Provincial.

impeded , instead of terminating its careeer . The Roman possessed little Masonic knowledge . He could slay and destroy ; be waded through the blood of those who ivere not base enough passively to submit , yet not strong enough successfully to resist , to rob refinement of the fruits of her genius , and decorate himself with ornaments which became him as little as those pilfered from some unfortunate traveller banging on a painted savage , who understands neither their value or uses . Ifc was the barbarous triumph of bone

and muscle to enslave genius and destroy her creations ; but Greece achieved a noble and bloodless vengeance . AAlierever she Avent her manner of improving the real ancl embodying the ideal created for herself a neiv ivorld , rendered her coarse univieldly conqueror ludicrous in his attempts to imitate , compelled him to accept , at her hands , all that he possessed of pure art in Rome , and finally , it was the emigrating genius of Helenic art that gave the Romans a neiv order of architecture in Tuscany . A more glorious , a more

Alasonie revenge was never yet effected . It ivas chastising her conqueror by rendering good for evil , ancl in those dark ages which followed the extinction of Roman supremacy , and which lasted nearly a thousand years , Masonry neither slumbered nor slept . Those savage hordes , which has at one time laid waste a large portion of the East and AA est , now called in the aid of that Alasonry whose creations they had destroyed in a spirit of mischievous derision . The descendants of Brenniss , Alaric , ancl Alahomet , found

it was the only means by which they coulcl ennoble themselves , and glorify tlieir gods ; ancl the early Christian Church , in the ninth century , when its sway was rapidly becoming universal , contributed materially to her influence by receiving at the hands of the Craft a new order of architecture in the pointed Gothic style . Ifc was at tliis time onr order acquired its greatest numerical strength , and it ivas doubtless under the influence of these magnificent Gothic structures that our emblems became so beautifully figurative . With

ivhat rapturous emotion must tbe Alason have gazed upon the first of those Gothic cathedrals , which was the work of his hands . AVhat could be more fancifully picturesque that those groups of slender columns bearing arches poised one on another , the obscure depth of each recess , the vastness of the dome , the lA'hole grandeur of the regular mass as it presented itself in miniature to the eye of the beholder . It spoke to him in language symbolical and eloquent , and . inspired him with feelings of natural ancl spontaneous religion . To judge of its effect , let us enter the nave of one of our cathedrals , look along the

groined roof in Avhich the arches are poised , throw our eye along the choir , terminated by an immense window skilfully divided into perpendicular li ghts by mullions , which bear tracery rich , deep , and massive , the ivholc encompassed by spandrels equally admirable in character ; Avhile from the north and south transept , ivhich the eye can encompass but not penetrate , ive receive the idea of vastness—all this rendered the more impressive by being broken up by innumerable groups of columns , between Avhich the lighfc of clay

streams , bearing here and there the deep , rich , and brilliant tints from the stained glass windows , producing a depth of light and shade so solemnly grand , that ifc kindles all the enthusiasm of our nature , ancl invokes that veneration which urged the ancient Druid to the romance of cruelty , but the Alason whose bands reared it to charity , truth , and brotherly love . Under such influences as these , Alasonry could not lose its vitality , and when it ivas no longer needed in its operative characterit transformed itself into a

len-, sp did moral allegory , to win mankind to all that i sgood and true , through the beauty ancl sublimity of the picturesque . Ifc knows no country , no clime , no creed , bufc those which are universal , glory to Gocl on high , and peace to man on earth . We feel its home influences , we hear of them afar off . It ivas only A'ery recently in this lodge a brother from India told us how , during tbe mutiny in that country , a JIahommedan Alason divulged to the Master of his lodge a conspiracy to massacre the whole of the

Christian population , and thus , in discharge of a Alasonie duty , he saved thousands of valuable lives , ancl a ivealthy town from pillage . Similar events have occurred elsewhere , in the Crimea ancl Italy , under tbe shadow of the Redan , and on the banks of the Alincio , recently in the Italian peninsula , in the kingdom of the tivo Sicilies , in that cradle of classic libert y , and of which every spot is sacred , and ivhere the ancient Roman stood forth in the splendour and majesty of an advanced civilisation . Our own countrymen struggled in mortal conflict with his fellow-man , a cry has gone forth from A enice , and ive knoiv nofc boiv soon thafc death struggle IA * 11 I rc-commence .

