Planting The Sprig Of Acacia.

PLANTING THE SPRIG OF ACACIA .

The lesson taught in the planting of the sprig of acacia lasts with the life of a thoughtful Craftsman , and its moral imprint is associated with every act of his eventful life . The revelations and the beauties of Masonry are gifts to man from his Creator , and the green sprig typifies the existence of an

immortal soul . In this view , Free and Accepted Masons greet the sprig as a constant reminder , so to speak , of man ' s grave responsibilities to the author of his being , whose watchful , allseeing eye is never closed . To follow this line of thought is but to be led by the hand of divine mercy toward the treasures

that are to be found in the little symbol we are wont to call a green sprig . To the human eye it is brig ht in colour , and of trifling value save to answer the purposes of sorrow , then its plaintive story is told in a melody that inclines our hearts to the great unknown hereafter . From time immemorial this sprig has

associated with the labours of Masons , and , when following the remains of a departed brother to the silent grave , we display it on our bodies , and to the dust we consign it with an exclamation of sorrow . The profane world can , if so inclined , witness the performance of this sad duty , but of the hallowed associations

clinging to that ceremony they are ignorant ; and so , too , are other men ignorant who have learned of the lesson taught by the little green sprig , but refuse to make a timely application of its teachings to their perverse hearts . By the act of depositing the

sprig in the grave of a deceased brother the living Mason bears witness to his faith in the immortality of the human soul , the power of the Creator , and man ' s dependency upon His divine will . So , too , does this little green sprig guide the Mason into a rebirth . It takes him from the darkness of ignorance into the

light of a pure life , and when mortal cares beset our path it whispers sweet consolation to us , and tells us of the glories of another world . Yes , the green sprig from a Masonic standpoint is very precious , ft never leaves us . In joy or sorrow , it is at

our side and in our hearts , lt sings songs of pleasure m the haunts of grief , and when man has served his stewardshi p on earth , it returns with him to the dust , to share in the joys that are only found at the home of our Creator . —Liberal Freemason .

The Royal Arch.

THE ROYAL ARCH .

The following oration was delivered at a recent consecration of a Royal Arch Chapter by Bro . the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . Chap .: " There are two leading thoughts—running like a golden

thread through every part of the Royal Arch ceremonies—which should speciall y force themselves upon the mind of every companion to-day ; the one is the perfection of God , the other the imperfection of His creatures . These are the princi ples upon which the Degree stands as its basis . Every earnest soul has

longed after perfection , admired it , and felt the need of having some power upon which it could rel y amidst so much that is changeable and unsatisf ying . Many have been the false li ghts after which man has wandered . The philosopher has tried to

put intellect in God s place , to hnd onl y that it was fallible , and that the most perfect system devised by the human brain contained inconsistencies , and did not meet the practical wants of life . The great incomprehensible phenomena of the natural world have at times absorbed the devotion

of their votaries . Men have almost worshipped nature , believing in it as a power guided b y fixed immutable laws , have tried to reduce life to a mathematical problem ; but nature has revolted against this misapplication of herself , to convince us that she is but the handmaid of something higher and better . There have

been those who have centered their faith in man himself . Man , in the plentitude of his strength has done so much . Mere force of will has overcome so many obstacles . What is there that can resist patience , courage , and honesty ? But one after another human idols have fallen from their pedestals , and we

have seen their flaws . So we are driven to something greater than intellect , greater than nature , greater than man . That something is God . The lesson which that pedestal teaches us is that He alone is the power which is perfect and selfcontained , for of Him , and through Him , and to Him

are all things , to whom be glory for ever . — Amen . The contemplation of God ' s perfection leads us naturall y to a sense of our own imperfection . The more we grasp His power and greatness , the more we realise our own weakness and littleness . The man who trusts God most distrusts himself most

completely . The whole tenor of our Royal Arch ceremony points in this direction . We confess our own utter incapacity lor any good , and attribute to its true source all human virtue and honour . But what is the practical course of action to which this truth should lead us ? Not most assuredl y to despair or

The Royal Arch.

inaction . Nay , rather with nothing of our own to depend onwith no li ght from below , we lean more thoroughly on Him , and seek more resolutely the light which is from above . We admit that He requires our service . We know that He will enable us to give it , and so we seek from Him the power and ability to do

work which He will accept . And so we establish a golden charm between man and his Creator , between earth and heaven . Man ever seeking—God ever giving . There is no end , no limit to this . So human nature humbling itself is raised and enobled b y God . The circle is complete . All good comes from God and

returns to him . The interlaced triangles are equilateral . From the hi ghest point comes the true light—sanctifies the whole base and returns to its ori gin . From the broad base of God ' s love His justice and mercy descends upon each individual soul in a

double stream of sanctity , and dedicate that soul to Himself , to guard and preserve it amidst all the dangers of life . So realise , my companions , in your own darkness and weakness , the true light and strength of Him who is F . W . and S . "

A Mason's Grave.

