Masonic Triples.

by sacrifices ( but on a far greater scale ) , ' sheep and oxen that conld not be numbered for multitude . ' The road ( such wns the traditional picture preserved by Josephus ) was flooded with the streams of blood . The air was

darkened and scented with the clouds of incense ; the pongs and dances were unintermitted . " Speculative Masonry is to its predecessor ( Operative Masonry ) what

the latter procession was to the former . The Masonio Word is fittingly an emblem of the Ark . Tho law of sacrifice typified by the bloodshed , ia that which is the rule of every Mason who honestly believes the " five points of

fellowship , " and acts out , therefore , the part of the manhood of the Bible . " The greatest and best of men , in all ages , have been encouragers of the art , and have never

deemed it derogatory to their dignity to level themselves with the Fraternity , extend their privileges and patronise their assemblies . " Onward the processions moved ; united in ono it entered , doubtless , the eastern gate . It

ascended court after court . It entered the Holy Place . Less than two centuries ago the brethren assembled to determine what the future of Masonic brotherhood should be . At that meeting were crystallised into one

harmonious whole the various charges of the Craffc and its legendary lore . The Ancient Constitutions is the voice of that assembly , and every Worshipful Master is obligated : " You admit that it is not in the power of any man ,

or body of men , to make innovations in the body of Masonry . The Masonic Ark is safely anchored , and the study of the tenets of the Craft becomes the highest pursuit of the student . The Ark was sacredly and

reverently placed within the innermost recesses , so the Masonic mystery is as faithfully guarded within the heart of the brother . ( 3 ) Three orders of men assisted at the

dedication— the king , the priests , and the people . The Masonic student will have no difficulty in placing the emblematical truth of tho three orders of craftsmen and

the duties enjoined upon the three principal officers of the Lodge ( with the Worshipful Master in the East ) , representing Wisdom , Strength and Beauty . We next consider : What is the voice of Masonic triples upon the ornamentation of the temple ?—Voice of Masonry .

Advancement In Masonry.

ADVANCEMENT IN MASONRY .

SOME things advance fastest when they appear to stand still . According to astronomers , our globe is moving rapidly through space , and at the same time revolving rapidly on its own axis ; while to each of us it appears the most steady globe imaginable , and actually immovable .

The reason why it appears so steady is , that it moves in accordance with law . So Masonry moves , and the result is that it seems never to be moving at all . All the changes in its past history were well-nigh imperceptible . From

being builders of material temples to becoming builders of spiritual temples , Freemasons glided along without a jar or a discord . Men who were not operative Masons were gradually admitted , until finally they outnumbered the

operatives , and the Craffc no longer was distinguished by wielding the Plumb , the Level and the Square , the Twentyfour inch Gauge and the Gavel , as implements of labour , but came to use them as symbols only , for more noble and

glorious purposes than they were used by their famous progenitors . This advancement was actual , and yet it was scarcely noticeable , and it resulted in the highest advantage

to the Fraternity . As tbe immaterial or spiritual is higher than the material or natural , so is speculative Masonry higher than operative Masonry . The initiate , early in his career , learns that there is

come Master Masons . In a month ' s time the newly-initiated Brother finds that he can be " advanced ; " and in another month ' s time " further advanced . " In six month ' s time ( in Pennsylvania ) he can be " still further advanced , "

possible advancement for him in Masonry . Once , in the history of the Craft , the majority of its members were either Apprentices or Fellows , and but few were Master Masons ; now all may speedily , sometimes too speedily ,

beby being received into the Chapter , and there learning what , one hundred and fifty years ago , he might have learned in the Lodge , but which , since the excision and

relegation of a part of the mysteries of the Lodge to the Chapter , he must seek now in the Chapter . Such advancement of a Brother in Freemasonry is apparent , it is objective and tangible ; and yefc is it always in truth

Advancement In Masonry.

