The Distinguishing Characteristic Of A Freemason's Beart.

There was no doubt that the hunted man . had intended to conceal himself in his hermit ' s quarters had there been time to effect the purpose but alas he was too sorel y pressed by his pursuer . With surprising agilit y he clambered iip one of the loft y walls on the eastern part . of'the castle , near the deep fissure or gully mentioned in the earl y part of this story .

It was high water and the wailing breakers were rushing and expending their force on the massive rocks far underneath where the madman stood .

Poising himself on the wall , Major' Montague confronted the astounded keeper who had not the temerit y to advance further , "Follow me , " he yelled "if you dare , and we will take a leap together . Ha ! ha ! you relish not the invitation , you arc but a craven after all . You thought to take mo alive , poor fools , but I was too quick for ye . Better , far better a watery grave , oblivion or

a brig ht futurit y , than a living tomb , guarded b y such miscreants as ye and your abettors . Now for a voyage to the great unknown ! It was an awful si ght to see the poor demented fellow calmly prepare for a fearful death . He lightly cast aside his coat and vest , and with a gay laugh that sounded g hastl y under the terrible circumstances , he leaped into the angry waters .

The horrified Dornton and the ollicer made their way through an aperture in the ruined walls , and approached to the edge of the cliff . They saw Montague feebl y swimming , bnt in his dreadful leap he had evidentl y struck himself against the sharp rocks , for as a gigantic wave raised him hi gh on its crest , they could p lainl y discern the blood flowing from a gash in his forehead . Once only did

he g lance towards them , but it was apparently a last effort , for he directl y afterwards threw up his arms , and his white , despairing face , surrounded with its dark lank hair , sank for ever in the seething vortex . The awe-stricken spectators of the tragedy stayed for a time , gazing , as if fascinated , at the spot where the bod y ~ had vanished in the vicinit y of the turbulent waters of the " Rumble Churn , "

where" The spray as it broke appeared like smoke , From a sea , volcano pouring ; And still did it grumble , and rumble and tumble , Rioting ! raging ! roaring !"

Signs Of The Times.

SIGNS OF TEE TIMES .

We might , without much misgiving , prophesy concerning Freemasonry that it will be this , or it will do that , during the next 20 years , and who would believe us ? Wrong ? , real or imaginary , redressed on the Enchanted Castle principle , and prophets in their own country , are not believed in ; , and it is as inconvenient and nearly as dangerous nowadays to be 50 years behind

the age as so many ahead . It has been predicted for the last 30 years that Freemasonry is tottering on its foundations , and if these latter-day prophets had net nearly all passed away , leaving their prophecies unfulfilled , we might have been persuaded to don the mantle likewise , so clear it is to perceive that we are passing over the last stage of a critical period . However , we content ourselves with a less exalted role .

In the battle of life we throw many matters aside , believing that they do not concern us to-day , or , at least , may be put off until to-morrow . This is a failing by no means confined to Masons , and we are not expecting either to sie it disappear , or find men less willing than they are to regard procrastination as a fault . Some people are so constituted that in their dail y

occupations they cannot set about anything out of the ordinary routine without an effort . They know this perfectly well , and so conscious are they of this particular infirmity , which is acknowledged ( to themselves ) as a failing , that they are extremely sensitive to any imputation of the fault . Similarly , many Masons who occasionally detect themselves in ignoring principles they preach and thoroughly believe in , are generally afterwards ashamed of such

conduct ; hence we often find a brother who has flatly refused a subscription of 5 s . to a Steward ' s list , will within a short time announce his intention of being a Steward at the very much greater cost . Now , this change may have been the result of an after-thought of the kind above referred to ; but in most cases that feeling has only influenced it partially ; by far the strongest lever will be found to be self-interest , which , however , is not always reprehensible either , if free from envy and uncharitableness .

Since sell-interest is inseparable from human nature , it is natural that it hould be worked upon to a very great extent both a-nongst Masons and others , the very courtesies of the drawing-room being even influenced b y it . At present we do not propose to enter upon the question whether a promised collar or any other bribe is Masonic . The point which we have in our

mind , and desire to draw attention to , is the fact that while self-interest does in certain cases influence brethren to study the wants and aspirations of individuals , the needs of the average Mason are a neglected study all round . In many lodges , as soon as the candidate has passed the Third Degree he is made to feel that he is a non-entity , and until he takes office that feeling is

ever present to his mind . He draws no very favourable idea of the fraternal bond about which he has heard so much ; for during the first six months he notices wi ( h growing prejudice that most of the members are too much occupied with their own advancement to trouble about him . Although it is

known that in no schcol can a man be more completely ignorant on his entrance than the Masonic one , he is treated in the business fashion characteristic of the age , being left to pick up his information and instruction himself , or learn nothing , until it becomes somebody ' s personal interest to take him in hand .

Signs Of The Times.

