Ebb And Flow.

EBB AND FLOW .

. Wc have in Masonry , as well as in all similar associatlo ns , what may be termed an ebb and flow of apparen t ' " asperity . We have times when everything seems to be ° n the hi gh tide ; when work is rapidly coming in ; when applicants are numerous and persistent . Then the lodge is well attended , a deep interest is manifested , and a

general good feeling prevades the whole . There are also times when we seem to be on the ebb tide of prosperity ; when , from various reasons , there is but little work to be done ; candidates for our mysteries are few in numbers and far between . Then the interest eif many begins to wane . Thev who before were interested only in the novelty of our ceremonies , and excited by the large amount of work being

done , become lukewarm ; their attendance upon the lodge is exceedingly rare . Slight and frivolous reasons will suffice as an excuse for staj ing away ; the payment of dues is neglected , until at length they become a burden , and then follows exclusion from membership or suspension , thus increasing the already too large list of non-affiliates throughout the country . . Many of our lodges are now in

something of the condition 1 have just portrayed . During our late civil war , and for a number of years subsequent , the incoming tide ran high . Candidates were numerous and urgent—oftentimes anxious for us to waive , by dispensation or otherwise , those safeguards so wisely thrown around the ballot by our constitution . Every lodge was crowded with applicants :

special communications were necessary , and of frequent occurrence , and all were largely attended . Ask any brof r the question " How is your lodge prospering ? " and i lie prompt reply would be- , "Splendidly ; we were never doing so well before . " Now , circumstances are changed . Hard times and stagnation in business of all kinds have materially affected our Institution , and prevented many

from knocking at our door lor admission ; while the great influx of other societies with high sounding titles , holding out inducements both novel and attractive , has had a tendency to diaw away some who would otherwise have sought admission into Masonry . In consequence , comparativel y litile work is now being done , and not a few of our lodges are realising that lukewarm condition I have

alluded to ; yes , many are getting despondent over the general apithy which seems in a greater or less extent to prevail . This ought not to be so , nor do I believe there is any good reason for it . That a lodge is doing a large amout of work is not always a sign of real , genuine prosperity . In the rapid increase of members we are less liable to guard with care our outer door , so that the unworthy

find little difficulty in gaining admission . Such is the experience of all lodges , as is apparent to every thinking , observing mind . It is at such times of seeming prosperity that we hear from every Grand East , and from every watchman on our walls , notes of warning and words of caution . " Guard well your ballot box ; watch well eveiy avenue of admission , and see that none but the

worthy are a inline ) , " is the admonition , and well is it for that lodge which heeds the warning , fur to nuny have found , alter the exciterucnt has passed , and they have come to theirsober , good sense , that there are those among them them they could wish had not been accepted ; those who will prove not only a load locairy , hut a source of trouble and discord so long as they . remain . This supposed strength has proved to be weakness .

I his is a question which interests us all . 1 answer , make your lodge inviting and attractive , and yojr regular meetings interesting and in : tractive . A neat , comfortable , well ventilated hall , has much to do in bringing out members . No one likes to leave his own pleasant home to attend a lodge held in a dirty , slovenly hill , and if he eloes so , it is only because a sense of duty impels him . Then

see to this as the hrst thing ; have you hill well swept and dusted , the spinous cleaned , the aprons washed , thc regalia and jewels put in order , hang appropriate pictures and paintings on the walls , and photographs of your members also . All these add to its beauty , and tend to make the lodge more attractive . Then sec to it that your officers are proficient and accurate in the woik and

lectures ; practise them in thc manner of the application , so that when degrees are to be conferred , they may be prompt and reaely . And do not confine yourself to thc officers , but give all who desire an opportunity to become equally proficient , and you will never be at a loss for skillful woikmen . But do not dwell too long at a time upon ritual . Vary your instructions by explaining the

meaning of the ceremonies—the lessons intended to be conveyed by thc various symbols used ; draw the brethren out to express their ideas and opinions upon them , to discuss tha principles of Masonry ; the nature of the ballot , its secrecy and independence , and the duty an 1 responsibility of every brother in regard to it . Request them to prepare and read a paper upon any of these subjects , or any other connected

with the prosperity of trie lodge . In this way you will not only interest your own members , and draw them out to attend lodge meetings but you will make of them something more than mere ritual Masons . They will become intelligent ones , and be more apt to exemplify in their daily lives the pure principles of our Order . Then others , seeing their zeal and

devotion , will be induced to attend , while the world will certainly know that a " Mason is one to whom the bjrthcned heart may pour out its sorrows , to whom distress may prefer its suit ; whose hand is guided by justice , and whose heart ii expanded by benevolence . " Then ihcrc will be no lack of applicants . Good men and true , seeing ihese

results , will readily apply for admissiori , and seek loenr » U thcmrclves among thc brotherhood , while the selfish and unprincipled will be restrained or rejected . There will then be no lack of work , and no want of genuine abiding iniercst , and the future prosperity of our Order will be Insured , —Freemason ' s Monthhi ,

