Original Correspondence.

Provincial Grand Lodge may form a fund ' for charitable and other Masonic purposes , " and " may make such srulations as tbey may deem necessary for the application of this fund " ( " Prov . G . Lodge , " 4 ) . The way in which Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodges have understood these regulations may be seen from the numerous occasions on which the former has

voted sums of money to the Masonic Charities , at one time to their general funds , at another to their buildings ; to the erection of a statue in Grand Lodge itself , and recently , avid perhaps best example of an extraneous object , to the •1 Palestine Exploration Fund ; " whilst the latter have assisted in the restoration of various cathedrals and churches . On more than one occasion "lodges , " as well as individual

» brethren , " have presented jewels , plate , & c , to illustrious brethren ( " Remarkable Occurrences in Freemasonry " " Freemason ' s Calendar and Pocket Book " ) . Many private lodges follow the same course with respect to Past Masters' jewels , tec , as well as contributing out of lodge funds , to hospitals and other local charities .

It seems , then , quite clear that Grand Lodge can devote its funds to any purpose whatever that the Grand Lodge may deem not inconsistent with " the ancient landmarks of the Order . " Faithfully and fraternally yours , MONETA .

The Sister Systems: Masonry And Christianity.

THE SISTER SYSTEMS : MASONRY AND CHRISTIANITY .

At the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire , recently held at Knutsford ( fully reported in last week's" Freemason" ) , a sermon was delivered by the Rev . E . R . Parr , the newly-appoiiited P . G . Chaplain , in the old

Church of St . John , which deserves to be giver , in extenso , as embracing many excellent points which ought to be of interest , especially to our Christian brethren . We , therefore , give the full text of the sermon this week . Bro . Parr took his text from Philippians iv . 8 : " Whatsoever things are true , whatsoever things are honest ,

whatsoever things are just , whatsoever things are pure , whatsoever things are lovely , whatsoever things are of good report j if there be any virtue , and if there be any praise , think on these things . " The rev . gentleman said : — "This is one of the numberless texts in the volume of the Sacred Law which inculcates the active principles and duties

which are alike common to Christianity and to Masonry , And because it is so , I have chosen it as the text from which I wish to-day to address a few thoughts to you , my brother Christians and brother Masons . And here , let me say , by way of preface , that the connection between Christianity and Masonry is much more close and intimate than

many suppose . In all ages of the world ' s history , whether sacred or profane , there have been many systems of morality and legislature devised which had in view the amelioration and improvement of mankind . But of all those systems , ancient or modern , none seems to have effected so much good , reached so far , or laid the same

hold on the affections and will of their followers as the sister systems of religion and morality , Christianity and Masonry , have done . I call them deliberately sister systems , tor they are both founded on the same book—the volume of the Sacred Law ; they both inculcate the same grand principles—brotherly love , relief , and truth : and

they both teach us how , "in every pursuit , to have eternity in view , " an eternity in which both inspire in us the hope that we shall " ascend to those immortal mansions where the just will most assuredly meet their reward . " Such being the case , is it to bc wondered that wherever one of these systems has won her way , that there the other

has been sure to follow ? And that wherever the lamp of one system has burned brightly and clearly , just in proportion has the other been prosperous , happy , and successful . Taking them as systems , undoubtedly Masonry is historically the older of the two , inasmuch as the building of King Solomon ' s temple , and many other

events recorded in Masonic history , took place long before the birth of Jesus . But though Masonry is thus old , and though the careful student can trace many and distinct evidences of its continued existence all down the stream "f time , especially in the history of religious nations , still there are few Masons who will not readily admit that

speculative Masonry , as it is now known and practised by 1 ™ brotherhood , is a system which has found its full development in a much more recent date ; and that , while some of its records go back to . and are lost in , the mists and Mscurity of the dark ages ; still , as the healthy and vigorous 'fee we all see it now to be , gathering under its branches

j"c goon all nations , its renewed growth must be al'" wed to be of more recent centuries . And , what is very strange—and yet not strange—to say ; its growth has been most vigorous in those countries where Christianity is promised in its purest and least corrupted form . Iu proof of » s , just let me remind you of the relatives states of Ma-° wy in the Southern States of Europe , where , as far as it

