The Secret Discipline.

THE SECRET DISCIPLINE .

IT was not without effort—not without long and severe testing—that the novithitc attained full knowledge of the aucient inysteiios . In pagan associations of a philosophical and semi-ruligious character , in Hebrew rites and worship , and in the mystic and secret observances of

the early Christian Church , there was a preferred class who , having passed through a searching ordeal of time and paticuco , had been fouud qualified to receive the sacred mysteries aud be admitted to the ranks of those most exalted by reason of their learning , their faith and their discretion .

Just what tbe methods of testing were we do not know ; nor have -we any precise information concerning the processes of the " Secret Discipline , " of which pagan

writers and "tbe Hy fathers" of the church make mention . Ifcia oviclct . i , ! owevcr , that much careful training was imposed , many virtues taught , and various duties eujoined , as a preparation for preferment .

Secrecy and silencewerc pre-requisites to advancement in those ancient systems . The old Egyptians paid special honours to tho god Harpocrates , who represented these qualities . They who were masters of tho mysteries of Isis declared that thoy had obtained their rank and knowledge

under the seal of silence and secrecy ; and it is known that they -were subjected to a testing that was long and severe before they were admitted to the full light of the ancient systems . In the school of Pythagoras , originally , each pupil was

required to pass five years in total silence , applying his thoughts to subjects of intellectual and moral science , and to religion . If found faithful and true under the discipline of these years be was admitted to fellowship ,

obligating himself in the most sacred manner to hold secret the knowledge of the mysteries which he had already gained , and which were to be further revealed to him as one well qualified to receive them .

Among the early Christians there were grades and classifications of believers . The greater mysteries were only made known to and participated in by those who constituted an order of "Faithful Brethren . " These were

informed concerning truths , doctrines , symbols , observances , not revealed to the ordinary believer . Cbrysostom , in his writings , makes several allusions to the sacred mysteries , and in one place , after such a reference , says : " The initiated know what wo mean . "

Thero was a " discipline of the secret" in the early Christian Church , —an order of preferment in the gaining of desired knowledge and in the practice of certain rites , as well as in the exercise of ecclesiastical authority . There

were mysteries not to bo revealed except to the worthy and the tried—an inner circle of the initiated aud exalted , who were closely associated together by having traversed the same path aud having been subjected to like forces of culture and discipline .

Freemasonry has a well understood relation to these ancient systems , and is expressed along an ascending way , the uppermost heights of which can only be gained by painstaking efforts—by diligent study—by the taking of oue step after another in the orderly way of procedure .

Still there is a call , therefore , for the exercise of silence and secrecy—for tbe practice of all Masonic virtues and graces—that so progress may be made and admission obtained among the ranks of the Illuminated and Faithful Craftsmen . —Freemasons' Repository .

One Feature Of Masonic Charity.

ONE FEATURE OF MASONIC CHARITY .

Cl HAKITY is a many featured virtue and in all its forms / is lovely and of good report . Masous are , thanks be to the Great Architect of th > - Universe , by no means alone in taking it up as a distinguishing jwrtion of life ' s work . And yet , without any disparagement of the efforts of othei

iustitut . ' otis and individuals , it is possible , with pardonable pride , to discover some special poiuts of excellence iu onr Masonic methods of bringing relief to bear upon the great

mass of human misery . Not the least of these is the fact , not often reflected upon , that our charity in general is expended on just that class of the unhappy that is least touched by other agencies , and which nevertheless , needs

One Feature Of Masonic Charity.

