Grand Lodge Of Florida.

changing the ancient landmarks of Freemasonry . The candidate must be hale and sound , not deformed nor dismembered , and must be able to perform the work required in the first three , degrees of Masonry . 2 . An artificial substitute will not qualify a dismembered applicant .

, 3 . After a candidate lias been duly elected to take a elegrec he should not be estopped for light reasons , and the lodge has a rig ht to hear and consider those reasons and decide whether they are sufficient . The lodge may waive this right and accept the statement of an officer or brother ,

or of a committee , that the objections are well founded , but are of such a nature that theyshould not be made known in the body of the lodge . 4 . It is a safe rule in these days , though I greatly doubt its antiquity , that a candidate should be able to read and write .

The first paragraph 111 the Grand Master s opening address is deserving of a place in our columns .

In the ancient clays of Masonry , the Grand Master used to sketch from day to day upon his trestle board , beautiful designs to be imitated and shaped by the hands of his cunning workmen into rich architectural monuments , which afterwards excited the wonder and admiration of

succeeding generations for centuries . And he made it the duty of certain officers to inspect the work of each craftsman as it came from his hands , and mark it with the signet of approval or throwit among the rubbish . The days of operative Masonry . ' . have long

passed . We no longer raise shapely pilasters and massive pillars , nor adorn cornice and architrave with richly ornamented mouldings , nor shape costly vessels for the service of the Great Jehovah ; our mission is higher and nobler ; it is to work out the moral architecture of man .

and it becomes us , in humble imitation of outancient brethren , to try our work from lime to time and see that it conforms tc > the rich teachings of the past , and to lay down plans to keep active the industrv of the Craft in the future . It is with this object in view that we are now

assembled , my brethren , and it is proper that we should appreciate the responsibility thai rests upon us as the representatives of the Free and Accepted Masons of Florida , and meet that responsibility manfully . Masonry is not a mere theory of morals made attractive by its symbolic

lessons ; its end is not to enable the initialed to understand a few fraternal greetings and to impart to the neophyte the traditional teachings of our ritual ; these are but as the letters of the alphabet compared to the accumulated treasures of a

nation ' s literature , and when we have become acquainted with them , we have but grasped our working tools , and made read y to enter upon our new field of labour , a field thai will yield a rich harvest to the industrious workman . We work

under the sacred teachings of the ( heat Architect of the Universe . Truth is engraved upon our signet , and brotherl y love and charity are our chief characteristics . We are patrons of the liberal art * and sciences , and in all ages our brethren have been foreiiiii-a in promoting plans for the moral and intellectual elevation of our race . — The Freemason ' s Rep'isiturii .

Masonic Tidings.

Masonic Tidings .

BRITISH , t'OKKIGX , AND COLONIAL . PROPOSED Xi-: w MASONIC HALL AT HI : J :: I ::-:-iriiAD . — 'Phis thriving town—" the eiiy of the future' '—has up to thi .- ; lime been ideally i : i

need of a Ala-onie Hall there being M prcs . nt no great central meeting-place l \ . r ; he brethren of the Mystic Tie . If report speak- ; c : rrec ! lv . however , this want is likely soon to he supplied . It is rumoured that the -Masonic Fraternity at

Birkenhead , where there is a large and highly influential hotly , contemplate the establishment of a company with the view of erecting a handsome anil commodious hall in that township .

As there aie several lodges in Birkenhead and the immediate neighbourhood , a suitable building , situated in a cenlral part of ( he district , would certainly be a great advantage Lo the

Masonic Tidings.

members of the Order and give the cause a great impetus throughout the province of Cheshire . WE gather from the leading Conservative , county paper the Ipswich Journal , that at the

general examination of candidates for certificates on being called to the Bar , which is just over , the three certificates of honour of the first class were awarded to a young but very promising Mason , Bro . Christopher Venn Childe , B . A .

L . L . B .. of the Inner Temple . Bro . Childe was a member of Corpus Christi College , Cambridge , were he took his B . A . degree in June , 186 9 , being senior in the law special examination . He was also placed in the first class of the Law

Tripos in Dec , 1 S 6 9 ; obtained the Chancellors gold medal for Law , Feb ., 1871 ; and was " proximc aarssil for the Whewell International Law Scholarship , June , 1871 . Bro . Childe is a member of the University Chapter , Rose Croix ,

and promises to distinguish himself as much in Masonry as in those other pursuits in which he seeks advancement . We are always glad to hail the accession to our ranks of intellectual Masons —and we shall expect great things of our justly esteemed Bro . < 'hilde .

"Welcome To Saint Mungo."

