Scotland.

P . M ., and he had no doubt that under the present R . W . M . the lodge would continue to prosper , and maintain that high position in the Craft that it had so long occupied . The R . W . Master gave a very suitable reply . In the course of the evening Bro . John Cuninghame , R . W . M ., presented

Bro . Thomas Halket , P . M ., with a gold watch and appendages for himself , and a brooch and a pair of earrings for Mrs . Halket . The watch bore the following inscription : — " Presented to Bro . Thomas Halket , P . M . Lodge St . Mark , No . 102 , by the brethren of the lodge , in recognition

of his many services as R . W . M . 1872 . Ihe R . W . M . observed that Bro . Halket had held almost every office in the lodge , and discharged his duties admirably . Bro . Halket , in acknowledging the testimonial said : —I will carefully preserve your gift , and highly value it as a

merial of your respect—an evidence of the position which I have occupied in the lodge , and also as a proof that my labours have been approved of by the brethren . It will also constantly remind me of many endearing friendships which have been formed amongst the brethren , and of that social

and fraternal intercourse which I have so long enjoyed amongst them , and which , I trust , will long continue . I would also thank you R . W . M . ' for the very kind manner in which you have presented the testimonial . I have considered it not only a duty , but a privilege , to do all in my

power to advance the interest of the lodge , and promote the principles of the Order . My connection with the lodge has been of a very pleasant character . The duties of office were rendered simple and pleasant by the hearty and efficient assistance which I received from the Office Bearers , and the members generally , for

which I would now render them my sincere thanks ; and I will endeavour to manifest my gratitude by rendering all the assistance I can to those in office . I trust that the lodge will continue to prosper in all its interests . I feel that I cannot express my sentiments respecting it better than in the words of our national poet , when addressing his mother

lodge—May freedom , harmony , and love , Unite you in the grand design ; Beneath the Omnicient eye above The glorious Architect divine . The eye may keep the unerring line , Still rising by the plummet ' s law ; Till order bright completely shine ,

Shall be my prayer when far awa " . Other toasts followed , some excellent songs were sung , and the evening was spent in a very pleasant and harmonious manner .

Freemasonry :

FREEMASONRY :

ITS WISDOM , STRENOTII AND BEAUTY ; ITS Ax Tiauri'Y , CHARACTER , STABILITY , AMI USES . An Address delivered by ( lie Itev . W . V . Ti ' imit . ; I | tlie l . ayint ; of ( lie Corner Stone of the Masonic Temple nl New Orleans , on Thursdnv , I ' eb . 15 , 1872 .

Most Worshipful Sir , Brethren , and Friends : An institution as old as Masonry needs no apology for its presuming still to exist . Its venerable age , to lay claim to no mythical antiquity , is simply an acknowledged fact . Us history has a weird

fascination and charm , as though it were a sublime example . If we were to take up its origin , we should have to fumble into musty archives , whose dust , the accumulation of centuries , would bury us so deep , in a mould so dry and shifting , as not to

sustain even a sprig of acacia to mark the spot where we went down . We could not be satisfied with any search into the record of Masonry that should stop short of the great King Solomon , and even arriving at this epoch , we should worry ourselves

for want of facilities of pushing our excursion of inquiry yet deeper into the recesses of the dim past , shrewdly suspecting that in China , whose wig is the grayest of all the nations , if not her age ; in India , where Sir William [ ones thought he discovered

writings of four thousand years ago ; in Egypt , in the mysteries of Jsis and Eleusis ; among the colonies that Cecrops founded in Greece—inall these traces might be detected of the distinct peculiarities of the idiosyncratic order that innocently

Freemasonry :

yields its antiquity to Adam alone . By the time however , that we had gotten as far back as Babel , we should have become vain babblers indeed , if not long before , and so the assertion of our interesting age for Masonry is a matter merely of humour , or of curiosity , that may be indulged for a moment , and a matter about which Masons have scarcely that moment ' s concern . When we should

condescend to take notice of the past thousand years , we should find the Masonry of to-day such a familiar denizen in lodges on the face of the earth , of that entire period , an institution of the Saxon Heptarchy , of York and London , an institution whose roll still show the names of historic bishops , and dukes , and kings , and philosophers , and statesm en

—such a fixture in England , and subsequently in America , that we agree at once that the order is at least one thousand years old : and that admission is of importance , from the single consideration alone that the grand temple of Freemasonry is built upon the foundations of great and good men , truth itself beinar the chief corner-stone . But it is

Masonry as a thing ot the living' present that is in our thoughts to day . Behold in these United States 5 , 000 lodges , with an aggregate of 500 , 000 members ; in this city thirty-two lodges , with an aggregate of three thousand members .

A due respect to the numbers who have honored us with their presence to-day , who , it is fair to presume , are not Masons , and particularly the respect due to the fair and better part , by far , of this audience , who not only honour but grace the occasion , and who we know are not Masons , although we should not be afraid to trust them if the law

would permit , who have ever been distinguished for their love for the brotherhood , and as the daughters of a more than Masonic charity , such respect demands that we shall not speak in the cabalistic language , of the craft , but in terms of general import and interest .

