The Masonic Student.

shipper can , and no doubt does , mentally add , whatever mediator between himself and the Deity he may deem it his duty or privilege to include . Can anything be more sublime than this combination of sects , into which our race is divided , and into which no other institution on God's earth can

universally combine ? We will not stop to argue with the opponents of our noble and universal Order , about the name of Jesus Christ not being used , further than to say , if not audibly , ( which , however we have frequently heard , ) it is used mentally by the evangelical ( so called ) members of the United

Brotherhood . The use of the Trowel , especially alloted to the Master Mason , is another symbol of deep significance . To " spread the cement of brotherly love and affection , " is no easy task . It would not be difficult , indeed , if all were alike morally worthy ,

but we find by sad experience , that so much imperfection exists in us , and about us , that it is very difficult to overlook the faults or foibles , in many that at first we had deemed almost perfect , and also in our experience of our own shortcomings This , however , is not confined to Masonry , we see

it in professors of religion , and needs therefore that we should to a large extent bear and forbear in our own transactions with all men , but especially with those to whom we are thus united , and it is in this particular that we must use the cement , to unite broken promises , or to bind up and sustain

the broken wall of the social fabric when we see it in any manner bent or broken . True fellowship will at least try to do this , and not desist until it is seen to be impossible or improbable . This symbol , then , has a marked significance , and when we look upon it , let us mentally at least , think of the Cement

its quality of receiving impressions , its gradual hardening into form , and its durability . If we can shape our thoughts to this mould , it may be possible to elevate the objects of our brotherly solicitude , even when they are wearing out of proper shape . So mote it be !

But we must not overlook the scriptural lesson of this degree , " Remember now thy Creator , & c . " Solomon ' s admonition is a wonderful and beautiful metaphor of our progress from the cradle to thegrave . The illustration of descent to the tombs is so ancient in its symbols , and yet so truthful , that although the

grinding of the daily meal , performed by the daughters of the families of ancient times , shall be low , and all the daughters of music be brought low , is in these modern times so entirely changed , that there is no analogy now between them ; yet the symbols are imperishable , and more expressive than any

language of the present times , and so is adopted by expounders or teachers of the " great light of Masonry , " the Holy Scriptures , whenever they deem it necessary to advert to the uncertainty of human life , and the certainty of death . Can anything be more descriptive or sublime : " The silver

cord be loosed , or the golden bowl be broken , or the wheel broken at the cistern ? " Such language is grand , sublime , and the final result most beautiful , " The spirit shall return unto God , who gave it . " In all this there is nothing but the most sublime thought of the grandeur of the symbols , and the

nobility of their objects , which , if we can embody them in our action and experience , we rise in their attainment to a higher plane in the moral attributes we shall then enjoy . There are many other symbols yet untouched , to which we may hereafter advert , or we may deem

what we have said sufficient ; our object being less to multiply words , than to induce the Masonic Student to magnify his Order , by studying its symbolical precepts , and squaring his conduct by the square of virtue and the restraints of prudence , that are so clearly taught in our Masonic Symbols .

In all this is there anything saddening ? Far otherwise . It is the privilege of all men to be as joyous as the birds of thc air , whose notes of song are as glorious as theyarefree . Sadness , comes from wrongdoing , not from disobedience to the more moral virtues taught by Masonry ; or by the divine principles

inculcated by the Book upon thc altar . Cheerfulness and joyousness come from the temperate enjoyment of everything in nature , and thc still higher aspirations of the intellectual and spiritual being which dwells within . To such no day is too long , but in the language of thc spiritual aspirations of

the poet , when defining the experience of devout worshippers , " The day is too short , but let us borrow the night . " Brethren , let us then combine to promote the increased excellence of our Order , and while we def y our slanderers , whose opposition to Masonry

arises chiefly from ignorance , show by our boldness > n claiming the highest standard for our institution , carefully avoid all cause of our enemies to speak evil of our Order , which in its principles of action and its mental and moral attributes is less only by

degree to our individual religious professions , whatever they may be , and which , if wc do not live u p to them in either case , does not lesson their claims upon us , whether as Freemasons , as Jews , Mahommedans , or Christians , —Voice of Masonry

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DURHAM .