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

An oration on the " Beauties and Claims of Freemasonry " will be delivered in the large hall of the Surrey Masonic Club , Camberwell , this ( Saturday ) evening , at eight o ' clock p . m . precisely , by Bro . William Darley , P . M . No . 15 S , and late Assessor to the Honourable Board of Trade . Members of the club and Masonic

friends are invited to attend . BRKATUM . —In a paragraph headed "The Gallant Men of Fowey" ( a . correspondent writes ) we have erroneously printed "Jeffrey " for Trcffrv . The Christian IVorld announces that it will

soon put up new Mannoni machines . The paper will also be considerably enlarged in size , the present price of one penny a copy being adhered to . The Bank of England directors on Monday took the step with had been anticipated with considerable certainty , and raised thc rate of discount fiom 4 per cent , at which it vvas fixed on the ist inst ., to , per cent .

Bro . J . D . Allcroft , M . P ., will preside at the annual dinner of the Worcester City and County Wine and Beer Sellers' Protection and Benevolent Association , on Wednesday , the 28 th inst . Notice has been given in the House of

Commons for next session by Sir T . Lawrence , that he will call attention to the present regulatons affecting Kew Gardens , anrl to move that the whole , or pait thereof , should be open at ten a . m . on week days , and that there is nothing to justify the exclusion of the public from the gardens until one p . m .

Their Royal Hi g hnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales , accompanied by the young Princes Albert Victor and George , visited Southampton Monday afternoon , to lay the foundation-stone of the Wilberforce Memorial Church . Bro . Macrae Moir will perform the judicial duties of the Rtrc ) rder in the Mayor ' s Court during his

absence in Ireland . The court of the Clothworkers ' Company have voted 100 guineas to the China Famine Relief Funel , and 20 guineas to the Morocco Famine Relief Fund . Dr . Sandford , Bishop of Gibraltar , has , as arranged by thc Foreign Office , the episcopal superinter . dcnce of any congregations , churches , and clergy of the Church

of England in Cyprus . A circular has been issued by the Vost-office authorities , pi o ]> osing thc est iblishment of letterboxes in private eiffices . It is suggested that the boxes shall be easily accessible to seivants of the Post-office , who may be thus enabled to empty them at regular intervals . The charge proposed for this arrangement is £ 10 per annum , but the system is only to come into operation , if a sufficient

number of firms declare themselves ready to enter into the arrangement . The Times of India understands that Bro . Balfour , Secretary and Treasurer of the Bink of Bombay , has been appointed a member of the loeri Legislative Council in place of Mr . Ling . Bro . Balfour's lon > r connection wilh the city and intimate acquaintance with financial affairs will enable him to afforel valuable assistance to Gove-riiment in his new capacity .

By command of the R . W . P . G . M . tlie Right Hon . the ; Eirl oi Carnarvon , the W . D . P . G . M ., Bro , R . C . Else , an 1 officers of P . G . L . of Somerset will consecrate the Eldon Lodge , No . 1755 , al the Royal Hotel , Portishcad , ou Tuesday , Sept 3 rd , at 2 . o p m . ' 1 he banquet will be held at the Royal Hotel , Poitishead , at 4 . 0 p . m .

The Coleridge Lodge , No 1730 , will be consecratrd at Sandiingliani Hous-, Clevedon , this day ( Saturday ) at t . 30 p . m . by the W . D . P . G . M ., Bro . R . C . Else , and the officers of the P . G . L . of Somerset . The banquet will be held at the Royal Hotel , Clevedon , at 3 . 30 p . m . The Duke and Duchess of Manchester have

left town for the Continent . Bro . the Earl of Donoughmore , P . G . S . W ., has been appointed Assistant British Commissioner for the organisation of Eastern Roumelia , under the 18 th Article of the Treaty of Berlin . His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , P . S . G . W ., has consented to become a patron of the Railway Officers' and Servants' Association , and hasforwarded a donation of twenty guineas to its funds .