A MASON'S GRAVE .

The Penctanguishene Herald ( Ontario ) says : " Captain Hoar of the Royal Navy of England , in many respects one of the most remarkable characters of his day , and long known in the history of Penelanguishene , breathed his last recently at the age of 79 years . Captain Hoar was born in Devonshire , and at an early

age enlisted in the British Navy , and in this capacity visited all the naval stations on the globe , and took part in some of the memorable naval battles of the early part of the nineteenth century . He received an honourable discharge , and with his wife went to Canada in 18 45 , and to Penetanguishene , where at the

earnest solicitation of the authorities , he rejoined the service , and was afterwards appointed keeper at the Christian Island Light , which position he held till superseded by his son . He was a Mason , and gave directions that his apron be laid upon his coffin and carried to the grave . He erected a private lodge room

at the back of his dwelling' , on either side of which a grave had been prepared for him and his aged wife , and in one of which his remains were deposited . These tombs were of walled

masonry , and prepared under his direction last year , 1888 . His casket was of white oak , manufactured under his personal supervision , and kept in his private room during the last 15 years . "Liberal Freemason .

THR GRAND MASTER AT BOURNEMOUTH . —The Prince of Wales , accompanied by Prince George of Wales , visited Bournemouth on the 16 th inst ., and opened the Royal Victoria Hospital , erected in honour of the Queen ' s Jubilee at a cost of . £ 8000 . In the pleasure gardens facing the square a large marquee covering about 10 , 000 square feet of ground had been erected , and in this the addresses of welcome from the Bournemouth Improvement Commissioners ,, and the Masonic

lodges were presented in the presence of about 1500 persons . In replying to the latter address , the Prince of Wales said : Worshipful Masters , Wardens , and Brethren , —I thank you very warmly for your address and for your fraternal greetings on the occasion of my visit to your town . I highly approve of the truly Masonic sentiments which you express , and I assure you that I rejoice to be able to take a leading part in a ceremony having for its object the inauguration of a

building which has been erected for the relief of the sick and suffering poor , relief and Charity being the two cardinal virtues in our Craft . I am proud to have an opportunity of meeting - the members of a lodge which can boast of so ancient a story as your mother lodge , Hengist , and I appreciate very sincerely your kind reference to the Queen and to the Duke of Sussex , my great uncle , and a predecessor in the

distinguished office which I have now had the honour of occupying for so many years . Amid repeated cheers along the line of route , his Royal Highness and party then drove through the town to the hospital , where the Royal party were received b y the medical officers of the institution . His Royal Hi ghness said that he had much pleasure in acceding to a request that two of the wards of the hospital should be named Albert Edward and Alexandra . Two public banquets were given in the evening . - ? -

NAPLES . —The history of Freemasonry in Naples began before 1751 , because , July 10 th that year , the King , Charles 111 ., forbad the meeting of Freemasons . But the accounts of it are very hazy , and so to say pre-historic . In 1754 , despite the Royal order , some brethren met under a warrant from a lodge at Marseilles , probably the so-called " Mere Loge , " and in 1760 are said to have received another

warrant from Holland , and in 176 3 a third from England . Though these statements are also doubtful , it appears that the lodge called itself a National Grand Lodge until 1764 , under the name " Del Zelo ; " and had at one time eight Ldges under it—four in Naples— " Victoria , " " Uguglianza , " " Pace , " and "Amicizia ;" and four others—one at Messina , one at Catania , one at Gaeta , and one at Caltarigoria . There were also two lodges in Naples professing to have English charters ,

which acted independently . At one time the Neapolitan G . Lodge was flourishing , as it boasted 170 members , including officers , among whom were 30 members of princely houses , and Prince George of Mecklenburg-Strelitz . In 1775 , September 12 th , Ferdinand IV . issued another rescript against the Freemasons , under which , as the Grand Lodge said , Freemasons underwent " les plus etranges accidents , et la persecution la plus cruelle . " But at this time Queen Caroline , the wife of Ferdinand

IV ., daughter of a Freemason , the Emperor Francis I ., took the Freemasons under her protection , and stopped the persecution , as well as in 1785 . A certain minister , Fanucci , seems to have been most bitter against the Freemasons . In 1777 the High Grades ( Strict Observance ) appear on the scene ; and , as usual , we have to confront many divisions and much confusion ,- —so much so that gradually

Freemasonry became in a languishing and dormant state . In 1809 Freemasonry revived under Murat , and a Grand Orient at Naples was formed , and a Supreme Council the same year—only to be suppressed in 1816 , and again in 1821 . At present we believe that there is a Grand Council at Naples , and a Grand Orient Rit Ecossais ) In Sicily . Keniiinifs Cyclopaedia of Freemasonry .