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Gtontznts . — PAGE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE : — The Mission of Masonry is Peace 2 S 1 Plea for Freemasonry 281 Masonic Curiosities No . 2 283 Chinese Secret Societies 284

Masonic Jottings , No . 65 285 The Privilege to visit the Lodge Room 285 Masonic Notes and Queries 286 Correspondence 288 Masonic Sayings and Doings Abroad 289 MASONIC MIKKOB : — Masonic Mems i 291 CEAST LODGE MEETINGS : —

Metropolitan , 291 Provincial , 292 Royal Arch 293 Mark Masonry 294 Ancient and Accepted Rite 294 Light comes from the East 295 An Address delivered by the Dist . G . M . of Turkoy 297 Presentation to Bro . Pearson 290

Obituary 299 Poetry 299 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 300 LONDON , SATURDAY , APRIL 15 , 1871 .

The Mission Of Masonry Is Peace.

THE MISSION OF MASONRY IS PEACE .

In the midst of war and strife , Masons , as a body , are ever found busy at tlieir work of Mercy ; and during the deplorable war which , we bad recently congratulated our readers as being at an end , the Masons came nobly to the front in their

merciful work . Finding their mediations for peace , and their appeals to the better feelings of their fellow men of no avail , they assiduously employed themselves in the mission of mercy , and rendered opportune assistance to the Sick and Wounded .

In the present unhappy circumstances iu which the erewhile fair city of Paris is now placed—in the midst of internecine war—we still find the Freemasons true to their principles . From a daily contemporary we learn

that" The Freemasons of Paris have issued a manifesto , calling upon the French , people , in the name of humaniby , fraternity , and their desolate country , to stop the effusion of blood , and to establish the basis of a definite treaty of peace . "

This may be called the true mission of Masonry . To do good to mankind is the chief aim and end of its institution .

Notwithstanding the denunciations of the Anti-Masons , the anathemas of Popes , and the persecution of Masons in priest-ridden Countries , Masonry has overcome all opposition . It has asserted its princi ples . Silently but perseveringly it has

pursued its way ; and in the course of events , it has , in our day , come to pass that Masonry proudly rears its head , and establishes its Grand East in

The Mission Of Masonry Is Peace.

Rome , once the stronghold of the now crumbling Roman Catholic Church , where in times past it were death to meet for the performance of the innocent ceremonies of our order , founded npon the highest principles of morality and virtue- ^

whose precepts are Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , —whose brightest jewels are Charity and Mercy . To do good to others , ( especially to his brother Mason—but still to all men ) , should be the

profession of every true Mason , and his great aim to soothe the unhappy , to comfort the mourner , to relieve the distressed , to succor the unfortunate , to sympathise Avith the desponding spirit , and restore peace where strife abides . Truly the Mission of Masonry is Peace !

A Plea For Freemasonry.

A PLEA FOR FREEMASONRY .

BY ALBERT G . MACKEY . ( Continued from page 266 ) . A great many theories have been advanced by Masonic writers as to the real origin of the

Institution , as to the time when , and the place where it first tcok its birth . It has been traced to the Mysteries of the ancient pagan Avorld , to the Temple of King Solomon , to the Roman colleges of artificers , to the Crusades for the recovery of the

Holy Land , to the Guilds of the middle ages , to the Stonemasons of Strasburg and Cologne , and even to the revolutionary struggle in England in the time of the commonwealth , and to the secret efforts of the adherents of the House of Stuart to recover the throne . But whatever the theory may

be selected , and Avheresoever and whensoever it may be supposed to have received its birth , one thing is certain , namely , that for generations past , and yet within the records of history , it has , unlike other mundane things , presented to the Avorld an

unchanged organization . Take , for instance , the theory which traces it back to one of the most recent periods , that , namely , Avhich places the organization of the Order of Freemasons at the building of the Cathedral of Strasburg , in the year

1275 . During all the time that has since elapsed , full six hundred years , hoAV has Freemasonry pre sented itself ? Why , as a brotherhood organized and controlled by a secret discipline , engaged in important architectural labours and combining