Mercenary Motives.

or other improper motives , in seeking a knowledge of the mystery of Freemasonry , and association with the great company of those who have aided in some degree to render it illnstrions . The ancients had their household gods ,

their Lares and Penates , bnt many a man in our day , and in all days , has worshipped himself , has made self a " household god . " Spenser styled Mammon " tho greatest god below the skies . " It ministers more to self than any

other creature comfort , and in this generation is more than equal to a patent of nobility . Edgar Allen Poe put this thought in telling phrase when he said : " The Romans

worshipped their standard ; and the Boman standard happened to be an eagle . Onr standard is only one-tenth of an eagle—a dollar—but we make all even by adoring it

with tenfold devotion . " All this tremendous force and power Freemasonry has to contend with . It strives to discharm its foe , but sometimes this foe pretends to throw

away its weapon , and to embrace the principles of its opponent , for the purpose of entering his ranks as an ally . Such a foe in friendly guise is most dangerous , and yet Freemasonry cannot always keep him out of the mystic

circle . All the Craft can require is that the applicant should state the principles which actuate him in seeking Masonic light , and formally deny that he does it from low , selfish or mercenary motives , and be able to stand the test of a critical examination of his character .

We remember to have heard of one who , when asked at a certain juncture in whom he put his trust ? replied , " In the Delaware County Bank . " He no doubt told the truth , which is more than some do . To all such , however , we

would mention Dr . Holmes ' s advice : "Put not your trust in money , but put your money in trust . " Money is an excellent servant , but a dangerous master . Ton may use it , but you should never allow it to use you , for" if you make money your god , it will plague you like the devil . "

The very genius of Freemasonry , the weight of its every precept and organised practice , is against this household god , selfishness , this idol , the golden calf . Masonry is not

cheap , but dear , in a monetary point of view , and ifc is so on principle . It is nofc for the indigent , bufc for those who have to give . During and after their initiation they are habitually taught to contribute of their time , their talents ,

their personal services , their money . The selfish Free

mason is a contradiction in terms ; he is a gigantic lie . He is so in spite of his higher nature , in the face of the Craft , in contradiction of his own explicit professions before he was made a Mason . And yet such men and

Masons exist . More would exist , were it not for the mighty power of the symbolic teachings of Freemasonry . Not a few applicants , self-stultified on the very threshold of the Fraternity , after being admitted into it are almost

unconsciously lifted up to its own high level . They came into it from selfish motives , but were so dazed by the unselfish charitable features of Freemasonry that they became assimilated to its likeness , and soon learned to

despise the low motives which led them to such high ground . The level of the Fraternity became their level . But such , unfortunately , is not always the case . There are some Brethren , we say it with shamefacedness , who

always gambol before and gamble with their idolmammon ; and regard everybody , even a Brother Mason , as their legitimate prey . The borrowing fiend in the Craft

is one who should be laid low with the scythe of expulsion . He is a delusion and a snare , a liar and the father of it . He is a thief in disguise . He would assume the livery of heaven to serve the devil with . He does assume the clothing of Freemasonry to defraud the confiding and

defenceless . He would give his word as a M . M . or the pledge of the fifth libation , that his motives are honest ,

and his word truthful , and yefc he—this money-fiend , this abnormal Freemason , this lackey of selfishness and worshipper at the shrine of Mammon—ever has his eye on the pocket-book of his friend and Brother ! Does any one

ask , Can such things be ? To this we reply , Was there not a Judas among the Twelve ? Did not He who spake as never man spake include among his Apostles a thief ? Was there any place in Christianity for such a one ? No

more is there a place in Freemasonry for a mercenary member of a Lodge—for he is not a Freemason , except in name . He is a blight on the Fraternity , and if he has

eluded the watchfulness of the Tyler , the Pursuivant , the Committee on his application and the test of the ballot box , and has entered by the front-door of Freemasonry , the sooner be is ejected via the back door , by expulsion , fche better for the Craft and for his demerits .

Mercenary Motives.

No one , not even the enemies of the Graft , can fairly charge the Fraternity itself wifch fostering selfishness and deceit . The admonition of Freemasonry is—Give give , give ! Give yourself and your money ; give

your time and your talents for the performance of its work ; give yonr money , as long as you live , for its stated needs and its abundant charities . The flight of no time absolves you from these duties as a Freemason . If you be a Past Master or a Past Grand Master , vou are more

you mow more , you oive more . " Freely ye have received , freely give . " The Craft practises on the precept of Lord Chancellor Bacon : " Money is like manure , of very little use except to be spread . " We spread it by means of our

Lodge charities , our organised charity funds , and OUT Masonic Homes . We do not hoard it , nor worship it , but beneficently use it . We send it before us to do our charitable bidding , remembering Shakespeare ' s precept

"If money go before , all ways do lie open ; " and that weightier admonition of the First Great Light in Masonry —" Charity shall cover the multitude of sins . " A

mercenary Mason is a contradiction in terms , and tho Brother who is justly so styled should abjure either his absorbing selfishness or his Freemasonry . —The Keystone .

