Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The monthly meeting of the Committee of Management of this Institution was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday last , under the presidency of Bro . Fredk . Davison , P . G . D ., as Chairman , among those present being Bros . H . Cox . F . Adlard , W . Clarke , P . G . P . ; G . Bolton , J . Brett ,

P . G . P . ; W . | . Murlis , T . K . Danicll , C . H . Webb , C . A . Cottebrune , P . G P . ; T . Griffi-hs J . L . Mather , Chas . F . Hogard , L . Stean , C . H . Driver , J . Newton , C . Dairy , Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; Capt . Donant . C . F . Matier , Jno . Bulmer , T . Hastings Miller , and Jas . Terry ( Secretary ) . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the deaths of three annuitants—two male

and one widow—were reported . Of four petitions submitted and considered , three were accepted , and the names directed to be entered on the list of candidates for the election in May , 18 S 6 , while the fourth vvas deferred . The SECRETARY reported that he had received a cheque for £ 70 , being the amount voted by United Grand Lidge towards providing the inmates at Croydon with coals during

the approaching winter . Application vvas made by a widow for the moiety of her late husband ' s annuity , and granted . Bro . C . H . WEBB ' S motion for the removal of two names from the list of candidates for the next election , was , after

a considerable amount of discussion , withdrawn . A resolution congratulating the Secretary on his recovery from his prolonged illness was proposed , unanimously passed , and most warmly acknowledged by Bro . TERRY . A vote ot thanks to the Chairman for presiding brought the proceedings to a close .

The West Lancashire Alpass Masonic Institution.

THE WEST LANCASHIRE ALPASS MASONIC INSTITUTION .

On Sunday the 23 rd ult ., a sermon in aid of the West Lancashire Alpass Masonic Institution for Widows of Freemasons vvas preached in St . Thomas ' s Church , by Bro . the Rev . J . P . Shepperd , MA ., Prov . Grand Chaplain West Lancashire . There was only a small attendance . Amongst

the officers present were Bros . Councillor Galloway , Councillor Nevett , Cockshott , Collins , W . Troughton , W . M . ; Payne , W . M . ; Scott , W . M . ; Ormandy , W . M ., and Wolstenholme . 1 he service , which commenced punctually at half-past three , was conducted by Bros , the Rev . A . B . Beaven and the Rev . B . C . Huntley , Hutton Grammar School . At the close a collection was made , and the sum realised amounted to £ S 2 s . < 5 d .

All Honour To The Foundations.

ALL HONOUR TO THE FOUNDATIONS .

When Bro . Captain ( now General ) Warren , of the English Royal Engineers , some years ago explored the site of King Solomon ' s Temple , and made excavations at the southeast cornerof the sanctuary wall , sinking shafts to the depth of fifty-three feet , he discovered the foundations of the Temple as originally laid by the Tyrian builders . His

discoveries were remarkable in more respects than one . They not only revealed the actual substructions of the Temple as they were laid three thousand years ago , but showed as well the Masons' Marks upon the stones , as fresh and exact as they were when first cut and painted . The base of the paint vvas red chalk , a natural production , and nearly indestructible by the elements or time , so that

even on l-gyptian monuments that are thirty-five centuries old it is fresh and bright today . In Bio . Captain Warren ' s book describing his discoveries , and in Reddinn ' s " Antiquities of the Orient Unveiled , " these " Masons' Marks " are exactly pictured and described , and are of the deepest interest to Freemasons . But interesting as these marks are—forming right angles ,

triangles , stars , circles , crosses , triple triangles , etc ., and awakening important historical and antiquarian recollections as these foundation-stones do , after all the great lesson they inculcate is taught , as all the lessons of Freemasonry are taught , symbolically . He who goes beneath the surface to find the deepest , most abiding truth , sees more than the material stones . And what is this truth ?

