The Sword Of The Knight Templar.

other "brother . " How still more sublimely when that gulf was closed by the inleaping of nearly a quarter of a million of Curfcii from either side , did they embrace and commune in love . Masonry was the first organisation to say to the downfallen , " Arise and let us be one again in the bonds of cordial

affinity . " Masonry exemplified in the higher degree , that quality which is not strained , which droppeth like the gentle rain from heaven . Masonry twined around the dripping sword , which others fain would still have used , the olive branch of a genuine peace , and lowered its point in mercy . Masonry like the Good Samaritan went to the sufferer—whom both

the priest and the Levite saw , but passed by on the other side , without a word , or so much as a glance of sympathy—and hound up his wounds , pouring in oil and wine , and set him on his own beast , and brought him to an inn and took care of him . And whatever

of concord there is where erewhile was ouly antagonism , whatever of quietude where was only turbulence , whatever of hope where was only gloom , whatever of amnesty , forgetfulness of injuries , and benevolent aid to the enfeebled and impoverished ,

where was only the clangor of battle , the overboilings of vengeance and tbe stern resolve never to succumb is indebted for its existence , if not mainly , at least largely , to the secret but none the less mighty influence of Masonry .

May she not pause in her benificent exertions until those one in name shall be one in heart , until that temple , of which Solomon ' s was but a dim type , shall be completed , and the tribes of the earth , then become the tribes of the Lord , shall go up to worship

therein , and uniting as children of al common stock , bow themselves in joyful awe before him who consumes the offerings of gratitude with fire sent from heaven , and fills the house with his visible glory . That temple is a renovated earth . That fire is the descent of our ascended Head , in whose sepulchre we

have sat , ancl whose rising thence we have witnessed . That glory is his universal and eternal reign of righteousness . Verily , then , there will rise from hill ancl dale , | and sea and shore , and saint ancl seraph , a hosannah , that I pray we too , Sir Knightsmay

, swell ,- a hosannah that shall make immensity resonant with its glad pealings , and startle the farthest star that rolls quiet on the verge of space into rapt and wondering attention , "The Lord is good , for his mercy endureth for ever . "

Masonic Notes And Queries,

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES ,

OUR MDGES —A QUESTION . Brother . . . The United Grand Lodge of the Ereemasons of England has deservedly the honour of being considered a most useful ancl munificent public

charity . Now , in this honour all our lodges participate ; is it not therefore fitting that it should be known how far each lodge by its charitable acts entitles itself so to participate ?—[ See my communication entitled " A Suggestion , " Freemasons' Magazine , vol . XVI ., page 426 . —C . P . COOPEE .

TUB HIGH GRADES . Dear Friend . . In my communication to the Freemasons' Magazine , vol . XV ., page 8 G 9 , it is stated that it was a mistake to suppose that , while Provincial Grand Master ancl Provincial Grand Superintendent for Kent , I expressed auy opinion respecting the high

grades in Freemasonry ; ancl yet , because in compliance with a brother ' s request , some disparaging words , taken from Caillot " Annales Maconnicpies , " are subjoined to the communication , you infer me to be adverse to the high grades . You are wrong , dear friend . It would be foolish aud unjustwere I adverse

, to that respecting which I possess scraps only of information picked up I cannot tell where . With regard to the principal part of your letter—perhaps not reason—for there is no room for the exercise of reason where there is no knowledge of the subject , but a sort of instinct acquired by an experience of

the world , much exceeding the " three score aud ten , " tells me that your proposal ia most inefficient and injudicious , pez-haps something worse . —O . P . COOPEE .

THE DIGIT , GRADES . Dear Friend ... I have often beard it fai -I in France , and I have occasionally heard it said in England , that there are very many most excellent brothers attracted into Masonry by the high grades , who , without them , would never have become members of our Institution . —0 . P . COOPER .

UNIVERSALITY . The term universality being taken according to its [ correct ] signification . "—The omission of the word " correct" iu my communication , " Christian , Jewish , Parsee , and Mahommedan Freemasonry , " Freemasons ' Magazinevol . XVI . page 42 Ghas brought me a

, , , letter on the subject of the universality of Freemasonry . My correspondent should read my communication "Why Freemasonry is called Universal . " —Freemasons' Magazine , vol . XVI ., page -Jt-17 , and reconsider what he has written . —C . P . COOPER .

3 IAS 0 XTC REPORTING . It may he useful to remind a worthy brother whoso letter , thus entitled , appeared not long ago in the Freemasons' Magazine , that there is an unrevoked resolution on the journals oftlie House of Commons , to the effect that it is a notorious breach of its

privileges to publish the debates ; and that it is iu the power of any member who may call the Speaker's attention to the fact that " strangers are present , " to exclude the public ancl reporters from the House . An encyclopedia into which I have just looked , states that " this power has been frequently exercised during

living memory but on such occasions some ono or more members who have dissented from this course , have taken notes of the speeches and have avowedly sent them to the newspapers . " These facts show that if Afasonic reporting is at variance with out constitutions , parliamentary reporting is not less at variance with a resolution of the House of Commons . —0 . P . COOPER .