real advancement ? Or is ifc only formal ? Forms and ceremonies are necessary to constitute advancement , but if they be empty forms to the initiate , he is not advanced a jot . He must learn the substance under these forms , he must comprehend their meaning ; he must look through the sign and see the thing signified . This brings us to

the consideration of what is , after all , the real gist of advancement in Freemasonry . All the forms and ceremonies of Masonry are shells , every one covering a kernel . This kernel ia alwaya some vital truth , practical truth , interesting truth , Masonic truth . It ia what Masonry exists for , what ifc teaches ,

what has kept it alive through the centuries . Hollow forms could not keep ifc alive a year . Indeed , no single feature of its wonderful composite could ensure its perpetuity . It is a beautiful system , of morality , of instruction , of entertainment , all combined . Suppose a Brother " goes it strong" on its morality alone , or its instructive

features alone , or its conviviality alone—he is rightly judged to be one-sided , cranky , nofc appreciating the fulness of Masonry . He advances backward . He gives up the whole , and accepts a part . All of us may value some one feature more than another—that is , some one of these may minister to us more benefit or pleasure than another but we do not ignore the rest . The young Brother , and

some who are older , never advance far in Masonry because they mistakenly think that they see through ifc afc the beginning . You can never see through it . Its capacity to instruct and delight the thinking mind is endless . You cannot outgrow it . So long as you reflect upon what you

see enacted in the Lodge , Chapter or Commandery ; so long as you study , with the aids which literature gives you , the hidden meaning of all Masonic forms and ceremonies ; so long as you " further advance " in the knowledge of what Masonry was and is ; so long as yon delve in the mines of

learning which the cultured Brethren of past and present times have opened , and rendered so accessible , and so enjoyable , so long you will not only continue to appreciate the Masonry that you already know , but you may add to

your knowledge , year by year , and thus be treasuring up a constantly increasing store of information , which will be a perpetual source of delight and instruction , until time shall be no more . Practically there is thus no limit to advance , ment in Masonry .

The brethren who have undertaken Stewardships for the Ninety-Eighth Anniversary Festival of the R . M . Institution for Girls met ; afc Freemasons' Hall , on Monday last , when Bro . Charles Greenwood P . G . S . B ., D . P . G . M . Surrey ,

occupied the chair . The Right Hon . the Lord Mayor of London was elected President of the Board of Stewards , with the following brethren as Acting Presidents : —Bros . Charles Greenwood P . G . S . B ., D . P . G . M . Surrey ; Captain

George Lambert , F . S . A ., P . G . S . B ., Vice-President , & c . ; and Charles Belton , F . R . G . S ., P . P . G . D . Surrey ; Vice-Patron . Bro . John L . Mather was elected Treasurer , and Bro . Edgar Bowyer P . G . Standard Bearer , Vice-Patron

was elected Chairman of the Ladies Stewards ; with Bro . F . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary of the Institution ) Hon . Secretary . The usual Steward ' s fee of £ 2 2 s was agreed to . The Festival will be held at Freemasons' Tavern .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o : — MACDONALD LODGE , No . 104 .

THE quarterly meeting of this Lodge waa held on Monday , 8 th inst ., at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-street , when there was a goodly muster , nnder the presidency of the Worshipfnl Master , Bro . W . Johnston . He was snpported by Bros . J . Mainwaring S . W ., W . H . Bates S . O ., F . B . Scott J . O ., A . Williams P . M ., G . Yaxley P . M ., W . C . Hall P . M ., G . W . Verry Secretary , J . Baker Chaplain ,

J . Chnrch S . D ., A . F . Church J . D ., Thomas Tyler , Bros . A . Mead , H . Burradale , J . P . Leillard , W . A . Nelson , E . Moss and others . Lodge having been opened in accordance with ancient formalities , and the minutes of the preceding meeting having been read and confirmed , several brethren were advanced , the working being all

that could be desired . Amomg the visitors present were Bros . Galler P . M . 205 , C . F . Matier P . G . W ., R . M . G . Master's Lodge , W . T . Hunt B . M . 322 , E . Hoare Grand Organist , & c . Bnsiness having been satisfactorily disposed of , the brethren partook of supper together . The customary Loyal and Mark Masonic toasts were honoured , interspersed with some capital songs and recitations .