Sketches Of Masonic Character. No. Xi.

SKETCHES OF MASONIC CHARACTER . No . XI .

Bro . Tuppcr , of the Loelge " Xerxes , " is one of our best known Masons , his name and his opinions arc often before the public , and we often read with pleasure his speeches , and pay some heed to his opinions . Some of us may think him a little too dogmatic , others a little too fond of " hearing his own voice , " but we are not among those BRO , TUPPER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN .

who altogether deprecate or disappove of the mortal who docs not object to self-assertion . Self-assertion within due bounds anel subservient to first principles , both of teaching and action , of needful morals and proper responsibility , is not without its use , nay , its necessity in the conscious life and constant struggles of our race . There are " selfasscrtors" anel " self-asscrtors , " and if some no doubt

do a gooel and pushing business in the great " Vanity Fair " of life , trading on egotism and inflated cynicism and pompous pretention , there are those who are meant to be the leaders of men as well as Masons , in whom selfassertion is but the effect of '" geist , " of power , and of intellectual and spiritual perception . If Bro . Tupper spcaks often , he always speaks well . If we see his worels

constantly reported , his words after all , appear to be something more than mere words—to have a message in them for somebody , to be worth listening to and worth recording . We have often to hear the speeches , anel reael the utterances of those who certainly have no message to convey , whose " outcome is neither affecting nor effective , and who seem to speak not because

they have anything really to say , but because either theirs is thc " gift of the gab , gallopin " or they like to appear in print . Now Bro . Tupper may fairly claim an audience when he speaks , alike for what he says and what he suggests , anil , if wc may so put it , for what he elocs not say , and we can always listen to him with gratification , anel not unfrequently with improvement , which is a good

deal to assert m this age of mouthing windbags and cheeky impostors . Bro . Tupper gave a most interesting lecture to the "Xerxes" Lodge , on his return from the Mediterranean . What a pity we have not more lectures in lodge * ! He had been to Oporto and Lisbon , had admired the Tagus and Be ' cm , and Cintra , had drank " Colhares , " with

satisfaction , and admired thc Aqueduct , and White Horse Square . He says , and we agree with him , that the Tagus is one of the finest sights in the world . He hael looked into white-walled Cadiz , and had seen Seville and Xcrcs , remembering the old Spanish proverb , " Quien no ha vista Sevilla No ha vista Maravilla . "

He had loitered happily at old " Gib . " Had seen the monkies and fortifications , and gone through the galleries and St . Michael's Cave , had admired the wondrous beauties of the bay , and had visited Algeciraz , St . Roque thc Cork Wood Castellar , and Ronda . And he had also , crossed over to the other side and luo ' . cd in at Ceuta , Tangiers , Pigeon Island , and had even gone up to Tetuan , and

dropped down the " deep blue sea" in the French boat , touching at Malaga , Barcelona , Valencia , anel landing at Marseilles :. He thus had a glimpse of the " tideless sea " and realised its beauties , and its glories , its greatness , and its souvenirs , and he often talks over his voyage with pleasure , and quotes Lord Byron ' s lines with emphasis , which wc will not do .

And now that he expatiates upon his performance , or dwells on the strange sights he has seen , do not let us consider him either a bore or a coxcomb . Some of us rather affect to dislike outlandish ways , anel countries , and lingo , and are inclined to sneer at those who have hail the good fortune to see a great deal of the world , and of man . Freemasonry is a Cosmopolitan and liberal

brotherhood of men , who take kinelly and enlarged views of the world and things . Nothing so dwarfs its views or throws doubt on its reality as the narrow intole ant dogmaiism of the ignorant or pig-headed . But acquaintance with other countries corrects many prejudices and dissipates many misunderstandings . For it teaches us , like our Cosmopolitan

Fraternity , to look over or above this or tl at line of demarcation , this or that exclusive boundary , to regard every son of Adam as a brother of the dust , to be on all occasions courteous and forbearing , considerate and sympathic , friendly anil fraternal , to all one excellent brotherhood , to the sons and daughters of our Common race .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . G . W . WHEELER . Very general regret will be felt throughout the Province of Glasgow at the announcement of the death of so wellknown anel active a brother as George William Wheeler , which took place on Friday 26 th ult ., within his own house in RenGcld-street . Bro . Wheeler , who was a

native of London , came to Glasgow about a dozen years ago . He was not then a Mason , but soon after settling "ere was initiated into the order in Lodge Glasgow Thistle and Rote , No . 53 . Thereafter , he advanced into the higher orders of Masonry , and attaching himself to Royal Arch Chapter , No . 73 , Caledonian ot Unity , was for three years First Principal of the Chapter . He was also at the "me of his death Provincial Grand Scribe N . of

