Masonic Discipline.—Iii.

senses or limbs is an incontestable proof that at ¦ one time we were trul y working or operative Masons . At the pi * esent day no Master Avould take an apprentice AVIIO was physically incapacitated from following the trade to Avhich he

belonged . In addition to the bare fact of an apprentice having the full use and benefit of his senses and limbs there Avas doubtless Avith that

sensitiveness to human symmetry and beauty of form inherent in the Oriental descendants of Israel and Judah , a higher standard of corporeal excellence insisted upon than ab present . We do mot hold with those Avho consider it imperative

Tipon Masons to adhere to the " ancient charges " in this respect . We are no longer manually » speaking , operative or working Masons , and consequently the discipline prevailing under a different regime or condition of affairs is no longer

applicable . It must not be understood for a moment that the discipline is to be relaxed , that the entree to Freemasonry is to be rendered mor e "facile and open to the undeserving , bufc simply thafc it has been modified to suit the exig-encies

-of modern times , and adapted to the altered cir-• cumstances Avhich the lapse of centuries has produced in the Craft . A physical defect is virtually of little or no importance in a candidate for " the mysteries and privileges of ancient Freemasonry . " It is the mind , disposition , reputation , aud cha-Trcter of the intending initiate that are the points

in question . Provided a candidate be of mature age , free , and of good report , his ineligibility to be made a Mason must be deduced from negative inference , as there is nothing of a positively prohibitory nature iu the " Constitutions " against

it . The real test of a man ' s physical eligibility for Freemasonry would be the answer to the interrogatory , could he act as a Master in a physica 1 sense ? It is clear that a man totally deaf , dumb , or blind , could not discharge the duties of that

office , and Avould therefore according to the above test be ineligible for admission into the Order . From the fact that a man Avho could not write would consequently be unable to sign his name to the declaration he is called upon to make ,

previously to his preparation for the initiatory ceremony , it is inferred that he Avould be inadmissible . In all probability he would be considered so , but it is questionable whether , judging from analogy , he ought to be . Legally , the " mark" of a man who cannot Avrite , which is duly attested , is as valid as if he wrote the finest

Masonic Discipline.—Iii.

hand in the world ¦ and as Masonry existed ages before the introduction of caligraphy , it could not have been indispensable in the earlier times . We thus perceive how Ave bend to the spirit of the age . We dispense Avith some requirements

rigorously insisted upon in the days of operative Masonry , and in our turn exact stringent compliance Avith others literally unknown at that period .

The Six Days' Work Of Creation In Honour Of Masonry.

THE SIX DAYS' WORK OF CREATION IN HONOUR OF MASONRY .

( Continued from page 447 . ) THE LIGHT IN THE BUSH—MOSES BRINGING THE CHILDREN - or ISRAEL EEOJI EGYPT—AND THE BUILDING OF SOLOMON ' S TEMPLE . From Heaven above the God of Israel came ,

With light array'd , a bright and shining flame ; Moses beheld the First Great Light appear , And , Avonderstruck , to view the light drew near . Then unto Moses spake the Great Supreme , TAvice call'd the mason-prophet by his namej He came from darkness to behold the light

, And hid his face , so glorious was the sight . " Cast off thy shoes , for all the place around Where thou dost stand is pure and holy ground : I AM , my name ; I come with power to thee To go and make my people Israel free ; My signs and wonders Pharoah's court shall know ,

And dread my power , and let my chosen go . " Moses received the word of power from God , And wrought great Avonders Avith his mystic rod , * The pride of Egypt fell beneath his band , And utter darkness cover'd Pharoah's land . Three days they saw light out of darkness shine ;

They trusted in the sovereign PoAver divine And still that light went with them in their way , They saw by night as well ' s the clearest day . Nor did that light e ' er leave them in the dark ; It shone with splendour in the new-form'd ark . The grandeur of this ark , Avhen fonn'd of old , Large cherubims were made of beaten gold : Each part was just and Avhat I siug is true , Great honour Avas conferr'd upon the Blue .

And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold , and grave upon it , like the engravings of a signet , HOLINESS TO THE LORD . And thou shalt put it on a blue lace , that it may be upon the mitre- upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be . —JExod . xxvi ., 36 , 37 . Light after light the chosen tribes led on

, Till Moses and his Wardens all were gone ; The ark remain'd Avithin the promis'd land , Till David rose , ancl bore the chief command . The Bard of Israel left the ewes with young ; Of him the prophets , wrapt in vision , sung . Nor shall muse forget thafc worthy man

my , Who first from Heaven receiv'd the noble plan To build a Temple to the Great First Cause , And keep his statutes and his perfect laws . Of this we read , and this the muses sing , Great Solomon was chosen Mason-King ;