to be called upon. He was obliged by the manner in which the health of the Stewards and himself had been drunk, and he wished all present health and prosperity in secula seculorum.

The CHAIRMAN said that the last toast was one which they ought not to neglect, "their Vocal Friends," to whom they were so much indebted for the talent they had displayed.

Bro. Jolley returned thanks, and the Chairman then left the chair. A great number of the gentlemen then joined the ladies in their room, where a concert took place, which was prolonged until a late hour.

We have omitted to mention that in the course of the evening Signor Beletti, of Her Majesty's Theatre, performed a solo on the clarionet in first rate style, which, as well as Messrs. Distin's performance, commanded an encore.

Messrs. Broadwood very generously placed at the disposal of the Asylum two splendid grand pianos, at one of which Signor Perugini, at the other Bro. Jolley, presided-the English department of the concert being under the direction of the latter gentleman. Bro. Harker officiated as toast-master in his well-known style.

The entertainment altogether was one of the most pleasant description; and all appeared satisfied with themselves and each other, and delighted at the gathering in the cause of charity. It was an intellectual day, worthy the enjoyment of the gentleman and the Mason, and illustrated those often-quoted words, "the feast of reason and the flow of soul."

We conclude by placing before our readers an address, written for the occasion by Miss Eliza Cook, which, for its impressive sweetness and deep pathos, will take rank among her happiest efforts; the perusal caused many a sigh among the ladies, while among the sterner sex, it effected the object for which it was written.

A rich man lived mid all that Life could know
Of Peace and Plenty in our lot below;
His wealth was ready and his hand was kind,
Where friends might sue or rigid Duty bind.
He gave to kindred, and bestowed his aid

Where Right could sanction the demand it made:
But there he paused-his bosom never felt
Compassion's impulse kindle, rise, and melt.
With stoic ease he turned from every cause
That had no claim except through Mercy's laws;
And coldly good, he measured out his span,
An honest, moral, true, and prudent man.

The rich man died—and cleansed from earthly leaven,
Upward he sprang on pinions stretch'd for Heaven.
Onward he soared, and well-nigh reached the gate
Where Angel sentries ever watch and wait;
But there he fluttered-just below the place
Where Bliss and Glory pour their crowning grace;
Striving with hope to gain the eternal height,
And weakly drooping as he sought the flight.

""Tis vain," the Angel Keeper cried, "'tis vain;
Thou must return and dwell on earth again;
One feather more thy ample wings must wear,
Ere they will bear thee through this ambient air:
Good as thou art, go back to human dust;
Man to be godlike mustbe more than just.”

The humbled Spirit took its downward way,
And here resumed its working garb of clay;
For threescore years and ten it stemmed Life's tide,
And breathed and thought—the trying and the tried.
Still was he honest, still he loved the best

The ones who claimed the kindness in his breast,
Still was he trusted as the type of truth,
The moral oracle of age and youth.

His love began with mother, wife, child, friend;
But there he found Affection must not end.
His gentle sympathy now turned to heed
The stranger's sorrow, and the stranger's need ;
With right good will he ever sought to dry
The tear that dimmed the lonely orphan's eye;
He gave his Pity, and bestowed his Gold
Where Want abided with the Poor and Old;
He burst the bonds of Duty's narrow thrall,
His soul grew wider-and he felt for all.
The rich man died—again his spirit flew
On through the broad, Elysian fields of blue;
Higher-still higher-till he saw once more,
The crystal arch he failed to reach before:
And trembling there, he feared to task his might,
To travel further in the realms of light.

"Fear not," the Angel Warder cried, "I see
The plume that now will waft thee on to me,
Thy wings have now the feather that alone
Lifts the created to the Maker's throne.
'Tis Mercy-bounteous Mercy-warm and wide,
That brings the mortal to the Maker's side,
'Tis dove-eyed Mercy deifies the dust;
Man to be godlike must be more than just.
Up to thy place." The Spirit soon obeyed
The Angel's word-a tone of music played
In melting murmurs round the fields of blue,
As cherubs came to lead the Spirit through.
The chrystal portal opened at the strain,
The Spirit passed-the Angel watched again,
Still crying to the short-winged sons of dust,
"Man to be godlike must be more than just."
Ye,-willing workers in a sacred band,
Among the noblest in our noble land;
Ye, gladly build, in Charity's blest name;
The Christian altars raised to England's fame:
Altars that serve to break the storms that rage
In fearful gloom round Poverty and Age.

