Brief Essays On Curious Subjects.

The Agatho-Dsemen of the Nile , the sacred Naga of Hindustan , and the Chnup Ris of the Gnostics , are protecting powers . Our coin sets forth the allegory narrated by Milton as the great fig ht in Heaven between the Archangel and Lucifer " Lucifer ! light bringer , the bright morning star , now used

indifferently for the products of Bryant and May or for Satan , which again simply means " adversary . " . The Egyptians represented the resurrection or revivification of nature by " Nehebka " with a serpent ' s head , and the Gnostic gems abound with " Abraxas " and similar figures . The benevolent deity was

usually pictured erect or with wings , in the land of Khem at any rate , while its opponent grovelled on the earth , as ordained in Genesis . We have Neith trampling on a crocodile , and , further East , Indra crushing the biting , crawling serpent Vritra , in corroboration of the biblical narrative , that the seed of the woman

shall be avenged on her enemy . In the Mayan remainsaccording to Le Plongean—the story of the temptation is vividly presented , the serpent being twined round a tau-shaped tree . Our ophidian friend was frequently used as an emblem of wisdom—for example , when

displayed on the phallic wand of Hermes , the Greek Mercury , and also as a symbol of the healing art , for it was an attribute of Esculapius ; even now it is a common ornament in drug stores . The brazen serpent ( on a tau cross ) was raised in the wilderness by Moses , and preserved in the Temple until Hezekiah

ordered its removal on account of the worship paid to this Nehustan by the idolatrous Israelites . From the fiery serpent of the Exodus , termed Seraph , we have our expression " Seraphic , " while Terah ( the father of Abram ) means " maker of images . " Our subject turns up also as one of the Zodiacal

signs standing for the four elements , as well as for the four Evangelists , SS . Matthew , Mark , Luke , and John—the lion , bull , man , and eagle—the latter having been substituted for the

original Scorpio . These four faces conjoined made up the head of each of the Cherubims overshadowing the Ark of the Covenant , and must be familiar to most of us on the seals of many Grand Lodges .

Ophite worship was not confined to the East : in Invernessshire and near Stornoway still exist large serpent mounds , and a fine specimen in Ohio is well known . It is a temptation to follow a celebrated Rosicrucian scholar

in his inquiries as to the possible existence of the Basilisk in far-off epochs , and so endeavour to trace a connection with our present study , but it is probably more in accord with the views of the majority of our brethren to limit these notes to a more recent period .

May the great source of ALL GOOD , materialised here as St . George of Merry England , speedily overcome the " dragon " of our evil nature , so that , purified from the dross , we shall be known to the profane as perfect members of the Royal Art . C . A . M .

Province Of Surrey.

PROVINCE OF SURREY .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey was held at the Public Hall , Caterham , on the iSth inst ., under the banner of the Caterham Lodge , Ho . 2095 . There was a large attendance , only one lodge not being represented . At the appointed time , Bro . Frederick West , D . P . G . M ., in charge of the province , opened the Provincial Grand Lodge . Among those present

were—. Bros . D . P . Cama , P . S . G . W . ; H . M . Hobbs , P . J . G . W . ; George Price , P . G Treas . ; Charles Greenwood , P . G . Sec . ; Alfred Bishop , Fountain Meen , F . T Ridpath , C . H . Woodward , F . A . Guimaraens , Henry J . P . Dumas , H . G . Thomp son , H . C . Leigh Bennett , G . T . Lister , A . T . Jeffery , Hugh D . Sandeman , H . E Frances , J . E . Street , W . H . Hatton , T . F . Phillips , J . W . Jolly , F . Cambridge , C Sheppard , W . J . Mason , T . Clark , W . D . Fracis , E . C . Mulvey , R . C . H . Goffin , G

W . Filmer , R . T . Elsam , S . P . Catterson , W . Chapman , W . P . Catterson , C . T . Tyler , W . G . W . Bultz , T . G . A . Burns , R . E . Catterson , A . Wilson , A . Machell , S . Hewitt , J . Hill , W . F . Hawes , G . S . Horsnail , F . C . Walker , A . C . Storr , Ral ph Neville , C . C . Greenwood , J . D . Langton , F . Carter , A . Lambert , T . Rhodin , J . O'Connell , F . S . Arnold , F . J . Hayward , M . [ Spiegel , A . Watson , J . W . Manby , T . L . Heward , A . Verdon , J . H . Jones , H . E . Vickers , Herbert E . Stenning ,

J . Edmonds , B . Cooke , F . P . Hill , M . W . Dodge , T . Jennings , S . Straker , Anthony Trevannon , T . Dayth , H . W . Humphreys , E . L . Caron , J . Easterbrook , T . F . Charlton , W . H . Gardener , W . H . Mayhead , J . Parry , J . T . Broderick , Thomas Johnson , W . M . S . Jackson , T . Mayhead , Dr . C . Gibbes , G . C . Burns , W . A . Larter , R . Williams , J . B . Tomkinson , J . Cater , G . S . Graham , J . List , G . E . Todd , G . F . Spencer , C . K . Heather , R . Killick , Hugh Dumas , A . Luntz , D . Hughes , J .

