A Visit To King Solomon's Quarries.

shines from above , so that when we shall have been called off from our labours here we may not merely bo able to receive the wages promised to us without scruple or diffidence , but also meet with tho approval of those that

shall follow after us , who seeing the marks of our good work may be stimulated to fresh zeal and cherished by fresh hopes , even in the middle of that dimly lighted quarry of life in which it is the lot of all men to labour . —American Tyler .

A Dead Letter In Masonic Law.

A DEAD LETTER IN MASONIC LAW .

rpO the logical mind laws made and provided by proper X- authority are intended to be obeyed . There is no middle course between carrying out their provisions to the letter , or if that is found impracticable or harmful , repealing them altogether . The mental gymnastics indulged in

sometimes by politicians , of making voluminous enactments which are systematically ignored by the executive may amuse them , after a debatiug society fashion , but they do not appeal to the reasonable thinker . At least , such methods should have no place in tho system of ) Masonry ,

founded as it is on the application of strict geometrical methods to mental processes . And yet instances are not wanting where provisions which find not only an established , but an easily defensible place in our Constitution , have no more effect upon every day Masonic work than if

they never existed . Let us take two very prominent examples . The Constitutions of tho Grand Lodge of England contain two distinct limitations on the rights of visiting brethren . One is that , iu order to visit a Lodge , a brother should do two things ; one to produce his

certificate , the other to prove his bona fides by actual demonstration of his knowledge of the secrets of the Craft . Again , it is distinctly laid down that no brother not a subscribing member of a Lodge shall have the right to visit any Lodge more than once . And yet these laws are absolutely dead

letters , at least in South Africa . Such proof of being a Mason as the possession of exoteric knowledge gives , is certainly exacted , but few Lodges , if any , insist on the collateral proof afforded by the production of a certificate . If a brother is conscientious enough to carry that document

about with him , all well and good , but if not , no W . M . dreams of refusing him admission . Then again , the restriction of non-affiliates to a single visit to anyone Lodge is equally ignored . In all our larger towns , and in many of our smaller ones , one is familiar with brethren who have

not subscribed a penny to the Craft for years , and who yet regularly turn up when an installation , a public function , or a banquet is on the tapis . And no one says them nay . Why is this ? Both provisions are salutary enough . In these days , when people travel so often and so far , the very

existence of the Fraternity depends upon the strictest caution in the admission of visitors , and the production of a certificate is an additional safeguard of very great value , more especially as it affords a caligraphic proof of identity . And the restriction of the visiting rights of non-affiliates is

a very proper thing . The man who has left one Lodge may fairly be allowed one visit to any other , iu order to judge for himself in choosing his future Masonic home , but it is intolerable that the non-affiliate should systematically be allowed to put himself on a level with those who are

supporting and working for a Craft with which he is giving not one tangible iota of sympathy . There may be , and doubtless are , many non-affiliates who have ceased to subscribe through genuine financial inability , but our experience is that these men have invariably the good sense and

right feeling to keep away from Masonry until they can join it honourably . The non-affiliate who is " on hand " at functions , is , in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred , a bad stone out of a bad quarry , and if he drops out of notice ,

never will be missed . In any case Masters and Brethren should obey the law just as it stands . The difficulty is that no one likes to face the odium of breaking a bad principle . The truth is that no single W . M . ought to be expected to do so . The District Grand Masters alone can take the

initiative in compelling respect for the Book of Constitution . Let them at once issue circulars markedly insisting on Masters carrying out the provisions we have named , and every W . M ,, feeling that the initial responsibility is shuffled from his shoulders , will rise to the occasion and do his duty , —South African , Freemason .

The Mason's Duties.

THE MASON'S DUTIES .

IT ought to be well known by every Freemason , what aro the duties enjoined on him by his association with the Fra t ernity . Yet , like many other subjects , this is lost sight of or ignored , aftor the freshness of desire to leirn has passed off , by an occasional attendance at his Lodge

and becoming familiar with tho routine work . However pleasant it is to meet with the brethren at the Lodge , and it ought always so impress tbe memberp , yet there is much to be learned by every Mason , that those Lodge meetings might be made occasions for instruction on subjects of deep interest to tho Craft .

Indifference to the use of Lodge meetings for all elsa but " work " is not to be encouraged . The P . M . ' s of every Lodge should be qualified to impart instruction to tho brethren at suitable and recurring opportunities . Surely a P . M . has leisure to seek instruction . He knows

what is needed . His experience in the several stations in which he has served must have enabled him to discovor what is necessarily important to be taught , what lessons are required , and how the teachings should be imparted .

If one P . M . in a Lodge would devote a little timo to make himself capable to instruct the members of his Lodge , the Lodge would be the wiser , its meetings would attract many members whose interest flags , and thus they would be anxious to attend .

To qualify for thus teaching , the teacher must first be taught . It would not be a severe tax on the leisure of a P . M . to give a few hours to master many of the questions that are of serious import to the welfare of the Lodge , of

advantage to the members , and the character of the brethren . How often does it happen that at a meeting of a Lodge , questions occur that no one present seems capable or . willing to decide ?

The Ahiman Eezon is in every Lodge . If a P . M . would carefully study the law contained in this volume , become familiar with its provisions , and the decisions of the Grand Lodge , be could frequently facilitate tbe proceedings of the Lodge and prevent error or mistake . He could then orally

explain the reasons of these laws , especially to avoid an infraction of them and thus save trouble to the Officers of the Lodge . Such a Brother having received all the honours of his Lodge would be free to give , as his

acknowledgment of the respect of his brethren , shown I y his election to the three stations , some valuable contiiuutions to Masonic knowledge to those who desire it . Before be lind rtakes this duty , however , he must bo recognised as a cu . npetent instructor by the authority of Grand Lodge .

It would not be wise to sutler a blind teacher to instruct

a blind scholar ; an unqualified Master to mislead an earnest Craftsman . There are so many P . M . ' s who are doubtless willing to labour for the enlightenment of the members of their Lodges that ib would be a p leasure for them to begin ,

make an effort , to try and render this service to the Fraternity . Let those who feel the force of this suggestion undertake to acquire the requisite qualifications to carry it out successfully . Once begun , under the approval of the D . D . G . M ., then these representatives of our R . W . Grand Master will feel it a duty and a pleasure to aid in making the effort a success .

No one can doubt how much instruction of this kind , and indeed Masonic instruction , is needed , and how rarely it can be obtained . The hindrance is not in the want of interest by the

D . D . G . M . ' s , but rather in the lack of intimations to them , from Lodges , that such instruction is longed for by the brethren . Then they will eagerly embark in the effort to teach Masons their Masonic duties .

It would be worthy of the character of the Grand Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania if such schools were operated under the sanction of the Grand Master of Masons of the first Grand Lodge organised on this continent . —Keystone .

Uothovfkx ' s Pitts . —There is nothing in the whole ' * Materia Medica" like these medicaments for the certainty of their action in lumbago , sciatica , ticdolourous , aud all ( lying or settled iiains in the nerves and muscles . Diseases of this nature originate in bad blood and , depraved humours , and until these are corrected thore can be no permanent cure . The ordinary remedies afford but temporary relief , and in the end always disappoint the sufferer . Holloway ' s Ointment penetrates the human system as saltpeuetrat 3 S moat , and the Pills greatly assist and accelerate its operation by clearing away all obstructions and giving tone to the system renerallyt The propby lactic ; virtues o £ Holloway ' s remedies stand unrivalled ,