The Grand Lodge Of Iowa.

to the fact " for the first time in the history of the Grand Lodge of Iowa the Grand Secretary was absent from his post of duty / _ ' announced "in a voice trembling with emotion" that he was . " entrusted with a last tender message from one whom all had known and loved for many many years . " He said that " a few

days before the session commenced he had taken thc hand of Father PARVIN . It was thin and almost transparent . It hung lifeless in his hand , and yet , while the body was thus apparently without life , the mind of the old man was clear as a

mountain brook . Ancl from this bed of weakness , from which he will never arise , the Grand Secretary sent this message of love and hope and admiration to his fellow Craftsmen in Iowa and elsewhere . " The message is as follows :

GREETING . * My heart is with you in Davenport , My spirit will be in the rooms where you hold your Grand Lodge sessions . I will mingle with you in soul , as I have in body all the years . But , oh , I am longing to be with you . I had hoped , even almost to the last and against hope , that I might be able to

be carried to Davenport and probably taken in a litter to the Grand Lodge rooms , that at least I might see and hear my brethren once more . But this ¦ was not to be . My strength is almost gone , and I can only send through you this message . Tell the brethren in Iowa , that it is my last behest that they live up to the teachings ot the fraternity that they may be Masons in

fact as well as in name . And tell them also that if they desire to perpetuate my memory , if I have done anything which deserves recognition , that they carry on the work I have begun in the Grand Lodge Library . Let it be my monument , and at the same time an enduring monument for Masonry in Iowa . Into that institution my whole soul and the best years of my life have been woven .

The Grand Master then continued : " This comes to you as a whisper from the borderland , and is probably the last message from one who loves you , and whom you and all the thirty thousand Ma < ons in Iowa have loved and revered through all the years . His old companions have passed away . He alone is

left , and his mind to-day is in a region where there is nothing but graves of the past . I am satisfied that this Grand Lodge will desire to make some response which shall be appropriate and in keeping with the universal sentiment of respect and

love . " Nor was the Grand Master long in realising that his expectations were fully justified At thc conclusion of the above remarks , Past Grand Master DEWEY rose and submitted the following :

RESOLUTIONS . T . S . Parvin , Grand Secretary Grand Lodge of Iowa , A . F . and A . M . REVERED AND RESPECTED BROTHER •Replying to your warm message

of love , hupe , and admonition , conveyed to us by our Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Grand Lodge of Iowa , at this , the fifty-eighth anniversary of its birth , tenders to you its deepest and tenderest reverence and affection .

Realising that through all these past years your work has been well wrought , that you have become the Nestor of Iowa Masonry , that you are the golden link that binds closely the heroic past with the brilliant future , that honour and fame have crowned your declining years with the bright

light of Masonic glory , that the brilliant rays of your Masonic life and Christian character i'lu minate the hearts of over thirty thousand Masons of Iowa , who tender to you , as if with one voice , their regards , their affections , and their esteem ,

Though the silver cord may soon be loosened ; though the golden bowl may soon be broken ; though the pitcher may be soon dashed to pieces ; though old age and enfeebled condition may surround you ; though youth

and vigour may have deserted you ; though the idea of time may have reduced your once vigorous body to a condition of enfeeblement and weakness—please ever bear in mind that the soul-stirring vigour you ever possessed is fresh and green in the minds and memory of Iowa Masons .

Highly thoughtful of your Christian , moral , and Masonic worth , we hereby tender you ihe sincere esteem , high regard , and deep affection of the Crafc of Iowa , and this , the Grand Lodge , join with one accord in the fervent prayer that " the I ord will ever bless you and keep you , " and so will the Masons of Iowa ever pray .

On motion made and seconded , it was unanimously agreed that a Committee should at once proceed to Bro . PARVIN ' S residence at Cedar Rapids , and present the foregoing Resolution

to him on behalf of Grand Lodge ; and the Committee at once started on their mission , and at tlic morning session on the next day , Past G . Master DEWEY , on its behalf , read the report , in which was included Bro . PARVIN ' S answer :

How can I ever be grateful and thankful enough to the brethren of the Grand Lodge of Iowa . It is impossible . My heart has been opened and unburdened to you more than once in the history of Misonry , and now , tonight , the last time that I shall ever meet your mrirnbars , excepting one or two of you here around this bed , from which in all possibility and probability I shall never arise ; but my heart will rise , I have a spirit within me

The Grand Lodge Of Iowa.

which has buoyed me up and borne me upward through all these years , as you well know , and that spirit is still vigorous—though feeble in the body , but strong in the heart , s ' . rong in that mental vision which I can see open up before me and around me .

The Grand Lodge is here , and she will remain here ; she will progress and improve and build upon Ihe foundation which I have built with your assistance all around me will continue and God ' s blessing shall follow you through your Masonic career .

