Freemasonry In Australia.

to a more convenient season , but made the subject of our daily thoughts and earnest labours . We must frame our lives in accordance with the teaching of the Divine Word , and seek alone for acceptance with God in His own way , assured

that He who sits on Heaven s throne " is not a man that He shonld lie , or the son of man that he should repent , " and therefore we must not presume upon His all-merciful character , and put off to another day making our peace witli Him ,

but knowing that " to-day we must hear His voice and harden not our hearts ; " seek to be faithful to the great Ruler of events and to the hig h and sublime princip les of our ancient Order . Suffer then , brethren , at this season

this word of exhortation , that when we are each in our turn called upon in the good providence of God to leave this world , we may in truth be ' gathered unto our fathers , ' and our fathers '

God for evermore . ' Now unto the King eternal , immortal , invisible , the only wise God , g ive honour and glory , for ever and ever , Amen . ' " The choir then sung , and all present joined in the following hymn : —

What sounds of grief in sadness tell A Brother ' s earthly doom ; No more in life ' s fair scenes to dwell—A tenant of the tomb .

No more the frbndly hand now pressed ; No gently whispered word , lie finds a long unbroken rest Where rules his Heavenly Lord .

All earthly joys and sorrows o ' er ; Each changing life or fear ; He sees the light of that fair home ; Without a sigh or tear .

Then bring to him whose holy care That better temple forms , Our wish that all may gather there , Beyond life ' s coming storms .

The service concluded by a most impressive and beautiful prayer by Bro . the Rev . J . M . Goldreich , remarkable for its simplicity and fervency , but this is what the Craft might expect from a worthy brother so experienced in Masonic

usages . Among the members of the Craft present were noticed Bro . C . Megson , P . M . ; Wm . Robertson P . M . ; H . Josephs , P . M . ; H . Peake , P . M . ; T . Aldred , P . M . ; ll . Kent , P . M . ; H . Davies ,

P . M . ; H . White , W . M . elect of St . Johns ; Dr . Radcliffe , P . M . ; Bros . Finlayson , Harding , Nevitt , Salter , Cuthbert , Sleep , P . M . ; Moran , P . M . ; Gowan , Shoppee , P . M . ; Valentine , P . M ., and a number of the leading Masons of

Ballarat , who testified by their presence their respect for the illustrious dead . Bro . Wm . Scott , R . W . P . G . Inspector , I . C , was unavoidably absent . Tho beautiful tracing boards were the subject of much nraise . Certainly when the

new hall is appropriately furnished there will be no equal to it in thc colonies ; every possible convenience for thc working of the mysteries of the Craft has been attended to , and with such an oltl

Mason and master of his handicraft as the successful tenderer for the furnishing ( Bro . Wm . Robertson , P . M . ) wc may expect soon to see the hall and adjoining rooms as they should beperfect and complete .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of The Western Division, Of South Wales.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF THE WESTERN DIVISION , OF SOUTH WALES .

Tlio annual communication of this Provincial Grand Lodge was hehl at the Ivy Bush Hotel , Carmarthen , on Friday the 25 th till ., under the banner of St . Peter ' s Lodge ' No . 476 , by the brethren of which the members of the

Provincial Grantl Lodge were cordially welcomed . 'I'he Ri ght Worshi pful the Provincial Grand Master , Sir Pryse Pryse Hart ., opened the lodge •n due form , when about seventy brethren were

present , among whom were Bros . Major J . Allen Lloyd-Phillips , D . Prov . G . M . ; Edward J- Mortis , D . Prov . G . M . South Wales , Eastern division ; Captain S . George Homfray , D . Prov .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of The Western Division, Of South Wales.

G . M . of Monmouthshire ; Thomas Phillips P . M . 378 , 990 , P . G . S . W . ; John Thomas , 476 / P . P . G . Treas . ; Rev . Latimer M . Jones ( Vicarof Carmarthen ) , P . M ., 476 , Prov . G . Chaplain ; William Evans , S . W . 476 ; David Davies . P . Prov . G . S . W ., P . M . 476 ; James Weeks

Szlumper , P . G . J . W ., P . M . 1072 ; George Tempany Smith , P . M . 1073 , P . G . Sec ; J . Beaven Phillips , W . M . 671 ; Albert Harris , P . M . no , Prov . G . D . C . Eastern Division South Wales ; William Lloyd , 476 ; David Lewis , 476 ; R . Lloyd Jones , 476 ; Edward Hamer , S . D . 1072 ; Arthur J . Hughes , 1072 ; Barrat P . Jordan ,

1072 ; J . R . Rowland , 1072 ; Grift Jones , 1072 ; Edward G . Norris , 671 ; Wm . E . Chaliueler , 671 ; J . Pell , 1072 ; R . R . Carver , 476 ; W . J . Morgan , W . M . 47 ; H . Gulliford , 1072 ; Henry Williams , P . M . 366 , Prov . G . Treas . ; Stanley J . Balcombe , J . W . 1072 ; Thomas Williams , 4 66 . The minutes of the last Provincial Giand

Lodge were read and confirmed , and the following grants were made , upon the proposition of the R . W . the Provincial Grand Master , viz .: — The Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , 20

guineas ; the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , 30 guineas ; the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows , 10 guineas ; the Carmarthen Infirmary , 5 guineas .

The Treasurer ' s accounts having been duly audited , were received and passed , aud the Treasurer was unanimously re-elected . The R . W . Provincial Grand Master then proceeded to appoint and invest the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year : —• Major J . A . Lloyd-Phillips ( of Mabws ) , 107 a , P , M . ' 324 D . Prov . G . M .

