Why?-What?-How?' ------ Why?

come in contsct will be contaminated thereby . This statement is supporled by authority and proof which none can gainsay : "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place both sweet and bitler ? so can no fountain bath yield salt water and fresh . " This is contrary to nature . It is an impossibility . No profane man is . or can be , a good Mason . Reverence for God and

3 reverent use of His name is strictly enjoined upon every initiate , and profanity , in whaiever form , is a palpable violation of the very first and plaint st teachings of Freemasonry . " Ye "ilia !! know them by iheir fruils . V . ven so every good tree bringeth forth good iruit ; but a corrupt tree bringeth foith evil fruit . A good tree cannot bring f . rih evil fruit , neither can a corrupt iree bring forth good fruit . "

Timely aid is only furnished by willing hands and loving hearts . Relief can only be illustrated by deeds , and those who render it , prompted thereto by pure love , realise in the very act of giving , the sweets which are wrapped up in the precious words , " For God loveth a cheerful giver . " " To relieve the distressed is a duty " everywhere enjoined upon those who have been initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry , and this is the handwriting concerning those who live in its dai ' y practice , " He hath dispersed abroad ; he hath given to the poor . "

These great truths address themselves to our most patient consideration , and should lead us ( o so order our lives lhat we may thereby commend to others the principles which we profess , and thus lead them to embrace , and n-overn themselves by them , in all their intercourse with each o ' . her .

We cannot afford to remove the landmarks . They are the bulwark of ( he institution of Freemasonry , and the more rigidly ue cling to these the less liable we will be to yield cuiselvesup to those influences whose every tendency is—to draw the 1-ss inform d Mason away from the safe moorings furnishtd to all who adhere to its puie teachings .

The more we study the great principles which lie at ihe foundation of this institution , the more fully we understand their teachings in all their bearings on the several relations in life , the greater will be our desire to have our lives conformed unto the lessons whici they everywhere inculcate . To become a Mason means som-thing mire than passing through a

rrriain form of initiation , or to be taught a ritual which we can repeat verbatim . Masonry is something to he lived . It is something to be practised , and we should so practice it that the profane shall at all times be constrained to say of us- - ¦ ' ' Behold tlesc Masons , how they love one . another . "

It is how we live as Masons that brings forth the richest fruits lo the honour and glory of Freemasonry among those whose gond opinions we would win . To have the eood , great , and wise bear testimony on our b half we must exemplify in all things btfore thsm , in that which we do , that we are M tsons at heart—Masons in de ; d and in truth .

The lesions we have learned in our reading during t'e past year , and the teachings made maniftst in the annals rtviewed , are such as lend lo lead these who study them up to the highest standard of Masonic requiiem-nis . The broadest measure of intelligence is esemial to the full understanding of the pure principles and sublime mysteries of the science of

Freemasonry . The more we study this science , and the more light that is thrown upon its abstruse problems , the grander do they become to the Masonic student , and so far from being satisfied with his present attainments he plies himself the more diligently , if perchance he may in the end attain unto the object of his search—a more perfect knowledge of those things which are shrouded in m \ f \ erv . — Voice of Masonry .

Obituary.

Obituary .

MISS ALICE NORTH . Brethren will regret to hear of the death of Alice , eldest daughter of Bro . C . N . Maclntyre North , P . M ., P . Z ., on the 28 th ult ., at the early age of 29 , afler patiently bearing four months agony from cancer . As a bright , cheery , and active nurse at the London Hospital , she had gained the goodwill and respect of those

who , with herstff , were banded together in the life and death struggle with disease in one of the poorest parts of London , and when lying in the ward where she had laboured so zealously ( literally on the ( ield of battle ) she heard her doom ,

patientl y faced , and awaited death , conscious to the last , and the God's acre at firookwood testifies to : he terrible end which has givep her rank in the noble irr . iy cf martyrs who patiently and silently have laid down their lives in the rause of duty .

BRO . C . CUNDALL . This brother , who was a member of the Isle of Axholme Lodge , No . 1482 , 0 ! the Mark Lodge ( St . Oswald ) , Croivle , and of All Saints Chapter ( Gainsboro ) , died it Crowle , Lincolnshire , and was buried in the cemetery of thai place on Friday , 'lie 9 th inst . He had returned from Australia live years , and afler residing

in Crowle lor about two years emigrated'to America , but when there was unfortunatel y seized with paralysis . After his recovery he returned to his native liome , and was unfortunately stricken down again with the original complaint and died on the 7 th inst ., at the age of 45 years . The following members of No . M' ^ 2 followed him to the grave , each placing a sprig of acacia on the deceased

Wther ' s coffin , viz .: Bros . R . Wood , P . M ., Sec ; J . Hemingbow , P . M . ; T . S ' aniforth , P . M ., Almoner ; W . Chamberlain , P . M ., D . C ; W . Burtonshaw , '• - ; J . Constable , P . M . ; C . Fox , P . M . ; H . L . Burlonshaw , W . M . ; W . ' " Bering , S . W . ; G . S . Tvack , I . D . ; W . Cundall , I . G . ; W . Hoe . Std . Br .