Ye help the helpless with a cheerful zeal,
Ye feel for Want as man should ever feel;
Ye shed the essence of your God around,
For God is seen where Charity is found.
Fear not to die, for freely do ye spare
Some of the "talents" trusted to your care;
Well may ye hope to gain the highest flight
Toward the portal of celestial light,

For if that portal Mercy's plume can win,
Ye bear the pinions that shall let ye in.

There was also circulated in the Hall a spirited Italian song, written by Mrs. Webb, pupil of Signor Negri, with a translation.

The following is the list of Stewards, viz. :--Bro. Col. the Hon. George Anson, M. P., P G. M. Staffordshire, President; Bros. Henry Shute, P. G. M. Bristol, Major-General George Cooke, P. G. W., Vice-Presidents; Bro. R. Gardiner Alston, Lodge of Friendship, Treasurer; Bro. John Whitmore, Secretary; Bros. Henry Faudel, No. 3; J. Nissen, No. 12; J. S. Robinson. No. 30; E. Brewster, No. 49; G. W. Turner, No. 87; P. Mountain, No. 108; J. Pennington, No. 108; B. S. Phillips, No. 113; John Collis, No. 183; S. B. Wilson, No. 188; Algernon Attwood, No. 212; Thomas Pryer, No. 225; George Barrett, No. 255; John Hervey, No. 318; J. P. Bull, No. 329; J. Imrie, No. 329; F. J. Law, No. 343; R. Spiers, No. 425; and Osborne West, No. 725.

CHIT CHAT.

ODD FELLOWS' LODGES.

"Odd

Although totally unconnected with the brethren known as Fellows," we understand that in the work of charity, they are more than emulous of the Masonic Craft. It appears that last year, Vice-Chancellor Bruce, in the case of the exclusion of a member from the " Loyal Highland Laddie Lodge, declined giving any opinion of the society as a moral instrument, as he could not decide whether the association was, or was not unlawful at common-law, or was rendered criminal, or unlawful by statute.

In the House of Lords, LORD BEAUMONT moved, on the 9th of May last, the second reading of the bill for legalizing “Odd Fellows Societies," and argued that as the associations were purely of a charitable character, they ought to be brought within the provision of the Benefit Societies' Act. One Lodge, the "Manchester Unity," consisted of 350,000 meinbers, and 4000 lodges were scattered over the country.

The MARQUIS OF Lansdowne, in giving his consent to the second reading, would go no further than was consistent with a desire to see these societies provided with a remedy, which would be found safe and practicable.

LORD BEAUMONT, would meet the noble marquis's views in committee. The bill was then read a second time.

The Odd Fellows Society has made a rapid advance in public opinion; and this movement has cemented that advance, by the approbation of Parliament.

TALMUDIC ALlegories. ES. -The Trees of Paradise.-When the Deity led man into his Paradise, all the trees of the garden of Eden saluted the favoured of the Lord; with waving branches they offered him their fruits for his food, the fragrant shade of their boughs for his refresh

ment.

"O that he would prefer me!" said the palm tree, "I will feed him with my golden dates, and the wine of my juice shall be his beverage. My leaves shall form his tranquil hut, and my branches spread their shadow above him." "I will shower my odoriferous blossoms upon thee," exclaimed the apple tree," and my choicest fruit shall be thy nourishment,"

Thus all the trees of Paradise greeted their new-created lord; and his Supreme Benefactor permitted him to enjoy their rich offerings. Of all He gave him liberty to partake. One fruit only he was forbidden to taste that which grew on the TREE OF KNOWLEDGE.

"All other trees

"A tree of knowledge!" said man within himself. yield me but terrestrial, corporeal nourishment; but this tree, which would elevate my spirit, and strengthen the powers of my mind, this tree alone I am forbidden to enjoy.' Yet he silenced the voice of desire, and suppressed the rebellious thoughts which arose in his bosom. But when the voice and example of temptation assailed him, he tasted the pernicious fruit, the juice of which still ferments in our hearts.

"Hard is the prohibition which is laid upon man," said the angelic spirits of heaven; "for what can be more tempting to a being who is gifted with reason, than the acquisition of knowledge? And shall he, who will soon transgress the command, therefore be punished with death?" "Wait and behold his punishment," replied the dulcet voice of celestial love, “even on the path of his errors, amidst the pangs of repentance, and the stings of remorse-even there will I be his guide, and conduct him to another tree, that grows in his heavenly home."-Hebrew Review.

