The Centenary Of Masonry In Trinidad

Rev . Dr . Hartley , and W . J . Hamilton . After the brethren had seated , and quiet had been obtained in the Cathedral , which was crowded with spectators in that portion of it which was allotted to the public , the Bishop , preceded by Bro . Canon Doorly , who acted as his Chaplain , entered the chancel , followed by Bros , the Very Rev . the Dean , Canon Doughlin , Revs . De la Rosa , Hartley , and Hamilton , a voluntary being performed upon the organ by Bro . J . H . Collens . The Dean read the prayers for the evening . The special

psalms were the 122 and 125 , Canon Doorly read the lesson appointed for the service beginning from the 13 th verse of the Second Chapter of the Epistle of St . Paul to the Ephesians . After the evensong had been concluded his lordship the Bishop delivered a most interesting address , the purport of which we subjoin . A collection was taken up at the close of the address while Hymn 379 was sung , and this ended , the Benediction was pronounced . There is no doubt that had the day and hour appointed been more suitable there would have been a larger attendance of the Craft to celebrate an

event which none of them will ever see again ; but , at the same time , the whole proceedings were carried out without any hitch , and reflects credit upon those who had the conduct of affairs . One incident in the proceedings which we cannot fail to make mention of , and it is this . The venerable Bro . Conrad Stollmeyer , who could not join the procession on foot , followed it in his carriage , and was gently helped both in and out of the church by some of his brother Masons . From the time the procession started from the Temple until its return from the Cathedral , guns were at intervals discharged from the grounds of Mount Moriah .

The BISHOP preached a powerful and impressive sermon from the text" Other foundation can no man lay than in Jesus Christ our Lord " / ' addressing the congregation from the Archdeacon ' s stall . He said when they went back into the far-off days of the Craft they got into a very fairyland of romance . No man could tell them how early was the date of the origin of the Craft . No man could tell them perhaps for centuries after that origin the methods and procedure adopted by those who were the forbears of the Masons of to-day . Much they

knew of fable and romance gathered itself around a great deal of what was substantial and true to those far-off days , but as they came farther on in the history of the world they floundered no longer in fable or romance , but were brought face to face with a history that had scarcely a parallel in the world for greatness of work and definition of life . So far as they were able to tell with exact certainty the work of the Craft as practical builders and architects first took a really concrete form in the early part of the loth century . At that time those who gathered themselves into

lodges , went forth armed with Papal Bull and high ecclesiastical authority to give their services to people in need of them and their services almost in every case were dedicated to the building of churches . That really was the object and aim of Masonry , and many churches were still standing monuments of their noble work and devoted life . Of these the Bishop instanced the Chapels of Kilwinning and York , the great Cathedrals of St . Paul , Strassburg , and Cologne as built for the most part by Freemasons . But as time went on it was found to be a good

thing to bring princes and nobles and persons of great influence into the Society that up to that time had been operative masons and by and by these persons gradually took away from Masonry its material and operative work and brought about the condition of things they now found , and Masonry to-day had left the material and operative work of the erection of buildings of wood and stone and now dedicated itself to the moral work of the building up of human life . British Masonry had essentially the two great characteristics of religion and philanthropy .

He pointed out this ran through every word addressed to them when they took their Degrees . So while the times had removed from Masonry the work ot practical architecture they had tried more and more to spread abroad the construction of the private life according to the text " Other foundation can no man lay than in Jesus Christ our Lord , " There were certain laws defined by Ruskin as the canons of ecclesiastical architecture " sacrifice , truth , power , beauty , life , memory , and obedience , " and the Bishop proceeded to show how these were no

less the true canons of the philanthropic Masonry of the present day . In conclusion he said he had spoken of laws which were to a great extent ideal . Masons were but men and men in this world as a rule fell short of the heights they tried to climb , the ideals they strivedto fulfil . But let them not faint nor fail even if they could not reach the higher heights ; let them not be faithless or renegade even if they found themselves in this world too miserable and weak to fulfil the ideals set before them . Let them at any rate show some outward manifestation

of trying to reach these ideals . British Masonry had always put these principles before it . Elsewhere , schism had crept in and as all knew not many years ago the lodge of England broke from the Orient of France , and he understood that a similar action was to be taken for the same reason by British Masonry against that of Mexico . But whatever betide Masonry in other lands and among other races let them remember their strength , their dignity , their power had been drawn from their foundation of true religion .

