Provincial Grand Lodge Of Monmouthshire.

know not when nor where , like the waters of the rivers . Oh , remember , then , " Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid . But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon . Hold fast to the one great headstone of the corner . This shall never fail you ,

whatever may happen . Like that of the wise man in the parable , your building shall stand fast through trial and storm , because founded upon a rock , even the rock of salvation—our Saviour . Oh , love not the world , then , and the things of the world overmuch , but forgetting

those things that are behind , and reaching forth unto those things that are before , press forward earnestly and steadily toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus . Then a Masonic Hymn was sung , whilst a collection was made on behalf of the Masonic Charities .

The congregation then left the church , and the procession was reformed , and proceeded to the Masonic Hall , where the lodge having assembled , The Provincial Grand Secretary announced that the sum of £ 17 5 s . 6 d . had been collected at the church after the sermon . Votes of thanks were then accorded to the

Provincial Grand Chaplain , to the Provincial Grand Organist , and to the choir . The Provincial Grand Master moved a vote of thanks to the visitors , coupling therewith the names of the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master for the Western Division of the Province of South Wales , and also that of the

Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex . The vote was acknowledged by the former brother . A sum of £ io was voted to the Monmouthshire Infirmary , and thanks were given to the vicar and churchwardens for ' granting the use of the church .

The rites of closing were solemnly gone through , after which the brethren adjourned to the banquet , which was held at the Victoria-hall , the purveyor being Mr . Gretton , of the King ' s Head Hotel . The chair was taken by the P . G . M . ( Colonel Lyne ) , who was supported by

a distinguished company of the Craft , numbering about 150 . Grace having been said , The Chairman gave "The Queen and the Craft . " The National Anthem was sung by the vocalists .

The Chaitman then proposed " The M . W . the Past Grand Master of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and the Royal Family . " He observed that the popular Prince of Wales was not irerely an ornamental member of the Craft . He visited the gatherings of the Order and

displayed great interest in the proceedings . H . R . Hi ghness had also been instrumental in introducing his brothers , the Duke of Edinburgh , and the Duke of Connaught . The Chairman , in proposing the health of " The Grand Master of England , " said ho knew

of no man who desired to do his duty to a greater extent than their M . W . G . M ., the Marquess of Ripon . The nearer they were brought to him he was sure they would say they could not by any possibility have a better Grand Master than he who represented them . Great and

onerous as the duties were in the various vocations to which he was called , no day passed without his considering what he could do for the good for the best interests of their Order . He was always to be found at his post , and they were fortunate in having an illustrious nobleman

as their G . M ., and might the Great Architect of the Universe long preserve his life and health . Major Shadwell Clerke proposed " The health of the R . W . the D . G . M ., and Officers of the Grand Lodge of England , " and he thought that they would agree with him that the toast was one that stood upon its own merits , and

required but few words of introduction from him . The Earl of Canarvon , who , whether looked at in his Masonic position or in the position to which the Queen had appointed him , \ vas regarded by every Englishman with esteem . He would not occupy their time in dilating upon the qualities of officers of lodges . They were appointed according to merit . They had there a

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Monmouthshire.

brilliant example of what he had just said . They had a brother hig hly distinguished in all branches of Freemasonry , who held the office of D . G . M . of one ot the most important provinces . Many of them knew him well , having met him there so often , and to know him was to esteem him—he alluded to the Worshipful Bro . Parkinson , Grand Deacon of the Order .

Bro . Parkinson said he was most profoundly grateful , as all the officers were , for the distinction conferred upon them , and the satisfaction was materially heightened by the expressions of approval of those appointments . To be selected by the highest constituted authority of the Craft

for signal marks of favour , and to have the selection endorsed by the popular body from whom they sprung , and with whom they were connected by the closest ties of affectionate regard , was a combination of favourable circumstances which more than satisfied the loftiest Masonic

ambition . He reminded them that few had to be chosen out of a great many , and that all of them would be glad to serve , but were prevented by the inexorable law of numbers . They endeavoured to discharge the duties of their office according to their lig hts , and when the day

came for them to put off" their armour , they would be satisfied if they said " They have done what they could . " He thanked them heartily for proposing the toast . Bro . Augustus Homfray said he had permission to propose the next toast , and was sorry no

one else had been appointed to do so . He proposed " The Health of the R . W . the Provincial Grand Master , " It was a toast which they could always drink with the greatest cordiality . At the head of their Province they had a most worthy Mason who was most anxious to do

everything he could to further the interests of the Craft . He congratulated the P . G . M ,, on the the large attendance that day for a small province 1 ike Monmouthshire , which contained only seven lodges and little more than 400 brethren . There were no less than 170 brethren and < ro

P . G . officers present at the lodge . He spoke in high terms of the P . G . M , and congratulated him upon the appointment of officers , making special allusion to the appointment of his son , Brother C . R . Lyne , as Sword Bearer . The Chairman responded in a lengthy speech ,

observing that the P . G . M had to undergo great difficulty in the performance of his duties : but he would be ungrateful indeed if he did not feel the honour that had been conferred upon him . He also referred to the handsome subscription (/ 200 ) which he was enabled to take to Lon

don from his Province , and said if ever he felt proud it was on that occasion when he was told that Monmouthshire stood third on the list . That subscription was for poor broken down Freemasons or their widows , and the entire sum amounted to £ 7000 . He denied the truth of what was said outside that Freemasons banded

themelves together for the purpose of enjoyment , and went on to observe that out of the offertory of £ ^ i 8 collected at Church that'afternoon , they had voted £ 10 ios . to the Newport Infirmary . Bro . Major Phillips responded .

