Masonic Picnic In New Zealand.

the indefatigable manager , Bro . A . H . Dicthelm , acting as M . C . At nine o ' clock the party returned to the « ' Takapuna , " which soon landed them at thc wharf , all expressing their thorough' appreciation of thc kindness and attention shown to them by thc gentlemen of thc committee , and their regret that the unpropitious weather should have frustrated plans so well prepared , and , as far as practicable , so well carried out .

Freemasonry In Bombay.

FREEMASONRY IN BOMBAY .

LODGE CONCORD ( NO . 757 ) E . C . —The installation meeting of this flourishing lodge was held on thc 16 th January , 1875 , when there were present upwards of one hundred brethren , amongst whom were conspicuous , R . W . Bros , the Hon J . Gibbs , District Grand Master , who paid bis official visit to the lodge , accompanied by his officers ;

Tyrrel Leith , Dr . I . Lumsdainc , W . F . Knapp , H . II . Riach , IL W . Barrow , R . G . Walton , Alfred King , C . E . Mitchell , A . McKenzie , U . Robinson , G . Henderson , i \ rc . The lodge was opened with prayer . Bro . F . S . Llewellin was elected a joining member . Thc District Grand Master having been announced , he was received with thc customary honours . After making the usual inquiries if

there were any complaints , and receiving no reply , he congratulated the W . M . and brethren on the prosperous itatc of the lodge . The business of the evening was to install Bro . W . C . Rowe , who was duly presented by Bros . King and Robinson , installed in the Eastern Chair , proclaimed , and saluted accordingly . The following officers were appointed : Bros . W . Whittaker , S . W . ; A . Seabrooke , J . W . ;

F . Burdett , Treasurer ; O . Tomlinson , Secretary ; J . Luke , Director of Ceremonies ; G . Tillot , S . D . ; W . G . Davies , J . D . ; J . Tyres , Organist ; J . ' F . Grew , Steward ; L . Thomas , I . G . ; J . W . Seager , Tyler . Bro . Rowe then rose and said , " Right Worshipful Sir , Worshipful Sirs , and Brethren , —As this is the first . time I have had the pleasure to fill the Master ' s chair , I feel that I cannot make

better use of my newly-won honour , than thank you all most warmly for having favoured the lodge with your presence here to-night in such large numbers . To me , such a meeting is especially gratifying , but as the proceedings of thc lodge have necessarily been somewhat long , I shall reserve a few remarks for our meeting below . I now beg to propose that thc best thanks of thc lodge be

tendered to Bro . Henderson , for the admirable way in which he has conducted the ceremony of my installation , and that this lodge do recognize his past and valuable services by presenting him with a P . M . jewel and clothing of the lodge pattern , as they had done to their Worshipful Masters before . " This was seconded by Bio . B . Robinson , P . M ., and carried by an unanimous vote . Bro . Henderson then

thanked thc brethren of Lodge Concord in most suitable terms , and said that he bad had a most prosperous year , and that he endeavoured to rule the lodge to the best of his ability , and he was thankful to say he had succeeded in doing his duty , which the brethren had most handsomely acknowledged in thc vote they had just passed . He hoped the G . A . O . T . U . would spare him many years to wear and

prize it as a memento of Lodge Concord . One candidate was proposed for initiation . There being no further business , the lodge was closed in peace and harmony , and the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet . A band was in attendance and played some select music . After the removal of the cloth , the Worshipful Master proposed " Thc Health of our Sovereign Lady the Queen , and the Craft , "

and the band played the " National Anthem . " The W . M . then said : " Brethren , I now ask you to join me in drinking the health of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Grand Master of England , the Grand Masters of Scotland and Ireland , also their Deputies . " The band played " God Bless the Prince of Wales . " The W . M ., in proposing the toast of "The Grand Master and his

Deputy , " said : " I am sure you will all agree with mcthat a better or more honoured ruler in the Craft is nowhere to be found . The toast , brethren , needs no commendation from me , and may the G . A . O . T . U . spare them long to rule over us . " This was followed by the band playing the "Fine Old English Gentleman . " The R . W . the District Grand Master said that it afforded him great pleasure

to be able to pay his official visit to Lodge Concord on thc night of their installation of a Worshipful Master , which was performed by the retiring Master in a very able manner . As it had ^ been done that night , and from what he knew of their new W . M . in other degrees in Masonry , he had no doubt in his capacity as Master of Lodge Concord he would carry on thc duties of that office

with credit to himself and the lodge , and when he had the opportunity of paying his next official visit he hoped he should find the lodge in a good , if not in a more flourishing condition than he had found it that night . The band played the air of " A Jolly Good Fellow . " lie then thanked the brethren for the very cordial way in which his health had been received and responded to . The W . M . then proposed