Hughes , E . H . Gibson , W . E . Fenn , C . W . C . Webb , G . Balcombe , R . T . Haws , F . G . Smith , D . Hughes , F . Hughes , T . Pennington , J . H . Sumner , A . Laurence , H . H . S . Linley , the Rev . E . Houndle , F . W . Mansell , F . Neale Arnold , G . Mansell , the Rev . Lord Victor A . Seymour , W . W . Morgan , G . A . Eady , W . P . Morrison , G . Yaxley , H . Burgess , W . D . Young , Dr . H . J . Strong , W . Lane , S . PI . Parkhouse , j . S . Fraser , W . j . Murlis , G . H . Martin , D . M . Corrie , H . M . Lemon

J . Sawyer , W . H . C . Cornhill , J . Manners , Joseph Latham , C . Hogg , J . J . Slade , W . Pile , G . Moorman , R . Piper , J . Churchill , A . F . Asher , F . Honeywell , A . F King , J . T . Dodd , J . H . Thompson , H . J . Shelley , T . Weaver , G . H . Chapman , S . Ram , P . H . Ball , J . W . Thompson , Joseph Pollard , H . J . Dumas , C . A . Smith , Raymond H . Thrupp , D . P . G . M . - Middlesex ; Magnus Ohren , P . A . G . D . C . ; and others .

Bro . H . E . Frances , P . S . G . D ., acted throughout as Director of Ceremonies . The roll of lodges having been duly called , Bro . George Price was re-elected Prov . Grand Treasurer for the 34 th time , amidst applause .

Province Of Surrey.

The Audit Committee reported that the balance standing to the credit of p vincial Grand Lodge was ^ 283 18 s . iod . From this sum 20 guineas were voted to the Boys' School , 10 guineas to the Girls' School , 10 guineas to the Benevolent Institution , and 10 guineas to the Widows' Fund . Ten guineas were also voted f 0 local Charity , to be disbursed by the vicar of St . John ' s Church , Caterhin , Valley . '

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master then invested his officers as follows : Bro . J . E . Street ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W „ Dr . Gibbes ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . E . Chichester ... ... ... ••¦) p „„ r ri „ Rev . W . W . Martin j Prov . G . Chaps . „ Geo . Price ( re-elected ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas „ J . K . R . Cama ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . " „ Chas . Greenwood ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Dr . F . Nicholls ... ... ... ... ) o n ™ " D r > . \ Prov . S . G . D s „ R . Piper ... ... ... ... ... J „ C . Smith ... ... ... ... •••) n T / - ^ 1 ^ , T ? T D-J ii \ Prov - T-G . D ' s „ F . 1 . Ridpath ... ... ... ... J J ,, J . K . Thompson ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of \ y „ A . Lamb ... ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ J . Hughes ... ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . offj „ Geo . Moss ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . ofc ! ,, A . Tremearne ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br ,, T . T . Phillips ... ... ... ... ) r , r * o , . T , I ! Jas . Hill ... ... . jProv . G . Std . Br ' s . „ J . O'Connell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ A . C . Greenwood ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec , „ F . R . Croaker ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst ' „ R . Killick ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ G . Fox Spencer ... ... ... ... " ,, F . Carter „ T . T . Broderick ... ... ... ... „ .-, Pl , " E . C . Mulvey ^ Prov . G . Stwds . „ W . H . Gardener „ C . E . Omerod ... ... ... ... „ R . Potter ... ... ... ... Prov . G . T yler .

Bro . FREDERICK WEST , D . P . G . M ., then addressed those present in the following terms : Brethren , —It has been our custom to meet together once in every year , in different places , for the purpose of electing and appointing the Officers , and transacting the business of the Province . On these occasions we have taken a retrospect of what has happened in the past year of interest to the Province , and generally

considered the position of Masonry in it . The first thou ght is a sad one , for as you are too well aware we have lost our Provincial Grand Master . Immediatel y I heard the sad news I , as the head of the Province , in your name , conveyed our sympathy with his famil y in the great loss they had sustained . We cannot , however , allow this oppprtunity to pass without testif ying to the invaluable services of our late Provincial Grand Master in raising the Province to the position it now holds .

