The Great Mission Of Woman.

THE GREAT MiSSION OF WOMAN .

Great , indeed , is the task assigned to woman Who can elevate its dignity ? Not to make laws , not to lead armies , not to govern empires * but to form those hy whom laws are made , armies led , and empires troverned ; to guard against the

slightest taint of bodily infirmity , the frail , yet spotless creature , whose moral , no less than physical being , must be derived from her * to inspire those principles , to inculate those doctrines , to animate those sentiments which generations yet

unborn and nations yet uncivilized will learn to bless ; to soften firmness into mercy , and chasten honour into refinement •to exalt generosity into virtue ; by a soothing care to

allay the anguish of the body , and the far worse anguish of the mind •hy her tenderness to disarm passion ; by her purity to triumph oversense ; to cheer the scholar sinking under his toil : to console the statesman for the

ingratitude of a mistaken people ; to be compensation for friends that are perfidious—for happiness that has passed away . Such is her vocation . The couch of the tortured sufferer , the prison of the deserted friend , the cross of

the rejected Saviour—these are theatres on which her greatest triumphs have been achieved . Such is her destiny •to visit the forsaken , to tend to the neglected when monirchs abandon , when counsellors betray , when justice prosecutes ,

when brethren and disciples flee , to remain unshaken and unchanged , and to exhibit in this lower world a type of that love , pure , constant , and ineffable , which in another we are taught to believe the test of virtue . —Blackwood ' s Magazine .

ON Friday , 29 th December , the Old Concord Lodge , No . 17 2 , held their Audit and Ball Supper Committee meeting at the Masons' Hall Tavern

Masons ' -avenue , City . After the business of the evening was concluded , the brethren present partook of refreshment , provided by the host , Bro . Charles Gosden , in his accustomed

satisfactory style . The Annual Banquet of the Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , which was postponed on the 15 th ult ., in consequence of the alarming illness of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , P . G . M ,

will take place on Friday , the 19 th inst ., at the Portugal Hotel , Fleet-street , under the presidency of our esteemed brother , Past Grand Pursuivant James Brett , and a large muster of brethren is confidently expected .

THE subject of the Hulserm Prize at Cambridge for 1872 is "The Influence of Christianity on the Legislation of Constantine the Great . " BREAKFAST . —EPPS ' S COCOA . —GRATEFUL AND COMFORTING . — " By a thorough knowledge of the

natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition , and by a careful applicalian of the line properties of well-selected cocoa , Mr . lipps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately-llavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills . " —Civil

Sen / ire Gazelle . Made simply with Boiling Water or Milk . Kach packet is labelled— "J AMES KITS & Co ., Homoeopathic Chemists , London . " Also , makers of Epps ' s Milky Cocoa ( Cocoa and Condensed Milk ) . HOLLOWAY ' OINTMENT . —Bad legs , Wounds ,

Ulcers , and all descriptions of sores are cttreel by the proper and diligent use of these inestimable preparations . To attempt to cure bad legs by plastering the edges of the wound together is folly , for shoultl the skin unite , a baggy , diseaseil condition remains underlieUh to break

out with tenfold fury in a few days . The only rational and permanent treatment as indicated by nature , is to re-Iuce the inflammation in and about the wound , to soothe the neighbouring nerves , to cool ihe heated blood as it

courses along its vessels , and to render ils watery ichorous dischargeconsisient anel healthy . Holloway ' s Pills should likewise be taken to purify the blood , and expel the noxious humour from the system . —[ Advt . ]

Poetry.

Poetry .

GOD SAVE THE PRINCE OF WALES .

The following is the song alluded to in our notice , last week , of the " Entertainments at Chester , " as having been sung by Mr . Owen : — Solo—Within our ancient City ,

Above our hills and vales , A Nation ' s prayers re-echo" God save the Prince of Wales . "

Chorus—Within our ancient City , O ' er all our hills and vales , A Nation ' s prayers re-echo" God save the Prince of Wales . "

Solo— " God save our Laid of Chester , His youthful life , 0 1 spare ; Preserve him to this kingdom , " Is Cestria ' s heartfelt prayer . Chorus—Within our ancient City , & c .

Solo— " God bless his Royal Mother . And bless his gentle Wife , Who pray Thee , in Thy mercy , To spare his precious life . " Chorus—Within our ancient City , & c .

Solo— ' In mercy hear Thy people , And if it be Thy will—Long live the Prince of Cambria , To bless our Nation still . ' ' Chorus—Within our ancient City , & c .

Lines By A Young Daughter, On The Death Of Her Mother.

LINES BY A YOUNG DAUGHTER , ON THE DEATH OF HER MOTHER .

Alone , in the gathering shadows , AVatching the storm clouds arise , Deeper and darker they gather , Hiding the beautiful skies * Thus it has been with life ' s pathway

Happiness proves but a dream , Just as my sky seems to bri ghten , Clouds come and darken the scene . 'J ruly , God ' s ways are a wonder ,

There ' s so much we can ' t understand , So much that tempts us to murmur , Yet all is the work of His hand He only has taken a loved one ,

A lamb of His flock to her rest , But , yet , it is hard for her children To think it is all for the best . Oh ! mother , I cannot help wishing ,

I cannot help longing to know , If you from your bright home in heaven , Can look on poor mortals below ? Or , are you so happy , my mother ,

That never a shadow can come , Never a thought of the loved ones , Weary and lonely at home . May be , across the dark river ,

Over on Heaven s bright side , You will be waiting , my mother , To welcome us over the tide . Ah 1 life would lose many a shadow ,

And wear ) ' hearts many a pain , If we were but sure of the meeting , The knowing of loved ones again . M . Brooklyn , March 21 st , 1871 . —Landmark .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Reports of Masonic Meetings .

