Province Of Durham.

seen than in the Craft where all men meet on the tame level—peer and peasant , rich aud poor , learned and unlearned in our lodges meet aud commingle . No one has done more for the Craft than the friend and brother who is to-night our guest , and you will agree with me that there is a true

philosophy of life for those who win their way with manly stroke . We meet with in our brother every good and manly feeling , there is a genuine good ring in all his actions ; we may say of him as has been said of the inhabitants of the Emerald Isle—there is thafc kindliness , cheerfulness , courtesy and

manly bearing that we all admire , and which are distinguishing characteristics of every good Mason . In every society much depends upon the Secretary , and wheu I tell you that since Bro . Crookes was first appointed I ' rov . G . S ., the number of lodges in the province has increased from 12 to 19 . The

opening of all these additional lodges , except one ( when be was abroad ) , he attended , as well as the opening of two R . A . Chapters , and that he has been present on every important occasion in the province during the past 13 years , as well as in other provinces , I need not tell you the time and

money it has cost him . Oft called upon by our Pn-v . G . M fur his advice , of the value of that advice and of the ability he has brought to bear iu the discharge of the important duties of his office , we need no further evidence than his recent appointment for the 14 th time . This brilliant

assemblage also testifies to the great satisfaction he has given for so long , and how he is respected for his work ' s sake . A man is a good Mason who knows himself , who can subdue his passions and his will , who stands fast in the liberty that makes him free ; such a man is our brother . I have great

pleasure , Bro . Crookes , iu presenting you , in the name of the subscribers , with this watch and chain ; may the watch be a faithful monitor uf the moments as they pass , and every time you look upon it may your heart speak faithfully to its maker . I have also pleasure in handing to you the jewel an'd

clothing ofa Prov . G . S , and trust that for many years to come you will live to wear them spotless . and when the bright colour of this ribbon shall become faded and the gold tarnished with age , you M-ill still be spared to give us your advice and assistance . I am s"re that no act of yours will

dim the brightness of this Jewel , and am convinced that in whatever work your hand may be engaged or your brain ' may dictate , your actions . will be nothing but honourable ; you will do nothing to sully the clothing we have pleasure iu seeing you wear . I further beg your acceptance of this little trinket ( a ring ) as a present for your only child ,

whom , I hope , will be a green spot iu your lile ' s old age , and a help and assistance in your declining years . May you live long and enjoy every happiness , and when summoned to the Grand Lodge above may we all meet you there and again eijoy your society . Bro . Wade concluded by proposing the health of Bro . Crookes in the following words ,

Fill high : lor whatsoever tho liquor may be The glasses the brim should run o ' er , Let every true brother take it from mo If he never drank a bumper before . The toast was received and responded to most enthusiasticall y and with continued rounds of cheering .

Bro . CROOKES on rising to respond received a complete ovation . After the applause had somewhat subsided he proceeded , with considerable emotion , to say : It has been frequently remarked that out of the fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh , but at times the heart is so full and

overflowing that the mouth cannot find words to givo utterance to the feelings . Such , brethren , is my case ou the present occasion . I never felt so bashful and so timid as I now do , and my earnest wish is that I may ever continue to prove myself worth y of those adornments you have now presented me

with , and which , should I live to . beas old as Metliusaleh , I shall always feel great pride in wearing , and will never forget your great kindness . Succeeding as Prov . G . S . au old and esteemed brother , the late Alderman . Crossh y—at the time of my appointment a young man and a young Mason , the W . M .-elect of

bt . . lolms Lodge , although I had only been three years initiated-1 from the first endeavoured to satisfactorily fulfil the duties ofthe office , but without ever expecting that for fourteen times I should receive the appointment from our respected Prov . G . M . No one can but feel proud in holding office

under a Prov . G . M . who is second to none in the kingdom , and who is the friend and confidential adviser in Masonic matters of the Grand Master of England . ^ I have ever felt a pride , wherever I mi < dit be , in being connected with a province that stands so high in the Masonic world and has contributed

so nobly to the different Masonic charities . Much of tho praise you have bestowed upon me is due to the harmonious working of the province under the rule of Bro . Fawcett , and to his prompt attention to all matters connected therewith which it has been my duty as Secretary from timo to time to bring

Province Of Durham.

