True Charity.

ive never should need a return of the gift . We have ' cast our bread upon the water ; and should we ever , by misfortune , be placed in the same needy situation , ive shall then be truly thankful that wc assisted our brother , and will , therefore , accept more freely the offering , though it be ever so humble , of our brother to us . " The quality of charity , like mercy , is not strained . It ih-oppethas the gentle rain from Heaven

, , Upon the place beneath . It is twice blessed ; It blesseth him that gives , and him that takes . " Let Jlasons bear this in mind ; and , as we journey along over the rough and rugged paths of life , let us remember that charity is our end , our whole aim , and Avhile we exercise it masonically wc but fulfil our duty to ourselves , our Order , and our God .

The Worker And The Looker-On.

THE WORKER AND THE LOOKER-ON .

Ix the JIasonic institution , as in every other association of men , the labour of keeping the machinery of the organization in motion devolves upon a few comparatively , while the majority are idlers in the community , mere lookers-on , do nothings . Go where you will on the face of this broad earth , you will find tivo classes as distinct in their aims and the purposes for which they live as light and darkness—the one constituting the producing

and the other the non-producing class . While one class are working with their brains or their hands , or both , to develope tlie useful in art or science , to benefit their felloiv man and contribute to the productiveness of labour and the mental and the social , enjoyments ofthe race , the other , acting only in consuming , live onl y for their own gratification , and their sphere of thought and action do not extend beyond their own personal self . It is

just so with the JIasonic order . The worker and the idler are found in every community , in every Lodge . The labourers are few and the lookers-on are many . While it is the dut y of all , of each and every member , to make himself proficient in the work of the Order , so that if called upon be may be able to perform the duties required intelligently , and no one can tell what may be required of himas in Masonry all are on a lei'eland

, , consequentl y no one is exempt from its labours , IIOAV few , IIOAV very feAV of those AVIIO are admitted into our sanctuaries , take the pains to acquire a knoivledge of our mystic science , and become active and intelligent Jlasons . It is not only the few who do all the work of JIasonry , keep up tbe organization of the Order I nconstantly attending the meetings of the Lodge , and

pcrforminothe necessary labours , but it is this class chiefly who contribute to the support of the press devoted to tlie dissemination of JIasonic information , and live up to their profession of seeking for " more li ght . " While it is true that sonic glory in their ignorance , and have no conception of the exalted and hi gh character ofthe literature of Freemasonry , and others are too parsimonious to contribute their mite even to acquire a knowledge of the current history

of the Order ; and others , again , have not the mental capacity to comprehend the true illustration of the symbols of onr mystic Order , there are others who are constantly adding to their store of knowled ge , and seeking JIasonic information from every available source . If ive consider that every Freemason in his application for the mysteries of Freemasonry , solemnl y declared that he was prompted to make the application from a desire of knowled

ge , and to be useful to his felloiv man , and see IIOAV many actually-, after tbey have been received into our fraternity , disregard their solemn declaration , is it not fair to infer that they intentionall y stated that which was not true for the purpose of gaining their object ? ' Wc state the question plainly , so that ive cannot be misunderstood . And is it not fair to infer that this hitter classafter having gained the object they htcontinue

, soug , their relation for merely mercenary or other unworthy motives ? A line can as readil y be drawn betAveen the sincere and the false as between a white and a black sheep . The one repres ; iiting innocence and purity , the other falsehood and insincerity . Every JIason can answer the question for himself , if he stated the truth or otherwise in his application to become a member of our ancient and honourable fraternity .- —American Mirror and Keiislone .

Pennsylvania Masonry.

PENNSYLVANIA MASONRY .

I I'liOAiisED to give you some notes of JIasonry iii Pennsylvania—said b y Bro . Benjamin Parke , the present JI . E . Grand High Priest of the R . A . Chapter of the State , in his opening address to the Grand Commandery in 1858 , to be— " the grandest and the firmest , if not the loftiest JIasonic column on this continent . ' There is , perhaps , much truth and some imagination in this assertion , for since Dr . Benjamin Franklin ivas the first Master of her first Lodge , under a ' Avarrant dated 2-lth of June ,

Pennsylvania Masonry.

