Freemasonry & Israelitism.

lier power and regard her greatness and wealth with jealousy , she has sedulously to guard her shores , and while ever putting forth efforts to promote and maintain peace among other nations , she has to be on the

alert , lest she herself should be taken at a disadvantage . It is a remarkable fact , in relation to the theory I am maintaining ,

that Israel , to the exclusion of Judah and Benjamin , the two tribes ' who united when the revolt took place , was educated in maritime affairs . The inheritances of Dan

and Ashur lay along the shores of the Mediterranean , and it was , no doubt , with the seamen here trained that Hiram ' s servants , " who had knowledge of the sea , " sailed , when Solomon ' s ships made a voyage

to Ophir , and fetched gold ( i Kings ix . 28 . ) That Israel , after her captivity , was to become a maritime people is obviously implied in those prophecies and promises which give her possession of the islands of

the seas , and colonies and settlements in both hemispheres . Those colonics and settlements could not have been acquired by any but a maritime people . " The abundance of the sea " ( Isa . Ix . 5 ) could not have

been given to any other people . It has been given to the Anglo-Saxons ; and the world concedes to them pre-eminence of the seas . It is said that Charlemagne , one day , looking out of a window in a town of

Narbonnese Gaul , saw a fleet of Northmen cruising in the Mediterranean , and then entering the port of the town , creating great alarm . As they went out to sea again , the Emperor gazed after them , his eyes bathed

in tears , " I am tormented with sorrow , " he said , " when I foresee the evils they will bring on my posterity . " His forebodings were not without good reason . The Anglo-Saxons took after their kindred Norsemen .

" As soon as this land got a hardy people into it , " says Emerson , " they could not help becoming the sailors and factors of the globe . From childhood , they dabbled in

water ; they swam like fishes ; their playthings were boats . In the case of the ship money , the judges delivered it for law , that England being an island , the very midland shires therein arc all to be accounted

maritime ; and Puller adds , 'The genius even of land-locked counties driving thc natives with maritime dexterity , " As early as the Conquest , it is remarked , in explanation of the wealth of England , that " its merchants traded to all countries . "

Launch Of The "Freemason" Life-Boat.

LAUNCH OF THE "FREEMASON " LIFE-BOAT .

A movement to establish a Freemasons' lifeboat has just been brought to a . successful termination . This movement was inaugurated by a few brethren of the Lodge of Faith , No . 141 , whose very names ( except in their own lodge ) were unknown to the Craft . They resolved that

the Masonic Fraternity should he represented at one of the noblest institutions of which this country can boast , whose mission is identical with the principles of Freemasonry , hy providing for the alleviation of human suffering , without distinction of country , colour , or creed . The

best intentions , and frequently the most disinterested actions , are liable to be misinterpreted . Hence , although the good work made steady progress , yet it was not at first entirely without opposition ; hut the brethren who formed the committee were happily endowed with characters of a nature to which opposition served as a

stimulant . Ihey continued to work , one and all , shoulder to shoulder , pushing onwards gradually , hut surely , and soon the name of llro . J . R . Stebbing figured on the list of committee . This in itself was a sufficient guarantee that e truest and straightforward work was meant . Other names of brethren eminent in the Craft followed , and success was certain . Many were

Launch Of The "Freemason" Life-Boat.

the prognostications that their efforts to gather sufficient money among the Freemasons of England to purchase a life-boat would be futile ; but these prophets proved to be false prophets , and their prophecies delusive , for on Tuesday , the 12 th of September , 1871 , the first life-boat

obtained by means of funds collected for that purpose amongst the Freemasons of England was launched at the works of Messrs . Forest ( Boat Builders to the National Life-boat Institution ) , at the Regent Canal Basin , Limehouse . The ceremony was certainly not imposing , but decidedly

interesting . According to appointment , about twenty members of committee and a number of visiting brethren met at the above-named works . The boat ( a first-class one , thirty feet long , seven and a half feet wide , and rows ten oars double

banked ) was placed on a new transporting and launching carriage near the basin , its name , the " Freemason , " appearing upon it in letters of gold , flanked at each end with the emblems of the Craft . All preliminaries being completed , the R . W . Bro . J . R . Stebbing , P . G . D . of

England and Prov . D . G . M . Hampshire , took his stand near the head of the boat , the brethren and a few ladies ranging themselves around him . Bro . the Rev . D . Shaboe , P . M ., P . Z ., and P . G . C . Middlesex , offered a short Masonic prayer , commending its future career to God ' s

protection . Bro . Stebbing then approached the boat , and breaking a bottle of champagne ( kindly provided by Bro . Mortlock ) over the bow , exclaimed , " God speed the Freemason life-boat . " At this moment , amid the enthusiastic hurrahs of the spectators , tlie vessel , like a " thing of

life , ' darted down the slanting platform into the water with astounding rapidity , and bounded once or twice , as if rejoiced at being on a congenial element , but almost instantly steadied itself , and swam gracefully the length of the cable to which it was attached . Subsequently

the usual tests were applied . By means of a crane , it was turned keel upwards , and then righted , by which a quantity ofwater was shipped , which was self ejected in less than twenty seconds . At this stage some thirty men stepped into the boat , who contrived to sink her within two feet of the rowlocks , and she was then

allowed to raise herself , which she accomplished in about the same period of time . All its qualities were fully and satisfactorily tested , and explained by a gentleman who was understood to be Captain Robertson , R . N . The whole of the proceedings were highly gratifying to the vast number of spectators who hacl assembled to witness the trial .

