The Significance Of Masonic Light.

increasingly interesting and impressive . As tho Mason ' s apprehension of these lessons deepens , he becomes more and more entitled to be numbered among " tho sons of Light . " Unless they are lost to him through carelessness or incapacity , all the steps in Masonry mark the degrees

of his growing intelligence and earnestness ; while at all times , standing perfectly erect , and his feet formed to the Masonic angle , his body is an emblem of his mind , and his

feet of the rectitude of his life . But while the growth of intelligence is promoted by the study of these symbols each brother is left to the freest exorcise of his own judgment , and the most unrestrained formation of his own

convictions , 'lhe light that is in him is of a diameter which will blend freely and harmoniously with the light ihat is in others . There is nothing in Freemasonry which conflicts with the teachings of Christianity . Thus , the writer of this little work observes : — " Believing ,

ns I do , that Christianity is the highest development of religions Light , Freemasonry seems to me to be in more complete harmony with it than with any other form of ancient or modern religion . No brother can fail to recognise the direct reference in all degrees of Freemasonry

to the religion of Jesus Christ . Each succeeding degree increases the Light , and makes the reference more clear ancl definite . " And yet , be it observed , the interpretation of our Masonic symbols is subject to no inflexible rule . Each brother may interpret them according to the Light

that is in him . So far as possible everything is excluded from tho Lodge which might offend or east apparent reflection on the sincerit y or intelligent convictions of a brother . The Jew , the Turk , and the Christian may mingle freely in the samo Lodge , agreeing in the grand

essential aud universal principles of religion , recognising and worshipping tho G . A . O . T . U ., for His wisdom , goodness , and power , though differing in somo convictions peculiar to each . To give a fixed interpretation to all the symbols which surround them Avould be to break up the system of

union which brought the brethren together from so many points of the Compass . The Light that is in them seeks the one True , Supreme Light—makes them sensible of affinity which no intellectual diversity can destroy , and leaves them free , when thoy separate , to go each his way—the Jew to

his syrmgoguo , the Turk to his mosque , and the Christian to his church—each with an undisturbed confidence in the rectitude of his own particular faith . Summing np the great teachings of Masonic Light , our brother leads us back again to the starting-point of tho Masonic faith—the

three sustaining Pillars of a Mason ' s Lodge : Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty : Wisdom to recognise the Supreme Light , who dwells in the cloud of our Temple ; Strength to pursue the path of . knowledge and intelligence ; and Beauty , to make our lives attractive and serviceable to our brethren .

Or , more expressively still , theso teachings aro all embraced in the three moral virtues which composed the chief stairs of Jacob ' s Ladder—Faith , Hope , and Charity : Faith in the G . A . O . T . U . ; Hope in salvation from darkness and sin ; ancl Charity , the brightest q-Cm that adorns the

Masonic profession , to diffuse happiness on every hand . I' The greatest of these is Charity . " It is the light which is reflected from tho life of the true Mason ; the spirit of brotherly love which -aims at spreading " goodwill amongst men . " A Mason who does not as truly reflect the Light

of di y ine Charity as the moon reflects the glory of the sun , is a Mason unfaithful to his profession . We have quoted largely from our brother ' s masterly ancl truly catholic exposition of a subject which cannot fail to be of vital interest to all Masons , but recommend those AVIIO are

yearning alter a greater halo of Masonic Li ght to procure for themselves this rich and recondite treatise , of which of course we aro precluded , through want of space and other considerations , from giving more than the merest outline .

The Disastrous Floods In Hungary.

THE DISASTROUS FLOODS IN HUNGARY .

THE following pathetic appeal to the universal brotherhood has been issued by the St . John ' s Grand Lodge of Hungary , iu aid of the unfortunate sufferers by the recent inundations at Szegedin . Details of this calamitous

affair have so recently filled the newspapers that it would be superfluous to recapitulate here the enormous amount of misery and ruin which has suddenly overtaken the peaceful denizens of this once sequestered ancl pretty Hungarian

The Disastrous Floods In Hungary.

