Masonic Service At St. Augustine's Church, Honor Oak.

MASONIC SERVICE AT ST . AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH , HONOR OAK .

An interesting and successful Masonic Service was held in the above church on the evening of the 2 nd instant . The idea originated with tlie respected Vicar , Bro . the Rev . Percy White-Collard , M . A ., who with his churchwardens , Bros . J . S . Harling , W . M . 1293 , P . M . and Treas . 30 , and James Martin , 63 , worked energetically to ensure a successful gathering . They were ably assisted by Bro . C . J . Wilkinson-Pimbury , P . M . 2241 and 1997 , who acted as Director of Ceremonies , and Bro . F . L . Perken , P . M . 63 , the Hon . Secretary .

The brethren assembled and clothed in the Parish Room at 7 . 30 , and walked in procession to the church , which is picturesquely situated on the brow of the hill known as One Tree Hill . Those who were strangers to the locality were p leasantly surprised at the extent and beauty ol the view gradually expanding around them , a fair panorama of hill and dale , smiling fields and dark woods , stretching for many a mile across the lovely country of Kent , with the outline of the Knockholt Beeches clearly visible in the distant horizon , full twenty miles

away . The brethren were met at the western door by the clergy and choristers , and presented an imposing spectacle as they proceeded up the centre aisle , to the music of a triumphant processional hymn . ' The service was sung by the vicar , the first lesson being read by Bro . the Rev . E . H . Pearce , M . A ., Vicar of Christ Church , Newgate-street , and the second lesson by the Rev . A . F . Ryder Bird , M . A ., of Forest Hill House .

The musical arrangements were under the able superintendence of the Organist , Bro . Ernest E . Vinen , F . R . C . O ., Org . 788 , and the performances worthily maintained the reputation of the choir of St . Augustine ' s—a church famous for its musical services . The programme comprised Hoyte ' s setting of the Lord ' s Prayer , Spohr ' s anthem— " How lovely are Thy dwellings fair ; " Stainer's duet— " Beloved , let us love one another ; " and the Sevenfold Amen and Hymns 39 X , 3 65 , and 437 from Hymns Ancient ana Modern .

fitting close to his most touching farewell , eloquent with pathos and affection , there stands out beautiful and clear the simple saying of our Lord—which I have chosen for nvy text— " It is more blessed to give than to receive . " We wonder what was the occasion which first drew forth from Jesus this paradox of Christian philanthropy . And yet , indeed , it matters not ; for the principle which is here set forth adapts itself to all circumstances , and is a fitting antidote to the natural selfishness of man , wherever that spirit is displayed . It is easy enough , of course , ,

sx . AUGUSTINE ' S CHURCH . The following admirable sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . J . F . KITTO , M . A ., Prebendary of St . Paul ' s , Chaplain-in-Ordinary to the Queen , and Vicar of St , Martins-in-the-Fields , Westminster , from Acts xx ., v . 35— " It is more blessed to give than to receive . " He said : As the diamond flashes out its own peculiar brilliancy above the richest and moat costly setting ; as the dewdrop , with its quivering beauty , sparkles out upon the whiteness of the lily's breast ; so here enshrined in the address of the Great Apostle to the Gentilesa

to see how the Apostle applies this saying of Jesus in his argument . He uses it in order to enforce that duty of practical sympathy and self-denying love , which he had also recommended by his own example . Now if he had urged this duty on the ground of the benefit which it conferred on others ; if even he had pointed to the pleasure which the expression of gratitude confers this seems easy enough to understand ; but when he supports his exhortation by this saying of our Lord , he is taking higher ground than this ; he is speaking of the blessedness

lo ourselves of the self-devcted and self-sacrificing spirit , and , strange as it may iecm , he claims this saying of our blessed Lord in support of his position , for it is more blessed to give than to receive . Now , of course , the mere pleasure ot receiving it is not difficult to understand . Go out into yonder thoroughfare , and watch the eager , hungry countenance of the beggar who pursues you with whining , piteous voice and outstretched hand . Bestow on him some larger gift than the merest trifle that only mocks his misery , and the greedy clutch , the brightened

eye will show at once the pleasure which your gift confers . A look at yonder miser , who , with stealthy looks and with feverish haste , counts up again his golden treasure as he adds another to his store . There may be pleasure , joy , and even rapture and ' delight in satisfied greed , or in appeased lust , or in taking of a beggar ' s dole , but there is nothing of blessedness in these . But when the mother receives from God the new born treasure to her bosom ; or when the mourner is comforted in sorrow by the loving words of Christian tenderness and sympathy ; or when the shipwrecked

