The Masonic Mirror.

Tho memorial was written , partially illuminated and pictorially decorated by tho Secretary . It was also framed and glazed and presented by him as an accompaniment to the portrait , whose tale it in a mannc . told , since there is no Masonic emblem upon the frame , nor on the canvas , save that displayed in the minute studs in the bosom of the shirt , representing the working tools of the three degrees .

" TESTIMONIAL . ' This testimonial was proclaimed in the east , whore , peace reigns and light , reposes : Tho report reached the west and spread through eveiy part of the building .-Therein the Craftsmen assembled and formed a special Lodge : And gave tho control of it to the Very AA ' orshipful Bro . Alayimrd : If asked : —AVhat was the cause of the fraternal gathering : —be it

answered : To perpetuate the worth of the AA'orshipful John Batten Gover : The Master of St . John ' s Lodge , numbered Ixxxiii ., during two years , in sequence , of trial and of trust : In the presentation of a faithful portrait , by an accurate artist : As a memorial , first to the Alasonic world—to whom it heralds His fidelity to solemn pledges : His assiduity in skilful labour :

His punctuality to fraternal summons : Hi ' s impartiality in voluntary instruction : His zeal for the principles of the Order : and His exercise ofthe charities which these principles inculcate . As . 1 memorial , secondly , to the profane world—to whom it publishes His filial duty as a son : His faithful duty as a husband : His affectionate duty as a parent :

His honourable duty as a man and as a citizen . AA ' e , whose names are hereunto subscribed , his fellows—Implore the Almighty Architect of heaven and of earth - . The bountiful Giver of all good : and The abiding help and the enduring hope of the faithful : To continue the mercies shown unto him and unto us : That he may live long mindful of the virtues AA'hich have raised him to fraternal notice :

Ancl that we may also live alike mindful : And exulting witnesses of the same . Sealed with our Lodge seal , St John ' s festival , December xxvii ., in the year of Masonry vmdccclix ., and in the year of redemption mdccclix . Plymouth , Devonshire . John Duprd , AA ' . AI ., John R . Brewer , See . " S § T . he AA ' . Bro . GOVER , who , upon the advancement of Bro . Duprd to the chair , ranked as the immediate P . AI ., rose and said , that it was impossible for him at the moment to say all he could wish iu return for the

very handsome family , as well as fraternal , present , which had that evening been presented iii the name as well of the brethren as the Lodge . His tongue aucl his heart were both truthful , but they appeared in a maimer emuloiis ] j r antagonistic—or rather , jeahias for the mastery . Although deficient iu acknowledgment , he fancied by slightly referring to the past be should embody such a portion of his thanks that would prove acceptable . To embrace all which the Lodge was entitled would 1 ) 3 impossible , so great was its consideration for him , and , in return ,

so trifling his services , that if taken at the full tbey had not exceeded his duty in the conspicuous position in which he , . had been placed . It was now generally known that when he first accepted office , almost all was darkness . It ivas true a faint light remained , but it was but a scintillation in the east—so doubtful however for guidance , that his own courage must have forsaken him if he had not been accompanied , by Bros . Maynard , Dupre , Holmes , Harfoot , and the Secretary . To their readiness in earlassistance and later cooperation ho owed the

y success of every endeavour , and the Lodge its happy position ; and on his retirement from influential office he now left for the flickering light , to whieh he bad alluded , a star of the first magnitude ( pointing to Bro . Duprd ) . The Lodge at the present moment was not only acting on the letter , but the spirit of the Order , and directing its best attention to what it stood pledged , namely—charity . In regard to its rising prosperity he coulcl with comfort say , that during the past j-ear it had witnessed nineteen meetings , ft hacl entertained thirteen initiationsten

, passings , ancl seven raisings , while it had in store cherished hopes for the future . To accomplish so much , with intervening duties , was evidence enough that the work assigned him in the temple was ample ; bnt then liis labour was lightened by the skill of the craftsmen , whom he had the power and the pleasure to call to his assistance . In repeating his thanks to the brethren for their fraternal consideration of him as an individual , he would wish their attention to be directed to one to whom the Lodge stood indebted for much that was beautiful , as well as

original , in the appropriate installation whieh bad so recently taken place ; nor less for the extensive correspondence and full ancl interesting entries which had marked his two years of continuous office . These had shown up the Lodge in its proper light—a light which had given satisfaction to those to whom satisfaction was thought clue , especially for the Lodge ' s character ; and to maintain this ho ivas certain such zeal would continue to be apparent among his brethren as had marked and smoothed his own way , and enabled him to stand so acceptably before them . Upon the health being given of Bro . F . P . HOLMES , the S . AA' ., he replied—That he felt particularly thankful for the flattering manner in

which they hacl received his name . He also felt that the proud position which he now occupied was move due to their indulgence than to his own merit ; and he must still rely on that same indulgence being continued , by which , he had no doubt , he should be enabled to fulfil the duties of his office , almost , if not quite , to their satisfaction . If the Lodge , in its activity , continued as it had lately , doing its utmost for charity , he thought every true Alason would timely be in receipt of his just dues , and none could leave that portion of the fabric assigned to

him dissatisfied . In the accomplishment of so much , he considered their S . AA ' . would he acknowledged as worthy of his place in the Lodge , and to support it he would endeavour and endure all that was fraternally required . Bro . FiNEMom- ' ., I . G ., remarked that since the programme of the toasts had been printed and become in consequence formal , it was necessary that it should be strictly followed . He noticed so much , fearing n departureupon which disappointment miht ariseand thisin so much

