The Lesson Op Pythagoras.

THE LESSON OP PYTHAGORAS .

Pythagoras , : the great and good , The Mason's craft well understood , And over came to British land To let the Druids understand The secrets of the Js ' oble Art , That they might share therein a part .

'lhe Druids 'neath the mistletoe , Oft laid the human victim low , And stained with blood their sacred tree , In token of the mystery , AVith which they worship'd Odin , Thor ,

And gods of peace and gods of war . And as their knives sank in the breast—But erst , perchance , in love caress'd—From out the mystic groves so dim—Arose the sacrificial hymn , In praise of gods of wood and stone ;

The only God was then unknown . Pythagoras , though gre : it his grief , The Druids taught in lessons brief , The secret words , the grip , the sign , The knowledge of the God Divine , The Architect who formed the earth , And gave the rolling planets birth .

With joy they hailed the Master , then Revealed thc light to darkened men , AVith rule and chisel , plumb and square , They built a temple wondrous fair , A temple of the human mind , AY here ignorance mighl knowledge find .

And since that day the art divine , Has flourished like a healthy vine , The Masons sacred temples build , And honoured is their mystic guild , AVith all their love oi' human kind Thejewel of charity enshiued . R . SIMMONS , Gravesend .

Masonic Exhortations.

MASONIC EXHORTATIONS .

FROM THE GERMAN . VII . Cultivation of One ' s Self . By making thus the prosperity of mankind the object of thy labours , do not lose sight of the necessity of forwarding thy own perfection , aud do not

neglect the concerns of thy immortal soul . Often unveil and examine thy heart to discover its most secret dispositions ; the knowledge of one ' s self is the sum of all Masonic precepts . Thy soul is the rough ashler which thou must labour to polish ; thou canst not do homage more

worthy of the Supreme Being than when thou offerest up to him regularly desires aud inclinations , and restrained passions . By strictness and medesty in thy moral conduct acquire the . esteem of the world . Distinguish thyself by discipline , rectitude , love

of truth , and humility . Pride is the most dangerous enemy of mankind , and the source of all their evils . Do not look back to the point from which thou procecdest , this would retard thy career ; let thy eye continually be cast towards the goal ; the short

time of thy journey will hardly afford thee the hope of arriving at it . To compare thyself with those that are possessed of inferior faculties , would be a dangerous flattery ol thyself ; rather let a virtuous emulation animate thee when thou perceivest superior talents .

Let thy tongue be a faithful interpreter of thy heart . A Mason who could abandon candour , and hide himself behind the mask of dissimulation and deceit , would be unworthy to sit amongst us ; he would sew upon our peaceable soil the seed of distrust and dissension , and soon become the

abomination and the scourge of our assemblies . May the sublime idea , that thou walkcst before the eyes of the Omnipresent , strengthen and support thee . Review daily the vow of mending thy life . AVatch and meditate , and call to thy recollection at night a

noble action , or a victory over thy passsoiu ; then lay down thy head in peace , and gather new strength . Finally , study eagerly the meaning of the hieroglyphics and emblems which the Order lays before thee ; even nature docs not always unveil her

secrets ; she must be observed , compared , and frequently watched with attention in her operations . Of all the sciences on whose extensive field the industry of men gather useful illustrations , none will afford thy heart heavenly satisfaction , but that which instructelh thee in thy relation to God and the creation .

VIII . Duties towards Brethren . Among the numberless inhabitants of the earth , thou hast chosen , by a voluntary vow , the Freemasons as Brethren . Therefore never forget that every Freemason without distinction of the profession of his faith country , or rank , the moment he offers thee hip

Masonic Exhortations.

right hand as tho emblem of brotherly confidence , has a sacred claim upon thy assistance and friendship . Equality was the first lot of nature , but was soon swerved from . The Mason restores the original rights of

mankind ; he never sacrifices to vulgar prejudices ; the sacred Plumb-rule amongst us puts all ranks on level . Nevertheless , honour the distinctions of rank in civil life , which society has introduced or permitted .