[ With a view to increase the circulation , and consequently the usefulness , of THE FREEMASON , it is suggested that Lodges , & c , desiring reports to appear in the paper , should take a certain number of copies in proportion to the space required for the report . ] THE CRAFT .

METROPOLITAN . Star Lodge , A o . 1275 . —An emergency meeting of this well-established lodge was held' on Friday , the 29 th ultimo , at the Marquis of Granby Tavern , Deptford . Present : Bros . C . J . Hogg , W . M . ; H . Kceblc , S . W . ; H . Crabtree , J . W . ; F . Walters ,

P . M ., Sec . ; T . R . Darke , S . D . ; W . M . Bull , as J . D . ; W . Bell , as I . G . ; S . Homewood , E . Townsend , E . Lane , C . Drake , J . Drake , A . Flaxman , G , S . Elliott , A . Stevens , H . Ellis , & c . ; visitors , Bros . T . R . Weston ( P . M . 428 ) , B . J . Cole ( S 71 ) , A .

Overton ( 1309 ) , W . Taplin ( 1326 ) , E . Fleet ( 1326 ) , J . Wells ( 1326 ) , and some others . The W . M ., in an efficient manner , initiated Mr . Henry Ellis , passed five brethren , and raised three . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren separated .

Lodge of Asaph , A o . 1319 . —The regular monthly meeting of this loelge was held at Freemasons' Hall on the 1 st inst . Present : Bros . C . Coote , W . M . ; J . M . Chamberlin , P . M ., S . W . ; Jas . Weaver , P . M ., P . G . O . Middlesex , J . W . ; E . Stanton Jones , P . M ., I . P . M . ; Thos . A . Adams , P . G . P ., * Edward Frewin ,

S . D . ; Henry J . Tinney , Organist ; Wm . A . Tinney , I . G . ; J . Gilbert , Tyler ; J . Boatwright , T . Edgar , G . Horton , H . Snyders , Jos . Baker , j . T . Carrodus , L . Silberberg , Joseph Horton , and G . A . Compton ; visitors , Bros . E . J . Cobby ( 134 ) and J . Kaufmann , LL . D ., 92 . The business of the evening comprised

the initiation of Messrs . J . F . Hutchings and J . Hodges , and the passing of Bros . J . Kaufmann and F . J . Amos . Bro . O . Lumsden was elected a joining member . A sum of ten guineas was voted for the purchase of a Life Governorship of the Boys ' School , to be placed on Bro . Coote ' s list . It was also resolved , " That the members of the Lodge of

Asaph , 1319 , express their deep sympathy towards their Illustrious Brother H . R . H . the Prince of Wales in his severe illness , praying that the G . A . O . T . U . will be pleased to restore him to his wonted health , and spare so valuable a life to his Masonic Brotherhood and to the nation at large . " Mr . H . S . Wilkes was proposed for initiation , and the lodge was closed with solemn , prayer .

PROVINCIAL . HEYWOOD , LANCASHIRE . —Nap / itali Lodge , No . 266 . —The members of this now numerous and rapidly-rising lodge met at their rooms on Thursday , Dec . 28 th , for the purpose of initiating three candidates , and installing Bro . Richard Gorton in the

chair for the ensuing year . The ceremonies having been duly performed , with musical accompaniments , the brethren adjourned to the Victoria Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet was placed before them . The customary toasts followed , interspersed with appropriate music anel songs . In responding , the

W . M . expressed his appreciation of the high and honourable position in which he hael just been placed , and hoped , with the assistance of the officers , and strict punctuality in attendance to the duties of the lodge , to secure for it a high position in the Craft . Installing Officer , Bro . John Redfern ,

42 , P . P . GP ., and Bro . William Roberts , 298 and 308 , P . PG . P . East Lancashire , highly complimented the lodge on its prosperity and growing efficiency . The I . P . M ., Bro . William Wescoe , ably addressed the brethren , and the evening was spent in a most pleasant and agreeable manner .

LANCASTER . — Lodge of Fortitude , A o . 2 S 1 . — The regular meeting of this lodge for the celebration of the festival of St . John the Evangelist and installation of the W . M .-elect , took place at the Masonic Rooms , Athena-urn , on Wednesday , the 27 th ult . The W . M ., Bro . Dr . Moore , G . S . B . England ,

presided , and was supported by the following officers : Bros . John Hatch , I . P . M . ; Wm . Hall , S . W . ; Wm . Fleming , J . W . ; Jas . Hatch , P . M ., Treas . ; Edmund Simpson , P . M ., Sec . ; Edward Airey , S . D . ; W . J . Sly , J . D . ; J . Harrison , I . G . ; J . Watson , Tyler ; J . Taylor ( 1051 ) , as Organist ; R . Taylor , Steward ;

and a large assembly of brethren . The preliminary business having been transacted , Past Masters John Hatch and E . Storey presented to the W . M . Bro . William Hall , S . W ., the W . M .-clect , for the benefit of installation . The Installing Officer recited the

qualifications of a candidate for the Master ' s chair , and the antient charges , which were read and assented to by Bro . Hall , and in a Board of Installed Masters he was placed in the chair of the lodge , and was afterwards proclaimed and saluted in the various degrees . He then proceeded to appoint