Masonic Portraits (No. 31). The Mariner.

1857 his life was uneventful , but in tho latter year he turned his attention to Masonry , and was initiated in the Bedford Lodge ( 157 ) , and served each office in rotation until 1864 . when he was appointed W . M . He is now the father of his Lodge , and a very jolly father he is , with ripe

experience to guide him , and enthusiasm snch as we do not often see equalled . It does one good to hear him talk of the Craft , and one wonders when he speaks of his engagements how so busy a man can find time for his labours of love . But he is ably seconded in his business , and his

chief assistant is a member of the Fraternity , in whom he can place implicit confidence . Our brother was exalted in tho Domatic Chapter ( 177 ) in the year 1864 , and was First Principal in 1874 . He was advanced in St . Mark ' s Lodge ( 186 ) , and served tho office of Master in 1872-3 . Ho is a

member of the Grand Council of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantino , P . G . D . C . Grand Mark Lodge of England , Provincial S . G . D . and Grand Scribe E . of Middlesex , P . G . S . and Treasurer of the Premier Conclave of England , and Past Grand Pursuivant . He held office as special

Steward on the Installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and our readers will probably remember his clear enunciation , and the mastery which he displayed of his duties on that memorable occasion . He is a member of Rose Croix , and of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , a Knight Templar ,

Royal and Select Master , and , most appropriately , a Royal Ark Mariner , in which latter capacity he has done something to pilot the lumbering old craft into pleasant waters . He has thrice served the stewardship of the R . M . B . I ., and twice ' that of the Girls' and the Boys' Schools , and is now

Vice President of each of these Charities . We have hinted that he is a jolly good fellow , and wo need now only add that he has the frank and cheerful manner of a seaman of the old school . He is kind and charitable , and gives largely of his ample means . He rarely refuses when " Old Mug "

asks a guinea for the cause , and his name has often appeared in the printed lists opposite figures which represented large sums . He is hospitable in the best sense of the word , and love 3 to see his guest at ease . He can always

crack a bottle of the best , and happy is tho smoker who is privileged to burn his cigars . We need not add that he is always ready to attend any . Masonic ceremony when his services are required , nor need Ave say that he has testimonials of services of which he is proud .

Tables Of The Law Of The Freemasons.

TABLES OF THE LAW OF THE FREEMASONS .

ANTIENT AND PRIMITIVE MASONRY .

( Literally translated from the French of Brother JACQUES ETIENNE MAECONIS , Paris , 1862 . ) ( l T ^ KEEMASONKY is the study of universal morality , soience , J- art , and the practice of all the virtues ; it is the school of religious tolerance , the union of all beliefs , the bond between mankind , the symbol of the sweet illusions of hope , teaching faith in God who saves , and charity which blesseth . "

TABLES OF THE LAW . DUTY , TOWARDS GOD . Fragile man , slave of necessity , play of events , adoro the Sublime Architect of the Universe , who created all things by an act of His supreme will , who conserves them by an effect of His continuous action , who fills thy heart , although thy feeblo spirit can neithor conceive nor define Him . Full of sad delirium , closing his eyes to the light , and marching

amid thick darkness , tho sceptic cannot annihilate the Supremo Being ; the proofs of His existence are written in letters of fire upon the cupola of tho firmament in which his spirit wanders j reject thou then with disdain those vain sophisms which prove the degra - dation of tho human spirit when it has wandered from its source : but be thon tolerant , guard thyself from hatred or from persecution ,

the Divinity has not constituted thee the avenger of His injuries . Masons ! all children of the same God , let this bond of love unite all uprightly , and cause all prejudice contrary to our fraternal concord to disappear . Eaise thy thoughts often above the material things which surround thee , and cast a look of ardent desire into those superior regions which are thy heritage and thy true country , for this terrestrial life ,

know it well , is not the end of man ; render thyself worthy of thy high destiny , and fulfill as man the duties imposed thee upon earth . Contemplate the world which we inhabit , what affinities ! Each thing therein is evidently made for some other ; the earth , the heavens , the sea , the elements , and the seasons , all bind , all enchain , and all concur to the harmony of all beings . Behold the assemblage of the heavenly bodies , of which the prodigious distances and the astonishing grandeur defy the calculations

of tho grandest genius , thoso stars whioh roll over our heads , those globes of light which brighten the firmament , thoso worlds strewn in VI parts , they but complete systems which balance and weigh upon o tan other , and impress upon each other a reciprocal movement , all attract and hold each other , and by general laws render mutual assistance .