, g , , as had happily transpired during the evening , might prove a subject of fraternal regret . Receiving the thanks of the AA' . Af . for his timely hint , " The health of Thomas Harfoot , the S . AA " ., " was proposed , when this brother replied : —That he heartily thanked the brethren for the handsome way in which they had received his name and drunk to his health . It could not but be pleasing to him , so young a man , and so recently a member among them , to stand thus highly honoured before brethren both aged and skilful in the Order . Such purity of principle , which

commands forgetfulness of self and awakens anxiety to extol any latent virtue in another , is rarely to be found , except in living Alasonry—that Alasonry based upon the unerring recm-ds , ivhich hold np man as tho proper study of his species , ancl teach him how to live and how to

diethus elevating him from this Lodge of clay to the Lodge above—the house not made with bands , eternal in the heavens—the home of the good , and the rest of tho weaiy but virtuous brother . The badge of his office being emblematical of uprightness of action and justness of life , he hoped , by the help of the Great Architect , fully to carry out all he had professed ; and by following in the steps of tlie worthy elders of the Lodge , he trusted that he should be enabled to find that his paths were those of pleasantness , and all his steps were peace .

The AA ' orshipful Alaster remarked—in aglow of cheerfulness which indicated clearly that he felt the full importance of Ui « task which he . had undertaken—his next duty was to propose "The health of the Ladies . " The brethren all knew , lords of the creation as they were , that to them they owed all their comforts , and much of their prosperity . They must know that even in business matters their judgment was often clearer aucl their advice better than that of the stronger sex ; this was a filet , and however sturdthe factit was one which must be admitted

y , , ' ' 0 woman , in our hours of ease , Uncertain , coy , and hard to please ; And variable as the shade By the light qiiiv ' ring aspen made ; AVhen pain ancl anguish wring the brow , A ministering angel thou ' . " He onlregretted that at the time Masonry was founded the ladles did

y not appear among the aiding Craft , otherwise , he had no doubt , ladie would be entitled to admission into our Lodges . At any rate , Alasons were noticing- in discovering the beauties and excellences of the sex ; for how van one of their old songs 1 Even thus : — " No mortal can more The ladies adore

Than a Free and an Accepted Alason . Tbe sympathetic toast was next given , when the Lodge ivas closed , and the brethren shortly afterwards separated , highly gratified with ihe evening ' s duties ancl pleasures . BRIXJIAM . —Lodge of True Lore and Unity ( No . 309 ) . —This Lodge met on the 28 th of December to celebrate the festival of St . John , when there was a goodly attendance of brethren and visitors . The catering , which rests with the worthy Treasurer , Bro . George Buckingham , gave

general satisfaction , as usual . The Lodge being closely tyled . Bro . John Heath , proprietor of the Stars Hotel . Totnes , was unanimously elected to bo AVorshipful Alaster for the ensuing year . Ou the evening of the 4 th of January he was regularly installed according to ancient custom , when he appointed Bros . Howard as S . AA ' . ; Thomas Liilstone . to be . I . W .: Geo . Buckingham . Tyler ; S . Clarke , Sec , & c . The ceremony of installation ivas performed by the immediate P . M ., Bro . Jos . Johnson , with due effect , and he received the congratulations of the brethren for his efficient working during his year of office . The brethren retired for refreshment , and discussed the propriety of supporting all tho Alasonic charities and the Free-masons' Magazine during this year .

STOXEIIOUSK . —Lodge of Sincerity ( No . 224 ) . —At a regular meeting hold at St . George ' s Hall , on the 9 th of January , pursuant to notice , Bro . R . R . Rodd , AA ' . AI . in the chair , Bros . Dowse , P . M " . ; Knowling , S . AV ., pro tern . ,- Navracott , P . M ., . LAY ., pro tern . : Jackinati , S . D ., pro tern .: line . J . D . ; Walker . I . G .: Hist , Chaplain ; Rains ; and visiting hretlirc-i ,, Dupre , AA' . M ., No . S : i ; AVheeler , No . 122 ; the minutes of the last regular and emergent meetings having been confirmed , the Lodge- wa-i raised to tho degree of F . C , when Bro . Rains was examined as to the

progress he had made in the science , after which the Lodge was opened in the third degree , when Bro . Rains was readmitted and raised to the sublime degree " of Master Mason . The working tools having been explained by Bro . Knowling , the Lodge was worked down to tl ) e first