Gleanings.

GLEANINGS .

The secrets of our Order are the language of philanthropy and brotherly kindness . It is a language that knows no sect , no party , no distinction . It is spoken as well by the humble swain in the rude dwelling of labour as by the tongue of royalty on the throne . When spoken by the Christian , the Jew and the Pagan respond in the

accents of fraternal kindness . Tho traveller is cheered on his way when he utters the language of - asoury , and the fallen is raised if he can bat speak in the words of au accepted brother . This Iancnage has its power in the secreoy of its construction , and to publish would be to destroy it . Like every other language , it may be taught

and it may be learned , but the mode of teaching is beat understood in the Master ' s , not the pupil ' s hands . The secrets of Masonry are therefore of value to those who understand thera , and to whom they rightfully belong . But expose them to the -world , divest them of their character of secreoy , and they become valueless to Masons and to all others .

No DECAY . —Masonry seems to be the only Institution that does nob contain within itself the elements of its own decay . If a Mason rightly understand the Art , he will never be a stupid atheist , nor an irreligious libertine . What are tho inferences to be

drawn herefrom ? To rightly understand the Art is to be in the possession of a correct knowledge of the philosophical principles upon which it is established , comprehending it in its uses and purposes .

Fifty-six Lodges of Instruction were held in Michigan last year . The Tyler is a most important officer of the Lodge . He has multi plied duties , and many cares of things that he alone can look after Good Lodge work depends much upon his intelligence and faithful

ness in both the " outer " and " inner " door places . His affability of manners , and gentlemanly deportment will make members and visitors welcome to the Lodge . He can help the Master and Officers very much , and make their work pleasant by many little attentions and appliances of which his watchful eye sees the need .

When you hear a man calling himself a Mason boldly assert that everything connected with Masonry is a deception , a fraud and a failure , do not be too hasty in contradicting the declaration ; a little investigation will prove to your entire satisfaction that ho must have practised deception himself , otherwise he never would have

succeeded in perpetrating a fraud upon the brethren to the extent of being admitted into their society ; and then , having ascertained his true character , he utterly failed to impresse them with the idea that it was a duty incumbent on them to recognize him as a man entitled to respect or worthy of confidence .

The Graud Lodge of V irgima has decided that a fellow-craft , made such in a lawful Lodge after ho had lost his left arm , could not be allowed to take the Master ' s degree—if for no other reason , because nobody could rightfully confer it . " When a man asks a true Mason for broad , he does not give him a

atone ; when the cold , bleak winds of Winter beat about the tattered form knocking at his door , he does not turn him away to perish in the cold ; when the hour of adversity lays its hand heavily upon an unfortunate brother and he sinks beneath its pressnre , the strong arm and the Stout heart lifts him up again and sends him on his way

rejoicing . Ah , if Masonry were lived up to , what a sublimity would there be in the character and life of a true Mason ! or we might say if Christianity were lived up to , and its sceptre had universal dominion , there would be no need of Masonry ! But we must take the world as we find it , not as we would have it .

It is a painful fact that the purposes of our symbols are often either perverted or entirely obliterated by brethren vvho can expatiate in Lodge with remarkable fluency upon the virtues that these silent monitors inculcate . To be brief , neither symbols or professions are endowed with any power in the welfare of humanity except Masons give them form in the lives they live .

Masonry is a school of moral discipline and virtue . A good Tyler never has any need to hunt up anything at the moment it is wanted . When yon step your foot into the Lodge , everything is in order and neatness , almost , nay , really , au air of

sanctity about the room . And as one after another of the brethren come in , and the Officers come along , the happy and welcomiug greeting is indebted very much to the Tyler's ready hand aud skill , fhe Tyler ' s bill for " Tyling and Cleaning , " is one for which we always vote a prompt " Aye . "

Much of the lasting effect and benefit of Masonry depends upon the dignity and solemnity attending the initiation . If a candidate is met with a spirit of frivolity rather than of seriousness , he is most

uKeiy to conclude that the whole thing is a kind of farce . But if the deep and solemn lessons are impressed upon his miud with that degree of earue tness which they demand , he goes out profoundly ^ pressed with Masonry's beauty and grandeur .

HOLY BIBLE . —In all Christian lands the Holy Bible ia accepted among Masons as the rule and guide of their faith , as well as conduct . fhe beauties of Masonry consist chiefly in the lives and fellowship ° ' its members ; there is a mystic cord that binds them together , whether in prosperity or adversity , in sickness or in health , in l . fe

r 'h death , at home or abroad ; and death itself does not rend asniider this silver cord—for as long as tho descendants of a Mason ask m hi 3 name " help " it is freely given ! When a man becomes a rue Mason , the fountain of charity is opened np iu his heart , and , V P waters gushing from a rock , continues to flow , dispeuslng happiness , and joy .

