Royal Arch.

and the companions adjourned to refreshment , the M . E . Z . then gave the usual R . A . toasts , Comp . John Coutts Avas presented Avith a P . Z . jewel of solid gold , manufactured by Comp . Lamb . On the bars is inscribed , " Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat , " and on the back is " Presented by the Domatic Chapter , No . 177 , to Comp . J . Coutts , P . Z ., as a token of esteem in acknowledgement of his efficient services as M . E . Z ., 1870 , and 1871 . " Comp . J . Contts , in appropriate terms , thanked the companions for the

very elegant and valuable testimonial . Comp . Buss , in responding to the toast of the P . Z . ' s , thanked the M . E . Z . for his kind expressions . They , the P . Z . 's , Avere always ready to do all in their power for the Avelfare of the cliapter . Comps . AV . H . Libbis , No . 975 ; S . Caroy , 1056 ; and H . M . Levy , S . E ., 1 88 , severally responded to the toast of the Visitors . Comps . G . AVilson , T . Cubitt , Foulger , and Barrett severally responded to the toast of the Officers-. Tho Janitor ' s toast concluded a very agreeable evening . Some capital singing from Comps . Foulger , J . LaAvrence , ancl AVebb , ( ivho accompanied himself on the piano ) enlivened the proceedings .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

METROPOLITAN . SAMSON AND LION LODGE ( NO . 86 ) . —This rapidly increasing lodge met at the Freemasons' Tavern , on the 29 th ult ., Avheii , in the unavoidable absence of the W . M ., Bro . Israel Abrahams , the lodge Avas opened by Bro . A . D . Loewenstark , P . G . I . G ., at 6 p . m ., when the minutes of the installation meeting were read and confirmed . Ballots Avere taken for Bros . Captain SUOAV , P . M ., John

Faulkner , J . H . Milner , J . Knight , and were unanimous in favour . Bros . Snow and Faulkner being in attendance , and proving themselves qualified , Avere adA'anced to the degree of Mark Master . Several candidates Avere proposed for next meeting in October . At the last meeting the lodge Avas honoured by the presence of Bros , the Rev . G . It . Portal , M . W . G . M ., and the Earl Percy , D . G . M . M ., both of Avhom Avere elected honorary members . The following officers Avere present : —Bros . R . Boncey , P . M . ; Meyer A . Loewenstark . P . M . and Sec , P . G . Steward ; M . Emanuel , S . O . ; I . K . Tippett , J . O . ; E . Petit , M . O ., E . P . Albert , J . \ A ' ., a visitor , and many members .

DEVONSHIRE . IVTBRIDGE . —JSrme Lodge . ( No . 100 ) . —The annual meeting of this loclge , for the installation of the W . M . for the ensuing year Avas held at the Kings' Arms Hotel , Ivybridge , "V . W . Bro . John Harris , P . G . T ., the W . M . elect , AVUS duly installed . A . W . Bro . J . B . Gover , P . Prov . G . A . D . C , Avas the I . M . In the evening the brethren present dined together afc the hotel , having been liberally catered for by Bro . Toms .

LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND . LEICESTER . —Fowlce Lodge , ( No . 19 ) . —A meeting of this Jodgo for the Installation of AA . M ., the appointment of officers , & c , Avas held at the Freemasons' Hall on Thursday , the 23 rd ult ., tho W . M ., Bro . Duff , in the chair . On the confirmation of the minutes , the chair Avas taken by the Prov . G . M . M ., Bro . Kelly , Avho , in a Board of Installed Master ? , proceeded regularly

to instill the AA . M . elect , Bro . Charles Johnson , AVIIO Avas afterwards proclaimed and saluted . The Treasurer ' s accounts having been passed , and that officer re-elected , the W . M . proceeded to invest the following as the officers for the ensuing year , viz .: — Bros . A . M . Duff , I . P . M . ; AVeare , S . AV . : Partridge , J . AV . ; Rev Dr . Haycroft , M . A . ; Toller , S . O . ; Richardson , J . O . ; Stretton . Treas- ; Sculthorpc Sec . ; Tarr , Registrar ; Atwood , S . D ., Barber , J . D , ; Widdoivson , I . G ., Atwood and Buzzard , SteAvards ;

Bembridgo and Dunn , Tylers . Bro . William Tertius Rowlett ; elected at a former meeting , AVUS advanced in due form , after Avhich the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to v efrcshment .

A Masonic Allegory.

A MASONIC ALLEGORY .

The most conclusive proof of fche antiquity of Freemasonry , and of its Oriental origin , is the fact that its teachings are exclusively enforced by means of symbols , allegories and legends . The earliest learning of fche world Avas purely symbolical ; the first Great Li ght of Masonry is full of sublime parables ; and we , as "Sons of Light , "

adhere both to fche Avisdom of the ancients , and their immemorial and impressive manner of communicating that wisdom , by means of emblematic parallels and au individual personification of the leading events of fche Solomonic era . The lessons of Freemasonry will need to be inculcated as long as the air we breathe is tainted

with the contagion of death , and until Ave are raised to that higher life , where Time shall be no more , and death shall be SAvalloAved up in victory . He who has been raised fco the sublime degree of Master Mason , can gather a richness and fulness of knoAvledge from many an event in history , and many a

parable in literature , thafc is lost to one who has never been initiated into Masonic mysteries . He has learned not merely the secrets of fche craft , bufc possesses to a degree a key to the arcana of universal Nature . He constantly sees and hears , in the world of action and thought AA * orks and words Avhich suggest to him a a Avealth of

instruction , that to the ordinary mind are wifcooufc peculiar significance . Let us illustrate . One of the most beautiful of Kr ummacher ' s parables , is thafc of the Creation of the Caterpillar . We may render

it thus : AVhen tho parents of the human race had been banished from Eden for their transgression , and the gentle Abel had yielded up his life under the heavy hand of his brother , the angel of death came to Jehovah and said , " The fiat of death has gone forth over the earth ; grant me to create some beings for ministers of

destruction . " Jehovah consented . Then fche angel of the Lord descended and gave to the lion his terrible claAvs and blood-thirsty jaw ; and immediately vultures screamed in the air , seeking to prey upon dead carcases , and the venom-swelled viper lurked in the crevices of the rock . Thoughtfully the angel of destruction entered the garden

of Eden , and saAv Mirzia , the beloved and mourning sister of Abel , groAving flowers and trees . EveryAvhere there was peace , innocence , cooling shade , and pleasant fragrance . He hesitated for a moment . "Must I cause neAV grief to the gentle sufferer ? " said he . ' Be it so Even from grief joy bloometh . Here also mortality must

have its minister . " He loAvereth his rod , ancl from the dust Avhich he touched issued a voracious caterpillar . Just then Sefch dreAV near , and would have killed it , saying , " are not all creatures subject to us , and have Ave nofc dominion over them ? " " Bufc ifc is better , " said Mirza , " to practice mercy and loving-kindness than

violence . Lot ifc live ! " And she made an enclosure round the caterpillar , p . nd gave it , morning and night , more leaves and flowers than ifc could eat . When the heaA'enly messenger saw this , he was deeply moved , and said : " Man has not altogether lost