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hardship that these separate globes are so strictly under rule , and pay obedience to the sun . Is it not their chief blessing—their sovereign privilege ? What if the Order were less distinct and punctual ? What if the force in these globes that

chafes under the central rein , ancl champs its curb , should be successful for even a single day ? What if the earth should gain liberty against tho pull of the sun ? Beauty from that moment would wither , fertility would begin to shrivel .

The hour of seeming freedom would be the dawn ¦ of anarchy ; for the sun ' s rule is the condition of perpetual harmony , bounty , ancl joy . " " The idea of this heaven determined order , is committed to our body through its Worshipful

Grand Masters , Master , Wardens , Deacons , and Craftsmen . The proper regard for it has preserved it amid the breaking up of old empires , and maintains it in its mysterious , symmetrical and sublime proportions . It is the source of its livingvigour , and the promise of its future strength . "

Finally , brethren , we read that when Solomon had finished the temple , he besought that the presence of the Lord would dwell there . May this enlivening presence ever sanctify our fellowship ! What of our beautiful house ancl our service

without that ? What of the altar without the altar fire ? What of the richly ornate casket without the jeivel within ? What of the Mason without Masonic principle ? He is only as the dead among the living—a rotten stone in the building .

Our Masonry , brethren , must either be a real thing , or an awful sham , a thing to be laid hold of and nailed down to the counter by the detector and hater of all shams . Am I to respect the bad man , because forsooth by forswearing himself , he

has gained the secrets of the Craft ? Shall I prefer the man who has tried to hide his rottenness with the garments of light ? No brethren , I will endure him—I will try faithfully to perform my vows to him , but it is not in human nature to

restrain my contempt for him . Masonry is the daughter of heaven ; let us who wear her favours , never soil them on the earth . Invested as we are with these ancient and noble

badges , let us walk m the light and not m darkness . With clean hands and right spirits with an eye of compassion for the tear of sorrow , with an ear ever open to the cry of the distreseed—with a hand ever ready to help the widow , and the orphan , and the stranger , let ns show to the world the inherent nobleness of

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our Order . Thus may we go on from strength to strength , and ab length be admitted into the presence of the Supreme Grand Master , ancl receive the password to celestial bliss . The words of that old Masonic marching hymn ,

lately quoted by Carlyle in his address to the students at Edinburgh should ring- upon our ears : — The Mason ' s ways are A type of existence , And his persistence

Is as the days are , Of men in the world . The future hides in it Gladness and sorrow ; We press still thorow , Nought that abides in it Daunting us . Onward .

And solemn before us , Veiled , the dark portal , Goal of all mortal . Stars silent rest o ' er us , Graves under us silent . While earnest thou gazest , Comes boding of terror .

Comes phantasm and error , Perplexes the bravest With doubt and misgiving . But heard are the voices ; Heard are the sages , The worlds and the a ^ es , Choose well ! your choice is

Brief , and yet endless . Here eyes do regard you In eternity ' s stillness ; Here is all fulness ; Ye brave to reward you ; Work and despair not .

Classical Theology.—Lxxxiii.

CLASSICAL THEOLOGY . —LXXXIII .

JUNO AND JANUAKY . When Juno became aware of Jupiter's visits to Alcmena , the wife of Aniphitryo , King of Thebes , wary and deadly grew her hatred to the embryo Hercules . At that time it happened that the

Queen of Myncaj was in that situation subject sometimes to ladies who love their lords . Juno , by her immortal arts or blandishments , at least so it is said , contrived to obtain an edict from Jupiter to this designing effect , that whichsoever of the

two children of the two queens might be born the first should be the superior . Thereupon , Juno , by her invested power , as a nuptial goddess , accelerated , by three months , the birfch of Etiristlieus , who after the decease of his father , Ithenelus ,

became king of Mycento . Not only did this decree subgate the Abides to his master , but at the instigations ef the supreme goddess the tyrant planned , and enjoined him to perform those twelve mighty labours , the glory of which obtained