Bro. H. Seebohm In Siberia.

BRO . H . SEEBOHM IN SIBERIA .

A lecture of more than ordinary interest was o-iven recently in the School of Art , Sheffield , by Bro . H . Seebohm , *' who has recently returned from a journey to Siberia . Some idea ofhis adventures in the " desolate land of ice and snow " may be gained from the fact that for five months

lie slept in his clothes , and had nothing but a few wild onions for his vegetable diet . Starting from London he went ( o St . Petersburg , from thence to Moscow , and forward to Vologda . Then he sledged to Archangel , where he stayed

for three weeks , getting information as to the rest of his journey . Setting out again , he sledged eight hundred miles due east to Petchora , along the course of which great river he met with the chief of his adventures . In search of

rare birds , he found , not only ornithological treasures , but saw strange sights , and came across strange people . Sometimes journeying over vast tracts of ice , at others being threatened with starvation , now anticipating even a more violent neath by the break-np of the mighty river , and

the annihilation of his dwelling by the rapidly rising waters . At one time ingratiating himself into the good graces of the philosophical Samoyedes , a nomadic tribe of singularly stoical tendencies , who , in the w . ords of the lecturer , " must have blood in their veins , although it runs

very deep beneath their sallow skins . " One day passing-his time with the Ziriani , and the next coming across another tribe with a still more unpronouncable name . Oft-times in the midst of scenery wildly picturesque , and frequently traversing weird-looking tracts of country

disheartening in their ' * blackness of darkness . " Passing the Arctic circle , where the distinction of day and night ceased , and making his way to Dvoinik , where he , and his fellow travellers , took possession of a stranded wreck , and spent a week there , making most

interesting discoveries . And as in all these experiences he never lost sight of the importance of gaining knowledge relative to the national characteristics of the people , no wonder his lecture was interesting . Moreover , he accomplished the great object of his visit , which was

the pursuit of birds . In the course ofhis travels he has secured 1000 skins and 1000 eggs , so his journey has not been in vain . Besides be has discovered one bird entirely new to science , which will be called after his own name ; found several birds entirely new to Europe , one of them

hitherto known only as a visitant to India , and another known as a winter visitant to Persia , as well asthe eggs of four birds whose breeding places have been a mystery . The excursion has certainly been a great ornithological success ; and the products of it non-ornithological caused

considerable amusement at the lecture , especially the donning of a Siberian travelling costume by Mr . Seebohm , and thc exhibition of the attire worn by the Samoyede ladies . The Rev . C . G . Coombe , M . A ., presided at the lecture , which was delivered in connection with the Literary

and Philosophical Society . In proposing a vote of thanks to the lecturer , the rev . gentleman regretted that the lecture had been delivered to comparatively few persons , although the room was crowded . The description ofthe journey to Siberia had been so very interesting that he hoped Bro . Seebohm would be prevailed upon to deliver

it in the Cutler ' s Hall to a much larger audience . Mr . Parkes second the motion , and it was carried unanimously . In acknowledging the vote , thc lecturer said if , upon reconsideration , they thought it worth while , he should be very glad to deliver the lecture again . A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . THOMAS ROUTLEDGE , P . M . 327 . It is our duty to record the death of Bro . P . M . Thomas Routledge , of the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 327 , who died on •he 5 th November , 1 S 75 , at his residence , Emerald Villas , Garden-street , Lower Broughton , Manchester , in the 83 rd year of his age . He was well known throughout this

Province , having been upwards of 40 years a member of his lod ge . As a Roya ! Arch Mason , he was most active and Persevering , and in his capacity of First Principal and P . Z . halted upwards of 200 members . His services were held 'n hi gh estimation by the Order in general throughtut the North of England .

The "Freemason:" Lecture By The Rev. P. P. Agnew.

THE "FREEMASON : " LECTURE BY THE REV . P . P . AGNEW .

The Rev . P . P . Agncw delivered a lecture at thc Lornestrcct llall , Auckland , New Zealand , on the subject of Freemasonry . Several distinguished members of the Craft were present ou thc platform . Mr . G . P . Pierce , P . G . M . of New Zealand , I . C ., occupied thc chair , and introduced thc rev . lecturer to the audience .

