War Against Masonry In Brazil By The Romish Bishops.

of the Bishop , wherein he executes the papal bull of excommunication against Masonry , that the present great excitement began first to manifest itself . The people en masse , with the

commencement of the present year , spurred on by the continued warfare of the Bishop against Masonry , at last addressed a vigorous protest to the Government , not forgetting to make a representation to Parliament , then in session at Rio .

Previously the Bishop of Para had forbidden the faithful to read certain Liberal journals , in which certain alleged heresies were defended , under pain of suffering spiritual punishment at his hands . The Bishop of Rio Grande , with his associate

clergy , also manifested a like spirit , and the debate waxed warmer and warmer . The Bishop of Para decided to furnish his little contribution as well , and began to excommunicate and anethematize the Liberal journals , and recently , in imitation of his Pernambuco

brother , " tried his hand" on the religious orders , which in Brazil are a species of benevolent society , participate in the ceremonies of the church , on feast days march in the processions , wearing their albs and carrying torches in the

most solemn manner . This priestly epidemic , or fit of excommunication , ran down the coast , and finally attacked his reveren : e the Bishop of Rio ; and his anathema is the last which has been hurled at us

down to the present writing . From this rapid view of the cas * you may imagine into what a " damnable" state we have fallen—spiritually considered . The man who

does the funny jokes on the " Reforma , " under the heading of " Boatos , " kept up very creditably until a few days since , when he broke ground in a most alarming manner , and , in retaliation for the terrible mass of old obsolete

canon law , with which Mendes Almeida garnished his discourse the day previous , began to hurl a lot of celestial thunderbolts himself , quoting with perfect recklessness the following bulls : —

Quousque tandem , — Clement XLVIII . Parturiunt montes nascitur , —Leo XCV . Sic itur ad , —Pio X . adding that his stock wasn ' t exhausted either , and they had better look out , Bishop and all .

The best of it all is , that the eyes of the public are being opened gradually to the actual state of things , and men who ten months ago would have indignantly scorned such an idea as unworthy a true Catholic , areno w asking themselves whether it would not be

much better after all to end these questions by one simple act—separation of church from state , and so settle for ever this pretended supremacy of Rome . This idea is fast seizing hold of the public mind , and journals and public men are continually announcing themselves as adherents to it .

But I am running on lo unusual length . All this may be without interest to you . Let me hear from you as you lind occasion and disposition to write . Yours most truly , RICHARD CUTTO SHANNON . Secretary of Legation of I cS . in Brazil ,

DESICIN oi' THE DEGREES . '—l'he initiation into the first , or Entered Apprentice ' s Degree , was made to partake , in a slighter proportion , ol those trials of physical and moral courage fot which the admission into ancient and chiefly Egyptian mysteries were famous . The second ,

or Fellow Craft ' s , was rendered interesting by those scientific instructions and philosophical lectures which characterised later parts of the mysteries ; though both degrees were made to tend to the glory of that God who had given such wonderful faculties to them and to the

welfare of their fellow creatures . Thus instructed in morals , and science , the third , or Master Mason ' s Degree , led them to that g ^ eat truth which the sublimest part even of the heathen mysteries , though it too soon seldom

succeeded , was intended lo teach , and tlie faithful believer was assured of a future life and immortality beyond the grave . And , whereas , the heathens hail taught this only by thc app l ' cation of a iable to their purpose , the wisdom ol

War Against Masonry In Brazil By The Romish Bishops.

the pious Grand Master of Israelitish Masons took advantage of a real circumstance , which would more forcibly impress the sublime truths he intended to inculcate upon the minds of all brethren . Such is a brief outline , intelligible I

trust , to the members of the Order , of the design of that beautiful system which , then established , has long been the admiration of the world , and has stood the test of ages amid every persecution . —Archdeacon Mant .

Language Of Masonry.

LANGUAGE OF MASONRY .

" As every Masonic idea has its own proper sign that expresses it better than any other can , we should seek to preserve uniformity of language as well as spirit . We are to teach Masonry as we receive it , and not as we have forgotten and

substituted some words of our own . An interpolated word here and there , by one and another lecturer , would , in the course of time , entirely destroy the orig inal text of Masonic instruction . "Masonry is one of the agencies to preserve the purity of the English tongue , and the moment

we begin to admit words of modern coinage , or of philological construction from foreign tongues , that moment we weigh anchor and set sail on uncertain seas , where a maelstrom may wait to engnlph us . " l'he normal language of Masonry is simple

and pure . Men of correct tastes will admire the sublime simplicity of our ritual much more than when clothed in the meretricious rhetoric of every lecturer who thinks he can beautify it by his own expurgations and substitutions No license to change should be allowed any one , or

we shall be at last confounded in a Babel of tongues . We heard of r . n artist who once took a pure white lily and sought to improve it by penciling on its petals the parti-colored fancies he had mixed on his pallet . He committed floral sacrilege , and violated the first principles

of art , which is strict conformity to nature . Paint is good in its place , but not to improve flowers . ' Solomon , in all his glory , was not arrayed like one of these . ' Moral truths are srrandest when clothed in severe attire . The adornments of art cannot add to the charms of

truth . Let us continue Masonry in that uncorrupted form in which our fathers taught it—free from the garish decorations of the modern drama , and thc high-sounding periods of bombastic oratory and poetry . We . want no Johnsonianism in Masonry , and naught of the spectacular style . "

Opening And Closing A Lodge

OPENING AND CLOSING A LODGE

The old charges say that m a Lodge opened , the brethren are to have na private committees , or separate conversation , without leave of the Master ; that they are to utter nothing unseemly ; that they are not to interrupt the Master or

Warden , or any other while speaking , nor lo speak or act ludicrously or jestingly while the lodge is engaged in what is serious or solemn , and that no unbecoming language whatever is to be used .