' * Lee , Org . ; G . Barratt , and J . Turner , Stwds . ; G . Naylor , Tyler ; and others , "lo . K . N , Bnmyel , P . M ., was amongst the family mourners . There was a large number of people at the cemetery , Bro . Cundall being a native of the little own and highly respected .

BRO . JAMES BASTOW , W . M . 1287 . Uro . James Bastow , W . M . of the Great Northern Lodge , No . 12 S 7 , died on r "lay , the 9 th instant , at his residence , Undcrhill-road , Dulwich , and was buried •* ' Camberwell Cemetery on Wednesday , the 14 th instant . Bro . the Rev . I . H .

™™ , M . A . ( Vicar of C ( erkenwel' ) , Chaplain of the lodge , officiated at the funeral , I c ° nducted the service in . 1 most impressive manner . The members of the . ! % present at the funeral were Bros . A . C . Doughty , J . W . ; S . Webb , P . M ., r * - ; W . Cieghorn , P . M ., Sec . ; C . T . Wilkinson , I . G . ; T . Steer , Steward ; R'll , P . M . ; J . Paul , P . M . ; R . Omash , W . Campbell , W . H . Stone , A . H .

Obituary.

Holmes , h . G . Lundberg , J . A . Banyan ! , H . Anderson , D . J . Metcalfe , C . F . Atkinson , A . G . Billingc , and P . D . Kain ; also Bros . W . Downing , P . M . 20 ; A . Styles , 1540 ; and other Masonic friends . The late Bro . Bastow was initiated in the Royal Kent Lodge of Antiquity , No . 20 , in 1 S 73 . He joined the Great Northern Lodge in 188 , 1 , and alter serving" all the minor offices , was elected

W . M . in December , 1 S 94 , and duly installed in the chair of K . S . in January last . He was a very able and popular W . M ., and held in the highest regard by all the members . He represented the Bread-street Ward in the Common Council of ths City of London , representatives of which body attended the funeral . Wreaths were sent by the Great Northern Lodge , the Common Council , and numerous friends . He leaves a widow and two children .

BRO . G . R . COliHAM , P . M ., P . Z . We announce with regret the death , on the Sth instant , in the 59 th year r > f his age , of Bro . George Radcliffe Cobliam , who in the course of the 12 years he ; had been a member of our Order had taken a very aclive and very creditable pair' ; in its proceedings . He was initiated in the Royal Kent Lodge of Antiquity , No . 20 , Chatham , on the 21 st December , 1882 , and in due course was installed as

W . M . He was a joining member of the Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 , Greenwich , a P . M . of the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 1343 , Grays , and a Past Prov . G . Supt . of Works Essex , a member of the Correspondence Circle of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 207 G , and an honorary member of the Pegasus Lodge , No . 2205 , Gravesend . He was a P . Z . of the Royal Kent Chapter of Antiquity , No . 20 , and P . P . G . Std . Br . of Kent ; P . M . and Secretary of the Gordon Mark Lodge , No .

3 , 6 . 1 ., Gravesend , and Past Prov . S . G . O . Kent , and a P . E . P . of the Lullingstone Preceptory of the Order of the Temple , at Wilmington , and Past Provincial Grand Chancellor of the Provincial Priory of Kent ar . d Surrey , and was also a Knight of Malta . In the Order of Rome and Red Cross of Constantine he ranked as P . M . P . S . and Recorder of the Pentangle Conclave , Chatham , Past Grand Historiographer

in the Grand Imperial Council , and had at different times held the offices of Grand Chamberlain , Grand Junior General , and Grand Treasurer in the Division of Kent , being at the time of his death the Divisional Gr . ind Recorder . He was also a member of the Sayeand Sele Sanctuary , K . H . S ., a Knight G . Commander and Guardian of the S . V ., and in the Ancient and Accepted Rite had been perfected Rose Croix , iS ° , in the C < eur de Lion Chapter , No . 105 He was , lastly , a liberal

supporter of our Institutions , having served two Stewardships for the Boys ' School and qualified as Life Subscriber both of that and the Girls' School , and having served two Stewardships lor the Mark Bi . i . evolent Fund . He was subeditor of the " Masonic Calendar for Kent " during ihe last and the present years , and in short had rendered highly honourable services to all the various branches

if Masonry with which lie was connected . Indeed , the love of Masonry appears to have ruled strong in the family , his father having been a member of the Lodge of Freedom , while his brother , Chailes Cobham , is , 1 P . M . of the Craft and MarK , a P . / . of the Arch , and a Past Prov . G . S . of Wks . ol Durham . We tender our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of our deceased brother .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