Bro . Sir E . A . H . Lechmere , Bart ., M . P ., was installed on Wednesday , the 7 U 1 inst ., P . G . M . of Worcestershire , by Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , D . G . M . Tlie Earl of Zetland , P . G . M . North and Kast Riding , Yorks , has been present : d with the freedom of the burgh of Kirkwall . The Duke and Duchess of Athole have left

Eaton-place for Blrir Athole , Perthshire . SOCIAL SCIENCE C ONGRESS . —The following have accep . ed the office of presidents forthe Cheltenham Congrcis : —lurispruelence , Mr . Commissioner Miller , Q . C , LL . D . ; Education , Hon . George Brodiick ; Health , Mr . VV . H . Michael , F . C . S , Q . C We understand that the anthem referred to in

our report of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall , composed expressly for the occasion by 13 ro Heath , organist of Rediuth Church , is to he publishel , and will he , by permission , dedicated to the Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Prov . G . M . of Cornwall .

A Memorial Fund for tbe benefit of tlie widow an 1 children of the late Rev . W . Brndcn , of thc Weigh House Chap .-I , aud of the JngHsli lndipundenl , is being raised by a committee consisting of Mr . S . Morley , M . P ., Mr . James Clarke , cf the Christian World , Mr . Carvell Williams , and other well-known Nonconformists "

Masonic And General Tidings.

As a proof that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales does not intend , that his bojs shril be found wai . ting when their turn coties to pass out of the " Britannia , " we may state ' that arrangements hive been made for them to continue their studies in a modified degree during their holidays . Tne naval instruct T , under whose care the younrr princes have been wile on board

the " Britannia , " has been temporarily attache ; , to the household of the Prince of Wales , sr ) as to prevent the royal cadets from forgtting anything they have learned during the past term . —IFhilchall Revitw SURREY MASONIC CLUB . —In addition to the " Oration " which will he delivered in the Large Hall , by Bro . William Darley , this evening ( Siturday ) , the III .

Bro . Robert Morris , LL . D ., of Kentucky , has kindly promised to eleliver an address and recite an original poem . Brethren and their fiiends will be heartily welcomed , and may be assured of a most interesting Masonic evening . A telegram from San Francisco announces the death on Sunday of Mr . H . J . Montague , the actor . The original firman from the Sultan of Turkey

giving England authority over the island of Cyprus , together with the agreement for the maintenance of thc civil and religious liberties of its people , have been received and lodged at the Foreign Office . — Whitehall Review . The Eleanor Lodge , No . 1764 , will be consecrated on Tuesday , September 17 th , 187 S , when a special

lodge will be opened at the Masonic Hnll , Abin ^ ton-street , Northampton , at 11 o ' clock precisely . Th .-re will lie choral service at All Saints' Cnurch at hilf- ^ a-t 2 o'clock , when the sermon will he preached by the V . W . Rev . R . P . lient , P . G . C . The offertory will be on behalf of the Northampton General Infirmary and the Masonic Charities . A banquet will be served in the Town Hall at 4 o'clock .

The Court of the Cloth-workers Company have voted a special donation of £ 2000 in aid of a laiilding fund for the Bradford ( Yorkshire ) Weaving and Design School , in connection with which they lately gave two scholarships of £ 2 ^ per annum to enible students to

complete their industrial education at tin-Textile Industries Department of the Yorkshire College , Leeds . —City Press . The Drapers' Company have voted twenty guineas towards the support of thc National HospiUl for Consumption on the Separate Principle , at Ventnor , We of Wight .

The Ministerial Fish Dinner.

THE MINISTERIAL FISH DINNER .

On Wednesday the Ministerial fish dinner , one or thc preludes of the close of the Parliamentary Session , was held at the Ship , Greenwich . The Earl of Beaconsfield and the Duke of Northumberland were unable to join their political friends on the occasion . The banquet was served in the large dining room , covers being laid for 40 persons .

