent with the duty he owed to his God , his country , or his fellowman , it would be his duty , as it is

his right , to remain away and make no further progress . This right being accorded to all , and understood by tho candidate , is surely one of the strongest evidences that Masonry is all that its friends claim for it . Wero it

otherwise , the great and the good of all ages , who have not only been the ornaments but the patrons of the Institution , and who have delighted in their connection with the Craft , would not have given their countenance to , or aided in the teaching of its principles to others . —" Keystone . "

The Brethren of the Upton Lodge , No . 1227 , are looking forward to their Installation meeting , to be held on Thursday , 12 th prox ., at the Great Eastern Hotel , Bishopsgate Street ,

where the regular meetings of the Lodge are held on the , second Thurdays of September , November , January , March , May and July . We hope to have the pleasure of meeting some of our old friends on the occasion , and give a report of the proceedings .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Dumfriesshire has been asked to lay the foundation-stone of the new academy in Dumfries , and 21 st September has been fixed for the ceremony

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GAIETYRESTAURANT, STttJL . JSnD . LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)—At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and RESTAURANT ( on 1 st floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in the GRILL ROOM . AFTERNOON TEAConsisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter , Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , at 1 / - per head ; served from 4 till 6 in RESTAURANT ( 1 st floor ) . DINNERS IN RESTAURANTFrom 5-30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 6 / - ) and a la Carte . Smoking after 7-45 . AMERICANBAR. THE GRILL ROOM is open till Midnight . PRIVATE DIMM EOOMS FOE LAEGE AUD SMALL PAETIES ,