Obituary.

ceedings will be vain and useless if they fail to excite our serious reflections , and strengthen our resolutions of amendment . Let us perform our allotted task while it is day , for the nig ht of death cometh when no man can work . It is passing strange that , notwithstanding the daily

mementoes of mortality which cross our path , notwithstanding the funeral bell tolls so often on our ears , and the mournful processions go about our streets , that we do not consider our latter end , and lay it more forcibly to heart , that we must ourselves go down into the silent chamber

of the tomb . Let us then improve the remaining space of life , by living in obedience to God ' s laws and ordinances , by living lives of usefulness and virtue , so that , after the termination of our pilgrimage on earth , we may enjoy a happy , blissful future in the realms of cloudless eternity .

To live well , so as to be acceptable to our Heavenly Father , is our duty here , and , as sons of light , it is our duty to progress upwards , and to live in accordance with the teachings of our Order , to do all we can to promote our spiritual

advancement , to be living examples of the philosophy of Freemasonry , so that we may enjoy the happy reflections consequent on a well spent life , and to be enabled , through faith in the all-sufficient sacrifice of our Lord and

Saviour , to die in the hope of a glorious immortality , and be welcomed into the land of unfading flowers by blessed happy saints who have gone before .

Poetry.

Poetry .

THE MASONIC VISIT TO LONGNOR

OCT . 20 , 1873 . Say not this world has naught but toil and trouble , Thorny paths and prickly cares ; Delusive joys , like transient gilded bubble Collapsing unawares :

Look not with bleared and hazy obscured vision , But hear my tale , ' ere making this decision . October ' s chilling winds with angry motion Disperse tlie tinted dying leaves ; As the rude billows of the restless ocean Its countless waifs receives :

When Buxton ' s brotherhood with ardent zeal Their love to Father Milward publicly reveal . A pilgrimage is formed and all unite , A courteous , joyous , happy band—Brothers and sisters fair in high delight

To greet the patriarchal hand . To give the honour due—" which nobody can deny " The sapient Founder of the Phoenix , family . Around the festive board the children Rather

With overflowing hearts and minds ; Receive the blessing of their hoary father , Treasure his precepts and designs . Anon the merry dance and joyous song The social and convivial hours prolong . Behold how good and pleasant is the seeing

Of concord , amity , and per . ee ! All envy , malice and sly distrust fleeing . Deception and ill humour cease . 'Tis like the gracious , sweet refreshing showers Diffusing life and joy to fainting plants and flowers .

How rational is such enjoyment . Recollections calm and sweet ; 'Tis like the warmth of spring when birds are Qlnirnur

"'" ft "'?} And ( lowers rise up beneath our feet . Kindness—good will , and sympathy with others , Would make mankind a band of loyal , generous brothers . R . J .

Long inal anil 1 ast hijienciicc Test and Prort Remedies . —I lollo ' . ay's well-known and meritorious meuicaments make those who possess them , and attend to their dir .-ctious for use , masters of their health in all seasons alike , l ' or v . uiahle and iclaxing weather they arc especially sciviccahle in maintaining nervous vigour , and in defending tlie Irame against ill consequences fioni

dampness or chills . If the lirst symptoms receive attention and judicious treatment , nut vsvvly will future danger be mcited , hut old ailments will give way , and bcttei health will be attained than was enjojed hcfoie the illness . No treatment , for safety and ceitainty of . success , can be so confidently relied upon as that discovered by-Professor Ilolloway , whose l'jlls . and Ointment always restore the sufferer .

Relations Of Sts. John To Freemasonry.

RELATIONS OF STS . JOHN TO FREEMASONRY .

( BY BRO . J ACOB NORTON )

Many columns were filled in 1870-71 , in the London Freemason , discussing the above question , but with no result . On one side it was mere assertion that the legends cannot be disproved , and that St . John said , " Love ye one another . "

This was simply ridiculed b y the opponents , and there was actually nothing proved or disproved . I mean , therefore , in this paper to give briefly all the known legends of the Sts . John Masonry , and then to show their worthlessness . I have before me Bro . A . T . C . Pierson ' s book

of " Traditions of Freemasonry . " Its title-page sets forth the author ' s claim as a great Mason , such as being a P . G . M ., P . G . H . P ., G . Capt . Gen . of the G . Encampment of the T . S ., and Inspector General 33 . Our author was thus enabled to collect all the traditions from the whole Masonic

arcana , beside many works enumerated in the preface , on theology , astrology , mythology , cabalostology , and other ologies , all which he carefully studied in connection with Oliver ' s and Mackay ' s works ; from which works he acquired the use of many learned words and

phrasessuch as Pelasgi , Hierophant , Somothsrace , Jupiter . Osiris , Thoth , Typhon , and what not , all which he conglomerated into Masonry , for " all was fish that came into his net . " Beside which , he bespattered the book with clusters of Hebrewletters , to all which he appended meanings ,

though some have no meaning at all . But what of that ? It served to impress Tom , Dick , and Harry with the author ' s profound scholarship . With such miscellaneous stock of stuff , Bro . Pierson deemed himself worthy of shining amid the Masonic constellation of luminaries : and this

aspiration resulted in the publication of this book , which is neither more nor less than a rehash of Oliver ' s absurdities . And as I am certain that the whole Masonic horizon of luminaries cannot furnish a more zealous Johannite than Bro . Pierson , 1 have , therefore , selected this book to cull

from the accumulated traditions of the Sts . John Masonry , and here they are : Legend 1 st . " Our ancient brethren dedicated their lodges to King Solomon , because he was our M . E . G . M . ; but modern Masons dedicate lodges to Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist , who were two eminent patrons of Masonry

—so say our modern lecturers . " " These traditions can be traced for several hundred years , and we , as Masons , have sufficient evidence for our purpose that they ( the saints ) were Kssenes or Freemasons " . Of course . Bro . Pierson says " We , as Masons , have sufficient evidence , " and we , as Masons , must take it for granted that Bro . P . knows all about it .

