Surrey Masonic Club.

keystone is that topmost stone of an arch which , fitted in , keeps the whole structure firm . Well , charity occupies that place in the Masonic system , and charity is the theme of the verses I composed , and which I affectionately dedicate to Bro . Hyde Pullen . The success of this enterprise will be thc establishment of a great charity system in this part of the city . Permit

me then to give an mciaent in my own experience in relation to Masonic charity . Of course , one who travels so much as I do is not much at home . A couple of years ago an old man lay dying who belonged to my lodge , the Master and Wardens and some of the brethren standing round the bed . He asked , in a whisper , " Do you know if Robert Morris is at home ? Do you think he would

come to preside at my burial to-morrow ? Tell him I want him to come and bury me . " I must tell you that in our part we make a great deal more of Masonic burials than you do here . In country places brethren will come from far and near to attend the last funeral rites of a brother . So when he was dead they asked that I would go the next day and preside . I said " With great pleasure , " and in one sense it

was a pleasure . I went , and a great many of our people were present . We went to the house to take the dead body to the grave , and we were surprised to find that all the house contained was scarcely sufficient to make any display of the poorest kind . We went back to the lodge room and arranged to have a lecture for the benefit of the widow . Within a week from when wc met we had a lecture . It

was a stormy night , and ladies came some of them 20 miles to attend that lecture , but not to hear the lecture so much , but to give something to the widow . The amount vvas not extraordinary tbat wc raised for her , but in that country , where our expenses are small , it was enough to support her for , perhaps , a whole year . Thus it is always ; the very life and soul of

Freemasonry all the world through is charity . I recollect that in a lodge in Smyrna , where there was one Englishman , one Greek , one Turk , one Armenian . I learned the next day that it is the custom when the lodge is closed for thc night for the Treasurer to hand over all thc money to tlie Committee of Charity , and they are expected to distribute it before the next lodge night ,

so that when the lodge meets again they are ready to take what may be collected to be given to the poor . The presence of some ladies to-night suggests to mc a thought which to you may be new . We pay a great deal of attention to the ladies , so do you here , so do good Masons everywhere ; but in America we confer degrees upon the ladies ; Freemasons' wives , daughters , and sisters

are entitled to receive at our hands private and most interesting instruction , which is as it shoultl be , for Masonry is intended for the benefit of thc ladies . Now these ladies ' degrees are a great advantage . When I get to New York you might suppose I would be at home , but I have a thousand miles further to go tu reach Chicago , where my daughter lives , and then 500 miles further to go before I

get home to my wife . Now and then our ladies travel a great deal , and they often gojalone . It is nothing uncommon for a lady to get into a car to go a thousand miles . Our cars , you know , arc open right through , and the passengers arc all together , so it is impossible for a lady to be insulted there . It happens frequently that some distress occurs , and in such cases a Master Mason ' s wife or

sister makes herself known to the Freemasons , and in that manner gets the benefit of their assistance . And when I tell these ladies that there are 100 , 000 ladies who have had degrees conferred upon them—it is a fact . They have signs and passwords , and are able to make themselves known to Freemasons . I am not going to tell you what they arc ; I have no notion of such a thing . It is not

thc Masonic patt of Freemasonry that the lathes receive , but it is a species of adoption ; it makes them thc sisters of Freemasonry , and they are able to get thc benefits . I laving concluded his address , Bro . Dr . Morris recited a poem which be had written twenty or twenty-five years ago , anil which , as he said , Bro . Stevens had made popular in this country . The piece is entitled " The Level

and the Square , " and is doubtless known to most of our readers . Bro . Hyde Pullen : I can scarcely be required to ask you to give a cordial vote of thanks to our good Bro . Darlcy . ( Applause . ) I am sure that the sentiments which he has called forth will be repeated again and again to good Bro . Morris , and in asking your vote of thanks I do not know

which I should put foremost , so I will ask that those who heard both brethren will hold up both hands and give a vote for both brethren . Bro . Pullen regretted that this Surrey Masonic Hall was not supported in so spirited a manner as it deserved to be supported ; there could be no more appropriate place than this for the Masonic gatherings of the district . He trusted that brethren would come forward and support the Surrey Masonic Club , and to set

them an example , which he hoped would be numerously followed , he requcsteel Bro . Stevens , the Secretary , to enrol his name on the list of subscribers . In responding to the vote of thanks , Bro . Darlcy also gave in his name as a member of the club . Bro . Dr . Morris having expressed his acknowledgments , Bro . Stevens proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman for the able manner in which he had presided , which . having been seconded , was carried by acclamation .