Oft are these gradations the production of pride ; but pride it would be in thee to struggle against or to disavow those distinctions which civil society acknowledges . In our assemblies , step behind him who is more virtuous and more enlightened ; the dignity which

distinguishes thee in the world remains unnoticed here . Be not ashamed of an insignificant , but honest , man out of the lodge , whom thou hast acknowledged a short time befoie as a brother ; the Order would then be ashamed of thee also , and send thee back to

the profane theatre of tbe world , there to exercise thy pride . Is thy brother in danger—baste thou to his assistance and hesitate not to endanger th y own life for him . Is he distressed—open thy purse to him , and

rejoice iu having found an opportunity to make so benign a use of thy gold . Thy obligation compels thee to be benevolent to mankind , but in particular to thy brother . Is he blinded by errors , and hastens towards a precipice—take up the brotherly arms of rational

representations , and stop him . Reconduct the wavering creatures of God to the path of virtue , and raise up the fallen . Hast though an animosity against thy brother , on account of real or imaginary offences—let not the sun set before thy reconciliation . Call in an unprejudiced arbitrator , and invite him

to brotherly meditation . But never step over our threshold , unless thy heart is clear of hatred and vengeance . Iu vain would thon attempt to supplicate down into our temples the Eternal , if they were not ornamented by the virtues of our Brethren , and consecrated by their unanimity .

IX . Duties towards the Order . By having admitted thee to pu-take of the advantages which are the consequences of our alliance , thou hast resigned a part of thy natural liberty . Fulfil with religious strictness all those moral duties which the Order prescribes thee .

l'ollow its wise precept-, and honour those , who , by the confidence of the brethren , have been made the Guardians of the law , and the interpreters of the universal union . Thy will is subordinate , in the Order , to thc will of the law and thy superiors .

lhou wouldst not be a true brother . iflhou wouldst resist this subordination , so very requisite in every society ; and nothing would remain for us then , but to banish thee from among us . In particular wc have a law , tbe inviolable compliance with which thou hast promised before the

face of ] leaven ; it is the strictest silence concerning our rites , ceremonies , signs , and the form of our alliance . Do not imagine that this obligation is less sacred than that which thou lakesth in civil life . Thou wort free when it was administered to thee

but it is not now at thy option to violate it ; the Eternal , whom thou hast invoked to witness it , has ratified it . Tremble at the punishments of perjury ; never couldst thou escape the gnawing reproachiugsof thy

own heart . Thou wouldst lose for ever the esteem and the confidence of a numerous * society , who would have an undoubted right to declare thee to bo a perjured aud infamous beiii '' .

Conclusion . Should these Precepts , which the Order communicates to thee , to make tie path to truth and happiness smooth , imprint themselves deep into thy heart , open to the impression of virtue ; shouldst thou make those excellent principles thy own , which

distinguish each step of thy Masonic career , and render them thc plumb-line of all thy actions—O Brother \ how great would be our joy I Then wouldst thou answer thy exalted destination ; thou would-t resume that resemblance with God which was the share of man in his state of innocence , which is the

object of religion , and the principal end of Masonic initiation ; thou would be once more the favourite of Heaven ; the abundance of its blessings would be poured over thee , and acquiring the title of a wise , free , happy and firm man , thou wouldst run thy terrestial career as—Thc Benefactor of Mankind , and the Pattern of thy Brethren .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS

For the Week ending October 9 , 18 G 9 . Monday , October i . Lodge No . 25 , " Robert Burns , " Freemasons' Hall . ,. 69 , " Unity , " London Tavern , Bishopsgato-st . „ 72 , "Koyal Jubilee , " Anderton ' s Hotel . Flect-st

„ 144 , "St . Luke ' s , " PierHtl ., Cheyiie walk , Chelsea . „ 188 , " Joppa , " Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street . Chapter 28 , " Old King ' s Arms , " Freemasons' Hall . „ 1056 , "Victoria , " George Hotel , Aldermanbury . Camden Lodge of Instruction , No . 704 , Adelaide Tavern , Haverstock Hill , at S ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor .

Tuesday , October 5 . Colonial Board , Freemasons' Hall , at 3 . Audit Committee , Girls' School , at 2 . 30 . Lodge No . !) , " Albion , " Freemasons' Hall . „ 101 , " Temple , " Ship and Turtle Tav ., Leadenhall street .

„ 167 , " St . John's , " Holly Bush Tav ., Hanipatead . „ 172 , " Old Concord , " Freemasons' Hall . „ 705 , " St . James' " Leather Market Tavern , New Weston street , Bermondsey . Chapter 169 , "Temperance , " White Swan Tav .. Deptford . Metropolitan Chapter of Instruction , George Hotel , Aldermanbury at 7 ; Comp . Brett , Preceptor .

