Suggestive Thoughts To Young Masons.

but to the uninitiated , and especially to a candidate about to enter a Masonic Lodge for the first time , it only serves as a strong confirmation of a previous suspicion , that the goat and gridiron are regular working tools of the Freemasons . " Where there is much smoke , there is some fire , " is an adage generally true ; and what wonder that these absurdities are so generally believed , when so many Masons are daily aiding in giving them currency ?

The result of all this is , that the majority of persons are firm in their belief that the ceremonials of the Masonic Lodge are at best hut silly mummeries , and that many persons who would be in every way desirable as members of a Lodge , and who would confer honour on the Order , are deterred from offering themselves by fear of the ceremonies of initiation . They are pleased with the princiles of Masonryadmire its lans and practical effectswish

p , p , to be enrolled among Masons , but they fear they know not what . All they know is , that the mention of the subject generally provokes a smile , and they infer that a man , before he can be made a Mason , must at least be made to appear a fool ; and so strong is this belief , that it requires in them a mighty exercise of faith to believe the contrary . I would ask every Mason who reads this to try the experiment

with some friend who is not a Mason , and see how often the result will be as I say . Then let him look back to what his own feelings were before he joined the Order , and I think he will realize the truth of my position , that many men who would shed lustre upon the institution , are kept out of it by a fear of silly ceremonials which never had an existence but in the brains of thoughtless menand that Masonry has been more injured bits own members

, y than by the most bigoted anti-Masons . Now if this be an evil ( and I think none will deny that it is ) , how shall it be remedied ? The remedy is simple . Let no Mason misrepresent the ceremonies of the Lodge ; let him tell the truth so far as it is proper , or say nothing at all , and hint at nothing that is not proper to be told in full .

A Masonic Incident.

A MASONIC INCIDENT .

BY BRO . A . F . CYK 0 SKI . THE hero of this episode is one of those Polish patriots ever ready to shed their blood for their country and their liberty . The immortal Uminski was general of the Polish army , and head of those few Masons who originated under the Grand Mastership of S . Lukasinski , and which had but a short existence , at least as regularly working Masons . Gen . Uminski was born in 1785 .

Scarcely fourteen years old when he enrolled himself as volunteer in the corps of the famous Gen . Dombrowski , he made the campaign of 1794 , the last and vain struggle of Poland before its definite dismemberment . Since that time he lived in Dresden , where he studied the military art , the only one by which his dearl y beloved country could be regenerated , then retired to his chateau , awaiting with impatience and anxiety the opportunity to signalise

his devotedncss to the national cause . This occasion arrived in 1800 , when the French armies entered Poland and gave the signal of its resurrection , the magic word of independence was given by Napoleon the Great . Uminski was one of the first who abandoned wealth and family and answered the appeal . He joined the corps of the French General Excellmans , who commanded the imperial vanguard , lie led by his example a crowd of the patriotic and courageous youth with him . Under the orders of the French

general he formed with the elite of the Polish youths a guard of honour for Napoleon . Shortl y after he was made a colonel , fought in this quality under the walls of Dantzig , but was wounded at Dershan , taken a prisoner by the Prussians , mortal enemies of the Poles and of their liberties . They assumed the strange pretensions to treat the Polish prisoner on the footing of rebel subjects . A court martial sentenced the valorous colonel to death .

He was led out immediately on the place d \ innes , placed before a detachment of Prussian soldiers and was about to be hoodwinked this called to his memory afar distant but happy occurrence . He made an appeal to that never failing source that ever and everywhere is ready to help virtue and misfortune . He gave a certain sign which was only known to the few chosen . O , happiness ! the sign has been perceived by the commanding officer , who , ready to ive the fatal si of fire arresteddumbstruck

g gnal , was — 1 To hesitate between his duty as a soldier and that of a Mason would have been a crime unknown . He arrested the whole proceedings under the pretext of informality , and with the assistance of some superiors , who also belonged to this holy band , another court martial was instituted . Uminski was found innocent of the charge and restored to liberty . He returned home after ] the defeat of the Grand army and cherished and practised Masonry to the last moment of his life , and when dying in Paris , about 1847 or 1848 ,

A Masonic Incident.

he gave this sign again , and departed to the Grand Lodge above , where we hope he was received into the bosom of the Grand Architect of the universe . — Voice of Masonry .

