Masonic Symbolism,

consisted in building terrestrial temples sacred to the Deity , while the Cowan or Loiven or loon was an inexperienced , ignorant knai e , who , not having been initiated and probably instructed in his art or craft , marred the beauty of the design by his uncouth attempt at the work ; and being justly driven aivay in disgrace , urged on by envy ancl malice did all he could to hinder the true

Masons , and thus revenge himself upon them . This I take to be the origin of the terms ; but speculative , or Ereemasons , using the terms of the art and applying the tools symbolicall y in a moral meaning , adopted the two denominations of Cowan and Ereemason ; by the former implying everything that a Cowan isand that a

, man should not be ; by the latter , signifying a man of mature age and judgment , uprig ht in his dealings and character , and of good morals ; one who , by adhering to that straight ancl undeviating line of conduct laid clown for his pursuit in the Volume of the Sacred Law , endeavours to free his soul from the dominion of pride and

prejudice—to bend ivith humility ancl resignation to the G . A . O . T . U . ;—to dedicate his heart , thus purified from every malignant passion , to prepare for the reception of truth and wisdom , to His glory , and the good of his fellow creatures—in a word , to clo his utmost to prepare his body as a fit " temple of the Holy Spirit" ( 1 Cor . vi .

19 ) , and thereby avoid the punishment mentioned by the Apostle , when he says ( 1 Cor . iii . 16 , 17 ) , "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God , and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you P If any man defile the temple of God , him shall God destroy ; for the temple of God is holy , whieh temple ye are . " And here , methinks I hear the reader exclaim" AVhat ! do Ei / eemasons allege that

, all ivho belong not to their Order are the converse ofthe above description ? " Ear from it : such in olden times , and iu days of peril and persecution , may haA e been the character of some Cowans , and indeed still is noiv of some , but happily such men are rare ; the name has descended side by side with that of Ereemasonry , and

the Masons of the present day merely use it as a generic term for such as clo not belong to the Order . Let us , then , who are brethren of the Royal Art , endeavour to act up to our profession , and be worthy of the name of Ereemason ; let us maintain iu their fullest splendour those three great principles of the Order , Brotherly Love ,

Relief , and Truth , ancl endeavour by our conduct and example to promote the glory of God ancl the good of our fellow creatures , so that by square conduct , level steps , and uprightness of life and actions , we may hope to aecend to those immortal mansions from which all goodness emanates , and where the world ' s great Architect lives and rules for ever . —So mote it be . R . B . W .

Masonic Notes.

MASONIC NOTES .

( From The Canculiccn Freemason . ) BY v . w . . c . r . I . The relation as Masons we hold to each other and to society is a theme which has employed more able pens than I can wield ; yet its exhaustless and instructive field is open to all , although my jottings may open nothing new to the readers of your very valuable publication .

Erom the commencement of the world we may trace the foundations of Masonry ; ever since symmetry began , and harmony displayed her charms , we have reason to believe our Order has had a being ; during many ages and many different countries it has flourished . No art , no science preceded ifc ; in the dark periods of antiquity , when literature was in a low stateand the rude of forefathers

, manners our withheld from thafc knowledge ive now so amply share , Masonry diffused its influence . This science unveiled , arts arose , civilisation took place , and the progress of knowledge and philosophy gradually dispelled the gloom of ignorance

and barbraism . G-overnmeiifc being settled , [ authority was given to laivs , and the assemblies ofthe Fraternity acquired the patronage of the great and good , while the tenets of the profession diffused unbounded philanthropy . Abstracted from the pure pleasures which arise from friendships so wisely constituted as that ivhich subsists among Masons , and which it is scarcely possible that any

circumstance or occurrence can erase , Masonry is a science confined to no particular country , but extends over the whole terrestrial globe . Wherever arts flourish , it flourishes too . Add to this , thafc by secret and inviolable signs , carefully preserved among the Fraternity , ifc becomes an universal language . Hence many advantages are gained ; the distant Chinese , the wild Arab , and the American ,

savage will embrace a brother Briton , and know that besides the common ties of humanity , there is still a stronger obligation to induce to kind and friendly offices . As all religious teach morality , if a brother be found to act the part of a truly honest man , his private speculative opinions are left to God ancl himself . Thus through the influence of Masonry , ivhich is reconcilable to the best policy ,

all those disputes which embitter life , and sour the tempers of men are avoided : while the common good , the general object , is zealously pursued . From this view of our system , its utility must be sufficiently obvious . The universal principles of the art unite in one indissoluble bond of affection men of tho most opposite tenetsof the most distant countriesand of the

, , most contradictory opinions ; so that in every nation a Mason may find a friend , ancl in every clime a home . If the secrets of Masonry are replete with such advantage to mankind , ifc may be asked , why are they not divulged for the general ' good ? To this it may be answered—were the privileges of Masonry to be indiscriminately dispensed , the

purposes of the institution ivould not only be subverted , but our secrets , from being familiar'like other important matters , would lose their value and sink into disregard . It is a weakness in human nature , that men are generally more charmed with novelty than with tho intrinsic value of things . Innumerable testimonials might be adduced to confirm this truth . Do wc not find that the most wonderful

operations of the Divine Artificer , however beautiful , magnificent , and useful , aro overlooked , because common and familiar ? The sun rises and sets , the sea ebbs and flows , rivers glide along their channels , trees ancl plants vegetate , mankind pass onward in their daily course , yefc these being perpetually open to view aro unnoticed . The most astonishing productions of Nature , for the same

reason , escape observation , and excite no emotion , either in admiration of the great cause or of gratitude for the blessing conferred . Even Virtue herself is not exempt from this unhappy bias of tho human frame . Novelty influences all our actions and determinations . What is new or difficult in the acquisition , however trilling or insignificant , readily captivates the imagination ancl ensures a temporary admiration ; while what is familiar or easily

attained , however noble or eminent , is sure to he disregarded by the giddy and the unthinking . Did the essence of Masonry consist in the knowledge of particular secrets or peculiar forms , it might , indeed , be alleged fchat our pursuits were trifling and superficial . But this is not fche case ; they are only the Key to our treasures , and having their use , are preserved ; while from the

recollection of tho lessons they inculcate , the well-informed Mason derives instruction , he draws them to a nearer inspection , views them through a proper medium , adverts to the circumstances which gave them rise , and dwells upon the tenets they convey . Finding them replete with useful information , he prizes them as sacred ; and being convinced of their propriety , estimates their value by their utility .

Among the various societies of men , few , if any , are wholly exempt from censure ; friendship , however valuable , in itself , and however universal may be its pretensions , has seldom operated so poAverfully in general associations as to promote that sincere attachment to the welfare and prosperity of each other , which is necessary to constitute true happiness . This may be ascribed to sundry causes , bufc to none with more justness than to the reprehensible motives which too frequently lead men to a participation of social entertain-