Where We Find All This.

Covenant , and in it the tablets of stone on which in tho dim , dark past , the rules of human action were engraved These rnles—you know them well , for they are to-day the rules of all civilised society—constituted the only furniture of that dread , solemn chamber ; only the awe of the people

had given birth to a sentiment that between the winged cherubim o ' ershadowiug the Ark of the Covenant there rested tho Divine Presence , too dread to be beheld by human eye ! Now , may it not be possible that some priest , whose spirit , like that of the lawgiver , brooked no fetters ,

must have felt that the entire body of mystic rites was an unnecessary appendage to tho simple truth ? It may be that , as was the case in Egypt , there was an esoteric as well as an exoteric religion in Israel , but in both cases the difference could have been only this , that the philosophy of

the inner sanctum , which needed no garment but its own purity to the initiated , required the many-coloured dress of symbolism to be intelligible to the profane . What was there to learn among the initiated ? If our reflections are worth anything , their daily lesson was that philosophy which at all times concerned itself with a consideration of

tho problems of human life ; and the world at large , my brethren , concerns itself very little with these problems . Man is gifted with reason , but does he exercise his reason ? Man is gifted with a powerful mind ; does he use his mind and its powers to his own advantage ? My brethren , does

not your own experience bear testimony to the fact that humanity does not over-exert itself with reasoning , is rather swayed by its emotions , as the slender blade of grass is swayed by the evening breeze ? The world to most men is but the mere passing from one eternity to another , from

one stage of oblivion to another , a short spell robbed from the bosom of eternity in which to eat and to drink and to be merry ! The ancients , those to whom the mysteries were but a veil , not an impenetrable wall , walking in the inner light of a conviction that humanity has indeed a

great , a holy destiny , pondered these questions ; and we may be well assured that what was called in antiquity a knowledge of the mysteries , was more than an explanation of tho details of worship . It was systematic and detailed information as to the reasons why simple , natural principles

were clad in such mysterious garments ; it was an initiation into the philosophy of these principles , with a view of securing the happiness and peace of the student . Therein , my brethren , and therein alone , lies the true value of these forms and rites , anciently called mysteries .

Tho same experience was shared by Jews and Phoenicians , by Greeks and Romans , by Copts and Carthagenians , by Assyrians and Chaldeans , by Brahmins and Persians . The wise , the learned , the initiated recognised the value of the symbolic representation of trnth . What if the symbolic

character was , in many countries , of a gross and barbaric form ? What if they degenerated into mere abuses of nature ? The esoteric philosophy of the priests was none the less pure , using the word in a comparative degree . We recognise this principle in the Eleusinian mysteries , in the

gross , material worship of the Phoenicians , in the abhorrent rites of Carthage , and certainly in the intricate mysteries of E gypt . Every religion of civilised antiquity taught by

Symbols , and the vast mythology of the past , in the light of these reflections , is a symbolic code , to teach man his true position in the world and his relations to his Creator . ( To be continued . )

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We congratulate Bro . James Stevens P . M . P . Z . on the success that is attending him in the Conrso of Lectures he is giving throughout our Metropolitan and Provincial Lodges . He had a brilliant audience at Plymouth last

week , and all wont away satisfied with the Lecturer ' s efforts . We are of those who consider it impossible to have a uniform ritual , but the most obtuse and prejudiced ^ dividual may get a wrinkle if he will only attend one of •Bro . Stevens ' s Lectures .

The Provincial Grand Chapter of East Lancashire met at Bolton , on Thursday , the 19 th inst . A notice of the meeting will be given in our next .

"IMPORTANT N < mGE . -Confidential Advice free per post to all -A . m weak and failing health , with loss of strength and vitality . Fiftv vears IhSr Fn ^ -T ' i tS- A 2 cIre 88 ' sScretaryls FiUaUan Hcfuare K * ™ Correspondence Free . Write to-day . GO years experience All diseases arising from impurity of the blood absolutely cured .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — LODGE OF FREEDOM , No . 7 ? . A GOOD evening ' s work awaited the Master of this ancient Lodgo at tho usual monthly meeting , last Monday , when a largo muster of the brethren and visitors assembled at the New Falcon Hotel , Gravesend , to witness the ceremonies . The W . M . Bro . Frank

Hitchens presided , and was supported by Bros . R . J . Beamish P . M ., G . F . Newman P . M ., Henry Doughty P . M ., T . G . Sandford P . M ., W . E . Hollingmn P . M ., J . C . Biggs P . M ., E . W . Robins P . M ., — Solomon S . W ., Rev . Augustus Jackson J . W . and Chaplain , W . H . Hedger I . G ., G . Masters , W . H . Loft , Buckle , Mason , W . L . Bone ,

Fowle , Lygo , Orlton Cooper , and a number of brethren from adjacent Lodges . The Lodge having been opened and the minutes of the last meeting confirmed , the ballot was taken for Mr . Joseph Davis , which having proved unanimous , that gentleman was brought

before the Lodge and duly initiated into Freemasonry . Bro . William Parker answered the usual questions , was entrusted and retired . The Lodge was opened in the second degree when Bro . Parker was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft . Subsequently Bro . John Solomon ,

having proved his proficiency , was raised to the sublime degree . The first two ceremonies were most impressively worked by the W . M ., and the last by Bro . R . J . Beamish P . M . The W . M . drew attention to the success of the recent Festival in connection with the Benevolent

Institution , when £ 15 , 243 were raised , and the Province of Kent headed the list with £ 3 , 493 . He also stated that this result met with the hearty approval of their P . G . M . Bro . Earl Amherst , who presided on the occasion . The business of the evening being ended the Lodge was closed in perfect harmony and with solemn prayer , and the brethren adjourned to supper .

