The Astrology Of Shakespeare.

ness of intellect , and that the mind , untinctured by this p lanet's influence , is . deficient in energy of purpose . As we have arrived at the period when Astrology is once more engaging the attention of men of scientific ability , it is interesting to mark the influence which such a study had on the mind of England's greatest poet . We endorse thoroughly the sentiment he places in the mouth of the Earl

of Kent- It is the stars—The stars above us govern our conditions . MAIA . —Urania .

The Jewels Of The Lodge.

THE JEWELS OF THE LODGE .

BY BRO . HIRAM BASSETT . IN the September number of the Age , at the bottom of page 74 , this declaration occurs : — " Immovable jewels .- —The immovable jewels are the tracing-board , the rough ashlar , and the perfect ashlar . Oliver says they were formerly called the ' trasel-boardthe rough ashlarand the broached thurned . ' "

, , The writer is aware that our English brethren teach in accordance Avith the above , but their reasons for so holding are far from satisfactory . He has always followed the teaching of Webb , and as far back as 1860 , wrote an artice for the Voice of Masonry , then published by Bro . Robert Morris , at Louisville , in which he endeavoured to show that the square , level , and plumb are the immovable jewels . We have not that article as hand ; but , finding

similar views in Mitchell ' s Common Law of Masonry , he requests that you publish them for the benefit of the Craft . Dr . Mitchell says : — " We think the . rough ashlar , perfect ashlar , and tracing-board are the movable jewels . The rough ashlar is taken out of and moved from the quarries , ancl placed in the hands of the Fellow Craft ; and when he has made a perfect ashlar of it , then it is moved to and placed in the building .

The tracing-board is a lap-board , ancl is moved about b y the Master-builder . Emblematically , the first represents the uncultivated profane : the second shows forth the intelligent Mason , perfected in the rituals b y the teachinoof the skillful craftsmen ; ancl the third foreshadows the perfection of that wisdom which is learned from the designs laid clown iu God ' s tracingboard , which may translate him from his temporal dwelling to a place in 'that house not made with hands , eternal in the heavens . ' " If the pedestals of the Master and Wardens are stationary , immovable so are the square , level , and plumb .

" The Lodge cannot be opened unless the pedestals are filled with the proper officers . The Lodge cannot be opened without an altar , and upon it the Book of the Law , and the square and compasses . In like manner the Lodge cannot be opened unless the square is in the east , the level in the west , and the plumb in the south . If either of the officers leaves his pedestal he must leave his jewel ; it must be there—it is a fixture . Nor will it do to exchange themit will not do to have the lumb in the eastand the

; p , square in the south ; each must be in its fixed place . And wh y this immovable law ? Because , while the first three may be imperfect , and may be pronounced unfit for a place in the heavenl y Temple , and be thrown over among the rubbish the last three cannot , for they represent principles of Divine truth , in which there is no defect , and must pass the square of immaculate justice , which spans the earth and dwells in heaven . "—The Masonic Age .