The following prayer , composed by Bro . Rev . Dr . Hartley , was read in tho lodge room prior to proceeding to the service at the Cathedral : " Almighty God , Thou Great and Grand Architect of the Universe , Who alone understandest the mysteries of time and eternity , we bend at this time before Thine awful Throne with humble , grateful , and reverent heart , and we beseech Thee of Thy Divine Mercy to grant us Thy help without which it is impossible for man to approach Thy Holy Presence with acceptance . We have met to begin the celebration of

this the centenary of this lodge . With Thee a thousand years are as a day , but a hundred years to man is a long period—so long that few men live for such a lengthened period , and of the founders of this lodge , the one who remained last amongst us died many years ago . Almighty God , we who have replaced those founders , and now carry on the great work by them begun , offer up to Thee our prayer of thanks and praise for Thine exceeding mercy and goodness in so far blessing this lodge as to enable it to celebrate its centenary . For the prosperity

that has attended it in the past , and the smiling future which is now opening before it . Help us , we pray Thee , to celebrate this great day in a worthy manner . Go with us at every step we take . Be with us at the service we are now proceeding to hold in Trinity Cathedral . Help the celebrants there to officiate and to speak in the true spirit , and help us to assist and to listen in all humility , earnestness , and devotion . Be with us in lodge , and at the banquet this evening , and grant that inspired , guided , and sustained by Thee , this whole day ' s

celebration may be accepted by Thee as an offering of sweet savour , showing forth 1 hine honour and glory , and calling down Thy blessing upon all who take part in it . Bless us , we pray Thee , and all who belong to us . Bless the souls of our departed brethren , especially the founders of this lodge . Have mercy upon and bless all absent brethren , especially those who are in want , suffering , and peril . Bless the cause of Freemasonry , and help Freemasons to he so in thought and deed , and not in name only . And now , Lord God Almighty , Most High and Most Merciful , tc Thee we humbly ascribe power , honour , and glory , world without end . —Amen . "

Christmas Observance.

CHRISTMAS OBSERVANCE .

I have to-day heard from my dear friend and brother , Stephen Berry , Grand Secretary and Recorder ot Maine , with respect to ths Knight Templar Christmas Observance , and I have at once communicated with the Great Vice-Chancellor ( Bro . C . F . -Matier , K . C . T . ) to lay the matter befon

Christmas Observance.

the Supreme Grand Master ( the Earl of Euston , G . C . T . ) , who last year wa pleased to order a most fraternal response . Bro . Berry tells me the toast on Monday , the day after Christmas Day , 1 S 9 S , at 5 . 0 p . m . Gi'ceniaich Time is to

be" To our Most Eminent Grand Master , Reuben Hedley Lloyd , who Rules the Templar Host from Point Barrow to Porto Rico , from the Passamaqnoddy to the Philippines . " The Response to some 100 , 000 Knights Templars by the Grand Master of the United States of America and its Possessions

is" A Host whose Armor is Truth , whose Watchword is Brotherly Love , whose Mission is Peace , whose Purpose , Moral and Intellectual development , must in time capture the World . " I take it that never in the history of Masonic Knight Templary will the members of the Order in Great Britain and Ireland participate so heartily and sincerely as during the coming Christmas when they thus greet our dear American Fratres . W . J . HUGHAN . Torquay , November 20 th .

The Shepherd And The Sheep.

THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEP .

An aged pair had lost their child , Their only hope and joy . For Death spares neither young nor old , He comes but to destroy . Great was their grief , yet while they mourned , God ' s word no comfort brought , To them unknown Religions truth , Its soothing grace unsought .

VV ith heavy hearts , uncheered by hope , They followed to the tomb Their little flowret , cropped by Death , 'Ere it attained its bloom ; And whilst the grave was closing in , On all they loved on Earth , Ah 1 then , indeed , they would have found Religion ' s priceless worth .

With eye of Faith , they could not see Their child in Heaven received , They only mourned his loss on Earth , Only for that they grieved . The village pastor kindly spoke ,

And tried to soothe their grief ; In vain his words , they idly fell , And brought them no relief .

The aged father wildly cried" Oh 1 urge me not to pray ; Will Heaven restore my cfild to life , Thus snatched by Death away ? If God is Love , then not to me

Did God His goodness show ; Else , why inflict this sore distress , And deal this cruel blow ? "

Calmly the Man of God replied" Attend , and you shall hear ; Oft in the ways of Providence Much Mercy will appear ; Weak , erring mortals , as we are , Oh I let us not repine ; In all His acts , God goodness shows , In all His Love Divine I

"Though aged , ye have never known Religion ' s pure delight ; The sinful lives ye both have led Were hateful in His sight ; Careless yourselves , ye would have led Your boy from Heaven astray ; But God was pleased to call him hence . To point you out the way .

" A shepherd once , with careful hands , Made for his sheep a fold , Well stored with food and pasture sweet , Protected from the cold ; But though with kindly words he called , 'Twas all of no avail , Though wide the gate , they enter not , Nor words nor force prevail .

" At length , perceiving that in vain Were all the means he tried , He , from a sheep , removed the lamb Reposing by her side . Instinctive love o ' ercame her fears , She followed , and behold ! j The flock by her example led , Now enter in the fold .

" Christ is the Shepherd ! Heaven the Fold t Your boy the lamb within , Oh ! follow , then , where He has led , And enter quickly in . The gate is open , God invites , His love is fully shown , Your child from earth has been removed

To make you both His Own ! " F . W . DRIVER , M . A . ? ¦' u n IJ ^ £ RTHUR E LLIS completes next week lnis peibi of service as Equerry to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and Bro . Major-General Sir Stanley Clarke becomes senior Equerry . Sir Arthur Ellis will afterwards enter upon his new duties as Sergeant-* at-Arms of the House of Lords ,