The Master Mason.

moral qualities , well qualifying them to judge of its merits , if they enter its sacred halls , continue as members , and cheerfully conform to all its stern requirements ; + hen the conclusion must be , that they have not been deceived , but find something there worthy of their approbation , and

of sufficient value to engage their energies , and compensate them for all the time and money expended upon it . It is far otherwise with the candidate who has diligently qualified himself for taking on him the " honourable degree of a Master Mason , " and

thereby attain to the full knowledge of the mysteries of Ancient Craft Masonry . He is lawfully and honourably brought into contact with the sublime institution , and enters upon thc stud )' and duties of his profession with growing interest . Under able and efficient teachers , with close

application , he may soon become a Master Mason , in the full and proper sense of" the term , which confers rights , honours and dignity , when duly appreciated , and worthily maintained , which no other institution has power to confer . But we may be told , that every Master Mason

does not place so high an estimate upon the honours and merits of the Order as the above remarks seem to indicate . This is unfortunately true ; and it is true for the reason that every man who is admitted to these rights and honours , has not the heart and capacity to properly

appreciate and comprehend the profound lessons brought to his view . The man who seeks to pass through the portals of our Order , with the expectation of gratify ing a sensitive mind with curiosity and sensational scenes , finds himself quite disappointed , and is made to feci that the

demands of Masonry tire such that he has no qualifications for meeting—that there is no proper material in him to make a Mason of . Such men should never apply for our mysteries , and if they should , they ought to be rejected . — Texas Masonic . Mirror .

Multum In Parbo,Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

CHARTER OF THE BUILDERS OI- STRASIHIKO . Can any brother assist me with a confirmation of some statements made by Mr . Geo . Godwin , in a paper read before the Society of British Architects in 1868 or 1 S 69 ? He then states apparently , on the authority of Ramee ,

' Historic Genevale d' I ' architecture , " that in " I 27 '") the Emperor Rhodolph granted a special charter to the builders at Strasburg , " and that in 127 S the Pope Nicholas III . delivered them a brief , or indulgence , renewed from time to time , by his successors . " Sir R . Westmacott , in the third volume ofthe " Arclwological Journal , "

page 19 8 , has said , which statement Air . Geo . Godwin puts also forward in his able paper on Masons' Marks , that " a bull was issued prior to 1200 , giving authority to heads of churches to build churches , and attaching to them a certain number of 'liberi muratores , ' or Freemasons , to direct and execute the ornamental parts of the structure . " AVhat truth is there in these

statements historically ? A MASONIC STUDENT . LEARN IRCM YOI . ' K ELDERS . —A bore inajori discil nrare minor . This adage ( literally , tlie young ox learns to plow from his elder ) applies with force to our younsr brcthien whose attention

is necessarily directed to the conduct 01 the unlet for that instruction in the art of Masonry so rare and so valued . In writing up the characteristics of the present age , one of the most disagreeable features is the neglect of precedent and experience . In the conduct of i' ., any . Masons there

seems absolutely no reference to what has gone before . And yet Freemasonry , in all its aims and works , is a perpetuation of fast things . Throw out the idea of antiquity , and it degenerates at once into the poorest of modern affiliations , and the very fact that " its landmarks are

unchailireable " is the worst feature about it . Then " let ( lie young ox leani to plow from the elder one , ' and if " by reason of strength" the juvenile can excel the old one in the amount of work done , or the straig htiiess of the furrows , or the ease with which his day ' s work is accomplished , all the better for the rcsii / l-..

Multum In Parbo,Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

SYMBOLISM OF THE CIRCLE . —The circle being a figure which returns into itself , and having therefore neither beginning nor end , it has been adopted in the symbology of all countries and times as a symbol , sometimes of the universe , and sometimes of eternity . With this

idea , in the Zoroastic Mysteries of Drtudism ; the temple of initiation was circular . In the obsolete lectures of the old English system it was said , that " the circle has ever been considered , symbolical of the Deity ; for as a circle appears

to have neither beginning nor end , it may be justl y viewed as a type of God , without either beginning of days or ending of years . " It also reminds us of a future state , " where we hope to enjoy everlasting happiness and joy . " Masonry consecrates thc symbolism of the circle to itself

in the teachings of its great emblem , the point within the circle ; where the common explanation is , that the point is an individual brother , and the circle the boundary line of his duty ; but whose true explanation is , that the symbol is derived from the ancient sun worship , where

the point would represent the solar orb , and the circle the illimitable universe which he illumines and vivifies . But the sun is really a symbol of God , and the universe bears the same relation to space that eternity docs to time ; and hence we get back to the primitive symbolic idea , that the circle is a symbol of eternity , —Mackey ' s Freemason .

Poetry.

Poetry .

LINES OF GRATITUDE .

A Masonic brother acknowled ging the generous conduct of some of the fraternity who had done him a great kindness , thus gives vent to his feelinffs in verse .

Long may your lodge-hres burn , AVorkmen in mystic labours , " kind and good !" And many a year return

To shed new lustre on your brotherhood ! You who the call of mercy heard and heeded , And gave , in good supply , the bounty needed !

Foes may your work defame , And call your acts "the offspring ofthe night :, " How often human blame Has slandered those in generous doings bright !