On the 25 th ult ., the Provincial Grand Lod ge of Durham held its annual meeting at Bishop Auckland , under the presidency of Bro . John Fawcett , Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , and Sir H . Williamson , M . P ., Deputy P . G . M . This being the first time the Grand

Lodge has met at Bishop Auckland , the brethren of the Wear Valley Lodge did their utmost to give a hearty welcome to the members of the Craft . The weather being fine induced a larger number than usual of the brethren to avail

themselves of the opportunity of attending the Provincial Grand Lodge . Some who had the time to spare reached Bishop Auckland by an early train , and enjoyed the pleasure of a stroll through the charming park of Auckland Castle .

The Finance Committee met at one o ' clock , under the presidency of Bro . Sir H . Williamson , Bart ., M . P , D . P . G . M . Grants to the extent of ^ 25 were made to the widows of deceased Masons who were in necessitous circumstances . The Committee also voted a donation of fifty guineas

to the Freemasons' Girls' School , ten guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , ten guineas to the Asylum for Aged Freemasons , and ten guineas to the Widows' Asylum , subject tothe approval of the Prov . Grand Lodge . The brethren assembled at the Barrington

School-rooms at half-past two o ' clock , and took up their positions to receive the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge , who entered in procession , amongst whom were the following Past Provincial Grand Officers : —Bros . Joseph Dodds , M . P ., Wm . Best , E . Davis , G . J .

Wilson , James Groves , John Stokoe , J . G . Thompson , Rev . J . Cudhill , Rev . G . R . Bulman , also F . Binckes , Secretary to the Masonic Royal Institution for Boys . Among the visitors was Bro . George Wischaewsky , from Kosakoff-Gubonin , Russia .

The lodge having been opened in due and ancient form , the minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge , at Gateshead , were read by the Secretary and confirmed . The minutes of the Finance Committee were also read and confirmed ; and the petition of one applicant , which

had been received too late , was left in the hands of the Provincial Grand Master to relieve in his discretion . The Treasurer ' s accounts were read , and , after payment of the above grants , a sum of one hundred pounds was added to the funded property of the Provincial Grand Lodge . The

roll of lodges was called , when all appeared by their representatives , and very flattering reports were given of the great increase of Masons in the province , the building of several Masonic halls , and the general prosperity of the Craft . The Provincial Grand Master congratulated the brethren on the state of Masonry in his province ,

and cautioned the brethren not to receive among their ranks any but those who would reflect honour upon their choice . It was not a benefit society , and candidates should not be permitted to enter with any such expectations ; but rather with the view of doing good to others , by extending relief and assistance to them in their need .

The Provincial Grand Master then appointed and invested the following officers , with the exception of the Provincial Grand Treasurer , who was elected by the Provincial Grand Lodge : — Sir H . Williamson , Bart ., M . P . ... D . P . G . M . Rev . G . P . Wilkinson S . G . W .

James Groves J . G . W . Rev . G . R . Bulman P . G . Chaplain Rev . John Cundhill P . G . Treasurer John Geo . Thompson P . G . Registrar W . H . Crookes P . G . Secretary Miles Cadle P . S . G . D .

G . White P . J . G . D . AVm . Nelson P . G . S . of W . R . M . Hudson P . G . D . of C . J . AV . Cameron P . G . S . B . D . Lambert P . G . Organist P . Hoistendahl P . G . Purst .

Jos . John Walton , 48 W . Brignall , jun ., 124 J . S . Denham , 240 Utewird- * C . Coulson , 531 fbtewards W . F . R . Hutton , 1121 W . C . Blackett , 1274 J W . M . Laws ... P . G . Tyler .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

The members adjourned to a banquet in the Town Hall , with the R . W . Prov . G . M . in the chair , and the Masonic and loyal toasts were duly honoured •the evening's enjoyment being enhanced by the vocal music of some brethren ofthe Durham Cathedral Choir .

