A Masonic Sermon.

may judge , it ought to claim the special attention of those " brothers of the mystic tie " who are as yet only jn the outer courts . But it is interesting also to those * 0 whom Masonry is a sealed book ; for it sets forth the general principles ot the Order , revealing at least the main springs and motives of Masons . Further , it affords food for the reflection to the judicious , in that it

boldly though tacitly traverses the judgment of the Roman Catholic Church in putting its veto upon Masonry as a kind of imperium in imperio in its relation to Christianity . " Masonry is Christianity , " says Mr . Anderson , and he succeeds in showing , by quotations from what are apparently portions of the ritual of the Order , that

Masonry embodies much of the teaching of Christianity . Faith in God , hope in a future life , and that Charity , which suffers long and is kind , are among its moral graces , and Masons are commended to a " holy confidence that the Lord of Life will enable us to trample the King of Terrors beneath our feet , and lift our eyes to that bright Morning Star , whose rising brings peace

and salvation to the faithful and obedient of the human race . " All this and a great deal more of similar character speaks volumes for the theory of Masonry . Whether or not it is conclusive proof of the identity of Masonry and Christianity is another matter . The Terror of the Portal to non-Masons is well-known to be

that process known as " black-balling . " Perhaps the comparison fails there . The one appears to be an excellent school of good works , in which they " select your candidates . Every man is not fit to be a Mason . " The other , most preachers tell us , is a school of grace , in which " Whosoever cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out . "

However , we cannot attempt , nor do we desire , to weaken the force of Mr . Anderson ' s argument . He has the advantage , to which we can lay no claim , of being an exponent of the mysteries of reli gion both in the lodge and in the pul pit ; and saving the condemnation of the Roman Catholic Church , which acknowledges but one absolute standard , we have no reason to

know that Masonry is not Christianity . But what may perhaps strike some is that " things which are equal to the same thing are equal to one another ; " and if Masonry is Christianity , and the religion of the Church of England is Christianity , they may be disposed to inquire how it is that the religion of the Church of England is not Masonry ? Or , if it is , where is the necessity for further ritual , rites , and ceremonies to

incite to that " brotherhood of peace and love , of honour and fidelity" which should be characteristic of both r" Has the one brought " down through the ages vast and varied until now " more sure guarantees of genuineness , simplicity , and sincerity than the other ? A reply sermon dealing with these and similar points would be at least as interesting as that delivered at Egremont , which in the meantime may be commended as worth reading .

Scotland.

Scotland .

CONSECRATION OF TH . E THANE OF FIFE LODGE , No . 781 . On Saturday , the 20 th instant , the Freemasons belonging to the Province of Fife and Kinross , attended in large numbers to take part in the consecration of the new lodge Thane of Fife , No . 781 . As most of the

lod ges within the bounds sent representatives , the attendance was close on 300 . The procession as it passed through the streets had an imposing appearance . The ceremony took place in Brunton ' s Hall , at four o ' clock , when Bro . Major James Townsend Oswald 'W . P . G . M ., presided , and was supported by Bros . Maj . -Gen . David Briggs , D . P . G . M . ; James F . Bremner ,

S . P . G . W . ; Rev . G . Strang Anderson , P . G . Chaplain ; David Osborne , P . G . Secretary , and others . After the initiatory services , the charter , jewels , clothing , & c , were handed to the several office-bearers , and the lodge closed . The brethren held some social intercourse for a snort time together .

Too Religious.

TOO RELIGIOUS .

A member of the Craft who has read a little of Masonic literature says it is too religious for him , and "c declares that if what he has read is correct , Masonry and reli gion must be synonymous . They are Synonymous in rpnnirinor dpvntinn M hprrin In thp ht .

nrtand to be exemplified in the life ; in requiring all to . ° me in humility to seek and receive light and blessing ; ari l * 0 f a 11 faith in God ' hope in mmortalit y * no charity to all mankind , with the practice of every ¦ rtue comprised in the law of love to God and man . ... y are SVnOnVmnin ; ac tn flin * Nnnrnm *» RniMnr fin / t

. ° , ' ana" tne * ultimate is the same , the temple not narje with hands , eternal in the heavens . The brother ' •¦¦ s to have thought that Masonry was but little dis ' ' ^ a mora ' social club , and to have been p a PPointed when he found it a system of the most he at ' " * reli 8 ' philosophy of all time . Evidently 'he ^ P ^ <* ' P y'ng for him who has just entered ,. " -aSOnif nnrlalc vnA nrt enKouirmnl . ... iiMnfV f /\ f ¦ ii juaj

nim * ir . | f r * " - *"" l "'" "" »« "o ^ ju > .. . Mg .... 'ule ! i " ° receivlng of the first Great Light as his justn guide of ( aitl * and conduct ; no lesson of per ess and uprightness before God and man ; no everdeat . veri "g search for truth , and no exemplification of jv ste , an < J resurrection . To him Masonry ' s beautiful b y s " ? morality , veiled in allegory and illustrated yrnools * was meaningless until he began to read

Too Religious.