Oh , I am so glad , brethren , to get fo see all of you again—God bless you all . And so with a few further remarks , the most affectinoepisode in the annals of Iowa Masonry—or probably , indeed , in those of any Grand Lodge—came to an end .

On the 28 th day of the same month of June , Bro . T . S . PARVIN passed to his eternal rest . Thc tribute of respect paid to his memory by thc Grand Master , and thc record o [ his Masonic career will bc found in another column .

Bell's Cathedral Series.

BELL'S CATHEDRAL SERIES .

A remarkable Cathedral Scries is being published b y Messrs . George Bell and Sons , of York-street , Covent Garden , at the uniform price of one shilling and sixpence each net , of which already 24 havc been issued , viz ., those of Bristol , Canterbury , CarlisleChesterDurham

, , , Ely , Exeter , Gloucester , Hereford , Lichfield , Lincoln , Norwich , Oxford , Peterborough , Ripon ' Rochester , St . David ' s , St . Paul ' s , Salisbury , Southwell , Wellsj Winchester , Worcester , and York , with an extra volume on " English Cathedrals . An Itinerary and Description . "

Those for Chichester , St . Albans , St . Asaph ' s and Bangor , Glasgow , and Llandaff are in preparation , as likewise Westminster Abbey . There are also live other monographs on St . Martin ' s Church , Canterbury , Beverley Minster , Wimborne

Minster , and Christchurch Priory , Tewkesbury Abbey and Peerhurst Priory , and Bath Abbey , Malmesbury Abbey , and Bradford-on-Avon Church ( live in all ); besides Chartres ancl Rouen of the Continental churches , with Notre Dame , Paris , to follow . The last three being half a . crown net .

With the exception of thrce just printed , these have been duly reviewed in the Freemason , and I am pleased to know that such notices have done good , for " Bell ' s Cathedral Series " is the handiest , fullest , and latest published on the ori gin , progress and completion of the noble British Cathedrals which are thc pride and delight of all lovers of ecclesiastical architecture .

The last three volumes are devoted to ELY ( by the Rev . W . D . Sweeting , M . A ., author of " Peterborough" ) , RIPON ( by Mr . Cecil Mallett , B . A . ) , and ST . DAVID ' ( by Mr . Philip A . Robson ,

A . R . I . B . A . ) ; each having some 50 charming illustrations , which add much to the value ancl importance of this artistic series , and are fully equal , as respects the text , to those which have preceded them in order of publication , which is saying a great deal .

The whole set should bc obtained for the libraries of our lodges and provinces , where happily such exist , for they are full of most interesting information , and brought clown to date , beside-s containing abundant particulars of the previous Fabrics and the various Sees . They arc , of cDurse , carefully condensed ,

but everything that can be reasonabl y looked for and expected in these brochures , will be met with , and much unexpected information besides ; the authors being thoroughly conversant with their subjects , and writing their descriptions of the grand

Fanes , as those enthusiasticall y interested in the history of the Shrines they individually treat . I am in love with thc Series myself , ancl desire many more of my brethren to share my pleasure . Already nearly all the volumes are in second or third editions , so rapid has been their sale , and so numerous are their readers . This is a good sign indeed . W . J . HUGHAN .

Instruction.

Instruction .

ISLINGTON LODGE , No . 1471 . The usual weekly meeting was held on Tuesday , the 10 th instant , at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , N ., when there were . ' present : Bros , F . M . Wemborn , W . M .: H . J . Dunaway , S . W ; J . Horstead , J . W . •W . Hancock , P . M ., Preceptor : A . F . Hardyment , P . M ., Asst . Preceptor ; C . M . Coxon , P . M ., P . P . G . D . Herts , Treas . ; J . Huncan , P . M .. Sec . ; D . Taylor , S . D . ; M . Ralph , J . D . ; R . E . Maskall , I . G . ; ... Bitks , P . M . ; V .. Lucas , E . Morns , C . Nicole , E . Richards , D . ] . Witte , 1 . Foxcroft , T . A . Spencer , H . C . Kerly A . Noel , J . Bailey , C . Weston , J . Barings , F . Arrnitage , G . Wales , R . li . Giles , and F . Linfoot .

The lo- > ge was opened and the minutes read and confirmed . The ceremony of initiation was then rehearsed , Brj . Noel being the candidate . The ancient charge was given . The ceremony of passing was afterwards rehearsed , Bro . Spencer being the candidate . Bros . Ernest Morris , F . Arrnitage , George Wales , and P . E . Gates were elected members of the lodge . Bro . Dunaway was elected W . M . for the ensuing week and appointed the ofiicers in rotation , The lodge was then closed .