Ears Of Wheat From A Cornucopia.

Committee of Investigation . The defendant being re-admitted was apprised from the chair of the decision of the brethren . If innocent he was saluted by the Master , who beckoned him to a seat ; if guilty , he was escorted out of the lodge

by the deacons or the stewards . The brethren were then formally asked to give effect to the sentence which " shut the door of Masonry" against the erring one—the limit of such punishment extending to periods of from one month to

ninetynine years . A HUSBAND-FINDING FRATERNITY . In the discussion of a case coming recently before a northern court of justice , in which the seamen fraternity sued for repetition of money paid

in error , it Avas stated " that the Fraternity , after the woman was supposed to have become a widow had appointed a gentleman to look out a husband for her , in order that she might be no longer chargeable to them . " A custom somewhat akin

to this , but having a more benign look about it , prevailed in the Scotch Guilds of the 13 th century . In the reign of Alexander II ., it was enacted : — " Giff that ony brether of the gyld efter his

clesces leyffadochter of his spousit wyff borne , the quhilk being of loffabile conversacione and of gild fame , giff scho has nocht of hir awin quhar of it may be purwayt hir of a man ( or of a religiouse house gif that scho lyk to lef chast ) , efter the

estimacioun of the alderman and the faculte of the gilde , it sail be purwayt til hir of a husbande or than a hous of relygione . "

Masonic Discipline.—Xv.

MASONIC DISCIPLINE . —XV .

BY CRUX . In a recent impression we observed in an article , evidently written by a sincere brother , a remark to the effect that men of ability , intelligence , and education , who had joined our Order ,

generally ceased to continue members of lodgesand in fact to all intents and purposes , renounced all connection with the fraternity . The reason given for this abandonment of all Masonic duties , ties , and privileges was that they found the time

spent in the lodge , and in the discharge of the various offices wholly " unprofitable . " Those who have read our articles on the subject , and are acquainted with the principles of reform in Masonic matters that we have persistently advocated , will not be surprised to learn that we regret

—fully , but fully , endorse the observation we have alluded to . There is not the slightest question that many brethren whose names , and positions in the scale of social life would have done honour to the Graft , have after a very brief acquaintance

with our mysteries and secrets , quitted the Order , as some would say , in disgust . Let us not however use the harsh term , which moreover would not be strictly true . Let us say they abandoned the fraternity because they found it mentally

physically " unprofitable . ' ' We are not writing these articles in a hypercritical sense . We are more fully alive to the real value of Freemasonry , than those who have found it " unprofitable , " and who perhaps after all never gave it a fair trial .

At the same time Ave freely confess and maintain that the manner in which " Masonic discipline " is carried on in our lodges , is calculated in ninetynine cases out of a hundred to produce an unfavourable impression , and to cause a feeling of

disappointment in the minds of men of ability and education who join our ranks . Thus it is we lose them for ever . Either too impatient , or too

careless to lift the veil that conceals the hidden beauties of the science , they commit the illogical error of arguing a particulars ad universale , and impetuously jump to a false conclusion from premises which might be easily demonstrated to be

completely fallacious . To which side does the fault pertain ? To the member or to the Order ? Partly to the one and partly to the other . To the brother , who may thus in sudden chagrin and disappointment abandon the further cultivation of

Masonic knowledge , we say , " you are too hasty , too precipitate , and ought to know better than to judge of so vast and comprehensive a system as ours , by a mere external appearance . "

Nevertheless , prima facie , the fault lies with ourselves . Every one is well aware of " first impressions , " and if in the routine of ordinary life , they are regarded as so important , how much greater significance must they possess , when connected

with ceremonies so imposing and characteristic as those which are performed Avithin the walls of our lodges . Admitting the truth of the observation it may be seriously demanded , is it possible that

Masonry as represented in our lodges has no attractions for a hi ghly educated mind ? With a ritual scarcely inferior in pathos , beauty and sublimity to the episcopal liturgy—with a foundation based upon the tablets of Sinai , and Avith rites and