The Hidden Mysteries Of Nature And Science.—Part V.

THE HIDDEN MYSTERIES OF NATURE AND SCIENCE . —PART V .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JXTLT 23 , 1861 .

[( Concluded from page 498 , Vol . X . ) The path of Masonic life is an illuminated tract - —a tract illuminated by three great , though symbolic , lights . Every member is put in possession of the moral map by Avliicli Ms steps are to be

guided , in the charge delivered to the Entered Apprentice , the true key to which is the proper cultiA-ation of the mind . A lodge Masonically conducted is a school of philosophy in its truest sense ; not , however , of philosophy , the invention

of designing intriguers , Avho , as in the case of the self-styled " illuminate , " Avoulcl ] make use of Masonry as a tool to further their OAVU ends ; but of wisdom—Avisdom that fits us for life and puts us in the path that leads to true happiness .

All men AVOUM be happy , but how few , alas ! are there AVIIO seek the right Avay ; many seek their happiness in the pleasures of earth , with guilt on their consciences unrepented , unforgiven ; but says the Propliet ( Isaiah lvii . 21)— " There is no

peace , saith my God , to the wicked . " In order , therefore , that men may attain true happiness the Great Architect of the Universe has given us two books—the volume of the Sacred LaAV and the

Book of Nature . These two form a commentary on each other , and by the aid of the one we may interpret the other . The holy Word of God is Avonderful for Avhat it teaches , ancl Avonderful in its effects ; it gives us all the true knowledge Ave

can have of God and of man ; it shows us what Ave Avere , and Avhat Ave are , and Avhat we shall be ; it SIIOAVS us what God has done for us and what He expects us to do for Him , and for ourselves ; it shows us the omnipotence , mercy , and justice of

the Creator , the joys of heaven , and the pains of hell . Thus does it give Avisdom , light , and understanding to the simple , to the poorest and plainest A \ -1 IO receive it aright , becoming " a lantern unto their feet and a liglit unto their paths . " The

Book of Nature lies open before us ; all the works of the Lord are great , and to be praised—His Avorks of creation to be seen all around us in the Avorld—His works of providence in feeding and preservingall His creatures . Who can behold them and

say or think that " there is no God ? " None but " the fool . " The man who forgets the wonders and mercies of God is Avithout any excuse , for we arc continually surrounded with objects Avhich

should bring His power aud goodness continually to mind . The li ght : how beautiful and Avonderful and necessary to our health and well-being . The mild and fruitful shower : what a token of the loving kindness of our Creator in thus giving

" the rain in His due season ; the first rain and the latter rain , that thou mayest gather in thy corn and thy wine and thine oil . " —( Deut . xi . 14 ); Avhile the raging storm proclaims His terrible might ; " at Thy rebuke they ( the waters of the

sea ) flee ; at the voice of Thy thunder they are afraid ; they go up as high as the hills and down to the valleys beneath , even unto the place where Thou hast appointed for them . " Again , " these

all ( i . e ., all things created ) wait upon thee that Thou mayest give them meat in due season . " Let us only think of the countless millions of living creatures in the air , upon the earth , and in the waters , all instructed how to make or where to seek

their dwellings , ancl all provided for in due season by their Creator ' s never-failing bounty , and all preserved by that ever-Avatchful Providence without whose knoAvledge and permission not a sparrow falleth to the ground ; " Avhen thou openest

Thy hand they are filled with good ; Avhen Thou hidest Thy face they are troubled j when Thou takest away their breath they die , ancl are turned again to their dust . "—Psalm civ . 29 , 30 . The flower of the field even turns its face heavenward

in lowly adoration" Teaching us by most porsuavive reasons , How akin they are to human things , And with childlike credulous affection , We behold their tender buds expand . Emblems of our own great resurrection , Emblems of the bright and better land . " —LONGFELLOW

Every created object , therefore , whether with or Avithout life , may be said to celebrate the Creator's glory and praise after its kind , for says the poet Cowper"There lives and works , A soul in all things , and that soul is God . " Thus whilst admiring and wondering at the scene

Avhich Nature lays before us , let us adore that beneficent God who has left so many gems of truth and gleams of beauty to remind us of Avhat Ave have lost in Paradise , and at the same time to point out to us what may yet be ours , if Ave

will seek them in His own appointed way . Masonry avails itself of every legitimate appliance , and sees " Books in the raiming brooks , sermons in stones . " This mode has a hig h sanction j it is divine .