Monthly Masonic Summary.

Monthly Masonic Summary .

THE principal event of the past month has been the happy return to Old England of our Royal ancl illustrious Grand Master . After a most successful Royal Progress , having Avon golden opinions from all , having conferred p leasure ancl gained

experience , tho Prince of Wales has reached in providential safety the shores of his native land , to receive from all classes the most hearty ancl the most gratifying of welcomes ! Prom the georgeousness of Indian receptionsfrom the fetes of Madrid

, and . the gala of Lisbon , from the pleasant souvenirs of the land of the Pyramids , Malta , Gibraltar , the grace of Cadiz , the ivonders of Seville , ancl the solemn , memories of the Escurial , he finds himself once more safe and sound in the bosom of his family ,

lovingly greeted by those ivho had long missed his presence ancl fondly aAvaited his return . Old Neptune , recognising his ride over the main , -gave him a comparatively smooth passage over the often-troubled

Avaters of the " Bay , ancl the good ship Serapis not only came up to time , but did credit to the reckoning of those in . naval official positions who planned and carried out all the successful arrangements of his landing at Portsmouth . But after all , though the official element Avas Avell represented

, ancl its duties most admirably performed , Avhat does not the success of that memorable clay at Portsmouth OAve to unofficial sympathy and aid—to the ready and liberal concurrence of the English people . All classes vied with each other in Avelcoming

home their Prince , ancl if any one really believed that there Avas any doubt as to the genuine feelings of the English people , some recent events must have convinced the most sceptical that the great heart of England still beats truly and calmly in

unison on any matter Avhich really affects the honour of the Empire , the happiness of the people , the safety of the Throne , and the prestige of the House of Brunswick . So we Ereemasons , like our felloAV-citizens ,

have joined heartily in the universal Avelcome of a rejoicing land ; happy in thinking and knowing that our Royal Grand Master has long since found that though he has roamed in strange lands , and seen wondrous sihtsancl sojourned hi palaces

g , great ancl historic , his happiest "locale " ancl his most cherished resting-place on earth are , after all , " Home , sweet Home . " The meeting of the Prince and the Princess of Wales and their children off Yarmouth

Avas most touching in itself , ancl AVU ! have been deeply appreciated by all Ereemasons , just as it commended itself to the honest , hearty feelings of our gallant blue jackets . The Roman Catholics are continuing their crusade against Eroemasonry . . As Mark Twain said of some " gushing

sheemales , " in his time , " let them gush ;' so Ave say to our ultramontane assailants , Go ahead , old boys ! We are beginning noAV rather to like it all than otherwise , the more so as nothing Avill sooner convince the world that Rome is " semper eadem , " and has

not relaxed one iota , yielded up one "jot or tittle " cither of her absurd pretensions , her absurder violence , her hopeless bigotry , her intolerant animus , her Avish to tyrannize over the human conscience , and her eagerness to burn " relapsed heretics !" Amiable Aveaknoss ! It is a pity that any

State should bo so ill-advised as to object to the Inquisition , or tho revival of the touching appeal to the secular arm , but some States are so very foolish as to do so , and there can be no doubt that in consequence of their " invincible ignorance " in regard to the real " intentions " of Rome ,

or the stubbornness of their " heroticaj pravitatis , " they are all booked , Princes and people , for something uncomfortable . We caff attention in another page to a very curious archaeological history called , "The Glastonbury Thorn , " Avhich our

kind Bro . Thomas Sampson has most fraternally placed at our disposition . We like these old legends as both poetic and suggestive in themselves , and especially interesting to Ereemasons , to Avhom the general archaBology of the past is as interesting as then OAVU . 2 T ,