How I Spent My Five Week's Leave.

trouble he took in showing and exjDlaining everything to us . His whole heart is evidently in the very interesting work on which he is employed , and he deserves the greatest credit for the tact and perseverence with which he has overcome

difficulties of all kinds , such as the interference of obstinate officials , fanatical prejudices of Mahomedans , avariciousness of all sorts of people , who demand immense compensations for allowing him to dig , and will believe that he has discovered a

gold mine on their property ; the difficulties of climate , want of proper materials and of good labour , etc . ; worst of all , want of money . These obstacles are hardly sufficientl y appreciated in England b y persons who do not know the sort of people one has to deal with out here , and surel y

these most interesting works will not be allowed to come to a standstill , for want of proper funds ? Money has been found for excavating Nineveh , etc ., and cannot England , the most bible-reading , God-fearing nation in the world , raise a few

thousands to explore these most interesting sites , every discovery in which hel ps to throw li ght upon some part of scripture , and to convince of its truth . I am sure the lack of aid can onl y be , that the work is not sufficientl y known . Let me then inform

everyone that subscriptions are received by G . Groves , Esq ., Hon . Sec . S ydenham , S . E ., or by Messrs . Coweta and Co ., Strand , W . O ., and that the printed reports of the society , also most beautiful photographs of all parts of the Hol y Land , at

a nominal price , can be obtained from Messrs . Bell and Dald y , Fleet-street . { To be continued . )

Short Address

SHORT ADDRESS

To the TT . iT / ., Ofie . crs and Brethren of the Iuvicla Lodge ( No 709 ) , Aslfonl . Kent ; delivered on ihe occasion ' of their re-asaernblhig after the summer recess , by Bro . the Eev . P . J . SYJII-I- , Ghapla ' m , Nou . bth , 1869 . Worshipful Sir and Brethren , greeting , —I consider it my duty to call upon you this evening to render

thanks to the Great Architect of the Universe , for His unspeakable and ever superabundant goodness towards us aud all hiss creatures . But more particularly do we thank the CJreafc Giver of all good—with Masonic gratitude—for His mercy and fatherly protection to the several members of the Invicta .

Sickness , the common heritage of mankind , has indeed visited us since we met last . Death , the common foe , has stood , as though doubtful about his commission , upon our very threshold ;—hut those in danger have been mercifully spared , and restored to health and the brotherhood . Therefore , on this , the first evening ot our meeting after the summer recess , as true

ancl faithful Masons , we ascribe in humble adoration , " All glory to the Most High , " for His protecting care over ns . But to our thanks and praises for mercies already received , we will add our prayers for a continuance of the Almi g hty ' s favour . ¥ e pray that He would mould our hearts to gratitude ever

more and more ; that He would prepare us by diligent exercise in virtue and Godliness for the mansions of bliss—the Grand Lodge above . May He graciously continue to protect and prosper the work of our hands and hearts to the furtherance of His honour among mankind , and tbe spread of the Masonic virtues

of brotherly love , relief , and truth . So mote it be I W . Sir and Brethren , —Thus have I endeavoured to prepare your minds for the few remarks and suggestions to which now , with your kind permission , ! will proceed . Instead of asking ancl answering the well-known and trite question , What is Freemasonry?— -I will

ask—Is Freemasonry a something real , or is it a myth ? Is it a something played at , or a something of actual work and vitality ? Is it a convivial brotherhood , or a bond of love betwixt brother and brother , having for its aim the amelioration of fallen ^ erring , sinful humanity ? Iu short , what is the spirit of our ancient Order ? This last question—the

several summed into one—I now proceed to investigate and to answer . We are not operative but speculative Masons , and yet we are raising a mighty fabric—a spiritual house , not made with hands , eternal in the heavens . The foundations of our house are securely laid in the

blood and fidelity unto death of the widow ' s son , the immortal Mason . Ages proclaim the stability of that foundation ; the spread of the Order from pole to pole bears testimony to its usefulness ; and its works and labours that proceed of love , shut the month of all cowans .

Thus we prove the stability of the Order—its reality and world-wide usefulness—without many words , but by world-famed actions . Let the world read the ever open , but always silent , page of Freemasonry ' s unobtrusive work , proclaiming , not in empty , hollow words , but in stolid Masonry , brotherly loverelief , ancl truth . Other foundation can no man

, lay for the ancient and ever honourable Order . " VV . Sir and Brethren beloved . —Our work , yea , our daily work , is at the supers true fci on of this noble edifice . This superstruction , is of necessity , uncomplete , and the completed portions thereof are exposed to the animositiesthe ill willand turbulence of an

, , evil world , As time , wind , and weather deface and mar the beautiful workmanship of our ancient brethren of the operative order , so does contact with an evil world deface and mar the beauties of our spiritual edifice . That edifice is as yet incompleteas all terrestrial things—its dome will be raised

bytheunited brotherhood in Grand Lodge above ; the topmost scaffolding , as the topmost stave of our ladderreaches beyond this terrestrial sphere , even to the celestial abode of the righteous . Flesh and blood cannot stand at that dizzy height , cannot breathe that ratifiedcelestial airand live . Our work begins at

, , the foundation—keeping that- in good repair—and then gradually ascending the superstructure until we reach the heavenly mansions . Let us , then , approve ourselves faithful to our vows and solemn obligations ,