Music And The Masonic Ritual.—No. I.

The influence of music is very great on the character of all , and it is salutary in its effects upon society . Like every other good it has its attendant evil in its abuse ; for intemperance may be rendered more riotous and more vicious b y the excitement of loose and profane songs . But the best gifts of art may easily be turned to instruments of evil ; and music , innocent in itself , is not corrupted , but only abused

when it is joined to immoral words ancl actions , Dr . Burney says , "Music may be applied to licentious poetry , but the poetry then corrupts the music , not the music the poetry . It has often regulated the movements of lascivious dances , but such airs heard for the first time without the song or dance would convey no impure ideas to an innocent imagination ; so that Montesquieu ' s assertion is still in force , that ' Music is the only one of all the arts which does not corrupt the mind * . '"

The influence of music is again being felt among us , and during the last few years vast strides have been made in its popularity , although it must be admitted that it is now far from as general as it was in the time of our Tudor monarchs , when to acknowledge an ignorance of the art , was accounted a breach of good manners . Fearing that we may have overstepped the boundary of our reader ' s patience in thus

commenting on the introductory portion of onr subject , we shall conclude this part of our theme by giving the quaint extract following from a work entitled , " Psalmes , Sonets , and Songs of Sadnes and Pietie , " by William Byrd , one of the Gent , of the Queene ' s Maiesties Eoyall Chappell , 4 to . London , 1588 . On the reverse of the title page , Byrdthe composer of the celebrated grace and canon

, , " Non Nobis Domine , " writes thus— " Reasons briefely set downe by th' author , to perswade every one to Iearne to sing . " 1 st . It is a knoAvledge easily taught , and quickly learned , where there is a good master and apt scoller . " 2 nd . The exercise of singing is delightful to nature , and good to preserve the health of man .

" 3 rd , It doth strengthen all parts of the breast and doth open the pipes . " 4 th . It is a singular good remedie for a stuttmg and stammerring in the speech . " Sth . It is the best means to procure a perfect pronounciation , and to make a good orator ;

" 6 th , It is the only way to know where nature hath bestowed a good voyce ; which gift is so rare as there is not one among a thousand that hath it ; and in many that excellent gift is lost because they want art to express nature . " 7 th . There is not . any musicke of instruments whatsoever , comparable to that which is made by the voyces of men , where the voyces are good , and the same well sorted and ordered . " 8 th . The better the voyce is , the meefcer it is to honour and serue