Masonic Festivities.

Perkins , E . AI . Perkins , N . Perkins , Airs , and Alisses Pepper , Ramsey , E . Ramsay , Airs . Rannie , Aliss R . Rannie , Mrs . Steele , D . R . Scrattfcon , Misses Short , Thompson , Trehcvnc , Whtddon , L . Whiddon , Airs , and Aliss Westhead , Aiisses AAlse Winsor , C . Wise , AI . Wurne , AVarne , Airs . AVatts . GENTLEMEN . —Sir G . AIcGregor , Sir H . Rottingcr . Sir L . PalkHonO'GraelAiessrsVan AllenJAtkinsonVVAck

, . y , . , . , . - land , A . \ A . Adams , Dr . Ayerst , Mossrs . J . Mount Batten , Bradshaw , Bovey , C . E . Boothby , Baker , T . S . Baker , Buchanan , Bogle , K . Bartlett , Dr . Brown , Col . Brent , Rev . R . Bowdon , Aiessrs . R . Colville , Davies , Cooke , Conhingham , J . Chapman , Capt . Collins , Aiessrs . Diston , H . Day , C . Ferin , C Friend , Tarrell , Capts . Fawcett , Flynne , Aiessrs . G . H . Grimshaw , F . Grimshaw , AV . R . Gee , Greenfield , Gower , Gibbous . J . R Ctuyci ,

Signor Garcia , Dr . Hanbury , Capt . Hill , Aiessrs . AV . Hearder , Finch , Hattou . F . AV . Hinton , Hussey , Heyne , 54 th . Regiment , Huntiy , Hooper , AlcCullum , Hart , T . and J . Heath , S . J . Jones , J . S . Kiddle , Leavitfc , Larking , Latimer , F . Alorgan , Aladdin , E . Moreland , Aloreton , Murray , Stanley , Alott , Morgan , Stewart , AInirliead , Millar , Capts . Jlullins , Alaxwell , Aiessrs Neebe , Nidson , T . Oliver , P . T . Oxenden , Patton , Perryninn , J . C . Parker , W . G . PoultonH . J . PresswellJ . PiggottE . AI . PepperDr .

, , , , Ramsey , Aiessrs . Riches , J . Renelell , AI . Rix , G . Slater , Captain Steuarfc , Capfc . Stockwell , Aiessrs . Spicer , Steele , J . Smith , Lieut Studdy , Aiessrs . D . R . Scrattou , Short , C . Turnbull , Colonel Tnrnbull , Aiessrs . Luttie , P . Thomas , Treherne , A . AVise , J . Westhead , Webb , C . Wellman , Wiley , and Watson .

The Mission Of Masonry.

THE MISSION OF MASONRY .

Tho following is extracted from tho Annual Address of the Grand H . P . ofthe Grand Chapter of R . A . Alasonry : — " AVe have come hithor from widely separated homes , and various walks in life , if to consult for tho good of our Ordor , and to renew for ourselves anel our Companions , our vows of devotion to tho principles and purposes of Royal Arch Alasonary . The days of pilgrimage are not yet over . Though tho children

of tho Abrahamic covenant no longer throng tho mountain paths and valley ways of Jueloa , to worship at tho Alount of Vision of tho Lord ; though cross-bearing myriads no longer by tho thousand press to kneel at tho sepulchre of Jesus ; though saintly shrines , Saxon , and Frank and German , aro no more enriched by the votive offerings of pious visitants ; yet , even in our day , there aro ideas which wo revere , and centres of influence to which wo turnto renew our strength and rovivo our zealas

, , pilgrims orst journeyed to hallowed shrines . As we stand horo to-day , pilgrims afc this central source of our Ordor , lot us nofc forgot tho dignity and power and reality of our profession . History recognizes the power of the great pilgrimages of the past ; it has and will recognize the power of our embodied principles , it surely deserves recognition . Masonry , as a teacher , contains the very element necessary to civilization . Humanity is not rationality , for the acutest philosophy claims that there can

be determined no difference , in kind , between the instinct of the brute and the reason of the man ; humanity is not in speech merely , for beasts and birds have language , aud tell their fears aud joys and sorrows , as surely as wo do ; humanity is not knowiag or telling , but the transmission and perpetuity of thought , and knowledge , anel speech , which lifts man above the brute ; that one generation may know the thoughts and words anel works of former generations , and building upon these , may