of pity , compassion , ancl love ; the hand that sought to slay may extend help and relief ; the destroyer may become preserver , and the recording angel , AAIIO notes down every deed of blood clone there ivith a tearful eye ancl a trembling hand , ivill record that deed of love ancl mercy ivith a smile of joy , and carrying it up to the throne ofthe most High , lay it at the feet of Him from whom all good emanates , ancl he will doubtless accept ifc as a proof that Masonry is faithfully and unostentatiously fulfilling her powerful

and glorious mission , by complying ivith that high behest which says , " Do you unto others as you ivould have others clo unto you . " Such are . the glorious principles of Freemasonry , and while Avecontinue to practise them let us bear in mind thafc life is short . To some it is a rough and boisterous passage—then it seems long and dreary ; to others it is an easy sunny journey—then ifc seems short and pleasant ; but whether we ride out the passage of life in a dark or tempestuous night , or voyage it along in the joyous light of a-

sunny day , with all the pleasures of life spread out before ns like a sea of gold , mirroring the brightness and beauty of the ivorld above , we all Avish to be fondly remembered by those ive leave behind us ; then bear in mind that although Ave pass an-ay every ivork of our hands , every action of our lives , remain here to bless or curse humanity for ages to come . Then let the object of our lives be the pursuit of truth—the ivork of our hands , a superstructure of goodness for our own honourthe glory of the Craftand the

, , happiness of generations to come . Bro . Passenger resumed his seat amidst the cheer of the brethren . —Tbe usual toast on behalf of the poor and distressed brethren was then given , ancl an appeal made by the AV . AI . on behalf of a poor and afflicted brother , ivho ivas already on the funds of the loclge . The AV . AI . saicl at this festive season the distressed brother would fully appreciate any practical proof of their sympathy , ivhen two guineas were

immediately collected hy the brethren present , ancl handed over to the W . AI . to present to the brother referred to . Tbe usual questions were then put , and the loclge duly closed , after prayer in due form . The festivities of the evening continued , ancl several other tonste were proposed , and Bro . J . li . Stebbing responded to the toast of "The Masters of other Lodges in the Toivn . "—Bro . T . FALVEY , S . D ., proposed " Prosperity to Masonry in general , and the province of Hampshire in particular , " ancl said that the great and benevolent

principles on AA'hich the Institution was founded were , if faithfully adhered to , calculated to be of immense service to society . —Other Masonic toasts were proposed . — "The P . M . 's , " to ivhich Bro . T . P . PAYNE responded . — " The Visitors , " responded to by Broj KISGSBURT . —The AV . AI . reminded the brethren that a distinguished brother was present , who bad filled the chair of that loclge for two years successively , and was Mayor of Southampton during the past year . Ho alluded to Bro . Captain Perkinsone who stood high in

, tbe estimation not only of all his brother Masons , bufc all his fellow townsmen . He knew every brother jiresent would feel pleasure in drinking health and happiness to the ex-Mayor . —Bro . Capt . PERKINS , in reply , thanked fche'lodge for the very ivarm and cordial manner in ivhich it had responded to the call of the Alaster . He highly appreciated the compliment from that loclge , because ifc was the most numerous and influential in the South of England . Ho had always been received among them in a true Alasonie spirit , and

by the whole of his felloiv townsmen with a hearty goodwill . Ifc was very pleasing to him to hold the good opinion of his fellow men . He reciprocated that feeling most thoroughly , especially towards his brethren of tbe Royal Gloucester Loclge . —The usual final toast was given soon afterwards , ivhen the brethren separated . Bro . Kingsbury , P . Prov . G . Organist of - Somersetshire , contributed much to the pleasure of the brethren by a most brilliant execution of some choice pieces on the pianoforte .

HERTFORDSHIRE . BERKiTAiirSTEAD LODGE ( No . 7-1-2 ) . —The animal installation meeting was held on Wednesday , January 2 , at the King ' s Arms Hotel , Great Berkhampstead . At three p . m ., several brethren being in attendance , the loclge was opened . The minutes of the preceding lodge , comprising the election of W . Af . and Treas ., having been confirmed , the Sec . said that Bro . HOAV ( Prov . G . D . C , Herts ) , observing that occasionally there was some time unoccupied , had

volunteered to address the brethren on the three grand pillars that supports a Masons' loclge ; he therefore called on this brother fco fulfil his proposal . Bro . How then began his lecture on wisdom , strength , and beauty , which embodied the result of much reading , ancl illustrated the characters of tbe tliree ancient G . ALs , —Solomon , Hiram of Tyre , and Hiram , the widow ' s son , with a few occasional references to the language of the established lectures of the volume of the Sacred Law was the fount of inspiration with the

lecturer , the illustrations being draivn from the lvrifcings of King Solomon and the books of Kings and Chronicles . At the conclusion , Bro . How , who hacl been requested to undertake the ceremony of installation , placed in the chair Bro . Henry George Lane , who hud been elected at the preceding loclge . The W . M . appointed and

AVhere few shall part though many meet , The snow shall be their winding sheet , And every sod beneath their feet , Shall be a soldier's sepulchre ; and then and there , amidst the shrieks of the wounded , and tho growns of the dying , some little Alasonie sign may again turn the deadly thrust aside , and Masonry may strike the heart of man , as Moses did the rock of olcl , and out may gush the pure living waters