There were present thc Lord Chancellor , the Duke of Richmond and Gordon , the Marquis of Sail-bury , Mr . Cross Sir Michael Hicks-Hi-ach , Colonel StiiiUy , Viicount Cranbrook , Sir Stafford Norehcotv , Mr . VV . H . Smith , VUcouut Sandon , Lord , ) . Manners , Lord Bigot , Vise runt Bury . Lord Henniker , Lord Skclmeisd . ile ' , Yiseount Harrington , Mr . George Cavcnish Bentinek , Mr . Bourke , Mr . Stephen Cave ,

L-ird Eustace Cecil , Viscount Crichton , Sir William Hart Dyke , Mr . Algernon Egerton , Mr . li . Gibson , Sir 11 . Giffird Colonel Loyd Lindsay , Mr . Gerard Noel , Sir M . While Ridley , Mr . T . Salt , Mr . Sclater-Bootti , Sir Henry ... Selwin-lobctson , Mr . E Iwnrd Stanhope , Mr . , ]¦ G . Talbot , Colonel T . E . Ta . ) lor , Lird Henry Thynne , and Mr . Rowland Winn . Mr . Bile-, the manager of the Ship Tavern

at Greenwich , sends us thc following novel " menu of the dinner 1—"•Yeannuilewliytebaite dinner of HyrM ij-styc's Ministers , on Wcdinsdrie , yc 14 th August , iS ; S , attir ye Iloslelric ' yclept ye Shippe ; ri . Grecnwiche . Tnis bille ol ye fare draiMi in plaync Engljsh , without any cloake of French : 01 other foreygne tongue , for the s ide and sobeiecomfortc of frendes , and that ye mnyc know whit ye are

asked to accept . Ye Bille of ye Fare . —Ye Soupc . —Soupe made from ye turtle and alsoe soupe made from ye greens fattc of ye same . Ye Fyshc . —Yell luudcrscuryously cooked , and salmonne scrvyd iiine lyke mannere ; nssdes of ye lobslere ; ye lvttcl soles , frye . l ; ye pudynges of ye whjti . ig ; ye eles skynned and stewed inne ye richer wyne o' Ojorto ; ye omelette of crabbe inne ye style as servyd toyeGaardes

of ye Blue Scale ; ye trout ; from ye Riur Spe-y , giylled with ye sauce-of Tartar ; salmonne inne rollopes , with ye sauce in ye Cyprus fashonne . Ye why tebri iter be-lrix / Acd and alsoe be-dcvyllcd . Flc ^ heand l- ' mvle ,-Sw . elbrcades with ye musluoomes added thereunto ; ye liauuctie of yc royale buckc , wilh haricofe b .-ancs servyd th rc . vith ; yc antient hamme , from yc cirye nf Yorke , grylled inner wyne of Champrgne ; ye grouse from > e Norlhe Couiitree ;

hogge bacon and younge beanes . Ye Sivecte-s , cVe\—Apprycottcs flavoured with nujau ; pudynges iced , after yc Nesselrode mannere ; l ) ttel cakes male with ye cheese from Parma inne Italic ; ye ices flavoured with oranges and srraaberres ; divers fruytes which are your des . 'rtcs , and Ye wynes of Champagne aird mmie outlaudysn countrecs Ye dinner will be scrvycil after ye mannere of 5 c Russian people . Ye gucsres are by dden to cate afie-r ye Hungarie mannere . '

1 IOJ . LOV .-AY ' S OI \ TMK \ -T AMI 1 ' li . i . s —Di-ea-cs of lire U-tweKA remrdv , which Iras heen tented ana prove . 1 i . r a iliniismii" liiif ' ere rt ways ' , capable nf crailiiMiini ! poison I . I » uin . s fro n uP-crs and beali ¦ L ; rhen up , merits a irial ol ils cir . iir . ilv lor ¦ x racmu tne internal corruptions from the b i » -c-ls . Un fobbing Holloway s Ointment repearedy on ill-: abdomen a i . i-h a . year-, anil as it tin ilcrivalive

thick : 11 s Ihe alvine irritaliili v snliMdes . A :: { .- < .. <•a , this Uiii ; nent draws lo lite s ' nifie : leleis .-s Iii- lender inrc-rinrs liolir all acrid matters , and prcveius iiMlamm iUu i . d \ t .-u ' e < y , and piles , forwaich lilislerin { was lire old-. ' a * nio . ied , ih iiiyli snce .-sdnl treatment , now from its P riir ' nines , fallen in'o iliMisc , the ui » - roicry 01 " ibis Ointment bavin ,: proclaimed a remedy jiiisaCsini ! cijiially derivative , yetjperfectly paiul rss powers . - [ Ar <\ r . J