Loggia Italia, No. 2687.

Solomon— " Teach me Thy way , O Lord , and I will walk in Thy paths . " In gracious response to that desire of His creature man , God has provided three great Lights—in addition to the primal Light produced at the Divine command" Let there be light . " Those lights

arei . —The Light of Nature . 2 . —The Light of Conscience . 3 . —The Light of Revelation . The two first are visible to all men—' . he third to millions , and it still throws its healing rays over those abodes of mankind where men are still "sitting in darkness and the shadow of death . "

1 . —The Light of Nature . Now , what says an inspired scholar and teacher 18 centuries ago— " Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways ; nevertheless He left not Himself without witness , in that He did good , and gave us rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons , filling our hearts with food and gladness " —and what says a very different man , who , though a sceptic , was

one of the profoundest thinkers of modern times—I mean Hume , the great historian . He wrote thus— " Supposing there were a God who did not discover himself immediately to our senses , is it possible for Him to give stronger proofs of His existence than what appear on the whole face of Nature V A purpose , an intention , a design strikes everywhere the most stupid thinkers , and no man can be so hardened in absurd systems as at all times to reject it . "

It is impossible for any thoughtful man to go forth int } tite realm of Nature without coming to the conclusion—Some wise mind and hand must have made all these things , and must govern this kingdom that Ho created , while , with joyful lips and out of the abundance of the he _ » rt , the exclamation bursts forth— " All Thy works praise Thee , O God . " " He who bids us seek His face ,

Makes Nature handmaiden to grace , And lest our souls to earth too prone Should faint before they reach the throne , Tho sea beneath , the sky above , Hath formed as mirrors of His love ;

And every rock and flower nnd tree , Made vocal for eternity ; Where ' er we move or walk abroad , We see—we feel a present God—The very balm that sce ' nts the air ,

Breathes of a purer essence there , The bubbling runnels as they flow , Chant sweetest anthems soft and low , And every bird from bush and brake To praise the sylvan echoes wake .

To this I would add the irresistible logic of the royal Psalmist— " lie that made the eye , shall He not see , and lie that planted the ear , shall He not hear ? " II . And have we not the light of conscience . There is planted in the heart of all men this guiding light , it may be strong , or it may be weak , it may be * laid asleep , or made dim—it may even be defiled and calculated to mislead—but as it comes from the hand of God , it is very good . Our great dramatic poet has

said : It is conscience that makes cowards of us all . Yes , brethren , but it is only one other illustration of the well-known fact that the warmest friend , when badly treated , often becomes the deadliest enemy . Your Cicero has said in one of his grand orations : " Right reason is itself a law , congenial to the feelings of nature , diffused among all men , uniform , eternal , calling us imperiously to our duty and prohibiting every violation of it . Nor does it speak one language at

Rome and another at Athens , varying from place to place or time to time—but it addresses itself to all nations and to all ages ; deriving its authority from the Common Sovereign of the Universe and carrying home its sanctions to every heart , by the inevitable punishment which it inflicts on transgressors . " I have had brought to my notice a remarkable instance of the fact that one of the primal laws of God , written on the hearts & f man— " Whoso sheddeth man ' s blood by

him shall his blood be shed , " was executed about three months ago in the vast plains of the Gran Chaco of Paraguay , where the gallant leader of a band of Englishmen who are planted to civilise and to bless the savage Indians of that region was treacherously shot at by an Indian who had received peculiar kindness in order to cover his own dishonesty . Thc gallant leader , though badly wounded

by the arrow , providentally escaped death , but the ungrateful criminal was apprehended , tried , and executed by the Indians of the combined tribes , who were naturally burning with indignation at this deadly attack on their best friend . But III . The Great Architect has given us one more and one brighter light , as well as sent us One who proclaimed Himself—'' I am the Lighc of the world . "

The greater part of the Volume of thc Sacred Law has been handed down to us b y those remarkable custodians , the Jewish people , who to this day keep an accurate account of each sentence , each word , nay , each letter of thc Sacred Record , while the later portion is attested by the wise , the worthy , and the learned of 18 centuries , both portions forming that holy Volume which is the cornerstone of our Masonic Building .

In this Book of Sacred Constitutions Ihere is no point on which we cannot ^ e set right—if we consult it—in our hearts , in our homes , or in the world . Many have been the attempts to extinguish this glorious Light , but in vain . It lives uninjured by every attack—the lamp is placed on the top of a mountain and "cither the damps of time can dim its brightness , nor the blasts of persecution extinguish its glory , lt throws its trembling light around and the powers of darkness , who hate its beams , cannot hide them , because the hand that kindles -. Mill feeds the flame .