Thc Rev . Mr . Agnew , in opening his remarks , alluded to his being , perhaps , tlic first who had received authority to lecture on the subject . There were some who went so far as to say that the origin of the Craft dated back so far as the Creation , and others traced it to the . erection of thc Tower of Babel . But it was to be observed that thc Tower of Babel was of brick . Now , in all Masonic leeends , in

all Masonic emblems , no mention was anywhere made of brick , neither was there any reference to it ; therefore it was to be concluded that Masonry was in no way connected with the Tower of Babel , for brick formed no part of true Masonry . In referring to ancient architecture , it appeared that at thc present time we , with all our knowledge and enlightenment , were ignorant of the means by

which the massive masonry of the old cities was put into position ; and besides , we had no tools at the present time at all suitable for preparing the huge blocks of stone that might be seen , for instance , as forming part of thc ruined Egyptian cities .: The true origin of . Masonry lay in the Teinple of Solomon . This was their sure foundation , on the great glory of which Freemasonry rested as thc

model of Ma & onic teaching . After describing the great costliness of the Temple , on which no less than £ 943 , , 000 sterling had been expended , the rev . lecturer traced thc existence of the Craft through the intermediate ages to Numa Pompilius , the King or Prince of Rome , who , being desirous of introducing stone into the architecture of ancient Rome , called into his service certain of

the Craft . Coming down to later times , and the introduction of Masonry into Britain , it would be found to have become established about the time of King Alfred , and in the year 928 it was said that Prince Edwin , a brother of the King , called thc first meeting of Masons in England at the city of York , and there drew up the first English Constitution . In what might be termed the present day , 1 S 13 , the Grand Lodges of York and London were united .

Regarding those tvho were member of the Craft , he might say the Pope had been a Mason . The Prince of Wales was a Mason , and their Grand Master , so that at some future day they might look forward to seeing seated on the throne of Britain one who had worn the aprcn and used the trowel . The Rev . Mr . Agnew said he would introduce tc his hearers some of the pleasing mysteries of the Craft itself . They took as their guide the Word of God . Everv candidate for admission to the bror

therhood must be made to feel that he was ignorant , and in the greatest need of Divine assistance . He was instructed that in that Book lay the surest guide for him , and that by a careful and diligent study of it he was to mark out his course in life , and be most careful never on any occasion to utter irreverently and without respect the name of the Supreme Deity . No lodge could be worked

unless the Word of God lay open before the Master . It was a strange fact that Masonry existed among the Chinese in a form which led to the belief that its origin was still more remote than the generally received authority . There was in his ( the lecturer's ) possession a Chinese chart which contained emblems of far greater antiquity than any in use among the Masons of the present day . In this chart

were to be found the ark of Noah , the dove , the olive branch , the pillar ol cloud , & c , and many signs which were as yet inexplicable , and this antiquity was further borne out by the very excellent Masons who were to be found amongst the Chinese . There was in Victoria , on its very borders , a colony of Chinese , who received and treated him ( Bro . Agnew ) with the greatest

kindness and consideration , solely from the fact of his being a brother . The lecture gave many instances in which the bond of Masonic friendship had been of great assistance to him , and he also gave an instance in which a Masonic sign actually prevented the execution of a sentence of death . In conclusion , thc rev . gentleman most quaintly recited to his hearers Mrs . Caudle ' s Curtain Lecture , anent the

Craft , and drew many signs of appreciation from them , resuming his scat amidst applause . Mr . M . Niccol proposed , in a neat speech , a vote of thanks to the rev . lecturer , which was accorded by acclamation . In thanking the brethren and the audience for their attention that evening , Bro . Agnew intimated that on Sunday evening he would hold Divine service , according to the Church of England , at

the City Hall , which would probably be thc last opportunity he would have of addressing an Auckland audience . His object in coming to New Zealand , and it was not the first time he had been in the colony—for he was here during the Hone I lekc war and at the sack of Kororarakc—was that he might raise sufficient funds to enable him to

proceed to England , for the purpose of finding , and bringing out to the colonics , some of the ardent youthful spirits , who would take up the ministry in places where they were now waiting for them to appear . Many of these congregations he had laid the foundation of himself . He again thanked those present for their attention . The company then dispersed .

Wii'E YOUR FKF . T . —The best Cocoa Nut Mats and Matting arc made by Treloar and Sons , 69 , Ludgate-hill . " There are few wines that contain so many valuable qualities as really good sherry . A remarkable fine pure pale wine is imported by the firm of Feltoe & Sons , Albermarle-street , that would surely oonvcrt the most ardent admirers of French vintages , "— " The Standard . "

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

A special meeting of the Governors and Subscribers of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held on Saturi day last , at Freemasons' Hall , on the following business : — " To consider , and if approved , adopt , the Report ofthe Special Committee , appointed by thc Quarterly General Court on the ( ith October , 1871 ; , with reference to the

subject of providing accommodation for an increased number of girls , the scheme to be submitted having also been recommended by the General Committee on the 25 th November , and further , in the event of the adoption of the Report , to nominate a Building Committee , who shall be charged with the superintendence of the necessary works , with full power to draw cheques , and perform all such

duties as may appertain to their office . " Bro . Lieut . Col . Creaton , Vice-Patron , was voted to the chair , and among the other brethren present were Bros . Lieut .-Col . J . Creaton , Thomas W . White , John Boyd , J . A . Farnfield , Herbert Dicketts , S . Rawson , A . 11 . Tattershall , H . Massey ( " Freemason" ; , R W . Stewart , G . Bolton , H . Browse , W . Smeed , John A . Rucker , W . A .

