Table Of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Masonic Musings 527 The Orders of the Temple and Hospital 530 Masonic Notes and Queries ,,. « 531 Reviews S 3 Masons '" at Public Meetings 5 ? 2

C RAFT MASONRY : — Metropolitan 53-Provincial 533 Provincial Grand Lotige of Devonshire 533 ROYAI . ARCH : —

Provincial — 355 Funeral of Bro . Sir G . Fcrmor-Hcsketh 535 CORRESPONDENCE : — Professor Rawlinson and the Ten Tribes 53 6 The Ballot for W . M 537

Prohibition of Masonic Processions 537 OBITUARY : — Bro . Wm . Billington 53 8 Masonic Tidings 53 8 Masonic Meetings for next week 53 8 Advertisements 526 , 527 , 539 , 540

Masonic Musings.

MASONIC MUSINGS .

BY BRO . J . BALFOUR COCKBURN , P . Z . 278 , PAST IN-STALLED MARK MASTER 4 , 3 . In the following remarks which I now lay before your readers , I propose to myself the

investigation , so far as can consistently be done with a due regard to our secret rites and hidden mysteries , of the nature and objects of our craft—to demonstrate that Freemasonry is no empty name

—that its foundations are strengthened by princip les deserving of universal approbation—that its attentive study and diligent pursuit are well worthy of general consideration , and that no time

or labour can be deemed misapplied or wasted by the patient and persevering enquirer , who delves deeply into that mysterious mine of truth and science , shadowed o ' er hy our solemn , rites and

ceremonies . I would prove that , according to the eloquent words of De Witt Clinton , its principles are based on pure morality ; its ethics are

the ethics of Christianity ; its doctrines the doctrines of patriotism and brotherly love ; and its sentiments the sentiments of exalted benevolence .

Fully aware am I that this subject must appear to many an oft told tale , and though the tinyrivulet of hesitating words and possibly obscure phrases , whicli' is now permitted to merge into

the open , and trickle on its course , can bear no comparison with the impetuous torrents of fervid eloquence which , inspired by this glorious theriie , have so frequently roused the wonder and

excited the admiration , not alone ofthe brethren , but of the world at large . Still would I fondl y hope that my remarks , however feeble , may not altogether fall on stony soil , gaining encouragement from this .

"Not all who seem to fail have failed indeed ; Not all who fail have therefore worked in vain ; For all our acts to many issues lead ; And out of earnest purpose , pure and plain , Enforced by honest toil of hand or brain . "

Within the last few years no subject has made more general progress and advanced further into all ranks of life than education , and of the various branches of education not one is more

universally popular or in reality more desirable of general diffusion than that of the history of mankind from the earliest to the latest ages . General history , consequently , holds a very prominent position in all educational schemes , not alone

Masonic Musings.

a necessary qualification for society , but as a means of expanding the intellectual faculties , and of adding valuable and precious treasures to our mental stores . Unhappily , alas , profane

history holds up to our view little more than a mirror , reflecting but the rise , decline , and fall of nations and empires , sustained , induced , and effected by brute force , violence , and lawless

usurpation—by tyranny , extravagance , and luxury , by overweening pride and demoralising pursuits . Thus many of those whom the world has semideified as heroes have in reality been the most

ruthless oppressors and terrible destroyers of their fellow-men—many of the mightiest monarchs " have shut the gates of mercy on mankind , "

and " waded through slaughter to the throne — and most of those great political revolutions which have convulsed the countries of the earth

and occupied the pages of the historian , sprang forth , and proceeded , under divine permission , and for the acomplishment of the divine decrees from the operation of causes more frequently

disgracelul than honourable to our nature . And it was , no doubt , with all these facts well'before his mind , for no riper scholar of history ever existed or one who had more wisely drawn therefrom the rule and conduct of his blameles life

than the good prince whose sad loss we still deplore , used the expression , " with how little morality the world is governed . " It must therefore be with feelings of unalloyed satisfaction that the

student of the volume of Masonry finds that it is comparatively free from this painful retrospectthat it treats of the effects and fruits produced by the best qualities of the human heart and

