Degrees Are Lessons.

DEGREES ARE LESSONS .

BY BRO . ALBERT PIKE . Freemasonry has grown to its present stature from feebleminded infancy and raw boyhood . It has made progress as the world of which it is a part has . To live at all , a man or an

Order must do that . Life consists in progress . If Masonry had stood still while the world moved onward , it would now have been like nothing so much as the skeleton of a ship high and dry upon the sandy shore of the sea .

It has made progress and is of larger stature . But , as in the modern progress of civil affairs and society and religion , there has been deprivation as well as reformation , so the progress of Freemasonry in this country during the last forty years has not been wholly to its moral or intellectual advantage . Some of the

ancient landmarks have been removed , the real meanings of the most important symbols have been lost by the Blue Lodges , and have only been rediscovered by the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite ; but these are only in part given in our books , because it is not permissible for some to be taught otherwise than orally , as , anciently , the meanings of all symbols were .

The symbolism of Masonry is the soul of Masonry . Every symbol of the Blue Lodge is a religious teacher , the mute teacher , also , of morals and philosophy . It is in its ancient symbols and in the knowledge of their true meanings that the pre-eminence of Freemasonry over all other Orders consists . In

other respects some of them may compete with it , rival it , perhaps even excel it ; but , by its symbolism , it will reign without a peer when it learns again what its symbols mean , and that each is the embodiment of some great , old , rare truth . Degrees are the steps of Masonic progress , when they have that in them

which makes them in reality degrees . A degree that teaches nothing whereby a man may become wiser or better is a degree in name only . It is not a degree even in the sense in which the rounds of a ladder are elegrees , or the steps of a stairway—the mere means of ascension to an apartment above . A series of

so-called degrees with which an unfortunate individual may be " invested" by receiving a letter and a patent , or by the stretching forth of a hand and the utterance of the magical words , " By virtue of the authority in me vested , " or in half an hour or less , by a short recital of fact and falsehood , and a brief obligation ,

upon the payment of five , ten , or fifteen dollars , cannot be other than the stock-in-trade of impostors , of men capable of approaching an honorary member of a regular Supreme Council ,

supposed to be needy , and proposing to him to follow , in a lower and baser way , the example of Faust , by engaging in the work of vending their degrees and establishing their consistories , because " there is money in it . "

Our degrees are lessons . They require of those who receive them thought and study ; and to those who rarely think and never study they cannot much commend themselves . Men will

never come in crowds to the doors of our temples seeking initiation . ^ We need not be disappointed if our Bodies grow slowly , and if our Rite does not become popular . That which becomes so is always tending to deterioration ; and in too man } ' - cases popularity is proof of demerit . We must be content with slow

accretion and gradual accession of members . There is , indeed , always more danger to the moral and spiritual welfare of a man or Order in prosperity than in adversity ; and nothing so benencial could happen to Freemasonry now as a vigorous persecut'on . I leave it to the Grand Masters to lament , as they have long lamented , the ill practices , in the indiscriminate admission ° f Apprentices forthwith to become Masters , the seeking of office and otherwise , that have found their way into the sanctuaries , lowering the dignity and lessening the honourable repute of the Order .

One purpose is paramount in every one of our degrees—to md those who receive them more closely together , by inculcating 'he prompt and habitual performance of one ' s duties to othersuot merel y those duties performance of which is commanded by jaw or custom , but those that live in a higher sphere , and find ieir sanction in a higher code of ethics—the duties of forgive'ss of injuries , forbearance under provocation , toleration , _ nient judgment , generosity , a liberal charity , encouragement of jose struggling to maintain their foothold in business and > and of the disheartened ; encouragement of the erring ^ aeavouring to amend , kind words for those fallen into evil ys , and hel pful sympathy for the suffering- and sorrowful . — V oice of Masonry .

Bull of cf URA 0 - —Said to have issued in 173 8 the official notification of the Power _ . i ement ^'-i . which certainly vvas a wonderful exercise of irresponsible ' ^ cation f H ?^ P '' justice . B y it all Freemasons were condemned to coneve n for th g °° ds , the Inquisition , and death , and declared to be without hope w hich lodp neXt W 0 r 'c '' ' mply because they were Freemasons . The houses in w ho sou sht i - - - heId Wereactuall y to be P ulIed down , and the names of those ca -ndidates Imtiate Masons were to be given up by the candidates , or these very ec clesiastic-Ti t 0 ^ fined I 00 ° crowns or sent to the galleys . This is Roman d aw wit [ l a vengeance \—Kenning ' s Cyclopcedia of Freemasonry .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Warwickshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WARWICKSHIRE .

UNVEILING MEMORIAL WINDOWS AT WINSON GREEN . On Monday , Lord Leigh , Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire , assisted by the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge and the brethren of the province , held a special meeting in the Dudley-road Board Schools , and subsequently formed in procession and walked to St . Cuthbert ' s Church , where three memorial windows were unveiled . The windows have been subscribed for b y the Sunday schools and parishioners in memory of the late vicar , Bro . the Rev . W . H . Tarleton , P . P . G .

Chaplain . The Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge who accompanied Lord Lei gh were Bros . J . T . Collins , Deputy Provincial Grand Master ; G . H . Rooker , Asst . D . C . ; Mears , S . B . ; J . R . Jackson , D . C . ; F . H . Reece , G . O . ; G . Beech , G . S . ; J . W . Matthews , Asst . Secretary ; W . H . Wood , G . P . ; W . E . Fowkes , Asst . G . P . ; and W . E . Mewis , G . Stwd . There were also present several Past Officers of Grand Lodge and members .