G . J . Smith . P . M . 1072 Prov . G . S . W . W . J . Morgan , W . M . 475 ... Prov . G . J . W . Rev . W . L . Stradding , J . W . 366 Prov . G . Chaplain , Capt . ' H . Williams , P . M . 566 ( re-elected ) Prov . G . Treas . J . Beavan Phillips , W . M . 671 Prov . G . Reg . S . J . Balcombe , J . W . 1072 ... Prov . G . Sec .

W . E . Chalinder , 671 Prov . G . S . D . E . L . Cole , P . M . 1072 Prov . G . J . D . Edward Hamer , 1072 Prov . G . S . of W . W . Evans , S . W . 476 Prov . G . D . C . W . L . Harding , P . M . 464 ... Prov . G . Org . C . Miles , W . M . 990 Prov . G . S . B . N . Boyle , , 578 Prov . G . Purst . All the above appointments appeared to give

satisfaction to every brother present , and we nre sure that the promotion of Bro . Smith from P . G . Sec . ( which ollice he has filled for live years ) to P . G . S . W . is not the least popular . I'he R . W . the Provincial Grand Master

congratulated the brethren upon the steady growth of the Province , cautioning the representatives of each lodge to look more to the respectability of the initiates than to the number that mi ght be proposed , adding that he hoped thc brethren would individually support the charities and induce tlieir lodges to do likewdse .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to a banquet , which reflected great credit upon the proprietress of the Ivy Bush Hotel . Upon the removal of the cloth the usual loyal and Masonic

toasts were proposed by the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master , and duly responded to . The health of the Provincial Grand Master was proposed by his Deputy , and was received with a perfect storm of cheers , which were renewed again and again .

The Marquess of Ripon left London on Saturday evening for Studley Royal , near Ripon , where his loidship will remain a few days , and then go on to the Isle of Harris for shooting . The King of Denmark has appointed Prince

Arthur a Knight of the Order of the Elephant . At a special meeting of the Alexandra Palace Company , the resolution passed on the 14 th ult ., authorising the issue of new capital to the extent of £ 11 : 0 , 000 , was confirmed .

A Boos TO EvF . nv lloisi . iioi . i ) . —Boots , with din celebrated uirc-quiltcd wiles , wearing twice as long .-inordinary leather , for all ages ; and children ' s boots with metallic tips , which never wear out at the toe's , may he had at most shoe dealers . Insist on giiing these a trial , and judge on tbeij merits .

Poetry.

Poetry .

THE MASONIC APRON . BY BRO . WILLIAM CARPENTER , P . M . and P . Z .

The badge we wear is no reproach , It speaks with meaning , good and wise , Suggesting thoughts of utmost worth—Thoughts that Masons ever prize .

[ Though innocence is ours no more , Its symbol is not used in vain , For all who wear it are reminded That purity should be their aim .

As friendship ' s bond , too , it unites us , Each to each , as friend and brother ; Forbidding all that would prevent Kindly help for on'j another .

From spot or stain let us preserve it , And , with it , live a blameless life ; United in a bond of friendship , And guarded ' gainst all feud ar . d strife .

THE ART oi- THINKING . —Too much stress cannot be laid on the fundamental importance of perfect command over thought . How many a student . finds 3 lack of tin ' s power the chief hindrance to progress ! How many a page must be re-read , how many a lesson conned over and

over to compensate for lapses of thought ! In the possession or absence of this power over mind lies the chief difference between mental strength and mental weakness . Some men think as a child plays with a hammer , striking little blows here , there , anywhere , at any object

within reach . Lhe action of a strong mind may be compared to the stone-breaker ' s sledge-hammer , dealing stubborn blows successfully upon one spot till the hard rock cracks and yields . The power to classify and arrange ideas in proper order , is one that comes more or less slowly to

even the best of minds . In proportion as this faculty is strengthened , desultory and wasted efforts diminishes . When the mind acts , it acts to some purpose , and can begin where it left off without going over the whole ground again , to take up the threads of its ratiocinations .

Concentration and system are thus seen to be the chief elements in the art of thinking . To cultivate the first , constant wathfulness to detect the least wandering , and the immediate exertion of the will to call back and hold the mind upon the subject under consideration , should be vigilantly

exercised . lo secure the latter , the practice of analyzing and considering the different parts of a subject , first separately , and then in their relations to each other , is a disci pline to which every young mind should be subjected , and which , we are sorry to say , is much neglected in most English methods of instruction .

NOVELTY IN DRINKING IN AMERICA . —In New York they have recently developed a sudden taste for pure milk and cream . The old restaurants , with their alcoholic mixtures , are being forsaken by the citizens who " lunch down town , " for less inebriating potations at the dairies . They

repair in vast numbers to the new establish , nicnts , where they obtain milk and cream pure and sweet , served up' with all kinds of tresh bread , grits , oatmeal puddings , fruits , kc . At somo of" these " dairies " from 1 , 500 to 2 , oco persons uow feed daily .

" 1 ' AT 1 . 1 I . L-s Ail tliOTt-. S l . jl ' . Kxill . Mli s . ' . Nil tl'lDliMICS : —\ Vbateur may lhe causc . soi fever , dianlio . ' . t , ( lyse'iitery , and similai omul tints , it is weil asccilaincd that these diseases are jampant in . summer , audit should lie as well kifjwii thai tuey can be safely am ' , successfully subdued by Holloway's purifying pieparatimis . Holloway's Ointment well rubbed over the cntiie abdomen , his I'ilis taken

internally , ami his dietary rules sliictly observed , embrace the domestic anil medical management of these diseases , which , when neglected , weaken , if they fail to prove fatal . These remedies remtne the causes of complaint fiom thc system and no sufferer whether his disease be chronic or acute , should despair till trial hasbcen jjiven to Holloway ' s Medicines . —Anvr .