mindby religion and by science , and if sometimes this bright picture is dimmed by clouds of grievous error and self delusion , of fanatical zeal and talents misapplied , if the actors of the moment

prove but men , who " professing themselves wise became fools , and vain in their imagination , —if , 1 repeat , such a scene has unfortunately to pass befor him , it is because no faithful

representation of human nature can be exempt from blemishes , no virtue secure from being carried to an excess , which , beyond a certain limit becomes sinful , and cannot fail to give rise to misery and

moral evil , —that , in fact , no man or woman born can escape the primaeval curse " Of man ' s first disobedience , and the fruit Of that for forbidden tree , whose mortal taste

Brought death into the world , and all our love . " No , not even the greater Man , of whom sang Deckar in bold yet religion breathing strain .

"The best of men . ' That e ' er wore earth about Him , was a sufferer ; A soft , meek , patient , humble , tranquil spirit : The first true gentleman that ever breathed . "

Published works on Masonry , and under this category I would include only authentic and genuine works , arc , and to a certain , extent must necessarily be rare , —for many years those of

Bro . Preston , and Bro . Oliver might be regarded as the sole guides to those employed in Masonic researches : —within a more recent period howover the indefatigable labours of Findel , Hughan ,

Carpenter , and a host of others have thrown a flood of literary li ght on the path of the Masonic student , guiding him onwards to that bright goal

of all our exertions , the discovery of that great truth in whicli our everlasting salvation must depend . These works and publications may without doubt be consulted with advantage in

Masonic Musings.

their several branches of science ;—but with all due deference to these great luminaries of our Order , I hold that they fail in giving a connected view of it , —such as every intelligent Freemason

should always keep ' clear and distinct before his eyes , and be enabled to point out with promptness and perspicuity to those brethren who may desire to partake with him in the enjoyment ; of its beauties .

Masonry is usually divided into " speculative " and " operative "—A division sufficient perhaps for ordinary purposes , but too indefinite to form a basis of clear arrangement , and liable to great

objection as permitting the inference that a speculative is not an operative Mason in any sense , and vice versa , a position which to tlie initiated cannot fail to be regarded as very foreign to the

truth . I take it that it would be better to consider Freemasonry as one great whole , as one entire system , resolving itself into various branches ; and to endeavour to explain and demonstrate the

intimate union that exists , so that in the wellknown words . " The mutual connection of the whole system and the relative dependency of its several parts" maybe completely illustrated , —

and thus an opportunity would be afforded to every good Mason to become more or less acquainted with most of them , though perhaps it would be expecting too much for any brother to make himself master of them all : —indeed in

such a case it might well be said that " The wonder grew , That one small head should carry all he knew . " Freemasonry , then , may be likened to a vast

and goodly tree , spreading forth into six branches , all growing from the same root , all emanating from the same stem ; that root—the Fear of God —that stem , the Love of Man . These six branches may be thus classified .

I ist . The Religion of Masonry . ! 2 nd . The Polity or Constitution . 3 rd . The History .

4 th . The Literature . 5 th . The Science ; and 6 th . The Art .

Firstly , then , wc must direct our attention to the contemplation of the religion of Masonryits theology and morality combined—the former regarding the doctrines it upholds with reference

to the Deity , His nature , attributes , dispensations , and worship ; the latter regarding the precepts it inculcates , and the lessons it teaches with reference to our duty towards God , our

neighbours , and ourselves . We must , in the second place , carefull y investigate and fathom to its lowest profundity , its constitution on civil and social polity , founded

on its peculiar character as a secret body . We must clearly understand the system of discipline of each individual lodge , and its connection with other lodges , as well as its subordination to thc

Grand Lodge from which it derives its charter and authority ; and , finally , the constitutions , charges , landmarks , and mysteries of the Order ,

the ceremonies , rites , signs , symbols , and modes of working , must all be diligently studied , and in our memory locked .

No one who pretends to be a good Mason , and a fortiori , no one possessing the natural desire of becoming a ruler in the Craft , should remain in ignorance of any of these particulars , or refuse to draw aside the mantle which shrouds