The Surrey Masonic Hall.

the interests of metropolitan Freemasonry , and of Freemasonry generally , we trust that a goodly ttendance on the 30 th will manifest the zeal of the Craft , and enable the directors to carry on th Surrey Masonic Hall , not only as a valuable Masonic adjunct to this great metropolis , but as a successful business undertaking .

Freemasonry In Dispersion.

FREEMASONRY IN DISPERSION .

A . t the time we write our metropolitan lodges are in a state of somnolence and separation . The lodge room is deserted , and even the good old Ty ler is gone off by a cheap excursion train . Our brethren are scattering , and are even scattered in all directions , getting away from

the dog days and the hot and crowded streets of London to country homes and sea breezes . Bro . Higginson , who is the best of mortals and Masons , has , of course , a very charming wife , and an interesting collection of " alive branches round about his table . " Mrs . Higginson—sister Mary Jane , as some young members of the lodge

call the agreeable life companion of their worthy P . M ., —has , of course , in cabinet council , as Secretary of State for the Home Department , expressed her opinion to Bro . Higginson that the " children want change of air . " " For herself , " she adds , " she is happy anywhere with him . But Edward Thomas has come back thin from

school , Emily has not quite recovered from her weakness in the whooping cough , Robert is looking pale , and Fanny is a little feverish , while the twins are somewhat fractious , and baby is teething , and so she thinks that a change is needful for the family Higginson . " Bro . Higginson ,

amiable fellow as he is , always obeys his wife , for , as he says in the "Megatherium Lodge , " amid a quiet conversation and a consoling cigar , " she is , sir , a first-rate woman , and a capital wife , for she talks for two , and does everything for everybody , and she is so economical and so very

particular ; and then her intellect is very remarkable , and she is so genuine and affectionate , " & c , & c . Now we do not blame Bro . Higginson for being proud of his wife , and even talking about her , when just now the morality of young married men , and , that we should say it , of old married men ,

is much "beneath par , but we mention a familiar occurrence of domestic history to account for the rural peregrination of so many of our most distinguished brethren . For the Higginsons are only types of many Masonic husbands and many Masonic wives : and well it is , we think ,

that it should be so . We , who stay in London , and keep to work , can sincerely wish them all happiness in their " outing . " For it is a good thing , in our opinion , this domestic life of Englishmen and Englishwomen which takes them away with their children to enjoy the greon fields of the

country or the glad ozone of the sea shore . No doubt we can see the same sight across the Channel at Trouville , and Deauville , and countless other well-known spots , but it appears to us as if English domestic life was a closer and more intimate life , most goad for all , than in

any other country . When then to-day our lodges are closed , and our good brethren are dispersed , wandering here and there , or settled down cosily somewhere for the time on attractive sands , or on breezy hills , with their "Lares and Penates , " and what Jones of " ours , " irreverent dog ,

terms their impedimenta , " nurses , children , bandboxes , and perambulators ad libitum , " we trust that they are enjoying their " exodus " from , the little village , and that when next we meet our brethren in our well-known lodge , we may find them "all to the fore , " fresh and genial and

hearty as ever . , If life , as it leaves us weary and often lamentin g at the bottom of the " everlasting hills , " seems to pass from us , with few glad memories , and fewer enduring associations , let us trust and believe , that the true-hearted sympathies f

° . personal attachment and honest-hearted "endshi p , of genial companionship , and ot jamily affection , are destined yet , when they jcave the changing and . failing attributes of mor-1 ! r j become themselves intensified , fragrant ana deathless in the " beatific mansions " of bother and a better scene .

favour ^ ^ ert Victor continues to progress

Masonic Uncharitableness.

MASONIC UNCHARITABLENESS .

We are often struck—perhaps our readers are too—with the great uncharitableness displayed by us Freemasons , in our words as regards others , in the pages of the Freemason . In a recent correspondence one of the writers actuall y prides himself on the fact that neither he nor

Bro . Binckes will forget that they are brethren and Freemasons , or are likely to degenerate into the too common uncharitableness of Freemasons . Surely this is not as it should be , and is a great reflection on our words and acts , our professions and our practice . It would almost seem as if the

uncharitableness of humanity were so ingrained in us all alike , that the moment either our " amour propre " or our interests are excited , we open the floodgates of passion and personality . Let us all try and amend our ways in this respect , and let us no longer remain open to the

" profane " charge that our precepts and practice are in utter contradiction . And it is not only in public that such remarks seasonably apply , for in private , in domestic life , how uncharitable and censorious we are , utterly inconsiderate of the good name and untarnished reputation of some

whom we call our " brethren in Masonry . " But if we once get on this topic we shall never stop , so we hasten to return from our little digression . After all , of how little value is controversy , " per se , " except in eliciting the truth ., and even at the best how worthless , as Lord Macaulay has sung ,

is the " Victor ' s prize . " We think that the following " morceau" of true philosophy about hating people is so true that we transfer it bodily to our pages , and conclude our " Sermonette " with it to day . — " Hate not . It is not worth while . Your life is not long enough to make it

pay to cherish ill will or hard thoughts towards any one . What if that man has cheated you , or that woman played you false ? What if this friend has forsaken you in your time of need , or that one having won your utmost confidence , your warmest love , has concluded that she

prefers to consider and treat you as a stranger ? Let it all pass . What difference will it make to you in after years , when you go hence to the' undiscovered country ? ' All who treat you wrong now will be more sorry for it then than you , even in your deepest disappointment and grief , can be . A few more smiles , a few more tears ,

some pleasure , much pain , a little longer hurrying and worrying in the world , some hasty greetings and abrupt farewells , and life will be over and the injurer and the injured will be laid away and ere long forgotten . Is it worth while to hate each other ? " Let us learn , all of us , then , to be confiding and charitable , lenient and forgiving , hating slander , and putting our foot on detraction .

