Bro. Lessing And His Masonic Conversations.

There is a rivalry , which no process of law , which no establishment even , say , of lunacy , can arrest . They will do as they please . Yet there are never-dying inducements for men to follow the butterfly , to reap the results of its " fluttering over . " Nature and God ,

according to this mode of looking at it , are identical . The old proverb that " Man proposes but God disposes , " simply becomes more and more verified . Well , then , this band of patriots of the planet , not of any country , simply become more and more in the right . The temple gets a new and

noiseless stone with every gallant heart which pledges itself to social and moral advancement . It is found that Ernest urges the instance of the ants . But what are they in human interpretation The bees have their drones , and it is likely that the ants , though 1 cannot aver it , have some

corresponding co-relatives . In the ranks of humanity we have millions of poorer creatures . We desire to be friends to them . In that sense Ernest was not wrong . Order , therefore , the interlocutor argues , must

exist without government . " Get up and let us go , " he urges— "for the ants will be crawling us . " In this Bro . Lessing tells us a truth , not to be doubted of any man . There are human ants more dissatified than those created . If we choose

to seek them in their haunts , we may be crawled over and perhaps stung . Hence Society has an indefeasible title to extirpate such creatures , if they should prove noxious ; but on the other hand , to extend to them the greatest of mercy , in so far as they prove

useful to society . Falk talks about " veiled tyranny , " but in verity there can exist no tyranny save that of Nature itself , and Nature has been prepared by T . G . A . O . T . U ., and under that preparation we , without appeal , should prepare ourselves here

for admission into the Grand Lodge of Heaven . How is this to be accomplished ? Only , in my humble opinion , by an implicit submission to the rules of common sense , imposed and rendered eternal b y T . G . A . O . T . U . Revolutionary Freemasonry never can exist in any coherence : but

-Masons , as such , can exercise , and ever will exercise their civil ri ghts . Still the Masonic Fraternity binds nations together in the best of senses . It matters not whence we are derix-ed , if we can come to a common understanding , be we of any faith acknowledging the existence and

power of a Supreme Ruler , and we can enter with truth and faith into the contract we make , most solemnly , on our admission . A word about classes , and I think my comments upon Conversation the Second may come to an end .

This division of classes is mainl y . in my opinion , caused by a misunderstanding , only to be healed by frank confessions of fault on all sides . It is a question of money , and I do not know

anybody of men so universally charitable as the Freemasons . Yet these privileges being , necessarily , restricted , it is held by those outside the pale , that they are valueless . This is not so , as I shall proceed to show at a future time .

BitnAKFAST . —Epps ' s Coco . v . — -G IIATF . FI ; I . AND C OM - FORTING . — " By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutiition , and by a careful application of the fine propcities of well-selected cocoa , Mr . Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately-flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills . "— Civil Service Gazelle . Made simply

with Boiling Water or Milk . Each packet is labelled" J AMES EPPS & Co ., Homoeopathic Chemists , London . " HOLLOVVAY ' PILLS . —Dismiss Your Doubts . —Let no one be longer oppressed with the notion that his malady is incurable till these pills have had a fair trial , Where ordinary preparations have failed , these Pills have been used with the most marked success . A course of tnisadmiiable

medicine clears the blood from all impurities , and improves its quality . The whole system is thus benefited , through the usual channels , without reduction of strength , shock to the nerves , or any other inconvenience . Tic weakest woman and most delicate child may fearlessly lesoit to this cooling , corrective , and withal strengthening medicine , which works the most beneficial changes where health seemed hopelessly lost . —AIJVT .

" lesterday I was suffering excruciating pain from rheumatism in my limbs . I applied your Vegetable Pain Killer for it , and one small bottle of which in twelve hours effected a completed cure . This is the third time 1 have used your well-named medicine , and in each case it has produce ! the most satisfactory results . —J . R . BUTCIIARU , Dundee , April JO , 1871 . —To Perry Davis & Son , London , W . C .

Hull And The Masonic Charities.

HULL AND THE MASONIC CHARITIES .

BY BRO . WILLIAM BERNARD . We have often heard our non-masonic friends , if we may sojcall our uninitiatedjjbrethren , express surprise at the magnitude and prosperity of our Charitable Institutions , and wonder how it is that these large and costly undertakings can be

so ably maintained by the voluntary contributions of those of whom the outer world really " knows so little , although of whose goodness it has seen and heard so much , " and we must admit that we have often occasionally ourselves , been somewhat at a loss how to understand how all the success

which has blessed the eilorts of the philanthropic supporters of the various Masonic Charitable Institutions has been obtained . We know that these matters require many potent auxiliaries before they begin to look anything like promising . That wealth , talent , and

perseverence , must all be brought into harmonious co-operation , that difficulties beyond number and past description have to be overcome , and that all the purest elements of Christian faith can call into being , Love and Charity , must be exercised to the fullest extent before the