before his notice . It has ever been with me a work of love to meet brethren , and if my humble efforts to promote the welfare of the Craft have met with yonr approval it is more than I could hope for , and if at times in attending lodges and other meetings I have neglected the real business of life , I

have been amply repaid by the help I have often had from others , and am more than a hundred-fold repaid by your kindness on the present occasion . So long as I live , even should time change the colour of these ornaments , I will

endeavour to merit a continuance of the good opinion you have conceived of me , and when this apron is worn out with constant wearing , may I still enjoy your good and kind wishes ; and when the G . A . O . T . U . summonses us from this sublunary abode , may we meet above when time shall be no more . You will

excuse me saying more , but every time I refer to this beautiful watch I shall remember your kindness , and before sitting down 1 must say how specially thankful I am that you have i * emembered a very near aud dear relative—my only child . My mother

is now , I ara sorry to say , in the " sere and yellow leaf , " but her grand-daughter ( along with myself ) , will long remember this evening with pleasure , and think of their old Masonic friends , aud constantly pray the G . A . O . T . U . to spare you all for many years to come iu health , strength , happiness , and

prosperity . Bro . MARK DOUGLASS , P . M ., No . 80 , ( St . John ' s ) , proposed " The Testimonial Committee , " and expressed the great delight he felt in being present . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Hudson , the Secretary ofthe Committee . Bro . ROBERT HUDSOX , S . W ., No . 049 , (

Williamson ) , expressed the pleasure he felt at all times in assisting any movement iu connection with the Craft , and he felt a special pleasure on this occasion , the recipient being so well worthy of the testimonial . The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Visitors " from a d ' tstaiice . coupliugBr . Garthorne ' s name with the toast .

Bro . MICUAEL GARTHORNE , No . 1121 , ( Wear Valley Lodge , Bishop Auckland ) , spoke of the pleasure he always felt in meeting Bro . Crookes . He knew him well , both as a Mason aud a sportsman , and iu both he was very good .

Other toasts followed , and the proceedings were agreeably varied by the singingof different brethren . Altogether it was one of the pleasautest reunions there has been in Sunderland for a long time , and that is a great deal in a town so noted for frequent large and harmonious gatherings of tbe Fraternity .

The New Vadc Mecum ( invented and manufactured liy Charles H . Vincent , optician , of 23 , Windsor-street Liverpool ) consists of a telescope well adapted for tourists , & c , to which is added an excellent microscope of great power ami first-class definition , quite equal to others sold at ten times the price . Wonderful as it may seem , the price of this in « enious combination is only 3 s . Gd ., and Mr . Vincent sends

it ( carriage free ) anywhere , with printed directions , upon receipt of post-office order or stamus to the amount of Si . l'ld . —AIIVT . BREAKFAST . —fiprs ' s COCOA . —Grateful and Comforting . —The very agreeable character of this preparation his rendered it a general favourite . The Civil Service Gazette remarks : — ' -The singular success which Mr . F . pps

attained by his homoeopathic preparation of cocoa has never been surpassed by any experimentalist . By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition , and by a careful application of the fine properties of well-selected cocoa , Mr . Kpps has provided onr breakfast tables with a delicately flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctor's bills . " Made simply

with boiling water or milk . Sold by the Trade only , in 41 b ., 4 lb and 1 lb . tin-lined packets , labelled J AUKS Epra & Co ., lloma-npiitlii- ** Chemists , London . —ADVT . IIOLI . OWAY ' OINTMENT AND PILLS . —Colds , Coughs , Shortness of Breath . —These corrective remedies are infallible for those pectoral complaints , which neglected , often end in asthma , bronchitis , or consumption .

Tho Ointment well rubbed upon the chest and back , penetrates the skin , is carried directly to the lungs , whence it expels all impurities . AU tbe blood in the body constantly passes through tbo hmgs , and there the circulation is subjected to tho searching , soothing , and purifying effects of this incomparable uugueut , which should be aided by judicious doses of tho pilli " , and assisted by a

plain , well regulated diet to be found fully explained in the "directions for use " which are alike intelligible to tho learned and tho simple . —[ Advt ] TUB BLOOD IN OLD AOE —As age advances , the blood becomes thin and cloudy—or , in a full habit , thick and cloudy . The failing of the powers of life requires extra nutrition and support , and the blood yielding the excess

required is soon overcharged with carbon , which gives to it the cloudy appearance . Ueing then impure , day hy day the vitiated matter increases , and the body sutlers from a thousand ailments . "The Wood Purifier" —Old Dr . Jacob Townseud's Sarsaparilla—supplies the extra nutrition to the blood , und restores to it its florid hue , und then the progress of decay is arrested , and the ailments disappear j man lives out his days , and the sunset of life is unattended with

suffering . Testimonials with each bottle from the Hon . the Dean of Lismorc , General Win . Gilbert , of the Indian Army ; and Kev . Francis Monck , of " The Gospel Evangelist . " Ordered also by the Apothecaries' Hall , London . Sold by all Druggists , in bottles 2 s . 6 d ., 4 s , in . Od . 7 s . Od ., lis . Pills and Ointment each iu boxes ls . ljd ., 2 s . Od ., 4 s . 6 d . —Caution , Get tho red and blue wrappers , with the Old Doctor ' s head ia the centre . No other genuine . —ADVT .

