Thoughts Upon Iron Plates.

Articles that Avere then prized , are now regarded as Avorthless . Human thought is , as it were , packed in railway carriages , in the shape of vast piles of printed sheets , and distributed daily over every town ancl village in the three islands . Is the pauper oppressed—his complaint reaches millions of hearers . Is the criminal Hogged— -millions of readers protest

against the act of inhumanity . Docs the toil-Avorn mechanic fall under his burthen—thousands come to his aid . To this mighty agent are AA'e , like the luxurious natives of the east and the inhabitants of the desert indebted for most of the comforts and conveniences Ave enjoy . The produce of our factories , by its means , outstrip our most enterprizing

travellers . The cotton of America carried in British ships is outrun by the cry of the American slave brought here in British steamers . How far then , let us inquire , has the honourable and illustrious fraternity to Avhich Ave belong contributed to this end 1 Certainly a great number of distinguished names are entered upon its rolls , and a great many of the glorious

results achieved have been in some degree indebted to the fraternal co-operation , the patience in difficulty , the energy and perseverance in prosperity , which our Craft inspires . Palaces , temples , tombs , remain as standing monuments and glorious interpreters of our art ancl the doctrines it inculcates ; and though tho genius that constructed them sleeps beneath

their shadows , the spirit which sustained outlives the decay Avhich the hand of time imperceptibly but surely brings about . Nor may Ave repose—many other improvements are to be made . Ho AA'I IO falls out of the inarch of intellect and industry misses the very end and aim of his existence . He deoeives himself too ; for it is the work of his hand that

gives tho reAvard that gratifies . The man who takes no part iu the concerns of life is like the turtle Avhich floats upon the surface of the billoAving sea , and which , fancies it ncars its destination because it is rocked by the Avaves ; yet it finds its AA'ay to the stomach of some aldermanic Brobdignagian , Avith the same certainty that the bray of a certain quadruped in London streets prognosticates rain and spring onions .

Ancient Views Of Freemasonry.—I.

ANCIENT VIEWS OF FREEMASONRY . —I .

As it may interest some readers of the Magazine , and b y exciting thought ancl inquiry tend to improvement , I propose from time to time to transcribe various comments and sera ] is relating , to Freemasonry from The Gentleman ' s Magazine and other works , published within the last one hundred and fifty years ; and , as the first instalment , UOAV transmit an

article , published in A'ol . i . of the Gentleman , at page 1-31 , aud there quoted as from the Grub Street Journal of October 21 st , 1731 , No . 94 . " ' 1 'IIE COXSTITU'l'IOXS OK THE FUEK MASONS . " Mr . Spondee , a member of the society , gives some extracts from a book , entitled the Constitutions of the Free Masons , lately Anderson

digested by the ECA ' . Mr . James , A . M ., one of the Worshipful Masters . " This Avork , now ordained to be read as the only Constitutions of Free ancl Accepted Masons , consists of three grand parts ; the History of Masonry , the Charge of a Free Mason , and some general regulations , with three or four songs . "In the History , AVC find that Adam tvas created after the

image of God , the great Architect of the universe , Avhosc Messiah is the great Architect of the church . In Assyria , the priests and mathematicians , called magi , preserved the science of geometry , as the kings and great men encouraged the Royal Art of Masonry . Tho Israelites , at their leaving Egypt , Avere a Avhole kingdom of Masons , instructed by their Grand Master , Moses , " Among other Avondcrs related in this Historyis that of the

, great obelisk of Semiramis , Avhich , says the author , Avas one hundred and fifty feet high , ancl twcntj' -foiir loot square at bottom , or ninety feet in circuit at the ground , all one entire stone , rising pyraiihd ' icitlly , brought to Babylon , about the time of the siege of Troy . _ " In the Charges , the author tells us that a Mason is obliged by his tenure to obey the moral law , and that his relation to the

Ancient Views Of Freemasonry.—I.

Lodge remains indefeasible though he should prove a rebel against the state ; and that an apprentice must be a perfect youth , having no maim or defect in his body that may render him incapable of being a brother . " By the Regulations a new brother , at his making is decently to clothe the Lodge Avith Avhite aprons aud gloves ( that is , all the brethren then present ) and to deposit something for indigent and

, decayed brethren . He is charged to be cautious in his tvords and carriage , that the most penetrating stranger shall not be able to discover , or find out , AA'hat is not proper to be intimated . ' A SONG , containing an abstract of the History : — " Adam , the first of human kind , ' Created Avith geometry ,

Imprinted on his royal mind , Inducted soon his progeny , Cain and Scth , AA'I IO then improv'd The liberal science in the art Of architecture , Avhich they lov'd , And to their offspring did impart ; But Samson ' s blot

Is near forgot . His secrets once to Avife disclos'd , His strength was fled , his courage tam'd : To cruel foes he Avas expos ' cl , Ancl never was a . Mason nam'd . " A HEALTH , by Mr . Birkhead : —

" Come let us prepare , We brothers that are Assembled on merry occasion ; Let's drink , laugh , and sing- , Our wine has a spring , Here's a health to an Accepted Mason , " Devon . W . II .

Legality Of Masonic Meetings.

LEGALITY OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

In reply to "J . J ., " and other correspondents , AVC publish Clauses 5 and 6 of the 89 th Geo . III ., cap . 79 , entitled " An Act for the more effectual Suppression of Societies established for Sedition ancl Treasonable Purposes ; and for better preventing Treasonable and Seditious Practices . "

And whereas certain societies have been long accustomed to be holden in this kingdom under the denomination of Lodges of Freemasons , the meetings Avhcreof have been in great measure directed to charitable purposes ; be it therefore enacted , that nothing in this act shall extend to the meetings of any Society or Lodge Avhich shall before the passing of this act have been usually holden under the said denomination , and in conformity to the rules prevailing among the said Societies of Freemasons

. " ' ¦ ' Provided always , that this exemption shall not extend to any such society unless two of the members composing the same shall certify upon oath ( which oath any justice of the peace or other magistrate is hereby empowered to administer ) that such Society or Lodge has before tbe passing of this act been usually held under the denomination of a Lodge of Freemasons , and in conformity to the rules prevailing tho Societies or Lod of Freemasons iu this kingdom

among ges ; Avhich certificate , duly attested by the magistrate before Avhom the same shall be sworn , and subscribed by the persons so certifying , shall , within the space of two calendar months after the passing of this net bo deposited Avith . tbe clerk of the peace for the county , stewartry , riding , division , shire , or place where such Society or Lodgo hath been usually held : provided also , that this exemption shall not extend to any such Societor Lodunless the name or denomination thereofand tho

y ge , usual place or places and tbe time or times of its meetings , and tho names and descriptions of all and every the members thereof , be registered Avith such clerk of tho peace as aforesaid within two months after the passing of this act , ancl also on or before the twenty-fifth day of March in every succeuding year . "

By these clauses it will be seen that the act only extended to regular Lodges of Freemasons held before the passing of the act ; but by an Act passed 57 Geo . Ill , cap . 1 . 9 , " for the more effectually Preventing Seditious Meetings and Assemblies , " the exemption Avas extended to all Freemasons' Lodges . Clause 2 ( 5

declaring—¦ '' Provided always , and bo it further enacted , That nothing in this Act contained shall extend or be construed to extend to any Society or Societies holden under the denomination of Lodges of Freemasons , in conformity to the Rules prevailing in such Societies of Freemasons , provided such Lodges shall comply with the Rules and Regulations contained in tho said Act of the Thirty-ninth Year of His present Majesty , relating to such Lodges of . Freemasons . "