The Haughfoot Lodge And Speculative Masonry.

and orders to write to the brethren at Stow , that they may meet with them , or any of them , for the appointment of anew meeting , where they among them shall appoint .

Masonic Jottings.—No. 25.

MASONIC JOTTINGS . —No . 25 .

BY A PAST Pj ? , oA iNCiAL GEAKD MASTER . ASIA . When Asia shall have disclosed all her hidden literature , it will be seen that the Mason's Lodge was an early ancl a powerful instrument in the civilisation of the Human Race .

A SCEPTIC AND THE 1717 THEORY . A brother avows himself a Sceptic , and yet he recommends the adoption of the 1717 Theory , that is to say of a theory , which is plainly not his theory . For -as he is a Sceptic , it necessarily

follows that he has no belief in that theory . The Sceptic holds that every affirmation is a gratuitous hypothesis . AGES 01 ? SPECULATIVE MASONRY AND TRUE

FREEMASONRY . As to the ages of Speculative Masonry and true Freemasonry , it may be concluded from the historical books and fragments that we possess , that the Speculative Masonry of which Pantheism , Polytheism or Sabceism Avas an ingredient , existed long before true Freemasonry .

MASONRY . It is a reasonable inference that in countries and ages in which Masonry Avas Avanted , it would not be long in coming . BRITAIN .

The first lodge seen in Britain was , it is supposed , that ofthe Roman Builders . BIBLICAL LEGENDS . Eliminate the Biblical Legends from our Craft Teachings , ancl in a few years it will be found

that Freemasonry has not her stronghold in Great Britain , but in the United States of America .

SCHAUBERG . The learned Doctor J . Schauberg of Zurich , finds the principles of Freemasonry in tho Secret Rites of the Indians and the Egyptians . His work on this subject was printed at Schaffhausen

in 1863 . PHILOSOPHICAL SCHOOLS . Our admirable Principles have been taught in the Philosophical Schools of all nations and all

Masonic Jottings.—No. 25.

times . Those schools may not unfitly be called Lodges , and their teaching Masonry . But when in the Beligion of the School , as was commonly the case , there was no Great Architect of the Universe , and when , moreover , as -was not

unseldom the case , there was no belief in a Futui'e State of Rewards and Punishment , the Masonry could not be true Freemasonry .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

MY JOTTINGS . Some Brothers plainly think their Masonic knowledge comes intuitively . My " Jottings" are not meant for them . —A PAST PEOYINCIAL GEANB MASTEE . SYMBOLISM IK" BOHEMIA ; OE , a HE HOOK AXD THE ( 490 )

CUB page . " The ^ Pit-Meii of Bohemia . —In two of the meetings there was a large amount of singing . This was to be ^ expecfced in the young women and girls of whom one ofthe audiences was chiefly composed : but the earnest and prolonged singing of the menwho alone

, mot us from the other congregation , brought out the hereditary delight of the Bohemians in tlie singing of psalms . * It is interesting and rather surprising to learn that in the Czech language , so little known out of the country , there exist about five thousand hymns . Psalms and h and iritual must

yms sp songs have been a singular solace in those days when the Bohemian brethren were called by the nickname of the ' Pit-men' ( Gruhen-heimer ) , because , besides the hills and forests , their chief refuge was in caves and pits . In retreating . to their caves through the snow , thev trod carefully in each other ' s atena . and MIA Insfc

ofthe party brushed over the single line of footprints with the branch of a tree . Those pits must have resounded with many a sweet song of Zion written in the heart , when the light was too faint for reading the verses ; for their occupants sat in darkness by day , not daring then to kindle a fire , let its smoke should their

betray hiding-place . But as soon as they were screened by the curtain of night they lighted their fires , gathered round them to read the Book of God , taught , strengthened , and comforted each other , till they became both wise unto salvation and singularly well instructed in the Scriptures . When they ventured to meet to

together drink the Cup of Blessing , it was in the depths of the forest , with sentinels placed at various points to watch against surprise , lest their blood should be mingled with their sacrifices . " "Silver Mines the Martyrs' Graves . —But other and darker memories hover round the its of Bohemia

p . As we drove along the road within ten miles of the place where we saw the silver communion cup which had been disinterred from the battle-field , our attention was directed to the rising slope on our right , on which were large mounds of stones , the heaped-up