Masonic Notes And Queries.

THE MASONIC LECTURES . Bro . G . W . Chase , P . M ., editor of Thc American Masonic Journal , delivered an Address before ihe Grand Lodge of New Hampshire , U . S ., in which he speaks of the Masonic Lectures . Thinking it mi ght be an interesting subject to some ofyour readers , I forward it accordingly . —Ex . Ex .

" I have alluded to the lectures of Masonry as something that every candidate should he instructed in when he receives his degrees . " From the lectures we gain a knowledge of the sublime doctrines of Freemasonry . We there learn why it is that our peculiar forms , and mystic signs and ceremonies , have been adopted . We there learn how to prove ourselves possessed of

the talismanic secrets of the Order , ancl how to prove others . The lectures , therefore , form an important part of the information belonging to the degrees , and to which the candidate is entitled by virtue of his acceptance . The ceremony is incomplete and the instruction imperfect without them , and no candidate should ever he considered as having received his degrees until he has received the lectures in full . Having paid for the whole of the degreesit is as wrong to cheat or defraud him

, out of any part of them , as for him to deprive others of what rightfully belongs to them . " Perhaps , in this connection it may not he unprofitable briefly to notice the origin and progress of the present form of what are technically called the ' lectures' of Masonry .

" Previous to about the year 1720 , when a person was initiated , passed , or raised , the secrets were communicated to him , and the explanations given him in such language as the Master could command at the time . But about this time , as an assistance to Masters of lodges , Drs . Anderson and Dessaguliers , two eminent Masons , compiled or arranged the information necessary to he given to candidates , into the form of question and answer , still preserving the name that had been previously applied to the usual instructions of the Master—that of ' lectures . '

" So favourably were these received that the Grand Lodge of England adopted the form , and ordered them to be given in the lodges . " In the year 1732 , the lectures of Anderson and Dessaguliers were revised by Martin Clare , who added a brief allusion to the human senses and the theological ladder . " A few years later , Thomas Dunckerly , who was considered the most intelligent Mason of his day , extended and improved the lectures , and among other tilings , first gave to the theological ladder its three most important rounds .

" These continued to be used until 1763 , when Rev . William Hutchinson gave them an improved form . Hutchinson explained the three lights by ' the three great stages of Masonry ; the knowledge and worship of the God of nature in the purit y of Eden ; the service under the Mosaic law when divested of idolatry ; and the Christian revelation . But most especially our lights are typical of the Holy Trinity . ' "Againin 1772 these lectures ivere revised and improved b

, , y Preston , whose system was the standard in England until the Union of 1813 , when Dr . Hemming established the system now generally practiced in the English lodges . " The Preston lectures were early introduced into this country , and were considerably modified by T . S . Webb , whose system lias been the basis of all those taught since his day in the lodges of the United States .

" We have thus seen whence the lectures originated , and are prepared , in a measure , to charge infringements upon the ancient landmarks ( if there be any in them ) upon their authors . And if , as many brethren believe , the doctrines of the lectures are all' landmarks / we are prepared to say who have added to the landmarks . "But the lectures , as a whole , are not landmarks of the

Order . They are the simple text of Masonry , ' a course of instruction in which the ceremonies , traditions and moral instructions appertaining to the degree are set forth , while the extended illustrations which are given to them by an intelligent Master or lecturer , —and which he can only derive from a careful study of scripture , of history , and of the published works of learned Masonic writers , —constitute the commentary , without which

Masonic Notes And Queries.

the simple text is comparatively barren and uninteresting .. * These commentaries are the philosophy of Masonry , without a knowledge of which no brother can claim our technical title oi " ' a bright Mason . ' " While , therefore , the intelligent Mason will give the text in the language prescribed for him by his Grand Lodge , he will not feel himself rigidly confined to this alone , in imparting

instruction to his less informed brethren . " The ritual contains but a small part of the ' body off Masonry , - ' and most certainly a very small quota of its history and philosophy ; and the Mason whose only knowledge of the institution and its doctrines has been derived from this source , can hardly lay claim to an intelligent knowledge of Freemasonry . " It is only when the mind has become expanded by a perusal of the * Great Light of Masonry , ' which is ever open in the lodge ; when we have carefully studied the moral precepts inculcated by the degrees ; when we have considered well the .

great doctrines taught in the third degree , that we begin to see that the mission of Freemasonry is not the mere transmission and preservation of forms and ceremonies , of signs and tokens r that our work as Eree and Accepted Masons is not to be eonfined to conferring the degrees upon candidates . We then begin to have more exalted ideas of the institution , and of itsmighty power as a means of good . Then we begin to appreciate the idea of brotherlloveof relief and truth . Then we

beginy , to understand why temperance , fortitude , prudence and justice should be constantly kept in view by all the members of the Order . Then we realise that as a science of religious symbolism ,. F ' reemasonry'has no equal : That its emblems seem investedwith new properties , and that the light—the real light of truth—breaks in upon our enraptured vision . We then see ,, not a mere childish layfounded it may bo on a mytha fable ,,

p , , an improbability , —but we learn that though our path is beset with dangers , and though we must all fall by the hand of death , and be deposited in the silent tomb , yet we shall finally be raised ., to new life , anel be allowed an entrance into that Celestial Lodgeabove , where our Supreme Architect presides . "

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . CENTENARY FESTIVAL .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE FKEI __ IASO _ . s' _ XAGAZI _ . K AND JfASOKIC MIBEOB . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I observe in your issue of the 19 th inst . an account of the celebration of the Centenary Festival of the Marcjuis of Granby Lodge ( No-124 ) , Durham . I think it is an omission on the part of your correspondent that he does not state that Bro . Robert Sutherland , who delivered the " Ode , " is blind ,

and was one of the successful candidates at the electionof the annuitants of the Royal Benevolent Institution in May last ; and although this is known within the circle of his own lodge , it will not be so amongst your readers generally , and the fact of his blindness gives a greater - interest and value to the " Ode . " I think also it might have been stated that the W . M . presented Bro .

Sutherland with a centenary jewel which had been purchased for him by the subscriptions of several of the brethren of the lodge . The W . M ., ou his own behalf , also made a similar presentation to the worthy and indefatigable Secretary of the lodge , Bro . Wm . Marshall , for his zealous exertions in promoting the interests and welfare of the lodge . Yours fraternally , DUNELMENSIS .

Masonic Charity.

MASONIC CHARITY .

TO THE EDITOB OP TUB F-U-BMASONS' HAGAZIlfB ___ fD MASO-UO MIBBOB . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Lodge "No . 600 forwarded to you its balance-sheet , or rather tables , purporting to show the mode in which the funds of the lodge are disbursed . Questions arise out of this published statement which the lodge is called upon to answer ; it signifies not