Domatic Lodge of Instruction , Palmerston lavern , Grosvejiorpark , Camberwell , at 7 . 30 . Faith Lodge of Instruction , Metropolitan Railway , Victoria Station , at S . Bro . C . A Cottebrune , Preceptor . Yarborough Lodge of Instruction , Green Dragon , Stepney , at 8 ; Bro . Isaac Saqui , Preceptor . Duke of Edinburgh Lodge , Globe Tavern , Mile-end-road , at 5 .

Wednesday , October 6 . Lodge No . 217 , " Stability , " George Hotel , Aldermanbury „ 511 , "Zetland , " Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet street . Chapter 753 , "Prince Frederick William , " The Knights of St . John ' s Tav ., St . John ' s-wood . Mark Lodge , 86 , "Samson and Lion , " Freemasons' Tavern .

United Strength Lodge of Instruction , 228 , Bull and Gate , Kentish Town road , at 8 ; Bro . J . N . Frost , Preceptor . Confidence Lodge of Instruction , No . 193 , Kailway Tavern , IJailway-place , Fenchurch-street , at 7 . New Concord Lodge of Instruction , Hoscmai-y Branch Tavern , lloxton , at 8 .

Thursday , October 7 . Lodge No . 27 , " Egyptian , " Anderton ' s Hotel . Fleet-street . „ 45 , "Strong Man , " Freemasons' Hall . ., 13 G , "Good Kcport , '" Itadley ' s Hotel , Blackfriars .

„ 192 , " Lion and Lamb , " City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street . „ 227 , " Ionic , " Ship iS- Turtlo Tav ., Leadenhall-st . ,, 538 , " La Tolerance , " Freemasons' Hnll . ' _ -. j , ) ,, 551 , " Yarborough , '' Green Dragon , Stepney . 5 ° 712 , "Crystal Palace , " Crystal Palace . .

„ 822 , " Victoria Rifles , " Freemasons' Hnll . '" T ^ „ 1155 , " Excelsior , " Sydney Arms , Lewishamroad . „ 1178 , " Perfect Ashlar . " Gregorian Arms Tav ., Jamaica-road , Bermondsey . Chapter 174 , "Sincerity , " Cheshire Cheese Tav ., Crutched Friars .

,, 733 , " Westbourne , " New Inn , Edgware-road . _ „ 742 , "Crystal Palace , " Crystal Palace . Finsbury Club of Instruction , "Jolly Anglers' Tavern , " ^ 42 , Bath-street , City-road . ¦ , ~ Oi United Mariners' Lodge of Instruction , Three Cranes Tav ., Mile-end-road , at 8 ; T . . 1 . Barnes , Preceptor .

Friday , October 8 . Lodge No . 177 , "Domatic , " Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-afreet . Chapter 33 , " Britannk-, " Freemasons' Hall . K . T . Encampment , No . 51 , Mount Calvary , Freemasons'Tav . Emulation Lodgo of Improvement for M . M . ' s , Freomasons . Hall , at 7 . Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , George Hotel , Aldermanbury , at 7 ; Bro . Brett , Preceptor .

United Pilgrims' Lodge of Instruction , Horns Tavern , Kennington at 7 . Belgrave Lodge of Instruction , Dnke of Wellington Hotel , Spring-gardens , Charing-cross ; Preceptor , Bro . Pulsford Doric Lodge of Instruction , Three Cranes Tavern , Mile-endroad , at 8 ; Bro . Isaac Saqui , Preceptor . Duke of Edinburgh Lodge of Instruction , The Silver Lion , Penny-Held * Poplar .

Saturday , October 9 . Mark Masters' Lodgo , No . 101 , " Macdonald , " Head Quarters 1 st Surrey Rifles , Brunswick-road , Camberwell , at i .

Puoi'iiETic . —As the sacrifices of the ancient Jews pointed to that great atonement whereby man became reconciled to God ; so the mysteries _ of Masonry direct tho enquiring mind to that period when tho sun of rig hteousness shall arise , and , with healing ou His wings , dispel the mists which overshadow the nations of the earth , and the Trinity in unity shall bo

universally acknowledged and adored . And as the princip les of our ancient institution , in the earlier days , prepared the mind for the reception of this great truth ; so will the mind be improved by the moral influence , of thoso princip les , and rendered fit for tho enjoyment of the full blazo of light , when it shall be revealed in all its majesty and glory .