May these three lights ever show the way to happiness , harmony , and Heaven through the " Italia " Lodge ! What a glorious as well as natural title , brethren ,. you have chosen for the odge . Around it cluster some of the brightest historic memories of the mighty P-ut . tor the trumpet of Fame proclaims it tho land of song , of poetry , of art of classic lore , while the records of the nations have registered on undying ¦ Wets the names of Cicero , Horace , Virgil , Michael Angelo , Arioslo , Dante , and •>¦ Hundred others who swell the ranks of Italian genius vl llltllt

. . _ - — --. « . . » .... „ __ . _ -U . £ l _ . | IIU . J * wr , V ' orcanwe forget that in elder time your great ancestors dominated the ^ orid , when Claudiusissued his decree that" all that world should bc taxed , " while ltil ' ^ sava £ > inhabited a subject province under the C . csars and some were u captive through the streets of Imperial Rome ! Your " province" has now . P ;„;" j , '"' S'ty Empire on which " the Sun never Sets , " and which has

month many a long year t 0 cl , lim Ita | yas its trustv ally > : lntl il is but a few of R „ ! y ° ur sold 'Crs and ours stood shoulder to shoulder on the tented field and hi ¦ ' . ala "nited in the jane blessed object of puttingdown oppression Ringing in light and civilisation to those who live in cruel habitations . lastin „ ° i , " ^ ht 'ru celebntte a treaty of a still holier , moro peaceful , and more a « cn re tn 0 representatives of the two greatest Empires the world has ever of c ' onrn'VT II- ' " d regcn <; rated Britain , meet here to dedicate this Temple tions arp I -5 ¦ " ' W , 10 ! ic wc arc a » d Whom we seivc , a temple whose fouudashadowprl h W'f Brotherhood of Man and who-e sheltering roof is oversea D y the fatherhood ot God . I say then with all my heart , Floreat Italia !

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

Earl of Carnarvon Lodge , No . 211 . The installation meeting of this lodge was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-streer , on the 24 th ultimo . Among those present were Bros . G . W . Larter , W . M . ; E . W . Beard , S . W ., Master elect ; J . Rossdale , J . W . ; F . N . Hardinge , J . O . ; J . N . Frye , P . M ., Treas . ; Major T . C . Walls , P . M ., P . G . S . B ., Sec ; G . Wales , S . D . ; T . F . Strutt , J . D . ; P . Monson , P . M . ; J . Huish , P . M . ; S . H . Parkhouse , P . M . ; W . Wiltshire , T . Baragwaneth , R . Shaw , P . M . S , K . M . Prasade , and H . J . Lardner , P . M ., P . G . S . D . ( hon . member ) . Bro . Abrahams was a visitor .

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . E . W . Beard , S . W ., Master elect ( by dispensation ) , was duly and impressively installed as W . M . for the year ensuing hy the W . M ., assisted by Bros . Huish , P . M ., as S . W . ; S . H . Parkhouse , P . M ., as J . W . ; and H . J . Lardner , as D . C . The following appointments and investitures took place : Bros . J . Rossdale , S . W . ; T . Richards , J . W . ; F . N . Hardinge , M . O . ; G . Wales , S . O . ; T . F . Strutt , J . O . ; J . N . Frye , P . M ., Treas .: Major T . C . Walls , P . M ., Sec . ; W . Willshire , S . D . : T . Baragwaneth ,

J . D . ; G . A . Dowse , I . G . ; R . Shaw , P . M ., and M . K . Prosade , Stewards ; . and S . Ellis , Tyler . A Past Master ' s jewel was presented to Bro . G . W . Larter and a vote of thanks passed to him as Installing Master . The report of the Audit Committee—a highly satisfactory one—was received and adopted . The applications of Bros . R . Lawson , P . M ., P . G . S ., and J . C . Frye , P . M ., to be placed on the country list of members was unanimously acceded to . Apologies for non-attendance were received from Bros . Dr . II . VV . Kiallmark , I . P . M ., P . G . S . ; R . Lawson , P . M ., P . G . S . ; F . C . Frye , P . M . ; Dr . E . Pocock , P . M . ; and D . P . Cama , P . M . ( hon . members ) .

The lodge was then closed . A banquet was served , which reflected great credit on the caterers . Bro . H . J . Lardner responded on behalf of " The Grand Oflicers . " Having dealt with the subject toast , he interpolated a few remarks anent No . 211 . He said that few Mark lodges were in a higher state of prosperity . The W . M . was also to be congratulated in having a good staff of working oflicers , and he augured for him a most happy year of oflice . He felt highly honoured in having had an honorary membership of the lodge conferred upon him , and its members could rely upon his poor services at all

times . The I . P . M . gave the toast of " The W . M . " In submitting the toast , the speaker complimented the W . M . upon the mann " er in which he had discharged the minor duties of the lodge , and said that he should took forward with pleasure to the next meeting , when he hoped to see the W . M . advance his brother . The W . M ., in replying , said he was afraid that the previous speaker had spoken too highly of him . He was but a young Mason in Craft , Arch , and Mark , and therefore had not had the opportunities of working up the different rituals as many of those

brethren present . However , he was not wanting in application nor in zeal , and he hoped that at the expiration of his year of ollice the brethren would have no reason to regret electing him to the chair . "The Health of the Installing and Past Masters" followed . TheW . M . having spoken in warm terms of eulogy of Bro . Larter , the I . P . M ., and to whom he said a great deal of the recent success of thc lodge was due , paid a high compliment to the other Past Masters . He coupled the toast with thc names of Bros . Larter , Parkhouse , Monson , and Huish , who respectively responded .

