Royal Arch.

to our ancient brethren in the vaulted chamber , the sun at its meridian shall dispel the mists of doubt , ignorance , ancl error , and make that light to us in death which was dark in life . Then throwing ourselves on the mercy of our Creator ancl Judge , and looking forward to the fulfilment of his giacious promises , by which alone we can pass through the ark of our redemption , we shall reach the presence of HIM who is the great I AMthe Alha and Omegathe beginning ancl the

, p , ending , then shall we see the great Jehovah , not as through a glass , darkly , but face to face ; then shall we indeed " ' . See heaven its sparkling portals wide display , And break upon us iu a flood of day ! No more the rising sun shall gild the morn , Nor even Cynthia fill her silver horn ! But lost—dissolved in thy superior

rays—One tide of glory , one unclouded blaze , O'erflow thy courts ! The Light himself shall shine Revealed ; and God's eternal day be thine ! The seas shall waste , the skies in smoke decay , Rocks fall to dust , and mountains melt away ! But fixed in ' s word , his saving power remains , Thy realm for ever lasts—thy own Messiah reigns ! ' "

India.

INDIA .

CEYLON . COLOMBO . —The brethren connected with the lodges in Colombo attended Divine Service on the 27 th December last , at St . Peter ' s Church in the Fort . The Rev . Brooke Bailey aid the evening prayers , ancl , with the aid of a well got up choir ( whose remarkably beautiful execution of the anthem " Gloria in Excelsis , " deserves particular mention ) succeeded in rendering the first portion of tho service as impressive as

might have been desired . The sermon was preached by the Rev . Bro . Bennett , Chaplain of the Sphinx Lodge , who selected for his text the following passage from the 1 st Epistle of St . Peter . "For so is the will ot God , that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men . " We quote the concluding portion which had reference to the special character of the service . " All that I have hitherto spoken has equal reference to

everyone baptised into the fold of Christ . But the design of the present gathering , ancl the expectation of the assembly , would demand that I should apply my argument to an ancient institution which derives its origin from the word of early tradition , and maintains its influence hy being based on principles of benevolence , which commend themselves to the better part of human nature . It was at first my intention to have produced as elaborate a defence as I could of the Masonic institution , and to have met the various charges that have from time to time been advanced against it . But on second thoughts , this appeared neither the most suitable time nor place . I have preferred ,

therefore , to set before you my brethren in Masonry , the principle which should guide us as Christian men , when we find oui institution the object of misrepresentation or virulent attackand this principle I commend to your lvcmest avid hearty adoption . In these corrupt and degenerate times , when selfishness is treated with respect , when slander boldly enters into company ancl defamation forms so considerable a part of conversation ; is it not laudable—is it not heoric , to tread selfishness under our

feet , to banish scaudle from our presence , and to shut the door against detraction ? Ancl iu the design your Masonic pledges will support you ; there being few works in which true Masonry is more assiduous than this , of inculcating the Royal law , by which a charitable spirit is diffused , ancl society built up in peace and happiness . The five points of fellowship in Freemasonry are , brotherly love , benevolence , prayer , secrecy , and condemnation of slander . And seeing that such are the principles by

which we profess to be guided , it would seem strange that we would be evil spoken of did we not remember the case of the early Christians , ancl were we not also compelled to confess , that through the carelessness of watchmen and the imperfection of human judgment , there have doubtless heen bad men found in the society . But , do not such find their way into every society ? ancl where shall we find perfection in this region of sorrow ancl infirmity , and in a life that is probationary ? Surely the irregular lives of a few false brethren , should not in fairness he admitted as evidence against the goodness of a constitution , which in the most solemn manner forbids all immoral

behaviour , and enjoins a faithful discharge of every social duty . That they who are . ignorant of it , should speak disrespectfully of the Order , can be no disgrace to it ; because they speak of those things which they understand not . Their prejudice calls for your charity , and their unkindness for your forgiveness . But let no hard censures ever provoke your resentment ; "for so is the will of God that , with well doing , ye may put to

silence the ignorance of foolish men . " If therefore there be any consolation in Christianity , if any comfort of love , if any fellowship ot the spirit , if any bowels of mercy , fulfil ye may joy ; beiug of one accord , of one mind : and ye beloved , building up yourselves on the Christian faith , keep yourselves in the love of God , looking for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life ; that when you shall appear in His presence in gloryyou may receive the lause of saints and angelsand

, app , may hoar the blessing pronounced from his lips : — " AVell done , good ancl faithful servant , enter into the joy of thy Lord . " At the close of the service the brethren proceeded to the Freemasons' Hall , where both tho Sphinx and Serendib Lodges held their usual half-yearly meetings , for the purpose of installing tbe AVorshipful Masters ancl officers for the ensuing six months . The following brethren were duly installed : —

SPHINX LODGE . Bro . John Maitland W . M . „ C . A Lorenz I . P . M „ C . L . Ferdinands S . W . „ H . A . Larkum J . AV . „ Rev . G Bennett Chap . „ H . M . Evans .... Treas .

„ C . A . Kriekenbeek Sec . „ AV . Law Assist . Sec . and Steward . „ D . \ A . AVilliams Dir . of Cers . „ G . Nichols S . D . „ A . S Dundas Mouat J . D . „ J . G . Gratiaen I . G . „ S . Grenier Org . „ C . O'Halloran Librarian „ J . Mitchell Tyler

SEEENDIB LODGE . Bro . D . J . Scott W . M „ Captain Gorman I . P . M . „ H . Bois S . AA . „ H . M . Evans J . AV . „ F . A . Carson Treasurer . „ Bisehoff Secretary .

„ Captain Forster C . B S . D . „ Dundas Mouat ,. J . D . „ F . Cummins I . G . „ Mitchell Tyler .

The lodges having been closed the brethren , above sixty in number , assembled in the club room to partake of a splendid cold collation which had been provided by the Stewards . After ample justice had been done to the supper Bro . SCOTT introduced the following toasts , proposing them separately in suitable terms . The first of them , he said , took precedence on all such occasions as the present ; the second naturallfollowed the first ; and the third was at all times

y peculiarly acceptable to Masons . As most of the brethren hailed under the Irish constitution , he would name the Grand Master of Ireland before those of England ancl Scotland . 1 . "The Queen and the Craft . " Song— " Gocl save the Queen . " 2 . "Tho Prince ancl Princess of Wales and the Royal family . "

Song— " Gocl bless the Prince of AVales . " 3 . " The Worshipful Masters of the Grand Lodges of Ireland , England and Scotland . " Bro . GOEMAN said it gave him sincere pleasure to propose a toast which had been entrusted to him , one which affected three honest Masons , good men and true , each of whom occupied the honourable position of a Worshipful Master of a lodge . He would mention the name of Bro . Hay firstbeing that of an

, absent brother . To Bro . Hay , belonged the honour of havingpractically resuscitated the Handy Lodge , which he now ruled with great ability ; and it was gratifying to observe that his efforts to promote the interests of that institution were appreciated , as indicated by the fact of his recent re-election . To