Bowler , William Roebuck , Griffiths Smith , Thomas T . Peacock , Z . D . Berry , Charles Jardine , W . J . Mut > lis , John Healey , R . B . Webster , James W . Baldwin , Charles Lacey , G . R . Shirvill , C . Wright , J . C . Parkinson , H . A . Dubois , Colonel Francis Burdett , William Ramsey , Nathaniel George Philips , Robert Kenyon , J . M . P . Montagu , William Stephens , George Kenning ,

Thomas Bartlett , H . Phythian , C . J . Hampden , Joseph Smith , F . B . Davage , Lieutenant Colonel Peters , E . J Barron , W . Winn , John Symonds , C . Burmeister , George Angold , F . B . Lcmaicre , Hyde Pullen , Charles G . I Till , E . C . Woodward , Thomas J . Sabine , J . M . Vaughan , J . Terry , Charles Fish , Frederick Binckes , William F . C . Moutrie , 1 . L . Coulton , E . 11 . Thiellay ,

Jesse Turner , W . C . Ramm , W . Barrett , Thomas Massa , i \ W . H . Ramsay , M . D . ; andjDudley Rolls . The Chairman said this special meeting had been convened for the purpose of receiving a recommendation from the General Committee in accordance with law No . 31 in the Institution ' s book , and he thought he should be best studying the convenience of the brethren by having that

law read at the outset . Bro : Little then read the rule , which directed that before a special meeting could be called a requisition must be signed by a certain number of brethren and given to the Secretary . Bro . Little afterwards read the requisition , and the names attached thereto . The advertisement convening the meeting was taken as read , and Bro . 'Little concluded

by reading that part of the minutes of the General Committee of 25 th November which related the business before the Special Court . The Chairman thought that before going further it would be better to read the schemes for the enlargement of the school , by which the brethren would have full information as to what was proposed to be done .

Bro . Little thereupon read thc following schemes : — Report of the Special Committee , composed of the House Committee , appointed by the Quarterly General Court on the 9 th October , 1875 , to consider and report upon the subject of providing accommodation for an increased number of girls : — " Pursuant to the resolution of the Quarterly Court , the

Special Committee held its first meeting at Freemasons ' Hall , on Friday , the 5 th November , when a proposition was made and seconded that a site for the erection of a ne wschool , to be subsidiary to the establishment at Battersea Rise , be sought for , to which an ' amendment was moved and seconded that an additional building be provided on the present site . After some discussion , it was resolved to

adjourn the consideration of the questoni to Friday , the 12 th November , when the committee held its second meeting , at which it was resolved that the present grounds be utilized for the purpose of providing the extra accommodation required . " The committee then adjourned , for the production oi plans and estimates , to Monday , the 22 nd November , when

the third meeting was held . Several plans were submitted , upon thc suggestions of several of the members present , and having been fully considered and discussed , it was resolved , without a dissentient , to recommend the adoption of a plan brought forward by the C hairman , Bro . Lieut-Colonel J . Creaton , which includes the erection of a large hall , with class rooms and offices , on the ground floor , and

dormitories with governesses' rooms , providing for 94 additional children , on the floors above . " ( Signed ) A . J . CUKATON , Chairman . " The Chairman said these were the schemes which the Special House Committee had submitted to the General Committee , and the General Committee had recommended to this Special Court .

Bro . Thomas W . White had much pleasure in moving that this scheme , the estimated cost of which amounted to £ 20 , 790 , be adopted . Bro . H . A . Dubois seconded the motion . Bro . W . Ramsey asked whether the cost would not exceed ^ the estimated sum . The Chairman said that the committee had gone well

through the scheme and the estimate , and they believed they had taken the outside cost . He thought that instead of being more , it would come to less than the amount stated . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart presumed that this would be without the architect ' s commission , which would amount to £ 1250 .

' 1 he Chairman asked Bio . Massa whether he could enlighten the brethren on this point . For himself and tho committee , they had gone very carefully through the prices , and they thought the chances were in favour of a much less sum than £ 20 , 790 being enough to cover the cost , Bro . Massa would be able tc > say whether this was right . Bro . lMassa : Yes .