The Greatest Of These Is Charity."

THE GREATEST OF THESE IS CHARITY . "

Such was the declaration of one whose eloquent sayings , Avhose profonnd knowledge of human nature , and Avhose acquaintance with Hebrew lore and Jewish law were never excelled . Who ever could delineate like faith like Paul ? who better

elucidate the hidden springs of hope than he ? And yet , Charity , which as then Avirtten , means love , outranked both Faith and Hope , for faith , based upon hope , is " the evidence of things not

seen , " the main-spring to action , and the direct incentive to that love which embraces every object Avhich God had created under the dominion of

man , and liable to need pity , commiseration on relief . The same model writer also tells us that " Avithout faith it is impossible to please God , " and that " faith works by love . " Hence no faith is acceptable but that which does work by love or

charity . Laws are necessary ; there must be denned rules of action , and human dependence compels reciprocal benefits and protection . It is indeed lamentable that these laws are broken , and that

men forget the obligations they owe to each other . Nor can those appointed to enforce the laws , be excused for non-fulfillment of their sworn duties . They may be gentle , numane and well-bred , but their duty must be done .

But all wrongs do not come under the eye of human enactments , nor do all sins require the notice of human law . But all wrongs and all sins are a violation of law , and offences , immediate or remote , against

society . The inducements—the provocations , the temptations and weakness which lead to crimes , sins and Avrongs , are among the things unknown , or if known , not fully understood .

It is the mission of Masonry to disregard intolerance and attacks upon itself , and to foster the very highest idea of pity for the unfortunate , relief for the distressed , comfort for the mourner , protection for the Aveak , education and culture for

the orphan , and an open hand to to him who , having sinned , is ready to repent and do better . — asunic Trowel .

The Star-Spangled Banner,

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER ,

THE NATIONAL ANIHEJI OF AMEKICA . Oh say cau you see by the daAvn ' s early light , What so proudly Ave hailed at the twilight's last gleaming , AVhose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O ' er the ramparts Ave Avatcbed Avere so gallantly streaming ; The rockets' red glare , the bombs bursting in air . Gave proof through the night that our flag Avas still there . 'Tis the star-spangled banner , & c .

On the shore , dimly seen thro * the mist of the deep , Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes , What is that Avhich the breeze o'er the towering steep , As it fitfully bknvs , half conceals , half exposes ? Now it catches a gleam of the morning ' s first beam , In full glory reflected , it shines in the stream . "Pis the star-spangled banner , & c .

Oh ! thus be it ever Avhen freemen shall stand Between their loved homes aucl dread Avar ' s desolation , Blest ivith vict'ry ancl peace , may the heav'n rescued laud Praise the PoAver that has made ancl preserved us a nation ; Then conquer ive must , for our cause it is just , And this be our motto , " In Gocl is our trust , " And the star-spangled banner , & c .

Additional verse by Bro . Walter Montgomery ;] dedicated to the American Guests of Earl ShreAvsbury . See our Eagle so free , and olcl England ' s brave Lion , Henceforth ancl for ever in amity blending . Since the treaty is sealed 'tAvixt the sire and tbe scion , With the blessing of heaven aye surely attending ; Then let Britain's sAveet shamrock , leek , thistle and rose , Those time-honoured emblems for ever repose With the star-spangled banner , oh ! long may it Avave O ' er the home of the free , and the land of the brave .

July Mil , 1871 . [ The " Star Spangled Banner " Avas uung by Sir Knight Slack , of the Allegheny Commandery , on the occasion of the banquets to the American Masons HOAV visiting Europe . The additional verse AA'as Avritten by Bro . Walter Montgomery , the celebrated actor , Avho Avas a felloAv passenger Avith the American Masons on the voyage across the Atlantic ]

" Many of the antediluvian arts Avere lost at the deluge ; and amongst the rest the use of fire , Avhich ivas not regained for a long period aftewarps . Goquet makes this observation , and affirms ' that it is a truth attested by the most ancient and most unanimous tradition . ' The Egyptiaas , Persians , Phconicians , Greeks , and seA'eral other nations , acknowledged that their ancestors Avere once Avithout the uso of fire . The Chinese confess the some of their progenitors . HoAvever increditable these

facts mny appear , yet they are confirmed by ivhat several Avriters , both aneient and modern , have declared of nations AA * 1 IO Avere their contemporaries , and in this state of ignorance and barbarity Avhen they kneAV them . Pomponious , Mela , Pliny , Plutarch , and other ancient authors , speak of nations , AA'ho , at the time they Avrote , knew not the use of fire , or hacl but just learned it . Facts ot the same Rind are attested by several modern relators . The inhabitants of the Marian islandsAvhich

, Avnre discovered in 1521 , had no idea of fire . Never Avas astonishment greater than theirs , Avhen they sinv it on the descent of Magellan on one of their islands . At first they believed it to be a kind of animal that fixed itself to , and fed upon lA'Ood . Some of them , Avho approached too near , being burnt , the rest Avere terrified , and durst only look upon it at a distance . They ivere afraid , they saicl , of being bit , or lest that dread animal should Avound them ivith his violent respiration ; for these Avere

the first notions they formed of heat and flame . Such , too , prdbobly wore the notions oaiginally of the Greeks . And there is no doubt , for this reason , that there Avere some nations anciently AVIIO eat the flesh of animals quite raw . These facts may enable us to form a judgment of tbe savage and barbarious state of mankind after tbe confusion of tongues , and dispersion of families . "—Dr . Oliver .