Masonic literature , and then , in direct opposition to his past solemn declarations of his desire for light , more light and further light , he closed his and ears and heart with the pronunciamento— " I don't like it ; it is too religious for my eyes . If this is correct , then Masonry and religion are synonymous , and consequently unsatisfactory to me . " To him all the lessons of the Temple of Solomon—all the Masonic and

religious spiritualising of them—must be as naught , and in his theory and practice must be but a name . Masonry and religion are master-building for eternity , are the erecting of the temple of the soul , and thus they are synonymous . If for any one this is too religious , then , by just as much he is not yet a Master Mason . To all such there can be but one admonition —Come up higher , and let nothing of God's light and truth be too reli gious for you . — Voice of Masonry .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF NEW SOUTH WALES . INSTALLATION OF LORD JERSEY AS

GRAND MASTER . The annual meeting of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales was held at the Masonic Hall on the 27 th of June for the installation of his Excellency the Governor , Earl of Jersey , as Grand Master of the Order for the second time , and also for the investiture of officers . The large hall was used as a lodge room , and handsomelv decorated vvith the colours of various

nations , and there was a fair attendance of Masons of all ranks . A strong choir , under the leadership of Bro . A . J . Drewe , rendered the various odes connected with the ceremonies , and Bro . A . Gehde , Grand Org ., presided at the organ . The Grand Master having been proclaimed , the Deputy Grand Master , Bro . N . Hopson , was obligated and invested , and the other officers invested as follows : Bro . the Hon . Harman J . Tarrant ,

M . L . C . .. Pro G . M . „ Nicholas Hopson Deputy G . M . „ J . W . Evans S . G . W . „ J . P . Humphries J . G . W . „ The Bishop of Bathurst ... )/ - / -... , „ Rev . Patrick Fitzgerald ... j G . Chaplains . „ John Starkey G . Treasurer .

„ Donnelly Fisher G . Registrar . „ Thomas E . Spencer ... Pres . Bd . of G . P . „ Ellis Robinson Pres . Bd . of Ben . „ R . Anderson G . Inspr . of Wks . „ Richard Shute G . Architect .

;; j c ^ pson ::: ::: ; : }*«¦ ° <*™ s . „ Gordon Man 1 , ,-. I , J . B . Beauregard j ]* G . Deacons . „ G . H . Marsh G . D . of C .

„ M . T . S . Whysall G . D . D . of C . „ F . Alterton G . S . B . „ F . Harvey G . Std . Br .

„ J . Massy G . Dir . of Music . „ A . Gehde G . Organist . „ W . H . Ore G . Bard . „ A . J . Burbridge G . Purst . „ Walter Marshall ~ ) n ,, n . " G . H . Scurr j G . Dep . Pursts .

„ W . E . H . Nicholle \ ,, J . Tontu „ A . B . Kirk }* G . Stewards . „ J . P . S . Willson . „ T . A . Graham J „ W . J . Morgan G . Tyler .

The GRAND MASTER then delivered his annual address . He said that he had to thank the brethren for the honour of his re-election as Grand Master , and to assure them that he accepted the office conferred upon him with feelings of pleasure and a sense of the responsibility of the office of head of the Freemasons of New South Wales . The office was one , a

honourable one , in his estimation , and he should endeavour to fill it to the best of his ability , and that during his year of oflice he should prove worthy of the trust placed in him . They might rest assured that it was not only the honour that he estimated , but it was also the fraternal feeling and confidence reposed in him that he valued most highly . When he first accepted the position of their Grand Master he was almost a total

stranger , but since then he had had many opportunities of meeting the brethren in Sydney , and in the various parts of the colony , and everywhere he had been he had met with the most cordial and fraternal greeting , and made to entirely forget that he was a newcomer and realise that he was a brother Mason of the Grand Lodge of Ne w South Wales . After reference to the various parts of the colony he had visited during the year the Grand

Master remarked that it was not the oflice which they as Masons valued so much as the knowledge that they were brothers in a Fraternity which had for its object the carrying into practice of great and valued principles , and from his experience they might be quite sure that Masonry was well carried out in New South Wales . But they must never be content to sit still , but

always be pressing forward the true principles which lay at the root of Masonry . This was not an occasion to deliver an oration on the value of Masonry , but he would allude to the great strides made in New South Wales . During the last year something like 1726 new brethren had been initiated , and since the creation of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales over

The Craft Abroad.