A lodge room , in all that pertains to respect or reverence for Deity , or to the moral law or social code , should be as sacred as a church . It should be a place in reality dedicated to the service of God , and , while nothing of innocent mirth or playful familiarity is to be excluded , nothing contrary to Divine teachings , violation of the code

of morals , or offensive to good breeding , should be admitted upon the floor of a lodge room . B y good breeding we do not mean the nile of uppertendom , or the artificial conduct required in different circles , but that innate sense of propriety which prompts even the uneducated aud ununtaught man to render to others what he desires for himself .

VVe do not care to say here what we liave seen and heard upon the floor of a lodge room , but this we do say emphatically , that any brother who v . iil - I" far forget his solemn CWWIMIUSJ and

teachings as to act or appear unbecomingly upon the floor of a lodge room , is very likely to so act and appear everywhere else . The room itself should be regarded t acred , because a lodge is erected to God , who inhabits tlie

Opening And Closing A Lodge

room . Having been erected to God , He is supposed to reside therein . When the brethren assemble , before a lodge is formed , freedom , politeness and friendly recognition should prevail ; but upon the sound of the gavel , every brother , clothed , should decorously repair to his

own seat or station . Every brother ought to be able to fill any station , in opening or closing , unless we may except those of Master and Secretary . But especiall y is it the duty , as it should be the pride , of every officer to know his part , and be able to perform his duty with honour

to the Master aud creditably to himself . We find lodges very much lacking and lame in this , by which brethren become wearied and impatient , disgusted and ashamed , and cease to attend . Let the opening ceremonies be effectively rendered , the business transacted methodically , and the

lodge closed in good time , and there will not only be attendance , but attention and interest . The lodge-room should be the place , and the lodge itself the school of good manners . No man should be a Mason , unless he is by nature a gentleman , one who respects himself and

others ; one thoughtful in his acts and expressions and chary in his words . VVe find , too , that in opening a lodge , one great lesson is disregarded . VVe are taught that " no man should enter upon any great or important duty , without first invoking the blessing of the Deity . " And yet

many lodges are pretended to be opened without even the semblance of prayer . In Mackey ' s "" th point of opening , he lays this duty down as indispensable , and many hold that a lodge is not Masonically opened until the blessing of Deity is invoked .

After the opening ceremonies , the first business is the reading of the record . This should in no wise be omitted at a regular communication , and should be read from the record book itself . Indeed , were we Master of a lodge , we would not open a lodge until the record ( not in

minutes ) was male up , unless it should be impracticable . A lodge should be a lodge in its ceremonies , in its works , in its business , in ils manners , and its records . VVe shall make this article too tedious if we stop now to comment upon the work . What

we have said of opening is true of closing , only the ceremonies may be more brief and rapid , preserving decorum and solemnity . Unless the hour is late , the brethren should not be in haste to disperse , but should indulge in friendly conversation upon what concerns them ,

their business , their prospects , their families , the good of Masonry , and the welfare of ihe lodge . In this way brotherly alLctiou , ties of friendshi p and personal regard grow strong , and their good influence abide in our homes , go with us through life , modify our acts , and smooth the voyage over the river of death . —Mawnic Trowel .

What Is Your Life.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE .

" Life , to me , is a very great mystery . The quesli ' . ni , ' What is your life r' comes very often uncalled for , and , on an occasion like the present the question proves itself through the multitude of thoughts and memories , and clamors for consideration . ' What is your life •' Am I making

the best possible use of the opportunities oi life as they are presented . Ave you meeting' the ends of your being , and ditchaiging the high responsibilities resting upon you , in view of the positions you occupy in our Order and in the State . My own mind goes back a quarter of a

century , and calls up the lessons and teachings of Masonry , learned and meditated over in the earlier years of Masonic life , and I ask myself the question , Have I , in youth , as an Entered Apprentice , industriously occupied my lime in

the attainment of useful knowledge ; and , in manhood , am I applying that knowledge in a faithful discharge of the duties which J owe to God , my neighbor and myself ? Are we all so applying these lessons and duties , that we cm look ioMvard Lo the lime of ce . : ¦ - . the ]•¦ , ¦ : ¦¦ •, n

enjoy me ; tne happy r < / lection eonseijceiu epou a well-spent life , and wait our appointed tiin •, when s \ e ilv . llI be . lid •ripe slcc . es in tiie harve-t l m .-, gatb' - 'ed into the great garner of eternity . "