The fact that , while Solomon ' s Temple , Zerubbabel ' s Temple , and Herod's Temple—the triad of Temples that have stood on the world ' s chief Masonic ground—have all been swept from the lace of Mount Moriah , so that r . ot a vestige of them remains above the surface of the ground ; the foundationstones , as originally laid , continue in place to the present

day , and promise to so remain other millenials to comefrom which fact we learn , that while Freemasonry may tower aloft , a pyramid of Degrees , growing smaller and smaller as it rises into the thin air , the topmost shall be the first to fall , and thc lowest of all the last to remaineternal as the foundations upon which King Solomon , with lhe aid of the Tyrian builders , erected his glorious edifice

lo the only living and true God ! Brethren of low degree , brethren of high degree , and brethren of all degrees , take note of this fact . The first three Degrees in Masonry are 'he foundations of the Masonic edifice to-day , and these alone , or these at last surely , like the material foundations of King Solomon ' s Temple , are destined to last for all hme . The Master Mason ' s Degree is the Sublime Degree , and

there is none higher , though many others have been superadded . Others beyond are only the original three Uegrees attenuated and whittled away to a point . So-called Higher Degrees " may be temporarily lifted up in the air , out they will not remain . In the nature of things the last iJegree will be the first to go . Look at the Great Pyramid " -truncated . Those Freemasons are most to be envied who value most the foundations of Masonry , who are most

attentive to their lodge , who attend its duties first , and others afterwards . How many so-called Masonic Degrees are there ? It ™ Bht be safe to say so many to-day ; but you could not « y how many there will be to-morrow . New rites , which are assemblages of Degrees , are invented without any particular trouble . All a brother has to do is to fancy himself sta " i ""•and > Presto , the thing is done . He may either .:. a new rite , or revive a defunct opposition to an old

mod Everything and anything is right in the eyes of a Kit Solomon He may improvise a Royal Masonic Th rS , ! l jhian Rite , an Egyptian Rite , or what not . cert •1 'S th

All Honour To The Foundations.

fattens on " accumulative Masonry " —Masonry gone to seed , and then soaked and diluted to a ninetieth trituration . What do you think of a brother who has learned three hundred and sixty-five ways of recognising another brother , who understands three hundred and sixty-five methods of teaching an initiate his duties to his companions ; who has three hundred and sixty-five manners of investing his loose c » sh ; who worships with equal facility and seriousness at

the altar of Mohammedanism or the altar of Christianity ; who can one evening as a Templar imagine himself flashing his sword in an infidel Mohammedan ' s bseast , and the next can join his recent affinity in singing praises to Allah ? All this it may be is very curious , very interesting , but very inconsislent , and should be very startling . It is wandering away from the old faith after strange gods . It is covering up the body of Masonry , and decking it and smothering it

with embarrassing apparel . It is erecting a superstructure which will not endure the trials of time . The basic Degrees only are for all time . The foundations of King Solomon ' s Temple to-day typify this fact to Freemasons . Let us honour these foundations as we should , for we owe to them all that we are , and all that we hope to be , as members of the great Free and Accepted Cralt , which alone as a living fraternal chain encircles the globe . —Keystone .

A Canadian Masonic Worthy.

A CANADIAN MASONIC WORTHY .

Sir Knight W . J . B . MacLeod Moore , Supreme Grand Master of the Sovereign Great Priory of Canada , in his Allocution at the meeting of the Great Priory , held at Hamilton , Ontario , on the 7 th July last , referred at length in the following terms tothe character and Masonic services of the late ^ ir Knight G . Canning Longley , one of the members of the Great Prior's Council , who died at Prescott ,

early in the present year . The account is much mure worthy of notice that Sir Knights Moore and Longley were not of one mind on certain questions of policy , having reference to rites other than the Templar , that we have considered it expedient to transcribe it in full : — Fra . George Canning Longley , whose private friendship I enjoyed for many years , and was fortunate in having the benefit of his extensive reading , sound judgment , and

undisputed historical Masonic knowledge , as one of the Great Prior ' s Council in this Great Priory of Canada , departed this life at Prescott , Ont ., 23 rd February , i > S 5 , and although not altogether unlocked for , having been a great sufferer and confined to his room for many months , the sad event has cast a gloom and left a blank amongst his many private and Masonic friends who knew him best . Our lamented frater was taken away at the comparatively

early age of 57 years . He was born at Maitland , Ont ., on the 2 gth October , 1 S 27 , where the greater part of his life was spent , inheriting consideiablc landed property from his father , who had become a settler in Canada , arriving from England in the first decade of the century . For the last five years our brother resided at Prescott , where he held the position of Collector ol Inland Revenue . In private life he was an amiable and affectionate husband

