The Methodists And The Freemasons.

THE METHODISTS AND THE FREEMASONS .

The following resolution was passed at the last Session of the East Gennessor Methodist Episcopal Church Conference by the favourable votes of thirtyone ministers , including two presiding elders : — " Resolved—That wc disapprove of Freemasonry . " First . Because it , creates disaffection and

division in our charges and in our churches . " Second . Because its associations do not aid religiously , and are derogatory to a holy ministry . " Third . Because preference , position , or gain is held out as an incentive to become Masons , directly or indirectly , and both sometimes .

" Fourth . Because no holy minister of Christ , can affiliate with any organisation which ejects the name of Christ , virtually denying Jesus , without being demoralised and degrading his holy calling . " Fifth . Ileeause it brings Christians into juxtaposition and affinity with all classes of men , of whatever business , religion , or nation , frowning upon

all exclusiveness . ' " Sixth . Because Masonic love and sympathy towards a brother take the precedence of the love of Christ , " Seventh . Because Masonic oaths , obligations , and penalties are not reconcilable to the laws of morality , of Christianity , or of ( lie land "

Eastern Star Entertainment At Astoria, L.I.

EASTERN STAR ENTERTAINMENT AT ASTORIA , L . I .

Brother Robert Macoy conferred thc Eastern Star degrees on a largo number of the members of the Masonic Fraternity and their lady friends , on Friday evening , the l . lth Oct ., under tlio auspices of Advance Lodge , No . 035 ( Ore . John OlilF , Master ) ,

at then- lodge-rooms , at Astoria , L . I . The evening was very unpleasant , but notwithstanding that . large company were assembled at 8 o ' clock , at which time the doors were closed . About twenty of the members of Hill Grove Lodge No . 540 , of Brooklyn , W . Bro . Razing , Master , witli their huh '

friends , came up 111 a large four-horse covered waggon belonging to Bro . Grant , of that lodge , und were present as the invited guests of Advance . A very lively nnd friendly feeling has grown up between these two lodges during the past year , and fraternal visits on either side have been tlie

consequence , which has in every case been characterized by the utmost cordiality . A large deputation was also present from AVhitestone Lodge , L . I ., and other lodges in the vicinity . Bro . Macoy was in liis usual cheerful and agreeable vein of good humour throughout the eveninrr- After conferrinrr the

degrees the company wero escorted to Washington HaU , near by , where the festivities of the evening were commenced by part first , consisting of vocal and instrumental music , under the direction of Bro . Gilford , a resident of Astoria , and a member of Hill Grove . Very beautiful solos were performed and

sung by Miss Kate Willis and Miss Newton . Bro . Everett , of Advance Lodge , then presented , on behalf of flu- lodge , to the members of Hill Grove Lodge , throngh W . Master Razing , a very beautifully arranged floral design , the square and compass , alluding to ihe good feeling which existed between

the two lodges , and desiring their acceptance of this slight testimonial , "not for its intrinsic worth , " but that it might be a souvenir of tlie kindly feeling that Advance held towards his lodge . Bro . Razing received the design in the name of his lodge , thanking the donors , aud promising to reserve tite same

carefully . Bro . Everett also presented to Bro . Macoy the beautiful emblem of the Eastern Star , the fivepointed star , exquisitely finished , the several colours of the points arranged with choice flowers representing the several degrees , which was , as Bro .

Macoy stated , a great surprise , and he being no Bpecchmaker , would accept the same and present it to a certain i / mim / lady within his knowledge , with whom he had been acquainted for a long time and whose special society he had enjoyed . He and his lady thanked the lodge , a thousand times for the

compliment , and stated that they would keep the same as a remembrance of Advance Lodge . Supper was announced , and the wholo party , numbering over three hundred , proceeded to the large dining-room of the hall , where five long tables were loaded with refreshments of every kind .

Plenty of coffee , ice cream , fruits , & c , were disp layed , but no liquors , which was a decided improvement , wc think , upon similar occasions of Masonic festivals . Dancing wns commenced soon after , and to thu music of the band the festivities were kept up until 0 o ' clock in tho morning . The alliiir was in all its details well arranged and

appointed . The ladies were in great numbers , and by their confident looks we judge will know how to guard and keep well tlie " secrets" which wero conferred upon them . Messrs . Marc and AVitham , florists , at Astoria , furnished gratuitously the immense number of floral decorations displayed on the table , and also arranged and presented to the lodge the floral designs for presentation . —Excliange .

A Pleasing Instance Of The Value Of Freemasonry.

A PLEASING INSTANCE OF THE VALUE OF FREEMASONRY .

