Compensations.

aw that , in order that the balance of the spheres may be maintained by the Great Geometrician of the Universe , there is fixed to every force its counterpoise . To the students of the hidden mysteries of nature it is patent that the Supreme Creator

keeps intact the law of being , by means of operations which make its various parts act and re-act upon each other . To ourselves the great principle of counterbalance is an acknowledged fact . Does one part of our bodies become by accident or disease inert ,

is not another ready to supply its place ? Does one sense become lost , is not its functions more or less perfectly supplied by a correspondingly increased capacity in another ? No less , then , to the observers of the inner life cf mankind , especially when they read their

lessons by the Light of the Volume of the Sacred Law , is it apparent that the Universal Father rules everything by the law of Compensations . " Man is born to trouble , as the sparks fly p- * -2 rd , " saidJob- and the end of his troubles fully boie out his " patient waiting upon God . " He

Knew , and , therefore , we too may know , that God never afflicts in vain , and , just " as with the temptation he makes the way of escape , " so does he transform " the thoin in the flesh " into a ready means of glorifying Him by patient endurance , and turn the earthly crown of thorns into the

heavenly crown of glory . If , then , the Great Teacher ' s words— "Thou in thy lifetime hadst thy good things and Lazarus his evil things , now he is comforted and thou art tormented " ' —be true with regard to the future , no less do we find , if we only carefully look for

them , abundant evidence of Compensations in the present . My neighbour is blessed with wordly wealth , but has not the health to enjoy it , or has those he best loves sick and ailing , or even removed from his side . I , who have to struggle for my

daily bread , have perfect health wherewith to do it , and enjoy it when done , and see , besides , " "M y faithful vine on the walls of my house" fully floutishing in health , and , besides , have in " The olive-branches round about my table , " an ever present picture of happiness and delight .

So , too , whilst in Lodge , to-day , though I may gaze sorrowfully on many an empty chair , and may seek in vain for the forms and faces of old familiar friends , I have my Compensation in the thought that they are bitting in the Grand Lodge above—a far brighter and happier spot than any

lodge of earth , however good and true its work , ing , however bright and happy its refreshmenttimes . They are passed from earth , but I shall find those dear faces every one again in Heaven . Yet once again , Does the grim Tyler—Death—knock at the

door of my heart with the report that the Grand Master calls me hence from my period of earthl y labour , I know that it is but His gracious summons to His heavenly rest , and I am afraid that for all the faithful woik , well and truly done , in

His lower Lodge of ours to-day , I shall , when the Grand Lodge is called again from rest to active labour , have , in the satisfied recognition of the Grand Master that I love and revere , for every trouble peace , and for all apparent earthly shortcomings Heavenly CO . MI-XNSATIONS .

The Christmas number of the " Masonic Magazine , " contains a new and original story by Anthony Trollrpe , ti . tiiUd " Catherine Carmichael ; or Three Years Running . " It is in Mr . Trollope ' s best style , antl -people do not need to be told what that is . Have they the slightest doubt of the conectntss of our

judgment ? Then let them read it , and the doubt will be dispelled almost before they have got to the bottom of the first i . ige . The rest < f thc contents , both Masonic and otherwise , are highly interesting . Indeed , it is an excellent number , and is creditable alike to thc writers who have contiibuttd the different articles , antl to Bro . Kenning for his inlet prise in publishing it . —Touchstone , Dec , 28 th .

HOLLOW -AY ' S OINTMENT AMI I ' ILLS . —Sores ; Wounds , and Ulcers . ";! ' •' ' ¦ ' la'ie-ty of * Hire—uie-cr , eruption , boil , nnd carbi-. nclc—is li U fi , ? l * IK ' d '" ' 'lesiruttive course by tbe timely application ol actir . 1 i '" *™"'* ll ••>" «» nnhualiliv and Eiibsl ' mucshealthy Hon ™ ., . 'llV : li ' - 'vinK "" - ' " Hameel diseases alleclint ; the skin , faoilitvf ' i" ° . , nlm * - ' 1 ; t - 'I' 5 Knii-id a" imperishable fame for its an , flit " ' , "B olu" inllamm ,-, toiy seres about tlie shins and ankles , less , nv ¦ lc Ks n *" ° ld wounds , it cannot be equalled ; nor is it nla ' ini i , V . ' cus in B <*'" l bteatlsand abscesses . When the comrecove e -r C ? of lor'K «> miniiance , Holloway ' s Pills will expedite stomaei , i . . . " 'hose doses which act as alteratives on the "inaeii , ar < j tonic-son the constitution . — rAuvr . l

The Late Princess Alice.

THE LATE PRINCESS ALICE .

The following appropriate . Latin verses were recited at the-Speech Day of the Merchant Taylor's School , Tuesday , December 17 th , 1878 , and have been specially translated foi the Freemason , and so we think it well to find a place foi them in our otherwise crowded columns , making a special

exception for the poetry : — " Credite , non illam sanguis generosus honestam " Reddidit , aut titulis nobilitata domus ; " Non decus egregium forma ; , sed vivida virtus , " Et pietas , et amor prodigus usque sui , " Hoc est femina ; princeps diadema corona ; , " Innocui mores , crimine vita carens .

