Rumours Of War.

sistance to despotism , both ecclesiastical ana civil , and the instinctive antagonism between Masonry and ecclesiasticism is the most emphu i ;<• testimony to the spirit of personal liberty which is one of the distinguishing traits of the Order . Equality , not by lowering , but by elevating to ii common platform , where all meet on the level , with equal right ? : iml duties , and equal claims to mutual respect , if faithful to

the obligations voluntarily assumed . Fraternity , in whoso bonds the most ancient and inveterate prejudices are melted in the solvent of brotherly intercourse , the heirs of the most ancient civilization join hands with the missionaries of the youngest civilization , and Hebrews and Gentiles , Celt and Saxon—men of the most diverse origin and nationality—meet in the interchange of kindly offices and furnish

some evidence of the possibility of the attainment of a true brotherhood of man . These are grand lessons , impressively taught by its origin and history ; but they are not all . It teaches the force of associated action , the inestimable value of union in a good cause , the superiority of harmony over discord , and the power of combined benevolence . It furnishes , too , a noble and inspiring lesson of the worth

and dignity of labour , because in the toil of operative Masonry , which reared in the Middle Ages some of the grandest edifices ever con . ceived by human genius , and in the migrations of architects and builders from place to place , where such works were to be executed , the order of Free and Accepted Masons had its growth and development , if not its origin , and the whole spirit of its precepts and

ceremonies is' to exalt ana dignify that intelligent labour which has adorned all civilized lands with monuments of its skill , only less majestic and enduring than the granite monuments reared in the beginning by the hand of the Great Architect and Father of Alldevout reverence for whoso being , and filial trust in whose Providence ia taught from first to last in every stage and degree of progress in

the mysteries of the Order . Like all human institutions , while it has these and other uses , it is not absolutely exempt from abuse . Its obligations do not release any man from his duties of citizenship , if properly regarded . Nor can they conflict with those duties to any extent whatever . A Judge on the Bench deciding cases ; a jury in the jury-box sworn to look only at the law and evidence : a witness

on the witness-stand , pledged to tell the truth , the whole truth , and nothing but the truth ; a voter , bound upon his honour and conscience to oast his ballot for the most worthy candidate for his suffrage—will find no embarrassment in the discharge of these high duties from any Masonic obligation j nor will any intelligent Mason , of any creed , find in Masonry a substitute for religious faith . It is

only in its perversion that these things could ever be found . Its true spirit is to incite to greater fidelity in the discharge of every dutyreligious , political and social—and thereby to aid in establishing upon more lasting foundations that noble edifice of civil and religious liberty , reared by the toil and sacrifices of our fathers , and which it devolves upon us to preserve and transmit to posterity .

How To Obtain The Masonic Spirit.

HOW TO OBTAIN THE MASONIC SPIRIT .

TO take the degrees of Freemasonry is one thing , and to catch , or imbibe , the spirit of Masonary is wholly another . The former many do , and then they think themselves Masons . They will tell you they are ; but of what stamp are they ? Have they gone up

from one step to another , m the principles of the Order , and have they learned the great philosophic secret which Masonry teachesthat truth and honour , integrity and charity , when joined with an industrious life , and a genuine spirit of sympathy for man , constitute the true Mason ?

We admit that the degrees of tho Craft are both instructive and beautiful , and that the lessons accompanying each degree are well calculated to awaken tho mind , and to stir the thoughts of any honest heart , and yet , we are compelled to say , something more is ordinarily demanded to make a true and genuine Mason ? An uncultivated mind cannot comprehend the mystic philosophy

of these degrees , for even the most learned must study them ; and it maybe truthfully said that , for the want of this study , the many never enter the inner temple of this grand and mystic divinity , or comprehend the beautiful practical power of its fraternal principles . The everywhere visible defections in the practical workings of the Order is , doubtless , the primary cause of the lukewarmness , and of

that anti-lodge-attending indifference , which , are so much complained of in almost every jurisdiction . Men see that obligations are nothing ; that principles are but playthings , and that even fraternal pretensions are only a mockery—often mere miserable abortions—and they turn away from the association with mortified convictions that , even under the most favourable circumstances , human nature is but frail at best .

Moral culture is never the offspring of a day , or the result of a single cruise . It is a life-time work , which must begin in youth , if it ever attains to any manly maturity . It is here that the foundation is laid , if pre-eminence is ever evinced in subsequent years , and it is here that we find the fruitful causes of those deficiencies and marked delinquencies which so frequently throw a devouring blight

over the otherwise honourable prestige of so many of our organizations . And even where this mental and moral training has been thus neglected , men often think they have lost no ground by it , because they claim to be men , and to have common sense ; and they would like to be somebody in the world , if they only knew how , or if some one would show them .