Bro . Abrahams made a neat and humorous speech in replying to the toast of "The Visitors . " In giving the toast of "The Treasurer and Secret uy , " the W . M . spake at onsidcrable length . In Bro . Frye , thc Treasurer , hc said the lodge possessed a very genial and competent ollicer , whose endeavours to keep the lodire in a sound financial condition were beyond all praise . He alss spoke in very flittering terms of the Secretary .

This toast having been acknuvled ^ ed , " The Health of the Ofi : ers followed , and was responded to by Bro . J . R issdale , S . VV ., and others . The proceedings then terminated . During the evening an except ' unally good programme of music was presented . Miss Florence Venning charm : d her hearers by her contralto selections , Bro . Piul Mahlcndorjf displayed versatility in the roles of vocalist , composer , and pianist , and Mr . B . Patterson Parker created a furore by his clever ' cello solos . The entertainment wis provided by thc W . M ., and was in every way successful .

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

Mount Calvary Preceptory , D . This old preceptory met for the dispatch of business at the Inns of Court Hotel , Lincoln's Inn Fields , on the nth ultimo , when there were present , among others , Sir Knights Basil Stewart , E . P . ; H . Hills , P . E . P ., Pielate ; 1 . R . Carter , ist Constable ; O . Horst , Marshal ; Lieut .-Col . F . J . Stohwasser , P . E . P ., P . G . S . B ., Almoner ; Maj . T . C . Walls , P . E . P ., P . G . C . of Gds . ; F . VV . Driver , M . A ., P . E . P . j H . J . Urdner , P . E . P . ; George Graveley , P . K . P . ; II . Lindus , J . Haysom , and H . Schartau , Asst . Org . Sir Knights II . J . Adams and J . II . Hawkins were visitors .

The minutes of the previous preceptory having been read and confirmed , Comps . W . Fisher and Captain G . Carpenter were balloted for and duly admitted to the Order by the K . P ., whose working left but little to be desired . The sum of live guineas was voted to thc U . M . I , for Hoys , per Sir Knight Major Walls as Steward at the Centenary Festival . Apologies for non-attendance were received from Sir Knights L . Steele , P . E . P . ; the Rev . R . C . Fillingham . M . A ., P . E . P . ; T . Wood , P . E . P . ; C . Slater , P . E . P . ; 1 . Henwood Thomas , O . Barry , F . F . Bonney , J . 0 . ven , F . Egbert Roberts ,

Oig . ; K . Letchworth , P . E . P . ; R . Loveland Loveland , J . P ., Q . C 5 , & :. ; and others . The annual summer outing was arranged to take place at Hampton Court on VVednesday , June 2 < jth , and the banquet at the ancient and comfortable hustelrie , Yc Mitce . The alms having been collected , the preceptory was closed . The banquet that followed gave every satisfaction . Upon the removal of the cloth , the usual toasts received full justice . Sir Knight Lieut .-Col . Stohwasser , P . G . S . B ., responded oa betnlf of " The Great Piiory . "

"The Health of the E . P . " was given in able terms by Sir Knight Harris Hills , P . E . P . He congratulated Sir Knight B . Stewart upon the very able manner in which hc had installed the candidates that evening . The preceptory was a very old one and it was gratifying to see that its traditions for good working were kept up by its present members . He hoped to introduce a candidate when they nut again for work in October , and he had heard that there would be one if not two more proposed . Therefore , thc E . P . would have opportunities of giving another exhibition of his abilities .

The E . P . having replied , gave " The Installees , " to which toast Sir Knights Fisher and Capt . Carpenter replied . "The Health of the Visitors , " gave Sir Knights Adams and Hawkins an opportunity of saying some complimentary things about the working and hospitality of the preceptory . The toast of "The Past Preceptors" was acknowledged by Sir Knights Hills , Driver , Lardner , and Graveley , and that of "The Oflicers" by Sir Knights Carter , Horst , Haysom , and Schartau .

During the proceedings the instrumental , vocal , and dramatic selections of Sir Knights H . Schartau , J . II . Hawkins , and IL Hills , were greatly appreciated . Sir Knight F , W . Driver , among other excellent matter , read his poem on the Templar Degree which deserves to be more widely known .

TIIK ( J I-UI-. N hasgiven her patronage to a performance , which will take place at the Haymarket Theatre un thc afternoon of Thursday , May lyth , in aid of thc building fund of the Royal Schoul of Ait Netdlewoik , of which Princess Christian is President , when will be acted for the first time a little play written by Lady Bancroft , who on this occasion will sustain the principal character .