Scottish Masonic Lectures.

accomplishments of education can bring to its aid . He is called upon to rule and govern his lodge with equity and justice , to entertain strangerbrethren with kindness and courtesy , to remember that he represents an Institution which is the

legitimate descendant of those early associations when the wise ancl learned banded themselves together to mutually cultivate those refinements which , advance the moral and social progress of man . He has gently to check the officious or

demonstrative , so that whilst maintaining order he may not wound self-love . He has to study the intellectual material of which his lodge is composed to enable him to call forth all the higher and better qualities ofthe brethren—calling upon

those he is aware are capable of adding to the stores of knowledge , as well as those who are capable of ministering to rational enjoyment . It is in the clue fulfilment of such requirements that he worthily holds office at the head of an Institution which has for its creed precepts which inculcate the practice of all which may elevate mankind .

OF THE CHAPLAIN S OFFICE , Bro . Cowie said : The injudicious and oftimes irreverent selections to fill the office of Chaplain has given rise to much scandal , and , I may say , pertinent questions by the uninitiated—whether

Freemasonry was that moral institution pretended by the brethren when men of questionable morals aud destitute of piety have been selected to fill this sacred office . The elements , he said , of true religion are in the institution of Freemasonry , and

better to depend on those as ministered through the formula of the other offices than select men to fill the office of chaplains whose walk and conversation will not prove that the office is a tribute to pure religion and not an irreverent sham . In

concluding , Bro . Cowie said .- Long acquaintance with our ceremonies will call forth love for their beauty , and respect for their utility ; but it would be injustice to our grand old Order to allow our younger brethren to leave with the impression that

the repetition and practice of our ceremonies is all which may be learned within our circles . Beautiful as these ceremonies are , they are only a means to an end , ancl that end is far higher in its purpose than the external world believe .

The above is one of a series given in the first degree . Bros . Grant , Cowie , Robertson , and others also delivered lectures in the second , and the Master ' s Lecture formerly alluded to hy us

was one of a series given in the third . We intend publishing selections from these so far as our duties to our O . B . will allow . ( To be continued . )

An Analysis Of Ancient And Modern Freemasonry.

AN ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT AND MODERN FREEMASONRY .

BY >|< BKO . WILLIAM J . HUGHAN , 18 ° . Meniber of ihe German Union of Freemasons , Knight Camp . of tlie lloyal Order of Scotland , § c . ( Continued from page 326 . ) There are several references to the Craft in the

" Laws and Acts of Parliament made by King James the First and his royal successors , kings and queen of Scotland , " published at Edinburgh , " Anno Dom . MDCCXXXIL , cum privilegis . " In an antiquarian point of view , the work is

veryinteresting , and Masonically it is of great value . We do not remember any notice being taken in the columns of the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE or

elsewhere , of these laws , which are " Collected and extracted from the publick records of the said kingdom , hy Sir Thomas Murray , of Glendook , Ivnighfc and Barronet , clerk to liis Majesties' council , register , ancl rolls , by His Majesties' special warrand . ' ' . We have ,

therefore , carefully perused them all , aud the extracts selectee ] will , we think , he considered important , seeing thafc they actually prove fche office of " Deacon " to be mentioned so early as the third decade of the fifteenth century , ancl that the collection itself ranks

among the most ancient records of the Craft . The work is in two parts , the first commencing " The year of God one thousand foure hundred ! twentie-foure yearis , " being the " First Parliament of King James the First , holden at Perth , the xxvi day of May , " . B . 1-1-24 . A . D . 1124 . — " 39 . Tike Craft sulci have ane Dealcen . "

"Item . —Ifc is ordained , thafc iu ilk towne ol the reaime , of ilk sundrie Craft used therein , be chosec . a wise man of that Craft , and he consent of the officiat ofthe towne , the quhilk sal be holden Deakoa or Maister-mrm over the laife for the time , to governe and assay all workes , that beis maid , before the

Craftesmen of thafc Craft : swa that the kinge's lieges be not defrauded , and skaithed in time to cum , as they have been in time by-gane , throw untrevv men of Craftes . " 1 st March , 1427 , — " Ifc is statute and ordained that men of Craftes within Burrowes , shall

have for a year to cum , of everie Crafte a Wardane ., chosen be the Council of the Burgh ; the quhilk Wardane sail examine and prise the matter and the workman-shippe of ilk Craft , ancl set it to a certain price , the quhilk "if ome breaids , the said Wardaa-s