Courage.

COURAGE .

From the earliest times we find that those who were endowed with great bodily strength and courage have ever held a prominent position among their fellow men , and by the influence which , as a natural consequence they possessed , have used those who were weaker than themselves as the stepping stones to wealth and power . When we consider that in the early ages , when the earth was in a state of barbarism , it was absolutely necessary that a man should be competent to defend himself from oppression and wrong , it is not to be wondered at that

animal Courage should be regarded as one of the chief virtues which entitle a man to the respect and admiration of his companions . Hence arose the ardent love ot military enterprise and warlike achievements which , too often , alas ! has shed its baneful light upon peaceful and contented minds , inducing them to abandon the realities of true happiness , to follow a will o'the wisp , which , when too late , they discover has lured them to their destruction . By the Greeks and Romans , the greatest nations of antiquity , Courage was highly esteemed—in fact ,

the word " Virtus " in its primal meaning has the signification of Animal Courage and in their writings which have come down to us , this manly attribute has been highly extolled—the " Iliad , " the grandest epic poem that was ever written , relates the achievements and personal prowess of Achilles , who , save brute Courage , possessed nothing to call for admiration in his character . * The ^ Eneid , again , which , in many respects , is an imitation of the Iliad , relates the adventures of tineas , who , though he had many despicable faults , yet on account of his

endurance of hardship and danger , and his successful conquest of Latium has been the hero of a poem which , for ever , will be admired . It , then , Courage from the earliest to the present time has been so much praised , let us examine in what this virtue consists . The subject seems , naturally , to divide into two parts—Animal and Moral . By Animal Courage , we - understand that power , possessed alike by animals and man , of defending themselves by sheer force , from the assaults and injury to which they are liable from others . This , although it is very

necessary , involving as it does the principle of self-defence , when abused is productive of incalculable evils . The first war of self-defence which took place was commendable , as it was the combined resistance of a nation determined to preserve the rights and properties which they had so long enjoyed against the wanton attack of a conqueror , who , disregarding the miseries that would be necessarily entailed on the victors and vanquished by the selfish course he was pursuing , cared only for . the empty fame which he hoped to gain . In an instance

like this , great personal bravery may have been displayed on either side , and deeds of high renown , which merited the poet ' s song—but how different were the motives which actuated the hostile parties—the one , led on by the lust of gain to plunder and desolate . a peaceful and inoffensive country—the other , strong in purpose , confident in the justice of their cause , fighting for the retention of their homes and altars , and ready to devote the last drop of their blood to preserve their soil from the invader . In after ages , what had been by the circumstances of

the time a virtue , now grew into a vice . No longer used for the purposes it was originally intended , Courage became an instrument of oppression and wrong—war , no longer made only in self-defence , carried its devastating course through peaceful nations—the height of ambition , and the aim of every man , was to become a hero . How true is the saying that what in detail is mean and despicable , when , on a large scale , is as equally esteemed . The famous line of Byron— " One murder makes a villain , millions a hero , " expresses most forcibly the paradoxical verdict

the world at large passes upon the two individuals . But this , as man is constituted , it will ever be—the feeling of superior strength will be respected , and its possessor conscious of his power , will be apt unless reason asserts its sway , to turn this gift to bad purposes . It is only when the strong man can be convinced that " might is not always right , " that he will acknowledge that , while on the one hand he ought to be grateful ' to God for the feeling of Courage which he has bestowed upon him , yet still , he must bear in mind that it was only given in trust to defend

himself should occasion require , and assist his weaker brethren by his strength against the tyrant and the oppressor . Above all , let him not by wanton cruelty presume to abuse the power he possesses—let him consider that though he may have " a giant ' s strength : ' tis tyrannous to use it like a giant "—rather let him be a shield to the defenceless , a friend to the weak , and an opposer to all wrong—thus by his conduct he will merit the love and blessings of all around . True Courage will ever be the servant of Justice , the advocate and supporter of Virtue , by the

good it will be admired and beloved , and by the wicked it will be hated , yet feared . We have thus examined and defined Animal Courage , its uses and abuses . Let us now briefly consider the next division of our subject—Moral Courage . This quality belonging to , and entirely dependent upon the mind , needs not the fortuitous circumstance of bodily strength to exert its influence . The feeble as well as the robust may be equally gifted with it . It is the power of the mind which is dominant , not that of the body . It comprises firmness of