" The Health of the R . W . the District Grand Master of Western India , R . W . Bro . Henry Morland , and his Deputy , R . W . Bro . Mackintosh Balfour , " which was well received by thc brethren . The R . W . the District Grand Master then proposed " The Health of the newly installed Master , " which was received •with great applause . He was very glad to say that the Craft was in a flourishing state

throughout his district , and that he had not had a single complaint horn any lodge for more than two years , which was a proof that everything was going on in the right way ; and also alluded to the great good that he thought would arise from the new Hindoo lodgejthat had been started in hit district ,

and trusted that the Craft would still go on flourishing . W . Bro . Howe then rose and said : " R . W . Sir , W . Sirs , and Brethren-Althoughwe often hear men say of some particular matters that it is the proudest moment of their lives , I am sure you will allow that thc event of this evening is indeed a proud moment for me , for ever since I became a Mason

Freemasonry In Bombay.

I have steadily looked forward to attaining the Eastern Chair , and after a good many years of hard work in the rank and file | l now find myself promoted to the full com £ mand of the Worshipful Company . If my poor services in the past have been in any way deserving of all the kind praise that has been lavished on me , I can only say that , with my increased responsibilities , I know it is due to

you ami myself that I should endeavour to fulfil them to the best of my ability and skill ; and if I only do as well as the Masons of Concord who have gone before me I venture to hope that hereafter youlwill not think your confidence has been misplaced . In any case I will do my best , and if I succeed in ruling thc lodge as effectively as Wor . Bro . Henderson has done , and in carrying out the

ceremonial part of the work with anything like thc same success , I trust I may look forward to gaining your applause . As to the officers I have appointed to-night , I can only assure you , brethren , that the Past Masters and officers , together with myself , have had but one object in view , the good of the lodge at heart ; and if there arc any of the brethren who consider that their claims to

promotion have been overlooked , I beg they will put on one side any little annoyance when they recollect how limited the number of ofiicers are compared with the large roll of members . For the very numerous and influential attendance here to-night , of the R . W . thc District Grand Master , Masters , Past Masters , and brethren of the sister lodges who have favoured us with their presence , I

beg on behalf of Lodge Concord and myself to return you our best tha « ks , accompanied by the assurance that during the ensuing year , as in years gone by , my brethren will be ever glad to offer their best welcome to visitors , be they few or be they many . " The W . M . then proposed "The Health of thc Immediate Past Master , Past Masters , and Past Officers of jLodgc Concord , " coupling

the name of Bro . Henderson , the Immediate Past Master . He said that was a brother who , ever since he joined Masonry in India , has won for himself and maintained a high reputation as a worthy member of the Craft . The admirable way in which he managed the affairs of this lodge , and performed his duty as a ruler , was the best proof of his merits aud of his claims to the affectionate

esteem of his brethren . Wor . Bro . Henderson , m replying on behalf of Past Masters , Past Officers , and himself , thanked the Wor . Master for thc very kind way he had put the toast before the brethren , and if they were satisfied with the way they had performed their duty during the past year it was very gratifying to them , and he hoped Wor . Bro . Rowe would have as prosperous a year as he had ; that

he had done his duty fearlessly and to the best of his ability , which lie hoped the brethren were satisfied with , or they would never have acknowledged his services by voting to him the P . M . jewel and clothing , which he hoped to be spared to wear , and which he should do with pride ; he thanked the W . M . and brethren for thc very enthusiastic way the toast of their health had been received and

responded to . The W . M . in proposing the toast of " Thc Visitors , " coupled the name of Bro . Riach , P . P . G . S . of Oxford , who had , he was pleased to say , been able to attend their meeting that night during his short stay in Bombay while passing through a tour in the East . He need not say anything to assure the visitors of the hearty welcome the brethren always desire to give them on behalf of Lodge

Concord . Bro . Riach rose amid loud applause and replied lo the toast in very suitable terms , and said that the very able way in which the ceremony of the installation of the W . M . had been performed , and the way in which the newly installed W . M . had given the different charges to [ his ofiicers as he invested them , was a credit to any lodge , and that Concord was a

very appropriate name for the lodge , for he could sec there was concord among the members of the lodge , or the work could never have been carried on in such a masterly manner ; he should be able to inform his brethren in England of thejway Masonry was worked in Bombay , and in Lodge Concord particularly ; he thanked the W . M . and brethren , on behalf of himself and visitors , for the very

pleasant evening they had spent ; he wished them every prosperity , and that they would go on and flourish . The W . M . in giving the toast of the . Sister Lodges , " coupled the name [ of Bro . Knapp ( W . M . of the oldest lodge in the district , Lodge St . George ) . As the Master of Lodge Concord , it would be his best endeavour to follow the good example of Bro . Henderson and his predecessors in the Eastern

