Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

PAGE PHILOSOPHY OF FREEMASONRY 799 ENTERTAINMENTS AT CHESTER . 799 1 S 71 Soo MULTUM IN PARVO S _ 7 THE PRINCE OF WALES S 07 IMPORTANT WORK ON MASONIC MS .

CONSTITUTIONS ... S 07 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCEA Body without a Head 80 S Printed Rituals SoS STAFFORDSHIRE MASONIC CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION 808 MASONIC FUNERAL AT PLYMOUTH ... SoS & S 09 MASONIC FESTIVAL AT HANLEY 809

BANQUET OF THE DEVONSHIRE LODGE , NO . 625 809 THE CRAFT S 09 & S 10 ROYAL ARCH S 10 MARKMASONRY Sio ORDERS OF CHIVALRYRed Cross of Constantine Sio Knights Templar ... ... ... ... Sio MASONIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT WEEK Sio ADVERTISEMENTS 797 , 79 S , Sn , & S 12

The Philosophy Of Freemasonry.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF FREEMASONRY .

CHAPTER FOURTH .

THE LODGE . The lodge is a type of the world . Above hangs the sky , our feet tread the earth j beside us , in the pillars , rise the trees . We hear the warbling of birds :

the sighing of the winds ; the rustling of leaves ; the chirm of water-courses . We see before us the glories of creation ; the many coloured flowers ; the honey-laden bees * the wonders of the sky . The lodge

is a peaceful world , where the sound of war is unheard ; the bray of the trumpet and thc roar of the cannon is unknown : and even the mallet stroke falls upon the ashlar unpercussioncd . The Masonic world is one

of love . There all are knit by the mystic chain of fraternity . The world without may hustle in wild fury ; kingdoms fall ; but thc silent brotherhood in peace and tranquility pursue their studies , asking but

leave to live , to perform acts of charity , and to improve their understandings so as to comprehend the Great Light . Anywhere can a lodge be held ; on the lofty mountain ' s top ; in thc lowly valley ; upon thc

sea-swept shore ; or out where the billows roll in maj ' estic sullen grandeur ; anywhere , where thc Omniscient Eye can look down and view men of different creeds and nations , of different ranks and talents ,

joining together 11 * . harmony to celebrate those mysteries , which raise mankind from out thc mortal slough , and teach them in spirit and in truth by the bond of brotherhood , to acknowledge God as our Father .

And herein lies the true theology of a Mason . Rising above the petty , because earthly barriers , of the flesh and of the world , mind rules supreme , and he acknowledges all mankind as so many rays

shot from the sun , thc I Am ; proceeding from the I Am , to beautify and adorn thc checkered schcme . of the creation , and when that purpose is served to lcturn to its source of existence . . Not alone were lodges held

on thc tops of eminences and in valleys , to keep off the prying worldling ' s eye ; but that thc brethren might sec around and above them the infallible proof Sf thc existence of a Divine Creator , that they

might ever hold Him before their thoughts ; knowing that to Mini they were bound sooner 01 * later to give an account of their life upon earth ; and that in thc harmony of creation , they might learn to live in

harmony with their brethren , and with thc world . Man ' s study is to understand his Creator ; and this is the chief end of the studies of a Freemason . There i . s not a symbol in thc lodge , but which points this , out . From the Tyler ' s Sword to thc '

The Philosophy Of Freemasonry.

Blazing Star , all point direct to God , the first cause , and as we view in the delicate whirl of the shell ; the magnificent tinting of a leaf ; or in the ravishing music of a bird ; the power , the might and the majesty

of the Creator ; so in benevolent actions , noble sentiments and truthful lives , we mark afar off , the attributes of One , who put us here , for the purpose of enlarging

our sympathies , and educating our minds , so as to approach in some degree to His own perfection . The lodge is not only a world , but a church , the church of the One , true and perfect .

The two pillars between which we pass are types of life and death , the two certain things in our existence , and forces us to remember the pregnant saying of the French philosopher , that the moment we

are born , is a step towards the grave . The space between the pillars emblemizes the world ' s dearth , beyond which we can only arrive at fruition , by taking the book of the Law as our Guide , and keeping our eyes

fixed upon thc light . And as that light casts its rays upon every object in the lodge , revealing each brother as he stands in his proper place , to thc view * of all , so we should ever remember that what would

cause us to blush with shame , if done before the eyes of the lodge , should cause us to entertain a deeper sense of fear to do it in the presence of that Sleepless Eye . " My murder'd corpse from man , beneath this sod You hide , and yet you hide it not from God . "

So sings Callimachus , yet how little do we in our every-day actions remember that our hid-away vices from the sight of man , our breaches of Masonic principle are still distinct to the view of the Searcher of

Hearts ; that our secret springs of action are all known to Him , and however much , and however successfully we may glaze over our failings to man , these cannot be glazed over , nor hid from thc sight of God .

