Antiquity Of The Craft.

hood of the Honourable Order of the "Rose Croix . " I have never been able to obtain a copy of this work . It is said to describe a secret society , founded long before , whose mysterious hall is called the temple of the Holy Ghost ; its

site and its members shrouded in secrecy ; having no political aim , and devoted only to the diminution of the fearful sum of human suffering , the spread of education , the advancement of learning , science , universal enlightenment , and love ; also

describing alchemic arcana in their possession , used for their benevolent purposes only . This revelation startled the profane world , and awoke among the learned a strange desire to gain admittance . After this time , gradually , the names of a few

members became public , rather by a strong suspicion , than by knowledge ; and the existence of some secret societies from whose bosom only could candidates be taken to these hi gher mysteries , became , as I have some reason to think , in some degree a matter of public opinion .

Material For The Temple.

MATERIAL FOR THE TEMPLE .

BY BEO . WILLIAM ROUNSEVILLE . Throughout the entire work , Masonry is represented as a building—a spacious , beautiful and strong temple , and its members are the stones

which compose its walls . This figure , which was also adopted by some of the gospel writers , is as beautiful as it is expressive . Perhaps we cannot do better than to devote this jJaper to its consideration .

When the Entered Apprentice is given tho first principle on which to build his moral and Masonic edifice , uprightness of walk and action are enjoined upon him . But alone he could erect no spacious edifice . He must be one of many : a

single stone among a number that shall complete an immense building . Unless these stones can be obtained and brought together , and fitted to each other , there can be no strong and beautiful temple . To make an edifice imposing and grand ,

magnitude must be considered . Small things may be beautiful ; only large ones are grand and sublime . Hence , when we would erect a grand and beautiful Masonic temple , it must be great . This fact laid the foundation of universal

Masonry . It has gathered materials for the temple from every clime . It has found fit stones for the strong and living walls in every nation , and now the first grand necessity of the work has been achieved . Its dimension' ! are as extensive as the

globe we inhabit . It extends from east to west : from the north to the south ; from the centre to the circumference , and its only covering is the cloudy canopy . Its proportions give grandeur and stability , and shows the wisdom which devised

the plan that skill and labour have completed . Nothing now is wanted in this direction . But this vast building—this moral and Masonic edifice—to be strong , must be constructed of good sound materials . A disentegrating

conglomerate is not the kind of stone that a skilful and honest architect puts into a good building . He does not lay up his walls with sandstone that yields to the corrosion of the storms and of time . It is not every stone that he will allow to go into the edifice , that he finds in the quarry . Defects are found in some , and these are rejected .

So it is in our Masonic temple . The materials , which we place in its walls , must be selected . A . bad stone that will decay and fall in pieces may endanger the whole building . A builder who was , awarded a contract on some public work , laid a

stone in the walls of such a texture that the weight of the wall crushed it , and the work had to be taken down . Figuratively speaking , the same defect may be found in our moral temple . A stone may be placed in the wall that cannot be relied on ,

and the fabric may fall . It is much easier to put good stones in the first place , than to be compelled afterwards to remove them and supply their placesby others .

Substantial , good , honest , honourable men are the stones only of which the Masonic temple should be builded . These give it stability and permanence , and impart to it the second requisitestrength . Without such men Masonry is a show

—to carry out the figure with which we have commenced , it is a building composed of loose and crumbling materials , and must eventually fall . With these materials it becomes a strong and durable edifice , against which the billows may

dash , and the tooth of time do its utmost , and yet endure . Such has Masonry been in the past . Such must Masonry be in the future , if it will be everlasting .