When he was appointed , in 18 71 , there were 10 lodges and 5 chapters . Since then 24 new lodges and 7 new chapters have been consecrated , so that now we have no less than 34 lodges and 12 chapters . I am glad to say the name of our late chief has been perpetuated in the province , there being a lodge and a chapter named after him . The enthusiasm thrown b y him into the work , and the encouragement given to deserving Masons , did much to enhance the success of his ruling over us .

The brethren in the province , too , appreciated the hi g h Masonic standard he fixed , and did their best to maintain it . Thus we find to-day that not onl y is the province flourishing , but there is good Masonic feeling throughout it . Our late Provincial Grand Master was a strict disci plinarian , but notwithstanding this , his kindness and geniality created an affection for him , which did much towards the success of his Masonic career in Surrey . But his work did not end here , he advocated

strongly and carried into practice the great principles of our Order . Twice did he preside at the Festivals of our noble Institstions , and loyally did the province support him . You will remember when he took the chair at the Festival of the Girls' School in the year 18 S 6 , the liberal contributions of this province , amounting to no less a sum than £ 1300 . I might also remind you of the interest he took in promoting the success of Surrey candidates for the benefits of the

Institutions . He was always to be found presiding at the Charity Committee Meetings , when candidates were selected , and he encouraged us to work for their return , which he materially assisted by the large number of votes he could always control . Our late Prov . Grand Master was equally earnest in his other duties of life . Whether it was in the Playing Fields of Eton , in Canada , or the Crimea , John Studholme Brownri gg was equally successful . The early discip line

he learnt at Eton , and the Public School spirit which he acquired there , were his best friends throughout life . He was an Englishman in every respect , and a true Mason . Well may those nearer and dearer to him mourn his loss , but we share it with them ; and , brethren , if we desire to perpetuate in this province his valuable services to us , let us follow his example , and persuade others to do the same . If will be my duty , at the close of this address , to submit to you a resolution bearing

on the subject of these remarks . I will now turn for a few minutes to the position of the province . Since we last met one of the best lodges in the province , i . e ., the East Surrey Lodge of Concord , has celebrated its Jubilee , and I was very p leased to have been present on the occasion , and take part in the installation of our Bro . George Price , Prov . G . Treas ., who filled the office of W . M . in the same lodge 4 years ago , an event which , I believe , is almost , if not quite , unique in the history

of Masonry . I think 1 am safe in saying that we all wish Bro . Price a very prosperous year of office . Brethren , I think we may fairl y say we are in a flourishing condition ; good work is being done , and there is an excellent Masonic feeling P " vailing . Not onl y do the lodges carry out the ritual well in most cases , but 1 am glad to add that they assist materially to swell the funds of our Institutions . I think we ought to be thankful that both our Surrey candidatesone boy and one

, girl , have been elected , and now we have undertaken to procure the admission of » son of the late Bro . Samuel Andrews , P . M . of St . Andrew ' s Lodge , to the Boys School . I ask for your united assistance for this object . It is the determine . " of the Committee to have only one candidate at a time , so that the I "' strength of the votes of the province may be g iven from all sources . \ which

would materiall y strengthen the hands of the Committee , ^ thoroughly representative of the province , if brethren would more loyji ' v support them than heretofore . You-will agree with me , brethren , I am sure , "lien I say that without loyalty to the cause continued action becomes useless . I ml !* appeal to Secretaries of lodges , and more especially to Scribes of chapters , to ass - ^ the work of the province bv conforming to the snirit nf the mips of the provinc

with respect to returns . Some are absolutely useless , and are hardly creditable the experienced Masons who sent them in . Without proper information , the ri" e > of the province cannot succeed , and the want of it on the present occasion had > ^ to the detriment of some brethren who would otherwise have been promote ^ am glad to find that several lodges have lodges of instruction attached , which < ^ of great assistance to the proper workine of the ceremonies . I must urge U P ,

Masters of lodges the desirability of punctuality . There are some lodges in * ' " this appears to be of no object , and the consequence is that the ceremonies . s « ^ and comfort of visitors at the subsequent banquet is impaired . I would « o lodges not to try and do too much on one evening , especially on installation g _' when , if the installation ceremony is fully and properly rendered , it is a g ° e ring ing ' s work . Our muster roll is rapidly increasing , but from what I have seen d «