The Influence Exerted By Dr. Oliver's Works.

So convinced in the Avriter of this paper of the happy results that Avould accrue from a thorough acquaintance Avith Bro . Oliver ' s books , that he -hopes to be permitted to propound ere long in the ¦ pages of this MAGAZINE , a plan whereby at least

¦ "the younger members of the Craft may be stimulated to " read , mark , learn , and inwardly digest , " writings that ( notwithstanding some blemishes , for nothing belonging to man can be free from

imperfection ) must exert a salutary influence on their understandings and their hearts , and thus -advance the interests of our beloved Order throughout the Avorld .

Lying Fallow.

LYING FALLOW .

In the economy of nature it is provided that -even the most productive fields shall occasionally . take a period of rest , or , in the language of farmers , "lie fallow , " that in due time the plough may again furrow the surface , and the golden crop

requite the labour and make glad the heart of the husbandman . The natural covetousness of the . human heart Avould prevent obedience to this laAV . of nature were it not that experience , the most persevering * and expensive of schoolmasters , but

the most thorough-paced in the end , has demonstrated that profit is found in compliance . In other affairs of life the same rule prevails ¦ the hardest student is obliged to unbend his mind

occasionally ; the business man forgets UOAV and .. again the heart-searing pursuit ot gain , and letting * the shop lie fallow he mingles Avith his felloAvs and becomes something * better than a mere machine for grinding out dollars . The editor—ah !

.. there is no falloAv spot in the year for the knights of the quill . Summer's heat , and winter ' s cold . are alike to them , their task is never finished , their . toil ever beginning , and Avhen they have rolled one month ' s stone up the hill , they must go to the

bottom and begin again for the next . Theirs , . however , is the exception which proves the rule . This law applies to Ma ' sonry , Avhich is aptly likened to a vineyard , some parts of Avhich must occasionally lie fallow that in the end they may yield more

. fruit . As a general thing we have been under too liigh a state of cultivation . We have applied the principles of heat and moisture in tlie shape of steam till Ave have forced an overgrowth Avhich , . although pleasant to behold , must in tho end prove a , source of weakness rather than of strength . We . have pushed forward our vines rather to make

branches and leaves than bunches of satisfying fruit . In summer time the prudent master of a vineyard goes forth among the plants and trims out the suckers which detract from the strength of the vine and produce no fruit ; but if we look

through our Masonic vineyard Ave shall find a luxuriant crop of suckers sprouting forth from every joint , rioting in the general strength , but yielding nothing in return . In some places they call them non-affiliated Masons and the reader is

at liberty to choose the designation he likes best . The principle is the same in either case . If the portion of our patrimony Avhich encourages this untoward growth Avere left fallow for a while the result must prove a great benefit to the general

crop . In our pursuit of numbers Ave have very generally been too careless in the quality and kind of vines set out in our plantation . We have not taken sufficient pains to knoAv whether the new plant was likely to bear leaves only or fruit in its season , and Avhat kind of fruit . There is a Ions * distance

between the fox grape Avhich hangs uncultivated from the forest branches and the purple Isabella filled Avith luscious juice which rewards the careful tiller . In our inconsiderate haste we have admitted too many fox grapes to occupy the ground

that should have been occupied by a better article ; better , many times better that the ground should have been without any crop . The horticultural theory of fallow fields is not only that they rest after the production of their

yield , but that by the influences of natural causes they are gathering those chemical principles necessary to successful culture . The same reason presents itself why our labours in the accretive direction should occasionally cease . While we

devote our whole energies , exhaust our time and zeal in the mere aggregation of numbers , we may be likened to men who sow all kinds of seed

broadcast Avithout any regard to the fitness of things , or any hope but that there Avill be an abundant yield of green things . But if Ave were discreet farmers Ave should lay out our fields with a view to the future , we should not admit every

claimant because of a plausible exterior or even an ardent desire to be Avithin our fold , rather inquiring Avhat he Avould give back for the place he occupies , and how much his advent would tend to promote the success of the cause entrusted to our supervision . In Masonry , as in nature , lying fallow is not