mariner is rescued from impending death , and receives back again the Rut of life that had been well-nigh lost ; or better still when the soul receives troni God the blessed gilts of His own Holy Spirit , the sweetest consolation of His heavenl y love . Surely , as with hearts full of gratitude it is given to us to receive gifts like these , there is something more than mere pleasure and joy , there is a real blessedness which we can all appreciate . Can it then be true that there are D ressings higher and holier still can there be any blessing greater than that of receiving into a grateful heart the precious gifts which God bestows . " It is more Blessed to give than to receive . " Ask the athlete , and he will tell you that in the

Masonic Service At St. Augustine's Church, Honor Oak.

putting forth of physical strength , there is more enjoyment than in the long and powerful process of acquiring it , and so preparing for the strife . Ask the statesman , and he will bear witness that in the exercise of his high power , there is more pleasure than in the gaining it . Ask the poet , the author , the artist , or the teacher , and from all alike the testimony will be given that the real enjoyment is to be found , not in the gifts but in their exercise , not so much in acquiring as in spreading the powers they possess . Go to the philanthropist , the man in whose

heart their lives the enthusiasm of humanity , the man is filled with the spirit of tenderness and love for man , who longs to do good , hoping for nothing again , and he will tell you , that there is no joy like that pouring out itself in that ministry of love to man which is "twice blessed , which blesseth him that gives and him that takes . " Go to the Christian , the man who has received into his life the precious gift of God ' s own love , to whom every gift he gains comes as a mark of God's favour , and an expression to him of God's care . His heart is

full of blessedness in the gifts which he has received ; but he , too , will bear hi ) willing witness to the truth of our blessed Master ' s declaration —• " It is more blessed to give than to receive . " Yes , he most of all , as a steward for God , of every gift which God bestows , with willing service and whole-hearted devotion to the Lord , gives back to God and consecrates to His glory all that he is and all that he possesses , and the more he is able to give of time , of opportunities , of talents , of wealth , ot effort , to the glory of God , the more fully does he recognise

that blessed as it is to receive good gifts from God , there is a higher , holier blessedness in being permitted to give back to Him , and pour out before the altar of His throne those gifts of a grateful heart , which he is willing to accept . But does this blessedness come to every kind of gift—and if not what are the characteristics and conditions of that giving which procures the blessing . If you do good to them which do good to you , what thanks have ye ? If ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive , what thanks have ye ? To give in a cold , calculating

spirit , as a matter of fashion , or of policy ; to give in order to win the approval of men , to give not out of love , but in a vain spirit of ostentation and display , there is no blessedness in this . To give what we can easily spare , to bestow that which we shall not miss , to give without generosity and without self-sacrifice , there is no blessedness in this . Self-sacrifice is the essential condition of the blessing . In this country we pride ourselves upon the largeness of our liberalities , and boast in the greatness of our Charity .

What amazes me is not the generosity , but the intense spirit of selfishness which finds its home in every class of society . The self-indulgence which permits the working man to consume on his own personal pleasure that which should minister to the comforts of his home , and which leads the wealthy man to allow himself the gratification of every expensive taste and appetite , and forbids him to be lavish in his gifts to God , and to God ' s church and to God ' s poor . Why is it that in these hard times , as men call them , with every evidence

of wealth and luxury around us , every philanthropic and religious work is languishing for want of funds ? How is it , that the luxury of benevolence is the first luxury which many men curtail , and that the barest fraction of his income is the utmost that men can afford to devote to the glory of God ? But if there is no blessedness in giving without self-sacrifice , so there can be no hearty self-sacrifice where there is no love . God loveth a cheerful giver , for that cheerfulness in giving is a sign and evidence of love . Love which makes the sacrifice ersy ,

makes the blessedness complete ; and , thank God , that this blessedness in giving is open to us all —the poorest and richest may share in this—for the highest blessedness comes in giving the highest and the noblest gift . Consecrate yourself to God and the blessedness is yours ; cast out the idol that sits enthroned in the natural heart of man , and let God , and God alone , occupy the vacant throne , and reign in heart and life supreme . There is no blessedness like this . Pray God that it may be yours . Give all you can to Him , and then all that