" Ilia patris can pressit monentis ocellos , " Ciim rapuit patrice Mors inopina Ducem . " Ha : c eadem officio vidua ; solatia matri s " Attulit , et cura ; triste levavit onus ; " Morsque ubi pcent ; , gravi percussum febre , dolent " Abstulerat patrite Semque Decusque suum , " Ilia soror fratrem fovit , bene la ; ta laboris . " Nescio an arte valens an pietate magis . "

Believe it not , that noblest best descent , Or the good race from which she drew her life , Or pleasant grace and form alone were hers ; But virtue fraught with gootlness prodigal of self . This , the bright diadem of her gentle crown , Enshrin'd amidst her loving purity .

For she it was who closed a father's eyes , When Death so prematurely took our Prince away , She was the solace of the widow'd mother , And soothed each care and bade each sorrow cease . And when in after hours , close unto death ,

We all but lost our country ' s pride antl hope , Again the sister stood by the brother's side In loving ministration ever prompt . Ah ! difficult it is to say , as now we seek to praise , Whether her skill or goodness won the day . W .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , tbe opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all , ' to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

THE GRAND ORIENT OF THE NETHERLANDS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In the aiticle on F . ench Freemasonry in your issue of the 1 2 th ult ., which arrived by yesterday ' s mail , you state : "In our humble opinion thc French Grand Orient , by its successive acts of folly and perversity , has ,

if we may so say ' unmasoned ' itself , and has matle a ' tabular rasa , ' or a clean ' sweep' of all thc ancient and sacred teachings of cosmopolitan Freemasonry . " Upon reading this article it struck me that the Grand Lodge of England has not yet allowed her voice to be heard regarding the contemplated change which is likely to take place in the Grantl East of the Netherlands .

1 hc Lotlge Peace and Harmony , at Du Toil ' s Pan , working under a warrant from the G . E . of the Netherlands , has received from the Prov . Grantl Lodge in Cape Town , a printeel copy of Revised Rituals for thc Symbolic Degrees , and upon which opinion is requested before the entl of the present month , ( Rituals having been sent from Holland for that purpose ) . As 1 have not vet seen

anything in the Freemason regarding this change ( contemplated ) , I think it proper to inform you that the Revised Rituals make a "clean sweep" of the Hol y Bible antl Immortality of the Soul , and should the Grand East of the Netherlands adopt them , she miM prepare to sever herself from all Masonic bodies who recognize ami acknowledge the Holy Bible to be the first great light

of Masonry . The G . E . of the Netherlands is not ignorant of the fate of the French Grand Orient , and , notwithstanding , the warning appears to be disregarded . A meeting of thc B . B . of the Peace and Harmony i ? called for Wednesday next , to consider the proposed alterations in the Rituals of the Three Degrees , and as the

majority of the members are also members of English antl Scotch lodges , thc result may be easily a-iticipited . If this change is already known to the Hem . K . Giddy , District Grand Master of Griqualand , Wes ' , I trust hc will not allow it to pass unnoticed . What has the Freemason to say to the B . B . in the

Netherlands , or is this Atheistical mania clothed in the garb of " morale inelepentlantc , " not known to exist iu the Netherlands ? Yours , fraternally , Nov . 19 , 1878 . J . J . WILSON , P . M ., P . M . W . S ., D . C ,

A QUESTION OF RITUAL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — May I be permitted to ask you if a W . M . elect can be installed b y deputy . Yours faithfully , | . W . [ Certainly not . —ED . ]

MARK MASONRY . —We understand that the Right Honourable Lord Skelmersdale , the M . W . Grantl Mark Master Mason , has directed patents of appointment to be prepared lin favour of Bro . Montague Guest , Bete Regis , Blandford , in the county of Dorset , as Provincial Grand Master of Dorsetshire , and of Bro . the Rev . C . K . Davy , Tracy Park , Bath , as Provincial Grand Master of Gloucestershire . These are two new provinces in the Mark Degree .

Consecration Of The Kennington Chapter, No. 1381.

CONSECRATION OF THE KENNINGTON CHAPTER , No . 1381 .

A new chapter attached to the Kennington Lodge , No . 1381 , was consecrated on the 19 th inst ., at the Surrey County Club House , Kennington Oval , by Comp . James Terry , P . Z . 228 , Prov . G . D . C . Herts . The companions present on the occasion were Comps . G . Everett , E . F .

