them. But, when I heard the minister expound their faith I did not wonder, any more, that they looked so bad. Such a doctrine would make any one bad at heart. Why do you believe it? the preacher said that every one was bad, and that mankind was corrupt by nature— that there was no good in us--that we all deserved endless punishment at the hands of a just Gɔd-that our own good deeds could avail us nothing, and that if God dealt justly by us we would all be punished. That at most, He might, of His own free grace, save a few of us.”

"Was it not horrible? We know better, do we not, my brother? We know God is not the bad Being these Presbyterians would present Him. They must be very bad people. I do not wonder that they look so awful; I am not surprised that they hate their fellow-creatures when they hold such a bad opinion of them."

"I hope you will hold a better opinion of this sect, when you become better acquainted with the professors of this peculiar creed. You will find many good men and women disciples of this doctrine. They are not so bad as their doctrine would imply. Repulsive, unreasonable and uncharitable as is their rule of faith, many are truly pious, love their fellow-creatures and do good unto all, notwithstanding their conduct, in so doing, is in open contradiction of their faith." "But, about your wife, I must meet her. I cannot be still until I embrace her, and call her my sister. It will be so sweet to have a

sister as well as a brother."

"Oh! this cold, this stormy life of loneliness has been so long, so dark and so dreary. I had no one to touch my cheek with the lips of friendship-to breathe the breath of affection across my brow-to touch my heart with the sweet tones of love-to take me by the hand and say arise, my sister, and rest thy head upon my bosom.' But now the sunshine comes and makes my pathway joyful-flowers spring where grew the thorns and thistles; I stand between my brother and my sister, and hear a sacred word 'home' whispered from above as if angels stooped from the golden portals away up in heaven to send it down to earth.”

Her eyes filled with tears, she trembled and leaned her head upon Preston's breast and wept aloud. Preston placed his arm gently around her waist and supported her. She took Preston's hand and

resumed:

"You will continue to be my brother, and she shall be my sister, shall she not?"

"It shall be so," said Charles, thoughtfully, a new anxiety arising

in his mind.

"And your house shall be my house, shall it ?"

"It shall be so," replied Preston.

"Bless you for that word! now I am so happy!

How I have stood at the humble cottage doors, and envied the lot of the simple peasant, because under that thatched roof was home to him-the allegory of home, while for me earth had no home."

"Yes I love you, oh! how truly and how sacredly I love you!" "My marriage with the banker's daughter will make you unhappy. You would be my wife."

"No never; if you were the last man and I the last woman that could not be. I love you as a brother, and cannot be happy seperate from that sacred thought that you are such.

"But, I could not be your wife. Every thought, every emotion and every impulse revolts at such a thought. Yet it is sweet to be your sister, and, as such, to dwell with you and your beautiful wife."

"You shall be, my sister ;. you shall dwell with me and my beautiful wife, and she shall love you," said Preston, parting her hair, and and pressing his lips to her forehead.

"Ah! a match! un affaire du coeur ! a marriage-fairly caught!" shouted a voice at the other end of the room, and, turning, they saw Madame Druilliard approaching, all smiles, with a hand extended to each. She congratulated Charles and the Countess. She said it was just as it should be-that their fiancailles would give pleasure to the whole household.

It was in vain that either Charles or the Countess attempted to explain the true relation between them.

Madame Druilliard waited for no explanation, but, telling them that their secret was safe with her until she was authorized, by them, to speak of it, she hurried out of the room, and left them alone.

Charles and the Countess seperated. She went to her room, Preston to the bank.

(TO BE CONCLUDED NEXT NUMBER.)

A new Masonic Temple is in contemplation for the city of Elmira, N. Y., in which the following Masonic bodies are expected to take a very important part in the construction: Union Lodge, No. 95, and Ivy Lodge, No. 397, with a joint membership of about six hundred ; Elmira Chapter, No. 42; Southern Tier Council, No. 16; and St. Omer's Commandery, No. 19. So says the N. Y. Courier.

THE SIGN OF DISTRESS.

'Twas a wild, dreary night, in cheerless December
'Twas a night only lit by a meteor's gleam;
'Twas a night, of that night I distinctly remember,

That my soul journeyed forth on the wings of a dream; That dream found me happy, by tried friends surrounded, Enjoying with rapture the comforts of wealth;

My cup overflowing with blessings unbounded,

My heart fully charged from the fountains of health.

That dream left me wretched, by friendship forsaken, Dejected, despairing, and wrapt in dismay;

By poverty, sickness, and ruin o'ertaken,

To every temptation and passion a prey; Devoid of an end or an aim, I then wandered

O'er highway and by-way and lone wilderness; On the past and the present and future I pondered, But pride bade me tender no sign of distress.

In frenzy the wine-cup I instantly quaffed at;
And habit and time made me quaff to excess;
But heated by wine, like a madman, I laughed at
The thought of e'er giving the sign of distress.
But wine sank me lower by lying pretenses,

It tattered my raiment and furrowed my face,
It palsied my sinews and pilfered my senses,
And forced me to proffer a sign of distress.

