The Secret Of Love.

" lhe last tune , now , I see Those lights , that house as home , For , oh 1 to-morroiv I renounce All these to roam . " To-morrow I wed John , And leave my kith and kin ; For John has love , great love for me , And lots of tin . '"' W . T

Chips From A Masonic Workshop.

CHIPS FROM A MASONIC WORKSHOP .

SENT TO HIS FRIEND AND BROTHER NED WIRER , OF RAJPOOTANA , BY JIAX MAURER , MASTER BUILDER , COLOGNE ON THE RHINE . From " The Masonic Record of Western India . "

Dear Bro . Ned , —In redemption of my solemn pledge—given when parting with you on the ariccl plains of Rajpootana—to keep you informed of my movements , adventures , fortunes or vicissitudes in the old Fatherland , I remit to you a few chips ,

and fragments from our operative and speculative ivorksbop . I have found congenial employment at tho Dombau ( Building of the Cathedral ) in Cologne , as a Master in my department of Masonry , i . e ., tracery , foliage , capitals

of pillars , in fact all the g ingerbread Avork , and have , as a matter of course , boon immediately affiliated to the Lodge of " Die Drci Kceuige , " ( Tho Three Kings . ) The name is derived from a monkish legend of hoary antiquity , about Caspar ,

Melchoir , and Balthazar , invented at tho time of Charlemagne . To economize space I can only give you a mere outline of the history of our Cathedral . The foundation stone Avas laid in 1248 , and the building continued until 1437 . From that time up to the

middle of the 18 th century it remained almost untouched and in an unfinished state ; tho portion of tho edifice already erected Avas afterwards kept in a decent state of repair , and that is all that can be said about it . But in the year 1842 the completion ol tho Avork Avas taken in hand

vigorously , under the auspices of the King of Prussia , by Herr ZAvirner , one of the most eminent of the Gorman architects , ancl this most stupendous of all our ecclesiastical structures Avill soon be

finished . . Now as regards our speculativeAvorkshop , it Avas first opened anno 1716 on the strength of a charter obtained from the Grand Lodge of England , at that time located at York , Avhere it had been established by Prince Edwin , the brother

of King Athelstane , in 926 . The antiquity of our institution ancl that of the Mother Lodge from Avhich it derived its existence , is therefore quite unquestionable . But I only mention that circumstance en passant , merely as an historical fact , Avhich neither

adds to , nor detracts anything from our Masonic status ancl prestige . What I desire to impress upon your mind most emphatically is the regularity , tho justness and perfection with which our Lodge is Avorked ; the good understanding , real

equality ancl fraternity existing amongst the brethren , ancl the truly Masonic sim-2 ilieity ancl ingenuousness Avhich characterize all our proceedings . Our new Master-elect was installed on last St . John ' s Day , and after Ave had

performed the customary plantation dance , Avhich you ken weal , he again proclaimed , in open Lodge , tho noble sentiments ho entertains regarding Masonic equality , fraternity , and a Master ' s duties . Wc knew them ivoll enough already , but it Avas

gratifying to hear him reiterate the same after his elevation to the Eastern Chair , thereby conclusively demonstrating that the axiom honores mutant mores could not

be applied to him . " Brethren , " he said , " I thank you for the honour you have conferred upon mc by electing me Master of this Lodge . By doing so you have fully satisfied mc that the Masonic principles and doctrines I have consistently maintained arc approved of ancl appreciated by you . I have ahvays endeavoured to impress upon every ncwly-