The Moral Of Silence.

This is not all . There is another violation of silence , in some respects more serious than that to which we have called attention . It is alleged that brethren sometimes canvass or discusss the business of their lodge , after lodge has been closed . This conduct cannot he too strongly deprecated . We

presume it seldom , if ever , occurs , except when questions of more than usually agitating character have occupied previous attention , or when personal sensibilities have been offended . The brethren should , however , remember their Masonic engagements , and exercise the virtue of self-control . Neither lobbnor

y corridor is the place to adjust differences or arrive at wise conclusions . Opportunity is afforded every member of a lodge to express his opinions ; if he will not express them at the proper time and in the right place , it is his manifest duty to remain silent . We trust this reference to a delicate subject will

not be misunderstood . In making it , we have had only one object in view—the good of Masonry . — Australian Freemasons' Magazine .

Masonic Jottings.—No. 55.

MASONIC JOTTINGS . —No . 55 .

BY A PAST PEOVINCIAL GEAND MASTEE . BEN JONSON . It is true that Ben Jonson was at one time a bricklayer , and worked afc that part of Lincoln ' s

Inn called " The Old Square . " But he was nofc a Freemason , he never belonged to a Lodge . And even if he had been a Freemason , and had belonged to a Lodge , it would nofc follow that he was a Speculative Mason—that he was more than

an Operative Mason . There was always the germ of Speculative Masonry in fche Lodge , yet ifc nofc unseldom , as in fche instance of the famous Mother Kilwinning Lodge , remained undeveloped .

CHARGES OE 1723 . A learned brother thinks that the publication of the Charges of 1723 , without anything more , was looked upon as a sufficient authority for re « ception in the Lodge of Christians , of all denominations .

THE ASSERTION . The words of the assertion in the communication , "The Pseudo-Revival of A . D . 1717 , * are "no proof of the pretended existence of our system of Freemasonry before 1717 has ever been given . " OUR PRESENT SYSTEM OF EREEMASONRY . Our present system of Freemasonry is the

Masonic Jottings.—No. 55.

Freemasonry of the Revival . It can easily be traced to the four old London Lodges . The assertion in the preceding jotting is utterly without foundation . The proof abounds for him who knows what proof is .

RANK OE THE POUR OLD LONDON LODGES . The four old London Lodges enjoyed their rank under Constitutions said to be immemorial . THE ENGLISH LODGE , THE HOUSE OF COMMONS . The changes produced in the English Lodge hy the Charges of 1738 , may be likened to the

changes produced in the House of Commons by the Roman Catholic Relief Act . In the former a few Natural Theists , Jewish Theists , Mahommedau Theists , and Parsee Theists occupy seats by the side of Christian Theists ; and in the latter

a few Roman Catholics occupy seats by the side of those possessed of earlier Parliamentary qualifications . ' In all other respects fche lodge is what ifc was before , and the House of Commons is what ifc was before . *—From the papers of a Deceased

OLD FRENCH MASONRIES AND OLD GERMAN MASONRIES . A corresponded writes that supposing " A Con - tributor ' s " assertion to be correct , thafc a Christian Masonry is not a true Freemasonry , ifc would ensue that not only none of the old Scotch

Masonry was true Freemasonry . * but that none of the old French Masonry , and none of the old German Masonry was true Freemasonry .

LODGES . It ought not to surprise us , if the relig ion of fche lodge , in which none but Christians meet , is not the same as fche Religion of the Lodge in which Christians , Parsees , and Natural Theists meet .

CHARGES OF 1723 . The Charges of 1723 are more appropriately called our " Fundamental Laws . "