Harmony And Strength.

its authorit y is questioned in fact , if not in theory , and the result is discord , the ultimate , destruction . I have a friend , a cherished friend , whom I Avish to introduce into the Order . I entertain a very hi g h personal regard for him , and this very feeling serves to hide all his defects from my sight .

Another sees him from a different stand-point , or through a different medium , and defects , prominent and g laring are discovered , which are sufficient in his estimation to exclude him from our mystic fraternity . Seeing him in this li g ht , ancl acting under this conviction it is his duty to

prevent his admission . He does—ancl what is the consequence ? I immediately demand the reason of this indignity offered to my friend . A storm ensues ; ill feelings are engendered , the bond of unit y is severed , the elementary laAvs of the Order violated , and the consequences I need not stop to

describe . Harmony is at once destroyed or driven from the halls of its adoption , unity is severed in all its bonds of love and fraternal friendship , and that which constitutes the strength ancl support of all institutions , and especially ours , is wantonly sacrificed .

I have a firm faith in the Deit y , and fully recognise the claims of the moral laAv as revealed in the " sacred code . " In so far I am in harmony Avith my brethren . We agree entirel y in this , and no one should be admitted , whatever his other qualities and pretensions , AVIIO does not harmonise Avith us

in this behalf . This is essential to our enjoyment , ancl the prosperity and usefulness of our lodge ; if more Avere required it mi ght defeat its own object . But , in addition to my faith in Deit y ancl my recognition of the moral law , I haA'e certain religious opinions that are my OAVII , and which do not interfere Avith others . These I neA'er should intrude

upon my brethren , or make them the standard b y Avhich to judge others . Such " a course Avould be destructive of harmony ; and Avhile no brother should attempt their introduction into the lodgeroom , if it should be attempted , the W . M . should promptly prevent it .

Again , I believe it is incumbent upon me , both as a citizen ancl a Mason , to be " true to my Government ancl just to my country , to discountenance disloyalty and rebellion , and strictly to conform to the laAvs of the country in Avhich I reside . "

This also is an elementary law in Masonry , and must enter into the political creed of eveiy brother . But , then , I have other articles in my creed ; on all great issues I have my party affinities , and I have a ri ght to , for I believe the purposes and aims of one party are better calculated to preserve

the liberties of the country than those of another party . My brother cannot agree AA'ith me in this , and here is an honest difference of opinion . But these adverse opinions must not be brought into the lodge ; they are not required in any of tho objects or labours of our institution ; and , besides ,

Harmony And Strength.

their introduction is strictly forbidden by the fundamental laAvs of our Order . Every good Mason , too , should be careful to avoid censure in this behalf ; but should he step beyond the line of duty , through forgetfulness or

misapprehension ( and no good and true Mason will intentionall y transgress ) , he should receive with becoming meekness the admonition of his Master . Even if the Master should err , it is better to submit until the " storm be past . " Harmony is of the first importance ; that must be maintained , and

every good Mason should make it his first object to perpetuate it . Harmony is our strength : if that is destroyed we "become Aveak like other men . " [ We are indebted for the above to our Eastern contemporary the Indian Journal of'Freemasonry . ]

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

IDEOLOGY AND EHEEMASOXJIT . A correspondent plainly confounds ideology Avith idealism , Avhich , notwithstanding the resemblance of the names , is a philosophy of a totally different kind . The Avord " ideology " was first used by the disciples of Condillac . It denotes a system which derives all human knowledge from the senses , suppressing

reflection ; which denies the spirituality ofthe soul , making the soul and the brain one and the same substance . Ideologists have long abounded in France . Those Avith whom I have com-ersed at sundry times in the last fifty years have notions of the Deity very unlike those entertained by English Freemasons . Still ideology is not atheism , and the entrance of the lodge ought not , as it seems to me , to be closed against its followers . —CJI .-UIT / ES PUKXOX COOI-EK .

KECEI'TIOX OF HINDOOS IXXO ri ' . EE . AC . VSOX ' EY . A brother will be greatly obliged by a reference in the Notices to Correspondents of tlie volume and pages of the PUEEJIASOXS' MAGAZINE in which , as it is believed , a report of a committee as to the reception of Hindoos into Freemasonry is printed , in the whole or in part .

BEO . CUNXIXGKAir . "We are informed that Brother Cunningham , the pastoral poet , on the 25 th of August , 17 G-1 ' , appeared on the Newcastle stage as Duke of Venice in Othello , and that he was a member of the St . John ' s Lodge . ~ We also are told that on the 27 th December , 1769 ,

a sermon was preached in St . John ' s Church , before a military lodge attached to the 22 nd Regiment , by a Rev . Mr . Slack , the text , our informant says , Avas from 1 Thess . iv . 9 , " But as touching brotherly love , ye need not that I write unto you : for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another . "

" TO 1 VIIAT BASE USES SCAT AVE KOT BE TTJEJTED . We copy the following from the Daily Advertiser of August 10 th , 1743 : — " At Lee and Woodward's theatrical ' tiled booth , during the time of Tottenham-court-road fair ( which began on Monday , the 4 th . instant , and will end on Monday , the 17 th ) will