The Necessity Of A Good Master.

THE NECESSITY OF A GOOD MASTER .

FROM TUE GERMAN . It is a question of great importance for the Order of Freemasonry to have excellent Masters ; if Masonry shall not vanish entirely , if the educated man shall not pass us with contemptuous sneer , then cast out , without regard to person , usage , vanity , age or independence ,

all such spiritless , unuseful and pensionable Masters , and choose men of intelligence and eloquence ; men ot truly moral worth and capacity , to conduct a meeting , to exhort , to exalt , and to excite interest for our Order A Master of a Lodge must have a fountain of spiritual intellect ; he need not have , in the

profane world , an important position , but he must be able to talk to mind and heart ; he must possess poetical fancy , in order to g ive the Masonic Ritual that working , fanciful expression of life , which is necessary to make the dead clay a living , breathing being . There are plenty of educated men in tiie

Masonic who keep away entirely from the meetings , for the above-named reason . But there are yet lodges which have at pi esent smart Masters ; and it is easily to be seen that there the educated people arc the best lodge members , as the intellect will attract intelligence . In Prussia , where

Lreemasonry enjoys a temporary speciai protection ; in Saxony , where the intellect of olden times isbloomingyetjinsomeof thefreellanse towns , Bremen , Hamburg , Lubcc , Frankfort-on-the-Maiii , where once important men sowed the seed in lodges , whose healthful fruit is gathered yet—there you find intelligent , educated

and worthy Masters , by whose writings much good has come into publicity . Around a good Master you will find assembled always the intelligent powers , and the dead clay becomes a living being . But , I am sorry to say , this is not the case in most lodges . Most of the lodges sicken and die away

because thay have incompetent officers . The solemn and time-honoured usages of Freemasonry dwindle down in the hands of such people to a solemn play , which thinking people cannot find taste in . Instead , now , that the lodge should teach and awake sparks of moral and virtuous intelligence in tho hearts of thoir members ,

the deep thinking man passes by sneering ; and the middle class of society admires the dead clay as a communicated secret , which they dare not touch , thinking that there is hid behind it the image of Sais , as a promise of higher degree . Or they find their good humour and comfort in the lodge-room , talk to old friends , rest

from evcry-day toil and care , make a nice nap , and the solemn notes of our ceremonies pass their ear like a bell sounding on a quiet Sunday morning in the country , far , far olfin the distance . Thc Masters of Lodges complain generally , where the attending and visiting of lodges is not influenced

by motives from outside , about the cooling down of the Masonic zeal , as after the few first years of new and unimpaired hope the visit diminishes , many an educated man stayingaway already after the first couple of times , and the large mass of regular attendants aro so-called passive members ; that is , men who come

at the regular hour , and either with a strange solemnity put on their regalia and wait with silent awe the call to open the lodge , or sit , down with good ease and talk about the day ' s news ; but those arc never able to open their mouths in the lodge , not even to take the placo of an absent oflicer ; they become alive and stirring at

the lodge-table , without having courage enough to give a toast . If I visit a lodge , I expect that , like the preacher in the pulpit , the Master shall have prepared himself ; or if absent , put other capable men iu his place lo represent the Masonic spirit . The lodge shall be my Masonic church , where I associate as man with man , and not as believers with those of the same creed , to be exalted

and stirred up to better exercise ot that noblest of principles , Humanity . I expect iu a lodge , by the communion with brethren , by the solemn usage of ancient symbolic ceremonies , by the eloquent word of the orator , to bc inspiied with higher and purer joy and will to do good , in which I cannot bc instructed

in the outside world , where I would he disturbed by material influences . These , for the hour spent in my lodge , shall put mo in a society of men who have left before the tyled door all small matters of life , as it is our design to he in the fame relation to (> od , as our first parents were before their fall—puie . and without soil .

From such a visit to a lodge , I will lake home with me something real—a fresher moral power , a purer love , a mere ready charity , a purer , belter joy of good and human nature . But dues it meet my expectation if I enter a lodge-room , and am forced lo hear , for hours in succession , old stories of Masonry ,

antiquated catechising full of stupidity , even very often city and village news and letters to no purpose ; or to listen when a young clerk or mechanic is requested to repeat a forced written composition about some Masonic matter . Do I find real interest in it , when I see initiating , passing , and raising where all solemnity is getting

lost , because no one knows his ritual . Everywhere is confusion , and each one is getting more confused b y being dreadfully afraid of hurting his dignity by a wrongly-pronounced word . A more select choice of officers would be more profitable and forcible to the fame and honour of a lodge .