Lanarkshire . For a short perioel after having taken up his resith v here ' he returne ( ' England , and , with loyalty to the Nos . of his mother lodge and chapter , he sought out Lod ge 73 and Chapter 73 of the English constitution , and got affiliated to both—so that , as he was wont to say , he p . " 73 all over . " By the death of Bro . Wheeler , the rovince of Glasgow has lost an able , energetic worker , no , in lodge or chapter was , moreover , always most "ling to lend his experienced assistance as a worker .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"Later Lyrics . " By Bro . J . E . ? CARPENTER , Ph . D . London , Bro . Charles E . Hawkesley , 1878 . In our impression of the 5 th May , we intimated to our readers , that thc well-known author of " What arc the Wild Waves Saying ? " and hundretls of other popular songs , had in the press a new volume of his poems , which will incluele a series of " Songs for Freemasons . "

The book is in our hands , and we are heartily pleased with it . Dr . Carpenter , favourably known by his former works , by his fine collection of Penny Reaelings , and many other publications for years past , has been a great favourite . The volume , as the title indicates , contains the "Later Lyrics " of the poet , songs set to music , which in that shape acquired great popularity . Dr . Carpenter ' s style is

always easy , his remarkable smoothness for versification renders his compositions peculiarly adapted for vocalisation . "Songs for Freemasons , " belong to the Author ' s Earlier Lyrics , and by desire are here repeated . We have often heard them sung at the banqueting boatd ; they comprise "The Queen and the Craft , " "Masonic Anthem , " " Symbol and Sign , " a new version of " Thc Entered

Apprentice , " " The Junior Wardens Song , " and many others . As space docs not allow us to extend our notice , we give in full the following song , which breathes the true feeling of Masonry , and recommend its perusal by the younger brethren in the Craft , as it emanates from a brother who has adorned the Order , and is known as an upright Shd just man :

THE TRUTHS OF MASONRV . When first I hail'd the Sacred Craft , I knew no cheering ray , To guide me through life ' s mazy path , Or warn me on my way ; A pilgrim through the realm of gloom With careless steps I passed , And little cared I for my doom , Till light was o ' er me cast .

I stood alone , and friendless there , And helpless as a child , A wanderer on an alien shore , Forsaken and reviled . A lonely lot I often knew , But lonelier felt I then , Till found I Masons , brothers , too ,

And found those brothers—men r The mystic veil was drawn asieie , And to my view , display'd The symbols that true Mason ' s guide , That precepts wise pervade . Anel never since that blessed dawn , Of sacred light to . me , Did e ' er I seek to slight or scorn , The truths of Masonry .

" Illustrated Catalogue of Dutch Flower Roots , " Daniels Brothers , Norwich . This is a very interesting and indceel charming catalogue for all who love flowers and have a taste for gardening , than which no greater enjoyment or pleasant amusement can exist . For there is something in the love of flowers both harmonizing and elevating , the reason being

perhaps that the more we come in contact with Nature the more if we are sensible persons , we are attracted to Nature ' s God . Indeed the whole groundwork anil handiwork of Nature ever seems to be witnessess of T . G . A .. O . T . U . Flowers beautiful in themselves have always a voice in them which it is good for us all to listen to and to catch . Therefore we always are pleased to see and stuely such illustrated catalogues as those of Daniels Brothers , whose

reputation stands properly so high , and whose roots anel seeds and trees give , as we know , so much satisfaction to all who go to th . m for garden stock , to please their garelener or gratify themselves . Nothing so adorns the outside of a house as flowers , and nothing really , with moeleration , is more graceful or healthy within , than those collections of floral grace , which are so fashionable , and we must add , so decorative and so welcome .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The.Isle Of Wight.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE . ISLE OF WIGHT .

The following resolutions have been adopted by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on thc initiation of candidates into Masonry : — ist—That this Provincial Grand Lodge recommends all

the lodges 111 the Province to unite in enforcing more stringent rules as to the admission of candidates in the Masonic Oreier . 2 nel—That every Master and his Warelens be requested to make themselves acquainted , by private enemiry , with the moral qualities and social position of every candidate , and whether he has ever been proposed in any other

Lodge . 3 rd—That every brother of each lodge be requested not to propose for initiation a candidate residing at a distance from the place in which the lodge is held , until the most searching enquiries have been made and satisfactory reasons given why he was not proposed in a lodge in the town in which he resides , or one nearer to his place of residence .

Constitutions of the Ancient Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , containing the Charges , Regulations , E . A . Song , & c . A copy should be in the possession of every brother . It may be obtained for 2 S . at the office of the Freemason , or will be sent post free to any part of the United Kingdom on receipt of twenty-five penny . stamps . Address , Publisher , 198 , Fleet-street , London . —ADVT .

Notes On Art, &C.

NOTES ON ART , & c .

The Facade of the Duomo at Florence , so long left unfinished , is at length likely to be completeel , and the Pope has duly blessed the designs . His Holiness has given a beautiful mosaic of Raphael ' s " Madonna di Foligno " ( now in the Vatican ) , to be placed in the Duomo .