I reeled to a chapel, where churchmen were kneeling,
And asking their Saviour poor sinners to bless;
My claim I presented the door of that chapel

Was slammed in my face at the sign of distress!
I strolled to the priest, to the servant of Heaven,
And sued for relief with wild eagerness;
He prayed that my sins might at last be forgiven,
And thought he had answered my sign of distress.

I staggered at last to the home of my mother, Believing my prayers there would meet with success, But father and mother and sister and brother Disowned me, and taunted my sign of distress!

I lay down to die, a stranger drew nigh me,

A spotless white lambskin adorning his dress;
My eye caught the emblem, and ere he passed by me
I gave, as before, the sign of distress.

With godlike emotion that messenger hastens

To grasp me, and whisper, "My brother, I bless
The hour of my life when I learned of the Masons

To give and to answer your sign of distress.
Let a sign of distress by a craftman be given,

And though priceless to me is eternity's bliss,
May my name never enter the records of Heaven
Should I fail to acknowledge that sign of distress.
-Mackey's National Magazine.

ADDRESS BY GRAND HIGH PRIEST HUGH M'CURDY.

OFFICERS AND COMPANIONS-, Coming as you do from the subordinate tribunals and working Chapters of our jurisdiction, and knowing each throb and pulsation of the great heart of Masonry, you meet again upon the threshold of a new convocation, to survey its progress and unite your counsels for its future welfare. The cycle which brings you again in general consultation, proclaims that another year has been harvested to eternity; but whether the stores garnered by you in the field of our Companionship, during its revolution, have been for weal or woe is now to be considered by you, as stewards of a great and exalted charity. In the olden theocratic governments it was wisely taught that man's necessities required not only fixed periods for rest, but also fixed times for reflection. Animated, then by the spirit of love and fraternity, and forsaking for a time the cares of daily avocation and the comforts of home you come up here in a spirit fragrant with the blossoms of love and the flowers of obedience, to give such direction to united labors as will continue to strengthen the bonds and increase the usefulness of our beloved order. Not in the spirit of the old Egyptian do you come up to this temple to bow down to the idols of Isis, nor yet like the haughty Roman, whose love it was to worship at the sceptre of the Cæsars; for you have come imbued with "Faith in God, Hope in Immortality and Charity to all Mankind”—that you may legislate for our common brotherhood, to the end that additional strength and vitality may be given to an institution which has accomplished for man more true glory than was ever reflected upon Egyptian altar-fires or the halo that sparkled from the jewels of Cæsar's crown. Into your hands, Companion legislators, is entrusted the continued welfare of our order. We have built a gorgeous temple whose foundation, if well guarded, must endure until "the last syllable of recorded time.' Upon its golden altars let the ruder and darker shades of humanity be mellowed into light, and around the pillars which sustain the edifice let there be engraved, in letters of living fire: "This our

VOL. III.-NO. VIII.-23.

mission and this our work-to refine society and cultivate man's moral and power to strengthen our faith in the great law of compensation, giving divinity to hope and eternity to time." For these splendid results, which the instrumentality of man has brought about, and upon which we may look with such admiring affection, it becomes us always to lay the tribute of our fervent gratitude at the foot of that throne, whose Almighty occupant has nourished our weakness into strength. and rendered harmless the darts of detraction; and let us, with these thank-offerings, send up earnest petitions to our good Father, gushing warm from the heart, that His protecting arm may never be withdrawn. but that in his all-wise counsels it may be ordained that our beloved order shall still advance in its hallowed mission of Faith, Hope and Charity.

CONSTITUTION OF NEW CHAPTERS AND INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS.

Immediately after the close of our last Grand Convocation, the constitution of new Chapters and the Installation of officers demanded my attention. The following named Chapters were constituted, and their respective officers installed by my proxies, as follows:

By M. E. A. J. Wiggins, Ithica Chapter, No. 70.

By R. E. John H. Smith, Milford Chapter, No. 71.

By M. E. Ethan Brown, Calvin Britain Chapter, No. 72.

By R. E. Leonard H. Randall, D. G. H. P., Hooker Chapter.

No. 73.

By M. E. Charles H. Brown, P. G. H. P., Decatur Chapter. No. 75.

By M. E. William L. Greenly, P. G. H. P., Morenci Chapter. No. 77.

To these Grand Officers and Most Excellent Companions I return my cordial and fraternal thanks for the kind assistance which they have rendered me in performing these labors of love, and for the encouraging reports which they have made to me of the high standing and exalted worth of the Companions under their charge.

On the 16th of February I constituted Almont Chapter, No. 76. and installed its officers, and witnessed work in all the degrees, which was done in a truly commendable manner, and was in all respects good work, true work, and such as we are authorized to receive.

On the 17th of February I constituted Mt. Clemens Chapter, No. 69, and installed its officers in public. Before the installation, a public address was delivered by Companion Rev. E. R. Clark, of New Haven, which was well received. Here I also had the pleasure of witnessing work on all the degrees. This Chapter carries its work