Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

CORNAVALL . TRUBO . —Fortitude Lodge ( No . 78 E . G . )—Tbe brethren of this rapidly-increasing lodge assembled at the Masonic Rooms , Truro , on Thursday , the 16 th November , for the despatch of business . Present , the AA . Bro . AV . J . Hughan , AV . M . ; Bros . Thomas Chirgwin , S . AV . ; p . M . AVilliams , M . P ., as J . AV . ; Arthur AVillyams , M . O . ; AV . Tweedy , Sec , as S . O . ; W . J . JohnsJ . O . and other officers ; also a large number of the

, , members . The lodge having been opened by the AV . M ., and the minutes read , six brethren were balloted for , and accepted , and five were advanced , the full ceremony being given by the AV . M . and his officers . . After -which the lecture was delivered , and several propositions received for membership . Although the warrant to hold this lodge was only granted in May , it now numbers fifty-four membersand is increasing generallfour

, y or five monthly . A \ e are informed by the W . Bro . AV . J . Hughan , AV . M ., that some of the members of the lodge residing at IL . yle have just petitioned for a warrant to work the Mark degree there , and that arrangements are being made by the Fortitude Lodge ( No . 7 S ) to open lodges , elsewhere in Cornwall .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . ARTHUR RICHARD CLOSE . This brother , who was a member of the De Burgh Adams Lodge ( So . 446 I . C ) , JSTew Plymouth , New Zealand , was killed in action by the rebel natives at "Warea , Taranaki , on Friday , July 28 th , whilst gallantly leading the men of his company , the 43 rd lighfc ' infantry His remains wero interred in the cemetery at Sew Plymouth , on Tuesday , August 1 st .

The De Burgh Adams Lodge was opened in the three degrees ; the collars , wands , banner , and other appointments of furniture were placed in mourning , whon the AA . M . delivered in a solemn and impressive manner the Masonic funeral service . Master . —AVhat man is he that liveth and shall not see death ? Shall he deliver his soul from tbe hand of the grave ? Man walketh in a vain shadow ; he heapeth up riches , and cannot tell who shall gather them .

AAHien he dieth he shall carry nothing away ; his glory shall not descend after him . Naked he came into the world , and naked he must return ; the Lord save , and tho Lord taketh away ; blessed be tho name of the Lord !

Let us die the death of righteousness , and lot our last end be like his . The brethren answered : — God is our God for ever and ever ; he will be our guide even unto death . Almighty Father ! into Thy hands wo commend the soul of our loving Brother Close . ¦ The brethren answered three timesgiving the grand honours

, each time . The will of God is accomplished ; so mote it be . The Master then repeated the following prayer : — Most glorious God ! author of all good , and giver of all mercy ! pour down Thy blessing upon us , and strengthen our solemn engagements with the ties of sincere affection . May the present instance of mortality remind us of our approaching fate ,

and draw our attention towards Thee , our only refuge in time of need , that when the awful moment shall arrive that we are about to quit this transitory scene , the prospect of Thy mercy may dispel the gloom of death , and after our departure hence in peace , and in Thy favour , we may bo received into Thy everlasting kingdom , to enjoy , iu union with the souls of our departed friends , the just reward of a pious and virtuous life . —

Amen . Here we view a striking instance of the uncertainty of life , and the vanity of all human pursuits . The last offices paid to the dead are only useful as lectures to the living ; from them we are to derive instruction , and consider every solemnity of this kind as . a summons to prepare for our approaching dissolution . Notivithstaiuiiiig the various mementos of mortality with which we daily meet ; -notwithstanding death has established his empire over all the works of nature ; yet through some

unaccountable infatuation we forget that we are born to die . We go on from one design to another , and hope to hope , and lay out plans for the employment of many years , till we are suddenly alarmed at the approach of death when we least expect him , and at an hour which we probably wero led to expect might be the most pleasant of our lives . What are the externals of majesty , the pride of wealth or charms of beautywhen nature lias paid her last debt ? Fix

, your eyes on the last scene and view life stripped of its ornaments , and exposed in its natural meanness ; you will then be convinced of the futility of those empty delusions . In the grave all fallacies are detected , all ranks are levelled , and all distinctions are done away . AVhile we drop the sympathetic tear over the memory of our deceased brotherlet charity incline us to throw a veil over his

, foibles , whatever they may bare been , and not withhold the praise that his virtues may have claimed . Sutler the apologies of human nature to plead in his behalf . Perfection on earth has never been attained ; the wisest as well as the best of men have erred . His meritorious actions it is our duty to imitate , and from his weakness we ought to derive instruction . Let the present example excite our most serious thoughts

, and strengthen our resolution of amendment . As life is uncertain , and ali earthly pursuits are vain , let us no longer postpone the important concern of preparing for eternity ; but embrace the happy moment , while time and opportunity offer , to provide against the great chanse , when all the pleasures of this

life shall cease to delight , and the reflections of a virtuous life yield the only comfort and consolation . T ' nus our expectations will not be frustrated , nor ourselves be called away unprepared into the presence of an all-wise and omnipotent Judge , to whom the secrets of all hearts are known , and from whose dread tribunal no sinners can escape . Let us while in this stage of existencesnpporfc with propriety tbe character of our professionadvert to the nature o _ our

, solemnities , and pursue with assiduity the sacred tenets of our Order . Then , with becoming reverence , let us supplicate the divine grace to ensure the favour of that Eternal Being , whose goodness and power know no bound , that when the awful moment arrives , be it soon or late , we may be enabled to prosecute our journey without dread or apprehension to that far distant country whence no traveller returns . By the light of the

Divine countenance we shall pass without trembling through those gloomy mansions where all things are forgotten ; and at the great tremendous day of trial and retribution , when arraigned at the bar of Divine Justice , let us hope that judgment will be pronounced in our favour , and that we shall receive onr reward in the possession of an immortal inheritance , where joy flows in one continued streamand no mound can

, check its course . The following invocations were then made by the M . AA ., and the usual honours accompanied each : — Master : May we he true and faithful , and may we live and die in love .

Answer : . So mote it be . Master : May we profess what is good , and always act agreeably to our good profession . Answer : So mote it be . Master : May the Lord bless us , and prosper us ; and may all our intentions be crowned with success . Lot every soul praise the Lord . Hallelujah . Answer : So mote it be , now , from henceforth , and

forever . The AA' . M . then concluded the ceremony in the following words : —¦ In conformity with an ancient usage , and at the request o £ several of onr brethren , who sympathise in common with us at the demise of our deceased brother , whose memory we revere and whose loss we now deeply deplore , and whoso body is consigned to its mother earth , whence it came , we have assembled

in the character of Free and Accepted Masons to oiler up to his memory the last tribute of our affections , thereby demonstrating the sincerity of onr past esteem mid our inviolable attachment to the principles of our Order . AVith proper respect to the established customs of the country in which we live , with due reference to our superiors , and with unlimited good will to all men , we here appear clothed as Masons , and crave leave to express our submission to peace ancl good government , and our wish to serve the interest of mankind . Invested with the badges of innocence , we humbly bow