An "Emulation" Picnic.

and best wishes from the Dep . Grand Master of Warwickshire , Bro . Geo . Beech ( and Bro . Swinden , the Prov . Grand Sec . | also letters of apology were announced from a long list of absent brethren . Bro . SHAW proposed "The Visitors , " to which Bro . SLAUGHTE R P . P . J . G . W . Berks , suitably replied . At seven o ' clock the brethren and visitors entrained at Reading , having spent a most enjoyable day , to which the weather contributed as far as could be desired .

While en route on the launch the picnic Secretary , Brc Vincent Daviss , distributed as a souvenir to each of the brethren an album containing photographs of the Grand Master of Warwickshire , the Right Hon : Lord Leigh ; the Worshipful Master , Past Masters , and officers of the lodge of Emulation ; all of which were specially provided for this work ;

Masonic Service At Accrington.

MASONIC SERVICE AT ACCRINGTON .

On Sunday , the 23 rd instant , the Eve of St . John the Baptist , the brethren from lodges in Accrington and neighbourhood , as well as many unattached brethren , attended Divine service at St . James' Church . The service was of a shortened form of evensong , and included special prayers for the good of the Order , and reference was made in the prayers to the family trouble which has befallen Bro . Tennent , of Clayton . The special lessons were I . Chronicles , xxix , 10-21 , and Romans xii . The proper Psalms were xv ., xxiv ., and

CXXXlll . The clergy officiating were Bros , the Rev . W . H . Healey , 2529 , P . Prov . G . Chap . E . Lanes ., and the Rev . J . T . Lawrence , P . Dist . G . W . Madras , who preached . After explaining that the present gathering was but the renewal of an ancient and picus custom observed by Masons of old time , and that he hoped it might be an annual function , the preacher said that Freemasons were , more than

an ) thing else , a religious body . Every ceremony they performed was prefaced with prayer ; the Holy Bible occupied an honourable place in their midst , and no lodge was perfect in which the Bible did not lie open . It was the chief of the three great lights of Freemasonry , and it was the first thing that met the eye cf the neophyte . And there was not a word said or an action perlormed from beginning to end of Masonic work which was not based on the sacred words . Freemasons also , by their

conspicuous and splendid Charities , displayed the great characteristic of pure and undented religion , " to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction . " What , then , was there lacking ? Did they do all this " for Christ ' s sake ? " The preacher then spoke of the quality of self-sacrifice asbeing necessary to complete a pofict character . Self-sacrifice was a necessary law of existence , and the usefulness of anything in the world depended on its capacity for sacrifice . The ground on which we stnod was only useful to the extent it could obey t his law . It

had to give us foundations for our buildings , or give up its minerals , or be put to other purposes , and until it did so it was called " waste land . " Similarly the products of the ground , whether vegetable or mineral , were only useful when sacrificed . The minerals had to be twisted and tortured into a thcusand shapes , the fiuit and vetegables were no use until eaten . When the mineral had lost its capacity for sacrifice it was heaped up and people paid to cart it away , and the fiuit and vegetables were described as refuse and burnt on the rubbish heap . And

what animals were there we most prized ? Were they not those most capable ol sacrifice in some form or another ? Either they gave us their flesh to eat , or assisted us with ( heir labour , or clothed us with their skin . If not these or similar Uut . gs then U . ete was no toom . for them . Again , what men were those most esteemed , and who held the highest places in the hearts of their countrymen , Were they r . ot those men and women who had shown themselves most unselfish and displayed the quality of self-devotion . It was not brilliance alone that won a

permanent place in the affections of . a people . The preacher said he had been following the several links cf a chain , illustrating a newer kind of evolution . Darwin had laid down that doctrine , and also had followed the several links , but , unhappily , he followed it to its wrong end . Darwin searched for whit he called the " missing link ; " but he sought lor it amid the slime and the dirt , and was satisfied to prove man ' s connection with what was ignoble . But there was also a link missing at the other end , that was to unite man with God . Christ supplied

that link , and in proportion as we rose to and emulated the life of Christ , we united ourselves with the Godhead . It was in this quality of devotion and selfsacrifice that the Saviour was supreme , and it was just in this quality it was open to all mankind to most completely imitate him . It is the ideal of every rightminded man to banish misery from the world , and make his

surroundings happier and make the world better for his having lived in it . The only way to do this was to follow out the laws of selfsacrifice . " He that is greatest among you let him be your servant , " "he that will save his life must lose it , " were only two of many similar injunctions of our Saviour which went to show that he most nearly approached the highest type of ife who thought least of self . The offertory , after payment of expenses , went to the East Lancashire Systematic Benevolent Fund .

