The Discussion Of Masonic Questions.

THE DISCUSSION OF MASONIC QUESTIONS .

WE note with pleasure the growing interest which Brethren take in the discussion of Masonic questions , not only of questions of jurisprudence and the like , but of questions affecting our ritual . We never have been of the number of those who think publicity in things Masonic an evil . We are , of course , aware that the greatest

caution must be exercised in carrying on these discussions , and , as far as we are concerned , we shall exercise the needful amount of care on all occasions , so that nothing that may not properly be spoken shall appear in our columns . It ia evident , however , that a new spirit has come over

Freemasonry . Some there may have been in former days , who were not sufficiently reticent where reticence was an obligation ; while , on the other hand , there was an even greater number of brethren who fancied that a single line of public announcement as to the sayings and doings of

Freemasons was a crime hardly less terrible than that of high treason . Even in these more enlightened days there are still to be found some who think the publication in the columns of a Masonic journal of a formal printed document

is a great sin . But this number is rapidly diminishing , and will doubtless , as the saying is , grow small by degrees and beautifully less , till at length the Mason who objects to reasonable publicity will be as great a wonder as the fossil remains of an antediluvian

reptile . Thus the discussion raised , a few weeks since , by " P . M ., P . Z ., " has already evoked many able letters from the more studious among our brethren . Such learned Masons as Bros . Dr . Bedolfe and Gottheil may be trusted not to say what ought to be left unsaid . They , however ,

have expressed their views not only with great ability , but at considerable length , and discreetly as to the wisdom or unwisdom of modifying or altering the ritual which has been handed down to us . The originator of this discussion merely pursues the even tenour of his way , seeking

information as to the correction of this or that rendering of this or that particular passage ; and , we hope we may say , obtaining opinions at all events worthy of careful consideration , if not the opinions that may be wisest and best for us to adopt . But this is far from being the only

result his very natural curiosity has obtained for him , and , indeed , for the whole Craft in this country . Among those who have joined in this discussion is a correspondent who signed himself " P . G . W ., " and his suggestion as to the appointment by Grand Lodge of Lecturers , whose duty

it shall be to lay down the law as to which is , and which is not the correct version to be adopted , is worthy of being considered most carefully by those whom it may concernthat is , by no less a body than Grand Lodge . It cannot be a matter of indifference to our rulers , that even a slight

degree of laxity should prevail in the interpretation of our doctrine . What is handed down orally , is always liable to more or less of verbal variation . We cannot point to the man among us , or , indeed , in any other society , whose memory is sure as to every word in a ritual which , if

printed , would make a respectable-sized volume . We say , such a man is not to be found anywhere . But , though we may not be able to find one who is word-perfect , we may , at least , find one who is sense-perfect in his teaching—that

is to say , one who will rightly interpret , if he does not express with literal accuracy , the doctrines of Freemasonry . For instance , several of the questions propounded by the estimable "P . M ., P . Z . " show an utter ignorance ,

on the part of one or other of the Preceptors quoted , of

The Discussion Of Masonic Questions.

the sense intended to bo conveyed . But if verbal perfection is unattainable , the perfection of sense is not in the same predicament . It is possible to interpret rightly all through our services—if we may use the word—the meaning of their authors . The sense still remains to us , thono- ' u

we may occasionally be at a loss for the exact words they employed . Moreover , in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred , the key to the solution of a difficulty will be found in tho context . Classical scholars know full well that many sentences in ancient authors are omitted or imperfect , but

they supply the sense by judging of the passage in which our writers occurs . So we , if we experience a sense of hesitation as to which is the correct interpretation in our ritual , ought not to be at a loss in deciding by means of those passages which immediately precede and succeed it .

It may perhaps occasionally happen that two renderings will commend themselves almost equally to the Preceptor ' s mind ; but though he may not feel himself capable of deciding in such rare cases , we whose duty it is to follow his instruction , must necessarily benefit by his exposition of

the doubts and difficulties which perplex him . We are certain of this , that the language of our ritual should be as nearly imiform as possible , and we consider tho suggestion of " P . G . W . " as to the appointment of Grand Lecturers one worthy of adoption by the authorities of Grand Lodge .

We are not so Quixotic as to expect that successive generations of Grand Lecturers will employ exactly the same words , and in the same sequence . We have , however , a right to expect that , as far as possible , we may always receive from them the same interpretation .

The far larger question of reforming our ritual so as to suit the more enlightened ideas of the present clay is one we feel indisposed to discuss , at least tinder existing circumstances .

Masonic Portraits. (No. 35.)| The Statesman.

MASONIC PORTRAITS . ( No . 35 . )| THE STATESMAN .

Gastode rernm Caosare , non furor Civilis aufc via exigefc otinm , Non ira , qtuB procndit enses , Et miseras inimicat urbes .

IT is a favourite argument with certain of our opponents that the Society of Freemasons is the declared enemy of all religion and all government . Our organisation is a secret one , and our ramifications extend to well nigh every country in the world . Professedly we have at heart tho

welfare of mankind , but secretly tho one labour we devote ourselves to unceasingly is the utter subversion of all that man holds most sacred , religiously , politically , and socially . It is to little purpose we endeavour to meet this grave

charge by pointing to the presence in our ranks of some of the highest and ablest members of all leading civilised communities , that is , of men the most deeply interested in the maintenance of religion and sound government . We

are told that such personages are merely the dupes of the more designing members of the fraternity , that they are initiated only into the lesser and comparatively harmless mysteries , while a knowledge of our more dangerous tenets

is reserved for a few choice spirits . These latter it is who rule and direct the policy of the Craft , and are at the bottom of all those various religious and political convulsions which now and again disturb the tranquillity of the world . In vain do we attempt to meet this rejoinder by