India.

Freemasons' Friend . Bro . Graham remarked that Bro Hoff had an additional claim on the lodge , he being the son of one who had actively aided in founding it . Bro . Hoff did not have the opportunity of acknowledging , in the lodge room , the compliment which had been paid to him ; but he did so at the banquet tahle . He expressed the natural feeling of satisfaction arising from the appreciation by one's fellow men of services rendered to a common causeand from the manifestation of

, the principle that a man , however lowly his position in society , had only to exert himself in tlie Craft in order to receive due honour from the brotherhood . He considered it necessary , however , to explain , for tlie information of those who had recently joined the ranks of Masonry in the lodge , that he did not owe his position in the Craft so much to his own services as to an accidental circumstance . If his name was familiarlknown in

y the fraternity , if he received a peculiarly hearty welcome in every lodge , if be held a prominent post in the District Grand Loclge , it was because of the extraordinary services and the high character of Right Worshipful Brother John Louis Hoff . ( Applause . ) He did not think the fact of his being the son of that In-other disqualified him for repeating ; what had been admitted bv

all , namely that Bro . Hoff ' s exertions , whether in founding and working lodges , in conducting official correspondence many years , or in presiding in the District Grand Lodge and ruling the province , had been of an extraordinary character . In short , from the time of his attaining manhood until that of his falling into the " sere anil yellow leaf , " Masonry hadbeen with him a passion . This fully explained how it was he , the speaker , although greatly inferior to many others as a Masonfilled a hih

, g position iu the Craft . It was because , although not himself idle , he had succeeded to a foundation laid by another . Bro . Graham ' s memory had served him right . Bro . Hoff was one of those who had founded Lodge Himalayan Brotherhood ; and he had been one of its earliest member , in the clays when tin ; gifted Henry Ton-ens and Sir Alexander Burns were scon within its Avails . In consideration of his father's services , lie ( tho speaker )

had himself been elected a member of the lodge , fifteen . years before , by acclamation , and had been appointecl one of its officers by the W . M . Bro . Colonel Curtis , when the lute Provincial Grand Master , General James Ramsay , was Past Master , and

Bros . H . B . Riddell and Captain Byng were the Wardens . AVhen Bro . Curtis had assumed the Hiram , the first thing to which Bro . Hoff had directed his attention was tlie unsatisfactory position in which the lodge had been placed , by the negligence of his predecessors , in its relation to the Grand Lodge of England and tho District Grand Lodge of Bengal . Bro . Curtis , to his credit be it said , had immediately set to Avork , and had furnished returns ancl dues for three years . But the favourable

change wrought by Bro . Curtis had not been of uninterrupted duration . After the disturbances caused by the Harbord kick-up had subsided , the lodge had seemed almost dead—had seemed almost to have given its last kick . But at last the Provincial Grand Secretary had the pleasing duty of laying before the Provincial Grand Master a letter from Simla , which showed that the administration o ! tho lodge had fallen into more vigorous hands —namely , into those of our worthy and Worshipful Master , Bro . Thomas Wood ( applause ) , whose services were so highly appreciated that the members had elected him to the Eastern Chair a

third year . Ho ( Bro . Hoff ) had known Bro . Wood first as the second letter of tlie Greek alphabet . Yes , mystical as it might sound , Bro . Wood was identical with the " Beta" who , in the year 1856 , had sent him a letter under that signature from Subathoo for publication in the Indian Freemasons' Friend , aud AA'hich " we" had accordingly published in " our" correspondence columns , with the expression of "our" expectation that Bro . AVood wouldcouldor should continue his istolatory favours .

, , ep He ( Bro . Hoff ) had , however , seen nothing further from his pen until about two years ago , when a pamphlet was forwarded to Calcutta from Lahore , containing an -Admirable address delivered b y Bro . Wood to tbe loclge at that station . Bro . Hoff concluded by proposing , if the Worshipful Master would be so kind as to resi gn his Hiram to him for a moment , that the brethren should drink to the very good health of Bro . Thomas Wood . This

toast was received with cheers , and was drunk with all the honours . Bro . Wood acknowledged the compliment in brief but appropriate terms . The next toast was the health of Visiting Brother Stewart , a Fellow Craft , which was drunk without the honours . Several songs by Bros . Macleod , D . S . Henry , Wilson , and others , with piano accompaniments , followed , and the evening was brought to a close Avith one verse of D . L . Richardson ' s Parting toast .

Poetry.

Poetry .

THE MOTHER'S GRAVE . My mother ' s grave , my mother ' s grave ' . Oh ! dreamless is her slumber there , And drowsily the banners wave , O ' er her that was so chaste and fair ; Yea ! love is dead , and memory faded 1 But when the dew is on the brake ,

And silence sleeps on earth and sea , And mourners weep , and ghosts awake , Oh' . then she cometh back to me , In her cold beauty darkly shaded !

I cannot guess her face or form ; But what to me is form or face ? I do not ask the weary worm To give me buck each buried grace Of glistening- eyes or trailing tresses ! I only feel that she is here , And that we meet , aud that we part ; And that I drink within mine ear , And that I clasp around my heart , Her sweet still voice , and soft caresses !

Not hi the ivaking thought by day , Not in the sightless dream by night , Do the mild tones and glances play . Of her who was my cradle ' s light ! But in some twilight of calm weather She glides , by fancy dimly wrought , A glittering cloud , a darkling beam ,

AVith all the quiet of a thought , And all the passion of a dream , Linked in a golden spell together ! . —Wintlirop Macleworth Praed .

An Address Delivered At A Provincial Theatre, By A Brother, On His Benefit.

AN ADDRESS DELIVERED AT A PROVINCIAL THEATRE , BY A BROTHER , ON HIS BENEFIT .

Divested of comic lightness , Fancy ' s pow ' r , The mere amusement of an idle hour , I now appear with no alluring wile To raise the long-loud laugh , or gen'ral smile . Cloth'd in this dress , therein accosting you , Fictitious scenes , and satire must adieu . My present pride's to boast this no . ble grace ,

And own my union to an ancient race . This grace is noble , since A irtue makes it so , And stamps the man who wears it high or low , As he his actions to the Avorld doth show . Our Order ' s age to Time himself's unknown , And still shall flourish when the scythe's laid down . AA'hen th' oera came for nature to arise , Vested with the work she hasted through the skies Beauty , and Strength , and Wisdom then arose , Attendant to fulfil her various laws .

Quick th' immortals hasten to descry Her great designs , and saw with woncl'ring eye Discord and darkness fly before her face , And sweetest Beauty fill the boundless space . They saw the planets dance their Avond'rous round , By attraction ' s secret force in order bound . They saw the earth in glory rise to view , Surprised they stood , each diff ' rent scene was new .

The crowning wonder next arose , and charm'd Their minds with greater force , for Man was form'd ; In whom the various graces all were join'd , And Beauty , Strength , and Wisdom were combin'd . Their admiration then gave birth to praise , They sung th' Architect in glorious lays . Their lyres they tun'd with sweetest harmony , And hailed the matchless name of Masonry .

Such is the genial pow ' r Avhose laws we own ; AVhose wisdom animates each duteous sou , Tho' Avitlings laugh , fools sneer , and bigots frown . AVhen sad corruption tainted human kind . And prejudice shed darkness o'er the mind