Ears Of Wheat From A Cornucopia.

the one given above , as bearing upon certain points of Masonic historical data , is of more than ordinary importance , and suggests the exercise of caution in founding conclusions upon documents purporting to give the substance of ancient manuscripts .

It is the opinion of some well-informed Masons that the minute relative to the erection of the Canongate Kilwinning makes the members of that lodge members of Mother Kilwinning , et vice versa ,. This does not seem , however , to have been the

case ; for in the list of affiliated brethren extending from 1750 onwards , members of the Canongate Kilwinning are represented as paying matriculation fees similar to Avhat were exacted by Mother Kilwinning from brethren hailing from other lodges .

Mystics And Mysticism.

MYSTICS AND MYSTICISM .

No . 1 . Ancient and Modern Mysticism are opposed . In the former it was a fact , in the latter it is a fancy . In the former it was truth , in the latter it is a lie . In the former , great thoughts , and greater

discoveries Avere kept concealed from the vulgar herd , in the latter , vague , meaningless , if not actual absurd fancies , are hid in vaguer , meaningless and absurd language . The great beauty of the former lay in the mysticism being read like a printed book

by the proficient , Avhile it remained a dead letter to the profane . The latter has no beauty , and is a puzzle to mankind in general , and the writers themselves in particular . While the former benefitted mankind , and advanced religion , science

and art , the latter , Avhich pretends principally to deal with religion , sets up a school of fanatics and fools , Avhich travesties the Bible , burlesques history , and jumbling the judgment , ends by confounding

sense . While Freemasonry in its simpler form professes to be the offspring of the Ancient Philosophies of the higher school , there has nevertheless arisen a school of Philosophers , Avho being Masons , to whom the doctrines of tho Order are a sealed

book , yet desirous of signalizing themselves iu the body , start side degrees , aud attempt to overlap the Avholesome condition of the Order with stupid fungus . Such are the followers of Andrea , of Boehman and of Fludd , Avho , mystifying their

brains with the shadows of facts , rusliAvildly about proclaiming new doctrines , startling the world with their mad rhapsodies and impudence .

NOAV Freemasons do not require any of such spurious nonsense , for . such nonsense cannot even rise to the rank of original or good . It puts one in mind of a gander walking in jack boots , iu

humbly mitation of the celebrated Puss in Boots ,, and brethren Avho fancy they can palm as genuine their absurd degrees upon the thinking members , must be , anything but wise men , and as such treated with that contemptuous indifference which

they deserve . At the same time these degrees should be carefully watched OA er by Supreme Bodies , especially such as encroach upon the Council of the-Thirty-Third . Of course to show any persecuting

spirit would prove the very opposite to a wise plan , but Avhat cannot be seriously reasoned out of a believer in absurdities , should be laughed out ,, and ridicule owns sometimes more power over the mind , than calm reason . A fool may be struck at through his vanity , although he has no mind to be stormed . Punch has demolished more fancies

than all the newspapers alive , and a little judicious ridicule Avould do no harm to our Masonic Mystics . Had Bederride not been refused certain honours in the Supreme Council , AYO Avould never

havehad the monstrosity of the Rite of Misraim , a rite Avhich may be styled one mass of nonsense , clothed in wild perversions of historical fact , gemmed by the creation of personages who did not live a hundred , not to say a . thousand years ago , and faithfully

crowned by language as bombastic as ungrammatical . The founders of such degrees think a destruction of grammar to be the correct thing , and strings of adjectives , pearls beyond price . Now , cannot the Ancient and Accepted Rite satisfy

any reasonable man , more especially since Ave hav & the Templars and Hospitallers . For Avhat purpose are we piling Ossa upon Olympus , Avith immense ao-ony ? Surely if a brother works his way decently up the acknowledged degrees , AA hat more can he want ? unless ho wishes to be a Modern Freemason

Mystic . And after all what sense or object can there be in this Mysticism ? Ask us the question and like a difficult conundrum , we give it up , to receive a speedy answer , if one can be got .

THE FEMALE AIASCNIC ORPHAN S CHOOL POB GIRLS shows by its report for the past year that tin ' s valuable and noble institution is in a more n /> urish : u < r condition than any preceding year .