Instruction.

Instruction .

HORNSEY CHAPTER , No . S 90 . A supper meeting of the above chapter was held on the 21 st inst . at the Prince of Wales' Hotel , Eastbourne-terrace , Bishop ' s-ioad , Paddington , W . Present : Comps . J . Bailey , P . / .. 1 C 02 , M . E . Z . ; C . M . Challender , P . Z . 1004 , II . ; E . Lloyd , H . 890 , L ; H . Dehane , P . Z . S 90 , P . P . G . P . S . Essex , Scribe E . ; R . N . Larter , H . iSfi , Scribe N . ; H . Foskett , M . E . Z . 1 S 5 and S 90 , Treas . ; W . J . Lewis , S . N . 890 and P . S . 173 , P . S . j A . L . Butters , J . S 90 , ist A . S . ; H . J . Dunaway , soand

, A . S . ; A . F . Hardyment , J . 14 S 9 , D . C ; G . E . Gratton , M . E . Z . elect 2501 , P . P . G . Org . Essex , Org . ; E . Stevens , 733 . Stwd . ; W . Hallett , 733 , Janitor ; W . Smith-Rose , ist A . S . S 90 ; G . Mogford , 1321 ; H . H . Bagnall , P . S . 733 ; H . Armfield , P . S . 1642 ; C . Webster , J . 1642 ; J . Rowe , 1 ( 114 ; A . Callman , 753 : and W . Wood , 186 . The companions having supped ,

The M . E . Z . proposed "The King , " and "The Grand Officers , Present and Past . " Comp . Hardyment proposed the toast of "The Three Principals , " I ' giving ' thenfthe due utdit they were entitled to . Comp . Bailey , M . E . Z ., had always done his woik in the most efficient manner , was an excellent worker , and was one of the nicest of fellows , and the essence of good fellowship . Comp . Challender , H ., was also a good companion , and had been duly rewarded by having Provincial Grand honours conferred „ upon him

in the Isle of Man , and he trusted the chapter of instruction would continue to have ' the benefit of his support and Masonic knowledge . Comp . Lloyd has also done good suit and service , and is now II . of the mother chapter , where he is highly esteemed by the companions . Comp , Bailey , in reply , expressed himself as being highly delighted with R . A . Masonry , and with the progress of the chapter of improvement in which , under the able tutoring of Comp . Dehane , he had learnt the beautiful ritual , and felt it a great compliment that the companions had chosen him to preside on this festive occasio . i .

Instruction.

Comp . Challender said he loved Royal Arch Masonry and the kind spirit it evinced and was always pleased to attend the chapter of instruction , where the work was always done to his entire satisfaction , and concluded by expressing his thanks to all . Comp . Lloyd returned thanks and felt it a great privilege to be a member of the chapter of improvement , and the great advantage he derived from attending the meetings , which clearly impressed on his mind the whole scheme of the Royal Arch and enabled him to do his work . The W . M . gave the toast of "The Visitors , " giving them a hearty welcome and also invited them to attend and witness and hear the working , & c .

Comp . Gratton , in reply , said his part of Essex was notorious as being agricultural and did not get much in the way of meetings like the present , but they did their best as was testified by their much loved and respected Prov . Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick , having been appointed to so high an office by the King , and concluded by congratulating the members on having so good a chapter of instruction which he had previously visited . Comp . Ward was also pleased at his reception and would most certainly become & member and profit by the instruction he would receive .

The M . E . Z ., in proposing " Prosperity to the Chapter of Improvement , " coupled with the toast Comps . Dehane , S . E . ; Foskett , Treas . ; and Butters , trusting they would long remain the executive to carry out the business and other arrangements lor the comfort of all concerned . Comp . Dehane , S . E ., brie fly replied , and said he would not trouble them with statistics as those who were members were quite aware of its prosperity , and those who were not would have ample oprortunity of doing so when they became members , but he was

pleased at such a good gathering on the first occasion of this kind attempted by the chapter of improvement . He might say he had little or no trouble , as those present responded promptly . Comp . Dehane read several communications , among which was one from Comp . Speller , who had been selected for Grand Office , and also one from Comp . Marchant , who was staying at Falmouth , and concluded by thanking the M . E . Z . for the very kind and too flattering remarks he had made about him personally . ( Applause . )

Comp . Foskett also responded , and hoped the chapter would be a continued success . He himself personally always reserved Friday evenings to attend , and was pleased to see the visitors present , and trusted they would make a point of joining , and obtain the instruction they required , and also acquire that familiarity with the ceremonies which would enable them to be a credit to their chapters and a recommendation of those by whom they were instructed . ( Applause . ) The M . E . Z . next proposed the toast of " The Host , " and said his place and rooms were always at the disposal of the chapter of improvement , and he was ever ready to help the good cause , and his kindness was proverbial . He hoped they would meet in larger numbers and repay him .