J , fehgion of those countries ignore the Craft , and uid , if it could , persecute the brethren even unto death . CanTv " ?' takc Malta > where only last week the Roman and 11 ™ chbisl , 0 P ° f the island anathematised the Craft tv « f v P radisc ! t - But « ° n the contrary , turn your rile , orlhern Europe , where undoubtedly the people , asa ^ 1 profess a purer svstem of ChrUtinnitir . -. 1 , 1 « , ! , _¦? _ i _ ,.. „ ..

to A , ate of Mas ° nry there ? Why , in words well known and slat " ' may sa y > among these nations " generals 'crs of th " " ' cven monArcns themselves , are promodieniiv , art ' have not th ° ught "' derogatory to their niscd 01 . excha ? e 'he sceptre for the trowel , | have patro-W-vereel / stenes ' j ° in < = d in our assemblies . " And , "lose nMi y a Very stran ge dispensation of Providence , P'ospiro « \ , VeU known t 0 be much more happy and livaied a „ r . P Christianity and Masonry are culand joined hand in hand / than ar . those nations

The Sister Systems: Masonry And Christianity.

here both are ignored and persecuted . Consider the state—the wretched and unhappy state—of many of the countries and provinces of South and South-Eastern Europe at the present moment , where Christianity is professed , but in an impure form , and where Masonry is almost unknown , and then compare with their wretched state that of our own happy , prosperous , and religious

England , where both systems march along often hand in hand , certainly never warring one against the other ! And as it is in the present , so it seems to have been in the past . It was about seven years ago—L remember it vcett—before I was made a Mason myself , I was one day walking in Chester Cathedral with one whose memory will long live in the grateful and affectionate remembrance of

English , and especially of Cheshire Freemasons—I allude to the late Edward GardnerWilloughby—when , calling my attention to what I had always before considered but an ornament of church architecture , an ornament which , let me say in passing , is found in the architecture of many of our cathedrals and ancient parish churches , he said , "This is a Masonic emblem ' , and wherever you see it , either here

or elsewhere , it is the work of a Mason . A Mason either made the plans or helped to carry them out in the building . " And , though Masonry is every year developing out more and more into what wc call " free or speculative Masonry , " yet I am happy to think that the brethren prove that they are still willing to acknowledge the connection that I have been trying to show which exists between

Christianity and the Craft ; and , at the same time , to maintain our ancient traditions by contributing , as they have done , some particular work of art to most of the restored cathedrals in England . And this , you know , brethren , has been notably the case in our provincial Cathedral of Chester , where two bright gems in that beautifully restored edifice , the pulpit and the sedilia , are the gifts of

the brethren of this and the neighbouring province . Brighl gems they are in themselves , and worthy of those who gave them ; but it is not for this , as a Mason and a Christian minister , I prize them most—for , [ had it seemed right and necessary to our governors we could have given gifts ten times the value—but it is because that in those two gifts there are signs and emblems which will show

our children ' s children that Masonry and Christianity went hand in hand in this 19 th century of grace in the restoration of that sacred pile . It is for reasons such as these , among many others , that I , as a Christian minister of the Established Church of this country , am thankful to be able to address you all , as brother Christians and brother Masons , from this the pulpit

of one of our parish churches . It is for reasons such as these that we , as loyal subjects and as good Masons ( and where is the Mason that is not a loyal subject ) , are all thankful to the Great Architect of the Universe that the Heir Apparent to the Crown of this grcat ! country is at once a believer in the truths of Christianity , and , at the same time , the Grand Master of English Freemasons . So much