In the course of the service Lord Lei gh unveiled the windows , which are situated in the chancel , and consist of three lights each , with a single figure in each light , the pedestals and canopies , in the perpendicular st yle , being in keeping with the architectural features of the church . The subjects treated are Abraham , Moses , Elijah , John the Baptist , Our Lord Jesus Christ , St . Peter , St . Paul , St . Andrew , and St . John . In the tracery of the centre window are Masonic emblems , and the

other traceries are treated in gresaille . The colouring is rich , but chaste ; the draperies are remarkably free and flowing , and the treatment of the whole is broad and effective . Messrs . W . Pearce and Company , of Bridge-street , Birmingham , executed the work , from the designs of their superintendent , Mr . Thomas Stacey . The whole chancel has also been much improved , the walls have been stencilled a neat ecclesiastical pattern , and the iron lights replaced by brass standards , by Mr . G . Hadley , Monument-road .

The service at the church was conducted by the vicar ( the Rev . Dr . McCann ) , Canon Bowlby , and the Rev . T . W . Peart . In the course of a short sermon , based on I . Corinthians , x ., 31 , the VICAR said the windows were more than the expression of living memories—they were that of unforgotten services rendered by one whose whole sympath y and love were in the church he founded .

At a subsequent meeting of the Prov . G . Lodge , on the motion of Lord LEIGH , a sum of 10 guineas was voted from the funds to the Sunday schools . Luncheon was afterwards served in the school , and presided over by Lord Leigh . Amongst those present were the Revds . Dr . McCann , A . R . Vardy , W . B . Wilkinson , and T . W . Peart ; Messrs . G . Beech , W . F . Tolladay , J . Bowen , and others .

Apologies were announced from Viscountess Newport , the Marquis of Hertford , Lord Ernest Seymour , Mr . Dixon , M . P ., Mr . Jaffray , Mr . Commissioner Philbrick , the Mayor ( Alderman Barrow ) , the Mayor of West Bromwich ( Councillor Heelis ) , and Alderman Manton . After the loyal toasts ,

The Rev . Dr . MCCANN proposed " Lord Lei gh and the Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire . " He said that his lordship was one of the most popular men " in the county , and whenever he was asked to do a kindness he did it kindly . In reply , Lord LEIGH said that his presence there that day had been for him a source of great pleasure , not unmixed with pain . They alt remembered the first vicar of that parish , and he could onl y say that , as Freemasons , they felt it a great

honour to be permitted to unveil the beautiful windows subscribed for by the children and parishioners . It was 17 years since he ( Lord Leigh ) had the pleasure of laying Masonically the first stone of that church , and he knew how anxiousl y their late Bro . Tarleton exerted himself to obtain funds to build the church . They all felt deeply his loss , and rejoiced to find that Bro . Tolladay had worked so excellently to get up that meeting , to which he had asked the attendance of the Prov . Grand Lodge .

The Rev . A . R . VARDY , in proposing "Success to St . Cuthbert ' s Sunday Schools , " said he knew the late vicar as a pupil at King Edward ' s School , and testified to the earnestness of his work on behalf of the schools and in the parish . The labour of the Sunday schools was very important . There was a time when in all schools religious instruction formed part of the work . He regretted very much the changes which had recentl y taken place , and which had banished to a great extent Bible-teaching from the ordinary schoolroom . That only made the work

and function of the Sunday schools more important , and if the young generation were to be trained aright they must be trained in the knowledge and fear of God . That work was being done most efficiently in that parish in the large Sunday schools connected with the church . The erection of those windows was a striking illustration of the value the children placed on the services of the late vicar . It was a unique event that school-children should , by their scanty means , raise so noble and enduring a monument to one who worked for them .

The Rev . T . W . PEART responded on behalf of Mrs . Peart , superintendent of the Girls' Sunday Schools . A vote of thanks was passed to Mr . W . F . Tolladay , for the excellent manner in which he had carried out the arrangements . Several other toasts were proposed .

Supreme Grand Chapter Of Scotland.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF SCOTLAND .

An emergency communication of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland was held in the Freemasons' Hall , George-street , Edinburgh , on the 7 th inst ., to consider and decide as to the purchase of a property recommended for the purpose of being converted into a hall and offices for the use of Supreme Chapter . The following companions were present , viz .: Comps . Ed . Macbean , Z . 50 , as

G . Z . ; James Simpson , P . Z . 64 , as G . H . ; Wm . Adamson , P . Z . 57 , as G . J . ; R . Smith Brown , G . S . E . ; Dr . Geo . Dickson , G . S . N . ; Ex-Provost Geo . Christie , P . Z . 203 , ist G . S . ; Surgeon-Major W . T . Black , P . Z . 86 , as 2 nd G . S . ; James Melville , P . Z . 118 , as 3 rd G . S . ; and a fair attendance of members . On the question as to purchase of the property being put to the meeting ,

Comp , J . CRICHTON , G . Swd . Br ., spoke at some length as to the advantage of so doing , so as to acquire suitable premises for the conduct of Supreme Chapter business , and moved accordingly . An amendment to delay consideration till the Quarterly Communication in September , in respect that there were many members of Supreme Chapter who could not attend at this particular time of year , was submitted by Comp . D . TAYLOR J . . '

, Several members having spoken in support of both sides of the question , the vote was taken , when there voted for the amendment 11 , and for the motion 9 . The matter was accordingly declared deferred till the Quarterl y Communication in September . ^^^^^^^ ^

BERKELEY H OTEL ( late St . James ' s ) , 1 , Berkeley-street , and 77 , Piccadilly , London W . First-class accommodation for residents , with a restaurant newlyattached for hig h class luncheons and dinners , at fixed prices and k la carte . — C . DIETTE , Manager . —[ A DVT . ]