Notes On Literature, Science And Art.

sions . " Christianity , " writes Mr . Gamier , "in its earlier ages , sought expression largely in symbolism . Consequently , every Church that dates from those ages has inherited this element in a greater or less degree . The Church of England is no

excep tion to this rule . The architecture of her fabrics and the externals of her order of service are instinct with symbolic meaning . But in these days , owing , perhaps , to the subject being encrusted with antiquarian and historical

surroundings , for many minds the key has been lost . " Only those who have mixed intimately with the people for many years can know how true this is ; even the spire " pointing its taper finger to the skies" the font placed at the

, entrance to the church , and the cruciform buildings themselves , all being totally destitute of meaning to tens of thousands of well-meaning Church folks . If Mr . Gamier errs at all , it is in the other direction , as I strongly suspect he

occasionally finds symbolism where none was orig inally intended ; just as some of my brother-admirers of Shakspeve find hidden meanings iu the works of the great dramatist which he himself never dreamt of . "You who have seen a funeral will have noticed , " says he , " that the coffin is always carried by bearers in the last stage . That is because it is written of the first

Christian funeral , ' Devout men carried Stephen to his burial ' ( Acts viii . 2 ) . " And he wisely adds , " Perhaps it will fall to some here to be bearers hereafter . Will you remember that they should be devout men ? " ft is well to draw a moral lesson from everything ; and the solemnity of

committing to the earth the lifeless carcase of a beloved brother or sister of the great liumanfamilysbouldspeaktrumpet-tongued to us all of the nothingness of created things . But is the custom of bearers peculiar to Christians 1 and is it not of the

most remote antiquity , originating in necessity rather than any symbolic design ? On the other hand , of the symbolism of baptism there can be no- scepticism . The sauce may be said of the white garments of the priesthood , whether Jewish or Christian . The pious Parses wears a coif of white

buen in three folds round his head—white being the universal emblem of purity in all ages , and the three folds being symbolical of good thoughts , good words , and

good deeds . Symbolism to a really devout and intelligent mind is the highest of all teaching : to the profane and ignorant it soon becomes something worse than a plaything . We see thisfearfully illustrated in Freemasonry , when men who are totally unfit for its sublime mysteries are

unfortunately admitted within the tyled doors of our Lodges . Here is a short passage from Mr . Gander ' s book which will have peculiar interest for some of my readers : — " Suppose a negro slave escaped on to English ground , he

would be a free man , and in due course a naturalized Englishman . He might , very likely , at times , show traces of his old cringing habits . He would not have the free spirit of one who had never been a slave . It would , therefore , be a help to remind that man : ' You are a free Englishman now , and no Englishman does a slavish act' " This will remind an

intelligent Craftsman of one of the reasons assigned why a candidate for the mysteries of Freemasonry , was formerly required to be free by birth—fearing that slavish principles might otherwise be introduced into the noblest of all institutions ; though

the reed cause , I have long been convinced , was the trade origin of our order , and no more peculiar to Masons than to other guilds ; the fact being that , unless freeborn , the Craftsman was liable to be sent into serfdom , aud hence no Master could safely take him for an Entered Apprentice . The followino- shrewd remark of Mr .

Gartner rs peculiarly applicable to all Freemasons , whether they be Churchmen or not , and I believe the great majority of our English brethren profess to be so : — "In a ' clustered' pillar there are several shafts , though they are all joined together in one . That is the true source of strength , for many to gather together in one on the One Foundation . " * * But if we

are to be pillars , we must remember the conditions . A pillar is very straight and unbending . If it was all on the slant , the weight it bore would not pass down into the still , strong foundation ; it would fall on the pillar itself , which would be broken . Let us all striveby God ' s grace , to be

, very upright , very unbending , not like reeds shaken by the wind , but like pillars . ' Him that overeometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of my God ' ( Rev . iii . 12 ) . "