Masonic Jottings, No. 85.

SOMEWHAT PARADOXICAL . Since , during many centuries Christianit y was the only Relig ion of Freemasonry , a Cambridge brother finds the assertion that " it is a contradiction in terms to talk of Christian Freemasonry , " ¦ somewhat paradoxical .

A LODGE BEHIND THE AGE . A jotting thus entitled , " Freemasons' Magazine , " vol . xxiii-, page 387 , expresses my opinion ¦ upon the point respecting which a correspondent writes : — "The Lodge which prefers the original charges of 1723 to the amended charges of 1738 , is a lodge behind the age . "

A CITY . English Masonry is a large city ; and in all its ¦ streets there is Christianity ; but a Contributor ' s vision is defective , and he cannot see it . DE 3 AG PLIERS . Desaguliers is said to have been admitted a

' ¦ -member of the Lodge of Anti quity , A , D . 1712 . A LETTER OF BRO . HUGHAN . A Student will find Bro . Hup-han ' s letter , 16 th October , 18 G 9 , and a Contributor ' s comment , " Freemasons' Magazine , " vol . xxi , page 870 .

FREEMASONRY IN A PHILOSOPHIC LIGHT . The number of works which view Freemasonry in a p hilosophic lig ht is small . In England , there are I believe two only , Doctor Oliver ' s ¦ "S ymbol of Glory , " and his "Theocratic Philosophy . "

HEALTH . Fear not , Bro . E . G . L-, health will not fail , if you will onl y take as much care to keep disease ¦ out of your bod y , as you take to keep rain and tempests out of your house . Love not your bod y ' ess than you love your house .

Summary Of Masonic Law.

SUMMARY OF MASONIC LAW .

'The following decisions by the Grand Masters of "the various Grand Lodges in the United States will point out to the Masonic student many differences in the Masonic Law of the two countries : — BURIAL .

None but Master Masons can act as pall-bearers in a Masonic funeral procession . —Virginia . That it is not proper for a lodge to attend the funpral -nf a Mason ' s wife or child ; but that there is no objection , in suck a case , for the members to attend and march iu a body , if they do not wear any of the regalia of the < 2 i-der . —Wisconsin .

Resolved , That in the case of a suicide by a Master Mason in this jurisdiction , the Master and Wardens of the Lodge to which he belonged shall determine as to his insanity , and as the propriety of interring him with masonic honours . —California . CANDIDATE .

A candidate who has lost an eye is physically disqualified , and should be rejected . —Kansas . Belief in God is the only religious qualification required of a candidate for the honours of Masonry . — Illinois . A candidate must be of entire limb , be in tho possession of all his faculties , and be fully able to go through

without inconvenience , every part of our ceremonies , to give every sign , and to be able to instruct and be instructed in every physical means of recognition . — Louisiana . An Entered Apprentice who has lost a leg cannot be advanced . —ib . A man who can neither read nor write cannot proper ]}'

be made a Mason . —Montana . A candidate for Masonry must be upright in body , not deformed or dismembered at the time of his making application , of hale and entire limb , as a man ought to be . Defects cannot bo supplied by artificial means . — Virginia . A candidate who has been elected , but subsequently , and before intiation , becomes maimed , is thereby barred from from initiation . —Wisconsin . If an Entered Apprentice or Eellow Craft suffer any

personal injury which would disqualify him from receiving the first degree in Masonry , such injury shall not prevent his advancement , provided its character is such as not to impair his ability to fulfil the requirements of the ritual . —ib . More than five candidates cannot be passed or raised at tho same communication . —New York . The degrees of Masonry should not be conferred

on one who cannot either read or write . —Minnesota . A rejected candidate for the 2 d or 3 d degree may renew his application at any subsequent regular communication . —Florida . Lodges are prohibited from initiating any candidate who is under the -age of twenty-one years , and from initiating , passing or raising any one whoso physical

disability is such as to prevent his literal compliance with the ceremonies of the order in every particular . —• Ohio . An applicant , rejected on his potiLion for advancement , may renew it at any stated communication . —ib . Q . Can a man be made a Mason who has lost an arm or a leg ? A . According to the decision of the Grand Lodge he cannot . —N . Carolina . A candidate cannot be advanced from one degree to another iu the face of objections by a member .

—Missouri . Q . Is it lawful to confer the degrees of the order upon an applicant who can neither read nor writePA . No . Q . Is a person who has lost tho index finger of the right hand , and whose middle finger of the same hand is stiff , so that he cannot straighten it , eligible to be initiated into the mysteries of the Craft ? A . No . —Nebraska . Held that one unable to elevate his arm above a level with his shoulder could not be made a Mason . —Alabama .

CHARGES . It is tho duty of the Wardens to prefer charges . It is also a right of an individual Mason , but this right can be exercised only by an affiliated Mason . — Missouri . A Lodge may allow charges against a bi-ofcher to bo withdrawn . —Wisconsin .