Freemasonry At Newport.

Edward Schneider Lean , 1029 , Ascension I . ( West Africa ); Rudolph G . Glover , P . M . 1 S 1 ( London ); J . C . Parkinson , Prince of Wales ' s , and P . M . 181 ( London ); William Adam , P . M ., St . John ' s , 90 ( London ) , and 471 ; George W . Jones , 471 ; John Griffiths , 471 ; AVilliam

Watkins , 471 ; James Harrison , 741 ; A . McMahon , 471 ; B . Briggs , 610 ; J . S . Stone , 471 ; Samuel Davis , 471 ; Edward \ V . Perron , 471 ; Thomas Brooke , 471 ; James Thompson , 6 S 3 ; Walter West , 6 S 5 ; Henry Fletcher , Tyler ; Henry Griffiths , WM . 1071 ; E . W . Richards (

Abersychtn ) SiS ; Ph . James , duo 471 ; R . B . Evans , 471 ; C . H . Oliver , 471 ; C . Ii . Oliver , jun ., 471 ; Wm : West , 471 ; Thomas Williams , 6 S 3 ; W . H . Pickford , 471 ; H . Koehel , 9 88 , Jullender , East Indies ; Henry Greene , 471 ; Wm . Evans ( Caerleon ) , 471 ; Edwin Hihbard ,

471 ; John C . Guthrie , 500 ( Dublin ) ; Thomas Moses , 471 ; Samuel Goss , 471 ; T . L . Davies , 471 ; J . Gould , 471 ; James Ewius , 6 S 3 ; J . Beriyn , 471 ; Charles P . Evans , 471 ; John James , 471 ; George Forthergill . 471 ; F . Oickrs , 471 ; Wm . James , 471 ; J . Horner , 471 ; A . Tayler , 471 ; R . II . Richards , 471 ; Thomas Ellis , 471 ; ecc .

1 he bretiiren wore the collars of the Order , with the jewels pertaining to Craft Masonry and the Royal Arch Degree . The purple of the P . G . L . was as prominent as ihe Blue . Music was provided as usual , Bro . Rogers ptesiding at the pianoforte , and ihe brethren freely

contributing lo ihe h ivmony ofthe evening by the exercise of their vocal powers . Grace was said by the Rev . Samuel Fox , die P . O . Chap ., and die cloth having been removed , the usual toas s wer ; prooo ; el . We give die list as it was t-et forih in ihe pro-era mine : "Thc

Queen an . l the Craft ; " "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales :: iid thf rest of die R . yal Family ; " ' The M . W . the G . M . of England , ' and the Oflicers ol the ( M ' . in . l Lotige ; " ' R W . the P . G . M . of Monmoutb-hire , " "The V . W . the D . P . G . M ., ami the P . G . Officers of Monmomhshire : " "The

W . M . 471 ; " "The P . M . ' s 471 ; " " Principals and P . P . Siluri . m Chapter ; " "The Visitors ;" " The Is-. i LotLc ; " ' The other Lodges of the Provine-- ; " " The Officers of the Siluri in Lodge ;" ' The Masoivc Charities ¦ . " - ' To all poor and disirt-s > cd , & c "

The propos d of mo 4 of these toasts fell to t e sh . ire ofthe Worshipful Mister , who most ably acquitted hi live If of his rather onerous duties . The lo \ a iy whicli is proverbial amongst Masons displ . iud iiself in great strength on tliix i . ceison , and the " Iking , " or that peculiar mode

lifdoi-ig " ihe honours . " was delivered with great e Id / . A fur the "Queen and the Craft , " the " Masonic National Anihem " was sung , and in conneciii n wall the loast of brother the Heir App-r .-nt , "God bless ihe Prince of Wales , "

found vein in fervent aspiration and full harmony . Bro . Homfray returned thanks for the toast lo the D P . G M . with great good taste , assuring the lodges of the province that nothing should be warning on his part to fulfil ( he duties of Imposition with earnestness an 1 fidcliiy .