Gleanings.

It is doubtless true that more attention is being given to tho externals thau to the iuteruals of the Craft . Not so much , we think , as in former yours , but the minds of Masons of to-day are being too much diverted from elementary principles that find a place iu the thoughts of overy good man on earth . The entire theory of our

Institution rests upon a God-loving , God-respectiug civilization . From a time to which the memory of man runneth not to the cou . trary , this has bteti the ideal of the Fraternity ; and whenever Masons lose sight of this basis of their Institution , thoy become an abnormity and reflection upon Masonic integrity .

A true Mason is a quiet and peaceful oitizen , true to his government and just to his country , nor will ho in any way countenance disloyalty or rebellion . Every true Mason is constantly in search after light , in search for divine truth . This , and this only , is the Mason ' s work , and in obtaining it he receives his reward .

We are required to give instruction to younger brethren , inexpert , enced in their work , that the Craft may not suffer for want of skill and experience in their judgment ; but that , through our own skill

and experience , they may learn the requirements of the Art , to possess that kuowledge whereby our interests become strengthened , and the bonds of mutual brotherhood reciprocated in its duties , a 3 justly due to each other .

" BY AND BY . "—Every reader has sung , or heard sung , the popular hymn , " The Sweet By and By . " Both the writer of the hymn and the composer of the music were Freemasons . The author being Dr . S . F . Bennett , and the composer Prof . J . P . Webster . Let the possessor of tbe secrets of Freemasonry be expatriated ,

shipwrecked , or imprisoned ; let him be stripped of everything he has got in the world , these credentials remain . They have stayed the hand of the destroyer ; they have softened the asperities of the tyrant ; they have miti gated the horrors of captivity ; they have

subdued the rancour of malevolence ; and broken down the barrier of political animosity . On the field of battle , in the solitudes of the uncultivated forest , and in the busy haunts of the crowded city , they have made friends of the most hostile feelings .

Miohigan has one hundred and ten Chapters . A true Mason will be honest and upright in all his dealings . The square and its teachings will be the rule and guide of his conduct in all his transactions ; in every respect he will be careful to avoid all unjust censure or reproach .

It must be apparent to the mind of a considerate and reflecting Mason that his obligations are of a most serious nature ; that he has " voluntarily , and of his own free-will and accord , " assumed duties and responsibilities which require him to observe and obey both " Divine and moral law ; " and the nature of these duties and

responsibilities he cannot , with impunity disregard ; otherwise , he may set aside , as of no binding force upon him , the Great Light , the source from whence are drawn the precepts and duties given him in charge to observe , and which also is to be the rule and guide of his faith and practice .

The Grand Master of Iowa was notified that a Lodge had conferred the first and second degrees upon a candidate with only one arm , and were about to advance him to the third . He at first issued an order staying advancement , bnt after a full consideration of the matter , aud the fact that the candidate was an innocent party

to the transaction , having been accepted with a full knowledge of his physical condition , he revoked the order , and the Lodge was permitted to proceed . He should have arrested the Charter , but for the fact that he learned of other instances of like character in the last few years , and it might seem like unjust discrimination to assail that particular Lodge .

The Grand Chapter of England has six handred and eighty-two Chapters scattered over the world . The true Mason believ © 3 iu a Supreme Intelligence which pervades and animates all nature—tho Infinite One—and will pay Him that reverence due from a creature to his Creator . Nor will he use the name by which he is known in a light and trifling manner .

If , in the incipient stage of his first entrance , the candidate is taught to acknowledge his belief in the Supreme Being , to regard Him with reverence , as due to His Holy Name , and in his progress the sacreduess of the Divine Beiug is ever kept to his view , we

cannot perceive , then , how he can disregard so sacred an injunction without feeling a just condemnation , in his own mind , of a remissness of duty . Aud yet it is , to our painful regret , that we too often witness a wanton and thoughtless disgression , and indulgence in pro > fanity and other vices , perpetrated by Masons .

Tbe Committee on Jurisprudence , of Arkansas , answered Jfo to the following question : " A man has had his right thigh broken , from the effects of whioh he ia still a little lame , but walks without crutches or stick ; performs all kinds of manual labour that is usual for a farmer , but has not the full sense of feeling in his right foot . Is he physically disqualified ?"

HOI / LOWAY ' S Pitts AND OINTMENT . —Whilst the inhabitants of our great cities snller from the effects of overcrowding and nil its attendant evils , both physical and moral , the more robust and energetic emigrant will in his turn be liable to sutfer in his new homo from the want of ready skill and the great medical resources of his native land always at command . The best advice a friend can give is for him to tn , ' : e a supply of these well-known remedies as piu-t ot his outfit , t ' ov by attention to the easily understood and yet ample directions which accompany each box and pot lie will never bo at fault when taken ill or under any ad verso sanitary conditions of life .