for the external features of Christianity and Masonry , for which I claim a strong similarity and strange concordance . But when we come to examine into the inward principles on which both systems are founded , we find the lines of agreement are still stronger and mure striking . My text is one which we are proud to make our motto , whether as Christians or as Masons . I have read you the words as

given in our authorised version , words , simple , beautiful , and full of meaning , but the meaning may perhaps be brought out more fully , and the translation will be quite as literal , perhaps more so , were we to read it as follows — " Finally , brethren , whatsoever is true , whatsoever is venerable , whatsoever is just , whatsoever is pure , whatsoever is endearing , whatsoever is of good report—if there bc

any virtue , if there be any praise , let such things be your treasure "—lit ., " reckon those things of most account " ( Conybearc and Howson ) . And I ask you , brethren , are not Christianity and Masonry entirely consonant in such a statement as this ? Certainly they arc ! Thank God , the principles of Christianity are world-wide and world-known . They arc stated too often from the Christian pulpit ; they

are published too often by the Christian press ; they may be read even by the child ; so frequently from this the volume of the Sacred Law , and I need not now detain you to show you what the world knows , that the principles of Christainity are pure , lovely , and heavenly . These principles are many and varied , countless almost in number , and extending to every duty of this life . But , though they are

so , they may bc all summed up in the golden rule of our great Master and Teacher , Jesus Christ , " that we must love the Lord our God with all our heart , and with all our mind , and with all our soul , and with all our strength , and our neighbour as ourself . " And , more than this , that in doing the latter , loving our neighbour as ourself , we are often thereby doing most the will of our God and

Heavenly Father , and showing most our love to Him Some of you have heard the Arabic legend , so beautifully rendered into English verse by Leigh Hunt , that you will pardon me if I introduce it here , as an example of what I am now trying to press upon you . It is known as the legend " of " Abon Ben Adhcm and the Angel , " and runs as follows : —

Abon Ben Adhem ( may his tribe increase ) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace , And saw , within the moonlight , in his room , Making it rich , and like a lily in bloom , An angel writing in a book of gold ;—Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold , And to the presence in the room he said ,

" What writest thou ? " The vision rais'd its head , And , with a look made of all sweet accord , Answered , " The names of those who love the Lord . " " And is mine one ? " said Abon . Nay , not so , " Replied the angel . Abon spoke more low , But cheerily still , and said , " I pray thee then , Write me as one who loves his fellow men . "

The Sister Systems: Masonry And Christianity.

The Angel wrote and vanish'd . The next night It came again with a great wakening light , And show'd the names whom love of God had bless'd , And lo I Ben Adhem's name led all the rest . We need not have , however , to turn to the story of an Arabic legend for the greatest and highest teaching on such a subject . No 1 The whole tenor of the inspired

word is a continual insisting on such principles as these , and the life of Jesus—the Great Master—is but one bright and prolonged instance of their being put forth into practice ; while the teaching of " the beloved Apostle * ' is so full of it , that I ' shall here content myself by one quotation , where this duty—of shewing our love to God by our love to our fellow men—is more strongly insisted on than ih

any other place I know — " He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen , how can he love God whom he hath not seen ? " This , I say , represents the truest Christianity when carried out fully into practice in our lives ; this represents the truest Masonry also . It is not the saying , but the doing . " He who doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven " is the best Christian and the best

Mason . I need not detain you now , brethren , to show you what you are shown in every lodge when you assemble , or inculcate duties upon you which it is the study of every good Mason ever to practise , or vindicate principles which every true Mason holds as dear as his own life . Standing in this pulpit to-day , I would simply remind you ever to act worthy of those principles , and thus

forcibly impress upon the outside world "the dignity and high value of Freemasonry . " For if you dn , then I am sure that we shall all show forth " that when a man is said to be a Mason , the world will know that he is one to whom the burdened heart may pour forth his sorrows and find consolation , to whom the distressed may pour forth his suit and find relief : that he is one whose hand is

