Masonic Sayings And Doings Abroad.

of a Temple in the City of St . John , devoted to the interests of the fraternity , is felt more and more keenly as the membership of the Craft increases . In addition to the fact that Members of the Board have individually given the subject much thought , a committee was appointed , consisting of Bro . Marshall ,

the President , Bro . McNichol , the Yice-President and Secretary , to visit and report upon sites , terms of Bale , purchase money , & c . The committee repeatedly examined several sites in different parts of the city ; and reported to the Board . The result thus far has been , that the Members of the Board , weighing

carefully the interests and requirements of the Craft , present and prospective , and asting on their best judgment , have agreed in the selection of a site which they believe will be approved by Grand Lodge . Several considerations , however , which it would be impolitic

to make public , rendered the completion of the purchase , up to this time , impossible , nor can the tranfers be perfected owing to a short further delay . But the

Board confidently entertain the hope and belief , that during the present year , a site will be secured , and the necessary steps taken to commence operations , — and at a cost , in all , estimated at ( say ) thirty thousand dollars . This the Board believe can be done , and a building erected adequate to the

demands of , and creditable to , the Craft—with the probability of a fair income to be derived in a short time , —and all without too seriously involving this jurisdiction in pecuniary anxieties and liabilities so early in its career . Schemes for the erection of Public Halls , Academies of Music , Temperance Buildings

and Masonic Temples , in a City like St . John's must meet , and have met , difficulties and delays scarcely foreseen , but none the less inevitable . But the Board are more than ever satisfied , that this laudable desire of the Craft can be gratified , and from the plana and

information in their possession , they believe we are nearer the attainment of this purpose than many have reason to believe .

At thf ? recent convocation of tho Grand Chapter of Eoyal Arch Masons of Virginia , consent was granted for the formation of a Grand Chapter in West Virginia , We presume that a convention will be held , and steps taken for the formation of the new Grand Chapter at an early date .

ABOUT Music IN LODGES . —A few weeks since we stated the fact that under the name of " St . Asaph , " some musical brethren had established a lodge in London upon the same plan as St . Cecile lodge of this city , and Mozart Lodge of Philadelphia , in both of which lodges music is a peculiar feature .

Masonic Sayings And Doings Abroad.

An Illinois brother , on reading our announcement , wrote us to know whether we approved of musical lodges , evidently imagining from the wording of his letter , that everything was conducted , ritual and all . with music , In reply , we should say that we highly approve of

music in lodges . Nov is it a novelty , for in the oldest printed books on Masonry since 1717 , we find our odes , and chants , among which nothing is more beautiful , than the installation ode of a Master of a Lodge , "WhenEarth ' s foundations first were laid "

All the ceremonies are not conducted Avith music any more than are the services of a Church . The musical portion is carefully and prudently intermixed , and we hold that nothing can surpass in sublimity and grandeur , or be a more acceptable offering to the Great Architect of the Universe , than singing his praise . This was the principal element of true

devotion m the Temple , when the glory of the Lord filled the house ; ' one hundred and thirty priests , with trumpets , & c , sounded the praise of Jehovah ; the Levites , arrayed in white linen , stood at the east end of the altar of Incense , the voices o ? the vast multitude rang through all of its hallowed apartments ,

and flooded in undulating cadence along its secret arches the inspired songs of David , and we believe there is no other society can enter more deeply into this part of worship than the Masonic . We have many good singers in our midst , and their voices are often accompanied Avith the sweet tones of

the organ . David , the father of King Solomon , says : " Make a joyful voice unto God , all ye lands , sing forth the honours of His name , make His praise glorious . ' ( Ps . 76 : 1 , 2 . ) Oh , come , let us sing unto the Lord , let us make a joyful noise to tho rock of our salvation . Let us corns before His presence

with thanksgiving , and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms . " ( Ps . 95 : 1 , 2 ) . " Oh sing unto the Lord a new song ; sing unto the Lord all the earth ,-sing unto the Lord , bless His name ,- shew forth his salvation from day to day . " ( Ps . 96 : 1 , 2 . ) "Let

everything that has breath praiso the Lord , for His mercy endureth forever . " Now , as Freemasons' Lodges are but Temples of the Most High , to whom they are dedicated , Ave hold that it is highly proper to mingle music with the other solemn portions of tho ceremonial .

The annual report of the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick contains not only a list of all the lodges in the jurisdiction , with times and places of meeting , but also a complete list of officers and members of each lodge , and the number initiated , passed , raised , joined , re-instated , withdrawn , died , suspended , and excluded during the year .