It is surely high time this selfishness should cease . It originated in this generation , and has brought us nothing but disappointment . We cannot but fetl ashamed of the conversation which has to fill up the intervals in visiting lodges . Current topics of a Masonic nature are unknown , and therefore palpably avoided . We hear nothing but shop , and opinions on one or two brethren of the visited lodge who , we find out after the exercise of

Job's patience , are popular for their wealth and a kind of half-witted generosity to the lodge in matters which shall be nameless . Masonic apathy regarding the welfare of the Craft as an Institution cannot well be lower than it is at present . But when the W . M . of a lodge gives innocently no doubt the health of a brother whose death has been recorded in every

Masonic paper throughout the world—who excites your curiosity and hopes by a pompous declaration that he is " a member of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge at London , " but goes ted in the face as soon as you ask him a question bearing on tie last " Transactions , " and finally acknowledges that he never has time to read Masonic literature , " only the Freemason , you know "—we are surely as near low ebb as we can well be .

Masons are influenced by their lodge very much more than is generally believed . The sluggishness which it has been asserted is the outcome of years of prosperity we have never seen . On the contrary , the activity of the rank and file has bien greater of late years than at any time . But it is a pity that activity should not have been directed towards the acquisition of Masonic knowledge rather than the study of our brother ' s weakness , and

the necessary strategy whereby we may walk over his shoulders to the chair I Time LO employed is spent ( 1 ) in ignoring Masonry to begin with , and ( 2 ) setting a bad example . But the worst effect is produced by its secrecy . The sham Mason always believes in the credulity of his brethren and that of the world at large . It is , indeed , some satisfaction to know that even he is asharred of his fraudulent professions and misrepresentation of a noble Fraternity .

Riding The Goat.

BIDING THE GOAT .

From time immemorial , the air of mystery which hangs around Freemasonry has floated around the fabric of our temples and our doings therein , and many an ancient yarn is told regarding that mysterious process of " making a Mason . " In Scotland—that romantic land of brownies and fairies—it was believed that one of the essential accomplishments of an initiate was that he be able to ride a goat bare-backed . And thereby hangs a tale .

In the summer of 1 S 81 , the conversation at supper , between a bachelor friend and myself , turned upon Freemasonry . Though many of our intimate friends were members of the noble Order , neither of us had then crossed the rubicon . The outcome ot our conversation was that both of us decided to become Masons , and we both had a desire to be " made "in the Mother Lodge of Scotland" Mother Kilwinning . " Through a mutual friend , our desires were made known to Brother Wyllie , a Past Master , and for long the much-respected Secretary of that ancient atelier .

After praiseworthy caution and inquiry , Bro . Wylhe consented to propose my friend and myself for initiation . This in due course was done , and , being approved at the ballot , we were informed that arrangements had been made for our initiation in the Mother Lodge at Kilwinning—the old building , not the present one . Both of us residing in Glasgow , we met at St . Enoch Station by appointment , and found the train waiting and ready to start .

We had heard the goat story and many others , and while we took them with a large grain of salt , we had a foreboding that there was something uncanny about the job' . We therefore thought it would be advisable to get a compartment to ourselves , that we might , on our way down , compare notes and talk over matters a bit .

The train was a long one . We peered into several compartments , but found them partly occupied . My friend went along the platform on a reconnoitring tour , when , suddenly , he came to a dead stop , his firm , square jaw tightened , and he came back to me with a sort of tragic , hoarse whisper , saying " Come here , quick I " Following him , he halted in front of a luggage-van , and with his index finger outstretched , pointed to the corner , saying , " Look at that I It ' s all true . "

Sure enough , there was a goat , and a mischievous-looking rascal of a billygoat he was , chained up in the corner of the van , and a label tied to his neck . With irregular and fearful steps we approached the animal with awe and wonder . The superscription nearly took our breath away , for , there , in bold characters , was the word " Kilwinning " on the label I

We got a place , and in a few minutes , goat and all , were whirling away towards the historic town . On arrival , the goat was taken out of the train and led away , but , I may add , he was not present at the lodge . PAST MASTER .

The Fifth City Masonic Benevolent Association.

TEE FIFTH CITY MASONIC BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION .

The last meeting of this Association was held on the 25 th ult ., the President , Bro . J . Newton , in the chair , when the audited balance-sheet was presented to the member ? , showing a total receipt of . £ 1140 15 s . Bro . NEWTON congratulated the members on the result , and moved a vote of thanks to Bros . G . Ward Verry and Hugh M . Hobbs , the Treasurer and Secretary , for their services , which was duly carried .

It may be mentioned that the live Associations have produced a total of £ ^ gp 16 s . 4 d . It is not intended to have a sixth of the series lasting only four years , but a permanent one has been successfully started , to be called '' The City Permanent Masonic Benevolent Association . " Of this Association Bro . J . Newton is President ; Bros . F . Brown , H . M . Hobbs , and G . W . Verry are Vice-Presidents ; Bros . W . Harvey and C . H . Webb being the Treasurer and Secretary . Members can join at any time ; the lour years , during which a share lasts , commencing on the day of joining .

At the meeting which took place on the 25 th ult ., one ballot was drawn by Bro . Buhner . Future meetings will be held on the fourth Mo . idty each month at the Blackwall Railway Hotel , Fenchurch-street Station , in connection with the Sincerity Lodge of Instruction , at 8 o ' clock , when members can be enrolled , or by writing to the Hon . Sec , Bro . C . H . Webb , 156 , Manchester-road , CubittTown E .