Responsibility.

clandestine , even were they crowned activo 33 ° Masons . Masonry has arrived at tho sublimity of its upward progress in climbing the Mount of WiVlom , and it can now afford to say t . i all incumbrances : " Stay thou there while I worship i-i *) is plnci' . " The srolden gates of the

Templo of Knowledgo crowning the height to which we sock to attnin stand invitingly open . But the impure may not enter there . The inw r saii ' tinry is displayed to the seeker after Truth , but . tho | mo goddess will not be wooed or won by aught else thau the puro in heart .

' Who shall aicend unto the hill of thn Lord ? Or who sbnll Ptind in His holy place ? llu that li . i . h clean buuris and a puro heart

That hath not lifted np his soul into vanity , Nor aworn deceitfully , ITo shall obtain a b ' essintf from the Lord , And iij > ht " nsr'oss from the God of our salvation . —The American Tyler .

A Masonic Meditation.

A MASONIC MEDITATION .

FREEMASONRY has been established for generations . It has maintained its peculiar characteristics . It has never changed . Its principles havo been maintained .

Its esoteric teachings aro unaltered . Its ritual is essentially as heretofore . Its ceremonial has been conserved . Its traditions aro givon as in tho aforetime . Its Landmarks aro indestructible . The devotion of its

associates now is as earnest , sincere and impregnable as at the beginning . The history it has made is unassailed . The foundations on which it rests are eternal .

These facts will hardly ba denied , even among the incredulous profane . Faith in them is tho heritage of tho true Mason . What other human institution can make these claims on

the intelligent , thinking student of tbe records time has written on " now " as it becomes " wan . " There must , therefore , bo in Freemasonry some special

vitality , some undefinable spirit or essence , some superhuman inherent faculty that has operated to secure such results . Through the ages Freemasonry has lived and maintained its character , When the rise and fall of

empires , the revolutions in thought , opinions and forms of government have worked out changes among mankind ; when the inonoclasts have broken images , the laws , social order , overthrown many institutions , made martyrs and

victims , and immolated many of their devoted adherents , yet Freemasonry lived . Strong , persistent , reliant , filled with faith ,. and ready for perils , the daft never faltered in the performance of their duties .

In caves , on the mountain top 3 the Craft mot and obeyed the teachings they had received . Thus did the Brethren conduct their ceremonies .

They were animated by the spirit of a devotion to their association that seemed to partake of a solemn recognition as a revelation . Their social relations , their identification with tho people of tho country , their responsibilities as

units in the communital organisations of which they were part , whilo rendering them amenable to the profane laws , in no wise weakened the ties or bonds that bound them to the Fraternit y of the Craft . They were ever always

Freemasons , Obeying the civil magistrate , engaged in no conspiracy ngainst government , they believed in God and trusted to His care .

These Freemasons were often only a few persons . It may be said , in one sen ? e , their strength came out of their weakness . But no . It was the strength that the history of the past of the Craft made irresistibly potent . It was a

fuith that had marked the concurrent evidences of the indestructible organization which came to them from the father ? . The quiet pervading courage of the Craftsmen

would not desert the Lodge . The principles which were tho cementing power of the foundations of Freemasonry were the refuge and defence of the Brethren .

The teachings . of tho Lodgo inspired them . Duty was never to be ignored . The "Great Light" was a lamp to their feet . From it they were never to depart . So long

A Masonic Meditation.

as they adhered to an obedience without question , they felt safe and secure . Peradveuture they wero to take a " new departure , " thero was no promise of continued triumph . This , Brethren , is your heritage . Your obligations to

its commands your strict adherence to tho principles and teachings which indelibly mark aud make manifest what to say is , as in the generations that havo passed , truo Freemasonry . This is our heritage . It is worthy of our earnest , sincere and abiding devotion .

Brethren , let nothing separate you from your courageous adherence to ovcry principle which has mado your inheritance so glorious . —Keystone .

The Three Look-Wells.

THE THREE LOOK-WELLS .

WE aro all familiar with the occurrence of those striking expressions in the installation ceremonies of a Lodge of Masons in which , when the Worshipful Master is installed , he is directed to "look well to the East , " while the Senior Warden is instructed to "look well to the West , " and the Junior Warden to " look well to the South . "

Evory'bri g ht Mason knows what this means ; that these cardinal points of the compass have their esoteric teaching , full of moral instruction . The sun ' s course in tho heavens

supplies a good deal of the imagery and symbolism of Freemasonry , and no part of the venerable and mystic system is fuller of instruction and beauty than derived from it .

Tho Master presides in the East , because he is symbolically the centre and source of that light by which tho Lodge works . He presides over the sons of light who look to him for wisdom and guidance . Therefore , he is bid to

" look well to the East ; " that is , to be himself what his dignified office represents and to worthily represent that Grandest of Oriental Kings , Solomon , King of Isra 9 l , whom he personates in the government of the Craft .

This looking to the East for light and guidance is one of the most ancient customs iu the history of humanity . All the old historical churches call their sanctuaries—that is ,

the altar or chancel end of the church—tho East ; and tho turning of the priest or clergyman toward it in solemn ministration , as in the Holy Communion , for example , is called " the Eastward position . "

The old Solomonean Temple , it is true , had a different Orientation . Its centre was turned towards the East , and its sanctuary was in the West , and it was very probable that tbe reason was because of the tendency to idolatry in the children of Israel . The heathens to the Eastward of

Palestine were fire worshippers of Baal or Bel , the Sun God , and therefore King Solomon reversed the position and put the sanctuary in the West to neutralize this heathen

tendency . But in the old Christian church , Armenian , Coptic , Greek , Roman , Byzantine and Anglican churches the old Orientation was resumed , and they put their sanctuaries in the East . Their Cathedral churches were

built by Freemasons and it was natural that the Lodge and the church should agree in this beautiful symbolization , and that those who work or worship in both should look to

the East for light . The terminology by which two Wardens are placed respectively in the West and South is closel y connected with the sun's course in the heavens . Their stations not

only indicate the universality of Masonry , which has propagated from East to West , but they also have their bearings from their relations to the Master ' s chair . These Officers aro the important pillars which support and adorn the Lodge . The Master is the fountain and

source of Masonic light , and the W ardens reflect the light in its glory and beauty which the Master sheds upon the Lodge . Therefore we can well see why those who occupy these important and honourable stations should look well to those points of tho compass which they aro elected to adorn . —Masonic ' Review .

Tbe Masonio Fraternity has never changed ita policy . It says to the profane , yoa must seek in order to know our mysteries . Ton will not be ' sought after . The first step is of the hi < jhe > t importance and must bo strictly adhered to . Any member of the institntion who urges a profane to become a Mason is gnilty of conduct unbecoming a true member of our Fraternity , and deserves to be disciplined for so doing . — South Australian Freemason .