Chair , and to uphold the high name of Concord among thc lodges in Bombay and thc Craft in general . Bro . Knapp on behalf of the Sister Lodges , said he only hoped that the same kindly feeling would exist among thc sister lodges as was now the case for many years to come , and thanked thc W . M . for thc kind way in which he had proposed the toast , and the hearty way in which it was

responded to by the brethren . The next toast was that of " The newly appointed Officers of Lodge Concord . " Thc P . W . M . hoped that the selection that had been made would be for thc benefit of the lodge , and that care had been exercised in appointing them ; he hoped that the right men were in their right places , and trusted they would be punctual in their attendance ; without the co-operation of the

officers it was impossible for a Master to work or do credit to thc lodge or himself . Thc band then played the air of " Cheer , Boys , Cheer . " Bro . W . Whittaker , S . W ., on behalf of himself and other officers , said that they would be punctual in their attendance , and use their best endeavours to assist their W . M . to keep thc lodge up to that high standard in which it was now held , and that nothing

would be wanting on their part to carry out the duties of the office to which they were appointed that evening , and thanked the W . M . and the brethren for the kind way in which the toast of their health had been received . The rest of thc evening was spent in harmony by the brethren of both Constitutions singing many good songs , and at j 1 . 45 . the W . M . warned the brethren of the approaching

Freemasonry In Bombay.

hour , and called upon them to drink with him the last toast of the evening , which is always given in a very solemn way . Thus ended the Installation meeting night of Lodge Concord No . 757 . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . Tyres , tlic newly-appointed Organist . ' 1 he banquet hall was very handsomely decorated with flags , banners , nnd evergreens .

Poetry.

Poetry .

MASONIC NATIONAL ANTHEM . By Bro . J . FOWLER , late D . G . Secretary for Ireland . GOD save our gracious Queen ' . Long live our noble Queen God save thc Quccu . '

Send her victorious , Happy and glorious , Long to reign over us—God save the Queen ! I Iail ! mystic light divine , May ' st thou ne ' er cease to shine Over this land .

Wisdom in thee we find , -Beauty and strength combined ; Masons are ever joined , In heart and hand . Come then , ye sons of light ! In joyous strains unite ,

God save the Queen . Long may Victoria reign , Queen of thc azure main ; Masons ! resound thc strain , God save thc Queen .

The Fall Of The Gavel.

THE FALL OF THE GAVEL .

A MASONIC SONG . 1 . In our myst ' ry divine , when its first word and sign To the trembling tyro ' s confided , I Ie is taught something more , on that square chequcir'd floor , Whither halting his steps have been guided . At the fiat when light is conferred on his sight ,

Ere his eyes round can timidly travel , How he nervously starts as the quick raj ) imparts , To his ears the sharp call of the gavel . [ C HORUS : ] The lesson is new : Here's a monitor true , And through life conscience never can cavil If we Mason ' s nc ' er fail , when temptations assail , To attend to the sound of the gavel .

II . In this world we must learn that wherever wc turn , There is work for us always abounding , Sin and suffering wc see , and our task it must be To encounter the evils surrounding ' . And should our hearts quail : —should wc fear to assail The sad skeins we are charged to unravel , —

There ' s a sound will recall the most sluggish of all , He must start at the stroke of the gavel . [ C HORUS : ] 1 Tis' a discipline stern , but how bracing to learn There's a point whence no need far to travel , How to find it is clear , you must just keep each ear , Alert to thc sound of the gavel .

111 . When a poor brother ' s need bids our hearts to give heed , To one ever remembered monition , And we pause and recall , how , in poverty , all Once experienced his helpless condition ,

Should cold prudence invite us thc lesson to slight , And tempt us from duty to travel , There is conscience at hand , and her swift reprimand Is as shrill as the sound of the gavel . [ Ciioiivs : ]

At your peril neglect to pay ready respect To thc call , or with sophistry cavil At your duty made plain , as your ears once again Are assailed by the fall of the gavel . IV . And when , in thc west , thc sun sinking to rest Sees your working tools gather'd and ready ,

Prepar'd to depart , you will find that your heart To the last gavel call can cry " Ready ! " * Your labour complete , your reward you will meet : Joy awaits at the end of his travail Thc man who can say , " I am passing away , But through life 1 have heeded the gavel . " [ C HORUS : ] Thus in labour and stress , a sure guide wc

possess And cheerly and straight we may travel , Thoughts and actions well squared , if we ' re ever prepared To respond to the sound of the gravel . SP WMand PM ~ ......... — —

. .. .. .. . , .. -.. [* The literary brother will not need to be reminded of that exquisite masterpiece of the great master of pathos—Thackeray— " How the Colonel answered ' Adsum' when his name was called . " The " Newcomcs " —chapter thc last . S . P . ]