and father , a kind and sincere friend , a retiring student , seldom to be found away from home or absent from his library and beloved books , and possessing an extensive collection of rare and unique works on all subjects . In his extensive correspondence on Masonic matters he was at all times clear , courteous , and to the point , but caustic and cutting in the extreme when he felt called upon to administer the lash of disapproval . Our esteemed and

lamented brother was essentially a " Masonic student , " a seeker after truth , desiring always the fullest light upon all questions , preferring to see things as they are , not as a vain or fond imagination would fain suppose them to be . He delighted in sharing his store of learning , and took a generous pleasure in the exaltation of his friends to the honour and distinction of offices in Masonry , albeit he himself neither coveted or aspired to aught but the distinction

of being thoroughly versed in the deepest mysteries of Masonic lore , and that could not be withheld , even by those whose imperfect intercourse with our lost friend and fellow worker denied them the privilege of his friendship . 1 could enlarge on this theme , having known and loved him well ; but if " many waters cannot quench love , neither can many words conquer grief . " He became a Mason in 1852 , and was initiated in a lodge

at Ogdensburgh , State of New York , on the river St . Lawrence , opposite the Canadian Town of Prescott , afterwards affiliating with the Sussex Lodge , of Brockville , Canadian Registry , and the Koyal Arch Chapter there . In his own village of Maitland , he subsequently established the St . James Craft Lodge , and Maitland Royal Arch Chapter , also the Gondemar Preceptory and Raymond du Puis Priory of the United Orders of tbe Temple

and Malta , in which I had myself initiated and installed him first Preceptor and Prior . He was also a member of the Royal Order of Scotland , and that of Rome and Constantine , and was Vice-President of the Rosicrucian Society , together with the various side Degrees known in Canada as Masonic , and at the time of his death filled the office of Grand Master General of the Oriential Egyptian Rite , & c . Our brother was also at one time a member of 0

the A . and A . S . Rile , Supreme Grand Council 33 , of Canada , holding the Degree of 32 nd , and was M . W . Sovereign of the Rose Croix Chapter which he had established under that bedy , ibut unfortunately , having some misunderstanding with the executive officers , whom he asserted had assumed an offensive tone of superiority and dictatorial manner towards him , arising , it would teem , from his two liberal ideas on Masonry , which did not meet

their views , therefore , with the unanimous consent of the members of the Rose Croix Chapter , he returned the warrant and resigned all connection with the Supreme Council . His resignation was accepted , and for two years his name disappeared from the roll of members in obedience to that Body , when considering himself no longer under their control , nor in any way bound to them , he felt at liberty to join another Body of the Rite in a foreign jurisdiction ; this led to hs forming an Independent

Supreme Council for British North America , derived lrom the old * ' Cerneau " revived Body A . and A . S . Rite in the United States , and to his establishing , a long thought of scheme , a Sovereign Body to embrace all Rites and Degrees of the High Grade system of a common origin . Being an active member of the Supreme Council 33 for Canada , I did not coincide with him in the necessity or expediency of doing so , but this expressed difference of opinion was never allowed to disturb our long friendship , having agreed to avoid discussion on subjects

A Canadian Masonic Worthy.

wherein we held adverse opinions , in this case entirel y resting on preconceived ideas and individual bias of but trivial importance in the affairs of private life . I have thought it imperative to make this explanation , as an implied slur has been thrown upon our late brother ' s Masonic character by the high-handed measures the Supreme Council thought fit to adopt , by publishing his expulsion from their body , an act that can be only justifiable towards

a member , which he was not , and is a stretch of despotic Masonic authority I totally dissent from . The Masonic standing of our late esteemed brother did not in any way suffer , nor , as plainly evident , prevent the success and progress of the bodies he had established . He had finished his career , and left behind naught but pleasant memories to his personal friends . May the voice which speaks to us

in his death he properly attended to and improved by us , as we in mind stand beside his grave and drop a tear , exclaiming , "Alas , my B'other . " It may not be out of place here , for us all to be reminded of the old adage , "demortuis nil nisi bonum , " that a revered silence should be preserved towards the dead , unless we can speak good of them .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