Comp . E . Stevens thanked the companions , but he thought too much had been said abcut him . He ought to do more for Freemasonry , and should like to do so , but found it was quite out of the question , as he was , he considered , getting old ; but he should b : pleased to continue to do what he could for the companions . The Janitor's toast concluded the proceedings . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Comp . Gratton , who presided at the piano , and an excellent programme was carried out consisting of songs by Comps , Mogford , Hardyment , Dunaway , Hallett , and Smith-Rose ; Comp . Dunaway ( trombone solos ); and recitations by Comps . Challender , Butters , and Grattan .

Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

SOME NATIONAL AIRS AND THEIR ASSOCIATIONS

Richard Wagner has somewhere said that the first ei ght bars of " Rule Britannia " contain the whole character of the English people . And if this be true of our famous national song , a similar remark mi ght , with equal truth , be applied to many airs of the Continent , which , at different times , have summed up the hopes and aspirations of a whole people . Many of these gathering round them , in process of time , a wealth of associations .

have become part and parcel of the national life to a greater extent than in our own country . More especiall y has this been the case in France , whose ancient government is said to have been absolute monarchy tempered with songs . Many of these gained a fame out of all proportion to their intrinsic merits , as a result of some historical association . Thus the simple ditty , " Vive Henri Ouatre , " with its three verses , came to be of Rovalist

itnoortance after its introduciion into Colle ' s play , " La Partie de Chasse de Henri Quatre , " in the year 17 C 6 . During the Revolution it formed one of the many prohibited songs , but took a fresh lease of life at the restoration of the Bourbons , and was performed amidst great enthusiasm at the O pera in the presence of the Emperor Alexander and the King of Prussia on the evening of their arrival with the allied armies at Paris . Another well-known

air , that of "Partant pour la Syrie , " dates from the year 1809 , shortly before the battle of Wagrain . The words are attributed to a poet—Count de Laborde by name—and the story is that one evening Oueen Hortense showed him a picture of a knight clad in armour cutting an inscription on the shore with the point of his sword , and , at the request of the company , the poet illustrated this on the spot by a little romance . Subsequently

yueen Hortense set the verses to music , and " Partant pour la Syrie " became the national air of the Second Empire , during the reign of her son . Of wider interest is the famous air , " Malbrook s ' en va-t en Guerre , " never more familiar in England than since the publication of the novel of " . Trilb y " b y George du Maurier . There is hardl y a fact about it that has not been made the subject of dispute . Chateaubriand hearing the tune

, sung by Arabs in Palestine , went so far as to suggest that it had been carried there by the Crusaders , either in the time of Godfrey de Bouillon , or in that of Louis IX . and Joinville . It was sung by Marie Antoinette , and was used , as a lullaby , for the infant Dauphin in 17 S 1 . The most probable account of its ori gin is that it was composed in the bivouac of Marshal de Villars , at Quesney , three miles from the field of battle , on the

night after Malplaquet . The soldier who composed it was probably acquainted with the lament on the death of the Duke de Guise , published in the middle of the 16 th century . However this may have been , the air became wonderfully popular throughout France , and was introduced by Beaumarchais into his comedy , Le Manage de Figaro . It figures as the symbol of the French Army in Beethoven ' s Battle Symphonv . Bourrienne

tells us , in his memoirs , that Napoleon was wont to whistle this air when about to join the army , and that his valet always knew when he heard him that a campaign was imminent . The tune was adapted to the words of "For he ' s a jolly good fellow , " and a story is told of Janiewicz , the Polish violinist , when in London , in the closing year of 1799 . One day he lost himself , and could not remember the name of the street in which he lived , but calling a coach , he hummed the tune of " Malbrook " to the coachman ,

who , recognising it , drove him to Marlborough-stxeet , the required p lace . The story is , doubtless , the product of a lively imagination , for cabby , though , perhaps , familiar with the convivial strains , would hardly have associated them with the name of Marlborough . With regard to the majority of famous French songs it may truly be said that they were the outcome of civil dissensions and party conflicts , and , therefore , hardly " national" in the best sense , though some of them