purpose , an unflinching resolve to follow good—undaunted by misfortune to press on the road of life , overcoming difficulties which , at first sight , appear to overwhelm him—like the hardy swimmer , struggling , buffeted and tossed about on the stormy waves , now sinking in the deep and , anon , buoyed and supported by his untiring exertion , he manfully presses onward , and at last reaches the haven of safety . Though in personal strength a mere child , yet in vigour of mind he may he a giant—conquered by his bodily foes , and reduced to subjection , his mind free

and unfettered , asserts a mastery , which scorns the wrong , while at the same time it forgives it . Truly , indeed , may it be said— " In vain , in vain , your cords and chains . You cannot bind the mind . The man a prisoner may remain , but his soul is unconfined . " Let not the enthusiast expatiate upon the glory acquired by the destruction of his fellow creatures , nor the laurel wreath watered by the widows' and orphans' tears . What is this in comparison with the daily contest that takes place within the heart of man—the good and evil impulses ranged in

opposition to each other . Evil , ever ready to predominate , implanted with a deep foot in the mind of man from his birth , requires the greatest Courage and undaunted resolution to overcome . 'Tis hard to leave the flowery and pleasant path of sin to toil up the steep and rugged ascent that leads to Virtue—many are the longings and backward glances that the pilgrim casts upon the road which he has abandoned—sorely is he tried by temptations alluring him by the speciousness ° f Virtue—fair to view like the apples of the Dead sea , yet containing within

'hem nothing but dust and ashes . Enlisted under the banner of the Great Captain of his salvation , the Christian soldier must be ever watchful and alert , ready at any time to oppose his numerous and unseen foes , who constantly hover round him—resting upon his arms , he feels he must never indulge in false security , nor "ope for peace until he has completely subdued his enemies . And shall we say , then , that such a man is deficient in Courage and unworthy of the title of hero ? Could the mighty conquerors of thousands subdue the raging passions of their

own minds ? Could they , with forbearance , look with pity and forgiveness upon j he offences of others ? Could they , like the Christian , forgive their enemies ? ^ ar from it ; revenge was the ruling principle of their lives , and punishment , as a natural consequence , was inflicted upon those who opposed them . In this point ° ' view , then , the Christian warrior is immeasurably superior—the amaranthine Cr own , the reward of his long-tried and faithful service will endure for ever , while 'he laurel wreath of the great Cusar shall wither in the dust . F . W . DRIVER , M . A ., P . M . 6 a , Lancaster Road , Notting Hill , W .

Laying The Foundation Stone Of A New Masonic Hall At Wick.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW MASONIC HALL AT WICK .

On Thursday , the 12 th instant , in rather disagreeable weather , the foundation stone of the St . Fergus new hall , which is in course of erection in Breadalbaneterrace , Wick , near the east extremity of the Academy playground , was laid with Masonic honours by Bro . Sheriff G . H . M . Thorns , Prov . Grand Master of

Caithness , Orkney , and Shetland . A wooden platform had been erected over the masonry on which the ceremony , whicn was witnessed from a distance by a considerable gathering of people , took place . Officers and brethren from other lodges in the province , viz ., Kirkwall Kilwinning , St . Peter ' s , Mercantile Marine , and a large number of the brethren of the St . Fergus Lodge , were present .

Those representing the Provincial Grand Lodge who took part in the ceremony included Bros . Sheriff Thorns , Prov . G . M . of Caithness , Orkney , and Shetland ; Major Henderson , P . D . G . M . ; Buckham Hossack , P . S . G . M . ; F . H . M'Hugh , P . S . G . W . ; D . Dunnet , P . J . G . W . ; J . Slater , P . G . Sec . ; R . Sinclair

acting P . G . Treas . ; Craven , P . G . Chap . ; S . Macdonald , acting P . G . Architect ; W . Baikie , P . G . Bible Bearer ; Sourie , acting P . G . Marshal ; Dunnet , acting P . S . G . D . ; D . P . Henderson , P . J . G . D . ; Farquhar , P . G . I . G . ; and Laird , P . G . Tyler . The visiting brethren were Bros . Captain Munro , Allan M . Henderson , Dalgleish , and others .

The lodge met in the Commissioners' Hall , Lower Dunbir-street , and shortly after three o ' clock marched in procession to the site of the new hall , headed by the band of the Wick Company C . V . A ., under the leadership of Band Sergeant Grant . Bro . Sheriff Thorns preceded the procession in a close carriage . Having arrived at the platform and taken up their position , the ceremonial of laying the stone according to the Masonic rite was gone through , the band playing music appropriate to the various stages of the ceremony . The procession afterwards returned in inverted order to the hall , where the lodge was closed .

