History Of Freemasonry In Cornwall.

PEXZAXCE IiODOE : S . Luko ] J . Slono VISITING BRETHREN : D . Finder [ M . Longos Falmouth Tyler . | Redruth Tyler . In the list appears the forefathers of several

Masons who are members of the lodges at the present day , and Ave have therefore given it in full for the purpose of recording them in this widely circulating Magazine . In accordance with the request of the Redruth

Lodge , August 12 th , 1771 , twelve members of the Falmouth Lodge agreed to attend the Eedruth Lodge , -on Saturday , the 24 th instant , at the celebration of iheir anniversary , viz ., August 24 th , so that in all probability the Eedruth Lodge ivas constituted

August 24 th , 1754 , aud in the absence of other ¦ authority we take this as good ei-idence of the fact , because it Avas not ' until then that it was mentioned

in the Palmouth minutes as a circumstance of very late occurrence . Mr . Charles NeAvman ivas balloted for and accepted Sept . 11 th , 1771 . A song in " Praise of Masons" is next inserted , consisting of thirteen -verses and the chorus , to the tune of the " Pirst of

August . " We hai'e examined several collections of Masonic songs ( both British aud American ) , but cannot find it gii-en in any , ancl as it possesses little , if any , merit , Ave forbear quoting it in these pages . On the last leaf of the first volume occurs the

following : — " The undermentioned agree that if they are in the town of Palmouth , and do not by six o ' clock in the eA'ening on lodge nights send an excuse for their not coming , shall forfeit sixpence—Edward Snoxell , [ Nathaniel Steel , Richard James , Matthew Allison ,

Thomas McLellan , and Stephen Bell . A valuable and interesting minute concludes the leaf , and contains the signatures of several bright ornaments of -the Craft , who , though departed , will ever be cherished and revered in the hearts of all Cornish Ereemasons .

Oration In Honour Of Masonry

ORATION IN HONOUR OF MASONRY

Delivered by Bro . MI ' TI ' AJI , Prov . S . G . W . Devon , at the Consecration of the Devon Lodge ( No . 113 S ) . Having more than once latel y addressed the Provincial Grand JJodge on the recorded history aud antiquity of Freemasonry , I propose on the

present occasion to confine myself to its association Avith the sacred teaching of the Bible . We know that upon Freemasonry the passing events of the Avorld can mako no change ancl exert no influence . Her doctrines were established before

the foundation stones of the Pyramids ivere laid , ancl they will flourish when not one brick remains ? jpon another to show where the Pyramids wero

placed . We firmly believe that the day will come when her doctrines will overspread the earth , as the waters cover the caves of the sea , from the frozen hills of the North to the unexplored icefields of the South ; from the Bast , the birthplace

of the cheerful day , to the West , the bed of the mournful night . And why have we this confident belief?—because it is founded on eternal truth , which knoivs and can know no change ; because on this book , the volume of the Sacred Law , we

rest our faith , our principles , our teaching . Coming to us not as a discovery of the genius of man , but as the revelation of the Great Architect of the Universe himself , it is in the nineteenth century what it Avas in the first—fresh , immutable ,

eternal . It appeals , and Masonry echoes its divine voice , not to a creed , not to a party , not to a generation , but to all mankind and to all ages . It speaks alike to the multitude ancl to the individual , it prescribes to the loftiest genius " Thus

far shalt thou go and no further / ' while it whispers in parental tones to the humble spirit , "Be calm and content with a lowly lot / ' It tells

us of the past , its teachings and its warnings , it spreads out the present like a map of the strange land , its shoals and quicksands , its sunny spots and pleasant resting-places , through Avhich our pilgrimage lies as we journey forward to

The undiscovered country from Avhose bourne no traveller returns , and it tells us of the future in words true as the rising and the setting sun , that as the world began with Paradise to our first parents , so to the faithful ancl obedient of the human race , as the

ivorld recedes from vieiv Paradise shg . ll again open her portals to their longing eyes . The volume of the Sacred Law has given to Masonry those allegories ancl analogies which appeal so Avarmly to the bosom of every brother , and convey so

vividly to his mind the great truths AA'hich belong to the science . Its aim is to promote the happiness of mankind , to cultivate the understanding ancl impress upon its members the solemn truth that there is an omnipotent , omniscient , and

ever-living God ivho governs all , and to AAdiom we must render an account of our life , whether it has been well or ill spent . In the beautiful ceremonies of our Order derived from the Bible

ive are constantly reminded that the same Almighty Power has fashioned and sustained the world , that He has created man , endoAA * ed him A \* ith a reasoning and feeling nature , placed him in a universe of beauty and wonder , given him faculties to com-