From the beginning men have organized them-. . . . ° selves into associations , societies , communities , corporations , orders , etc . In that fact there is the expression of a law deeply impressed upon the nature of man , and this law , slated simply , disposes at once of all objections to the Masonic order ,

regarded as an association or companionship . The law of perfection , illustrated by the vice of imperfection , which inevitablyattachesto all constitutions of organic bodies framed b y man , and which so seriously impairs the efficiency of execution in

detail oi even the best constitutions , has but to be stated to dispose of all objections to Masonry , arising from the fact of unworthy members , hall realized aims , defective co-operation , and inadequate practical results .

Ihe law of the natural right of private judgment , illustrated by dilferences of opinion among peers in goodness and reason , with regard to causes and evidence , has but to be stated to dispose of all objections to Masonry , growing out of certain few unfortunate controversies in which it has

participated 111 its history , and that have started questions of its general expediency , its' indirect influence , its most pronounced historic tendency for good or bad , and in some minds , even its morality . The onl y question then remaining is that which concerns the principles that have organized , the characters that have illustrated , and the

works that have signalized its records ; their testimony as to the general effect of the system and its moral status , and that must determine the attitude towards it of all men who have purcness of heart . To this last chief question the Mason is ready with his answer , albeit , indeed , he is not so anxious to multi ply proselytes , or to undertake any anxious advocacy of his position .

Masonry would have died out long ago if it had depended for its perpetuity upon the active industry of its adherents , through the usual special methods of canvassing for supporters , directed to the specific end of increasing its numbers . Masonry may allow encouragement , but never has addressed solicitations of applicants for

admission . In this fact , 111 part , lies the reason which removes it as far from the nature of a religion , as it is also removed essentiall y from the spirit ol hatred and evil . Believing that 1 am right as a Christian , I try to help make every man I meet a Christian . I have never tried to induce any one to become a Mason . A reli gious man may devote himself to Masonry , as an auxiliary to his own or others ' good , but always , of course , under t he strict regulation of the law of his reli g ion ,

Freemasonry :

which enacts " redeeming the time . " It is foreign to the very genius of Masonry therefore to put forth any apology . It is sublimel y dignified , reserved and self-contained . It is an example of free individual segregation from the mass , an association of individuals , an illustration of the law of

association operating among beings ol one blood , an incident of the social state—a close communion , an institution whose teachings , sentiments , and aim are as pure and good , as truth , love , and happiness ; whose doors , now closed for strength ' s sake , fly open again for love ' s sake to every brother

man , worthy and well qualified , who knocks for admittance , an institution , whose prayer is that all were thus worthy and well qualified , and that will therefore bless even the unworth y with its benefits , with relief in trouble and guidance in ignorance , in the shape of their exaltation ; and so

contemplate expressly 111 its familiar inculcations , and in its beneficent and charitable designs , the whole world of mankind . It stands upon its dignity , survives with the wo ' rld , does alone in secret what cheers many a heart , treads the sick room softly , yet the tread , though light , may be

distinctly heard by the ear , day and night together , as long as there is need . It buries the dead with a gentle courtesy that starts from the widow ' s eyes tears of blessing and consolation with the tears of bereaved grief ; and returns from the garlanded

grave to be to the widow a husband , to the orphan a father . God willing , it will build a Temple on this spot , in precious memory of saints of old , and in the faith of good men yet to come , as long as earth shall have a future .

Masonry , in the bare ri ght to exist as long as men will , holds its belief and doctrines for itself , for ever settled beyond all amendment or change . The Bible is its great light . God , and his Book of the Law , revelation and redemption , death and destruction , holiness and love , life and

immortality , retribution and heaven , through the blood of atonement , are ideas fundamental to its identity . It conceives itself welcome to Christian truth , and so has adopted it . For the truth to be held in unrighteousness is , alas , too sadly human , and so brethren are warned to take due notice of

the admonitions to that effect of the Great Master of Assemblies , and govern themselves accordingly . If the virtues of Masonry were , in their perfection , the virtues of any one Mason , it could be said of hiiu : Behold a man all o ' er consummate , absolute ,

Full orbed , in his whole round of rays complete . " Are Masons gudder than udher men ? " is a question that King Henry VI . of England , asks in an ancient manuscript found by the distinguished metaphysician , John Locke , in the celebrated Bodleian libary . This manuscript isa matter of great

curiosity and much interest to Masons . It contains certain questions and answers concerning the mysteries of Masonry , written by the hand of King Heniy VI . and copied by one John Leylande , antiquarian . I have quoted one of the questions , " Are Masons gudder than •odher

men r The answer is , "Some Masons are not so virtuous as some odher men , but in the most part they be more good than they would be if they were not Masons . " It is said that Locke , the scholar and metaphysician , was so struck with

the reading of this manuscript that he sent it to the Right Honorable Thomas , Earl of Pembroke , with a letter signifying his intention to enter the fraternity , if he might be admitted , the next time he went to London .

II laith , hope , and charity ; if silence , caution , and discretion : if industry , economy , temperance , and truth ; if justice , fortitude , and piety be virtues—combined in one character , they would surely make the perfect man better than another destitute of them , audi have named the Masonic virtues .

if the square and level , plumb and rule , and hammer and mallet , and chisel , in the hands of the operative mason can guide into stability , beauty and proportion the rising edifice , their symbolic use in moral or speculative Masonry should train in delicate adjustment the growth of character

into the stature of a perfect man , the lines of ceommetry , and angles of correct vision , ( seeing things as they are , discriminating between shams and realities , looking at things not seen , ) and curves of beauty , and solids of genuine attainments in goodness and grace , ( as distinguished from the superiical boasts of vanity , ) are to be considerd in the for .