It is right here that the great evil comes in ; for , on the one hand , men are not conscious of their moral incapacity for comprehending the full bearing of moral and relative obligations ; and yet , on the other , society expects as much of one man as another . And the same rule obtains also in the Fraternity—every man is expected to do his onty . We would ask . is this expectation a reasonable one ? Is it to be

How To Obtain The Masonic Spirit.

looked for , that the high obligations of tho Masonic relationship will 1 o carried out as fully , as perfectly , by the uneducated , the morally uncultivated , as by those who have had all the advantages of a regular moral training ? We are of the conviction that it is too frequently the case thnt Hie public expects too much from gome mev . It is said , as a home-made apothegm , that " it is hard to get blood our , of a turnip . "

So it is ; and it is equally as difficult to bring mon without moral culture to tho scratch of being full-grown diplomatists into the sublime moral Order of Masonry , as it is , or would be , to devolope the virtues of the Christian faith among a congregation of Musselmen . In former times the Craft was made more select than it is in the present day . None were initiated save those who were in every

sense worthy and well qualified ; but in our day it is quite different . We recommend almost anybody who can raise the spondulicks ; though after all , as wo admit , many are black-balled without any " rhyme or reason ; " and still wo receive and initiate a good many whoso antecedents would have kept them out for all time if they had been fully known . Tho constitutional instructions in regard to

initations are too frequently ignored , and many , no doubt , aro taken in who subsequently fall far behind the mark of erect Masters . These and many other reasons may be given why many enter the mystic temple without having the spirit of Masonry . If we understand anything of the secret of Masonic affinity , it is found in the fact , that those only make Masons of " the right stripe " who aro

possessed of good common sense , and who have hearts capable of generous emotions . It is not to be the Master of Secrets that men were made Masons ; for that of itself would only be little and contemptible . The purpose of the Craft is higher and nobler every way . Its every lesson teaches a different theoiy ; and , where they are given by a competent Master , they cannot but impress an

intelligent recipient with the conviction that Masonry aims to elevate , to humanize , to make intelligent , and to inspire with a spirit of charity every candidate it initiates . But , even when these degrees and lessons are received , there still remains much for the brother to do for himself . He must think , read and inwardly digest the moral philosophy of these teachings . He

learns that he is henceforth the builder of his own temple . The Lodge , of course , will help him , but then he must help himself . Like it is in driving the other fortunes of life , he must be cautions and prudent , thoughtful and assiduous ; and , little by little , he will find himself growing in grace , and in the knowledge of the truth . Tho mere mechanical reception of the degrees cannot make him anything

more than a Masonic automaton—a mystic novice—an additional cypher in the Fraternity—where they may count his head , but not his heart . The proud and ancient genius of the Craft will never recognize him as being anything more than a mere Grand Lodge tax-payer— " only this , and nothing more . " In our travels over our own jurisdiction we have had amply opportunities of meeting with ,

and of becoming posted in , all the different classes of men who have b « en made by the manipulations of their Lodges , and those who have taken pains to make themselves . It is well known that many make themselves scholars almost entirely without the help of masters . They go to work with the purpose of becoming such , nothwithstanding their adverse circumstances , and

they improve their time by cultivating whatever talent they may possess . Such men , as is frequently observed , make the best practical men of the age . They may not be polished , but they aro strong . They may lack in some of the branches of a finished curriculum , but then they aro solid withal , as far as they go . Just so it is in our

Masonic gradations . Men learn that a spirit belongs to the fraternity , which will tell in the man , and which will be readily recognized among all worthy brothers and fellows , and tells them , like a voice of Divinity , that the bearer thereof has been trul y baptised in the ancient waters of the Craft .

It is this spirit that Masons look for when they meet , and are made known as such ; and , wherever they find it , tho affinity of brotherhood is acknowledged , and fraternal intercourse becomes free , satisfactory and confidential . — " H ., " in Masonic Advocate .

Province Of Berks And Bucks. Consecration Of A New Lodge At Maidenhead.

PROVINCE OF BERKS AND BUCKS . CONSECRATION OF A NEW LODGE AT MAIDENHEAD .

ON Wednesday , the 10 th inst ., the inauguration of tho Ellington Lodge , No . 1566 , took place at the Bell Hotel , Maidenhead , the ceremony was performed by Bro . the Eev . J . Studholme Brownrigg P . G . C ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Berks and Bucks , in the presence of a numerous and influential assemblage of the

members of the various Lodges in the Province—the " Union " and " Grey Friars" of Beading , the "Etonian" and "Windsor Castle" of Windsor , the " Wycombe" and tho Sister Lodge of Maidenhead , " St . John ' s , " being well represented . In the course of the ceremonies of constitution and consecration the V . W . Rev . Brother delivered a

very impressive address on the beauties of the system of the Craft , and exhorted the brethren to hold Masonry free from those political and religious strifes which were too often allowed to influence some of the Continental Lodges . At the conclusion of the consecration the Inaugurating Officer installed the first Master of the Lod ^ e , Bro . W . B . Farr , who appointed and invested the following brethren

as officers : —Bros . J . Fuller S . W ., J . J . Britton J . W ., H . Turner Treas ., H . H . Hodges Sec , and H . H . Durrantl . G . A pretty long list of candidates for initiation followed , which closed the business of the evening ; when the brethren retired for refreshment to a banquet at the Bell Hotel , where the members and their visitors sat down to enjoy a very pleasant evening , which was considerably

increased by tho singing and accompaniments of Bros . Tolley and Videon Harding , who also added materially to the effect of the consecration and installation ceremonies by their musical and vocal talent . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to . A very agreeable evening closed the first meeting of the Ellington Lodge ,