The True Mission Of Freemasonry.

lightenment and education and elevation of humanity , and to promote the temporal wellbeing , or the medical relief of the suffering or afflicted of our fellow-creatures . Now abroad

very often you hear of pi ofessions of Masonic dogmas and opinions which seem to claim for Freemasonry a corequal power of moral teaching , and of educational effect , with some long

constituted religious body . Hence the antagonism which so often exists between religious communities and our Masonic brethren abroad . Were our continental brethren content , as we

are , simply to avow themselves a purely unpolitical body , without any ulterior aims , except those of general philanthropy , toleration , and fraternal love , the unfortunate and

regretable antagonism , ? which at present exists in many foreign countries , might at any rate be materially lessened , if not altogether removed , But so long as Freemasonry , being

a secret society , bounded by inner and mysterious ties of association and recognition , continues to avow the remarkably extended views in all points , political , philosophical , and

psychological , which it does in many continental countries to-day , so long is it certain to perpetuate this present unsatisfactory and untoward position of affairs . Were our good brethren in

Italy for instance , to give up attacking continually " PioNono" and the "Negri , " and to devote themselves to the development of Masonic charity , or the erection of orphanages for

the poor children of deceased brethren , and for the relief of pressing indigence , and to the granting of annuities to " aged and decayed Freemasons , " Freemasonry in Italy would

receive an impulse which nothing could check . For there is something in Freemasonry which specially commends itself to the quick apprehension of the tolerant Italian mind . Long ages

of mistaken teaching have not deprived Italians of sympathy for their fellow men , and of love of each other . Hence a society which , though eclectic , is still religious in all its

tendencies and teachings , and has nothing to do with politics or polemics , as with us , whose great axiom is brotherly love , and whose . outward practicd manifestation is genuine sympathy to

all , and kindly aid to its own members , is certain to be both appreciated and approved of by the Italy of Dante and Manzoni . Were , too , our good German brethren , instead of

constant censure of the Pope , and the ultramontanes , and priestly power , and tlie Jesuits ( for whom nobody has a good word , today , though we should never forget that in darker days , they

led the van in the great cause of general , moral , and scientific education ) , were those earnest German brethren of ours , we repeat , to devote themselves to the unification and consolidation of German Freemasonry , they would , we feel sure , greatly strengthen their own rightful

position and their own good cause . We think , too , with due submission to them , and to their numerous lodges , that they might do a little more for general Masonic benevolence , than they are doing . We are quite aware that many of their old and famous private lodges are most truly to be

commended for their laudable efforts in the cause of orphan education a ad Masonic benevolence . And when we remember , to day , what Masonic literature owes to German writers , when

The True Mission Of Freemasonry.

- •» . . . " " * " " '' ' ' , . ' '"¦* ' '•••"' * we recall gratefully the honoured names , of Krause and Kloss , Giidicke and Lenning , Rebold , and Mossdorf , Schletter and Findel , and many more , we must ever entertain the warmest

admiration for German Freemasons , and feel the deepest regret , if anything should impede their onward course , or mar their high prestige . These two illustrations will suffice to day " to

point our moral , " and we conclude with the reassertion of our belief , that Freemasonry has a true mission , and a great mission , in the world , to day . Here is a society , however some

may criticize , and others may condemn , whose unchanging precepts are toleration , sympathy and good-will to all men . Here is a brotherhood which , leaving to the world the politics of the

world , and to men the controversies of men , is only intent on propounding and propagating the kindly teaching of peace and mercy , and of unfolding to its members its own true religious

views and words , based evermore and alone on the authority of the great moral law , by which we are taught to love one another , to be true and steadfast , decorous and honest , just and

forbearing , pitiful and forgiving , loyal citizens , good subjects , and to fulfil with freedom , fervency , and zeal , the requirements of every path of duty and of every social vocation in life . We will

close these little discussions and lucubrations in our next impression , with a statement ofthe practical manifestation and development of its true Mission , which Freemasonry can and does display , in active works of beneficence and love .

