Freemasonry In Constantinople.

which was followed by the healths of the Sultan , the M . W . P . G . M ., the Prince of Wales , the M . W . the Earl of Rosslyn , G . M . of Scotland , the M . W . the Marquis of Ripon , G . M . of England , and all other Grand Masters and Grand Lodges throughout the world ,

The Chairman saicl the next toast was one that every brother present , and more especially tho members of the " Caledonian , " ¦ would respond to most heartily— " Prosperity to the District Grand Lodge of Turkey , with tbe health of its R . AV . Master , Bro . J . P . Brown . " Bro . Brown had most cheerfully consented to officiate on this occasion , and the presence of himself and his officers had not only given eclat to the proceedings of the day , but had afforded a stimulus ancl an encouragement to the

Caledonians in an undertaking which he ( the Chairman ) ventured to say would mark an era in the history of Freemasonry in Turkey . R . AV . Bro . Brown , in acknowledging the compliment , saicl he had thoroughly enjoyed himself , and had felt both happy aud proud in the part he had to fill . V . W . Bro . Thompson , in replying to the next toast , "the

Officers of the District Grand Lodge , " ' observed he hoped tbe day would come when they would have to assist at the laying of the first stone of a Masonic Temple in Pera , where there were so many lodges and so large a number of brethren . AV . Bro . Henderson , in returning thanks for the health of the '" AA . M . and oflicers of the Caledonian Lodge , " proposed by the R , AV . Bro . Brown , said he considered it a great honour to

preside over so large a company of distinguished members of tbe craft , who were not merely speculative masons , but might be considered , from the work in which they had taken part that afternoon , to be also operative masons . If the great Temple of Solomon was built in Jerusalem , the humble imitation of it today was situated in Jews' Town , Hasskeui . His lines as a Master had fallen in leasant place . * for never had a Master of a

p , Lodge a more dutiful or assiduous body of officers ancl members , and neither he himself nor any single brother among them had a right to take special credit to himself for results which had been achieved by the heartv , earnest and fraternal co-operation of all .

Bro . D . Erazcr , Secretary ofthe Caledonian Lodge , after some humorous remarks , observed with reference to the AV . M . 's allusion to the site of the Temple , that he was reminded of the circumstance of Joshua , commanding the twelve men belonging to the twelve tribes each one to take up a stone , and telling them that when their children in time to come asked of their fathers , AVhat mean ye by these stones ? they should reply that they were as a memorial uuto the children of Israel for ever . AVhen he

( Bro . Prazer ) saw the crowd of spectators of the proceedings that clay who were descended from those tribes , it occurred to him that they were all wondering what these stones meant , and if they asked , let the masons of Hasskeui tell them that they were meant as a memorial to them and their children for ever . No one coulcl tell what might be developed out of the work commenced that day , but he ( Bro . Frazer ) believed it quite within the hounds of possibility that the time would arrive when a future

generation iu this land , enjoying manifold blessings yet iu store for them , would exclaim , ' God bless the Caledonians ! " AA . Bro . J . Laffan Hanley , in responding to "Prosperity to the Oriental Loelge , the Pioneer Lodge of Turkey , " said that he esteemed it a great enhancement of the honour ho enjoyed as Master of the senior Lodge in Turkey that it should have fallen to his lot to represent it on so interesting an occasion as the present . Though the Caledonians had been the subject of so

much compliment to-day they could not suspect that it was flattery . The praise could not but be thoroughly sincere . For it involved on the part of those who bestowed it a reproach to themselves—a tacit consciousness of their own shortcomings . He ( Bro . Hanly ) trusted that the example set by the comparatively small body of Hesskeuite Masons would inspire their more numerous and wealthier brethren of Pera with a wholesome

shame which might act as a more powerful stimulus than any that had yet been brought to bear upon them as a body . They had years ago been unanimously agreed in Pera that they ought to have a Temple ; in Hesskeui , no sooner did they come to such a conclusion than the thing was done . He felt certain that the Perotes could also have a building of their own if

Freemasonry In Constantinople.

only half a dozen of them could be fonnd possessing the same energy and unity of action as an equal number of Caledonians ; and for his part he would render all the assistance in his power to such an undertaking as Master of the Oriental Lodge , which , by the way , had a fund accumulated for the very purpose . AV . Bro . J . AVetherilt replied for the Leinster Lodge ( Irish Constitution ) which will be a tenant of the new Temple ; AV .

Bro . C . T . Reppen , for the Deutscher Bund ; Bro . Temple for the Bulwer ; and other Masters and Past Masters responded for their respective Lodges . AV . Bro . G . Laurie , P . D . D . G . M ., responded for the Past Grand Officers . The health of Bro . AValker , who drew the plans of the Temple , was also duly honoured , as that of AV . Bro . G . E . AVarren , who had acted as Director of Ceremonies . The Masonic part of the proceedings concludedaccording to customwith the " Tyler's toast" which

, , was drunk in solemn silence . A vote of thanks was then most cordially passed to the Eev . C . B . Gribble for having officiated on the occasion , in the absence of any Masonic Chaplain ; and the health of Messrs . Burness and Duff , the contractors , was drunk .

It only remains to add that , from what we know of the plans of the proposed edifice , we have every reason to believe that the superstructure which , towards the end of the ensuing autumn ( for the contractors undertake to have the building up by Oct . 15 next ) will be seen above

the foundation-stone raised on Saturday last , will be perfect in all its parts , and in every respect creditable to its builders . The Lodge-room will comfortably accommodate 150 , masonically seated ; the building will also comprise every convenience and its exterior will be creditable to the Craft .

The site , which will leave a good space round the building , cost £ T . 260 , and the contract for the erection has been taken by Messrs . Burness and Duff for the sum of £ T . 1 , 280 . — Levant Times .

The Mystic Beauties Of Masonry.

THE MYSTIC BEAUTIES OF MASONRY .

We have treated of the " Five Mystics Points , or Points of Fellowship . " and in continuation of ¦ " The Mystic Beauties of Freemasonry , " will now refer to the six periods , or six days . 1 . Before the world was under the hand of

nature's universal architect , old Chaos reigned ; , darkness profound clothed the deep abyss , and the ethereal spirits hovered over its mass . The Omnific fiat was no sooner sent from the Great Eternal bright abode , "Let there be light ;"

when forthwith light , first of things , quintessence pure , sprang from the deep , and from her native East began to journey through her native gloom . Light , day ; aud darkness , night , He named . 2 . In order to keep new formed matter Avithin

bounds , on the second period , God said , " Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters , and let ifc divide the waters from the waters ; " and heaven he named the firmament .