We have this week to record one of the most p leasing and suggestive instances of the social value of Freemasonry that has ever come to our knowledge . True it is accompanied by a subject of the profoundest grief , but this fact only tends the more to brighten the halo of glory which enshrines the incident we are about to narrate . AVe believe there is not a brother

of the Craft , from the greatest to the least , but who will , while dropping a tear to the memory of the departed , feel his heart glow with conscientious pride that he is a brother of those who have been instrumental in performing a good action . Our readers are already acquainted with the

melancholy facts , so far as thoy have been ascertained , attending the explosion on AVednesday , the 3 rd inst ., on board Her Majesty ' s gun-vessel " Thistle , " while trying her speed at the measured mile at the Maplin Sands , off'Slieerness . Two of those who were killed by the explosion were Masons . Their names were

John Daer , a fitter , employed in the Sheerness Steam Factory ; and Joseph Lawrence , a stoker , of the Sheerness Steam Reserve . Both , we beVieve , were brethren of Adam ' s Lodge ( 15 S , late 1 S 1 ); nnd on the night before he met his death Lawrence attended the lodge , and was present till its close . Daer resided with his family in Green-street , Sheerness ; but

Lawrence was not known to have any relatives or friends in the town , and it . was not known from whence he came . His body would have been interred by strangers , but his lodge forbade it . A few brethren met together , discussed tlie question , and it was resolved to demand the body of ( lie deceased , and

bury it with Masonic honours . The names of the brethren who took the initiative in this praiseworthy step were Bros . Dr . Keddell , P . P . S . AA . ; Isaac Townsend , P . . G . R . ; S . L . Townsend , P . P . J . D . ; J . G . Green , P . P . J . D . ; and J . T . Nixon , O'Brien , Sfcorer , and Mudd .

Tlie meeting was held at Bro . J . G . Green ' s , the Britannia , Mile Town , Sheerness , and the proposition was taken up immediately , and so heartily that on the funeral procession being formed on Sunday , no fewer than a . hundred brethren of tlie Adam ' s and De Shurlaiid Lodges were , in attendance , and accompanied the

remains to their final resting-place . Of Lawrence it may be truly said , he was one of " nature ' s noblemen . " Quiet , reserved , but gentlemanly in his manner and hearing , no one , as he sat nig ht , after night in his lodge in his simple uniform of a stoker , suspected that he was more than a Master Mason . But the best

possible evidence , that of his certificates and other documents , show that he had gone deep into the mysteries of the Craft . He proved to be a Royal Arch and a Murk Master , aud it is also clear that lie hail passed the several offices in the separate degrees . That ho was a careful , saving man was proved by the fact that

a savings' bank-book was found with the above , documents in a tin ease in his " ditty-box" in the Naval Barracks ; and that he was a religious , thoughtful man was shown by the circumstance that in the tin ease was also found a card , on which was printed a most beautiful prayer , and which appeared to have been

much used . All these things are at present in Bro . J . G . Green ' s possession , and may be ft-vn at his house . AVe think we have written enough to prove that sometimes beneath the humblest garb beats the heart of a man , and a finer or more truthful illustration ot this than that afforded bv the career of "Bro . Joseph

Lawrence , stoker , " it is impossible to imagine . AV ill not sueli an incident as this open the eves of those who look upon themselves as a class distinct from those who are lower than themselves in the social scale , to the fact , that " your true gentleman " does not , flourish alone in high places , but that , like the modest violet ,

he may also he found iu the quiet , shady , lmthoughtof nook ? What will he thought in the services ? AV ill not our naval and military brethren be proud to learn that men like Lawrence are to be found under their command , who , while capable of filling a much higher sphere in life , are yet content to humbly do their duty

111 that state of life to winch it has pleased God to call them ? Cut we have said enough : and in conclusion , we may be permitted to express a hope that the example afforded by the brethren of the Adam ' s Lodge , coupled with that of Lawrence ' s brief history , will not be lost upon those who read this short narrative .

1 ' nESTOXiAN Ci . un OF IXSTUUCTIOX , held at Bro . Hunt ' s , Lyceum Tavern , Strand , for Master Masons only ; Bros . AVatson , P . M ., President , Bourne , P . M ., 719 , Sec , Pymm , AV . M ., 719 , Treas . This club of Instruction meets every Tuesday evening , for working flic three ceremonies , and at the meeting on the 9 th

mst ., it was proposed and earned , that Bro . A \ in . AVatson , the President , should work the ceremony of installation on the Ith Tuesday in the months of November , December , January , nnd February . Young members of the Craft may be assured that the information imparted at this club will be worthy of the brethren above-named , and will well repay a visit .

Nosglyngaua, Or Winter's Eve , 31st October.

NOSGLYNGAUA , OR WINTER'S EVE , 31 ST OCTOBER .

