Funeral Lodges In Honour Of The Late Bro. John Stewart, Esq., Of Nateby Hall, Lancaster.

The interesting , edifying , and solemn proceedings were brought to a close by the Chaplain pronouncing the benediction . On Tuesday , the 30 th ult ., the Dumfries , Thistle , St . Michael , and operative and other lodges in the province held a Provincial Funeral Lodge at Dumfries . The solemn and impressive service for the dead commenced with the performance of the Dead March in Saul on the organ by Bro . J . G . Gooden , who presided

with much ability at the instrument throughout the evening . To the mournful strains of this famous dirge the office-bearers , bearing the insignia of their several dignities , took their seats . The lodge having been opened by Bro . Wood , the W . M . of the senior Dumfries lodge , the divine blessing was implored by Bro . the Rev . Donald M'Leod , of Greyfriars Church , Dumfries , Chaplain of the Provincial Grand Lodge . The brethren being seated , Beethoven ' s "Marche Funebre" was performed , after

which the choir sang in very fine style Hector ' s beautiful chorale , " By cool Siloam's shady rill . " Prayer was then offered np by the Chaplain , after whicli followed the hymns , "Brother thou art gone before us " ( Millman ) , " How swift the torrent rolls" ( Doddridge ) , and "The day of wrath ! that dreadful day" ( Sir Walter Scott ) , portions of the litany being recited in the intervals between the hymns , the Chaplain officiating , and the responses being chanted bthe choir . The beauty of this

y portion of the service appeared to make a deep impression on all present . A funeral oration on the late Prov . G . M ., remarkable at once for eloquence and earnest and devout feeling , was delivered by the Chaplain , and listened to with great attention by the brethren . In concluding his discourse , Bro . M'Leod said : "Thus have I endeavoured to direct your thoughts , brethren , to that sure destiny appointed for each one of us , and of which we have been now so forcibly reminded by the

removal from amongst us of our late lamented brother and Provincial Grand Master . We lose much when we lose a friend , and we cannot but be sensible of the loss we have sustained in his death whose memory so many have met this night to honour .

So greatly was he esteemed by the members of Grand Lodge , so norhy did they think him of the highest honours tkey could bestow , that in 1852 he was unanimously elected Prov . G . Master of Dnmfriesshire , which office ho continued to hold until , in the wise but mysterious providence of God , he was cut down in the midst of his years and usefulness . On several occasions he visited the . different lodges throughout the province , and five times he held Prov . Grand Lodges iu Dumfries , laying

the foundation-stone of the Workhouse on one of these occasions , in July , 1853 , and that of the Mechanics' Hall ou another , in January , 1 S 59 . This is neither the time nor the place for lengthened praise or panegyric . Permit me just to say that , from the testimony of those who knew him best , we are sure that to know our late brother was to love him . As a Mason lie was a faithful , zealous , and charitable member of our Craft . As a member of society he was as virtuous and upright as he

was frank and kind . As a husband and father they only can speak aright of him who to-night so deeply deplore his loss , and with whom , I am sure , from our heart of hearts we all sympathise . His life , I believe , was without reproach , and his death —they who witnessed it testify—was full of hope and comfort . While sorrowing , then , for our departed friend aud brother , let us thank God we have not to sorrow as those who have no hope . Let u .=, brethren , strive to follow him in all that was

pure , and good , and lovely in his early life , that we , too , may attain at last to what we trust is now his heavenly glory . The following hymns , varied by portions of tho litimy recited as before , wero sung by the choir , accompanied by the organ : — "Happy Soul thy days are ended , " and "Blest be the dear uniting love . " Then followed the Masonic version of "God save the Queen , " by choir and organ , the chorus being taken up by the whole of the brethren standing .

The lodge having beeu closed with the usual solemnities , and the Chaplain having pronounced the benediction , the officebearers took their departure to the music of the "Dead March in Saul , " after which the brethren separated .

Notes On Literature, Science, Music, Drama, And The Fine Arts.

NOTES ON LITERATURE , SCIENCE , MUSIC , DRAMA , AND THE FINE ARTS .

The King of Prussia has conferred on Madame "Viardofc-Garcia the Fine Arts gold medal of Prussia . The Globe contradicts the report that Dr . William

Notes On Literature, Science, Music, Drama, And The Fine Arts.

Smith , the new editor of tho Quarterly , is a Radical and a Dissenter . He is a Churchman and a Conservative . The Orchestra states that Mr . Benedict has been appointed conductor of the Liverpool Philarrnonic Society , in the room of the late Mr . Alfred Mellon . The Geographical Society of Paris has given its gold medal for the current year to our countryman , Sir

Samuel Baker , for his discovery of the Albert IVyanza . The statue of the late Duke of Wellington in St . Paul ' s Cathedral , for which Parliament voted a sum of £ 20 , 000-in 1858 , will be completed in about two years . We are to have another mining drama . The Orchestra reports that a dramatised version of Mr . Dickens' story " Hard Times" is about to be produced at Astley ' s

Theatre , under the title of " Hell Shaft . " Miss Glyn , tho great tragic actress , has been engaged by Mr . Viniug for a summer season at the Princess ' s Theatre , London , commencing on Saturday , May 11 th , when she will appear in "Antony and Cleopatra . "

Poetry.

Poetry .

FREEMASONRY . By Bro . Colonel SUITXEE , W . M . of St . John ' s Lodge Connecticut . In ancient times , when Israel's king that famous fabric reared , In Which his glory and his wealth so manifest appeared , He in his wisdom first gave heed to Heaven ' s great law to many And Order , beauteous and sublime , through all the process ran .

No sound of axe or metal tool through all the time was heard ,. No craftsman broke the harmony with one discordant word ; . For so the work was portioned out by Solomon the wise , From corner-stone to capital no discord could arise .

Eleven hundred men , thrice told , as Master Masons wrought , And eighty thousand Fellow-Crafts the quarried marble sought ; Whiie Entered as Apprentices , were seventy thousand more , Who , through the progress of the work , tho heavy burdens bore .

A vast Fraternity they were—a labour vast to share , Who always on the Level met , and parted on the Square j And three Grand Masters gave the rules , by which the work was done—The King of Israel , King of Tyre , and he—the widow's son .

The columns and pilasters were of Parian marble wrought , The timbers from the famous gvoves of Lebanon were brought j Of cedar , fir , and olive wood , the stately walls were made , And all within , and all without , with gold was overlaid . Thus , two great structures had a birth—the one of wood and stone , The other , framed and fashioned of fraternal love alone j The one was joined in all its parts by cunning work of art , The other by the ligaments that fasten heart to heart .

The one stood out in bold relief against the vaulted sky , The other raised on towering front to greet the vulgar eye ; The one was all resplendent with its ornaments of gold , The other ' s beauty lay concealed beneath its mystic fold . Ago after age has rolled away with time ' s unceasing tide , And generations have been born , have flourished , and have died , Since wrought our ancient brethren on that Temple ' s massive walls , And thronged its lofty colonnades , and walked its spacious halls .

The Temple , with its wondrous strength , hath yielded unto time—The Brotherhood that flourished there still lives and lasts sublime ; The one , a material thing , hath long since passed away—The other holds its vigorous life , untouched by time ' s decay .

Long may it live , through coming years , its excellence to prove , And Masons ever find delig ht of offices of love j Till summoned hence , the glory of that Upper Lodge to see , When the Grand Master shall confer on each his last degree .