Page , W . Mann , T . C . Walls , H . Speedy , W . H . Webb , James Ambrose , J . Newton , P . Z . 174 and 975 ; F . Frampton , P . Z . 749 ; H . C . Levander , P . Z . 142 ; W . J . Ferguson , J . 10 5 6 ; Edward White , S . E . 1305 ; j . W . F . Cox , 619 ; John De Vulder , J . Terry , P . Z . 228 , 174 ; J- H . R . Walters , 975 ; F . W . Koch , P . Z . 820 ; C . W . Noehmer , P . Z . 186 and 1056 ; G . T . Carter , F . H . Cozens , 1216 ; T . Lawler ,

92 ; Charles B . Payne , Grand Janitor ; J . Large ( Windsor Castle ); A . W . Femier , 228 ; G . R . Downie , 177 ; and H . Massey , P . Z . 619 , ( Freemason ) . Comp . Terry acted as M . E . Z ., Comp . H . C . Levander , as H ., and Comp . John Newton , as J . Comp . Terry , after the opening of the chapter , delivered an oration on Royal Arch Freemasonry , proceeding with

the usual routine ceremony , which was musically accompanied by Comps . G . T . Carter , F . Cozens , T . Lawler , and J . Large . The ceremony was beautifully performed , and the launching of the new chapter was effected with the greatest success . All the furniture , which was of the best description , was quite new , and presented a very imposing aspect . When the chapter had been formally dedicated ,

Comp . Terry installed Comp . George Everett in the three chairs , antl then installed Comp . E . J . Page as H ., and Comp . W . Mann , as J . The companions appointed to office were Comps . T . C . Walls , P . S . ; H . Speedy , ist . A . S . ; W . Ii . Webb , 2 nd . A . S . ; and J . Daly , Janitor . A vote of thanks was afterwards passed to Comps . Terry , Levander , and Newton , for consecrating the chapter , and these three

companions were elected honorary members of the chapter . Comp . Terry acknowledged the compliment , and then Comp . Mann read a long list of propositions for exaltation and joining . The chapter was then closed , and the brethren passed to the banqueting room . In proposing the toast of " The Queen and Royal Arch

Masomy , " Comp . Everett said , that at thc present moment when Her Majesty ' s cup of sorrow was so full , the companions would most heartily sympathise with her . The loss of a daughter so beloved by every one must have been a great trial to the Queen , under whose beneficent sway Englishmen had the happiness to live , and under whom England enjoyed greater liberties than any other country .

In proposing the toast of "The M . E ., the G . Z ., the Prince of Wales , " Comp . Everett made similar observations on the death of the Princess Alice , and said it must have been a sore affliction for him when l . e saw her consigned to her last home . "Lord Carnarvon , Pro G . Z ., Lord Skelmersdale , H ., and Lord De Tabley , J ., " was the next toast , after which Comp . James Terry

proposetl "The M . E . Z . " It had been his good fortune , he said , to know Comp . Everett for many years . They had worked together in the same chapter for some eleven or twelve years . The position he now occupied he could well have filled before , but he had reserved that for the Kennington Chajiter . He would discharge his duties most thoroughly and efficiently , as he had done in the Craft .

He had given a sample that evening , of what he could do by ably proposing some of the toasts -, but there was another phase of his character which Would commend itself to tlie companions and that was his thorough singlcminelcdness and genuineness . He ( Comp . Terry ) knew of no one better qualified to preside over a lodge or chapter in its first year , as he was able to consolidate and bring

together in an harmonious whole the constituent parts of it . In the ensuing year Comp . Everett woultl ingratiate himself in the hearts and affections of the companions and make this chapter a great success . He woultl try his hardest , and if a companion did that he was bound to succeed , even beyond his most sanguine

expectations . Comp . Everett very briefly replied , antl wishctl he could feel hc deservctl half the kind things which Comp Terry had saitl of him . It shoultl be his study in the future to do all things and everything that lay in his power to tleserve what hatl been said . Comp . Everett next proposed " The Consecrating Officer . "

Comp . Terry , in replying , said he never experienced greater pleasure than when lie was asked to come am ! consecrate this chapter . Hc was vcry much pleased that his performance of the ceremonies had met with thc satisfaction of the companions . He trusted that the chapter would go on and prosper , anil that it would be a very bright career . This he was sure was the wish of every companion

present , and he hoped that they would pay attention to some observations he had addressed to them that evening , and look more to the e * uality than the quantity of brethren whom they exalted , for this grand and important reason—that there was a desire on the part of many to advance Masons even beyond their deserts j but he was confident of this , that the M . E . Z . and thc officers of the

fvenmngto n Chapter would take especial care that onl y those who were worthy to receive the Royal Arch Degree should have the opportunity of taking it in this chapter . If they werc to give all those glorious ceremonies to those who did not comprehend their meaning they woulel be rendering Royal Arch Masonry a laughing-stock and stumbling stone . The ceremonies of the Degree were most

sublime , anil thc more one comprehended them antl studied them the greater were their beauties . He was certain that no one could take the degree without being struck with its beauty . There was one great attribute it inculcated—the attribute of mercy—that was thc great principle throughout the whole of it ; and he trusted itwould ever be considered so in the minds of those who hatl the honour to take the degree . He hoped it would make them more kintl ,