The following are the names of the brethren who were present : R . AV . Bro . J . R . Stebbing , the Rev . I ") . Shaboe , A . E . Harris , P . M . 141 , President ofthe Committee ; S . Davis , 141 , the

promoter ancl Treasurer ; E . Gottheil , P . M . 141 , the Hon . Sec . ; T . Kennett , 141 Dairy , 1 4 1 Berg , 141 ; Gluckstein , P . M . 51 , 141 , P . P . G . S . W . Essex ; Mortlock , P . M . 186 ; Magnus Ohren , P . M . 452 : William Mann , P . M . 186 , 1306 , and

P . Z . 1 S 6 ; John Boyd , P . M . - . 45 , 534 , P . Z . 145 . 534 ; Charles Lacy , P . M . 174 ; D . Beck , S . W . 1306 * ; Emmett , 186 ; H . M . Levy , P . M . 188 ; M . Davis , P . M . 188 ; Swallow , 3 S 2 ; J . Frankford , 188 ; Davy Davis , 141 ; Maurice Davis , 141 ; Philip Davis , 141 ; Major Finney , W . M . 1361 ; Henley , 186 : Dr . Corner , 95 ; and J .

Davis , 188 . A private omnibus being in attendance , twenty-four of the above-named brethren adjourned to Masons' Hall , Masons' -avenue , E . G ., to partake of a dinner a la Russe , provided ( at their own personal expense ) by Bro . Gosden ,

which was served in a manner highly creditable to the establishment , and elicited a unanimous vote of thanks to the worthy host . Bro . A . E . Harris presided , and the vice-chair was graced by Bro . John Boyd . The toasts were given in the following order : —

By the Chairman : " 'J'he Queen , as Patroness of the National Life-boat Institution , and the Craft " " The Most Noble the Marquis of Ripon , M . W . G . M . ; " " The Earl of Carnarvon , D . G . M ., the Earl of Zetland and H . R . H . the Prince of AVales , P . G . Masters , and the rest of the Grand Officers . "

Launch Of The "Freemason" Life-Boat.

Bro . John Boyd , A . G . P ., responded for the G . Officers . The toast of the evening , "Success to the Freemason Life-boat , " was responded to by Bro . Stebbing , who discoursed most eloquently upon a subject so congenial to his feelings , to which

his auditors listened with undivided attention ,, and on resuming his seat he was greeted with hearty and unanimous applause . " The Visitors , "!© which MajorFinneyreplied . " The Committee , " coupled with the namesof Bros . Mann and Mortlock : " The original

founders and promoter , " was proposed by Bro . Dr . Corner in brief but suitable terms , and responded to by Bros . Harris , Davis , and Gottheil . Various other toasts were given and responded to . These were interspersed with songs , by Bros .

J . Davis , Mortlock , Henley , Emmett , H . M . Levy ,, and M . Ohren . Thus terminated a day ' s rejoicing , for every brother must have felt a pleasant consciousness of duty done without hope of reward , and a . gratifying sensation that the work thus completed

may be the means of rescuing precious lives from the most terrible of deaths , and perhaps of some who belong to the " household of the faithful . " The best thanks of the Committee are eminently due to Bro . Mortlock , who most

kindly undertook the management of the whole proceedings , and succeeded most admirably ( assuredly not without expense to himself ) , proving himself to be the right man in the right place .

This report ought not to be closed without an expression of sincere thanks to R . Lewis , Esq ., Secretary to the National Life-boat Institution , for his amiability and courtesy to the brethren who negotiated with him for the purchase of the boat .

During the evening letters , regretting absence , were read from W . Bro . John Hervey , G . S . •; Bros . R . W . Little , John Coutts , John Coombe , Hayle ( Cornwall ) , and Dr . Johnson ( Liverpool ) . The last-named brethren having taken a mostactive part in the collection of the fund , the mention of their names was a signal for loud and prolonged cheering .

Laying The Foundation Stone Of A Town Hall For Wirksworth.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A TOWN HALL FOR WIRKSWORTH .

The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a new town-hall for Wirksworth was gone through with Masonic honours on Thursday week , by Bro . Captain A . P . Arkwright „ R . N ., M . P ., and his brother members of the " Derwent" Lodge of Freemasons , Wirksworth ,.

No . 884 . At an early hour in the morning the town was all astir , and flags and banners were streaming from many of the shop windows , as . well as from the scaffolding of the town-hall building . The time fixed for the forming of the

procession was 12 . 30 , but long before that time a large concourse of people had assembled from the surrounding districts , which , coupled with the frequent strains of music , and the appearance of the Wirksworth Volunteers in their new

uniform , gave the quiet little town a very gay appearance . At 12 . 30 the procession formed in the usual order and proceeded to church . On arriving at the church gates , the procession was met by the church choir , who sang " Onward , Christian Soldiers , " on their way to

the church . The prayers were read by the Rev . Bro . J . R . Porter , vicar of Kniveton , and a most eloquent sermon was preached by the Rev . Bro . A . A . Bagshawe , P . G . C , vicar of Wormhill , Rural Dean . After the service , a collection was . made an behalf of the " Roval Masonic School

for Boys , " when upwards of ^ 10 was taken . On leaving the church , the procession reformed , and headed by the choir singing a hymn , proceeding to the Market-place for thc purpose of laying the stone . On arriving at the townhall building , the brethren were placed in their

respective positions , and the Rev . Bro . J . R . Porter offered up prayer . r On the conclusion of prayer , the choir sang" Jesus shall reign where ' er the sun , " in which the greater portion of the vast crowd assembled joined .