By BROTHER EGBERT BOND . " It was an autumn evening , and the rain Had ceased awhile , but the loud winds did shriek And called the deluging tempest back again ; The flag-staff on the church tower did creak , And through the black clouds ran a lightning vein .

And then the flapping raven came to seek Its home ; its flight was heavy , and its wing Seemed weary with a long clay ' s wandering " This season is celebrated iu Monmouthshire and Wales by a " goose supper " and social gatherings , wherein terpsichorean festivities , forfeits and other games are indulged . Thus gladsomely they welcome

the approach of winter , lience realising the sentiments of the poet : — " Let winter come ! let Polar spirits sweep The dark ' ning , wild , and lempest-tvotibled deep , Though boundless snows the withered heath deform , And the dim sun scarce wanders through the storm ,

let shall the smile of social love repay AVith mental light tlie melancholy day , And when its short and sullen morn is o'er , The ice-chained waters slumbering on ( he shore , How bright the faggots in the little hall Blaze on the hearth and warm the pictured wall . "

The most popular pastime of the season is that called the apple and candle , an amusement the nature of which would scarcely recommend itself to the favour of the stranger of cultivated taste , except that it excites a laugh , and that would scarcel y compensate for the disgust it sometimes creates . The feat is performed thus : a pivot communicating

with the ceiling has suspended from it a crossbar or stick , at one end of which an apple , and at the other a caudle is affixed ; these are made to revolve , and the performance commences . Each of the party , with arms pinioned , stretching himself on tip-toe and eagerly awaiting the return of the apple—a distended mouth not adding to his beauty—ready to

close upon it , When it appears to be within convenient distance a snap is made at it , and the chances are favourable to his exertions being rewarded by a mouthful of delicious tallow , ns his impetuosity to c . itch tho apple generally thwarts his aim ; this is , of course , a source of merriment and glee to the spectators , who , as their turn arrives , seldom achieve

better success . Another diversion characteristic of the period is the di pping for apples or oranges . An apple or orange is thrown into a tub or water , from which it has to be withdrawn by the mouth , the party who undertakes to accomplish the feat having his arms tied h ehind him . Thus joyously is tho young idea taught to welcome the approach of winter , that period admonishing them

that—. . . " Not . many golden hours must pass Ere grey October's frosty hitter days Knit cold November in the general mass , And shrouding all things in a yellow haze , Among the minds of men much dimbling raise Where autumn ends and winter does begin ; Ami slid with us the chilly swallow staj s , And round the rain-spout ( hitters out and in , Nor dreams of Biscay ' s shore , nor southern Limousin . "

ST . Gironoir ' s IIAM ., LAXGIIAM PLACE On Saturday last , a concert was given b y Herr Jona . Greebe , the celebrated violinist , who lias Jiad the honour of playing before the King of Holland , the Crown Prince of Prussia , the Dnke of Nassau , & c . The concert commenced with a trio , in which Bros .

P . E . A ' an Noorden . Herr Greebe . anil Webb , very excellently played . _ Bro . Frank Elmore , sang a song of his own composition , entitled , "Airy , Fairy , Lilian , " very capitally . Bro . Herr Greebe played a solo on the violin , in which he was deservedly applauded . Miss Fanny Muir sang " Non piu Mestu . " She has a

clear flute-hko voice . Mdlle . Rosamumhi Doria sang , Schubert ' s " Onto Naeht , " in German , beautifully . Miss Julia AVoolf ' s brilliant , execution on tlie pianoforte was marvellous , accompanied by Herr Greebe . Miss Fanny Holland ' s rendering of ( he jewel song from " Faust" received several well-merited rounds of

applause . Mon . Faqtte played a solo 011 the violoncello from Irish airs beautifully . Bros . Parker and AVebbs playing was capital , also Mr . Tyler ' s solo on the clarionet . Miss Emily Muir sang " De place ;" idio has a pure soprano voice . The gem of tho evening

were the variations for the violin and voice , by Herr Greebe and Mdlle Clara Doria , Madame Griefenhagen , as an accompanist , and Bro P . E . Van Noorden's conducting , contributed to the success of the concert . A very fashionable audience attended it .

LANDMAUKS . — Ihe landmarks of Masonry constitute the foundation of our faith in thc system , and it is this coincident which stamps the Order as the handmaiden of reli g ion . RKi'iursiiinrNTS— 'Tis good to be merry und wise ,

says the old song ; and the wisdom which considers mirth or good humour to bo a stain on a person ' s conduct , is a wisdom , which , we hope , for the honour of the Craft , will be for ever excluded from the practice of Masonry ; for it will not , most assuredl y , produce happiness , cither in the lodge or out of it .