Opening Of The New Masonic Hall At Sheffield.

OPENING OF THE NEW MASONIC HALL AT SHEFFIELD .

On Wednesday , thu 18 th inst ., the new Masonic Hall , erected in Surrey-street , Sheffield , was formallyopened . Theleading Provincial membersofthe Masonic fraternity were present , the chair being occupied by the R . W . Bro . Lieut .-Col . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., D . L ., Prov . G . Master of West Yorkshire .

The new hall fronts to Eyre-street and Surrey-street ( standing on the site of the old hall ) it is built entirely of dressed stone , partly of that of the old building . It is in the classical style of architecture , of a neat and substantial character , the decorations being quiet ,

yet including the conventional " square and compasses , " & c . j the tout ensemble , though suggestive of durability , is pleasing . The new building contains a lodge room and a banqueting room , and there is a spacious cellar . The banqueting room , which is on the ground

floor , is 51 feet long by 26 feet wide by 15 feet high , it is lighted by double windows of plate glass , the inner ones being ornamented with Masonic emblems embossed thereon . tS . serving window gives direct communication with the

kitchens , which are extensive and fitted up with all modern requirements . The furniture of the banqueting room can be readily lowered into the cellar , which extends the full size of the building . The lodge room , which is over the banqueting room , is 51 feet lo » g by 26 feet wide by 24 feet

Opening Of The New Masonic Hall At Sheffield.

high , having an arched roof springing from a cornice running round the room , ornamented with moulded ribs and panels , and carved bosses , The walls are relieved with columns , which have foliated capitals springing from ornamented carbels , from which the ribs in the roof form one

continuous line . The whole of the fittings are of polished pine , slightly stained and varnished , which produce a very pleasing effect . The east end is occupied by a dais of three steps , along the north and south sides runs a raised platform , so that a double row of chairs can be placed ,

enabling the brethren occupying the back seats to see and hear with comfort . At the west end is an organ , built expressly by the firm of Messrs . Brindley and Foster , of Sheffield , the following is the specification : — GREAT ORGAN , compass CC to G 3 . 1 . Open

diapason , metal , 8 feet , 56 pipes ; 2 . Lieblich Gedact , wood and metal , 8 feet , 56 pipes : 3 . Dulciana , zinc metal grooved into No . 2 in bass , 8 feet ; 4 . Flauto Traverso , wood and metal , 4 feet , 56 pipes . SWELL ORGAN . 5 . Violin diapason , zinc

metal , H bass to CC , 8 feet , 56 pipes ; 6 . Salecet metal 4 feet , 56 pipes ; 7 . Oboe , metal , 8 feet , $ 6 pipes . PBDAL CCC to E , Couplers . 8 . Bourdon wood , 16 feet , 29 p ipes , two composition pedals ; 9 . Swell to Great ; xo . Swell to Pedal ; 11 . Great to Pedal .

The appearance of the lodge room when illuminated is brilliant , and when the promised decorations have been completed there is little doubt about its being one of the most beautiful Masonic temples in the provinces . We are glad to hear that the main part of the work of an ornate

nature has been reserved for the interior . Both rooms are lighted by very chaste gaseliers , and are warmed by hot water on the most improved principles ; the ventilation is on Tobin ' s system . In addition to these two large rooms there are , on the ground floor , a club room , commodious

kitchens , lavatory , & c . ; on the first floor , one small lodge room and a convenient cloak room ; a wide passage with a broad flight of stairs leads to the lodge room ; on the second floor are several rooms , affording accommodation for a resident Tyler . The acoustic properties of all

the rooms , we are happy to say , are perfect . The entrance to the hall is made through the adjoining premises , which we have already described ; the arrangements are such that , at any future time , these can be pulled down and more spacious premises erected in the same style as the new

hall ; when this is done there will be not only spacious offices , kc , necessary for the lodges , but plenty of accommodation for a club . The whole of the properties are freehold , and are owned by the Sheffield Masonic Hall Company , Limited , the shares of which are held solely by

the lodges or brethren—virtually , therefore , they are their own tenants—a move in the right direction ( though it is only fair to say that it is many years since a Sheffield lodge met in a public-house ) , and we trust the day is not far distant when every brother will realise the fallacy of the poet ' s lines , where he goes on to say that he

'' May sigh to think he still has found His warmest welcome at an inn . " Tempora mutantor ; to day every lodge may , and should , meet under its own roof , or , at least , in a room set apart for the purpose , yet in no way connected with a public-house . Practice

ever being preferred to precept we feel bound to point to Sheffield as an example we would urge upon others to follow . To the true Craftsman there is nothing , in our way of thinking , so undignified as the association of a lodge with a public-house—if our Constitutions were more

studied the very significant article No . 4 , page 62 , would cause many a brother to think , and—vcrbum sat sapienti . At a quarter-pist on * o ' clock the ceremony of formally opening the hall was commenced . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., said .- Brethren , in addressing this brilliant assembly of the members

of the Craft in West Yorkshire the first part of my agreeable duty to-day is to acknowledge in the most cordial manner your hearty reception of your Provincial Grand Master . I am again reminded of the welcome this Provincial Lodge met with in October , A . L ., 5875 , from the Wentworth Lodge , No . 1239 . To tna * admir-