Prov. Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

LAYING OF THE MEMORIAL STONE OF THORNTON NEAV CHURCH . The laying of the memorial stone of the new church at St . James , at Thornton , with due Masonic honours , recalls some incidents in connection with the old building that will form an interesting prefix

to our report . Freemasonry seems never so fitly fulfilling office as in assisting in the erection of churches ; and Thornton owed its first church to a Freemason , who left a record of the fact in a tablet still existent , which has been put in the south-west corner ofthe chapel , and reads as follows : —

THIS CHAPPELL WAS BUILDED BY IIII ( E FREEMASON IN THE YEA RE OF OUR

LORDE I 1612 Whether the erasure of the name of the pious builder be the result of posterior malignity , or ofthe eating tooth of time , its obliteration is a theme for the novelist . If the former be the cause , we may venture a guess that the chisel may have also been

at work in defacing the letters which now seem to be four successive I ' s with a slightly curved portion of a letter , another letter being wholly erased before the final E . There is a rude stone built in the wall above this tablet bearing the figures " 1587 , " which James , in his " History of Bradford , " took to be a

remnant of a former church , but it bears no such appearance ; and if there had been a former chapel , surely the tablet would have stated that it was " rebuilded . " The position of the chapel and the graveyard ( so far from Thornton village and so close adjoining Thornton Hall ) points to the Lord

ofthe Manor as the builder ; and if the downstrokes stillleft have been tampered with , they may have once formed O U and part of G , and thus would indicate a WATMOUGHE , with space for a Christian name of four letters . The original mesne lords of Thornton ( who bore that name ) ended in an heiress ,

by whom the manor passed to the Boilings , from which family it passed by another heiress to the Tempests , a family remarkable for their religious zeal against the coming Reformation . Mr . James ( p . 337 ) says rather vaguely that Sir Richard Tempest sold the manor about 1620 to — Watmough ,

and that in 1630 John AVatmough , then a minor , was Lord of the Manor , but adds nothing of the family . He overlooked the fact that the pannelling of thc Thornton HaU pew ( on the south side of the altar ) preserves the record of the Watmoughs , with the initials " I . W ., 1634 . "

Happily the weather on AVednesday was fine throughout the proceedings . The Congregationalists of Kipping kindly lent their school for the holding of a Provincial Grand Lodge of the AVest Yorkshire Freemasons , which was opened at 11 . 45 . Earl de Grey and Ripon opened the lodge as P . G . M ., and no less than fifty out of

fiftyfive lodges in the province were represented . The Building Committee ( with Mr . Powell at its head ) assembled with the clergy , wardens , and Sunday scholars , at the National Schools , and preceded by the Black Dyke Mills Band , marched along the main street and down to precede the Masons . By a little oversight this part of the procession preceded the latter too much ; but from

the elevation of the new building the sight was most impressive , the Masonic procession , gorgeous in coloured and jewelled dignitaries , and resplendent with banners , as it came on slowly and solemnly , needing for its effect no distracting sound of drum or trumpet . The procession embraced the most interesting ornaments of the Craft .

There came successive officers bearing the Corinthian , the Doric , and the Ionic Lights , and between them the plumb rule , the level , the Sacred Law , and the mallet ; and the rare honour was conferred upon Thornton that the golden vessels and the mallet which was used by King Charles II . to lay the foundation stone of St . Paul ' s Cathedral , and

which was presented by Sir Christopher AVren to the Lodge of Antiquity , were brought down by the Grand Tyler of the Grand Lodge of England to be employed in laying the memorial stone of Thornton church . The church has been already built on the east and north sides to a height of twelve feet , and as the memorial

stone is at the south-west corner of the chancel , a convenient platform in the chancel enabled the ladies present to be near witnesses , whilst the body of the church was filled by the procession . The officials having taken their DLvLCCS Bro ! AV . FOSTER , Acting-Deputy P . G . M ., addressing

Earl de Grey , said : My Lord , I have now the honour to present you with this trowel for the purpose of laying the memorial stone of the church of St . James , Thornton , and at the same time to express to you our sincere and heartfelt thanks that , in the midst of your public duties as a Minister of the Crown , and the claims