"Clannishness " Of Masonry.

ever asserted that these ceremonies had no effect to make them more observant of the duties inculcated ? And yet this is precisely what is charged against Masonry . The Christian church depends upon its rites and the frequent enunciation of its

principles to incline its members to travel in the narrow path that leads to life . But Avho ever heard it contended that these rites and lectures had an opposite effect from what is intended ? And yet this is just Avhat is charged against us as the effect of our teaching by the level and the

square . Judged by the same rules that are applied to other associations of men , it is absolutely certain that Masonry does not make its members clannish . We know that from the very nature of the case , that such a result would be impossible . But we

have another method of deciding this question that may , perhaps , be still more satisfactory and conclusive . We appeal to actual facts . We are frequently told that among the fraternity there may be nothing of this exclusive feeling , but in

the intercourse of Masons with the world , they prefer each other , and are supercillious to others . This is untrue . We defy any enemy of the lodge to prove this to be a fact in a single neig hbourhood .

They may prefer the company of brothers and their families , and associate Avith them on more intimate terms than they do Avith some others Avho are not members . That is natural . We love best those with Avhom Ave are best acquainted . As

a general rule acquaintance begets friendship . It does in the lodge where all the circumstances are favourable to the reception of g-ood imj-iressions . But the same rule holds good in families . We love our nearest relations AVIIO live near us , most .

Next come the friends AVIIO are not related to us by the ties of blood . Then those more distant and less known come in for the proper share of attention , and the general fact is , that they are clear to us in the same ratio that thev are

our intimates . But it does not folloAV because we love those Avith whom Ave most intimately associate , more than strangers , that Ave despise strangers . Neither does it prove the clannish or exclusive spirit of

Masons , that they regard those Avith whom they associate on the most intimate terms , Avith Avanner feelings than they do those Avho are comparative strangers . These are the facts in relation to the levelling

"Clannishness " Of Masonry.

principles and teachings of Masonry , and instead of fostering an exclusive , or clannish spirit they enjoin , that a worthy man , wherever found , is the peer of a member ; that virtue , honesty , and honour are the attributes that must command our

veneration , whether met Avith in or out of the pale of the fraternity . No true Mason alloAvs his heart to be shut up to the virtues and good qualities of his neighbour , because he is not an integral part in the great fraternity .

I have intended in this paper to appeal to thepractical , every day character of Masons , to sustain the position taken , but I am admonished that my alio ted space is occupied and that pointmust be deferred . —Masonic Trowel fU . S . )

Masonic Jottings.—No. 16.

MASONIC JOTTINGS . —No . 16 .

BY A PAST PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTEK . THE LODGE IN ANCIENT NATIONS . In ancient nations , when a great building was erecting , there was the lodge , and in the lodge there Avas science , and there were regulations

taken in part from the code of natural Ethics , and . there Avas religion ; and the religion was sometimes a Pantheism and sometimes a Polytheism . In the lodge of one ancient nation only the religion was a Monotheism .

In the lodge there Avas the doctrine of the soul's continuance after death and in the lodge of the nation Avhose religion Avas a Pantheism such doctrine was the Metempsychosis . But in the lodge of the nation whose religion was a

Monotheism there was no doctrine of the continuance of the soul after death , until the nation had been subdued by another nation , and its king and great men had been carried away captives , and had learnt our doctrine ef the soul ' s immortality . *—Papers of a deceased Mason . THE LEGEND OF THE CRAFT AND BROTHER

FINDEL . It is clear a Birmingham correspondent has not read Brother Finders "History of Freemasonry . " Brother Findel ' s remarks on the legend of the Craft are as follows : — " When we compare this ancient Legend Avith the genuine , authenticated