Freemasonry In Portugal.

in wiiting the result of their investigations j should two of these reports be favourable to the candidate the ballot is proceeded with in the same manner as in the English rite ; but if two of the reports are unfavourable , the candidate is rejected ,

without recourse to the ballot , and his name and description are immediately sent to the Grand Orient , for circulation , to prevent his gaining admission into any other lodge under its banners . Propositions of joining members pass through the same course as those of candidates for

initiation . In all cases the names of the proposer of a candidate , and of the brethren who enquired into his character , remain a secret between the Venerable and Orator , until after his reception .

On the day appointed for the initiation of a candidate he is brought to the vicinity of the lodge , by his sponsor , who then bandages his eyes aud leads him to the door of the lodge , where he is taken charge of by the Frere Terrible and led to the chamber of reflection , where the bandage is removed .

If a candidate refuses to submit to the proscribed formalities , the Venerable directs three brethren to expel him from the lodge ; they remove their Masonic decorations , and mask and arm themselves , and after compelling the candidate to

swear never to reveal anything he may have heard or seen , they re-bandage his eyes , and lead him to the door of the house where they set him free , with the warning , " Tremble si tu es parjure ! " The time required to qualify brethren for

advancement , is six months between the first , second , and third degrees , and one year between the third , and each of the sublime degrees ; but exceptions are made in favour of brethren who , distinguish

themselves by zeal and ability , and also in cases of emergency where the candidate may be about to quit the country . The following is a scale of the fees of each degree :

Apprentice 10 , 000 reis . Fellow Craft 1 , 500 „ Master 3 , 200 „ Elect 4 , 000 „ Scotch Master 5000

, Knight of the East ... 0 , 000 „ Rose Croix 7 , 000 „ ( XOTE . —1 , 000 reis equals 4 s . 6 d . English money ) . The monthly dues to the lod ges are 300 reis , which are found ample for all requirements , no

Freemasonry In Portugal.

money being ever squandered in the feasting & c , which disgraces many of our English lodges . We must now conclude , reserving for a future paper , the description of the working of the lodges .

The Prayers Of The Craft.

THE PRAYERS OF THE CRAFT .

By Bro . WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN , P . M . 131 , & c . The oldest prayer said " to be used of Christian Masons at the empointing of a Brother ; used iu the reign of Edward IV . " ( Scott ' s Companion 1754 , p . 309 , and in many other works ) is the

following : — "The mighty God and Father of Heaven , with the wisdom of His glorious Son , through the goodness of the Holy Ghost , that hath been three Persons in one Godhead , be with us at our beginning , give us grace to govern in our living here , that we rnay come to His bliss that shall never have an end . " These words

generally commence the " Amcient Constitutions , aud are the simplest form of prayer we know of iu Masonry . The following from the same work is equally Christian in character , and certainly well adapted to inspire the candidate for the

mysteries of Freemasonry with pure and unsullied thoughts on entering the vestibule of our ancient Order : — " Most Holy and glorious Lord God , thou Architect of Heaven and earth , who art the Giver of all gifts and graces , and hath promised

that where two or three are gathered together iu Thy name , Thou wilt be in the midst of them . In Thy name we assemble and meet together ,, most humbly beseeching Thee to bless us in all our undertakings , to give us Thy holy Sphit to enlighten our minds with wisdom aud

understanding , that we may know and serve Thee aright , that all our doings may tend to Thy glory , and the salvation of our souls . And we beseech Thee , O Lord God , to bless this our present undertaking , aud to grant that this our brother

may be a true and faithful brother among us ; endue him with divine wisdom , that he may , with the secrets of Masonry , be able to unfold the mysteries of godliness aud Christianity . This we humbly beg in the name and for the sake of Jesus

Christ our Lord and Saviour . —A . men . " This prayer appears to be the original from which the present one in use among English brethren was derived . Some parts are identical , and the general character is the same , excepting . the Christian element . The prayer as just quoted