you possess will be used in daily stewardship for Him . To you who are my brethren in the Craft I need add nothing to urge the claims of our Masonic Charities upon your warm and generous support , for we all recognise it to be our first duty and our highest privilege to be liberal in our gifts to the brethren . The very foundation principles of our Craft demand that we should show towards one another fidelity , philanthropy , and love . And it is in the exercise of these gifts that we best exhibit and set forth to others the power of Freemasonry . To you

who are not of the Craft it would be impossible to appeal on grounds like these . You are , no doubt , strongly influenced by a desire to know what are the peculiar secrets of the Society . There are secrets , of course , which no Freemason may reveal , but there are also guiding and governing principles which are common to all men , and if I appeal to my brethren on the ground of fidelity , philanthropy ,

and love , I may appeal to you for your generous help on the same grounds , and ask you to give in that liberal and loving and self-sacrificing spirit which alone can win the blessing , so that by your own experience you may learn the truth of this saying of our Lord— " It is more blessed to give than to re : eive . '' The collection amounted to close upon ^ 20 , which will be devoted to the Masonic Charities .

Amongst the brethren present were Bros . E . W . Allen , P . M . 173 and 79 s , P . Z . 173 ; G . R . Bolton , P . P . J . G . W . Kent ; H . Carman , P . M . 548 and 442 , P . P . G . O . Norths and Hunts ; Dr . S . Hague , P . M . 2105 , P . P . G . D . C . Middlesex ; George Kenning , P . M . 192 and 1657 , P . P . G . D . Middlesex ; H . Preen , P . M . 377 , P . Z ., P . P . J . G . D . Worcestershire ; R . H . Dean , P . M . 657 ; E . T . Edwards , P . M . 788 and 2264 , P . P . A . G . D . C . Middlesex ; L . Ferguson , P . M . 1997 ; H , Gardiner , W . M . 1261 ; G . E . Gwinne , P . M . 1321 ; C . Gooding , P . M . 788 ; j .

Hart , P . M . 193 ; E . T . Perken , P . M . 63 ; C . Robeson , P . M . 673 ; A . Rosendale , P . M . 1673 ; C . Sargent , P . M . 1261 ; C . G . Saunders , P . M . 1609 ; C . H . Stone , P . M . 507 ; F . J . Street , P . M . ; J . W . Stevens , W . M . 2234 ; J . D . E . Tarr , P . M . 1293 , P . P . G . D . Middlesex ; C . Upton , W . M . 63 ; Isiac Duan , P . M . 1622 ; VV . Downing , P . M . 20 , P . G . D . C . Kent ; T . Whitford , P . M . 2500 ; F . H . Bywater , 1987 ; W . R . B . Briscoe , S . W . 1657 ; J . W . Breeze , J . D . 22154 ; W . Colclough , 343 ; H . Cornford , S . D . 1922 ; H . A . Christmas , 2182 ; VV . Crute ,

1076 ; E . N . Davis , 1818 ; G . Fawcett , P . P . G . Org . Somerset ; C . N . Foley , 173 ; R . L . Franks , S . D . 96 ; J . Graves , 7 88 ; A . Inskipp , S . D . 1997 ; J . L . King , 1339 j VV . S . Le Grand , 8 74 ; J . Lamyon , 1364 ; H . Lewis , J . D . 2579 ; C . Lock , J . W . 1361 ; J . A . McLaughlin , 30 ; A . R . Marten , 18 G ; Alfred Moore , 91 ; J . Moore , I . G . 1364 ; T . G . Miller , J . W . 2105 ; H . VV . Neild , 16 . 11 ; H . M . Newlyn , 180 ; T . J . Peckham , S . D . 1423 ; A . E . Remington , J . W . 30 ; J . F Roberts , 76 ; W . Ramsey , 1777 , P . P . G . D . Middlesex ; T . Lewes Sayer , 121 O ; C , Smith , S . W . 30 ; F . W . Trackson , 105 S ; and A . T . Walmsley , 2241 .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of North And East Yorkshire And The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE AND THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

Tlr ; following is a copy of the resolution passed at the general half-yearly meeting of the Provincial Charities' Association , held at York , on the 18 th ultimo : ¦—"That this meeting , representing the Province of North and Etst Yorkshire , strongly objects to the sale of the Royal Masonic Institution for Bojs , or the purchase of site lor a new School , and requests that , befjre any steps bj uken in this direction , the general body of Subscribers be appealed to to : their o jinion on the subject . "