The London And North Western Railway Company.

THE LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY .

THIS Company announces fchafc the ticket offices afc Ensfcon , Broad Street , Kensington , and Willesden Junction will be open throughout the day , from Monday , 30 fch July , to Monday , 6 th August inclusive , so that passengers wishing to obtain tickets for any destination on the L . & N . W . Ry . can do so at any time of tho

day prior to the starting of the train . Tickets , dated to suit tho convenience of passengers , can be obtained at any time ( Sundays and Bank Holidays excepted ) at the following town receiving offices of the Company : —15 Queen Street , E . G ., Spread Eagle , 3 Whittington Avenue , Leadenhall Market , E . G .,

Swan-with-Two-Necks , Gresham Street , E . G ., 13 Eastcheap , Cross Keys , Wood Street , Cheapside , E . G ., 22 Aldersgate Sfcreet , E . G ., 65 Aldgate , E ., 30 West Smithfield , E . G ., 8 and 9 Clerkenwell Green , B . C ., Bolt-in-Tun , Fleet Street , E . G ., 116 Holborn , E . G ., George and Blue Boar , High Holborn , W . C , 43 New Oxford Street , W . C , Universal Office ,

Spread Eagle , Piccadilly Circus , W ., Golden Cross , Charing Cross , W . C , under Hotel Windsor , Victoria Street , S . W ., 231 Edgware Road , W ., Atlas Office , 167 Tottenham Court Road , W . C , 70 Sfc . Martin ' s Lane , W . C , Lion , 108 New Bond Street , W ., 496 Oxford Street , W ., Griffin ' s Green Man and Still , 241 Oxford Street , W ., 33

Herefordroad , Bayswater , W ., Knightsbridge , 34 Albert Gate , S . W ., Kensington , 33 High-streefc , W ., 117 Borough , S . E ., 233 and 234 Blackfriarsroad , S . E ., Surrey Railway Office , 138 Newington Causeway , S . E ., 194 Westminster Bridge Road , S . E ., Islington , " Angel , " 5 Pentonville-road , N . Tickets can also be obtained at Gaze and Sons' Tourist

Office , 142 Strand , W . C . The Company also announce that on Saturday , 4 th August , a special express train ( 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd Class ) will leave Euston station at 2 . 50 p . m ., ancl Willesden Junction at 3 . 0 p . m ., for Northampton , Rugby aud Stafford ; a special express ( 1 st , 2 nd , and 3 rd Class ) will also leave Eustou for Birmingham

afc 4 . 25 p . m ., calling at Willesden , Rugby , and Coventry . On the same date a special express train ( 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd Class ) , will leave Birmingham ( New Street ) afc 4 . 5 p . m ., for Northampton , calling afc Stechford , Coventry , and Rugby , and reaching Northampton afc 5 " 30 p . m . On Bank Holiday , Monday , 6 th

August , the express trains to and from the City , St . Albans , Watford , and Kensington , will not be run ; and numerous residental trains will be discontinued , particulars of which can be ascertained on reference to the Company's local notices . Cheap excursions will be run by this Company from London to

Birmingham , Coventry , Leamington , Kenilworth , Dudley , Liverpool , Walsall , Wednesbnry , Wolverhampton , Leicester , Barton , Derby , Manchester , Huddersfield , Bradford , Shrewsbury , Hereford , Aberystwith , Borfch , Abergavenny , South and Central Wales , Chester , North Wales , Bolton , Blackburn , Southport , Morecambe , Blackpool , Carlisle ,

tne English Lake District , and to various other places on the Company ' s system . Similar trains will be run from many of the districts named to London , including bookings to Brighton , Hastings , St . Leonards , Portsmouth , Southampton , and also to Paris and the continent . Bills and full particulars can be obtained on application at the railway stations and at the Company ' s offices .

We are informed that meetings of Provincial Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Chapter will be held in Norwich on Monday , the 30 th inst .

The meetings of the Royal Standard Lodge of Instruction , No . 1298 , will in future be held at the Builder ' s Arms , St . Paul ' s Road , Canonbury , N .

A CARD . —AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY is announced in the " Pans Figaro , " of a valuable remedy for nervous debility , physical exhaustion , and kindred complaints . This discovery was made by a missionary in Old Mexico ; ifc saved him from a miserable existence ,

and premature decay . The Rev . Joseph Holmes , Bloomsbury Mansions , Bloomsbury Square , London , W . C , will send fche prescription , free of charge , on receipt of a self-addressed stamped envelope . Mention this paper .