Distribution Of Prizes To The Boys' School.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES TO THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

We congratulate the Craft on the remarkable advance of the Boys' School . On Wednesday , the Sth , a sight was witnessed , which probably never wascontemplated by those

good brethren of ours in olden days , who in a far humbler guise , and with a less pretentious aim , laid the foundation of this excellent institution of our Order .

The new regime promises very well , and every one must be struck , by the interest manifested , both by the friends ofthe pupils , and the members of the Fraternity , when they hear of the

large concourse of satisfied and applauding spectators . We trust sincerely , that , under the new Head Master , the school may go on and prosper , and

reach its true position among the educational institutions of our country . We have always agreed with Bro . Binckes , in the view he has more than once expressed ,

that there is no reason why our Masonic Boys School should not be our great Masonic public school , just as much as Winchester , Eton ,

Harrow , and Westminster , and others of great value , are looked upon with confidence by parents , and admiration by those who claim them as their " Alma Mater . "

Happily the days are over , when it is supposed and contended , that , we can educate too much . If education be good " per se , " it is good in

its fullest development , and as everything is rising in this country , so is education , we say it with heartfelt gratification , making giant strides amongst * us .

Distribution Of Prizes To The Boys' School.

¦ Hence arises the unceasing and increasing demand for new schools , improved school-rooms , better sanitary arrangements , and superior paraphernalia of scholastic necessity .

Those who enter our school-rooms to day and compare them in their minds' eye , with the schools , in which they began an active career twenty-five years ago , in which they toiled , and

perspired , " con amore' in " auld lang syne , " while they wonder at what was done in those " good old days , " must feel convinced , that a better time has happily arrived alike for teachers ,

and ^ for pupils . Our Masonic Boys' School now possesses apparently every attribute of steady improvement , and future success .

It has a new and energetic Head Master , who is alive to the educational wants and claims of the age in which we live , there is a noble school , a very fine aggregation of boys , everything seems

alike in admirable organization , and in practical working order . We congratulate the House Committee , and especially Bro . Binckes , on the present position of

the Boys School , and we feel it to be but justice to Bro . Binckes to remind our readers , that much of the actual success of the Boys' School may

fairly be attributed , and ought not to be denied , to his persevering energy , and his correct appreciation , both of the wishes of the fraternity , and the tequirements ofthe school .

We wish the new Head Master Bro . Ferret , and our Masonic Boys all possible happiness and progress , and success .

Our Late Bro. Lord Dalhousie.

OUR LATE BRO . LORD DALHOUSIE .

The Earl of Dalhousie , so long known as Mr . Fox Maule , and afterwards as Lord Panmure , whose death we recorded last week , was born seventy-three years ago . He was the

son ofthe Hon . W . Maule , second son ofthe ninth Earl of Dalhousie . He was educated at the Charterhouse , but he did not matriculate at any University . In 1852 he was called to the

Upper House by the somewhat unexpected death of his father , who , in 1831 , had been created Lord Panmure , and , in i 860 , he succeeded to the Earldom of Dalhousie on the death

of his cousin ( first Marquis and tenth Earl ) , the distinguished statesman and Governor-General of India . After this he resumed his family name of Ramsay . His titles descend to Vice-Admiral

George Ramsay , C . B ., who was born in 1806 , and who married in 1845 Sarah Frances , only daughter of the late Mr . William Robertson , of Logan House , by whom lie has surviving issue

two sons—John William , born 29 th June , 1847 , and Charles Maule , born 29 th January , 1859 . Lord Dalhousie was a prominent member of the Free Kirk of Scotland , and was , as some of

us will remember , Minister of War , during the last period of the Crimean War . As a Freemason , he was distinguished by his clearness of expression , and his attachment to

the true principles of Freemasonry . Some of his speeches were very effective . He was made a Mason , we believe , in Canada , but subsequently became Grand Master of Scotland and Deputy Grand Master of England .