First Principles.

First Principles .

AVhose dwelling is the light of setting sun A motion of the spirit that impels All thinking things , all subjects , aud all 'That rolls through all things . " There is a lamp in every ruin , before whose read the story of the eloquent though voiceless

passing waves of humanity have left its glory the tumults of a thousand years and generations touched the castle rampart , but the cloistered ancient minster acquired the shadows of the disturbed the outward world ; and its tenants arts and sciences unmolestedwent to their

, succeeded by brethren who prosecuted their in their turn . In the ruin we see the outline form which the inroads of corrupt tastes and been unable to obliterate . Who gazes upon blocks of stone within which emperors

empires congregated around 1 To us who glory and our fame from the temples dedicated vatiou of reli gion and . morality , the sig ht of furnish food for contemplation . The conqueror watchfires at its base , the unfortunate have oblivion in its embrace , and plenty and peace

beneath its tall shadow . The ruin is a against humanit y , as ifc is the glory -of man stands in solemn contrast to the modern up around it . Profanation is subdued in its limits of earth and water have retired before warnings . The brave man whose life has been

the practice of good and the cultivation of the evening of his time the consolation which the fire of life ; and when he falls his name children , urging to duty , charity , and hope . ruin . There is a sermon to the pride of man disintegrated fragment which the caprice of the

. The ruin must in the course of but the devout in future ages will pause as ivhisper to their children "Here it stood . " ¦ RANDOM THOUGHTS .

' ' Aud a certain man pulled a bow at a Wi-IAI" is Masonry ? This is a question that swered by some few members ( and some few -Lodge , with schoolboy correctness , who may standing , be utterly unable to explain the which form that answer . And even members

standing may be asked this question without give you the simple answer , which thoy must hear while attending the ceremonies of the Hundreds , nay thousands , who receive the Masonry , think their task accomplished when imperfectly mastered those si tokensetc

gns , , ., safeguard of tho Order , and thus so far selves to Lodge routine , as to be able to bear , discomfort , Lodge business and ceremonies . are who can point out to us in what the Avhere is the symbolism , or what peculiarity moralit that is set forthThey arc not

y . Alasters when preparing for the several degrees after proceedings of most of our Lodges , the knowing ^ these points , and . therefore it is that Js so universall y neglected . They hear throug h with undue haste , and the most promised "if time will permit "—which it doesand

— thus our lectures are seldom heard , and are the explanations of our beautiful tracing But Masonry was intended for hi gh and -the magic initials "P . M . " ( as at present not the only things worth striving for—there principles of Masonry which require fully

First Principles.

those letters can have their full

ht , pale ray is past . The unextinguished , signification . A P . M . should be and that teaching not confined that the officers only correctly that the meaning of every portion well understood by the brethren of the Past Master of the Lod

have faintly repose of the passions which cultivated the , and were ancl died see thafc his children are well trained glorious old Craft . In some Lod it is a rule that the Worshipful brethren on Masonic subjects ; and advantageously adopted by many the term " Crack" Crack

of beauty in fashions have the massive pped and derived our to the culti- . many as the mere working is concerned . perhaps , parrot-like correctness ; portions of the ceremonies are various times , but few can know of those workings .

ruin should has lit his mercy and flourished witness geniusIt We are not peculiar in having tiated , world cannot understand . people have thought it necessary symbolism their peculiar discoveries losophy , and even their religion . of the hi g h and mighty kings

. that rise presence . The mysterious devoted to , finds in keeps aliht erections , the pyramids—which time ancl . this world exist together sway . Their philosophy , politics , cealed by hieroglyphics ; while government . were deemed tCbe pressed only by signs and symbols bols were revealed to their i

to his So with the upon every storm scatters to an inviolable secrecy . From the origin of those societies in with their workings was likewise time rolled believedid

pass away , they pass , and on so we ; their moral aspect , until Masonry sprung out from them- —a beautiful halo of glory , in which those divine which will lead its true ancl

. " may be anonly ) in each notwith- pation in the glory and happiness Unlike ; the ; system of Pythagoras him , Masonry is founded upon a long as that rock remains upon based . It stands upon holy wisdomstrengthand beauty .

, several points many years ' being able to repeatedl y second degree . liht (?) of , , and conducts its members in all their given to them to pursue their rig culties and dangers ; while the exemplified in their workings , and in every line of her invaluable lectures of tlie lorious old CraffcIt is a

g have but which are the themwithout much few there consists g . against , persecuted , and anathematised of the fire purified even as silver is the refiner . . [ . here is a rich field here lor have men in the Craffc who ought

, is in the ht by Past , or by the necessity of knowled ge ( though not after the Oliverian blessed them with the intellect the influence required to enable tin brethren . There is one of our that I shall now glance at , and that Lodge—which our " authority " tells

pushed portion very seldom but seldom given . purposes in length , from east to west ; in south ; and yet so simple as is this peated , I never met with one who of it . They repeat the stereotyped selves with that ; but this taking course is foreign to the true spirit

conferred ) arc are the first mastering , ere bidden from discussing , in Lodge politics or religion , but not matter knowledge . Ou the contrary we arc

First Principles.

Discoveries Of Egyptian Mummies.

DISCOVERIES OF EGYPTIAN MUMMIES .

meaning , and their right a teacher of his brethren , the mere care of seeing perform the ceremonies , but

of those ceremonies is at large . This is a duty and his aim should be to in the mysteries of our ( but , alas I not in many ) , Master should lecture his

it is a rule that might be Lodges that now exult in of them may be , as far Correct they may be , with , but unless the different yzed aud lained at

exp real meaning and import language that the unini-Other times and . other to clothe in allegory or

in science , their phi-As far back as the reign built those stupendous promise to last as long as —symbolism had full and religion , ware all

coneven their princijiles of invaluable as to be exand these signs and sym-, who were bound over Egyptians we may trace everything associated

veiled in allegory ; and as these societies improve in their top stono as it were , system , shining forth in a truths may be learned members to a

particiof the eternal heavens . and others who followed rock , and must endure so its superstructure is —it is supported by is in all its paths

, deliberations ; strength is hteous course under diffiof the divine laws are shine forth pre-eminently , and in all the precepts

that has been railed , ; but it has come out purified by the hands of dissertations , and we take up these subjects , style ) because God has

necessary for this cask , ancl to be teachers of their illustrations or symbols only the shape of a Masons ' us is that of an oblong ; breadth , from north to

words and content themthings as a matter of Masonry . We are formatters pertaining to 's relating to Masonic exhorted to " dedicate