A Lady Upon Freemasonry.

A LADY UPON FREEMASONRY .

THE following singular proceedings on the other side of the Atlantic arc worthy of notice . The Staudish Lodge , No . 70 , of Free and Accepted Masons , was publicly constituted and its officers installed by the ; ' Grand Lodge of Maine , United States , in the Unitarian church at Staudish , October 6 th , 1 S 58 . At the close of the installation service Miss Lucinda Payne , carrying a beautiful bibleapproached the altar and made the following speech : —

, "¦ Worshi pful Master : You will not regard the ladies of Staudish as indifferent spectators on this festive occasion . How can they be indifferent as they witness the imposing ceremonies of consecrating , in their cherished village , a social order , of which they may not be members , but which may most deeply concern their dearest friends .

" AAliile Masonry comes down from a remote antiquity , through fiery ordeals of persecution , inciting the severest scrutiny , the keen curiosity of woman ' s nature must still ' walk by faith , not by sight , ' in relation to its mysteries and the secrets of its power . "They cannot close their eyes to the fact that within the memory of the living Freemasonry , prostrated before the violence of popular sentiment , has silently risen again to vigorous life ,

spreading its Lodges from village to village , in every state and territory , enrolling many thousands of the active and enterprising men of the country . This movement must exert a wide spread influence , for good or for evil , to be felt in every home circle where fathers , husbands , sons or brothers are members of the Order . AVhy , then , shall not our sympathies be felt , our voices heard , as to what that influence shall be ?

"You tell us that King Solomon was a Mason , and call him a Grand Master . ' It is our impression that he was not blind to the charms , deaf to the voice , or indifferent to the welfare of woman , although we are not sure that any of our sisters claimed to be hewers of wood in the mountains or of stone in the quarries , or were overseers of the work , either as Entered Apprentices , Fellow Craftsor Master Masonsin building the temple .

, , "AVhen ' a greater man than Solomon' appeared , he was not regardless of woman ' s prayer , or praise , or sympathy . He received with grateful words her ministrations and heartfelt offerings , whether at the home of Martha and Mary at Bethany , in his triumphant entrance to Jerusalem , or his sorrowful death march to Calvary . His sympathy rose with him from the tomb , and has elevated woman ' s destiny and inspired her immortal hopes

, though none of our sex was numbered with the twelve apostles , or sent out with the seventy to cast out devils . " In later clays , when the hol j' city and its temple were in ruins , and valiant Knights would rescue the violated sepulchre from infidel hands , they willingly received helmet and shield , spear and banner , from fragile forms and fair hands , that did not covet the dangers of the crusade nor the fury of battle . Animated by

such examples , some ladies of this village have directed me to express our sympathy on this occasion by a humble testimony of good will . Had we fears that our offering would be unwelcome , we should appeal to the magnanimous Knights now present to vindicate our honour and our sincerity . AA ' e have no such fears .

The services of this occasion assure us that while Masonry welcomes to its altars and its fraternity honest men , who fear God and love their fellows of all countries and creedo . von do not hesitate to lay upon your altars the Holy Bible , mm reser \ e it as a light from heaven . AA e ask you then , kind sir , as our courteous Knight , to accept this copy of the holy writings as a freewill offering from the ladies whose names are here recorded . Accept

it , Sir Knight , from these sisters , and lay it on the altar of the Lodge over which you preside , to greet the eye , mould the affections , expand the charity , and elevate the life of all who bow before it as the great light in Masonry . " The following response was made by Rev . Cyril Pearl , W . M . of the new Lodge : — " Generous sisters—If ever knight of the olden time received inspiration from the lance or spear , helmet or

shield , presented by the fragile form and fair hand , and went forth nerved for heroic deeds , surely the members of Standish Lodge would prove unworthy of their trust could they receive , without the deepest emotions , your generous offering . Most gratefull y do we accept it , and most devoutly do we prize , not only its external richness and beauty , and its interior and intrinsic excellence , hut we shall cherish in fond memory the words of wisdom , strength and beauty with which you have pleased to present it . They are thrilling words , awakening the tenderest memories of