Masonic Oration

As in the past , so will it be in the future ivith these attacks . As ivell might the ivaves hope , by their tempest wrath to overthrow the rock-bottomed shores of the sea , as men expect successfully to wage war against an organisation that has breasted

the storms of passionate centuries , that is founded on the immutable principles of God ' s enduring truth ; that has its defence in the loving hearts and memories of millions of its members ; and that is fctie great all embracing practical religion of the

world . It stands to-day like a headland of eferniy , bright with the glow of the advancing morning that shall usher in the days of peace . And when that day has passed , blossoming like the perfect flower into the enduring peace of heaven , it will

shine afar , not with the blazonry of borrowed light , but with the glory of a noble history , and the love of myriad grateful hearts . In this confidence , let us labour faithfully , waiting ivith patience that time when the answer ofthe Great Master of all shall be returned to each

one of us , as , properly recommended by a virtuous consistent life and a true faith , we , at its close , seek to gain admission to the celestial lodge , "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord . " Till then we have the lessons of the past for our

instruction ; the labours of the present to engage us ; and the hopes of the future to cheer and encourage—the glorious heritage of faith , hope , ancl love .

' s past was darkened ! From creation ' s morn The clouds of sin upon the mind did lower , Those virtues that a noble life adorn , Love , truth , and faith , were deemed hut fit for scorn , And evil held a carnival of power . When in the clouds at last a rift was seen ,

Through which a glory on the soul did pour , That seemed the waking from a fearful dream To greet the advent of dawn ' s roseate hour , In the long study of the works of God . Tiie truth of God shown slowl y forth to men , And nature's revelation free and broad , At last through slow degrees was dimly seen .

The noon-tide glory now shines'forth on earth , But noon-day ' s work is not yet fully done . A waiting world still cries to us , " Go forth . ' Xot these the hours to spend in rest and mirth , The days of resting are the days to come . " The wind that whispers through the quivering trees .

And stirs their quiet ' neatli the summer sun , Sweeps harvest iields that bend before the breeze , And , whitening , murmur of the work not done . Go forth , Oh reapers ; put the sickle on ! l ' e gleaners , follow tii ! the evening ' s gloom ; And then together bring your sheaves to Him , Who'd hear , well pleased , your joyful " Harvest-home . "

Prom every plain , from every wave-washed shore , There swells the sad voice of the toiling train , 'Tis echoed by the peaks white-gleaming , hoar With years of snow and frost , and evermore The rivers as they flow on to the main , Are rippling forth the song of

mystery—A song that seems a moan of deathless pain . It finds an utterance in the deep-toned sen , Which murmurs the sad story o ' er again—The story of earth's sorrow and man's sin . But louder swelling , like a grand refrain , We hear this promise through the mingled din ,

"Man's faith will grasp man ' s heritage again !" This done , as evening ' s hours so gently glide , And shadows lengthen toward the mystic East , While all the West , cloud-robed , in glory dyed , Floods the worn earth with its rich , golden tide ;¦ Then we may claim and enter on OUT rest

For then heaven ' s doors will be ( lung open wide , To welcome all who have but done their best ; And this shall be our password ! Sought beside Is from the greatest sought , or from the least ; " The poor and suffering we have sought to raise For thy dear sake , and those hy ill oppressed . To earth ' s sad lips we taught a song of praise ; We called all brothers ; and thy name we blessed . "

The Knights Templars,

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS ,

By ANTHONY OXEAL HAYE . BOOK I . —CHAPTER I . Causes which led to Hie foundation of the Order . —Pilgrimages . —Frotmoud . —Fulh de Nerra . —State of Jerusalem and Palestine during the end of the eleventh century .

—Ill-treatment of Pilgrims to the Iloh j Land , and consequent rage of Europeans thereat . — The first Crusade . As iii the days of heathen Rome and Greece , the people founded temples , raised images , and

celebrated games in honour of their departed ' heroes , whom their priests had raised to the rank of gods and demigods , so in the early Christian Church shrines were raised to martyrs and confessors , holidays set apart in their honour , and '

pilgrimages made to the scenes of their lives and deaths . The custom of making pilgrimages tocelebrated temples and holy places is of great antiquity . The Jews were wont , once a year , to go UJJ to Jerusalem , and there celebrate the feast

of the Passover , as we learn from St . Luke , on the occasion of our Lord ' s disputing with the doctors in the Temple ; while votaries from greatdistances flocked to the shrine of Apollo at Delphi , there to pray to the deity and to inquire

into the future of their lives . In the Catholic Church , as Christ was the centre of the system round which the saints revolved , so the great'