True Principles Of Masonry.

o [ the resurrect inn , his body will rise aud become a ?? incorruptible e = hi : i soul . " Here , then wc have tho ground , Hie foiindnlioii of Mnsoni " belief ami pvaeiico . and that foundation is " faith in I tie merits ol the Lion of tho tribe of . ludali . " faith , not iu his existence only , nor in his existence and power , but faith in his merits , which answer .-to the description of . lob ' s Redeemer , because merit implies an

inherent power , an ellie .-tey of character , competent to produce a cor . tain result . This individual faith , then , is what gives confidence and composure to the Mason concerning the future , and the assurance that soul and body will ultimately both be incorruptible . Now , tako tiny of tho religions already mentioned , aud such doctrines aro not to be found in tin m . Even Judaism barely hints at

tho resurrection of tho body , although it does more plainly teach the immortality of the soul ; aud we havo the autl ority of ono who was an experienced scholar in tho Jewish Law , for saying that Judaism was " a schoolmaster to bring men" —to whom ? Why to Jesus of Nazareth , who was and is " tho Lion of tho tribe of Jndah . " The Jowish law , with its types and ceremonies , was intended to encourage

man to look forward to something greater , and higher , and better , than anything itself could teach , or possess—and of this much looked for something " tho Lion of tho tribe of Judah" was to bo tho founder , tho builder , the beginning and tho end . Need 1 remind you that tho higher orders of Masonry declaro that JESUS fulfilled all the characteristics of " tho Lion of the tribe of Judah ? " Need I remind

you that tho religion which ho founded , first "brought life and immortality to light "—two of our most distinctive tenets ? Need I inform you that tho Christian religion is tho only religion in tho world , now or in tho past , that teaches the resurrection of the body , and tho future incorruptibility of tho flesh ? To what , then , do the principles of Masonry tend ? It must bo to something greater and

better than itself . Masonry does not pretend to help us beyond tho grave by any power of its own , but at tho same timo it docs teach that tho gravo is not tho end of man ; it does teach that death is but the beginning of another life , and tho very evergreens she casts upon the coffin are reminders and symbols of her faith ! But sho does not dare teach that sho has any power to help us in that other life ; sho

simply lays us away with her benediction , trusting its to tho caro and power of " the Lion of tho tribe of Judah . " To what , then , do her principles tend , to Whom does she strive to lead her children ? Why , to 0 liltIST and tho Christian , religiou , without doubt . In all her Services this is true , for were it otherwise , thon some of tho most solemn of our formularies are moro empty sounds , and somo of oui

most beautiful symbols are meaningless figures . The very source of Masonio light itself is hoodwinked , for if it does not lead to Christianity , then a large part of the Holy Scriptures must bo given up and ignored . Nay , our very degrees are reduced to meaningless ceremonies—because Masonry is but tho entrance gate to thoso higher Orders whero Christianity , in all its fulness , is received , and taught ,

and practised . But let my definition bo accepted ; lot men understand that Masonic principles tend naturally to lead men to the one great Light , " Who lighteth every man that cometh into the world , " then itself becomes eucircled with a halo that emanates from the GUANO MASTER himself . Whether tho Sun be in the South , tho West , or the East ; whether it bo rising , at the meridian , or setting , it will

glorify Masonry with its beams , aud gild every service with tho costly metal of consistency . Our symbols will teach truth ; our ceremonies will inculcate truth ; our working degrees will expound truth , and from the North-east Corner to the Encampment Ground , Masonry will be consistent with its principles , if those principles tend to Christianity .

" Brethren of the mystic tie , I havo taken some pains , and much pleasure , to place before you what I call " the true principles of Masonry . " Why ? As a Friest of the Holy Catholic Church , I know of no advantage to bo gained by so doing , for myself ; on the contrary , I feel that perchance I may antagonize some whom I love to call my friends and brethren . But what ought to bo the object of

every true Mason ? Why , to do good to his Fraternty , as a whole ; and to every member , individually . That is my object . I believe Masonry is the grandest human institution on earth . I believe that if its principles were carried out by its members it would do more good than anything we know of , exept that to which it tends—the Christian religion . Nay , I hesitate not to say that if tho Christian

religion could be annihilated , swept away , Masonry would come in to supply its place more than anything else we at present know of . Can you ask of me more than that ? Standing , as 1 do now , a Friest of the Christian religion , what moro can you ask of me than to say that Masonry follows close upon my Divine Faith ? And yet I am bound to tell you that Masonry cannot save a man ' s soul . I dare not say

that if a man is a good Mason that is all that is necessary . The very Bible upon which we take our vows forbids me to say that ! The very tendency of our principles would brand me as a time-server , if not a liar . Masonry is intended to lead us higher ; its principles are such as to induce ns to live hoiier and purer lives , and point to a future , which is as far above Masonry as the Heavens are above the