The health of the W . M ( Bro . H . J . Gratte ) , was v- ry appropriately and eulogistic-ally given by llro . the iv v . P . G . Chaplain . It was as he said , the to . is- of die . iv-niag . Enlarging on die responsible dudes of the chair , and showing the dignity of the position of the W . M ' ., as ruler of

the lodge , the rev . gentleman , in words of genuine sincerity , congratulated Bro . Gratte on his election for a second time to the post of honour ( Masonic fire ) . Bro . Gratte feelin <] y responded . Last year it had pleased the Great Architect of the Universe to lay upon him His chastening hand .

Disabled for three or four months by severe illness , he was prevented from takingan active part in his Masonic duties . The fraternal feeling and broderly love evinced towards him on " dial occasion he should never forget , and he regarded his re-election by the Silurian as a fresh ' proof of fi ¦ . !• confidence an 1 est-t-m . ( Applause ) .

Tiie seventh toast ( the P M . ' s 471 ) fell to die lot of Bro . G . W . Jones , who coupled therewith the health of P . M . Pro . Fox and P . M :. Bro . Wm . West , both of whom returned thanks in terms of no ordinary felicity .

Freemasonry At Newport.

With " Tlie Principals and P . P . Silurian Chapter , " were coupled the names of Bros . Hellier and Oliver , who duly responded . The Worshipful Master proposed " The Visitors , " and in doing so alluded to the

presence amongst them of several distinguished brethren , mentioning especially the name of Bro . Parkinson , whom he understood was the managing director cf a most important undertakingthe Alexandra Docks—which they all knew was

bound up wilh the commercial prosperity of Newport . Although politics were interdicted at Masonic meetings , he was not aware that a reference to commercial matters was prohibited . ( Hear , hear . ) And as they all were , more or

less , directly or indirectly , connected with the shipping interests of this port , they could not but regard with feelings ofthe liveliest satisfaction the approaching completion of so important an undertaking . He connected with the toast

of "The Visitors , " the name of Bro . J . C . Parkinson , whose presence amongst them he welcomed in his commercial as well as his fraternal capacity ( drunk with Masonic honours ) . Bro . Parkinson , who was very cordially

received , said : I will not lose one moment 111 endeavouring to find expressions for the gratitude of which the hearts of your visitors are naturally full , but will proceed to tender you our warmest thanks for ihe hospitable reception you

have given us , and lo reciprocate in thenentirety , the good wishes which your Worshipful Master has just so heartily expressed . Out experience to-night has been one of such varied a !; unqualified satisfaction , that we labour at

this moment under a double debt of gratitude , and know not whether to ihank you lirst lor the intellectual treat afforded us in your beautiful hall—a lr at which , as it seemed to me , 1 icked nothing either to impress the imagination or touch

the heart—or to award priority to your lralernal greetings at this board . Several things have been in ule clear to me to-day . 1 have learnt , and shall upon all suitable occasions be prepared to testify , that Newport contains a compact

phalanx of Freemasons , to whom the acquisition of our " mystic knowledge " is a labour of love , and who bring to the ceremonial and traditions of our Order thoughtful and cultivated minds , so that no word or symbol , no jot or tittle of Ihe

vast and beneficent superstructure wc call Freemasonry , but receives due consideration , and is made to Lear practical fruit . It is , brethren , as a . working Mason of many years' standing that I venture to pay my humble tribute of praise to

the supreme excellence of the working 1 have seen t-i-dty . My admiration of it , and the great enjoyment [ have experienced here , make me hope th it 1 shall take part in many such evenings as this . And if there be at any lime , or in

any form , any service I can render you 111 Lrcemasonry , pray count upon my co-operating with you with till my heart and strength . For it is my hope to see much of Newport ( cheers ) , and as the great enterprise with which I have the

honour to be connected approaches nearer and iv-arer to completion , there will l : e no pleasanlcr relief to severer duties than sharing wilh you the privileges of Freemasonry . The subject suggests Masonic phrases . After my inspection , say of

the perfect ashler-work down yonder , of the stones "smoothed for the hands of the experienced workmen , '' " of ihe uprights fixed in their proper bases , " under the direction of Bro . Griffiths , and the " rude matter brought into

due form" by the same hands , it will be my delight to join you in studying the lessons enforced by other working tools , and to turn my attention from operative to speculative Masonry . ( Cheers . ) It is particularly agreeable to me to

feel that our interests are identical 111 the great project to which I have adverted , and that the success and prosperity of the Alexandra Docks will give a powerful stimulus to that progress and inlerprise for whicli Newport is already renowned . ( Prolonged applause . ) Although I am but a

comparatively young member ofthe Directorate , 1 venture to speak for the whole body when I say that few things give us greater satisfaction in connection with our enterprise than a conviction of the great material blessings which must follow in its wake , and be diffused around . Forgive