progress to higher thoughts anel nobler works—this is civilization . This Masonry has ever done , handing down lessons of wisdom from one generation to another , and preserving , unimpaired , through the ages , the tenets of instruction . Mon may not need her lessons to-day , for the darkness is over , and thought , to-day , is all alive , reaching back to the pasfc , reaching out into the future , hut through many an age of ignorance , Alasonry has served to keep bright the wise lessons of former times , and

to perpetuate the knowledge of truth . But there is another phase of our Craft whereon the world day by day bestows more and more honoured recognition . Alasonry recognizes tho brotherhood of humanity . Alen learn this lesson slowly ; through strife and fire and blood tho nations aro struggling toward it ; through narrow hatred and projudieo , though pride of nation , and birth aud language , tho people aro learning it . Science and arfc have long acknowledged no bounds of country or kin which should shut out a corn-

The Mission Of Masonry.

mon interest in toil and honor . But to-day tho pooplo begin to break down barriers ; and tho working men of Franco , and England and America , join hands iu recognition of a brotherhood unbounded by rivers , or mountains , or seas ; untrammmeled by language , customs , or birth , judging mon as mon , by their lives and deeds . Thus , as tho Ay oriel grows in knowledge , ifc grows in love ; tho hearts of tho pooplo beat more anel more in unison as tho groat heart of humanit

y . And what is all this but the lesson which for centuries pasfc our Alasonic Order has taught in symbols , and striven to teach in deeds ? The world recognizes ifc too , for literature has adopted our nimio , and calls this growing brotherhood tho ' Alasonry of humanity . ' AA ' o , ... a Miiouus , aro cloiriy «» ,. skaro in hastening the timo when . bonels of truth and lovo , reverence and lann , aimii lji ^ a nil men . AA' o may well , then , be proud ot our profession , and strive to mako

our lives accord with our Alasonic principles . In all my intercourse wifch the Graft duriug tho past year , I havo endeavoured to call attention to tho inner dignity and force of our right and vows ; to inculcate a charity broader and deopor than any that can be measured in currency , a truth and faith purer and nobler than of inoro words or professions , a lovo anel companionship firmer and faster than merely in tho Lodgo room or in name . "

The Harem And Salamlik.

THE HAREM AND SALAMLIK .

A JEAVISH WEDDING IN CONSTANTINOPLE . The bridegroom Avas a hoy of eighteen , who had already divorced a for Avife ; the bride a smart looking girl of sixteen . At about II a . m ., guests and visitors commenced to arrive at the bride ' s house , where the wedding ivas to be celebrated . These visitors were received in two different saloons . In the first , the bride and

relatives received their lady visitors ; in 4 he other , the bridegroom and his friends received the male guests . This separation of the sexes at a feast derived from the Turks and Arabs , as your readers certainly Aviil know that the Turkish houses are always divided into two distinct habitations , one called the SalamlUc , where the men reside and receive their male visitors , and the other ,

the Harem , ov Itaremlilc ( from tbe Hebrew and Arab root , meaning divided , separated , and not accursed , as some English translators erroneously mako it ) , where the mistress or mistresses of fche house , with their female attendant , reside , and there they receive their lady visitors . The rich have their eunuchs to guard these wives in that part of the building . No other man ever enters there . The sons of the house , if above thirteen years , cannot come there as long as the other wives of their

father reside . The rrasbarid equally may not enter his Avil ' e's room , Avhen a pair of yelloAV slippers outside the door indicates the presence of a strange Avoman . Through , those rigorous customs , neither Christians nor Jews , are permitted to reside in tlie x'egular Turkish quarters as it is not expected that they Avould turn their heads another way if , by chance they should meet the unveiled face of

one of their Turkish wives , as the conscientious Turk Avould invariably do . It is strange that the Jews should have adopted this unsociable custom of separation , which they practice , not only in their joys , but also in their sorrows . When in the week of mourning for one of their relatives , they receive , sitting on the ground , visits of condolence , the

sexes are then also separated , although delicacies are freely handed around in the shape of mocha coffee and cigarettes , Avhich , iu itself , would look strange and irreconcilable with , our Western Jewish notions of mourning visits . To return to our wedding : I said that a stream of visitors in their ample Turkish robes , came in—or rather jumped in , as it is Turkish custom that a visitor , when once admitted within the door curtain , by the servant outside , without further ceremony , saluting or noticing