Collection In Our Lodges For The Indian Famine.

tike part , a labour of love in which all can share , and as the wants of a suffering and dying community are overpowering just now , so as it •ippears to us , we say it with all deference . Following the good example of Grand Lodge , should proportionally be the generous contributions of our lodges antl brethren .

The Recent Catastrophe In The Channel.

THE RECENT CATASTROPHE IN THE CHANNEL .

How wondeiful and how appalling are the contrasted scenes of life . This world of ours , which rises to labour and refreshment , and life and emotion each morning , and goes to rest each night in tranquil confidence , apparently , that all is as it should be , is often the theatre of the

most startling episodes , the most pathetic events . Amid the struggles and turmoils of existence , and the noise of competing crowds , amid the onward course of mankind , every now and then , a mournful catastrophe moves our innermost souls , and seems to witness

fullvoiced , indeed , if unheeded by us , to the littleness and impotence of man , and the uncertainty and insecurity of all things here below . Neither science nor skill , nor courage , nor the noblest efforts of any of us , are able to ward oft those fearful visitations which every now and

then break in on our perhaps too easy life , with the resistless energy of awakened sympathy , for some suffering , dying , departed fellow-creatures . Yes , the contingencies and the catastrophes of life are both serious and awful in the highest degree . Let us take the last of these mournful

occurrences . Two vessels are going down the channel calmly and peacefully ; one was the " Avalanche , " Captain Williams , from London , to Wellington , New Zealand , having on board 63 passengers , and a crew of 34 : the other was the "Forest , " of Windsor , Nova Scotia , Captain

Lockhart , returning in ballast . Both were fullrigged iron ships , the former of 1100 tons , the latter of 1500 tons . About 9 . 30 on Wednesday evening , 12 th inst ., the two vessels were beating down Channel , but on opposite

tacks , the Avalanche being on the port tack and the Forest on the starboard . When about a dozen miles oft" Portland , and with scarcely any warning , the Forest came in collision with the Avalanche , striking her between the main and mizen masts . The force of

the collision was so great that in less than five minutes the emigrant ship gave three plunges and then sank , carrying with her the whole of her crew save three , the third mate and two able seamen . The night was so dark that it was almost impossible to discern the mass of human

beings who were struggling for life in the water below , but the survivors say they shall never forget the scene . The cries of men , women , and children for aid were heartrending . Some had managed to scramble on deck as soon as the t \ valauche was struck , but others went down

with her . The cries for help were heard on board of the Forest , though the crew were not able to render them the slightest aid . It W 3 S soon found that the Forest had suffered severely from the effects of the collision , and was in a very leaky condition , the water gaining on her so fast that

at last , in order to save their own lives , the crew had to abandon her . For this purpose three boats were launched , and into these frail craft the whole of the crew of the Forest , as Captain Lockhart supposed , together with the three men belonging to the Avalanchetook their places .

, Laptain Lockhart was saved , but the majority of the crew of the Forest also perished . Fourteen PortLind Fishermen most gallantly went out in their " lerrets " to endeavour to secure the boats , out were only able to save one . Only twelve men remain to tell the tale of that terrible

collision . Every passenger on board the Avalanche has perished together with the Captain . Thus not one passenger has been saved fro m the Avalanche , and only the Third Mate and two seamen : while of the crew of

the Forest , so far as known , only Captain Lock"ait , the Mate , Steward , and six seamen are saved . Can words depict or can the imagination represent a more frightful and more sudden overthro w of all men ' s best hopes and bold m f ? ? UrS ? Many of the Passengers of the u-tated Avalanche were going out , it seems , * o settle in New Zealand . Some were returning

The Recent Catastrophe In The Channel.

