The Prayers Of The Craft.

is in vogue now in Ireland , and is given verbatim in the last edition of the " Constitutions " * of that well-conducted Grand Lodge , under the heading of " A Prayer which is most general at the Initiation of a Candidate . " We may say that this

Grand Lodge permits , and , in fact , arranges for the prayers being presented " through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" or not , according to the desire of the Worshipful Master , two forms of prayer being given for each degree—the one

Christian , the other Jewish , In Scotland , even down to the present time , many still preserve the reference to " Our Saviour" in all their approaches , " To the Throne of Grace , " and would as soon renounce Masonry as change their system

of worship . Another prayer of about the same date as the foregoing , used " at the admission of a brother . " — " 0 most glorious and eternal God , who art the chief Architect of the created Universe , grant unto us , Thy servants , who have already entered ourselves into this most noble , ancient , and

honourable Fraternity , that we may be solid and thoughtful , and always have a remembrance of those sacred and holy things we have taken on us , and endeavour to instruct and inform each other in secrecy , that nothing may be unlawfully or illegally

obtained , and that these persons who are now to be made Masons may be worthy members , and may they , and all of us , live as men , considering the great end for which Thy goodness has created us ; and do Thou , 0 God , give us wisdom to contrive

in all our doings , strength to support in all difficulties , and beauty to adorn those heavenly mansions where Thy honour dwells . And grant , 0 Lord , that we may agree together in brotherly love and charity one towards another , and in all

our dealings in the world , do justice to all men , love mercy , and walk humbly with Thee , our God ; and at last may an abundant entrance be administered unto us into Thy kingdom , 0 great Jehovah . Now unto the King Eternal , immortal , invisible , the only wise God , be Kingdom , Power , and Glory , for ever and ever . —Amen .

It is only when we become familiar with the prayers of the Craft in the eighteenth century , and drink in the spirit of the Ritual then in operation that we can fully appreciate the follow-

The Prayers Of The Craft.

ing opinion of Freemasonry , expressed by a writer in the FEBEMASONS' MAGAZINE , October , 1793 , p . 384 : — "The truly enlightened , the highly exalted brethren , must perceive and will cheerfully allow that the further we proceed in the

Masonic course , the deeper must be our veneration for the Sacred Scriptures ; and in proportion as we study the mysteries which it contains shall we be convinced of the importance and beauty of the grand doctrines of the Christian system . With

these doctrines the most sublime of our symbols hold a perfect unison , and I may add that the latter elucidate the former with a strong and pleasing lustre . " That this was the real tendency

of the ceremonies of our society before the union cannot be doubted , although even when such was a palpable fact the Order was not without persecutors , who sought to dethrone it from its true pinnacle of greatness . Few societies have achieved

anything approaching the amount of good that Freemasonry has , and yet been as much persecuted by so-called Christians . We think that the opposition has generally an animus little known beyond a small circle . Two of the bitterest enemies of

Masonry , Stevens and Ladd , of New York , were blackballed upon their application to join a Masonic lodge . This may explain the opposition of more than those . ( To be Continued . )

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

LODGE MINUTES , ETC . XO . 4 . ( p . 330 ) . "The following is the Charter of Confirmation ( referred to at page 2 S 9 ) in favour of the Lodge of Glasgow St . Mungos from the Grand Lodge , St . Mary ' s Chappell at Edinburgh , vizt . . " " To all and sundry to whose knowledge these

presents shall come Greeting in God Everlasting . Whereas upon application to the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Massons ia Scotland . In name of David Marshall , Right Worshipful Master , John Gillies and Peter Wilson , Wardens , Alexander Clark , Treasurerand Alexander JohnstounSecretaryfor

, , , themselves , and in name of , and as representing the other Worshipfull Brethren , Belonging to the Lodge of Saint MuDgos , Glasgow , Setting forth , That the said Lodge having been duely constitute as a Pendicle of the ancient Mother Lodge of Kilwinning about the one thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine .

year Since which time they have been in use to adniitt and receive Apprentices , Pass Fellow Crafts , aud Raise Master Massons , and to keep regular records of their meetings , minutes , and proceedings , are now desirou 3 to come under the authority and protection of the Grand Lodge , Promiseing to comply with , and obey