The Common Secret, And Its Influence.

crusade against the elements , far up in the regions of eternal ice , in a vain attempt to rescue his brother Sir John Franklin—a forlorn hope , whose sad record shines on the page of history with a brilliancy which pales the very aurora whose dancing rays beckoned him to this crowning chivalry of a century .

It is this spirit which makes it possible to overcome the antipathies engendered by national , partisan and sectarian jealousies , and brings men of every country , sect , and opinion into one common fold . Without it , not even Masonay , which alone , of all human institutions , has been able to compass so

grand a result , could bring men of the most diverse religious and political opinions into harmonious fellowship on the simple basis of a common manhood . Whatever lies wholly , or even largely , within the domain of the feelings , is difficult to analyze and understand , and so it happens that we are only able to

apprehend , dimly perhaps , the potency of this element of mysticism in developing the instinctive sympathy of brotherhood , that love which is the keystone of the Masonic arch ; but if we grasp the idea with sufficient clearness to comprehend , even partially , its vivfiying power , we can see how it would vitalize

an institution growing out of the ideas I have enumerated , deepen in the hearts of its votaries that reverence for God , order and law , which its traditions inculcate ; quicken and make real impelling forces , springing up into active life what would otherwise exist only as a passive sentiment in the heart—the doctrine

of the equality of all God's children ; that all-embracing charity while is its logical sequence , and that recognition ofthe sacredness of truth without which there can be no confidence among men . These great principles are the warrant which Masonry offers for its existence , while its mysticism is the flux by whose

aid its diverse elements are fused into one harmonious whole . We can now see more plainly what it is that knits its members together as with hooks of steel , and holds them in willing allegiance to their common mother . We can see what sustained them through the dark

days of the anti-Masonic crusade—that anomalous outburst of unreasoning bigotry which disgraced this free country during the present century—a persecution which lacked not the spirit , hut only power , that lighted the fires of Orleans , Smithfield and Madrid . — Masonic Monthly .

Masonic Jottings, No. 86,

MASONIC JOTTINGS , No . 86 ,

BY A PAST PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER . THE LOLLARDS . A learned Brother thinks that in the fifteenth century the Lollards were the occasion of some alterations in our Fundamental Laws respecting God and Religion .

NARRATIVE OF IHE REVIVAL PROCEEDINGS . A Brother well known in literary circles for his critical skill in the department of history , writes that he has carefully read Preston ' s Narrative of the Revival Proceedings , and finds it sufficiently

intelli g ible and consistent . My brother does not see that any evidence is wanting , beyond what the matters related afford intrinsically . The statement in the communication " Pseudo-Revival of A . D . 1717 , " * brother ascribes to the operation of the mind called "hallucination . "

THE OLD LECTURES AND CHARGES . In a communication purporting to be taken from a manuscript in Bro . Purton Cooper ' s Collections , endorsed " Freemasons' Table Talk , " volume 18 , page 164 of our periodical , it is said Christianity

dictated tbe old Lectures ; but Natural Reli g ion dictated the old Charges . The Past Provincial Grand Master for Kent thinks that Natural Religion , except in so far as it is the nucleus of Christianity , could not have

dictated the Charges of 1723 . OUR MYTHS AWD LEGENDS . A wise and instructed Mason inquires not respecting a belief in our myths and Legends ; but he inquires respecting a development of the seed

for improvement , which , whether they are real , or unreal ; true or untrue , he knows them to contain iu marvellous abundance . FINAL CAUSES . A correspondent will find the Past Provincial

Grand Master for Kent ' s communication , entitled " Final Causes , " " Freemasons' Magazine , " vol . 14 , page 409 .

HUTCHINSON'S SPIRIT OF MASONRY . Bro . Findel , somewhere in his history , speaks of this book as having disseminated amongst the English Masons those mystical tendencies introduced by means of the Royal Arch Degree .

THE DISSENTIENTS OR SO-CALLED ANTIENT MASONS . In 1756 they had their own Book of Laws , " Abiman Rezou . " In 1762 they had their own Ritual . FREEMASONRY IN THE MOON . —GRUITHUISEN .

See the communication " Freemasons' Magazine , " vol . 18 , page 49 . The account of Gruithuisen ' s fanciful inferences from his lunar observations was taken b y the Past Provincial Grand Master for Kent from the stray number of a