to their adopted home , happy , wealthy , and prosperous , and none who were on board could have dreamt for one moment that their end was so nigh , that so sad a termination of all earthy plans , and purposes was hovering over them . And yet so it was , amid no doubt

their happy and probably joyous anticipations of a prosperous voyage and of good days to come . Those of us who have been at sea , will probably realize best the awful ness of the event , when we remember that from their last meal , in all probability , they were hastily summoned to

hear in a moment , in the " twinkling of an eye , the crash of the collision and the rush of the pitiless waves—for them , alas ! such sounds and sights were but the sad omen of the end of existence , the close of their earthly voyage , the passing away for evermore of

life , and trust , and joy , and gladness , happiness and affection for them and theirs . Such events should not be passed over by us without a few words of serious thought j they bear a message for us all " who have ears to hear . " But as we do not profess to preach

sermons in the Freemason , but simply to suggest serious consideration , we will only remark , as Freemasonry always teaches us , that this life is but the portal to another and a better , and so the trust and faith of the true Freemason always

are , that amid all those scenes and sights of our lower world , the Good Star Hope bids us lift up our minds one and all to another and a better world , in which the trials and calamities of to-day are alike unheard of and unknown .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do net hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —liD . 1

THE GRAND LODGE OF ITALY . Dear Bro . Parkinson , — You were so good on a former occasion as to answer a query in the Freemaso" . with respect to the Grand Lodge of Italy , and 1 venture to trouble you with another to-day . In the debate in the French Grand Orient , the "

Commission" asserted that the Grand Lodge of Italy had adopted a similar resolution with the one proposed and carried , for the removal of the name of God from the Constitutions . As I believe , the statement in question is unfounded , in justice to the Italian Grand Lodge I think it well publicly to call your kind attention to it . I am , yours fraternally , THE EDITOH OF THE FREEMASON .

FREEMASONRY IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — What are English or American Freemasons to do in France and Belgium , now that the two Grand

Orients have not only taken the Bible out of the lodges , but have voted out the name of God from their Constitutions ? I , for one , equally object to their political motto , " Liberie , Egalite , Fraternite ! , " as utterly unmasonic , because political . Yours fraternally , OBSERVER .

COMPLETION OF THE INSTALLATION ENGRAVING . To Ihe Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have much pleasure in announcing the completion of the Installation Engraving ; as by the time this letter appears in your columns I shall ( D . V . ) have returned

to London with the finished plate , ready for the hands of Messrs . McQueen , the printers , of Tottenham Court-road . I have been for nearly the last five weeks incessantly occupied with the engraver in the necessary revision consequent on a work of such magnitude ( as far as the number of portraits are concerned ) , and 1 sincerely hope that the

result will generally receive favourable approval . If all goes well , in your next issue I trust the Craft generally will have an opportunity of reading your own verdict on the work . I am , dear Sir and Brother , faithfully and fraternall y yours , EDWARD J . HARTV .

MASONIC SECRECY . To the Editor of Ihe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As a good deal is often unjustly and unwisely said against Masonic secrecy , I think that we should always remember the noble wortls of Franklin , which are , as they appear to me , a good answer , alike to unjust allegation , and idle fault-finding : —

" 1 'reemasonry , I admit , has its secrets . It has secrets peculiar to itself ; but of what do they principally consist ? They consist of signs and tokens , which serve as testimonials of character and qualifications , which are only conferred after a due course of instruction and examination . These are of no small value . They speak an universal language , and act as a postscript to the attention and support of the initiated in all parts of the world . They cannot be lost so long as memory retains its power .

Original Correspondence.

Let the possessor of them be expatriated , shipwrecked , 01 imprisoned ; let him be stripped of everything he has got in the world , these credentials remain . They have stayed the hand of the destroyer ; they have softened the asperities of the tyrant ; they have mitigated the horrors of captivity ; they have subdued the rancour of malevolence , and broken down the barriers of political animosity . On

the field of battle , in the solitudes of the uncultivated forest , or in the busy haunts of the city , they have made friends men of the most hostile feelings . The most distant regions and the most diversified conditions rush to the aid of each other , and feel special joy and satisfaction that they have been able to afford relief to a brother Mason . "

I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally and obediently , SECRETUS .