IMMORTALITY OF TIIE SOTO . Man , King of tho world ! masterpiece of Creation , meditate upon thy sublimo destiny . All which vogetates around thoo has but an animal life , and perishes with timo ; thy soul emauates from the bosom of divinity , survives all matorial thinsrs , and perishes not .

Behold thy truo title of nobility , acutoly feel thy har > pines 3 but without pride ; cultivate thy immortal soul , render thyself susceptible of being ro-united to tho source of pure good , and thou wilt bo happy in tho bosom of misfortune , unshaken by tho strongost of tempests , and thon wilt die without torror .

Mason ! if ever thou shonldst doubt tho immortal naturo of thy soul , or thy high destiny , initiation will bo fruitless for thee ; thou wilt cease to bo the adopted child of wisdom , and confounded in tho crowd of material and profane beings . Form thyself then for thy God , for thy country , for humanity of

which thou art part ; form thyself for good , give to thy body all the grandeur , and all the perfection of which it is susceptible by its nature ; search in tho folds of thy heart and intellect , thou wilt there find the book of tho Spirit of Divinity , thou wilt hear that celestial voice which speaks to thy heart , and cries to thee incessantlyimmortality .

DUTIES TOWARDS COUNTRY

If thy first homage belongs to tho Sublimo Architect of tho Universe , the second belongs to thy conntry ; thou ought to cherish and honour it , as a virtuous child cherishes and honours its parents , submit willingly to its laws , nothing can dispense thee from this duty , whatever may be tho hazard or condition in which it has placed thee , not even if it should be a bad and ungrateful mother to thee .

DUTIES TOWARDS FAMILY . After having satisfied thy duties towards God and thy country , consider thy family—son , hnsband , father ; each one of those states imports numerous and sacred obligations , apply thyself to fulfill them , and they will become easy to theo . How canst thou ever forgot that which thou owest to the author of thy days ; honour and respect thy father in ripe age , but render

above all to thy mother , in respect and tendorness , the price of tho cares with which she sarronnded thy young age ; if there should bo need of it , after tho example of the pious son of Noah , cover their defects with tho filial mantle , thou wilt be blessod for it . If love speaks to thy heart—pupil of wisdom—lot corrupt desire and easy pleasures be far from thee . Choose not thy companion

amongst tho richest and most beautiful , but seek to obtain the most virtuous , and make thyself worthy of it , for vice cannot sympathise with virtue . If heaven has blessed thy nuptials , remember that the child in tho cradle is a citizen which the country has confided to thee ; canse to

germinate in his young soul the principle of all virtues , ifc is a noblo task . Chief of a family , thou owest protection and instruction thereto . Mason ! a noble pride is permitted theo : be the first of thy race , be not tho last ; never forget tho respect duo to old ago , if , when old , thou wouldsfc desire in thy turn to receive tho homage of young men .

DUTIES TOWARDS MANKIND . The universe is tho country of the true Mason ; nothing which concerns humanity is foreign to him ; all men ought , therefore , to be brothers . All like thyself have an immortal soul , tho samo organs , the same need of love , the samo desire to bo useful , come then into our temples where sacred humanity has its altars . Behold with respect this majestic edifice , which is destined to draw together the too

relaxed bonds of the morality of the fraternity . United by a mysterious language , the Masonic fraternity , wherever spread , wherever the light has penetrated , form but a single family : a sublime bond unites innumerable people—ifc i 3 charity . Charity is as tho rays of the sun , ifc should spread itself over all tho snrfaco of the globe ; charity is the daughter of heaven , and tufculnry angel of the earth ; ifc

encloses in the attributes of its divine dogmas all the conditions of moral life ; spiritualistic by essonco , charity developes and nourishes the noblest instincts of the soul , and ifc gives to tho body that which is necessary to its material wants ; attached to humanity , like a mother to its child , it is ever afc its side to enlighten by its light , and support by its councils ; charity is a first providence , its noblo and

generous sympathies have a sweet influence upon all social categories ; small and great , rich and poor , tho ignorant as tho spiritual , each feels himself happy under its guidance , ifc is even the guardian of manners , to be happy all must be charitable 0 humanity ! Thy celestial ' voice cries from ono end of the universe

to tho other , — " Man , you have all one father , you are all brethren , you have all a heart formed for love—love then and be happy , it is the cry of nature . Nature is your nnrso , but humanity is your truo mother : it is the mother of all mortals , the visible providence of all the children of men . " To be continued .

CHISESE CARVIJTG . —For Sale , an elaborately carved Set of Ivory Chessmen . The Kings stand 8 } inches high , the other pieces in proportion , knights and Pawns on horseback , all mounted on stands , with concentric balls . Can bo seen , and full particulars obtained , on application to W . W . MORGAN , 67 Barbican . AM .