About this time the senators met on a very important case, and the office requiring mature deliberation, they were detained longer than usual in the Senate-house, and the conclusion of their determination was adjourned till the following day; each member engaging in the mean time to keep secret the proceedings of their meeting. Among other noblemen's sons who attended on this occasion was the son of the grave Papyrus, a family of great renown and splendour. This youth was no less remarkable for the extent of his genius than for the prudence of his deportment. On his return home, his mother, anxious to know what important case had been debated in the senate that day, which had detained the senators so long beyond the usual hour, entreated him to relate the particulars. The noble and virtuous youth told her that it was a business not in his power to reveal, he being bound by secrecy. On hearing this, her importunities were more earnest, and her inquiries more minute; by fair speeches and liberal promises she endeavoured to break open the casket of secrecy, and at length had recourse to threats, and even stripes. The youth, finding himself in a difficulty, and smarting under the stripes, at last invented the following tale, to preserve his fidelity:-'Madam,' he said, 'it seems necessary to the senate, for the increase of the people, and the public good, that every senator should be allowed two wives, or otherwise their wives two husbands. For my own part, I shall hardly incline to call under one roof two men my father, and would rather salute two ladies by the name of mother. This is the question, madam, and to-morrow it is to be determined.' The lady took this ridiculous tale for truth, and became violently enraged; she sent messengers to all the other ladies and matrons in Rome, and the next day, headed by her, they all rushed

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down to the Senate-house, and demanded, or rather forced, admission. She proceeded to address the assembly, asserting the injustice of a husband having two wives when he could scarcely please one, that she and her companions were determined to resist such an alteration of their laws, but at the same time confessed that they, one and all, had no objection to two husbands. The lady and her friends, after this little exposure, were suffered to depart (the Senate having gained information of the scheme of young Papyrus to preserve his fidelity); with blushing cheeks and downcast looks, they returned to their homes with the just reward of their curiosity; while, for his attachment to his word, and his discreet policy, many honours were conferred on the youth."

This little anecdote, which will at least amuse you, is not devoid of instruction, nor is it devoid of signification towards those who would endeavour clandestinely to penetrate our mysteries, and who, like the Roman ladies, are sure to stultify themselves in the attempt. But I must pass on to other duties which more particularly characterise our order. Freemasonry teaches us the inviolability of our neighbours' property and reputation, which it binds us to protect as if they were our own. It is not enough that no actual encroachments are made on them by violence on our part, or connivance when they are invaded by others. The worthy Mason, who acts according to the instruction which he receives in the Lodge, will not endeavour to profit by his brother's ignorance or inexperience in any worldly transaction, but, so far from injuring him, he will protect him from danger by giving him notice of any attack which may be meditated by others; thus showing to the uninitiated world that we are united by a chain of indissoluble affection, which cannot fail to cement us by its bond while

we continue to practise the distinguishing duties of our Order, "Brotherly love. relief, and truth." And, further, we are taught that it is our duty to support a brother's character in his absence more energetically than in his presence, because it is presumed that when present he will be able to vindicate his own reputation:-"we are not wrongfully to revile him, or suffer him to be reviled by others, if it is in our power to prevent it." An offence against this precept is committed by misrepresenting the conduct of a brother, or passing unkind remarks and uncharitable reflections on him, by whispering, backbiting, or circulating injurious reports,—all approaches to such conduct are offences against the "tongue of good report," and should be carefully guarded against by every true Mason. Such offences are a breach of the stringent injunction of the grand patron of Masonry-St. John the Evangelist—who, in imitation of his Divine Master, frequently directs us to "love one another," and for this reason, because if the love of God and man be the ground of our actions, it will promote our own happiness, and spread the blessings of peace and unanimity amongst all ranks and conditions of men. This is the true spirit which Masonry inculcates,—it is the disposition of angels, and the practice of every faithful brother. The symbols of Masonry possess the quality, above those of any other society, of exciting, by the sublimity of their nature, and the aptitude of their applications, the character of the Order to its highest point of beauty and utility; in a word, Freemasonry differs essentially from all other human societies in its moral organization and benevolent character. The pillars of our temple are "Faith, Hope, and Charity," and to this I add, in the words of an inspired apostle, "the greatest of these is charity;" and Masonic charity is that

of the heart. The Mason thinks no evil of his brother; cherishes no designs against him. It is charity upon the tongue also; he speaks no evil, bears no false witness, defames no character, blasts no reputation; he knows that to take away a good name is to commit an evil the damage of which no wealth can repay, for it is of more value than great riches-rubies cannot re-purchase it, the "gold of Ophir" cannot re-gild it to its pristine beauty. It is charity of the hand, for it relieves a brother's wants, thus the heart, the tongue, the hands of the really free and accepted Masons are ever engaged and diligently exercised in carrying out the grand principles of their ancient and illustrious Order.

Such are our leading tenets, and these need be no secret; act up to these, and even if "our good be evil spoken of," we shall not smart under the slander; our vindication, and the vindication of our pure and royal Order, like Christianity itself, is better effected by the practice of its professors than by all that could be said or written in its favour.

There remains yet one consideration, Brethren, which must not be passed over amidst this day's solemnities. It has pleased the Great Architect of the universe to establish, in His strength, this Lodge, for the space of one hundred years, a period of time which, though as nothing in the ages of Masonry, is far more than is allotted to ordinary men. We shall never see, and most probably our children will never see, another centenary of the Palladian Lodge. While, then, with gratitude we bend before the Most High, for the preservation of our Order, and of this Lodge in particular, and for the many blessings we have individually received at His hands, may we prepare ourselves for that last hour when time itself must cease with us for ever; with Hope for our beacon, Faith our guide, and Charity our aid, may we so pass "through

the valley of the shadow of death," that hereafter, through the merits and for the sake of our only Lord and Saviour, we may shine as the stars for ever and ever!

BANQUET AT GRAND CENTENARY FESTIVAL.

November 17th, 1862.

The plaudits with which you have been pleased to greet me on my standing up to address you on this occasion, are well deserved, for I know they are directed to the.R.W.P.G.M. whose health I am about, by his own permission, to propose —at least when I say by his own permission, I mean you to infer that he has granted me permission to speak upon this occasion. The Worshipful Master of this Lodge has requested me as a Past Master of it to become the mouthpiece of himself and the members of the Palladian Lodge upon the present most interesting occasion. Brethren, it was quite impossible that we could permit this high and solemn festival to pass by when we have gained the sanction of the R.W. the Grand Master of England to wear upon our breasts a memorial of this our centenary celebration-it was, I say, quite impossible for us to assemble together in acknowledgment of that advantage without feeling most anxious and most desirous that the R.W.P.G.M. should, if he kindly consented to wear it, be decorated with a jewel similar to that worn by the members of the Lodge in honour of this day. With this view it was that upon our last assemblage in Lodge, it was unanimously voted that a centenary jewel, executed in the very best manner possible, and bearing a suitable inscription, should be prepared and offered for the acceptance of the Grand Master this day. Brethren, I have the honour of bearing in my hand that pleasing, and I am sure it will not be thought inelegant,