( St . John ' s Day ) 1731 , down to the present time , ' when the number of her youngest Lodge is 3 o ( i , and the number of Masons in the State is estimated at twenty thousand , though the actual membership of the Lodges is less than twelve thousand , the Order has been highly conservative , moving onward and upward with dignity and grandeur , respected by the Craft everywhere , in union , harmony and peace among themselves—no schism or

disunion in their body—preserving the landmarks intact , eschewing all innovations , refusing to adopt or practise any new measures or suggested improvements , either in legislation , lectures , or work . The " date of the first Grand Lodge is doubtful . A patent of Provincial Grand JIaster was issued from England betiveen the years 17-17 and 1752 , but there is no record knoivn of the formation of a Grand Lodge until 1 . 76-1 under a second patent to William Ball

, , Esq ., as . Provincial Grand JIaster for Pennsylvania . This Grand Lodge continued till the 25 th of September , 1786 , when they resolved "That it is improper that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania should remain an } ' longer under the authority of any foreign Grand Lodge , " and adjourned sine die . On the next day , the present independent Grand Lodge was formed . Since that time there have been thirty-two Grand JIasters

, fifteen of whom are still alive . In this list I observe , among others , George JI . Dallas and Joseph R . Chandler , ministers plenipotentiary noiv abroad ; John M . Read , Judge of the Supreme Court ; Josiah Randall ; James Page ; and Peter Williamson ; all of whom do honour to the Order that has so highly honoured them . The last named brother is IIOAV the Grand Treasurer ,

attending daily at his post , receiving and disbursing nearly forty thousand dollars per annum , and refusing to take any part or portion of the salary attached to his office—a rare case , I apprehend , even in JIasonry . The JIasonic temple erected by the Grand Lodge in Philadelphia is said to be in its massive proportions , appropriate internal arrangements , and gorgeous finish , the best Grand Lodge structure

in America , if not on the g lobe . Without endorsing thisopinion , I will say that , magnificent , convenient , and gorgeous as it is , ten years will not elapse before the west will eclipse it in splendour , magnificence , and size . The revenue of this Grand Lodge is more than double that of any other in America , being nearl y # 40 , 000 per annum . They are fast reducing the debt incurred in building their JIasonic

temple , after which they can reduce the receipts , or add to their Grand Lodge " Charity Fund , " noiv some # 20 , 000 . This Grand Lodge is also the almoner of the " Stephen Girard Charity Fund , " # 30 , 000 , the interest of which is , by a board of stewards ivhich meets semi-monthly , distributed in pursuance of the bequest of" our late Bro . Stephen Girard to poor respectable brethren , " certified to be such by tivo Past JIasters . This charity

goes to the relief of brethren of every clime and country , ivho , visiting or residing in Pennsylvania , can shoiv themselves to be poor and respectable JIasonic brethren . The sum , I learn , does not exceed , § ' 50 per annum to ; my one . These Grand Lodge charities do great good , not only to those to whom the fund is given , but in leaving the charity funds of the Lodges for casual claims , and the relief of the widows and orphans of the Craft . — SOJOUHXRH .

Masonic Literature.

MASONIC LITERATURE .

Tin ; literature of the Order is one of the most interesting themes that can attract the notice of intelligent Jlasons . JIasonry is a science ; and as such it should be presented to the vieiv of its votaries , as well as to that of the world . A few years has brought a wonderful change in the literary history of JIasonry . The addresses of Grand JIasters , and the reports of tlie committees of correspondence , are enriched ivith the record of intelligent acts

and sentiments , and discussions upon nearly all the points that arise which arc of importance and value to the Craft . It is Avorthy of remark that these reports arc written , and the discussions conducted in a spirit of fraternal regard that can be fount ! in no other merely human institution . Even the wrongs that are committed—and there must be such in some of the many and large assemblies of mcu as compose the various Grand Lodges and

Lodges of the numerous jurisdictions of this and other countriesare brought to notice , and debated in the kindest manner ; and although reproofs often , appear , they are gentle and forbearing , and the brethren g ive aud receive them with a vieiv to such improvement as they desire to effect . From the literature that thus presents itself in the various operations of the workmen , and ivhich contains an immense amount of JIasonic research , the brethren are conducted onward iu the search for light until the volumes that contain the history of the past are procured and