town . Let the heart be ever so stony and cold , it cannot fail to be touched by tho recital of bereavements ancl dissolution of family tics Avhich have been created by the ruthless overflowing of the waters of the River Theiss . And , although in onr ordinary conversation we aro

acquainted with tho well-worn aphorism that " Charity begins at home , " yet we assert that the charity which lies at tho foundation of our Masonic principles ar . d profession is as boundless as the universe itself , and that , wherever the cry of the widow and tho orphan is raised , there is tho grand

opportunity of practising that virtue which wo havo professed to admire and promised to support . That cry comes from poor desolated Szegedin , and it is in the power of the Fraternity of Great Britain to help , as wo are assured they will do . We shall , therefore , watch with no little degree of

interest the spirit in which the appeal issued by Bro . Francis Pulszky is auswercd by English Freemasons , who we know by experience need no spur or goad to direct their benevolence into proper and legitimate channels . We publish the letter in evteuso as received from Bro . Pulszky : —

ST . JOHN'S GRAND LODGE OF HUNGARY

Budapest , V . Josepbsplatz 11 , No . 41 . To tho Glory of tho G . A . O . T . U . To all W . and W . Lodges and to all Brethren of tho Globe . Or . Budapest , 11 th March 1879 . Worsbipf ul and Beloved Brethren , —

Szegedin , one of the most prosperous Hungarian cities , was inundated on tho 12 th March by tho floods of the Theiss river , and was almost completely destroyed .

Thousands of inhabitants of that unfortunate city found their deaths , parents lost their children , and children thoir protectors and supporters . Seventy thousand persons aro exposed to tbo greatest misery and

privation , and are loft to wander about without shelter . Even the hopo of gaining a livelihood is taken away from those unfortunate sufferers by tho fact of hundreds of thousands of acres of fertile ground around being completely flooded .

In that city , once so industrious and now crushed by misfortune for which it cannot be mado responsible , exists one of onr most active Lodges , the Lodgo Arpad , Tts members havo always shown themsolves very assiduous in tho service of the Eoyal Art , and havo often proved their Masonic spirit bv acts of charity . To-day they are

themselves iu need of help , for their property ia destroyed , and the results of years of toil havo become a prey to elementary force . The different Lodges working under the authority of St . John ' s Grand Lodge of Hungary have immediately been called upon to render all possible assistance , but in spite of their readiness to do so ,

their power to render eflicieut help to the numerous brethren in Szegedin must be pronounced totally inadequate to tho magnitude of tho calamity . In consideration of this sad fact the Grand Lodgo of

Hungary herewith addresses itself to all warranted and worshipful Lodges , as well as to all brethren of the globe , with tho urgent request to remember tho unfortunate sufferers of Szegedin , antl to assist them in finding the means for a now existence .

Wo are convinced that you will take part in such an act of humanity , and ask you kindly to direct your contributions to tho office of St . John ' s Grand Lodgo of Hungary in Budapest , Josephsplatz 11 .

Tho sums received shall be acknowledged in its official paper Orient , and tho Grand Lodgo shall cause thoir distribution to be conducted by the brethren of tbe Lodgo Arpiid , working under its authority in the Orient of Szegedin .

Wo greet you with brotherly lovo . For the St . John ' s Grand Lodge of Hungary : FRANCIS PULSZKY , Grand Master . ALEX . UIIL , Grand Secretary .

Hints To "Q." About Ancient Landmarks And Masonic Reform.

HINTS TO "Q . " ABOUT ANCIENT LANDMARKS AND MASONIC REFORM .

BY BRO . JACOB NORTON . "I / 'OR more than a century Masons believed that the following i- compact was mado in 1721 between the Grand Lodgo of England aud tho four original Lodges , viz .: — " Every privilege which they ( the four Lodges ) collectively enjoyed by virtue of their immemorial rights , they should still continue to enjoy , aud that no law , rule , or regulation to bo hereafter made ,

should deprive them of such privileges . This compact , as plain as language could make it , stipulated for perpetual independence of the four Lodges from all control cf the Grand Lodge . Nay , more , it would havo even empowered them to create other Grand Lodges in London . Any lawyer could easily so construe or misconstrue the said compact ; and the Lodge of Antiquity probably

construed it in the same way when it set np a Grand Lodgo of its own under the nominal jurisdiction of tho G . L . of York , led on by the same Bro . Preston , who was tho first writer that brought to light the said compact . Bro . Gould , whose industry and Masonic zeal no one appreciates more highly than I do , happened to discover that one of the original