" Let There Be Light !"

if he never did before , that God is light , and in Him is no darkness at all . No symbolism is more beautiful , or more forcible , than that of the flaming thorn-bush which declared unto Israel the Great "I Am . "

Freemasons are instructed to be dispensers of light to their Brethren . Those who have mastered the mysteries are in duty bound to teach them to all privileged learners . It is in obedience to the command , " Let there be light , "

that the Keystone pays it weekly visits to the Brethren who are its patrons , and , with its messages of Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth , strives to teach what it is permissible to teach in print , to foster the charitable

endeavours of the Craft , to incite to vigorous Masonic effort , and to open up subjects for thought and reflection which may afford both pleasure and profit to every individual Freemason . Our purpose is to advance the highest and best

interests of the Fraternity , to make better Masons and in our imperfect manner , though to the best of our ability , to obey the sublime command of the Grand Architect of the Universe , " Let there be Light ! " —Keystone .

Masonry And Women.

MASONRY AND WOMEN .

THE " science " of Masonry is the science of moralsteaching us how to rear a spiritual temple , and how to perfect and adorn it , by the aid of that wisdom and

strength which God supplies , for a " habitation of the spirit in which God may dwell and reign for ever and ever . Is not this science accessible to women ? It is true it is not

earth-born , it is of heaven ' s own revealment ? but it is written on the arched heavens and the green earth ; it is recorded on the ample pages of nature ; it speaks on every tear of the great Light of Masonry—the Bible ; and

the Divine Spirit , like an ever present tutor , is always ready toexplain and amplify and lead on from step to step , from one essential principle to another , until the great truth is reached aud comprehended , and the novitiate is enabled to shout his rapturous " Eureka ! "

Is woman excluded from the sociabilities of Masonry ? From those which belong to the Lodge-room she is , but they are not essential to woman ' s welfare . She is excluded from them as man is excluded from the private interviews

communications , and associations of ladies . Men do not ask to be admitted there , for they have no business there , and it is not suitable and proper they should be there . God has stamped upon the elements of human nature the

necessity , and we may all see the propriety of the exclusion . But women are not excluded from Masonic sociabilities outside the Lodge-room . And so far as sympathies are concerned a Mason ' s heart beats first and

highest for woman ' s happiness . Woman is excluded from the honours of Masonry . To be honoured is to be loved ; to be honoured most is to be loved most . And we assert that in the affections of all the worthy Craft , woman is the

presiding divinity , next to the Deity . Our earliest and latest and purest affections are to her . Our first care is for her , and at her shrine we would offer the fairest and brightest gifts of earth . To wear a Masonic dress of

peculiar shape or colour is not honour . To sit in the East , and preside over the work , is of itself but little honour . But to he enthroned in the affections ; to be the ohiect of

first consideration ; to be obeyed with promptness and served with pleasure , this is to be honoured . Is not woman honoured by the Craft ? Does she not share in the " honours " of Masonry , and largely too ?

But she is debarred from our traditions and mysteries . These two words imply almost the same thing , and as such we shall consider them . Women , we believe , have too much respect for Masonry to wish it destroyed . But were

we to reveal its traditions and mysteries to ladies , it would he a violation of its laws and might prove its ruin . Besides , we cannot , without first becoming recreant to every principle of honour and integrity . Would woman

be gratified with the knowledge at such a price ? We think not . Nay , she would reject the coveted prize and spurn the traitor from her presence . The secrets of Masonry , among the brothers of the Craft , are like the

secrets of the physician and his patient ; the lawyer and his client ; the husband and wife . To reveal them would he to show ourselves unworthy of them , and place on record the evidence of our own infamy . We know that women place too high a value upon the virtues of truth , honour ,

Masonry And Women.

and integrity to desire admission to onr mysteries at such a sacrifice . Tho brow of her honoured father , wl cm \ e hail as a brother ot the Royal Art , would darken n—m hpy pathway at such a wish . And , after all , we aro s : iti iifd

that a lady would decline tho honour of becoming a brother amongst us , if that distinction were freely tendered , iler heart is with her home ; and neither our mysteries nor traditions conld allure her to the Lodge-room . —Hebrew Leader .

We have pleasure in adding our congratulations to Bro . Terry and the Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , on their having enlisted the services of the Marquis of Hertford to act as Chairman at the next

Festival of the Institution . We sincerely hope the efforts of tho noble Marquis , seconded by the brethren who will act as Stewards , will secure for our " old folks " a satisfactory subscription list .

The article "A veteran again in harness , " which appeared in our last issue , was written by Brother William Watson , of Leeds , who , we are sorry to say , considers himself somewhat aggrieved because we did not publish

his name last week in connection with it . The sketch wis sent to us with the request that it might appear in our pages , and in accordance with our rule it was published without the name of its author ; no especial request having

been made to induce us to depart from our customary plan . As , however , Bro . Watson has asked us to give his name , we cheerfully comply , and only regret that his wishes in this regard were not made kuown to us earlier .

The members of the Royal Jubilee Lodge of Instruction , No . 72 , have removed from the Unity Tavern , Strand , W . C . to the Haunch of Venison , 1 Bell Yard , Fleet-street , W . C , The Lodge of Instruction is held every Wednesday , at eight o ' clock .

The meetings of the Langton Lodge of Instruction have been resumed at the White Hart , Abchurch-lane , E . C . The members assemble every Thursday , at 5 ' 30 p . m . In

future the annual subscription will be 5 s , and the visitors fee 6 d . Bros . Joseph D . Langton and Thomas Burne are the Secretaries .

At a meeting of the Clausentum Lodge , No . 1461 , held at the Masonic Hall , Woolston , Brother R . Bell S . W . was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year .

On Tuesday evening , the 17 th inst ., Bro . John W . Woodthorpe , A . C . A ., was presented by his fellow clerks with an illuminated testimonial , bearing their individual signatures , accompanied by a handsome silver-plated tea

and coffee service . Brother Woodthorpe has , for upwards of twelve years , boen with Messrs . Cooper Brothers and Co ., of 14 George-street , Mansion House , E . C , chartered accountants , during the greater part of which time he has

held the position of chief clerk . He is about to commence to practise in London on his own account , and his leaving the above firm is a source of regret to the clerks associated with him . This testimonial was presented in signification

of their unanimous expression of the high esteem in which he has always been held by them , and as a memento of past friendship which he has won by his cordiality and

genial disposition . The donors , one and all , tendered B ; o . Woodthorpe their heartiest wishes that all success and prosperity may accompany him during his future professional career .

Bro . James Stevens P . M . P . Z . delivered his lecture explanatory of the ritual and ceremonial of the first degree in the Lodge of Union , No . 414 , at Reading , on Wednesday evening , 18 th inst ., under the presidency of Bro . M . J . Withers Prov . Grand Junior Deacon Berks and Bucks , the W . M . The lecturer ' s address was highly appreciated .

Death.

DEATH .

SPEIGHT . —On the 17 th instant , at 9 Mona Road , Peckham , Brother CHABT . ES TA ? LOR SPEIGHT , aged 69 , after an illness of three days . For many years Tyler and Janitor of numerous Lodges and Chapters in London and the Provinces .