guided by justice , and whose heart is expanded by benevolence . " Brethren , I had a great deal more to say to you to-day—a great deal more than I had prepared to say—but the duties of this day have been so long and arduous , and , as those duties are yet far from finished , I prefer ending what I have said to you with this word " Benevolence . " For , while it reminds us of many good

and estimable qualities , it also reminds us of that " Fund of Benevolence " of ours , which is at this moment impoverished by our having contributed such a magnificent sum as we have done towards the Boys' School in London , You know what has been done , and how Cheshire is now in the proud position of being able to have a permanent

appointment of a deceased brother ' s child in that fine school . Further words of mine , I feel sure , are not needed to draw forth an expression of your sympathy in behalf of this fund . And , in appealing to you to-day to contribute to it , as good Christians and good Masons , I know I shall not be appealing in vain ! Amen .

Consecration Of The Kent Dale Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, No. 195.

CONSECRATION OF THE KENT DALE LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS , No . 195 .

The lodge was opened at 4 . 30 p . m . on Tuesday , the 26 th ult ., by the V . W . Bro . F . Binckes , Grand Secretary G . L . M . M . M ., who appointed the V . W . Bro . J . Daniel Moore , M . D ., P . P . G . W . Lancashire , as S . W . ; Wor . Bro . E . Simpson , W . M . Moore Lodge , 146 , as J . W . ; and the

Rev . W . Beeby , P . G . C . Cumberland and Westmoreland , as Chaplain ; Bros . George Potter , 60 , M . O . ; W . Hall , 146 , S . O . ; R . Godfrey , J . O . ; Geo . McKay , Secretary pro tem . and D . C . ; Jos . Croskill , 146 , S . D . ; and others . After the lodge was opened , the R . W . D . P . G . M . M . M . of Cumberland and Westmorland , and P . G . W . of England , Bro . Col . Whitwell , entered , and was saluted

according to ancient custom . There being six candidates for advancement to the honourable degree of M . M . M ., the V . W . Bro . F . Binckes proceeded with this beautiful ceremony in his usual careful and impressive manner , to enable the candidates to bc present at the consecration , the lodge being already constituted by the warrant issued by the M . W . G . M . M ., Bro . the Earl of Limerick .

The consecration ceremony was then performed by the V . W . Bro . F . Binckes , assisted by the R . W . D . P . G . M . M . M ., Bro . Col . Whitwell , M . P ., and the V . W . Bro . J . Daniel Moore , M . D ., P . P . G . W . M . M . M . Lancashire , the oration being delivered in an effective and very impressive manner by the Installing Officer , Bro . F . Binckes . The lodge being duly dedicated and constituted , Bro .

Binckes proceeded with the installation of Bro . George J . McKay , who was presented to the Installing Master by Bro . Col . Whitwell , M . P ., and duly installed into the chair of A . All the brethren under the Degree of I . M . having entered the lodge , the usual salutations were made , and the following brethren invested by the newly-installed W . M .: — Bros . Robert Godfrey , S . W . j W . Cranston ,

J . W . ; Jas . Gooding , M . O ., by proxy ; A . J . Nelson , S . O . ; R . B . Hunter , J . O . ; Jas . Pickthall , Treasurer ; W . F . Robson , Registrar ; F . W . Watson , Secretary ; O . G . Grayson , S . D . ; and others . The V . W . Bro . F . Binckes , V . W . Bro . J . Daniel Moore , and Wor . Bro . E . Simpson were elected honorary members . A hearty vote of thanks having been expressed to

the consecrating officers , several brethren proposed for advancement , and the usual proclamations having been made , the lodge was duly and solemnly closed with prayer by the P . G . Chaplain , when the brethren adjourned to the Commercial Hotel , where avcryrcctnfrche' banquet awaited them , provided by the worthy host and hostess , Mr . and

Mrs . Barrow . Ample justice having been done to the good things provided , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were heartily given and responded to , and the brethren separated at an early hour , having given three cheers to nine worthy brethren , who had to drive a distance of seventeen miles to Lancaster .