Freemasonry Considered.

now have no account . But the universality of the legend of the murder of the prentice , a widow ' s son , by a heavy setting maul demands a little consideration . This consideration each brother must give himself , or the snbjedymay be

discussed in lodge . It would be out of place to do so here . I may state that my own opinion is that in former times there was a third degree , or ] at least a superior degree , which treated of death and the resurrection , given at great assemblies of

the chief Craftsmen , just as "capping" takes place in our universities ; but those received must be have been few in numbers , and gradually the assemblies falling off , the members would die ont , and the degree be lost . Hence the substitute

characters ofthe modern third degree . 11 We have no precise details of its rise , the minute books of the time are silent on the subject , but it is perfectly clear that , at the same time , this degree came into

operation all over the Masonic world . No one could be hardy enough to insist upon it being the old degree , which was lost , but to complete the Rite , the third , although a substitute is necessary , because it speaks of the death of that which was

not , and then was . Any degree beyond the third is absurd . The veil is drawn , the compasses with extended points are put in our hands , it is to nullify the whole system to presume that what is hid can be revealed in this life , and as an eloquent

and learned brother writes relative to the Eoyal Arch , " its object is to supplement the third degree of St . John ' s Masonry , but this is entirely unnecessary , as it is known to every intelligent Master Mason that this Order ( i . e . St . John ' s

Freemasonry ) is complete in itself , and that which was lost can only be found beyond the veil of time , towards which the eye of the aspirant is directed . " *

I must confess that I am surprised that a body of men , numbering amongst them the greatest talents of the time can longer bolster up such absurd degrees , falsifying as they do the whole principles of Freemasonry . Furthermore how can

an Installed Master _ reconcile his obligation as such , with his practice , supposing he belongs to these upper degrees . " Art . 8 . f You promise to respect true and faithful brethren , and to discountenance all impostors , and dissenters from the original plan of the Institution . "

" Art 10 . You admit that it is not in the powei of any man , or body of men , to make alter aiionor ¦ innovation in Masonry . " I fear some Masters have not studied these articles . Let these upper degrees then abandon

the name of Masonry , if they will not , I am afraid by the letter and spirit of these articles , St . John's Freemasons must abandon them . If obligations are only made to be broken , it would be as well not to make them at all .

The third degree then treats of Death . Let us for a brief space consider this dread subject . In the prime of summer , have you , my brethren , ever seen between two glorious days of sunshine , one of gloom ; or have you ever felt , while mirth

and laughter rolled their glad waves around you , a sudden chill strike your heart , killing the jest upon your tongue , the smile upon your lip ; a chill which you could not account for , a cloud upon

your mind , when never shone your horizon more brightly ? Nature , and the secret emotions of the soul , point the same stern , lesson—Death . Have you not wandered through a garden , plucking roses ; have you not in your gathering plucked

one withered and dead ; have you not thrown it away , and then stooped to pick it up , wondering why one should be dead while the others lived . ? Does not nature teach that , in the midst of life we are amid death ? Does not the universal creation

eternally point to the grave , not alone amid her cold gleaming palaces of ice , but also among her bowers of rare blossoms ? If , then , nature tells this in all her varied phases , can we wonder that the soul , that spark of the Divine Creator , that

most sensitive , that most inscrutable gift of the great I Am , should likewise point out this truth , that in our glee we may not forget the stern fact that we must die .

Death , then , is the proper subject of contemplation for man ; the conqueror of kings , the liberator of captives , the soother of the weary , the comforter of the heartbroken , and the reliever of the earthtired . Many creeds have claimed to be catholic :

none of them can boast more truly of its catholicity than can the grave . Pope and priest , monarch and subject , freeman ancl bondman , all must die ; all must take that long and unknown road , alike unguided , but yet , if sought for and obtained ,

comforted and li ghted by the Divine spark kindled at the fountainheacl of light . And in this teaching Freemasonry excels earth ' s ordinary teachers . There is no distinction made of persons ; she dins