help more sorely than any others . . Masonry , for the most part , takes nnder its protecting wing the bitterest of all poverty , that of the sufferer who has known bettor days . And without the slightest idea of minimising tho misery of

the ordinary povcity stricken one , surely we are at liberty to say that bitter though tho hito of tbe wolf at tho door is nt all times , it is doubly so when pinching the man or the woman whose previous training has been altogether the worst for facing tho frown * of adverso

fortune . Iho coarsely brought labourer , for instance , hard though his lot may bo , suffers little even if ho knoAva not whero to turn for a meal , as compared with the anguish of the delicately nurtured lady to whom a reversal of fortune implies being cast adrift on a sea of slnme and

sorrow that means grief unspeakable . In the one case the daily life has been such that a littlo more depression ia only a shade deeper in poverty , but in other it means utter and entire helplessness , the sting of which is all the sharper because of the persistent efforts which aro made to suffer in

silence . As a distinguished divine said latel y to a deputation of London ' s unemployed , " there is often an aching heart under a black coat . " It is exactly these aching hearts that Masonry steps forward to soothe . From the very fact of tboso who have a claim upon us havim * been

members of the Craft , it follows that they must at some timo or other have been in the enjoyment of the comforts , if not of the superfluities of life . Amidst these they were trained , and it is not their fault that their training is all insufficient when the ship has sailed upon the breakers of life .

Probably a pound is spent with more certainty of doing real good when bestowed upon such aa these , than if sont to relieve tho misery of tho teeming thousands of tie proletariat . Not that any of our Craft would neglect the

multitude if he has wealth at his command , but still we may be pardoned for a littlo pardonable pride when we reflect that the stream of Masonic Charity goes to water dry places almost untouched by other agencies . —South African Freemason .

A CHURCH BENEFACTRESS . —Miss Frances Wakeham , of Marshall , Braintree , who died last week at the age of ei ghty-one , ha * bequeathed £ 10 , 000 towards the erection and endowment of a new church at Becking , near Braintree . She also leaves several thousand ponnds to existing churches and church institutions in the neighbourhood .

Thero is this year unwonted excitement and activity in tho City with reference to the forthcoming election of sheriffs . It is us'iul for one aldoiuian und one outside citizen to be cho 3 en . 0 Q the present occasion two of the latter class aro prjfecnting an energetic canvfipp , while it is nuderstood that two if not three of tbe aldermen aro eqnully anxious to serve .

Tho Albamhra announces for Mo iday DCX' ' , 27 th inst ., a new and original ballet divertissement entitled " Chicago , " invented by M . Agoust , and arranged by M . Giodelue . Tbe musio selected and arranged from popular nnd national airs by G . Jacobi . The scenery

is by T . E . KyaD , and the costumes by M . and Mine . Alias ( from designs of 11 . Ilussell ) . In this ballet Signorica Pollini , premier dansense , Miss liootoo , the Almontip , the Agoust Troupe , and others will oppear .

The Earl of Carnarvon Lodge of Mark Masons , No . 211 , held their installation meeting on tho 23 rd nit ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , E . G ., the Worshipfnl Master installed on the occasiou being Bro . Bluish ,

who afterwards appointed his Officers , as follow : —Bros . P . Monson S . W ., Wadhnm J . W ., Dr . Kiallmark M . O ., G . Gardner S . O ., Lartor J . O ., J . N . Fryo P . M . Treasurer , T . 0 . Walls P . M . Secretary , Beard S . D ., and Ellis Tyler .

Never forsake a brother . When enemio 3 gather aroand , when sickness falls ou the heart , when the world is dark and cheerless , it is time to try true friendship . The heart that has been touched with pure gold will redouble its effort when the brother is Bad and in

trouble . Adversity tries real friendship . Those who turn from the scene of distress prove that interest only moves them . If you have a brother who loves you , who has studied your interest and happi . ness , be sure to sustain him in adversity . Let him feel that his love is not thrown away . —Masonic Journal .

Freeua 3 onry is many sided . It deserves a careful study in all its different features , aud only as thus surveyed can its truo character aud worth be discerned . E pecially is there a call for close investigation of truths aud principles combined in its unique System of philosophical affirmations and symbolic illustrations . Behind tho

expression which Freemasonry makes of itself in tha ceremonies belonging to the conferring of degrees are i iuh stores of knowledge avnilablj to the intelligent inquirer . The Mnsonic student is sure of his reward . It has been wall said that '' in Masonry , one hour of

metaphysical fctudy is worth many hoars of spectacular inttrnet ' on , We enjoy a spectacle , especially if it is gorgeous , but we soon tire of it and lose all interest in it . Tbe butteifly will uever be a Masonic emblem . "