G . COMMANDERY OK KENTUCKY . Sir Knight Bernard G . Wilt , ti . Commander , presided at the 38 th annual conclave , held at Frankfort , on the 20 th and 2 ist May last , of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Kentucky , twenty-two Commanderies being represented , and the Grand Officers being well to the fore , while among the more distinguished visitors were Sir Knights La Rue Thomas , G . S . W . of the G . Encampment of the United States , and B . E . Langdon , G . Commander

of Kansas . 1 he opening was preceded by a grand pageant , the Sir Knights being fraternally welcomed by Sir Knight J . Procter Knott , Governor of the State . The total fund shows 31 S 9 dollars , while thc disbursements reached 1301 dollars , Sir Knight James M . Saffell vvas elected G . Commander for the year , and Sir Knight Loronzo Dow Croninger , of Covington , re-elected G . Recorder . The meeting appears to have been most successful and to have attracted a large amount of interest from the worthy citizens of Frankfort and its vicinity .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . HENRY BURROWS . The death is announced of Bro . Henry Burrows , who was well known and highly respected in Masonic circles in Liverpool and district . He had been for a long period a member of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 6 73 , and occupied the post of Worshipful Master several years ago Deceased

also took an active interest in other branches of Masonry , and was a warm supporter of the Charities . He carried on an extensive business as a photographer in Islington ( Liverpool ) for many years , and in this connection he vvas also much esteemed . The interment took place on Tuesday afternoon , at Anfield Cemetery , Liverpool .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

BIRTHS . BIRD . —On the 6 th inst ., at Naas , co . Kildare , the wife of Capt . S . G . Bird , of a son . FRANCIS . —On the 4 th inst ., at Woodhurst Kent , the wife of Capt . W . H . Francis , of a son . KING . —On the 7 th inst ., at Windsor-place , Cardiff , the wife of B . W . King , of a son . LEE . —On the 5 th inst ., at Crumpsall , Manchester , the wife

of W . Lee , of a daughter . SCHWARZSCHILD . —On the 7 th inst ., at G 2 , Pembridgevillas , Bayswater , W ., the wife of Jacob Schwarzschild , of a son . WALTER . —On the 6 th inst ., at Mandeville-place , W ., the wife of the Rev . H . M . Walter , of a son . WORTHINGTON . —On the 6 th inst ., at Oxford-terrace , W ., the wife of G . M . Worthington , of a son .

MARRIAGES . BOTTRILL— BAYLIS . —On the 2 nd inst ., at the parish church , Marylebone , Walter Edward Bottrill , of Culworth-street , Regent ' s Park , to Alice Baylis , of Highstreet , St . John ' s-wood . MAJOR—REYNOLDS . —On the 8 th inst ., at the parish church of Lewisham , Henry Major , of Greenwich , to Mary Jane Reynolds , of Lewisham .

DEATHS . BENSON . —On the 4 th inst ., at Faubourg St . Honor 6 , Paris , Charles Benson , Esq . C HAMP . —On the 5 th inst ., at Mabledon-place , W . C , Robert Champ , in his 79 th year . G RAY . —On the 26 th ult ., at Sloane-street , Jane Annie , widow of H . G . Gray .

LAYTON . —Cn the 7 th inst ., Edward John Layton , of Parkhurst , Bexley , Kent , aged 61 . PARKER . —On the 4 th inst ., at Farndon , Cheshire , John Parker , M . R C . S . L ., L . S . A ., late of Hanmer , Whitchurch , Shropshire , in his 61 st year . SHORTER . —On the 6 th inst ., at Oakfield , Forest-hill , John

Shorter , aged 75 . SQUIRE . —On the 29 th ult ., at San Francisco , Lovell Squire , jun ., M . A ., late of Falmouth . W OOD . —On the 7 th inst ., at Wind-hill House , Bishop ' s Stortford , Thomas Wood , of Upper Montague-street , Russell-square .

The brethren of the different lodges ( Nos . 1546 , E . C , 655 , S . C , & c ) , held in Charters Towers , Queensland , celebrated St . John ' s Dny ( 24 th June ) in right hearty fashion , the proceeding commencing with a banquet in the School of Arts , at which about 100 guests , among

whom were several ladies , sat down . When the usual toast list had been honoured after dinner , the tables were removed , and dancing was entered upon , and kept up till an early hour of the following morning . Everything indeed passed off splendidly , the dinner and music being excellent , and the decorations of the room most suitable . 1