St . Michael's Lodge , No . 2259 . A meeting of this lodge was held at the Alasonic Rooms , Thorne , on Wednesday , the 7 th inst ., when there were present Bros . A . L . Peace , l . P . M . ( acting W . M . ); | . Constable , Sec . ( acting S . W . ); T . Barber , J . W . ; 11 . A . Fenton , S . D . ; G . Klandi J . D . ; ti . Maskill , Treas . ; li . Hurst , I . G . ; K . Brew , T . R . A . Marsdin , T . J . Smith , E . Shillito , W . Hallgarth , and F . Pine , Tyler , lhree gentlemen were named as candidates , and one brother was proposed and siconded as a joining member . Bros . Marsdin , Hrew , and rland were elected Auditors , and the balance-sheet will be presented at the next lodge .

Kingswooci Lodge , No . 2278 . The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Saturday , the inth inst ., at the Crown Hotel , liroxuourne , there being present liio . R . W . Nicole , W . M .: K . Blinkhome , P . M .. S . W . ; N . IVarse , | . W . ; H . T . Nell , P . M ., Prov . G . D . ; C . M . Coxon , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; J . F . Bdl , P . M ., P . P . G . Stwd ., Sec . ; F . Page , acting S . U . ; J .

Gravatt , J . D . ; R . von Der Sahl , I . G . ; A . J . Robinson , Stwd . ; T . Williams , Tyler ; F . W . Tompkins , H . R . Hower , 11 . F . Facks , D . Tayljr , C . Nicole , II . Rackham , A . Franklin , li . i \ . Beninglicld , li . E . Nubte , and J . Stephens . Visitors : Bros . W . Manser , 1669 ; Tom Burgess , 45 ; D . B . Cummings , 43 ; W . Ball , W . M . 135 S - 'j - C . Berg , P . M . 1 G 13 ; ami M . A . Attwood , Org . 134 S .

The lodge having been opened , the minutes ot the installation meeting in June were read and confirmed . Bros . C . Nicole , Facks Rackham , Taylor , and Franklin were then passed to the Degree of l \ C , and a ballet was taken fjr Messrs . Rowland E . Noble and John Stephens , which , proving in their lavour , they were duly initiated . Bro . F . W . Tompkins resigned his membership of the lodge as he is about to leave the country . The lodge was then closed .

Alter dinner , the usual toasts were proposed , Bro . C-ixo . i , P . P . G . D ., briefly replying for that ot "The Pruvinci . il Grand Olhcers , P , c » nit and Past . " Bro . Nell , P . M ., in proposing ' * The Health of the Worshipful Master , " compli mented him on the able manner in which he had [ . erformed his duties that evening , and on the extreemely succcsslul term of office he was experiencing . The Worshipful Master , in reply , said that he had felt anxious that his year should be a succ : ss , and the amount of work which had fallen to his lot , so far , had insured it . If any brothtr thought that he was not having enough to do , let him bring up some more initiates .

" The Health of the Initiates" was ci . rdully diunk , and brielly acknowledged by Bros . Noble and Stephens . The Worshipful Master gave a very hearty welcome , in the name of the lodge , to the visitors , and each of t ' . eru replied to the toast . Bio . F . W . Tompkins being abuut to leave for South Africa , his health was proposed in the kindest terms by Bro . von Der Sahl with heartiest good wishes for his success in his new home .

Bro . Tompkins , replying , said h ; should taki with him the most pleasant recollections of his mother lodge , ami the brethren from whom he had received so much kindness ; also the hope th . it at some future time , and that not very far distant , he might lie able to renew his connection with the Kingswuod Lodge . " The Health of the Treasurer and Secretary " was replied to by Bro . Bell , P . M ., Secretary , in his happiest vein , Bro . Fetch , I reasurer , being absent on his summer vication . " The Officers " followed , and the Tyler ' s to ' ast completed the list .

A charming entertainment was given by the musical brethren . Bro . Goodwins , the ( Iiganist of the lodge , is ,. unlortunately , stil unable to attend the meetings ; but a hearty welcome is in store lor him after his lung absence . On this occasion his duties were most ably discharged by Bro . M . A . Attwood , Org . 134 S . Some excellent songs were given by Bros . II . T . Nell , I " .. N . Beninglield , H . R . Bower , Tom Burgess , R . E . Noble , T . E . Berg , and Attwood , "Auld Lang Syne" being the concluding item of the programme .