Consecration Of The Noel Money Rose Croix Chapter At Croydon.

form . After the conclusion of this ceremony the consecration of thc Noel Aloney Chapter was proceeded with , Bro . Col . Money taking thc chief part in it , and Bro . F . West was duly installed as M . W . S . He then appointed his respective officers , viz .: Bros . W . J . Nicholls , Prelate ; Dr . Strong A . G . D . C , First General ; Dr . Thompson , Treas . ; and W . F . Homes , Recorder . The other officers were also dul y appointed .

A resolution was unanimously passed that the members of the Supreme Council should be honorary members of this chapter , which was then closed , an the brethren adjourned to a capital banquet provided by Bro . Williams , of the Greyhound Hotel , Croydon . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given , and in response to the toast of " The Supreme Council , " Bro . Capt . PHILIPS congratulated the Noel Money Chapter on its successful inauguration and wished it all

prosperity . It gave the Supreme Council great pleasure in being there . He also said that there was a prospect of another chapter being established in a neighbouring town . He then proposed " The Health of the M . W . S ., " svho briefly responded , and concluded by proposing " The Health of the Officers . " Bro . DR . STRONG , A . G . D . C , acknowledged the toast . The music was under the direction of Bro . Read , assisted by Bro . Schartau .

An Oration.

AN ORATION .

The following oration , by Bro . Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . Chap ., was delivered at the consecration of the Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge , No . 2432 , on Thursday , the 28 th ult .: — Worshipful Master , Wardens , and Brethren , —Let me at once offer my humble but hearty wishes to the founders and future members of the Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge , svith an earnest ' _ ' for many a score years to come it may not only prove a fruitful source of improvement and happy intercourse , but a

distinguished member of that vast and venerable Masonic family to be found in every land , and to which we all have the pleasure and privilege to belong . You knosv , brethren , that our United Kingdom has lately been engaged in the performance of a high and solemn duty , with which , however , in this place we have nothing to do . But we have to do with elections , and our elections are alsvays going on . May they ever result ( and not least the Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge ) in giving us true and trusty men to constitute and to govern our lodges , as svell

as to adorn the doctrine of our Sacred Order in all things . To this end may we cultivate , amongst other things—and not least in this our day—a spirit of love , of reverence , and of obedience to the Great Architect of the Universe , whose we are and whom we serve—serve not as slaves but as free men . This is the foundation-stone of our Masonic Temple , this the prime idea of our Masonic Society , and remember , brethren , that word "serve" is intimately associated with the Craft . The motto of our M . W . Grand Master is " Ich Dien , " I serve , and that

it was the guiding principle of that gentle and high minded , yet humble minded Prince , for whom we and the nation still mourn . The Duke of Clarence was a true Mason , and had been trained in the daily round of work and duty to acquire the habit of obedience . A kingly duty it was to serve , the better to fit him to rule and govern and to appreciate law and order as the necessary bases of civilised society , and we know that love as well as duty marked his brief career . I loved him as a son , " said his loving and Royal grandmother , with touching pathos , " and

his devotion to me was as great as that of a son . But all history , brethren , teaches us that he who serves best is the fittest to govern , a truth often recognised and emphasized in our beautiful ritual . In serving the Great Architect we serve the Grand Master of the Universe , as svell as thc best of Masters , All Mighty , All Wise , All Good , who shapes our ends , rough hew them as we' svill . In this department of His work , as in the great world of nature , we often see only the results , unable to discern or trace the invisible hand and mind that have produced

them . Let me dwell for -a brief moment on tsvo out of the many svorks carried cut by the Great Architect , viz ., I ., the building up of prosperity— " Except the Lord build the house , their labour is but lost that build it , " and , IL , the preservation from peril— " Except the Lord keep the city , the watchman waketh but in vain . " and , " Whoso dsvelleth under the defence of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty , without whose protecting aid all human efforts are in vain . " In both of these cases He largely employs brotherly love to compass His gracious