If we believe at all in our Masonic obligations , we must believe this , and however much we may indulge in speculation as to

the rise of the Order , wc cannot doubt that the purpose of its foundation , was to drawtogether into one body , men of divcrsent creeds for thc glory and honour of God .

Light must exist in thc lodge . Total darkness is impossible . True that light may become obscure , thc fitting type ofthe doubts and difficulties which beset the mind

of man at nearly every stage . Yet the light is still shining . ' Post tencbras spcro lucern . ' ' I hope for light after darkness , is the cry of every candidate , for " Lux umbra Dei , " light is the shadow of God .

As the Israelites were led at day by thc cloud , and at night by thc pillar of fire , so thc Mason is led by the lights of Freemasonry , out of thc land of Egyptian or

ignorant bondage , across the Red Sea of doubt , to thc Promised Land of a knowledge of God . But the Mason must know how to understand and use that light , otherwise its radiance will become a

conflagration , burning up and obliterating the very primary knowledge of a god . It is possible to find the light too powerful , for as thc material light will blind the eyes of man , so will thc spiritual , unless

approached under the safeguard of Faith , destroy the mental eyes , producing darkness , which to the victim will seem light , and thus intensifying the original disaster ; for , to be ignorant of one ' s errors , and to

suppose falsehood to be truth , presents a phase of disease , almost hopelessly incurable . Too many noble minds have been perverted by an injudicious use ofthe light , and like the power of the Rosicrucian

The Philosophy Of Freemasonry.

sage , while for a time the servant and slave of the rash neophyte , when he imagined himself perfect in the love of the master ,

then the spirit turned and tore him into pieces . A power unjustly acquired , or improperly understood , is a fire in flax , which will end in destruction .

The lodge is a world in itself , a church , and it is also a home , a home composed of many sons , and one Father . In Masonry having but one object , the honour and praise of God , it necessary follows that as

Freemasons we must respect and love each other as brethren . The meetings of the Craft are well guarded against discord , although the fallibility of our nature , oftentimes overlooks these barriers . A brother

should be listened to with respect , however much we may differ from his opinions . Rancour should never enter our lips , and even rebuke should be tempered with brotherly love : No word should pass a

Freemason ' s lips , but what should bear thc impress of this virtue , and he errs in every respect , either as a Freemason or a man , who allows bitterness to wring the withers of a brother . Peace , the calm peace of

home , with all the domestic virtues brought into operation , should characterize our meetings ; otherwise our lodges cease to be what they profess , and are an insult to the fraternity , and also to God . ERROL .

Entertainments At Chester.

ENTERTAINMENTS AT CHESTER .

The eighth of the series of these popular entertainments was held in the Music Hall on Saturday evening last , when tlie Hall was crowded . The Chairman ( Alderman W . Johnson , J . P . ) , in introducing the Brothers

Wardropers , said it was feared at one time that they should not have that evening ' s entertainment , in consequence of the serious illness of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , but he was sure they would all rejoice with him to learn

that the Prince was favourably progressing in health . ( Loud and prolonged applause . ) The entertainment was divided into two parts ; and in the interval , Alderman W . M . Williams , J . P ., came on the platform and read the latest bulletin from Sandringham , announcing that His

Royal Highness was progressing satisfactorily . He then intimated that Mr . J . Owen ( Owain Alaw ) had volunteered to sing " God bless the Prince of Wales , " to words specially written for that occasion by Mr . E . Cletwr Jones , who was connected with the Irish mail service , and was very well known in Welsh circles .

An original song , or rather prayer , was then sung hy Mr . Owen with great feeling and pathos , and the vast audience joined most heartily in the chorus . The effect was most striking , as each one seemed to enter into the sentiments of the chorus and sing with heart and voice .

WHISKEY . —Of all spiiits consumed in England none have increased in consumption to tlie samo extent as whiskey , and this is in a measure accounted for by the great improvements that have taken place in distillation , and thc largo amount of capital invested in its production , both in Scotland

and Ireland . Hut , after all , the distillation of the article is not the only important point ; for , as is also thc case with brandy , the value of whiskey depends to a great extent on its age . We know of one London firm—W . and A . Gilbey—who have about 3000 puncheons ( 300 , 000 gallons ) ahvays

maturing in bond , and for this purpose they have lately adapted a building well known to most travellers by the London and North Western Railway as the "Round House" at Camden—a building originally erected by thc railway company at considerable expense as an engine house . Here are stored large stocks of all thc most famous whiskeys

of Ireland and Scotland . Were the system pursued by this firm more generally followed , it is not difficult to imagine a time when whiskey would be a strong competitor with brandy , more especially should the French government be induced to charge an export duty on Cognac ]) va . ndy . —Statulari / , 20 th December .