Afterwards the brethren and the St . Fergus Lodge dined together in Mr . Nicol ' s Station Hotel . The number in procession was about 80 , of whom 20 or thereabouts were from a distance .

Grand Council Of New Brunswick, Canada, R. And S.M.

GRAND COUNCIL OF NEW BRUNSWICK , CANADA , R . AND S . M .

The Grand Council of the Royal and Select Masters and Appjndant Orders , organised 14 th August , 1867 , held its annual convocation in the Masonic Temple , St . John , N . B ., Canada , on Monday , the 19 th ult . Comp . John V . Ellis , Grand Master , was in the chair , and his report , and that of Comp . Rubert Marshall , Grand Recorder , showed that the body was in a prosperous condition . O . ie new ouncil , that at St . Stephen , was established during the year . The report of the Grand Treasurer , Comp . J . Henry Leonard , showed a balance on the right side ol the ledger . Comp . Ellis , Grand Master , who had filled the chiir for three years ,

declined re-election . The following Grand Officers were elected and appointed : Comp . William B . Wallace ... ... ... M . P . Grand Master . „ Henry Graham , St . Stephen ... ... Deputy Grand Master . „ Edwin J . Everett ... ... ... R . P . Grand Master . „ John A . Watson ... ... ... P . Grand Master .

„ Robert Marshal ! ... ... ... Grand Recorder . „ J . Henry Leonard ... ... ... Grand Treasurer . „ John D . Short ... ... ... Grand Chaplain . „ Moses McGowan , St . Stephen ... ... Grand Capt . of Guards .

„ Andrew McNichoI ... ... ... G . Master of Ceremonies . „ John L . Harris , Moncton ... ... Grand Conductor . „ R . H . McWilliams ... ... ... Grand Steward . „ G . G . Boyne ... ... ... Grand Sentinel . „ W . A . Ewing ... ... ... Grand Organist .

Comp . John Leonard Harris was appointed R . P . Inspector General for the County of Westmorland . The Grand Officers were installed by Comp . Seymour , Grand Master , of Maine . Addresses were made by III . Comps . SEYMOUR and J S . DERBY , of Maine .

Representatives of the following Grand Councils presented their credentials : Minnesota , Comp . E . J . Everett ; Kentucky , Comp . J . Henry Leonard ; Maine , Comp . John S . Derby ; South Carolina and Louisiana , Comp . Robert Marshall ; New York , and England and Wales , Comp . John V . Ellis ; Illinois , Comp . John A . Watson ; Maryland , Comp . William B . Wallace : Rhode Island , Comp . John D . Short ; Georgia , Comp . Andrew McNichoI ; and Connecticut , Comp . Henry Graham .

They were all cordially welcomed , and Comp . DURDY replied on their behalf to the address of welcome . The report of the Grand Recorder gave a complete list of representatives , appointed during the year , to and from sister Grand Councils . The prospect of the further extension of our Cryptic Rite in these Maritime Provinces , in the near future , is very promising .

It was unanimously resolved to alter the first part of Section 7 of the Con . stitution to read as follows : " The Most Puissant Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , Right Puissant Grand Master , Puissant Grand Master , Grand Treasurer , and Grand Sentinel shall be elected annually by ballot . " Comps . Robert Marshall , W . B . Wallace , and W . A . Ewing were appointed a Committee on Publication of Proceedings , 1892 to 1895 , both inclusive , with discretionary power as to enlargement . The same companions were appointed a Committee to revise the Constitution . Comp . W . B . Wallace , Chairman .

.. .. The Grand Master , in his admirable address , referred to the cordial relations existing between this Grand Council and sister Grand Councils ; as also with the General Grand Council of the United States of America .

A warrant was ordered to issue to Saint Stephen , to be styled "The Saint Stephen Council of Royal and Select Masters and Appendant Orders , No . 10 . " Shekinah Council , No . 5 , of Orillia , Ontario ; Adoniram Council , No . 6 , of Toronto ; Harington Council , No . 7 , of Gault ; and Zabud Council , No 9 , formerly of the obedience of this Grand Council , are now under the jurisdiction of " Grand Council ot Ontario , " inadvertently styled the Grand Council of " Canada . "

A MATCH between picked teams reprcs-nting the County of Middlesex and the City of London on the one hand and the County t f Surrey on the other , was decided at the ranges of the National Rifle Association , BUley , on Saturday last Surrey led by 12 points at the 200 yaids range , but at the 500 yards she was beaten by 647 to 5 . JI , and at the Ooo yarJs by G 06 to 570 . Thus Middlesex with a score of 1 S 40 points as against Surrey witn 17 O J points won by So points .