Freemasonry Abroad.

report showed a substantial increase in membership since Grand Encampment last met in 18 95 ; while , in the three years that have since elapsed , the number of Grand Commanderies has been

increased by four—from 39 to 43 . The newly-installed M . ii . Grand Master is Sir Knight REUBEN H . LLOYD , while Sir Knight W . H . MAYO is still the G . Recorder . Add to the

above particulars that Cryptic Masonry and the Ancient and Accepted Rite have made still further progress , and enough will have been said in evidence of thc splendid condition to which American-Masonry has attained .

An Oration.

AN ORATION .

The following was delivered by Bro . the Rev . P . H . DiCHFlEi . D , P . G . Chap ., at the consecration of the Victoria Lodge , No . 2671 : Brethren , — When the great Architect of the Universe

created man from the dust ofthe ground , He breathed into his nostrils thc breath of life , and man became a living soul . Today we supplicate Him who rules the world to infuse the element of life into this newly-formed body , and to consecrate to His

service that which but for His benign influence would be as lifeless as the clay . Under the shadow of the mighty Castle , for eight centuries the august home of our English Sovereigns , reared by the skill of the Masons and artificers of ancient times ,

ye have raised this new lodge to be the dwelling-place of virtue , wherein brotherly love , relief , and truth are the solemn and serious obligations of all who aspire to come within its portals . Ye have called it after the name of the Royal Lady who has so

long governed our nation , whose love for all and generous sympathy reveal a character which all true Masons may well desire to copy . The name of the noble mother of the Grand Master of English Masons fittingly adorns this lodge , wherein

truth , honour and virtue are the brightest of our Masonic jewels , and all arc pledged to live the happy life of love . It is my duty to-nig ht to interpret these signs and symbols which we use in performing the ceremony of consecrating this lodge , and to

address to you a few words on thc nature and princip les of thc ancient Craft of Freemasonry . These symbols are no mere empty forms , but have a sacred and solemn meaninp-. The corn that is scattered on the around is

the symbol of plenty , for which we humbly pray , not that we may use it for our own benefit , ease and comfort , but for thc welfare of mankind and our brethren ' s good . May the great Architect of the Universe , who causeth the corn to grow in thc

fruitful furrows of the held , scatter His gracious gifts of plenty On those who assemble here , and sow the seeds of knowledge and science which shall bear fruit in that future life whither our steps are wending . Wine that maketh glad the heart of man is an

emblem cf joy and cheerfulness ; and oil betokenspeace , harmony , and love , and tells of that unity of heart and will which is one of the chief characteristics of Masonry . Bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour may rage in the world outside the doors ,

amongst those who know not our mysterious secrets , but here peace reigns with plenty crowned . Nor must we forget our salt , which preserves from decay , and symbolises the quickening hope that the friendships formed within our lodge may ever

exist , whole , hearty , and entire ; that our vows may ever remain fresh and vigorous in our minds ; and that our lives may season and improve all those with whom we are brought in contact , and who know not the principles which guide our conduct and

practice . And as the clouds of incense ascend on hi gh , as in the great Temple of Solomon , we are reminded of our prayers that ascend to the listening ear of the Great Archilect , and ]> ringdown blessings from the high and holy place without which all our labours

would be in vain , and our strivings after virtue and knowledge useless . It is this incense which gives the meaning to all our riles and ceremonies , and enfolds as with an atmosphere this

new world framed by wisdom , supported by strength , adorned in beauty , and consecrated to-night to the service of the Great Architect of the Universe .

Brethren , your lodge new-born to-day has an ancient and honoured lineage , one whose lustre time has not diminished , and whose vitality age has not impaired . Indeed , at no time has our ancient Order shown more vigorous life and activity than

An Oration.

during the closing years of the XlXth century . Its origin is veiled in thc mists of bygone ages . We are accustomed to persuade ourselves that within the portals of King Solomon ' s Temple at Jerusalem Masonry sprang into being . Perhaps it is

older still , and we may look for its origin in the shadowy realms of ancient Egypt and Assyria , and recognise as our first parents the builders of the Pyramids and the carvers of the Sphinx . Wc know not ; but this we do know , that the

principles which guide us to-day are thc same that governed the minds and swayed the conduct of the fraternities of old , which in dark days and dangerous times preserved the light of wisdom and knowledge , and placed the love of humanity as the guiding

principle of their system . History tells us of the old guilds and brotherhoods that existed in Greece and Rome , of the co // c < r /' a opificum , or colleges of workmen , existing in all the countries under the sway of the Roman Empire ; they had their own

property , their meeting-house , their president and governing body " ; thc richer members helped their poorer brethren ; and on certain clays thc whole company visited the common sepulchre in which

the brethren were buried , and decked with violets or roses the tombs of their departed friends . It was the fraternities , the guilds of craftsmen and merchants and priests and soldiers that carried men throueh the chaos that followed the wreck of the

Roman civilisation . To them we owe our freedom , our municipal governments , our rights of citizenship ; and that which gave to them their chiefest glory , the principle of

brotherhood and mutual trust , has been bequeathed to modern Masonry , to be preserved by us as a precious heritage , and handed down inviolate to our successors .

Nor is thc message which our Order preaches unnecessary in the present age . As it dethrones selfishness from the heart , so does it strike at the roots of that materialism and atheistic dogmatism which cast a baneful shadow over the lives of many ,

depriving them of the hope of eternal life , and of ever receiving , when called away from our labours here , the wages promised to those who work diligently in God ' s holy temple . Masonry is religion , for religion is the bond of union between man and his

Creator , and Masonry tightens that bond ; it appeals from the visible to the invisible ; it purifies the heart , and quickens the affections , and leads many a man to lead a godly , righteous , and sober life who might otherwise yield himself a prey to his

passions , or sink under the dominion of the devastating doctrines of materialism or infidelity . Masonry teaches us to raise our eyes from earth to heaven , to look onwards and upwards , and to strive for something higher and nobler than that which the

standard of thc world sets before us . To walk humbly in the sight of God , to do justice , and love mercy are the certain characteristics of a real free and accepted Mason , which qualifications ,

it is humbly hoped , he will possess to the end of time , making that golden precept the standing rule of his actions which engages " to do unto all men as he would they should do unto him . "

Brethren , ye have fashioned this new house surely and well . It is composed , not of material stones wrought by the hand of the craftsman , but of living stones fashioned b y the finger of the Almighty and made meet for His service . Ye are the stones of

this spiritual house , found worthy of a place in the walls of this Holy Temple , some exalted on high having suffered the keen edge of the chisel in the process of being perfected for a posi tion of rank and dignity , while others occupy a lower place ,

though ultimately , perhaps , destined to become a head cornerstone . But each one has a place ; each one is part of this edifice ; and of that position of honour and dignity we doubt not but that ye will prove yourselves worthy , so that the world

around , the uninitiated , by observing your conduct outside the doors of the lodge , may know the excellencies of Masonry by the bright examples of its professors . And b y labour alone can this happy result be attained . When we gaze at the beautiful carved work in the chapel of your castle we know that

" Many a blow of biting sculpture Polished well those stones elect ; " so in our spiritual temple the lively stones best fitted for honour

and usefulness are those which by the pains of hard stud y in acquiring knowledge and science , by the patient cutting off of excrescences , and careful shaping b y the hard chisel of suffering ,