Ernest And Falk.

ence of privileges from kings and princes : to use the esteem and the power thereby contained for the oppression of the Brethren of another

observance than that in which it is so desired to rest the whole essence of the matter . Should this endure in the long run , how willingly should I be found a false prophet !

ERNEST . Well then ! How is if to be : Ihe state does not now proceed in the same way . And to that be it added that among the persons ordaining the laws , or are its executive , even

now are many Freemasons . FALK . Good ! If therefore they have nothing to fear from the State , what think you that such a constitution may have of influence on

themselves ? Do they not plainly get back to the very issue whence they wish to emerge ? Would they not cease to be what they wish to be ? I know not , if you quite understand

nic—ERNEST . Proceed with your argument . FALK . Certainly ! It is time—nothing is eternal ! Perhaps this is the very way that prudence has foreseen—to put an end to the whole

present scheme of Masonry . ERNEST . Scheme of Masonry ? What do you mean by that ? Scheme :

FALK . Well —scheme- -revelation —clothing . ERNEST . 1 do not as yet know — FALK . YOU surely do not believe that Fret masons have always played at Freemasonry ?

ERNEST . \\ hat IS that ? Freemasons have not always played at Freemasonry - ? FALK . In other words ! Do you conceive that that which is now Freemasonry- —has always

been Freemasonry ? But see , it is past dinner time . My guests arc already arrived . You will remain ?

ERNEST . 1 did not intend to do so—hut now 1 must . For I long for a double refreshment . FVI . K , But at tabic , I beg of you , not a word

Consecration Of St. Hubert Lodge, Ac. 1373, At Andover, Hants.

CONSECRATION of ST . HUBERT LODGE , Ac . 1373 , AT ANDOVER , HANTS .

The Right Worslnplul Bro . W . \ V . B . Beach , AI . P ., Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , assisted by Bro . Thomas Best , as Acting Deputy Prov . Grand

Master , on Saturday , the 26 th ult ., consecrated and constituted at Andover the St . Hubert Lodge , No . 1373 , under the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of England , with Bro . ) . Rankin Stebbin-g ,

Deputy Prov . Grand Master ol Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , and Past Grand Deacon ol England , as the first Worshipful Master .

Between fifty and sixty brethren were present from Andover , Portsmouth , Southampton , and Winchester .

In the course of the ceremony , which was of the most impressive character , the Prov . Grand Master addressed the brethren , drawing attention to the purposes for which Freemasonry was

designed , and the important objects it lias fulfilled . Having alluded to tlie antiquity of the science , to its perpetuation through many ages , and to the works of the Craft still left to us in the

principal civil and ecclesiastical buildings of Europe , the Prov . Grand Alaster said the brethren must have maintained order , or they could not have brought these buildings to the perfection they exhibited . In modern times , whilst their prin-

Consecration Of St. Hubert Lodge, Ac. 1373, At Andover, Hants.

ciples were cherished , there had been introduced a system of morality , founded upon the spirit displayed in these works of our forefathers , and of all the countries now practising Freemasonry he

thought it might safely be said that 111 the estimation of the world none had attained greater success than we in England , nor had the art suffered decadence during the thousand years it was

known to have existed amongst us . He proceeded to show that princes , kings , and scions of the most noble houses had joined with the lowest members in the social scale for mutual

edification and instruction , and in propagating the art ; and to comment upon its universality and the assistance it had rendered in peopling continents and civilising peoples . Then having

spoken in commendation of its great principle of charity , and alluded to its exemplification in England by the magnificent foundations reared

and sustained by the Craft for charitable purposes , he concluded by some appropriate advice to the brethren who had led to the formation of

the lodge . To the Rev . Bro . K . V . Nepean , Vicar of Appleshaw , fell the duty of delivering the oration ,

founded on the nature and purpose of the Institution . He said that Freemasonry probably originated at the building of the Temple , when the number of artificers and workmen rendered it

necessary that some means should be adopted to classify and arrange the different orders of skilled and unskilled workmen , though Preston , in his illustrations of Masonry tells us that we may

trace its foundation from the beginning of the world . At present it was a system of morality of the highest kind—founded on the Volume ol

the . Sacred Law . whence all its allegorical teaching was derived , and though to the outer world , and to ( hose who had never considered its

