Excessive Humility.

EXCESSIVE HUMILITY .

HPHE members of some of the Scottish Friendly -L Societies appear to possess somo strange ideas in regard to tho outward display of humility ,

whatever opinion they may entertain m regard to its practice ; and , looking at the matter from a plain , matter of fact point of view , we can hardly refrain i from expressing the opinion that there is a consider- j amount oi associated witn

able nypocrisy me position , they havo taken up . It appears the foundation stono of a now sick hospital has to be laid , and in order to ; give the matter some show of importance , and probably in the hope that a few subscriptions might

be received , it was suggested that the ceremony should be a public one , the Freemasons and other societies being invited to take part in tho celebration . This has called forth tho condemnation of some of

tho local bodies , who are oi opinion that the starting of such a work should rather be dominated by humility than rejoicing . It is very difficult , from this distance , to correctly guage public opinion on this

point , but if the facts are as represented to us we think the excuse for non-cooperation in tho work is about as trivial and senseless as anything could possibly be , and we can only hope that the parties

concerned may never have occasion to regret their excessive humility on this occasion . In the first place , the laying of the foundation stone with full ceremonial does not of necessity imply a day of

rejoicof this particular work as it is reputed they are to see the point of a joke , but we trust progress will not be delayed or in any way impeded by their absurd objection ; rather let us hope they will be led to see the error into which their excessive zeal has taken

ing , yet even if it did we think there is ample room for it , for the residents of the district concerned should be ready and willing to rejoice that the good work on which they are engaged has so far prospered that they are able to proceed with the building , it may fairly be imagined with a goocl prospect of having it

completed in due course . It is proverbial the Scotch have some strange ideas of humour , and perhaps some of them are as much unable to see the outcome

them , and that in time to come they may be as active in promoting the work as they are now apparently anxious to impede it . Had we assumed the existence of such an excess of

humility in connection with a public work as is here displayed our readers would have thought we were exaggerating , but on the principle that truth is often

stranger than fiction , we hero have an actual incident which shows far better than any imaginary episode would have done to what an absurd length sentiment be

can carried . let we venture to think the Masonic world supplies many similar absurdities , if not in connection with such public acts , at least equally prominent in the small world in which they are enacted . A proposal is made for some

Excessive Humility.

particular function to be carried out in a Lodge , wbich is objected to by some member , on principle ; tho principle in such cases usually boing

the most absurd excuse that can bo raised by the objector , who knows very well that ordinary argument would fail to gain the point he desires , and as

a consequence he has to go outside to create an excuse for his opposition . To those who aro in tho habit of working up such opposition we would

commend the excuse of the Scotsmen here referred to , as it strikes us it could generally be made applicable . No matter what the occasion there can always be

found a solemn side to it , and then they would bo able to upset the proposal on the ground that it was rather a matter for solemnity than for trivial consideration , such as is to be carried out in a mixed

assembly at a Masonic Lodge , or at least some equally absurd excuse could bo raised by those who , for tho time being , elected to bo suffering from an

excess of humility . Charles Dickens ' s portraiture ol Uriah Hcep might well be studied in connection with this subject;—he was very ' umble .

So-Called Masonic Jurisprudence.

SO-CALLED MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE .

BY BEO . JACOB NORTON .

AMONG tho Masonic delusions of say twenty-five years ago was tho notion of " Masonic Jurisprudence and Ancient Landmarks . " The first time I heard about Masonic Jurisprudence was , I believe , in 1845 . When Bro . Charles W . Moore told me that his Masonic Magazine was valuable on account of articles contained therein about

"Masonic Jurisprudence . " At that time we had a Grand Lecturer in Boston , whose whole stock of learning consisted in repeating the Masonic ritual and lectures . I once attended his Lodge of Instruction , and to show that ho knew something besides the lectures he strongly

recommended to his pupils tho study of Masonic Jurisprudence . Bro . C . W . Moore was regarded as an oracle in Masonic Jurisprudence , and was praised up by his admirers as " tho greatest authority" on Masonic Jurisprudence in tho world . " In 1859 Dr . Mackey , of South Carolina , published

his Book on Masonic Jurisprudence . In England , besides Oliver , Bro . Paton published a book ou Masonic Jurisprudence . Patron ' s book , however , is a mere reprint of Dr . Mackey ' s book . Now , one would naturally suppose by tt e phrase " Masonic Jurisprudence , " that all the Masons

in the world wore bound by one code of Jaws . Tbafc such , however , is not the caso [ have shown in my last paper ; that even what Mackey called " Landmarks , " or " irremovable laws , " were actually in various Masonic jurisdictions disregarded as landmarks or irremovable laws . Take , for

instance , the first charge in Anderson ' s Constitution , which confines the Masonic creed to belief in God . Yet , though the candidate afc his initiation seems to satisfy the Master with a mere profession of belief in God , nevertheless tbo Master afterwards tells him , in an English Lodge , that " the Bible must be the rule and guide of his faitb . " In