Season Ticket Holders at the Pans Exhibition , following the fashion of the Philadelphians last year , will all have to paste a photograph on their vouchers , a duplicate photograph being pasteil in the book whence the voucher was withdrawn . The price of the season-ticket will be £ 4 . The Companion Obelisk to Cleopatra ' s Needle has been offered by the Khedive , says the New York World

to thc American nation , and an English firm have yrnposed to undertake the transit operations for £ 20 oao . American engineers , however , arc anxious to manage the transport themselves , as they put in a plea for home talent . A Second International Exhibition is to be held at Capetown next April , in consequence of the great success oi the first .

The Annual Exhibition of Drawings executed by the Students of the Female School of Art , Queen Seiuare , was held at the School on ( Friday ) and Saturday week . ART IN HOSPITALS . —Bro . Dr . Lawrence Hamilton , whose praiseworthy efforts to promote cheei fulness in hospital wards by means of numerous bright pictures we have often mentioned , has designed a special picture-frame

for hospitals , noticeable alike fcr cheapness and for hygienic advantages . Dr . Hamilton ' s frame is constructed of some metal such as tin , has a smooth surface , and is japanned black , and thus being non-absorbent can be cleaned by soap and water , carbolic acid , or baked in a disinfecting oven without sustrining the slightest injury . It is reversible , being made to contain two pictures , not

glass-covered but varnished , one on each side of a central plate , a plan which not only abolishes the absorbent backs of porous wood and brown paper , but enables the picture to be varied at will . If each frame were reversed regularly once a week it would thus exhibit two pictures at the cost of one , and would furnish a proof that the frames had been properly dusted . Dr . Hamilton also calls attention to the usual practice of hanging pictures in private houses , by

tilting the upper edge forward , and so forming an " aeriel elust-bin , ' which remains undisturbed for months . His frames would hang flat to thc wall , and would also be procurable at the moderate rate of 4 s . for a frame measuring 26 in . by 20 in . CLEOPATRA ' NEEDLE . —A letter from Lloyd ' s Agent at Corunna , dated the 18 th inst ., states that the British Vice-Consul at Ferrol has taken charge of the Cleopatr 1 Obelisk .

SIR J OSEPH HOOKER . —Sir Joseph Hooker returned in excellent health from his three months' tiavel in the United States , where his reception by the leading scientific men in all parts of the country left nothing to be desired . From thc results of his travel may be expected further contrioutions to our knowledge of the physiology of plants . Sir J . Hooker is , we believe , of opinion that

the key to the botany of thc United States is to be found in Colorado . —Aihenceum . KING' COLLEGE LONDON . —The open Science Scholarship of £ 100 given by the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers has beenawareled to Mr . Edgar Crookshank , of the University College . THE LIVERPOOL MUSEUM . —The return of the number of visitors to the Derby Museum in connexion with

the Liverpool Free Library shows a considerable falling off for the half-year just completed . The visitors this halfyear ( 105 days ; numbered 282 , 715 , against 313 , 036 in tbe corresponding 108 days of the previous year . The curator , in his report to thc trustees , attributes this decrease to the influence o' unfavourable weather and depression of trade , the visitors during thc summer months consisting largely of excursionists visiting Liverpool , and these having been unusually few this year .

The Bedford And Hall Moons.

THE BEDFORD AND HALL MOONS .

We find that the suggestion which we noticed in our last issue that the Moons of Mars ( discoved in August last ) should bear the name of Bro . Bedford as well as that of Professor Hall ( thc discoverer ) , is fully supported by precedents . The fact of Dr . Bedfcrd having pointed these bodies out

twenty-three years bef'ire they were found , would be a sufficient reason , as argued in . our last issue , for naming them the Bedford and Hall Moons , and sodiviefethc honour of thc discovery between England and America . But we may note that the most distant known planets in our system is called the Adam ' s and le Verrier planet ; both these astronomers having predicted its discovery , although

formerly , by Dr . Galle of Berlin . Bode , also of Berlin , predicted the discovery of the planets since found between Mars and Jupiter , his philosophic reason for their existence being named Bode ' s law . The planet discovered by Sir William Herschel is called after his name . Comets also bear the names of their discoverers , as do the minor planets .

Among the pocket-books and diaries for the coming year which have already appeared may be mentioned the " Cosmopolitan Masonic Cale-dar . " As a book of reference for members of the Masonic bodies , it will be found exceedingly useful and convenient . The contents include : —A Masonic Diary , Lists of Lodges ,

Chapters , K . T . Encampments , Conclaves and Grand Councils , and full particulars of every Grand Masonic body throughout the globe . Such a book should be in the hands of every Freemason . Mr . George Kenning , of 198 , Fleet-street , is the London Publisher . —Christian World , —Price post free 2 s . ad . —Advt .