purposes , in other words makes men fellosv labourers with God . I svill not deal in abstractions on these points but mention two remarkable facts , illustrating each of them , the following one having come under my osvn observation . I . Some 40 years ago it was my lot to serve in a parish in the north of England where there resided too elderly ladies , sisters , who svere proverbial for their practical benevolence . In their earlier days , as they were walking in the parish , they met a fine intelli gent little boy about 11 years of age , barefooted and scantily clad . They

learned from him that his father was a poor labouring man and unable to send him to school . The ladies took up the case , clothed the boy , and paid for his schooling . After a couple of years they recommended him to a nei ghbouring Vicar as a handy boy to clean shoes and boots and the 'ike . There he served svell and faithfully and was in due time recommended to a chemist as a usetul lad to clean the shop and go on errands . Time went on—he learned to compound the medicines , was sent by his

master to London , where he passed the Apothecaries' Hall , and eventually settled dosvn as a medical man in a fashionable suburb , where he married a lady of good Position , and brought up a numerous family . On one occasion , when I svent up to town , the ladies I have named gave me an introduction to the doctor , with whom I dined , and who told me unaffectedly the history of his childhood and manhood , adding " I cannot tell you , Sir , how I thank God for His goodness , and my kind ° 'd friends for their generous kindness to me and mine . To-morrow I send my

carriage and pair to bring Airs . R . here to pay a kind visit of a week to me , the "oy who used to brush her father ' s shoes and her own . ' I may add I knew this lady "¦' ell , and heard from her also an account of this episode , in svhich God ' s goodness , brotherl y love , and self-help combined to build a house—still standing—for '" e tsvo sons of the doctor are now amongst the most eminent of London physcians . Well may we exclaim truth is more wonderful

" an fiction . II . Now , as to preservation from peril . Two years ^ ! 0 there was a collision between tsvo Brixham trawlers off Start IVi " "' " * ••' '" ' 1 ve hves were lost , but in which an act of heroism is reported . " "lie the Dazzlcr was going down head first , the crew were in the act of casting aft \ " * le **) oat > from which , however , they svere swept away by the rush of water t , Alup-ford , the third hand on board , immediately siezed the lifebuov . and while

e men were all struggling in the sea , Harris , the skipper , said loud enough to » j { Mugford , " Whatever will my poor svife and children do if I am drosvned ? " . ugford immediately exclaimed " Here , skipper , take this lifebuoy " ( releasing " nself from it and pushing it tosvards Harris ) , " I have no one but myself to t Pl ) ort , and if I am lost nobody else will suffer . " Harris , however , was as anxious b save his companion's life as his osvn , and , putting one of his arms around the a ^'" said , "Jack , put your arm round like this , 'and it will keep us both up ; ski W | we w '" ¦ 50 t ' !~ are 'h * - * same fate . " Mugford acted on the advice of his and "' u ' ' " ' 3 UOy susta ' ned both men in the water until they were picked up , grav " whose they svere and svhom they served preserved them from a watery e ' But not only from physical danger does the Great Protector shield us , but

An Oration.

also from the more trying perils tha , wound the heart or vex the spirit or assault the soul , as for instance from the foul and bated breath of evil speaking , lying and slandering , as well as from the secret or open attacks of malicious persecution , such as many of our poor Jewish brethren are suffering from at this moment . But " His mercy endureth for ever . " " His mercy is over all His works . " May it be oyer this work of ours to-day . May He prosper our handiwork . Peace be within these svalls , and may they prosper who love Him , of whose grand works sve sing , as I heard the Temple choir sing on Sunday last :

The spacious firmament on high , With all the blue ethereal sky And spangled heavens , a shining- framej Their great Original proclaim * The unsvearied Sun from day to day Doth his Creator ' s posver display , And publishes to every land The svork of an Almighty Hand .

Soon as the evening shades prevail The Moon takes up the svond ' rous tale , And nightly to the listening earth Repeats the story of her birth , While all the stars that round her burn , And all the planets in their turn Confirm the tidings , as they roll , And spread the truth from pole to pole .