Eaiih . I believe that its principles extend back to the Creation , aud forward to tho Resurrection , but you certainly do not need mo to tell yon that Masonry is uot a substitute for Christianity . I havo searched tho writings of many of our most learned brethren in this country , and without exception they all emphatically declare the truth of my statement . It is a religions institution , but not designed to usurp

the relig ion of " the Lion of the tribe of Jndah , ' as taught in tho Holy Scriptures . This is undeniable . But I think I can see in Masonry grander ideas than the propagation of Morality , or of Universal Benevolence , for I believe that an honest study of her services will prove that her principles tend to Christianity . Masonry was designed to act as a taper to guide men to that great Suu of Righteousness , and

when we , as Masons , havo found that glorious Light , we can thank GOD for the taper ' s guidance . We do not discard that taper , as of no future use , but wo cherish and respect those triangular lights for leading us to that great glory , and we strive to give others , who may prove themselves worthy , the greater advantages we have made use of . That , brethren , is my conviction . I cau honestly say I

True Principles Of Masonry.

would desire to soo every man a Mason . More than that , I can say would to ( Ion that everv man was v-ortlni to be a Mason , and above all , I can say , would Uv . vt all Masoua showed forth thoir principles by their daily walk and conversation—for I do believe , brethron , that you will bo held responsible for the use you make of your Masonic advantages . A dav will como when tho Grand Mastor will call you

front labour , to givo you your hire . Then you will remember my words . Then , brethren , for your soul ' s sake , don ' t make Masonry an iyiiis faint's to decoy yon to destruction , but lot it bo what it really is—what its founders designed it to bo , a steady burning beacon , to light men to the Cross of onr Lout ) JESUS CIIUCST . Then when the Roll is called , it will be , " Well done , good and faithful sorvant , thy LORD ' S glory for thy hire . "

Whether the chapter of accidents to which men aro daily liable is longer or shorter than it was when steam , gas , and other adjuncts of modern civilisation had not been made subservient to our uses is a fair question for arsrument . Certain it is that accidents of the most

calamitous kind occur every day , and at any time it may be the fate of any one among us to quit home in sound health only to bo taken back lifeless , or injured more or less seriously in body or limb . It is well , therefore , that every one should make some provision , if possible , against these

unfortunate contingencies , so that the bread-winner who suddenly finds himself unable to work , or his family , who may as suddenly find they have been deprived of his help , may not be altogether without the means of supporting themselves . To provide for cases of this kind an Accident

Assurance Company ( Limited ) was started some thirty years ago , by which for a small outlay annually every one can , so far as money is concerned , protect himself and his family from the consequences of an accident , whether it proves fatal on the spot or ultimately , or whether it only

temporarily disables him from work . Thus for the payment of an annual premium of £ 3 , a man secures £ 1 , 000 at death , and £ 6 per week during his disablement . For £ 2 a year he becomes entitled to a weekly allowance of £ 6 , while for an annual premium of Thirty shillings , the

representatives of one who is fatally injured will receive £ 1 , 000 . And , unfortunately , we have had of late overwhelming evidence of the wisdom of making such a provision . It was only last Christmas that a whole trainfull of passengers were killed by the Tay Bridge disaster . Four lives were

lost at the recent fire in Aldersgate Street , aud even during the present month two men have been almost blown to pieces by the gas explosion in Tottenham Court Road and its vicinity , several other persons being seriously and it may bo fatally injured . These are exceptional accidents , but then

every day of the year has its victims—people who are killed or hurt in mines , by machinery , hy collision on a railway , the river , or in the street , even by stepping on a piece of orange peel carelessly thrown on the pavement . In too many

instances the people who suffer depend on their own labour for their means of support , and if they have made no provision of the kind we are referring to , they suddenly find themselves face to face with the alternative of starvation or the workhouse . But this need

never happen , or perhaps we had better say , ought never to happen , when it is remembered how great are the advantages offered by this Accident Insurance Company in return for an annual outlay so small as barely to exceed one shilling a week in the case of the highest , and rather

more than sixpence a week in that of the lowest rate of premium . People will argue that the risk of accidental death or injury is very small , but then we are all of us as liable to that risk as , for instance , the six or seven hundred victims of the " Princess Alice " catastrophe , all of whom

were probably thinking of anything but death up to five minutes before the collision took place . So it is with everything of the same kind . It is impossible to say when an accident may happen or whom it may effect ; and hence a wise man will if possible insure against its consequences to

him or his . It is gratifying to know that this Accident Insurance Company , by payments , since 1849 , amounting in the aggregate to over £ 500 , 000 , has been the means of assisting numbers of people accidentally injured , and we

trust it will meet with a yearly-increasing measure of patronage from the public . We may mention as an example of its forethought that a branch office has been opened , and will remain open during the whole of the Volunteer encampment at Wimbledon .

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ROYAL POLYTECHNIC—Shakesperian Recitals : Scenes from Hamlet , at 7 - 15 p . m . daily ; and at 3 ' 30 on Monday , Wednesday an ' Saturday . Hamlet , Mr . Marlanuo Clarko ; Ophelia , Miss H . Shea ; the Queen of Denmark , Miss Eva Russell ; Potonius , Mr . Heath ; Ist Grave Digger , Mr . Wcathcrhcail . lectures on tlie Phenomena of Nature , tho Microscope , London , Phosphorescence , Ac . & e . Ghost Entertainment , Blondin , the wonderful automaton . Admission , Is . ( Reserved Stalls , 3 s , may bo booked at all the Libraries .