Samaritan like ideals of compassion and benevolence are realised for a permanent and substantia ] good . We know the difficulties that always beset success , for it is scarcely worth the name of success , without something has been accomplished or overcome , and we always honour success the

more , when in the achievement ol a charitable and Christian purpose it has crushed many opposers under its feet , and in a success of this nature Masonry may , without egotism , indeed be proud . Its charity is no fictitious scheme , or artificial sentiment ,, but an incomprehensible

and important part of its fundamental principles . Faith , Hope , and Charity , are the three great pillars of the Masonic Temple , and the greatest of these , is unquestionably , Charity—Charity in the heart , Charity upon the tongue , and Charity in the . hand , ami a trood brother should be able to say

with Job , that " the blessing of Him that was ready to perish came upon me , and I caused the widows heart to sing for joy . I was e' \ -es to the blind , and feet to the lame . I was ti Father to the poor , and the cause which I knew not , I searched out . The stranger did no '

lodge in the street , but I opened my doors to the traveller . When the ear heard nu then it blessed me , and when the eye saw me , it beamed with deli ght , because I delivered tht . poor that cried , and the fatherless , and him that had none to hel p him . " It is , " says the late

Brother Inwood , " the leading princi ple and the great end of Masonry , to propagate the exercise of charity in all its various operations , and he who does it not is yet destitute of the true Masonic heart , which is the heart of Charity , of Benevolence , and of Love .

The Masonic Charities speak in many ways in favour of the fraternity of Freemasons—they speak of the unselfishness of the body in alluding to the wants and stud ying the interests of others . They show how much a body of generous men acting in unity and in accordance with

well-regulated measures , can help those who are unable to help themselves ; and they shew in more ways than we at present can explain , how indefatigable is the bod y in the discharge of those duties imperative u , on all right thinking and liberal minds . There are many gentlemen of wealth

and influence among us , who subscribe munificently to these institutions , and there are others of limited means who do their best , and we regret to say , that while admiring these beautiful results of Masonic thoughtfuluess , there are many who do nothing at all . Let these who

may be included in this catalogue remember the widows mite , and that every little helps . Wc may not all be able to give our guineas , but certainly most of us can occasionall y spare our mites . In Hull there are three lodges , the Humber , the Minerva , and the Kingston , and we believe the calls of our Charitable Institution are

never unheeded b y any ol them . The Humber is one of the largest and wealthiest lodges in the kingdom , having a list of members numbering nearly 300 , and in a most flourishing condition , having a pension fund attached to it , for the benefit of its own members . The Minerva though not so large a lodge is for its size and

Hull And The Masonic Charities.

resources , equally as prosperous , and 111 all respects as commendable as its larger sister . The Kingston , the smallest lodge of the three , being more exclusive in the admission of members than the other two , we believe dispenses all its surplus funds , in Masonic Charity . To each of these

lodges belong , gentlemen particularly active in furthering ihe interests of our charities , and when we consider that in most cases they have , in so doing , to disregard to a certain extent their business or professional requirements besides sustaining many other inconveniences—we think

they tire discharging a duty which , at all times , merits a kindl y recognition . Whoexer belongs to the Masonic Fraternity in this locality , must know how zealously P . M . John Walker has laboured in the good cause . For many years , no case of deserving charity has ewer been brought

before the brethren , in which he has not taken a prominent part . A thorough and a consistent Mason , the orphan and the destitute never appeal to his time , purse , and energies in vain ; and in matters connected with the Masonic schools , his exertions deserve a praise , which his modesty

would make him unwilling to receive , and our knowledge of them , render it unnecessary for us to bestow . At the last election of candidates for the Girls' School , it was through his exertions alone , both in this neighbourhood and in the metropolis , that the candidate , selected by the

province , was elected , and there are many , both boys and girls , who will ever have cause to remember with gratitude , the name of P . M . John Walker . There is also Bro . W . Tcsseyinan , I . P . M .. of the Humber Lodge , who never seems to think of "time and trouble , " in following the

example of his old friend Bro . Walker , and who is now , and has been for some days , in London , attending the Meeting of the Directors , and chief supporters , of the Masonic Schools . We may not till be able to do as much as some

of our more favoured brethren in these respects , but the least of us may certainly do something , and if it : be little , it will not be unacceptable , for if weonl y do our bes . t—the best can do no more — -for in the words of an eloquent and thoughtful

writer : 1 'hey who bearing heavy burdens over life ' s most hill y road , Strife to cheer a weaker brother bowed b . 'neath another load ; Who , with young ones round about them , where

full p lenty never smiled , Vet can stretch their heart , and table , to let in an orphan child . They who half-fed , feed the breadless , in thetravail of distress ,

They who , taking from a little , give to those who have still less ; . They , who needy yet can pity when they look on greater need . These are chanty's disciples—These are meiy ' s sons indeed !

Obituary.

Obituary .

The funeral of Lieut . Col . Macdonald took place at Harrow Cemetery on Saturday last ; when in addition to the private friends and personal acquaintances of the late gallant officer , about 250 members of the First Surrey Rifle Corps attended , in plain civilian

mourning , and amongst them were conspicuous the members of both the Macdonald Craft and Macdonald Mark Lodges . A more impressive burial we have never yet attended . Col . Macdonald had , it appeared , expressed a wish that military honours should not be paid to his

remains , but display was , it would seem , not needed to enhance the expression of sorrow and regret with which those who surrounded his last resting place evinced their respect for the gallant gentleman , worthy friend , and firm but kind and courteous Commander . Scarce a

dry eye was to be observed when the last solemn rite was performed and the members of his Corps filed past the grave to take their final farewell of one who had made himself universall y beloved throughout many years of agreeable association .