Masonic Libraries.

MASONIC LIBRARIES .

I . ONBOM , SATURDAY , MAIii'l ! IT , 1 SV 0 .

( VROll A COLOKIATI OORRESl'OXDEST . ) ; i Ix lazy apathy let stoics boast Their virtue fixed ; tis fixed as in a frost ; Contracted all . retiring to the breast ; But strength of mind is exercise , not rest . "—Fori-:. THE inviolable secrecy so essential to tlie partial diffusion of the genuine tenets of . Freemasonry amongst good men and

true , precludes other than an oral revelation ot" those rites and profundities considered of primary importance ; bufc , on the other hand , the legends , traditions , and statistics appertaining to our ancient Order i * cquire diligent ancl accurate compilation as well as serious and attentive perusal . Are these requirements provided forand is the press

, prolific in works of a Masonic character ? Both queries will meet with a negative response , though it may be urged in contravention of the applicability of such a reply to the latter , that many books are obtainable replete with . Masonic lore but , in common fairness , can merit be ascribed to the vague surmises and wild chimeras at present constituting

the literature which is ordinarily placed at our disposal by the few writers on Masonic subjects 1- Quality , not quantity , is the demand , which is replied to in a spirit of contradiction by our literary brethren , who , as a general rule , take greater pride in the production of ponderous volumes than in tho applause of a discriminating circle of readers .

Tho supineness of the legislature , unincited to vigorous measures by the total absence of a pressure from without , is occasioned by the dormitive condition of the jmblie mind ; ancl until some potent spell shall rouse fche slumbering energies ofthe mass , aught but lethargy or inertness will be hopelessly anticipated . Ifc is not to be inferred from , the

preceding remarks that Masonry is wholly without its instructive literature , there being some works purchasable , exclusive of periodicals , from ytdiosc perusal may be derived considerable benefit .

Regarding periodicals , a few words of commendation will not be ill bestowed . As a medium for tlie interchange of ideas and exposition of perilous fancies , the hebdomadal . appearance of the Freemasons' Magazine is eagerly looked for , as well by exponents as by disciples , by colonial as well as metropolitan and provincial brethren . It is esteemed by such as are

enabled to scan its pages with regularity , as a faithful chronicler of passing CA-ents , and an enduring rather than an ephemeral record ofthe sayings and doings of both predecessors and contemporaries ; indeed without an occasional perusal of a recognized and accredited organ ofthe Craft , uninfluenced by party or other unworthy motives , a brother is completely out of tho Masonic world .

Ofthe component parts ofthe one thousand one hundred Lodges which owe allegiance to England , how many enjoy a regular perusal of the lifut / asiiie , ancl have ready access to a selection ( however small ) of Masonic works 1 Pope , who ivas evidently imbued with Masonic ideas , us his writings will abundantly testify , in one ofthe most

beautiful didactic poems in our language , the Essety on Alan , from whoso elegancies has been selected for this article what , is deemed an appropriate inscri p tion , says : — " Yet poor with fortune , and with learning blind , The had must miss ; the good , untaught , will find ; Slave to no sect , who takes no private road ,

But looks through nature up to nature ' s God . " A nd in the Esscty on Criticism , the following lines occur : — "A little learning is a dangerous tiling ; Drink dee ]) , or taste not the Pierian spring : Mere shallow draughts intoxicate the brain , Ancl drinking largely sobers us again"

—Avhieh latter opinion , in these enlighfcened days , will be pronounced a most delusive notion , and calculated to mislead , for of all of us is required a certain good in our generation , and an active rather than a passive existence . How has the

information , possessed by the most learned members of om-Order been attained ? In nearly every case hy fragmentary portions , piecemeal as it were , ancl by dint of indefatigable research . Now had these brethren been deterred from takingslig ht sips at the fountain of knowledge from a dread of the perils presaged to ensue ] upon a merely moderate draught ,

would the opportunity ever have been afforded them of quenching their thirst for instruction by the unrestrained enjoyment of a brimming measure ? Our chief want is a concentration of Masonic talent in the immediate vicinity of every Masonic body , and thus available to all working members of tho Order .

A neophyte frequently retires from a Lodge before his Masonic education is completed , and joins another , where the requirements are less severe ; if all wero conducted iu a satisfactory manlier , he would gain nothing by his secession , bufc as afc present constituted , indolent and apathetic brethren experience little or no difficulty in suiting themselves with ,

convenient Lodges . It is hypothetically offered that a library should be established in the metropolis , iii which should be contained , as far as practicable , every Masonic publication extant ; the reference which so complete a repository of information would afford musfc not be lightly estimated ; members of regular Lodges

, Chapters , Encampments , < fcc , in the capital , in fact Masons of every denomination who belong to bodies working under charters from , recognized authorities , to enjoy the option of becoming subscribers , and country or colonial brethren sojourning briefly in London , to bo allowed , on satisfactory reference , to pay in a like ratio during the period of their

continuance , m the metropolis . That every Masonic hall should possess a Masonic library , in fine , these two essentials to become synonymous terms ; the publications that should compose the instructive literature at these places to vary of course with the exigencies of the ease ; where many Masonic bodies are in the habit of assembling , there would be no difficult y in arranging the

necessary preliminaries . That Lodges remotely situated , isolated , and without the advantages of a Masonic hall in close proximity , should , establish small and select libraries , the expenses to be defrayed by fees of honour , or voluntary subscriptions , according to the idiosyncrasies of particular Lodges . That

advantages are likely to accrue from . increased facilities for mental culture will hardly be denied ; and - whilst tho enthusiast v-ei-fects himself in a knowledge of those general doctrines and inculcations second only in their moral tendency to Christianity itself , the Graft will be directly , and the outer world . indirectly , benefited by the happy and lasting effect ivhich such a course of stud } ' is calculated to produce . "When a Mason is entitled to fche display of silver tassels and

triangular rosettes ; in other words , when his third degree has been attained , he ; may be likened to a carefully weeded field that is in immediate readiness for the reception of good seed ; his education hitherto , comprising the mystical and occult , but omitting what has been termed our lay knowledge—that is to say , the usages and customs , anecdotes and statistics of

the Order from the earliest ages , through the dark periods of mediaeval barbarism which , by their corroborative testimony , stamp the legends and traditions of oral delivery with authenticity . Scepticism , invades the minds ofthe worthiest purjils , who are puzzled to conceive how through such a lapse of years the mysteries of Ereemasonry can have been handed ,

down in their original purity , and doubts as to the genuineness of certain startling assertions must of necessity arise ; a well directed , course of study is calculated to remove this liu'king unbelief . Carefully collated passage's from Hol y Writ , and extracts from the writings of inspired and learned , notabilities bearing directly upon the information that is so

hard of comprehension , and from which is deduced the divine origin and consequent successful progress of Masonry , effectually supply the links in the chain of evidence that are