Freemasonry Versus Christianity.

The following is an extract from the Chapter headed : — "The Climax of Royal Arch Masonry . "— "This sublime degree is the climax of Masonry , and is intimately blended with all that is near and dear to us in another state of existence . "

UPON WHAT , THEN , DOES CHRISTIANITY REST , and what is the climax of Christianity ? ( i ) It is founded upon the fact that Christ lived upon this earth for a certain number of years , that He died for our sins , and that He was raised again for our justification ( i Cor . xv , 3 and 4 ; Rom .

iv , 25 ) . This is altogether ignored throughout Freemasonry . ( 2 ) The truth of the Christian religion rests upon solid , reasonable , accredited facts , and the defenders of Christianity have always been ready to give it up as an error if it could not be so proved . Such works as the "Evidence of

Prophecy , " by the Rev . Dr . Keith , "The Bridge of History over the Gulf of Time , " by Thos . Cooper , and the "Impregnable Rock of Holy Scripture , " by the Right Hon . W . E . Gladstone , show that Christians rest their beliefs upon historical facts and not upon traditionary lore . Freemasonry , on the other hand , is based upon tradition .

( 3 ) Christianity brings men to Jesus Christ as the only true light . When Andrew found Christ , he at once communicated the fact to his brother Peter in the joyful words , "We have found the Messias which is being interpreted the Christ , and he brought him to Jesus " ( John

i , 41 and 42 ) ; again , when certain Greeks came seeking the light they said to the disciple Philip , " Sir , we would see Jesus , " and it is immediately following this introduction when Christ uttered these remarkable prophecies concerning his death , destiny , and glory , including those far-reaching words , " I , if I be lifted up from the earth , will draw all men

unto Me" ( see the full passage John xii , 20-36 ) . Whilst Freemasonry talks about Adam and Abraham , Moses and David , Solomon and Ezekiel , it never gets so far as to the Christ , and when it makes confession of sin it brings not the repentant sinner to the only Saviour of the world .

( 4 ) What , then , is the climax of Christianity ? It is indeed an introduction to another state of existence , first as regards this life ( John iii , 1-13 ) , but , above and beyond all that it can do for us in this life , its climax must be looked for in a future state , and yet we must be excused for not dwelling

upon the subject here , for we feel that the theme is too grand and too sacred to be dealt upon in a book of this description , which touches chiefly upon the practical interests of this life ,

and we will content ourselves with the following quotation : " Eye hath not seen nor ear heard , neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him . But God hath revealed them unto

us by His Spirit" ( 1 Cor . ii , 9 and 10 . See' also 1 Peter i > 3-5 ) . In conclusion , we put it to our readers—Can a Christian who knows anything of the glories that await us in Christ Jesus be satisfied with the dross offered by Freemasonry ?

The Apostle Paul could refer the Christians of Galatia to "the weak and beggarly elements" to which they had formerly been in bondage ; and what shall we say to this mystery of signs , observances , and traditions which is offered to us in Masonic Rites and Ceremonies ? Verilythat we

, have a better and more enduring substance in Jesus Christ ? that His Word alone is sufficient for our guide through life , and to our inheritance in glory , and that to become a member of the Masonic Fraternity is a conformity to the world—that world which is separate from Christ .

We seek "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" ( 2 Cor . iv , 6 ) , and may all those who seek it otherwise speedily learn the error of their ways , and be led to Him whose life is the light of men . THE END .

Peaceful Mission Of Masonry.

PEACEFUL MISSION OF MASONRY .

MASONEY takes humanity just as it comes from the hand of the Creator , ji \ st as she finds it in the world , and seeks to guide it , but not to re-create it . It is not a man's beliefs , but his actions , thafc sho contemplates . She does not weave a network of intricate and abstruse doctrines about birn , to confuse and hamper his mind , but leaves him free and unfettered , to choose his

religion , his politics , and his course of social life . She simply asks that he be a man , a whole man , and nothing but a man . She stands outside , unassociated from politics , from churchism , and irorp social distinctions . But , with the rough mallet and chisel of prtcept and discipline , she seeks to hew c . ff Ihe rugged erlges of human seifitbrtss , and the immoral tendencies of human

Peaceful Mission Of Masonry.

character , and build it up into the symmetry and beauty of the perfect man . Masonry has not emblazoned her triumphs upon the pages of history , because she creates no revolutions ; she attacks no governments ; she enters into no conspiracies ; she sheds no blood . Her mission is a mission of peace . Her motto is

Fraternity . The field of her labour is moral , not physical . The temple she seeks to build is not made with hands . It is the character and conduct of her votaries that she seeks to improve . She does not point to battle flags and fields of carnage as au incentive to loyalty to her subjects . War , red , cruel war , has no place in her teachings . She has always been the harbinger of peace , the advocate of justice and the exponent of truth .