The Lord of ALL bore to His home of bliss , In hands and feet and side , the proofs of this . But doubt ye not , dear friends , There waits for you a certain full rewards

The Lord will make amends At the great pay-day , for I hits sailh ihe Lord ; " Because ye did it lo the least , so free ,

Come to my thorne ! Xe did it unto me ! " A lasting blessing rest Upon your work , increasing more and more ! God ' s largest gifts and best

fill to the brim your basket and your store ! Till , from hard service , summoned by death ' s voice . You shall , in Ledge Celestial , till tejoice .

Ml IE BUILDERS . BY 11 I : \ KY W . LONOIELI . OW . All the architects of fate ,

Working on ihe Mails of time ; Some with massive deeds and great , ¦ ' ' ^ inie with ornament ; : of rhvnic .

Nothing useless is , or low . Each thing in its place is best , And what seems but idle show Strengthens and supports the rest . For the structure that wc raise , Time is with materials filled-,

Poetry.

Our to-days and yesterdays Are the blocks with which we build . Truly shape and fashion these ; Leave no yawning gap between ;

Think not because no man sees Such things will remain unseen . 1 n the elder days of art

Builders wrought with greatest care Each minute and unseen part—For thc gods see everywhere .

I , et us do our work as well , Both the unseen and the seen ; Make the house where gods may dwell , Beautiful , entire , and clean .

Else our lives are incomplete , Standing in these walls of time , Broken stairways , where the feet Stumble as they seek to climb .

Build to-day , then , strong and sure , AVith a firm and ample base ; And ascending and secure , Shall to-morrow find a place .

1 bus alone can we attain To these turrets where the eye , Sees the world as one vast plain , And one boundless reach of sky .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS .

For the Week ending Friday , , lu \ y 11 , 18 ; :. Tne Editor will be glad to have notice Irom Secretaries of Lodges and Chapters of any change in place or time ol meeting .

SATUHMV , Ji'i . v 6 . General Committee Boys' School , freemasons' Hall , at 4 . Star Lodge of Instruction ( 1275 ) , Marquis of Granliy New Cross-road , at 7 ; Bro . C . S . DiHcy , Preceptor Sphinx Lodge of Instruction ( 1320 ) , Castle Tavern , Camberwell-road , at 7 30 : Bros . Thomas and

Worthington . Preceptors . Mount Sinai Chapter of Instruction , Union Tavern , Aiistrcet , at 8 ; Comp . Brett , Preceptor . Manchester Lodge iy [ Instruction , Yorkshire Grey , London Street , Fitzroy-square , at S ; liro Ash , P . M ., Preceptor .

MONDAY , J ULY S . Lodge i . ^ ofi , llighgalc , ( fate ( louse I lotel , lligligatc . Sincerity Lodge of Instruction ( 174 ) , Railway Tavern Fenchurcii-strcct Station , at 7 . Strong Matt Lodge of Instruction ( 45 ) , Old . Jerusalem ' T .-nern , St . John ' s Gate , Clcrkcnwell , at 8 ; Bro .

James Terry , Preceptor . Camden Lodge of Instruction ( 704 ) , Adelaide Tavern , I laverstock-hill , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Eastern Star Lodge of Instruction ( 95 ) , Koyal Hotel , Mileend-road , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . K . Gottheil , Preceptor . British Oak Lodge of Instruction , Bank of Friendship

Tavern , Mile End , at 7 for 8 . St . James ' s Union Lodge of Instruction ( 180 ) , Horse and Groom Tavern , Winslcy-strcct , ( opposite the Pantheon ) ,. Oxford-street , at 8 ; Bro . J . K . Stacey , Preceptor . Wellington Lodge of Instruction , While Swan Tavern ,. Deptford , ; ' u 8 ; Hro . C . G . Willey , P . M . n ; - „ .

Preceptor . St . John of Wapping Lodge ol Instruction ( 1306 ) , Gun ) Tavern , I ligli-stiect , Wapping , at 7 ; Bro . T . Mortlock ,. Preceptor . West Kent Lodge ol Improvement ( 1 -97 ) , St . Saviour ' s College , Stansted-road , Forest-hill , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . II . W . Lindus , Preceptor .

TtL . iDAi' , Jt i . v 9 . I odge 54 S , Wellington , White Swan Taiem , Deptford . „ 1 : fnj , Stanhope , Thicket Hotel , Anerley , Surrey . Metropolitan Chapter of Instruction , Portugal Holcf ,. l- 'leet-street , at 7 ; Com ]) . Brett , Preceptor . Donritie Lodge of Instruction , I ' alnier .-. ton Tav .,

Grovienorpark , Camberwell , at h j lira . John Thomas , Preceptor . Faith Lodge ol Instruction , licltc :. hnicnl llooin .-, Victoria-st .. ( opposite Westminster Palace J lotel ) ut 8 ; Bro . C . A .. Cottebrune , Preceptor .

Yarborough Lodge of Instruction , Green Dragon , Stepney at 8 ; liro . Isaac Saqui , Preceptor . Prince Fredk . William Lodge of Instruction ( 75 . ;) , Kiiight' --of St . John Tavern , St . John's Wood ; Bro . F . G . Baku , Pieeepl'jt .