The Freemasons.

tion of Freemasonry , in England it has a separate jurisdiction and a separate Grand Lodge . One result is separate forms of charity , and the annual festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund , Avhich is to be held in a private room at the

Crystal Palaco on the 28 th of this month , is an illustration of the varied forms in which the institution appeals to the kindly impulses of the initiated .

Music In Masonry.

MUSIC IN MASONRY .

Music has always been esteemed a Masonic science . From the era of the earliest Ancient Mysteries , which were the cradle of Freemasonry , doAvn to to-day , its culture has never ceased to be inculcated in the Craft . Among the

Pythagoreans , the study of Geometry Avas taught to be the first step to Avisdom , Avhile the second was the study of Music . We have followed this order ofthe liberal Arts and Sciences patronised by Masonry ; recently we treated of Geometry , and now we have "the more pleasurable duty of drawing the attentio 7 J of brethren to the witcheries of Music .

The world is full of music ; there is nothing at once so divine and so universal that has survived the glorious Eden days . Every breeze is winged with melody ; every tree is Nature's lyre ; the valleys are the pipes , aud the hills the stops of the

grandest organ that ever discoursed sweet sounds . And Avhile inanimate nature thus , in its myriad shapes , furnishes an orchestra that man ; with his instrumental devices , only strives to copy and never can rival , the Great Architect of the

Universe has peopled every grove , vale , and summit with feathery songsters , Avhich , catching up the spirit of universal melody , cause " Music and her sister Song" to encircle the whole earth . But the witchery does not cease here ; it spreads its

magic to other globes . How beautiful , poetical , and sublime , was that ¦ conception of the ancients of the " Music of the Spheres ; " in other words that the whole universe of worlds is swimming through space in one

celestial harmony , and that this ineffable chorus of the spheres , swelling from age to age , comes up to the ear of Him who " sits in unspeakable majesty , hidden from mortal eyes by the golden drapery of

innumerable suns and stars . " It is at once a wis and beautiful arrangement for Freemasonry to call the attention of brethren receiving the second degree , to the divine science of Music , for , as Dr . Mackey observes , as the concord of sweet sounds

gives birth to generous sentiments in the soul , so should the concord of good feeling reign in the craft , through the union of friendship with brotherly love , and soothe every breath of passion , thereby developing universal harmony .

The origin of Music is hidden in mystery . The first mention we find of it in the Bible , is when Tubal , the sixth descendant from Cain , is called " bhe father of all who handle the harp and organ . " There is a fanciful ancient narrative that bestoAvs

the honour of its parentage in Egypt on Thrice Illustrious Mercury ( we judge , from his title , he must have been one of those , f high degree " fellows ) . The story runs thus : The Nile , after having overfloAved the whole country , when it returned to its natural bed , left on the land a great number of dead animals , and among the

rest a tortoise . . The sun having thoroughly dried it , nothing was left within its shell but nerves and cartilages , which , being braced and contracted by dessication , were rendered sonorous . Mercury walking along the banks of the river ,

chanced to strike his foot against the shell of this tortoise . He was delighted with the sound it produced , and upon reflection conceived the idea of a lyre , Avhich instrument he afterwards constructed in the form of a tortoise , stringing it

with dried sinews of dead animals . Whatever the origin of music , it is undoubtedly a natural gift to the human family , and the man who has no music in his soul , is justly described by the poet as " fit for treason , strategem and spoils . " One

of the first enjoyments of the mother is to warble in her infant ' s ear the notes of melody ; and it at once catches the inspiration , and in response , sings its little song of angelic sweetness and purity . Art has never developed a more tuneful or perfect antiphonal , than that in which a mother and her babe are the sole choristers .

We can scarcely conceive of the numerous important and solemn purposes for the furtherance of which music was anciently used . The mysterious answers of the Oracles Avere delivered in song ; laws were originally sung , and prayers Avere chanted . In the enrly days , doubtless this was done in order the more readily to attract the