Freemasonry At Newport.

me , brethren , for speaking at this length , for I hope to prove to you that vast undertakings with the objects and ofthe character of the Alexandra Docks , form no unfitting theme for Freemasons , and , indeed , embody within themselves much

that we are instructed to practise , and far more of the true principles of our Order than were made manifest in any of the gigantic works of antiquity . It has been my good

fortune to wander , as a tourist , by the banks ot the three great sacred rivers of the world —the Ganges , the Jordan , and the Nile . In old Egypt , the mother of nations , the Masonic traveller pazes wonder-stricken on the

mighty monuments of dynasties which are forgotten , of a civilisation which is effaced , of a religion which is dead ; and he recalls , not without reverence , the tradition which teaches that there was some affinity between the ancient Egyptian mysteries , and those practices and secrets which Freemasons cherish and hand

down . In Palestine , the same traveller discerns on the decaying walls ofthe holy but desecrated city of Jerusalem , the very emblems which it is the business of our lodges to elucidate and explain . 'At Delhi . Agra , Lucknow , and over the

vast plains of Upper India he finds upon the facades of the tombs and palaces of those great Moguls , who overran Ilindostan to hold it for centuries in their iron sway , our Masonic symbols ; and throughout the gorgeous and mysterious

East , there is no difficulty in establishing two facts—First , that the outward forms of what is known to us as Freemasonry were in use there in remote ages ; secondly , that its spirit and privileges were but too often wanting in the

rulers and the ruled . For , as every candidate for our mysteries is taught , Masonry is . free ( cheers ) . The great doctrine of natural equality and mutual dependence rims through and

connects its teachings as by a silver thread ; while in the countries quoted there arc but too many evidences of a debased nationality and an enslaved people . Whether the stranger stands entranced in admiration before the remains of

the massive yet delicate architecture of the P . ithans , of whom bishop Heber wrote in his " Indian Journal , " "They designed like Titans , and finished like jewellers ; " or marvels over

the geometrical proportions of the great pyramids ofGhi / . eh , those venerable past-masters of Time , where mass has been aggregated to mass , and quarry piled on quarry , till solid granite seems to cover the earth and reach the

skies—whether in India or m Egypt—there come welling up to him , and echoing through the dim centuries , dreadful sounds . They are the lash of the task master and the groans of the oppressed 1 Thus it is , he comes to reflect

bitterly , that the Masonic symbols he sees have been but an outward and empty sign ; that there has been no blessing on the work he beholds in ruins , or with its very meaning forgotten , and that he must look elsewhere for verification of

the voice from Heaven , " In strength will 1 establish this My house , that it may stand firm for ever , " This is the moment , brethren , when an Englishman turns with pride to the monuments of industry and the triumphs of the

mechanical art of his own beloved country ; to her Christian temples , to her secular enterprises , to her havens of refuge , to her network of railways , to her mighty viaducts—aye , why should 1 conceal it ?—to her magnificent and thriving

docks !—monuments which I venture to say are equal in design , etpial in achievement , equal in grandeur to the mightiest relics of the ancient world , and are immeasurably superior to them in thc priceless truth that they are cemented ,

not by the blood and tears of down-trodden slaves , but by the willing labour of free men . ( Continuous applause . ) And that they perpetuate , not the lives squandered and the treasure

won by some despot on a throne , but the growth , the intelligence , and the activity of a great and united nation . Here , where , as Sheridan wrote very beautifully , and as a great living statesman quoted not so long ago : —

" Content sits basking on thc cheek of toil ; —where just laws and the wise administration of them have changed the face of a country , and are vanquishing slowly , but resistlessly , the evils