6000 had joined the order . They were numerically strong , having between 13 , 000 and 14 , 000 brethren , who had undertaken certain obligations , and who were a peaceful army of men who were doing a great deal to leaven life in New South Wales , and who were anxious to do all they could to elevate the tone of private and public life , for Masonry ,

truly understood , could do much in this direction . They would perhaps see no startling results , for the influence of Masonry was silent , but they believed that it could exert that influence for the elevation of the people . Let them , therefore , as Masons , do all that lay in their power to be true to their principles , and endeavour to make the lives of those amongst whom they lived purer

and happier , and if they did so they would be putting the highest principles of the Order into practice , and have no cause to regret it . It was pleasant in times like these to know that their funds were prospering . During last year they had been able to add ilsoo to their reserve funds , and there was a balance of ^ 637 to go on with , while the Benevolent Fund had increased by

. £ 400 , still leaving . £ 244 for immediate use . He took the opportunity of thanking the Grand Lodge Officers for their aid during the past year , for there was nothing that he as Grand Master could more highly value . After referring to the Masonic celebrations at Grafton , Newcastle , and other places , and the respect inspired amongst those outside Masonry , he said that

unfortunately there had been one source of grief during the year in that they had to lament the death of one who would eventually have been one of the most prominent of Masons , as of public men in the world . The Grand Lodge had very kindly passed a resolution of sympathy which must have touched the heart of their brethren in England . He was sorry also that by reason of another

sad event he should not have the pleasure of meeting the members of Grand Lodge in a friendly manner on the morrow as he had hoped to do , but he hoped to do so before long . He took the pleasure of congratulating the officers just elected . Everyone knew how difficult patronage was until he had to distribute it , and he was glad that by their constitution the Grand Master was saved that trouble . He cordially welcomed those

whom the brethren had elected . After further remarks the Grand Master again expressed his thanks and announced that Bro . Dr . Tarrant had been appointed Pro Grand Master . The representatives of Sister Grand Lodges were then presented with their patents of office and the proceedings closed , the usual banquet being dispensed with owing to the death of the Earl of Ancram .

Fraternity Broadens A Man.

FRATERNITY BROADENS A MAN .

C . C . Wolcott , in an address delivered not long since , said : — " I have never believed that the association in a secret fraternal Order had a tendency , as it is sometimes claimed , to narrow a man's sense of obligation to the world at large , and to confine his operations to

the members of his own Order . Such is surely not its purpose , and I believe is not its tendency . *_ In fact , I believe the tendency is otherwise . The exercise of friendship and Charity in a narrow circle is an education towards the recognition of a universal brotherhood . Men are at best but the exponents of ideas ; back of the action , back of the deed , is always the thought , and

the thought , the ideas of claims of others upon us outside of family and kin , is one that deepens by exercise , and extends outside in ever-widening circles , " The old idea of chivalry , you know , was thc supremacy of might . Its triumphs were the triumphs of physical strength and prowess , but in modern knighthood , the highest type of courage and chivalry finds its expression in deeds of charity and goodwill .

If fraternal love held all men bound , how beautiful this world would be . ' Instead of criticising , men would try to help the weak and to rescue the fallen . Intelligence would pity rather than despise ignorance , and strive to raise it to a knowledge of the truth . The question would then be , not how can I advance my own interests , but how can I benefit my brother ? Discord and strife would cease , and men would dwell together in unity and peace . " —International News .

Buffalo Bill keeps his show up to date , and every now and then adds some fresh topic of interest to bring patrons to Earls Court . The troupe of Cossacks which he has engaged are now with his Red Indians bringing thousands of visitors to this popular outdoor entertainment . The Cossacks go through their native dances , and on horseback perform some very daring feats , chief of which seems to

be standing on their necks with their legs in the air whilst their horses are going at terrific speed . The attack and defence of the Deadwood Coach still forms the principal feature in Buffalo Bill's show , though we ought not to omit mention of Col . Cody ' s shooting at glass balls from horseback , or Annie Oakley ' s marvellous rille firing . She is well nick-named Little Sure Shot .

The appropriation voted by the United States Congress in aid of the Great International Exhibition at Chicage next year was reduced from a million to £ 500 , 000 sterling , which will be issued from the Mint in trie form of five million special souvenir silver coins of the weight , fineness , and value of the regular silver half-dollars in current use . On this becoming known , an immediate demand for them was

made on the exhibition officials from all parts of the country , and it is generally believed that all the coins will be sold at 100 per cent , premium , the exhibition being thus enriched to the extent of a million sterling . An almost fabulous price has been offered for the first coin struck , which it is believed will realise £ 200 . It is likely it will be sold by auction at Chicago , a certificate from the Director of the Mint accompanying it , to the effect that it is the only genuine first souvenir coin .