"WELCOME TO SAINT MUNGO . "

The following was composed and recited by G . W . Wheeler , on the occasion of Major Hamilton Ramsay , Grand Registrar anil Prioi of the Lothians , and deputation from the

Supreme Chapter General of the Relig ious and Military ( ) rder of the Temple , visiting Glasgow , toconfirm the union of the old Girvan Encampment with that body , install its officers , and sanction the adoption of the new name of " Saint Mungo ' s Encampment . "

Welcome , to one and all , lo night ; Welcome , to all the sons of light : Saint Mungo , patron of this city , Welcomes the good , the wise , the witty .

Welcome , the Grand Registar ; Welcome , to all who ' ve come from far , To the Supreme Chapter Knights That come to grace our solemn rites .

To all who are assembled here , Saint Mungo oilers of his cheer ; 1 lis tent is open as his heart ; freely refresh ere you depart .

To night he meets you in his pride , 1 lis bread and wafer laid aside ; I le will not ask his friends to share I lis usual plain and frugal fare .

I le welcomes , too , his English guests ; For them he'll strive to do his best ; Right proud and glad is he to see All stranger Knights of this degree .

Two ceremonies now we view , A wedding and a christening too ; A union happily now arranged Between a pair too long estranged .

Lang-syne , the Knight of Edin . i ' s lower Woed the fair maid in Ginau ' s bower ; The country maid was full of pride , Xo ; would consent to be a bride .

Long years have past , but still the flame , Though dickering oft , still burnt the same ; J udieious friends a meeting brought , And now the consummation ' s wrought .

The best and bravest til the land , Edina ' s sous- — a noble band— - Have come to claim the bonnie bride , And wed ii . rmi the banks of Clyde . They come with all the pomp and power That wei ! befits ihc mairiaee hour :

• - o J They come lull of Masonic fire ; They come , with Lothian ' s noble Prior .

And no undowered damsel she , Who weds to ' scape from poverty , For in her train , and at her side , Full eight score Kni ghts in armour ride .

Then welcome to this marriage feast , This union ' twixt the West and Hast , We II pass the lo \ nig cup around- — "To Lawful Love , by Union crowned .

"Welcome To Saint Mungo."

Another ceremony see , A christening of no mean degree ; Not of a puny new-born boy , His doating mother ' s only joy ,

But of a full-grown stalwart man , Who ' s a long course of triumph ran ; Achieved success in many a fight , By boldly battling for the right .

And now , upon the battle field , Where many a one he ' s forced to yield , The Supreme Commander , for his might , Gives a new name , and dubs him Knight .

A name bestowed for victories won , A name of honour for his son , A name revered in many climes , A name to hand to future times .

And this reflects no shade of shame Upon his birth or former name ; But is a higher title , given To mark where he has nobly striven ;

Where he s gained honour and renown , Here in Saint Mungo ' s ancient town , By fighting ' neath the broad Beauscant , So named him after the good Saint .

All precedence they used to yield To him , who knighted on the field , His honour as his armour bright , — No namby-pamby carpet Knight .

This honour we have now obtained , A noble object , nobly gained ; And humble Girvan sinks its name , In great SAIXT MUNGO ' higher fame .

Accept this welcome to our feast . From one the humblest and the least Of those brave , struggling Girvan men , Whose sharpest sword has been his

pen—A pen he never dipt m gall , But wrote in kindness unto all , Though still maintaining he was right—A Constitutional Girvan Knight .

Defending her from vile attacks Of those brave , struggling Girvan men , Repeating calumnies so vile , At them he can afford to smile .

He still urged Union as the best , The noblest , truest , surest test Of Christian Virtue , Charity , With till our brethren to agree .

And now this union ' s taken place , Your presence nobl y doth it . grace , For at this marriage-christening feast We have the Wise men from the East .

Yes , the Chapter General of the land Has sent a noble , chosen band To install us here with solemn rites . And recognise the Girvan Kni ghts .

The name we ' ve chosen serves full well The nature of our work to tell ; The parallel you will confess , For he ' s oft drawn in Templar ' s dress .

From humble village on the coast I le came , lo be proud Scotia ' s boast ; We from a weaving hamlet sprung , And Scotland with our work has rune .

He was ol simple birth and fame , A proud Cathedral bears his name ; A few poor men , but Masons true , We ' re raising a proud Temple too .

1 o Clnlha s banks Saint Mungo came To spread his I loi y Master ' s fame , So we , in humble manner too , Have the Great Master ';; work to do .

A humble , pious Christian he , Such as Knight Templars ought to be ; For at the altar we have sworn To worship Christ , the lovely born ; To aid the widow in distress .

f ' ruig coniiort 11 > the comfortless , And hilpless maidens still to shield , — For them our swords we'll freely wiild .

To save a young and virtuous lass , Fight till we gam the warrior ' s pass ; ( ) ur Pagan foes shall humbl y kneel , While we pass through the arch of steel .

For as Knight Templars we must fight , Must still do hauli- for the right ; Must not remain as v . v are now , Bui add fresh laurels to our brow .