Masonic Jottings From Abroad.

anniversary of the reception of one of its most distinguished brethren , Bro . Kapberr , the father of the lodge , an old town councillor , of eighty-nine years of age . After sixty years' membership he is still a constant attendant at his mother lodge . The Lodge Hermine , of Buckbourg , celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its MasterBro . Funkwith great rejoicing

, , , and , after a banquet , presented their W . M . with an elegant candelabra . DEATH OE BEO . PLAEEERT . —This young and di % : tioguished professor , of Osterode , died at the early age of twenty-two , and was buried amidst a large concourse of spectators and many of the brethren of

his lodge , as well-as the Catholic and Protestant priests . DEATH OE BEO . BIZET . —This brother , a writer on polemical subjects , was , by an error , in a procesverbal , mistaken in identity for another of the same nameand after the coup d' etat of Decemberwas

, , deported to Algeria , where he resided for several years , having regained his liberty some six months after his leaving France . He was a firm member of the Gallican Church , and refused to admit the doctrine of the ultramontane party and gave his experience in a work entitled The Confessions of a Catholic

, which is highly prized by the more moderate sections of that creed . His mortal remains were eonsigued to his mother earth , admidst an immense concourse of spectators , largely increased by numbers of the Craft .

The Pythagorean Triangle.*

THE PYTHAGOREAN TRIANGLE . *

- . "The three most perfect of all geometrical diagrams are the equilateral triagle , the square , and the equal hexagon . To this we may add an observation , for which we are indebted to our Grand Master Pythagoras , that there exist no other regular equilateral forms whose multi ples are competent to fill up and occupy the whole space about a given centre , which can only be effected by six equilateral triangles , four squares , and three equal hexagons . " —Dr . HEJIIII ^ .

The prevailing secrets of the lodges in the earliest times consisted of the profound dogmata of geometry and arithmetic , by the use of which all the complicated designs of the expert Master Masons were wrought out and perfected . These sciences are inseparable from the systemand have been faithfull

, y transmitted to our own times . " The secret meetings of Master Masons , " says Dallaway , " within any particular district , were confined to consultations with each other , which mainly tended to the communication of science , and of improvement in their art . An evident result was seen in the general uniformity of

their designs in architecture , with respect both to plan and ornament , yet not without deviations . We may conclude that the Craft , or mystery of architect and operative Masons , was involved in secrecy , by which a knowled ge of their practice was carefully excluded from the acquirement of all who were not

enrolled in their fraternity . Still it was absolutely necessary that when they engaged in contracts with bishops or patrons of ecclesiastical buildings , a specification should be made of the component ' parts , and of the terms by which either contracting party should he rendered conversant with them . A certain nomenclature was then divulged by the Master Masons for

such a purpose , and became in general acceptation in the middle ages . " The abstruse calculations which accompanied the sciences of geometry and arithmetic are no longer necessary to Freemasonry as an institution purely speculative ; and they were accordingly omitted in the

revised system , as it was recommended to the notice of the fraternity by the Grand Lodge at the revival in 1717 , and we retain only the beautiful theory of these sciences , with their application to the practice of morality founded on the power aud coodiiess of the G . A . O . T . U .

It would be an injustice to our brethren of the last century to believe that they did not entertain a profound veneration for the princijJes of the Masonic Order . But the customs and habits of the people of England living in that day differed material !} - from our own . They were times when conviviality and a love of social harmony prevailed over the more sedate

pursuits and invesigations of science , in which such an astonishing progress distinguishes the present times . In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries London was an atmosphere of clubs ; and a society of this kind existed in every street for the peculiar use of its inhabitants , besides those which were

exclusively frequented by persons possessing similar tastes or habits of amusement . Add it will be no disparagement to Masonry , if we believe that its private lodges did not sustain a much higher rank than some of these celebrated societies ; for the Kit Cat , the Beef Steak , and other clubs , were frequented by the nobility as well as the most eminent literary characters of that polished era .

It was the organisation of Freemasonry that gave it the distinctive character which elevated its pretensions above the common routine of club life ; and although it is admitted that the members of the latter entertained a strong attachment to their several institutions , yet none were so enthusiastic as those who had enlisted in the cause of Masonryas we may learn

, from the free testimonies that remain . A Mason of high standing , more than a century ago , thus expressed his feelings respecting the Order . " Masonry is the daughter of heaven ; and happy are they who embrace her . By it , youth is passed over without agitation , the middle age without anxiety , and old age without

remorse . Masonry teaches the way to content , a thing almost unknown to the greater part of mankind . In short , its ultimate result is to enjoy in security the things that are ; to reject all meddlers in state affairs or religion ; to embrace those of real moment and worthy tendency with fervency and zeal unfeignedas

, sure of being unchangeable as ending in happiness . They are rich without wealth , intrinsically possessing all desirable good ; and have the less to wish for by the enjoyment of what they have . Liberty , peace , and tranquillity are the only objects worthy of their diligence and truth . "

Modern revision has , however , extended the limits of scientific investigation beyond what was intended by those brethren who decree that " the privileges of Masonry should no longer be restricted to operative Masons , but extend to men of various professions , provided they were regularly approved and initiated into the Order . " And Dr . Hemming and his associates in the year 1914 , thought it expedient to introduce some peculiar disquisitions from the system of