Very Great Luminaries.

to the condition of every man , and its full possession is one of the greatest ends for which men were designed in this world . The other is of human origin , not universal or bindiug upon all , and cannot bo adapted to the condition of everv man . The handmaid of religion ,

Masonry is only ono of the means of obtaiuing the great end . And if we have obtained the favour of God , which is the great end for which we were designed in this world , let us live up to the commands of God , " that men feeing our good works , may be moved to love and serve God

likewise . This will apply , with all it * force , to Masons professing Christianity , and when applied to the Order in general , in reference to our secrets , it is enough to say that men , seeing the happy results of our unity , brotherly love and charity , may be constrained to come and do likewise ,

ihereby making use of one of the means of being moralised ; one of the means of obtaining a love for the Holy Scriptures ; one step towards the attainment of that love to God , which may ultimately enable them to so "let their light

shine before men that they may see their good works and glorify their Father which is in heaven . " And further upon tho subject of secrecy we aro taught by Solomon " That a tale-bearer revealeth secrets : but he that is of a

faithful spirit concealeth the matter . " There aro many in tho world who think that there is something so mysterious and dangerous in Masonry as to be subversive of all good government and at war with Christianity . This opinion is founded upon tlio fact that

some good Masons cease , regularly , to attend their Lodges . In i H 3 wer to this objection we might ask , why do not all good Chiistian Masons cease to attend our Lodges , and to join with us on occasions like the present ? But we answer , without fear of successful contradiction , that no

man ever did cease to attend Lodges becauso the principles of Masonry tended to anarchy or were in any degree anti-Christian . Masonry does not require of its members a regular attendanco in Lodge , to the detriment of their particular business . And there may be Masons who cease

to attend Lodgo regularly , and yet retain the very essence of Masonry . There are some men in all societies who are unstable in their ways , and are easily influenced by notions of an opposite character , and there are others who lack

moral courage to boar up against the tide of persecution . Like many Christians , they only remain firm and unshaken in the days of prosperity , and when the days of adversit y come * ' thick and fast upon them , " shrink , turn back to their idols , and worship only popular gods .

It is said by some that wo compose a secret institution in league against all governments , with a determination foi their overthrow , but the general conduct of the Order , in all ages , has hitherto contradicted this most emphatically ,

We are not such euthusiasts as to seek the destruction of our country , and establish upon its ruins a Masonic hierarchy . Our principles are all republican . Our lectures and the instruction given in our Lodges are calculated to increase our attachment for our common

country , and to nerve us to repjl every innovation which may be made upon our liberty . The design of the Fraternity is to better their condition and to cultivate peace and harmony with all mankind . Supporting the government under which they live , they say , in the fulness of their hearts ,

Dear native land , bow * do the good and wise , Thy happy clime , thy countless blossings prize . We have gotten through with our design to the best of

our ability , but it may be asked , What is our design in regard to another matter ? We shall give our own opinion , and no doubt in so doing we shall give the opinion of the Masonic Fraternity .

Brethren , in this enlightened age of the world , when the stern and almost inflexible nature of man is gradually yielding before an all-powerful influence ; when those who exert that influence have approximated to that degree of perfection hitherto unknown in the history of nations ;

" when the harshness andasperities of men are smoothed and polished by assimilating with beings of more softness and refinement "—in short , w hen woman exerts that influence and holds that pre-eminent station which it was intended she should occupy , and when all the necessary bclps arc

extended with a liberal hand to promote happiness , it is to be thought strange that the question is often asked , Why are females excluded from our institution ? Why are they excluded from an institution which embraces the purest system of moral ethics ever introduced into the world ?

We answer , They aro not excluded from the benefits of our institution ; "tbey are not , it is true , permitted to attend our Lodges , ueither are they required to perform the labours of an Operative Mason ; but every Mason knows

that they hold a distinguished place in our rites and ceremonies , " and that their protection , comfort and enjoyment is instilled into the mind or heart of every truo Mason .

As an Order , we believe that women occupy a higher sphere than men in the scale of hunmnity . We believe that all the refined and better feelings of the human heart have in them a more spontaneous growth than in men ;

that they do not need so much cultivation as men ; and that they send forth in all their native beauty thoso fino feelings and sympathies which emanate from some superior inherent virtue belonging to their nature .

This high degree of moral perfection endows woman with more of the benevolent or disinterested feeling or principle that is taught in our Lodges under tho name of brotherly love and charity . Hence it is not necessary that woman should be taught that which tho God of nature has

so bountifully bestowed upon her . And hence it is needless that she bo taught in the school of Masonry . " She needs not Masonic implements to break off that roughness and rudeness which belong only to men . " Sho came from tho hands of hot * Maker with a heart made to feel for

humau woe , with a hand ever open to tho wants of suffering humanity . " Having all thoso requisites which aro so well adapted to answer the end and purposes of her being , from Him who does all things well ; who suits the agent to the action , who accommodates the instrument to the work , "

she possesses that disinterestedness , that beneficent desire to diffuse happiness amongst those by whom she is surrounded , " and that pliancy of spirit which adapts itself to every diversity of condition . The good principle of her naturo sustains her under all tho vicissitudes of fortune , "

" and , whether in poverty ' s vale , or abounding in wealth , " whether sought or rejected , "this principle reveals itself as her sustaining power . " And when man , proud man , has lost all his fortitude , when all other tics which bind us are broken ,

Theirs shall never break . Her heart can feel—bnt will not move ; Her sonl , though soft , will never shake . The true value of women are not diminished by their

having no participation in the business of our Lodges , but their true worth is estimated by a knowledge of their equality , in reference to mental endowments , and of their superior moral qualifications , hence it is the greatest compliment we can pay to their intellectual or moral powers .

We are certainly under great obligations to God for that heavenly light , without which Masonry is only "as soundingbrassoratinkling cymbal , " which has enabled the nations of the earth to make such rapid strides in the scale of civilization and refinement . In this onward march woman

has been advanced almost to the summit of her glory , and it only remains for her to use that vigorous intellect , and those moral powers which God has given her , for tho further advancement of her best interests , and for the improvement of mankind . In all her laudable undertakings

Masonry stands ready to assist—claimingas an Order tohave acted some humble part iu advancing her to her present condition . Masonry is now pleading her cause , and Masonry will protect her happiness as long as Masons find a place amongst men , or the Masonic Temple has a place upon earth .

Thus to the best of our ability havo we presented you with some of the doctrines taught in our Lodges , and we present them asbeing worthy of reception amongst the most enli ghtened ; acknowledging , however , the feebleness of the hand which has but sketched the picture , and feeling assured

that the subject presents " no barren field to glean upon . " Would we had the wisdom of our onco great Grand Master Solomon , together with the eloquence of a Demosthenes , that we might be able to set before yon the doctrines of the Order in all their bright and glowing colours . Would

we could throw aside the veil , aud let you behold in all their simplicity and grandeur the altars of every Masonic Templo supporting the book of God , teaching in the eloquent language of heaven the whole duty of man , and making sacred the place where " dwells Masonic light . "

Behold Masonry as she issues from the Temple of the Lord on Mount Ziou , having inscribed upon her brow , in legible characters , this motto : " Peace on earth and good will to men . " Behold her as in her onward march she bears aloft the olive branch of peace over tho nations of