working , if might seem foolishness , yet carried out 111 itsj ' ullness and integrity , there was embraced in it every virtue that could adorn the outer man and make hini acceptable and esteemed amongst

his fellow-men , and every grace calculated to train up the inner man and make it accounted worthy of regard by the Great Architect of the Universe . Whether we looked upon Masonry in a

social or a moral light , the same degree of order and protection seemed to pervade it . When within its mystic circle all differences of rank and position taken in the outer world are lost

sight of , all differences ol creed and thought are forgotten , and they felt themselves in an atmosphere of calm deliberation , earnest study , Brotherly Love , Concord , and Harmony . Not

that rank and position were left outside . On the contrary , one of the great beauties of the Order was its perfectness and subordination of government . From the moment of light being thrown

upon their darkened mind and senses , to the time when they were , admitted to the higher secrets of Craft Masonry , they were taught that none could hope to become really good and looked up to

unless they first learned obedience to the powers that be , and it was only by diligent study oi' the science that they could aspire to be advanced in their lodge ' s . In a word , to quote the words of

one oi the best Masons that ever lived , and one of the most respected in his profession , " Freemasonry is a society of enlightened men , inculcating pure and active virtue on the sacred prin-

Consecration Of St. Hubert Lodge, Ac. 1373, At Andover, Hants.

cip les of gospel truth , and its design is to instil into the minds of its members a series of useful and interesting precepts , and to promote benevolence , philanthropy , and Brotherly Love . " Now ,

if this were but carried out , what a wonderful cluster of christian graces and virtues should we ever have hovering over our homes , and when employed in every day life , how should we endear ourselves to all with whom we come in

contact ! 1 o show that Freemasonry carries out in its practice , what it inculcates in its teaching , he appealed to the charities it supports , and

haying passed on to explain some of its symbols and their lessons , he asked what ought to be the result of such a system as Freemasonry is . Here let us not deceive ourselves . There are

Freemasons , and Freemasons , lhat all do not act up to the perfect code of morality the Order inculcates is no reason why men should not belong to it . Let us remember that however good its

theory may be , after all it is but a human institution , and as such subject to the failings of each of its several members . It does not follow that entrance into the Order is to work a charm for

its , and as a consequence give us those graces and virtues we may be careless or unwilling to cultivate . Let us regard it more as a help , and assistance to lead us on to better things , and remember that however we may strive to do our

duty here , we are only mortal , and as long as wc are in the lodge below , but representatives of the rough ashlar , waiting for the impress of the master hand of the Great Architect of the Universe

to mould us into perfect ashlars into the lodge above . Me concluded by congratulating the lodge upon its good fortune in the election of its Master designate , by an expression of regret at

the untimely death of Brother Alfred Coles , of Southampton , who was originally nominated to the position , and by some remarks of a purely Masonic nature .

The Provincial Grand Master subsequently proceeded to instal Bro . Stebbing in the Chair of the lodge , and he appointed his officers as follows : —Bros , the Rev . YJ . Y . Nepean , S . W . and

Chaplain ; Pern , J . W . ; T . Lamb , Sec . ; Norwood , S . D . ; Elsdale , J . D . ; and Martin , Tyler . In the business which followed , a vote of condolence was passed to the widow and family of the

late Bro . Alfred Coles , upon his unexpected death , and also a vote of thanks to the Prov . Grand Master and his officers accompanying him for their attendance .

Laying The Memorial Stone Of The Municipal Buildings, At Renfrew.

LAYING THE MEMORIAL STONE OF THE MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS , AT RENFREW .

On Saturday , 13 th ult ., the memorial stone ol the new Municipal Buildings at Renfrew was laid with full Masonic honours and eclat , by Colonel Campbell of Blythcwood , Provincial Grand ' Master of Renfrewshire East .

The Masonic lodges mustered in the Blythswood policies , where thev were marshalled by Bro . John Carsvvell , P . G . Marshal of l ' . G . Lodge , Renfrewshire East , assisted by Bro . T . R . Cameron , A . P . G . M .

Lodge Royal Arch , Kutherglen , 1 16 , was honoured with being allowed to carry the working tools of the P . G . Lodge . There was a large number of instrumental bands accompanying tlie procession , and their performances , together with the magnificent display of banners , decorations , ike ., made the whole affair a most interesting and impcrjing pageant . On the north side of the new