MOTHERS-IN-LAW . To the Editor of the " Freemmson . " Dear Sir and Brother , In her anxiety to " turn the tables , " your worthy " Sister and Mother-in-law " ( rather an odd combination of relationship , by the way , necessitating some study of the " Tables of Kindred and Affinity " ) seems to me to

have tilted them so far that they have turned ri ght over ; in other words , "shifted the saddle on to the wrong horse " —or rather mare ; for she is the wrong mother-in-law altogether . Your able delineator of character said nothing about Mrs . Jenkinson's " mother-in-law , " it was Mr ' s , that was a trifle objectionable . Badinage , however , apart ; to take the question seriously

that your sister and mother-in-law has put—let me ask her if it does not smack very strongly of selfishness , this attempting , after having gratified her own matrimonial instincis , to indefinitely delay the happiness of the young folks ? No one , least of all the young couple , would , I suppose , care to go to the home of the young man ' s mother , at least if there existed in her such a spirit towards the

future bride as is shown in her letter—but , as I take it , your writer ' s remarks referred to the uninvited appearance of the mother-in-law in the married son's own household . Yourlittle description was , I imagine , in fun , but the letter of your " Sister and Mother-in-law " is so suggestive that I should certainly advise her son ( if she have one

meditating matrimony ) to " mark , learn , and inwardly digest" her advice , to " let her go to her grave in peace . " Indeed , if she made up her mind for a speedy journey thither , I do not suppose that the son in question would wish to thwart her for a moment . Yours sincerely , THE FATHER OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS .

Reviews.

Reviews .

" The First Page of a Lodge History . " * One of the most interesting studies of the Masonic Student is unearthing from the dust of ages the records of the past of our lodges . Much that is of interest mi ght have been preserved , and much trouble and labour spared , if the praiseworthy course adopted by the Corinthian Lodge ( Thames , New Zealand ) had been in vogue in by-gone years j in this case we recommend it to our

brethren for use in the future . Some little time back we noticed the consecration of this promising lodge , and we have just now received that which calls forth our previous remarks , a little book containing the account of the foundation and consecration of the lodge . Not only will it be valuable as a record of its history in the future , but it is particularly interesting to us here to-day as showing us the remarkably earnest and careful way in which Masonry is worked in our far-off colonies .

After the details of the opening ceremonies , we come to a fine oration delivered by Bro . the Rev . James Hill , R . W . M ., in which , after laying down the ruling principles of the Craft , he thus shows its symbolical excellences : " In accordance with that beauty that strikes the eye and awakens pleasure—that beauty of cornices and mouldings and columns , of light and shade , of golden tints—let us

seek to acquire that moral beauty , the beauty of mind and heart and life , which truth and moral principle alone can impart ; and of which all external beauty , even of the highest kind , is but a faint resemblance . These are the foundations of our principles , the real significance of our symbols , and by the careful resemblance of them we shall be enabled to be faithful to the solemn trust which has

been committed to our hands . " The Installation came next ; then the Institution of Officers ; after which the brethren proceeded to a special service in St . George ' s Church , when an earnest and beautiful sermon was preached by the Rev . C . M . Nelson , vicar of St . Paul ' s Cathedral Church , Auckland , and Chaplain to the Bishop , Acting Chaplain of the day .

Our rev . brother took as his text Heb . viii ., I : " Let brotherly love continue , " upon which he based a stirring discourse on the duties of Freemasons to their Order , themselves , and their neighbours . " Worthy and beloved brethren , " said he , " may we all as Freemasons remember that ' brotherly love' is the cement of our Order , binding us one and all together ,

and without it our system must cease to exist except in name . The whole human family we should regard as our species , and in this way recognise it both as our highest duty and highest privilege to aid , support , and protect each other , From such 'brotherly love' naturally springs ' relief . ' Love unites us , and love further leads us to soothe the unhappy , to relieve the poor and afflicted , and

to restore peace , as much as in us lies , to the mourner who pines in the desolate sorrow of bereavement . And ' truth' is our foundation principle—the truth of God Himself and of His revealed Word and will . Let , then , a few words from that Book of God's truth , spoken by way of conclusion , considered and entertained in the spirit of real brotherly love , move your hearts and hands to afford