Legend 2 nd . Lodges were successively dedicated to Noah , Solomon , Zerubbabel , St . John the Baptist , and last , owing to the massacres attending the destruction of the second temple . Freemasonry sank into decay , when seven brethren were deputed , in the city of Benjamin ,

to wait on St . John the Evangelist , and request him to become Grand Master of the Fraternity . The saint replied to the request : " Though well stricken in years , being upward of ninety , yet having in his early years been made a Mason , and still retaining an affection for the Craft , so

he consented to their request . " Ever since which time Freemason lodges in all Christian countries have been dedicated both to St . John the Baptist and St . John the Evangelist . Legend 3 rd . St . J ohn the Evangelist first became connected with a lodge of Freemasons

( Essenes ) , according to Masonic chronology , 4037 , A . D . 35 , and he continued attached to it during his lifetime . Legend 4 th . Enumerates the names that Masons were known by in successive ages , thus :

Noahidoe , Sages , or wise men , Dionysiacs , Geometricians , or Masters in Israd , Hiram Brothers , Essenes , Brothers of St . John , and last , Free and Accepted Masons , which cognomen they received in 1440 , at Valenciennes , in Paris . Legend 5 th . St . John the Evangelist , who

Relations Of Sts. John To Freemasonry.

was an Essenian Freemason ( vide Calmut ) , instituted a secret theological society , with mystic rites and Masonic emblems ; and some authors go further , and assert that Clement of Rome

who was a disciple of Peter and Paul , at John ' s death , got possession of the books , & c , of the society , incorporated it into the Christian religion , and that Polycarp was a presiding officer .

Legend 6 th . During the Crusades , the Masonic Knights , having , with those of St . John of Jerusalem , to fight against the infidels , they placed themselves under the protection of that saint , and proving themselves victorious , * * * they agreed that lodges should thenceforth be

dedicated to God and St . John . And Bro . Pierson here assures us " that the brethren in the fifteenth century placed implicit confidence in these legends . " Legend 7 th . was doubtless invented by a Scotch Rite man . It goes on to say that twenty-seven

thousand Scotch Brother Hirams when fighting in the Holy Land , displayed both valour and peculiar qualites of brotherly love , which peculiarity attracted the attention of some of the Knights Templar , who were induced to be initiated into the mysteries of the said Hiram

Brothers , and these were so pleased with the ceremonies of the Hiramites , that other Templars were induced to be initiated in the mysteries of the said Hiram Brothers , and these were so pleased with the ceremonies of the Hiramites , that other Templars followed their example ,

and in gratitude for the favors received , they passed a law that none but Hiram Brothers should thenceforth become Templars , and the Hiram brethren , in compliment to the Knig hts , adopted the Baptist as their own patron , since which time Masonic lodges were dedicated to St . John the Baptist .

Legend Sth . John the Baptist became an orphan when verv young , and he was adopted by the Essenes , where he learned to feed on dates , " as we find him in the Gospel , " and this Bro . Pierson calls , ¦ ' collateral evidence " to sustain the legend . Our author also informs us that the test

question used in the seventeenth century was : " From whence came you ? " Answer . From the holy Lodge of St ! John . " This , however , is contradicted by Dr . Oliver , who attributes the first Masonic catechism , including the above question and answer , to Anderson and Desaguliers , made in 1720 , which was in the eighteenth century , not the seventeenth . ( To be continued . )

Public Amusements.

Public Amusements .

CAMBERWELL HALL .

On the evening of Thursday week , Bro . Seymour Smith gave at the above hall , his Humorous , Vocal , Colloquial , and Piano-forte Recital " The Composer at Home . " A very interesting part of the programme was the " Railway Station , " in which Bro . Smith

rendered the various characters that are to be met with at such a place with remarkable ability . " Never lose a Friend" was given with much spirit and earnestness . He gave unqualified satisfaction in " A Visit to the Opera , " "The Unfortunate Man , " was received with much applause . The programme contained n a ly different

selections , but they were rendered Willi exquisite taste and brilliancy , which distinguishes our accomplished brother , and the enthusiastic applause which was given by the crowded audience was a guarantee that his efforts were fully appreciated . The tones of the piano-forte were well brought out , and Bro ; Smith is to be congratulated on the success of his entertainment .

WniE-Quii . Tni ) Soi . r . n Boors , which save 50 per cent , in wear , may he had from Burgess , 2 QA , Oxford-street , W ; Syiealt , 13 , Broadway , Ludgate-Viin ; 141 um \ ell , 66 , l- ' orestreet , City ; Lewis , 2011 , Liverpool-road , N . j and elsewhere . N . 13 . —Your regular bootmaker can procure soles readyquiited in every size from the Wire Quilting Company , Limited ; or have his own leather quilted by forwarding same to the Company ' s works , Leicester . —ADVT . _ ,