The Hidden Mysteries Of Nature And Science.

in every page , and would consider the faculty of reason as the distinguishing gift of the human race , and use it as the guide of their lives , they would find their reward in peace and happiness and a cheerful resignation of mind .

" Hot a flower But shows some touch in freckle , streak , or stain , Of his unrivalled pencil . He inspires Their halmy odours and imparts their hues , And bathes their eyes with nectar , ancl includes In grains as countless as the sea side sands , The forms with which he sprinkles all the earth . Happy who walks with himwhom what he find

, Of flavour or of seent in fruit or flower , Or what he views of beautiful or grand In nature , from the bvoad majestic oak To the green blade that twinkles in tlie sun , Prompts with remembrance of a present God . " —COWEEE .

A modern author has said with great truth and feeling , " Can you not fancy the infinite charm of being able to read the spirit of nature truly , of being so thoroughly religious as never to look coldly on the meanest flower , because God has made it , and really to feel that his voice is in the thunder , and his glory in

the seas . This is , indeed , precious love , and with a mind thus attuned , the glories of the ocean , the crested billows , the ever-changing hues of that majestic plain , the solemn , yet soothing cadence of its waves , the plants , the animals which find their home in the watersthe delicate sea-shelland the beautiful

, , alga ? , will all be felt and received as so many reflections of the glory of him who is infinite both in wisdom and love . " What a noble field of study is here opened out , and how elevating and harmonising its influences , whether considered in relation to the intellect , or as connected with the immutable truths of morality and

religion . The earth serves as the place of habitation for two kinds of existences—the animal and vegetable—in whose formation and functions we discover the beautiful dispensations of the Great Architect - of the Universe , extending on every side over a vast range of beings , aud demonstrating the unity of the plan on

which organised creation has been devised . "How enviable , says , V . R . Dean Hawes ( Sac / . Hints ) , is that frame of mind which can reason thus , and find sources of happiness in watching the habits of the animal and vegetable world around it ! Who can listen to the carol of the lark as she soars in the air , and

seems so happy , without feelings of delight , and without reflections arising in his mind , which tend to make him both a better and a happier man ? Who can witness the familiar habits of tbe robin , and see how contentedly he will perch himself on a neighbouring bush close to your side , and pour forth his song ,

without having his own feelings tempered down into harmony with nature ? How can man in the midst of all this , which points out the intention of an allwise Creator , think that he , of all God ' s creatures , is the only one intended to be unhappy ? No , let him learn to admire the beauties of nature , and try to understand

them . " And to whom can these words or similar be more emphatic than to the true Ereemason ? The duties of morality are first enforced , and the noblest principles which can adorn tbe human mind are imprinted on the memory ; next the plan is extended , and comprehends a more diffusive system of knowledge . It is devoted to the study and illustration of

The Hidden Mysteries Of Nature And Science.

human science , and to trace the greatness and majesty of the Creator , by minutely analyzing his works , and he , whose various talents shall allow him to overcome the impediments opposed to his advancement will be eminently entitled to the distinction of a master of scienceand a perfect moralist .

, Masonry is considered under two denominations : Operative and Speculative . Speculative Masonry is so far interwoven with religion as to lay us under the strongest obligations to pay that rational homage to the Deity which at once constitutes our happiness and » our duty .

It leads the contemplative to view with reverence and admiration the glorious works of the creation , and inspires them with the most exalted ideas of the perfections of the Divine Creator . R . B . W . ( To be continued . )

A Few Words Concerning The Philosophy Of The Jews.

A FEW WORDS CONCERNING THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE JEWS .

. Translated from the Fevue des Deux Mondes . Moses ben-Maimoun was born of Jewish parentage , on the 30 th of March , 1135 , at Cordova , in Andalusia . Being the son of a well educated man , his own edubation was a most liberal one . His master in the Jewish schools was a discile of the famous

Avemp paces ( a corruption of Ibu-Babja ) , and he frequented also the Arabian schools , where he met as a fellowstudent a son of the celebrated astronomer Geber of Sevilla ( Djaber ben-Allah ) , well and favourably known to the Arabic scholars . He was hardly thirteen years of age , when the

conquest of Cordova by Abd-el Moumen—the fierce and fanatic chief of the dynasty of the Almohades let loose upon the Jews and Christians of Andalusia , the most terrible persecution . The family of Maimonides bent their heads under the scourge , and to avoid death or exilehe himself was constrained to profess

Ma-, hometanism—at all events externally . What a strange effect is produced by the violence of man ; for seventeen years might have been seen kneeling in the mosque , the man who was to he the greatest doctor in the synagogue , the light of Israel , the star of the East and West—another Moses .

Always in danger at Cordova , Maimonides sought for a safer asylum at Eez , where some records of his sojourn are still preserved . ; then at St . John of Arces , and lastly—after a dangerous pilgrimage to Jerusalem , he fixed his residence in Egypt at old Cairo . It was there that , after thirty years of persecutions

and vicissitudes , he was destined to find repose and even more than that—the honours of glory . Sultan Saladin had then just overthrown the Khalifat of the Eatimites , and extended his generous domination over Egypt . Maimonides was recommended to him by the great reputation he had already acquired in a

fewyears , as a theologian , philosopher , and physician . Erom the recommendation of the Kadhi AI Eadhel he was selected for and appointed first physician to the Sultan ; and he thus became a personage of great influence . It may be gathered from the correspondence of Maimonides himself how brilliant and busy his existence was at that period . " I'll tell thee candidly , " he wrote to Samuel Ibn