History Op Freemasonry In Cornwall.

mentioned were selected as the remaining officers of the lodge : — Bro . John Trebilcock Senior Warden . „ Nicholas Harvey Junior Warden . „ Henry Noell ' . Senior Deacon .

„ James Polkinghorne Junior Deacon . „ T . A . Eobinson Secretary . „ Henry Harris Tyler . A banquet then took place , when the brethren seem to have spent a feAv hours most pleasantly

and returned to lodge , Avlien , the duties being ended , it was closed iu form . ( To he continued .

Freemasonry And Christianity.

FREEMASONRY AND CHRISTIANITY .

By Bro . * H . B . WHITE 18 ° , P . M . and Z . 148 Warrington , Prov . Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . West Lancashire . In my letter to the editor which appeared in the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE of Saturday last , I

laid down four propositions for argument , but it is self-evident , that , if I can prove the second , the first and third must follow , for , if Christianity is the foundation and cope-stone of Freemasonry , ifc necessarily follows thafc the latter must have originated under the Christian dispensation , and also , that no man can become a true Mason unless he is

a Christian , and can perceive the connection , between Masonry and Christianity . The fourth proposition I will leave until I have endeavoured to dispose of fche others , and this I propose to do mainly by references to the NOAV Testament and

the old lectures of Masonry which were in vogue before the -union of the two Grand Lodges . I must leave it to intelligent Masons to apply these references , as in a periodical accessible to the general public it is impossible that I can enter

into detailed explanation , or argument . I Avish the brethren clearly to understand that I do not assert that all the New Testament references I shall make go to prove the necessary connection between . Masonry and Christianity , the main

portion of them do , but some of them I indicate as usefully brought to mind by the language ofthe ritual , whilst others are merely coincidences between that language and the language of the Sacred Volume .

In makin g the references , my object is , if possible , to raise the science of Masonry to a divine level , not to bring down the precepts of Christianity to a par Avith a human institution , and ,

Freemasonry And Christianity.

in so doing , I belie \ e and hope that I am altogether actuated by a spirit of reverence ancl humility . I will proceed by first referring to portions © f our ceremonies , and illustrating them in the manner before mentioned . I have no doubt my style will

appear to be someAvhat unconnected , but for fche reasons I have already suggested this cannot well be avoided .

FIRST DEGREE . BALLOT . — " Give not that which is holy aai © dogs , neither cast ye your pearls before swine , lest they trample them under their feet . "—Mafcfc * chap , vii ., 6 .

" Many are called but feAV are chosen . "—Maitfe , chap , xxii ., 14 . PREPARATION - . — " I Avas a stranger and ye took me in , naked and ye clothed me . "—Matt , chap * xxv ., 36 .

" Take nothing for your journey neither staves nor scrip , neither bread , neither money , SEC . "—• Luke chap , is ., 3 . ADMISSION . — " Ask and it shall be given unto

you ; seek and ye shall find ; knock and ifc shall be opened unto you . "—Matt . chap , vii ., 7 . " I am the door ; by me if any man enter in , he shall be saved . " —John chap , x ., 9 . " Thou art wretched , and miserable , and poor ,,

and blind , and naked : I counsel thee to buy of me gold , & c , and Avhifce raiment that thou mayesfc be clothed , & c , and anoint thine eyes Avith eyesalve that thou mayest see , & c . Behold I stand afc the door and knock . "—Rev . iii ., 17 .

RECEPTION . — "Are you free ? 8 ,-c . "— "Ye shall knoAV the truth , and the truth shall make yea free . " —John chap , viii ., 32 .

" If the Son therefore shall make you free , ye shall be free indeed . "—John chap , viii ., 36 . LIGHT . — " The people AYhich . sat in darkness saw great light , and to them Avhich . sat in fche region and shadow of death light is sprung up . "—Matt ,

chap , iv ., 16 . " Let your light so shine before men , that they may see your good works , ancl glorify your father which is in heaven . "—Matt . chap , v ., 16 . u In him was life ; and the life was the light o £

men , & c . That Avas the true light which ligkteiJi every man that cometh into the Avorld . "—John , chap , i ., 4 and 9 . " I am the light of the world : he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness , but shall have ihe lig ht of life . "—chap . viii . j 12 . ^ . . ^