Sermonising In Freemasonry.

merits of different religious faiths . Those who seek to associate Freemasonry with Christianity must of necessity offend brethren who are Jews or Mohammedans . They are , therefore , adopting a system of teaching which is entirely repugnant to the instincts of the Craft pure and simple .

Masonry is good enough and strong enough to stand by itself without such adventitious aids as so many among us are anxious to render . Here , for instance , is a passage

from an article in the Freemason ' s Repository , which , with all due respect for our estimable contemporary , is more than is called for in an exposition of certain points connected with the Royal Arch .

" The most important part of the breastplate was the twelve precious stones set in four rows , which indicated the twelve tribes of Israel and their order of rank . According to Josephus , as well as what seems to be the evidence of the Holy Writings bearing upon this point , it was these stones whioh constitnted the IJrim and

Thummin , rather than tho two images placed within a pocket under the plate , as has been claimed by some writers . So rich and curious an ornament as the breastplate carries with it the idea of spiritual glory . In the description of the New Jerusalem given in the Apocalypse , we find a glowing passage , which evidently refers to the

precious stones in the breastplate . Not to the Jew alone , bnt also to the Gentile , may this ancient badge signify the light and glory of a grand spiritual exaltation—symbolizing such a moral rebuilding of the ' City of tho Great King' as the prophet must have had in mind when , speaking in the Name of the Lord , he said , ' I will lay thy

stones with fair colours , and I will lay thy foundations with sapphires , and I will make thy windows of agate , and thy gates of carbuncles , and all thy borders of pleasant stones . ' Whoever wears the breastplate may well be affected and instructed by what this priestly ornament suggests , not only as respects its direct reference

to the twelve tribes of Israel , but also the significance of 'those oracular gems' as referring to the Divine presence and illumination . Whatever obscurity there may be as to the Urim and Thummim so mysteriously connected with the breastplate of the Jewish priest ,

there need be no hesitancy in making the ornament as now used a special reminder of the truth that the Infinite One will give light and blessing to those that call upon the Name of the Lord and are obedient to His law . "

This is unexceptionable of its kind , and would be most appropriate in a sermon , but we cannot help saying that it is entirely out of place in any Masonic exposition . For the present , as our remarks have run to unusual length , this

one illustration must suffice . It serves the purpose of explaining our object in offering these remarks , the completion of which , under the circumstances , we must reserve for another article ;

Freemasonry In Pennsylvania.

FREEMASONRY IN PENNSYLVANIA .

WE learn from the Keystone that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania held its regular Quarterly Communication at the Masonic Temple , Philadelphia , on the 1 st instant , under the presidency of M . W . Bro . S . B . Dick G . M . There was a large muster of brethren from all parts of the jurisdiction , besides four Past Grand

Masters , and several visitors . The Reports of the several Committees were submitted and accepted , that of the Finance Committee being especially satisfactory , as it showed there was a balance in the treasury of Grand Lodge such as had not been known for a considerable

number of years , namely , over 38 , 458 dollars , or not far short of £ 7 , 692 . The Report of the Special Committee on the proposed Sesqui-Centennial Celebration was submitted by Bro . C . P . MacCalla , and the several resolutions unanimously adopted . We append them for the edification of our readers :

Eesolved , That this Committee considers it not only expedient , but eminently advisable and proper , that an appropriate Masonic celebration be held in Philadelphia on St . John ' s Day , June 24 th , A . L . 5882 , to commemorate the Sesqui-Centennial of the first Annual Grand Communication of the R . W . Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania ,

aud first election of a Grand Master for this jurisdiction . Resolved , That the early introduction , rapid growth during the past ono hundred and fifty years , and present flourishing condition of tho Craft in Pennsylvania , call for special recognition in

connection with this event . Resolved , That the R . W . Grand Master be recommended to appoint a Committee of Twenty-one Brethren , to whom the elective Grand Officers shall be added , to have charge of said celebration , and make all fitting arrangements therefor .

The annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Pennsylvania was opened in Scranton City , Pa ., on Wednesday , the 1 st instant . The following were elected Grand Officers for the ensuing year , namely . Sir Knights Geo . W . Kendrickjun ., E . G . Commander ; B . F . Brcncman , Dep . G . Commander ; C . W , Batchelor

Freemasonry In Pennsylvania.

G . Generalissimo ; E . G . Martin , G . Captain General ; A . V . C . Schenck , G . Prelate ; Jos . Alexander jun . G . S . W . ; G . S . Graham , G . J . W . ; M . Richards Muckle , G . Treasurer ; and Chas . E . Meyer , G . Recorder .

Grand Lodge Of New Brunswick.

GRAND LODGE OF NEW BRUNSWICK .

THE fourteenth annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick , was held in St . John ' s on the 26 th April . There was a fair attendance of Brethren , and the Grand Master , Bro . R . Marshall , presided . According to the report of Grand Secretary Bunting , the number of Masons in the jurisdiction at the close of 1880 was

2 , 059 , or less by 258 than at the corresponding period in 1878 . The receipts for the year were over 2 , 158 dollars , from thirty-four Lodges , while the assets of G . Lodge , according to Grand Treasurer Jas . McNichol jun . ' s report , amounted to close on 4 , 876 dollars . The second

and third degrees were " exemplified " during the session by certain Brethren , after which the Rev . D . Macrae , D . D ., was elected honorary member of G . Lodge , with the rank of Past Grand Chaplain . A resolution of sympathy with the Grand Lodge of Novia Scotia at the loss it had

sustained recently by the death of Bro . Allen H . Crowe , M . W . G . M ., and with the family of the deceased , was submitted by the Board of General Purposes and unanimously agreed to , the late Bro . Crowe being described as a Grand Master " who gave years of earnest , zealous , and faithful

work to the interests of the Fraternity , and whose amiable and excellent character earned for him the esteem and love , not only of the Freemasons , but of the people of his native province , and of many private friends in New Brunswick . " Grand Master Marshall who had presided over the Craft

for three years then installed his successor , Bro . Benjamin R . Stevenson , and the latter having been proclaimed and saluted , proceeded to appoint and invest as his Officers the following Brethren among others , namely : —R . W . Henry Duffell Depnty Grand Master ; R . W . Henry A . White

Sen . Grand Warden ; V . W . Rev . S . C . Medley Grand Chaplain ; V . W . James McNichol jun . Grand Treasurer ; V . W . William F . Bunting Grand Secretary ; W . William A . Park Senior Grand Deacon ; W . David F . Merritt Junior Grand Deacon ; W . Freeman W . Wisdom Grand

Director of Ceremonies ; W . William H . B . Sadlier Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies ; W . George Ackman Grand Sword Bearer ; W . George F . De Vine Grand Organist ; W . James Adam Grand Pursuivant ; Dingee Scribner Grand Tyler . The Board of General Purposes

and the several Committees having been appointed , Grand Lodge was closed in ample form and the Brethren separated . We are indebted for the foregoing particulars , which furnish a very interesting account of the Brethren in New Brunswick , to an American contemporary hailing from Boston , Massachusetts .

The Jurisdiction Question.

THE JURISDICTION QUESTION .

THE Craft in England has but a very limited experience in connection with the knotty questions which sometimes arise in respect of the jurisdiction of other Grand Lodges . It would never occur to our Masonic authorities to enter into arguments well nigh interminable as to

whether a Lodge located in this or that Province owes allegiance to this or that Prov . G . Lodge or directly to our Grand Lodge . In tho case of our Colonies no difficulty ever seems to arise on this question , though as neutral

ground they are occupied by English , Irish and Scotch folk indifferently , and it is permissible , therefore , for Masonic Lodges to he established in them which are affiliated to the Grand Lodges of either of those countries . It is only in

quite a recent number that we published an account of the consecration of a building to Masonic purposes in one of the British Colonies , in which the local English , Irish , and Scotch Grand Masters shared the honourable

labours of the day among them . There was no feeling of jealousy exhibited by either towards his worthy colleagues , but on the contrary the representatives of the three

jurisdictions set an example of harmonious collaboration , which was in the highest degree creditable to them and necessarily reflects a proportionate degree of credit upon the