We may look back through the dim vista of the world ' s past history , and among the slumbering centuries we may see her passing on from her inception to the present day , with Truth for her guiding star , and Morality the object of all her plana . Calm and undisturbed amidst the tempests of political and social commotions ; calm and serene amidst the upheavals of kingdoms ,

empires and nations ; serene and calm amidst the furious conflicts of political and theological disputants ; unmoved by the kaleidoscopic changes that mark the face of history—changes in custom , changes in governmeuts , changes in theology , changes in science , changes in everything—but , clothed with the panoply

of single truth , she bad marched down through the ages leaving no trail of blood behind her , and remains unchanged , with the same great lights shedding their radiance upon the candidate of to-day as in the long buried past , with the same symbolism , teaching the same imperishable truths as in the dark ages .

The unchangeableness of Masonry is a wonder among its best friends , but the reason is very simple . She laid hold upon great fundamental truths that are commensurate with human existence ; truths that will be applicable as far and as long as the human race exists— ' * Brotherly love , relief and truth . " The day has never been and never will be , when " brotherly love "

will not be a necessity and a virtue among men . The day has never been , and , in the present order of things , will never be , when relief will not be a necessity and a virtue . " The poor ye have always with you " is as true to-day as it was nineteen hundred years ago . To succour and relieve the distressed , to rescue the perishing , to warn in danger , to aid in counsel , to feed

the hungry and clothe the naked , have just as widespread opportunity and just as much the imperative duty of the Mason of to-day as when the first great lights shone down upon her sacred altar . And truth , which has long been buried beneath the mass of human error and superstition , is slowly emerging from debris of exploded theories and distorted fancies , and is rising , like a

refulgent sun upon a dark sky , to illumine the minds and permeate the hearts , and to dominate the lives of men . But to achieve the victory truth will need her supporters , for error never dies of old age . Nothing but "light , " " more light" and " further light " can dispel the gloom and dissipate the fogs of error and superstition . — " Masonic Sun . "

Tivoli . —We managed to obtain a view of the stage from the promenade on the occasion of a recent visit to this popular music hall , but every seat and box in the house was occupied , thereby proving the excellence of Mr . Vernon Dowsett ' s entertainment . In addition to such old favourites as T . W . Barrett , Dan Leno , Charles Coborn , James Fawn , and Fanny Leslie , there are special novelties , including Marzella , with her wonderful performing

parrots ; and the Harvey Boys , in their boxing exhibition . The two principal turns are Mr . Bransby Williams , who effectively pourtrays a number of characters from Dickens' works ; and the Gotham Comedy Quartette , four eccentric artistes with splendid voices , especially the bass , whose songs , negro ditties , and imitations of instruments met with a deserved ovation . " A screaming farce " ( how reminiscent of the old play-bills ) by the Albert and Edmunds Troupe concludes a very enjoyable programme .

Crystal Palace . —The "One and All " Flower Show to be held at the Crystal Palace to-day ( Saturday ) , in connection with the National Co-operative Festival , promises to exceed even tbe gigantic proportions of previous years . Last year the Crystal Palace authorities were unable to find accommodation even in their great building both for the Victoria Jubilee Exhibition and this great annual industrial Flower Show at the same time , and the Flower Show had to be housed in a gigantic tent , over one-tenth of a mile long and the

whole width of the great terrace of the Palace , specially erected for its temporary accommodation . This year , however , the " One and All" Show is able to get back to its old quarters , where it will fill the whole centre of the Palace from end to end . The enthusiastic horticulturist who intends to conscientiously inspect every exhibit should be warned that if he is to walk down each side of all the long tables he will have over a mile to walk before his task is accomplished . The competition for the challenge cup instituted

this year by the Countess Grey promises to be very keen , the entries in the Industrial Section being heavier than usual , we are informed by Mr . Edward Owen Greening , the Hon . Secretary . The two classes for Vegetable Marrows in this section exceed 50 entries in each class ; there are over 175 entries for the four classes of Potatoes , and other entries of vegetables being in equally remarkable proportions . But in addition to the large entries for the

commoner kinds of vegetables usually grown by working men , the entries ia the classes for the choicer vegetables grown by well-to-do amateurs and professional gardeners , such as Tomatoes , Celery , and Cucumbers , are remarkably well filled , and the interesting comparison between the produce of these simple amateurs and tho better equipped gardeners of the second section of the show has by no means in previous exhibitions always been to the advantage of the latter .