Consecration Of The Freemasons' Hall, Adelaide, South Australia.

"Among obher thoughts imprinted on our minds as Masons , we are especially led to consider that our time is not our own—that it is a great and solemn trust committed to our care by the Great Architect of the Universe —not for our own enjoyment only , but for the use of all around us . In consonance with this teaching we have been this day dedicating to the service and to the use of

our brethren a hall in which our meetings may be held , and in which the brethren may receive that instruction which will enable them to rear up for the services ofthe Almighty no mere material temple , but a house not made with hands , a spiritual temple , in which each artificer duly labouring will find his place . Of that spiritual temple we have the figure here . If the corner-stone bo well

and truly laid—if the walls , carefully tested by the plumb line , are upright and stable—if the cement is firm and binding , years and years may roll on , and our work will still be standing . How many generations of men may assemble within these walls ! How often will the words that have como down to us through long ages be here repeated in hushed solemniby to those who will be our

successors ! Perchance bhis hall , whore we now assemble in the vigour of health , may witness another gathering when we have been called away , and eur brethren are summoned to follow that which remains of us to the tomb ; for iike the bells , our hall has a changeful voiceit speaks of sorrow as well as of joy—of the evening ' s labour and its refresmont—of life's labour and its rest .

How many generations , indeed—for of the end of Freemasonry who shall speak ? Its foundations are so deeply sunk that man cannot reach them with certainty ; they are at least so wide and strong that the building raised upon them may grow to the world ' s end . Wide as the world itself , we know no distinction of colour or of country . We acknowledge the brotherhood of all who are of Adam ' s race . We close our doors to no free man whoso faith rests in the Great Creator ; and surely in a system snob

as ours , where each symbol has its significance , each word its hidden meaning . "Free" is a word of more than ordinary import . For ho is not free who is a bondman to his passions ; he is not free who is a servant to uncleaimess ; he is not free who is the slave of avarice ; he is not free whose Lord is " his appetite , " but he is free who , by God ' s grace , is himself his own master ;

who can still iu his breast tho tumultuous uprisings of anger ; who can control and subdue the wildness of desire ; who can sec with uiionvying contentment tho prosperity of those around him , and if God has blessed hiin with worldly means can pour forth from the fountain of his wealth au over-flowing stream of benevolence . jNTor is he free whose mind is in tho toils of superstition .

Freemasonry does not concern itself with political questions . Itteaches those who belong to the brotherhood to be obe . dient to the laws of the hind wherein they live . Superstition alone recognises a foe in Freemasonry , and in so doing she condemns herself . Seeking to k ^ cp her children in tho darkness of the Neophyte , she dares not draw off the bandage that binds their eyes and ive them

g light . Yet , if she will not remove it with her own hands , Time , the healer as well as the destroyer , will fret it away , and the true li ght will be seen in ail its bright effulgence . Bound as we are by our laws to abstain from all persuasion to induce men to join our Craft , iu what way can wo fill up our ranks . Tho answer is an easy one . Our lights must be kept burning , nob only within bhe

walls of the lodgo , but , in the busy places of the world . Men will judge u . s b y our works . Hitherto in South Australia there has been little room for the exercise of our special duties . The great charitable institutions which reflect honour on our Order in tho mother country have as yet found no place here . They have not indeed been needed . The help given through our benevolent j fund is almost unnoticed . To the world without , therefore , we seem to have no work in view commensurate to I our power and our professions . Let us acknowledge that

this state of things must soon pass away . As death carries away one or other of our brethren there are those left behind who are objects of special solicitude to the Graft . His widow , his children , those for whom he cared in life , are in a measure become objects of our care now . Let us make our preparations that we may be ready when the time comes to render them the help they need . As

in England they have their schools for children of tha Craft , their homes for its aged members , so let us at least endeavour to lay the foundation of a system of benevolence which may eventually enable us in South Australia to extend to those who need it that help for which a Freemason should never be asked in vain . I rejoice to think that this has been already a subject of your

thoughts . I am impressed with the conviction that a wide system of benevolence would tend almost more than anything else to strengthen our body . If our funds were temporarily diminished by an expenditure of this kind they would surely be replenished by the accession of brethren to our Order , and many a brother whose interest in the Craft is weak , mainly , perhaps , because ho cannot see that we arc busy in bhe work of benevolence , would feel his interest re-awakened and his pleasure renewed iu aiding ancl in stimulating our charitable

endeavours . I have an earnest confidence that our possession of this hail for Masonic purposes will lead to such a movement for benevolent purposes as will call forth the energies and arouse the sympathies of all the brotherhood in South Australia . The corn of nourishment , wine of refreshment , the oil of gladness—each has taught us its lesson of God ' s bounty and Providence for

us His creatures dwelling on this earth . Let us remember that there is a world beyond this , and that we must so live that we may be prepared to die . It may be thab our researches into God ' s hidden mysteries may never lead us beyond darkness visible . As we advance our horizon may recede , and each step forward serve but to show us tho more plainly that the wisdom of the Almighty is

infinite , His ways past finding out . Of one thing , at least , we shall bo convinced—of His love for man , His care for all created beings . Let , then , the lines of our lives be traced in accordance with this rule of love . By so Jiving wo shall become most like Him while we remain on earth , and most ready to pass through that dark valley where One alone can be our companion , and to go

through that great change which will enable us to know even as also we are known . " Another oration , equally interesting to the members ofthe Craft , was delivered bv P . D . D . G . M .

Whittell-Alter this the anthem , psalm exxxiii ., " Behold how pleasant aud how good , " was sung , and tho lodge was closed , the choir giving as a finale the " Song of Australia . " It was mentioned in the course of the evening by Bro . Letchl ' ord , one of the Stewards and a Trustee of the Masonic Hallthat the cost of the landbuildingfurnishing

, , , , & c , was £ 5 , 100 . The brethren reassembled iu tho banqueting room below , where Bro . Bimgert set a repast before his guests which would have done credit to any Boniface iu Adelaide .

Palestine Exploration Fund.

PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND .

Tho brethren have from lima to time taken great iutorost iu tho researches of Bro . Capt . AVarrou . \\ o give with pleasure a place to tho following . Tho annual mooting of tho subscribers to this fund was hold on Monday , tho lo'th inst ., in tho theatre of the Royal Institution , his Ciraco tho Archbishop of York in the chair . There woro also prosont tho Bishop of LoudonAir . S . MorleyM . P . Mr- W .

Mor-, , , rison , M . P ., tho Dean of AVestmmstor , Professor Donaldson , Mr . G . Grove , Bro . Captain AVarren , R . E ., Captain Anderson , R . E ., Captain AVilson , R . K , etc . Tho Rev . F . AV . Holland read ttio report , which reviewed tho proceedings carried on under tho superintendence of Bro . Captain