Visit Of H.R.H. The Prince Of Wales To Truro.

VISIT OF H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES TO TRURO .

BRETHREN intending to visit Trnro on the occasion of the laying of the foundation-stone of the Truro Cathedral by H . R . H . the Grand Master -will be glad to learn that the Great Western Railway Company will issue first , second and third class return tickets from any station

on their extensive system of railways to Truro , at a single fare and a-quarter for the double journey—such tickets being available ( except in the case of tickets issued from

London ) from the 19 th to the 21 st inst . inclusive . Tickets issued in London will bo available from tho 18 th to the 22 nd inclusive .

Special meetings of the Exeter , Plymouth and Plympton Lodges will be held on tho 19 th inst ., and a similar concession ( but in this case restricted to first and second class passengers ) is announced by the Great Western Company

m favour of visitors to those Lodges , the tickets being available from the 18 th . to the 21 st inst . inclusive . Holders of tickets from London to Truro may break their journey at Plymouth . The only voucher required will be the card of admission , or Lodge summons , as the case may be .

The Symbolism Of Freemasonry And G.L. Of Massachusetts.

THE SYMBOLISM OF FREEMASONRY AND G . L . OF MASSACHUSETTS .

THE brethren of tho Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , at the last Quarterly Communication of that body , held at the Masonic Temple , Boston , on Wednesday , 10 th March , had before them the question of changing the seal of the Grand Lodge . It appears that in March 1857 a Committee was appointed on the same subject , and at the

meeting held m the month of Jane following they submitted a report , wherein they remarked that the seal so long in use was so much effaced that it gave but a very imperfect impression , and that in its best state it bore nothing significant of Freemasonry , saving the arms of the city of York

England . The supporters they described as two nondescript animals , perhaps beavers , perhaps lizards , while they characterised the motto , " Follow Reason , " as being in still worse taste . They therefore took upon themselves to entirely change tho old seal , and adopted one which they

hoped would be deemed to be in better taste , and of greater Masonic significance . The shield they proposed was divided into two parts , one representing the arms of Massachusetts , the other those of the city of York , that being the acknowledged source from which originated their denomination

of Ancient York Masons . Tho crest they decided upon was a dove , with the olive branch , symbolical of the peaceful mission they as Freemasons professed , and the supporters , in the form of two angels , were meant to represent Justice and Truth . We will not trouble our readers with the

technical description of the arms ; suffice it to say that the report was accepted and its recommendations adopted , without , it would seem , any discussion or objection , and up to the present time tho alteration then made has been in force . Now , however , the brethren—who

w the meantime have learned better to understand the meaning of the old arms—desire that their use should be resumed . In tho report submitted by tho Committee who at present have tho matter in hand , ¦ We have some very interesting particulars concerning the seals and armorial bearings of various Masonic bodies ,

The Symbolism Of Freemasonry And G.L. Of Massachusetts.

which are well worthy of perusal , as moro particularly evidencing the care with which every minute detail was arranged by our earlier brethren . Very many of tho acts attributed to the founders of Freemasonry have been at one time or another held up to ridicule , and aro

not unfrequently pronounced as being nothing but trivial items , having no meaning , and utterly unworthy of being retained as a part of our Masonic system . For this reason passages have from time to time been expunged from our Ritual , and alterations made , many of which we have no

doubt found their way into our ceremonial law for a good purpose , but which , from a want of perception on the part of those who undertook the part of " improvers , " and who did not or could not understand them , were pronounced valueless . This it appears is the case as regards the

" supporters " of the old Massachusetts Grand Lodge Arms , which , in 1857 , were pronounced by a duly appointed committee as nondescript animals ; certainly they went near the mark when they described them as being something like beavers , for such they havo since been

pronounced by competent authorities , who , in support of their decision , give the very good reason , for their adoption that beavers , well known for their building powers , wero emblematic of industry . As a consequence , the Committee who now have the matter in hand recommend that the old

seal be again adopted , without any change save the addition of the Arms of tho State of Massachusetts . Attached to tho report is a lengthened statement by Bro . W . T . R .

Marvin , who most exhaustively treats tho question from an heraldic point of view , citing the best authorities on the subject , and embodying in his remarks the opinions of tho various brethren who havo devoted their attention to it .

The consideration of this subject may be regarded by many as being of trifling importance ; but we look upon it as one of the many opportunities which are made to alter , or , as it is generally termed , amend , our ceremonies and ritual . Wo are not among tho class who object to alterations

simply because thoy involve a change ; but as wo believe that , to a certain extent , the founders of Freemasonry had an object for most of what they introduced into onr laws and ritnal , we think greater pains should be taken to

discover what was really intended before any alteration is made . It wonld be far better , before any so-called improvement is attempted , to first decide whether there was a reason for the insertion of tho matter objected to , and then discover what that reason was before it was decided

to expunge it ; if such were the case , we should not so often have to listen to the arguments of brethren who urge that uniformity of ritual , as well as the uniform observance of ceremonies , exists only in name . We have frequently heard it remarked that such and such a passage does not apply to

Freemasonry of the present day , and next we hear that the objectionable words , not being necessary , are omitted . It may be that the decisions thus arrived at are occasionally correct , but it is absurd to suppose they can be so in any but a few instances . Here in London we havo this point

plainly evidenced by the fact that we have some six or moro different styles of " recognised" working , all of which are claimed by their respective votaries as being the correct form , while in the country there arc few Provinces

but can boast their own particular style . Our views on the subject of " uniformity " aro doubtless well known to our readers , and we have no intention of taking up that question on the present occasion . All wo now urge is , that some better reason should be found for making an alteration than tho verdict of the one or two who , in their own opinion , aro wiser than lliose who introduced it , and who