The Chairman then proposed the hea lth of the D . P . G . M . and the P . G . Officers , remarking that they were worthy of the offices they he Id Bro . George Homfray responded , and sa id he was very much obliged to them for the way in which they had drunk his health . In making

his appointments it was impossible for the P . G . M . to please all ; he endeavoured to select for office well-skilled Masons , and those who did their work and endeavoured to get on in the province . Those who had not been chosen would not be forgotten by him ( the speaker ) so long as he held the position he did .

Bro . Parkinson then proposed , " The Masonic Charities , " and also expressed his pleasure at seeing ladies present . Bro . Captain Pearson , P . G . J . W . proposed " The Visitors . "

Major-General Doherty , C . B ., briefly returned thanks . The other toasts were " The W . M . of the Isca Lodge , Newport , " "The Lodges of the Province , " and " To all poor and distressed Masons , "

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The lodge of Benevolence met on Wednesday , evening at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . J ohn M . Clabon , President , Bro . Joshua Nnnn , Senior Vice President ; and Bro . James Brett , Junior Vice President- Bros . vE . J . MTntyre , Q . C . ;

John Hervey , Grand Sec ; C . A . Cotlebrune , P . G . P . ; Joseph Smith , P . G . P . ; and J ohn Savage , Past Grand Deacon , and . several other brethren were present . The sum of . £ 44 8 in all was granted , after which the lodge was closed .

Freemasonry In Brazil.

FREEMASONRY IN BRAZIL .

We have received from Bro . Dr . Alexandrino Feire do Amaral , Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Brazil , the following official list of the Grand Officers for 1874 , which we are glad to publish , sympathising as we do with the worthy Brazilian Freemasons in their unjust

persecution by some hot-headed and intolerant prelates of the Romish Church : —Grand Master , Joaquim Saldanha Marinho ; Assistant Grand Master , Antonio Felix Martins ; Senior Grand Warden , Francisco Pinheiro Guimares ; Junior Grand Warden , Antonio Gomes de Mattos : Grand

Orator , Jose Liberato Barroso ; Assistant Grand Orator , Luiz Alvarcs de Azevedo Macedo ; Grand Secretary , Alexandrino Freire do Amaral ; Assistant Grand Secretary , Joao Pizarro Gabizo ; Grand Treasurer , Antonio 1 ' eixeira de Oliveira ; Assistant Grand Treasurer , Jose Joaquim Ferreira Margarido ; Senior Grand Deacon , Jose

Alves da Graca Bastos ; Junior Grand Deacon , Joao Machado Vieira do Amaral ; First Grand Master of Ceremonies , Antonio Joaquim Pereira da Silva ; Second Grand Master of Ceremonies , Francisco Xavier Nunes Pinto ; Grand Chancellor , Jose Luis de Almeida Martins ; Grand Hospittaler , Jose Luiz Fernandes Villela ; Grand Tyler , Francisco Marques da Silva Paranhos .

Bro. Vigne And The A. And A. Rite.

BRO . VIGNE AND THE A . AND A . RITE .

[ In publishing this letter we beg to offer our tribute of recognition of Bro . Vignes ' s long and invaluable services to the A . and A . Rite , and to say that in retiring lie carries with him the love

and affection of the whole of the members of that body . —E » . ] " Westfield House , near Bath . " 13 th July , 1874 . Dear Sir and Brother , —

" I have to announce to you , and through you , to the members of your chapter , that the following change has occurred in the Supreme Grand Council of the Antient and Accepted Rite for England and Wales , and the Colonies .

" I have resigned the Command of the Order , and the Ri ght Honourable the Earl of Carnarvon , Deputy Grand Master of England , being my successor , I do not fear that under so eminent a Mason , the Antient and Accepted Rite will flourish to the extent that all its well-wishers

must desire . I avail myself of this opportunity to thank you all , individually and collectively , for the uniform kindness and respect which has ever been shown me , and with the firm conviction , that in

future you will always receive me in the same fraternal manner as Past Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander , as you have done for the last five years and a half as the immediate head of the Order . I remain , Dear Sir and Brother ,

Yours most truly and fraternally , CHARLES J VIGNE , 330 . Past M . P . S ., G . C

Masonic lodges , chartered by English Grand Lodge , were ordered to be closed in Russia by the Czar of all the Russias in 1821 .

Sir Walter Scott was made a Mason in the Lodge of St . David , Edinburgh , March 2 nd , 1801 , and the corner-stone to his monument was laid with Masonic ceremonies , August , 1 , 5 th , 1804 ,