JEWISH GRATITUDE.-Esther Levi engaged herself as a servant in the house of Mr. Goldsmith, an Israelite merchant, residing in Cheapside, London; and as she was mild, complaisant, and desirous of pleasing, she obtained the good feeling of all the family.

Mr. Goldsmith had always forbade his children being harsh to servants. "That which we have a right to expect from our servants," he observed, "is that they fulfil their duties with regularity. Humanity then exacts that, far from aggravating their position, we should, by treating them kindly, lessen their sense of servitude."

This principle was faithfully observed, and, at the end of some years, Esther was considered as one of the family.

Misfortunes accumulated on the house of Goldsmith. Two of the children died: war with France interfered with the commerce of England, and ruined Mr. Goldsmith, who died of grief, after a lingering illness, which exhausted his last resources. His poor wife, left without parents, fortune, or defender, was maddened by despair, and her health became seriously affected by continued watchings and grief.

One morning, the afflicted widow called her servant, and, with tears in her eyes, said, " My good Esther, we must separate. Your devotion merits a rich reward, but, alas! I am ruined, and it is with difficulty I pay the wages I owe you. Take this money, the last I have left, and accept as a token of my friendship this ring, the only one of my jewels I have not parted with." "What are you proposing to me?" rejoined

Esther, sobbing; would you send me away? Can I quit you, when you so much need my services? Have I asked for my wages? When you were rich, you treated me as your child; and now you are aged, poor, and sick, I will regard you as my mother. You cannot work; but never mind, I am young and strong, and can strive for us both."

For ten years Esther fulfilled her generous terms. She supported Mrs. Goldsmith by the work of her hands, and with so much cheerfulness, that she always appeared the obliged party, and exercised so much delicacy, that no person suspected her heroic devotedness.

At length, in 1815, peace was proclaimed between France and England, and Mrs. Goldsmith collected some heavy debts due to her late husband. She passed the latter years of her life in calm and easy circumstances, which she doubly enjoyed in sharing them with her faithful domestic, in whose favour her will ran thus:-"I give and bequeath all I possess to my well-beloved daughter, Esther Levi; and I desire she may hereafter bear the name of Goldsmith, to preserve the remembrance of her exalted conduct, in what concerns a family who will never cease to pray to the Eternal that she be rewarded as she merits."

SCRIPTURAL CALCULATIONS.-A calculator has given in English measurement the following dimensions of Noah's ark:-Length, 252 feet; breadth, 87 feet; and depth, 524 feet. The same calculator says, that Goliah was 11 feet 44 inches in height, and that his shield weighed 3,793 lbs. He states that Solomon's revenue figured £3,639,214; and gives the following as the dimensions of the New Jerusalem, viz., length of the four city walls, 1,590 miles 1,606 yards; height of the walls, 253 feet; area of the city, 2,499,271 square miles, which is about 300,000 less than that of all Europe.

DRUIDICAL TEMPLES IN SCOTLAND.-Several of the Druid places of worship are still to be seen in the Highlands. Of these temples, at which the ancient Caledonians were wont to worship, the largest we have seen in the north is one in Morayshire, and those at Leys and Torbreck, near Inverness. In our own neighbourhood, above Dochmaluag, there is a pretty large one, the stones of which, it is maintained by many of the peasants in the district, are said to have been at one time human beings, which were overtaken with judgment for dancing on the Sabbath-day, and that the position of the stones exactly correspond with the different attitudes of the dancers. Hence the name Clachan Gorach, or foolish stones. Rosshire Advertiser.

It is stated that the Commissioners of Woods and Forests have appointed Bro. James Sheridan Knowles, the dramatist, to the charge of Shakspere's house at Stratford-on-Avon, at a salary of £250 a year.Globe.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS IN PARIS.-You would scarcely believe, in sober England, what is going forward here (Paris). The broken remnants of the Knights Templars have their head quarters in Paris. They lately assembled at the Pont Neuf in solemn celebration of the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Grand Master, Jacques Molay, in 1314. The annual custom is to walk round the statue of Henri Quatre, which occupies the exact spot where stood the funereal pyre, and then to the fountain in the Place du Dauphin, where it is said the ashes of the hero were scattered to the winds. The Revolution has given them also a renewed hope, and their assemblage was more numerous than it has

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