Some time ago the Prince of Wales resolve to make the experiment of introducing grouse on a moor at Sandringham , and instructed the head keeper at Abergeldie to collect a number of young birds for that purpose . In compliance with this order Mr . Duncan , the keeper , reared a number of birds from thc egg and caught others in the brood . Four large hampers of these birds were despatched from Dccside for Sandringham in charge of the keeper .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO . SAMUEL JAMES HARVEY . Wc record with deep regret the death of our Bro . Samuel James Harvey , late of Camberwell Road , which sad event took place on Monday , thc 5 th inst . Although by no means an old Mason , our late broth cr ' s services to the Craft were neither few nor small . Initiated about seven years ago in thc Royal Jubilee Lodge , hc

speedily gave token of that zeal and assiduity in the service of Freemasonry which was the distinguishing characteristic of his Masonic life . A diligent student of the Ritual , and a constant attendant at the two lodges of instruction held at thc Surrey Masonic Hall , he soon became known and recognised as an authority second only to the well known and deservedly popular Preceptor of those

lodges . He became a joining member of the Peckham Lodge , and from the high estimation in which he vvas held he soon afterwards received promotion to office therein . In his mother lodge , the Royal Jubilee , he likewise accepted office , and at the time of his death he ' d the position of / Junior Warden . He was a founder and first Master of the Skelmersdale Lodge ( 1658 ) , which was

established in the spring of last year ; and , greatly owing to his zeal and devotion in the furtherance of its interests , the youngTodge soon attained to a high tlegree of efficiency , and gave tokens of vigorous and healthful lifc . In Royal Arch Masoniy our late brother held office in the Royal Jubilee Chapter , he having been elected to the position of P . S . on the night of his exaltation .

After a long and painful illness , endured with exemplary fortitude and resignation , our brother entered into his rest with the peace and calmness which a blameless lifc secures . His body vvas interred in Forest Hill Cemetery on Friday , the gth inst . and very many of those whose brother he hael been attended there to pay the last sad tribute of respect to depatted merit .

Alpine Selfishness.

ALPINE SELFISHNESS .

As many of our brethren are travelling in Switzerland we think it well to publish this useful letter from the Times oi August 19 th : — Sir , —I am writing to you at this most glorious spot at 5 a . m . I have had no rest , after two or three days of hard mountain work , since before 4 . It has been due to the

abominable and unnecessary noise made by two persons in the adjoining room and one overhead in a wooden house , with thin wooden floors and thinner wooden partitions , and no carpet . There arc at least 100 beds made up every night . My first inclination was to leave my room to expostulate myself , but on reflection I thought that might lead to still more noise , and that if you woultl

kindly assist mc to blow off a little of my superfluous indignation in your columns it mi ght do much more good , net only to myself , but to othirs as well . In this hotel , as in many others at this time of year , thc occupants are about seven-tenths British ; but my remarks equally apply to the rest , whether speaking our own tongue or not . To enjoy the Alps , of course , it is inevitable to begin thc day

any time after midnight , according to the expeditions to be taken , and , as a very old Alpine man , I should be the last to discourage them . But , sir , would you impress upon travellers that it would be much more considerate , before beginning their walks , if , on being wakened in the small hours of the morning , they would not holloa to their companion , whether wife or friend , to get up ; would

not roll out of bed on to their heels like an avalanche ; would not put on their clump boots in a few minutes and begin their climbing at once ; would not go on talking as loud as if they wanted to produce an echo ; would not go out to their neighbours' rooms hammering to see if they are getting up , banging the doors after them ; antl , finally , would not all go down the whole of the bare stairs with as little

regard to noise as if they were on a moraine or a railway platform ? I think if they woultl forego doing any of these things and consider they are in the same house , and that a sort of papiermache one , with dozens of other people , delicate , elderly , and otherwise , they would enjoy their travels quite as much , while not laying themselves out to thc charge of unioardonable selfishness .

While suggesting this for the consideration of my own countrymen , I only wish travellers of other countries would do everything but inwardly digest it as well . About 4 a . m . lately , at another wooden house , one or two Germans inthe next bedroom added to the other things the nuisance of a song . Your obedient servant , R . W . I .

Miirten , Switzerland , Aug . 15 th . P . S . —This letter is probably too long for insertion al . ready , but , if it is not , may I add that , though I write it in regard to papiermache' houses in Switzerland , somewhat of the same remarks apply to English and other hotel life ?

Whether in regard to pitching out of shoes , or banging of doors on going to bed after 10 p . m . or getting up before 8 a . m ., or in other inconsiderate ways , a great social and selfish evil exists ; antl this ought not to be where citizens of the same worltl arc thrown , of necessity or pleasure , into the same place of public resort for a night or longer .

, HOLLOWAY ' S PILLS can be conlidenlly recommended as a domestic remedy for the ailments of all classes and conditions ofjieople . Young and old of both sexes may take this medicine with the certainty of deriving benefit from its use , when disorder or disease is making them miserable . Iloll'iway ' s fills are unrivalled for their purifying-, aperient , anel strengthening properties . They remove indigestion , jialpitation , anel headache , and are specially serviceable in ce-mplaints peculiar to female *** . Kach box is wrapped with printed instructions for the guidance of invalids who will readily understand , from carefully studying them , the best way of recovering health . Holloway ' s Pills vvill work a thorough change in the constitutions of tho weak and nervous . —ADVT ,

Obituary.

Obituary .

The Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ( Lord Lieutenant ) , G . M . of Cornwall , has decided to hold the Provincial Grand Lodge for 18 79 under the wing of the St . Matthew ' s Lodge , Lostwithiel , when the new Masonic Hall for that lodge will be dedirated . Faithfull Lod ge , No . 229 , Mark Master Masons , was consecrated last ( Friday ) evening , at

Cockermouth , by Bro . Colonel Whitwell , M . P ., R . W . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Past Grand Warden of England . A report of the proceedings will appear in our next . The R . W . Bro . J . H . Neilson ( P . M . 620 Dublin ) , Representative of the Grand Orient of Egypt , P . S . G . W ., etc ., was elected an honorary member of the ancient Lodge of " Lovc * and Honour , " No . 75 Falmouth ,

, on the 12 th inst ., on the proposition of the W . Bro . W . F . Newman , J . P ., P . M ., P . Prov . G . D ., seconded by Bro . R . Carter , P . Prov . G . Organist . The only other honorary members are the R . W . Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . M . 131 , P . S . G . D . England , P . S . G . W . Egypt , elected in 1867 , and the Right Hon . and R . W . Bro . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , G . M . of Cornwall , elected in 1877 .

The Coffee Public-House Association , 40 , Charing Cross , announce that they are enabled by one of their members to offer a prize of £ 200 for an essay on the providing , on an adequate sea e , of halls or other places of resort and recreation for thc working classes , the arrangements to include the sale of refreshments , but not of intoxicating drinks , so as to supply the requirements of the

people in that respect , and to realise a profit to meet at least current expenses . The object of the donor of the prize is , not only to draw general attention to this subject , but also to elicit suggestions as to the agency by which an undertaking of such magnitude may be most suitabl y and effectively carried out . The date fixed for sending in manuscripts is March ist , 18 79 .

Mr . John Rankin , a young gentleman of Kilmarnock , has just completed a journey to London and back on a bicycle . He left Kilmarnock on the 23 rd of July , and reached the metropolis on the ist of August , after having made a stay of two days at Sheffield , part of a day at Birmingham , and part of a day at Coventry . The distance of 439 miles was thus run in

about six days , making allowance for stoppages . Mr . Rankin left London for home on the 5 th of August , taking the east coast route , anil reached Glasgow on Saturday evening , thence going to Kilmarnock that night by train . The longest run in one day was from Morpeth to Edinburgh , the distance travelled being 112 miles . Anew Provincial Magazine , entitled "Bicycling , "

has been published at Newcastle-on-Tyne . It bears the appropriate Shakespearian motto , " Then may 1 set the world on wheels , " is edited by two amateur bicyclists , and contains a variety of bicycling information . A Statue of Lamaitine has been inaugurated with considerable festivities at Macon , his native town . The " Vega , " the Swedish ship which has

just started on an Arctic expedition , is a vessel of 500 tons . The engines are constructed on the so-called Wolff ' s system , of 60-horse power , and consume ten cubic feet of coal in the hour . As there arc some 12 , 000 cubic feet of coal in the hold , the vessel will be able to steam some 5000 to 6000 miles at a stretch ; but from Tromsd to Behiing ' s Straits the distance is at most 4000 miles , and

at the station of leinsei ' a fresh supply will be shipped , thus in any case securing a sufficiency of fuel . The crew have christened thc vessel " The Floating Tower of Babel , ' as no fewer than nine different languages are spoken on board . Thc crew counts a compliment of thirty-seven men all told , with provisions for two years , including about 7 ocolbs . salt beef , 4 ooolbs . salted pork , 30 oolbs .

smoked bam , 3000 preserved rumpstcaks , 9500 portions of other preserved meats , and immense quantities of onions , potatoes , greens , coffee , tea , and , naturally , of spirits . Three days a week fresh ( preserved ) meat is to be served out ; and to preserve the crew against scurvy , there is a large supply of lemon juice , pickles , and horseradish . Ninety-two inspectors and sergeants of police ,

who have been studying as pupils in the classes of the Ambulance Dejiartment of the Order of St . John , under Surgeon Major Shepherd , received on Monday afternoon , at Scotland-yard , their certificates of proficiency in the first treatment of the injured . Captain Harris presided . Lord and Lady Skelmersdale have left town for Lathom House , Ormskirk .

THE URBAN CLUB . —On l < nday the 16 th inst , Mr . Robert Stothard , son of the famous Royal Academician , presented the society with an oil painting , his own work , " Going to a Tournament , " a knightly scene in ancient Smithfield , including views of the old Hosier-lane , and of thc gardens of the Bishop of Ely . The painter of this work of art , now in his 82 nd year , was warmly thanked by the

club through Bro . Charles Horsley , the chairman on the occasion . During the evening a series of glees were given by Messrs . John Hodges , Moss , Kenningham , and De Lacy , of St . Paul ' s Cathedral . The club room was crowded . The Royal Handbell Ringers were honoured , by command of the Prince of Wales , to give a campanological and musical entertainment on board the Osborne ,

off Cowes , on Monday evening . The company included the King and ( luecn of Denmark and Princess Thyra . By means of awnings the quarter-deck was converted into a concert-room . Thc programme consisted of selections from various composers , classical and otherwise . Afterwards thc Prince sent for Bro . Duncan S . Miller , the conductor , and requested him to explain to the King and Queen of Denmark the peculiarities of the bells and ihe art of ringing them .