What though in solemn silence all Move round this dark terrestrial ball . What though no real voice or sound Amid the radiant orbs be found . To reason's ear they all rejoice And utter forth a glorious voice , For ever singing as they shine " The Hand that made us is Divine . "

Laying Memorial Stone Of The Parish Church At Falkirk.

LAYING MEMORIAL STONE OF THE PARISH CHURCH AT FALKIRK .

Of the several events connected with the visit to Falkirk on Friday , the 5 th inst ., of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , that in connection with the laying of the memorial stone of the parish church nesv hall naturally attracted most public interest . In Jther respects the visit was to members of the Craft matter of gratification . It was no small distinction to those connected with the Order in the town and district to be honoured with the presence of

such a large deputation from the Grand Lodge , and they signified in a fitting manner their appreciation of the honour conferred on them . But to thc community generally the ceremony which took place at the parish church was doubtless the chief attraction , and though , unfortunately , somewhat marred by the inauspicious nature of thc weather , the event was in many respects an imposing and interesting one . There are associations connected

with it that lead to its being regarded in a somewhat different light from that of the usual ceremony connected with the laying of a memorial stone . Not the least important are those of an antiquarian nature , and which carry the mind back to a very early period in the history of the town . The building in connection with which the memorial stone was laid is being erected on a spot on which for centuries stood a portion of the old parish church of

Falkirk , in whicii many generations of our forefathers worshipped , and around which many historical associations cling . There is the probability , as Mr . MacLuckie indicated in the interesting speech hc delivered on the 5 th instant , that for a much longer period than there is authentic record of on this place there may have stood a sacred edifice . One may readily enough believe such to have been the case . It is

certain , however , that from the beginning of the eleventh century down till the date of the erection of the more modern building at the beginning of the present century the site on which the new hall is now being built was occupied by what was knosvn as the south aisle of the parish church . Hence in its being appropriated to a use somewhat similar to that to which it was previously devoted , interest is revived in the more ancient building

and in events that took place in connection therewith , when it might be said to have been the centre not only of the ecclesiastical , but of the civic life of the community . To the brethren of the Masonic Order who took so prominent a part in the proceedings , the event was also one of more than ordinary import . It is a usual enough circumstance for Freemasons to perform the ceremony of the laying of memorial stones in connection

with new public buildings . But it does not so often happen that buildings being erected have special historical significance to members of the Craft . That which is now being erected in connection with Falkirk Parish Church undoubtedly has . Thc south aisle of the old church , already referred to , was , it appears , dedicated in olden times to the Knight of St . John of Jerusalem , the patron saint of Masonry . It

must , therefore , have been specially gratifying to those members of the Order who took part in the proceedings to feel that in the ceremony there was an interesting connecting link between the past and the present which led it to be regarded with more than ordinary significance . In another sense matter for reflection was afforded . As was remarked by more than one speaker , there is greater similarity in respect to the work in

whicii the Church and Masonry are engaged , and in the aims and objects of each , than some seem disposed to admit , it is when they are brought closely into contact , as they svere on the 5 th inst ., that one finds demonstration of the fact that , like the Church , Masonry has for its object the moral elevation of mankind , and lhat ils aim is to engender that spirit of goodwill and benevolence which , according to the teaching of thc Church , should

widely prevail . In all their various aspects the proceedings were thus deeply interesting . They werc of special importance , however , to thc members of the parish church . To them they marked a stage nearer the acquiring of that necessary accommodation for the furtherance of church work , which they have long been endeavouring to obtain . Great difficulty was experienced in finding a convenient site for a church hall , but it is now

generally admitted that no better one could have been found than that which was ultimately chosen . While the new hall will undoubtedly greatly improve the appearance of the church , it is certain to be found , from its position , to be more suitable in every respect than would have been a building even of greater dimensions erected at a greater distance from the church . Falkirk Herald .