STAMFORD LODGE , No . 1045 . THE Festival of St . John was celebrated at the Town Hall , Altrincham , on Monday , the 2 nd inst ., under the moat favourable auspices . The progress which the Lodse has made daring the

past year has been most gratifying , and the newly-installed W . M . Bro . M . W . Worthington is to be congratulated on the circumstances under which he enters on his year of office . There was an unusually large gathering of past and present Provincial Grand Officers and

brethren , and the neighbouring Lodges , including several in tho city , were strongly represented . Tho presentation of the W . M . elect was made by Bro . Lindsell P . M ., una the ceremony of installation was

most impressively performed by Bro . Joel Fodeu , the retiring Master , and elicited the highest praise from the brethren present , and he was ably assisted in the concluding addresses by Bro . Lindsell and Bro . J .

Siddeley ; P . M . P . P . G . A . D . C . Tho uewl > -installed Master invested the following as his Officers for the ensuing your : —Bros . Joel Fodeu I . P . M ., Blunsum S . W ., Walker J . VY ., Newhouse P . M . Secretary , ltev . R . Hodgson P . M . P . G . C . Chaplain , Rev . C . Chetwynd Atkinson , M . A . Assistant Chaplain , Siddeloy P . M . P . P . G . A . D . C . Treasurer ,

Byroui S . D ., Stone P . M . Div . of Cors ., Mayor J . D ., CUrke Organist , Jones I . G ., Huxley Tyler , Hamilton P . M . P . P . G . S . of VV . Charity Representative , Law , Harrison , Davenport , Whitelc-gg , Richardson , and Mainwaring Stewards . In tbe conrso of the afternoon the sum

of 20 guineas was voted from the funds of the Lodge to the Royal Masonic School for Boys , and it is anticipated that tho Stewards will contribute 100 Guineas at the forthcoming annual Festival of the School . The P . G . Secretary stated that 500 guineas was originally

contemplated as the amount which would go from Cheshire , bnt already this had been considerably exceeded , and it was expected that no less a sum than 750 guineas would bo contributed by this

Province . The banquet was afterwards served in the Town Hall , and the menu provided by Mrs . Harvey , the hostess of the Unicorn , was of a highly creditable character and greatly enjoyed . The usual Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and songs were admirably given in the course of the evening by Bros . Parker , Clarke , Lewis , Marfield , Griffiths , & c . Bros . Clarke and Parker acted as accompanists .

DERBY LODGE , No . 1055 ( MANCHESTER ) . THE regular monthly meeting of this Lodge was held in the Victoria Hotel , on Thursday , the 12 ch inst . Present—Bros . Smith W . M ., Challender S . W ., Hallam J . W ., Hilton Treasurer ,

Hey wood S . D ., Hardman J . D . ; Past Masters Williamson , Hughes , Cooper , Rigby , Bagot , and Kenyon ; Bros . Kenyon , Knowles , Tragheitn , Grierson , Brown , Grimshaw , Nesbitt , Newman , Wood , house . Kitcbiner , Chapman , Smith ; Visitors—J . B . Sumner 163 ,

N . T . Holyoako J . VV . 19 U 3 , and H . Mills 2294 . The Lodge was oponed shortly after six o ' clock , and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . There being no ceremonies to perform , a proposition was carried unanimously that 20 guineas be

tfiven out of the funds to the Ea & t Lancashire Systematic Educatioual and Benevolent Institution , after which the Lodge was closed in peace and harmony , at 8 o ' clock , and the brethren adjourned to supper , when the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed .

ST . DAVID'S LODGE , No . 1147 ( MANCHESTER ) . A REGULAR meeting of this Lodge was held in the Freemasons ' Hall , Cooperrstreet , on Thursday , 12 th inst ., when there were present Bros . Dunkerley W . M ., Roberts S . W ., Olney J . W ., Danes

P . M . Treasurer , Dalgleish P . M . Secretary , Peal P . M . P . P . G . J . D . S . D ., Hunter J . D ., Wren P . M . Dir . of Cers ., Howard I . G ., Chadwick P . M ., Gibson P . M ., Baxendale , Coates , Naphtali , Moss , Bennett , Locke and

Jonos . Visitors — Bros . Walter Campbell P . M . 054 , Salisbury I . P . M . 654 , Anderton jun . S . W . 1161 , and R . R . Lisenden P . M . 317 ( FREEMASON ' S C HRONICLE ) . The brethren met shortly after 6 o'clock , and opened the Lodge in the usual manner , In the second degree