Masonic Discipline.—Xxi.

in holding together the many links of the chain that constitutes the want of uniformity in lodge working , which is to be observed iu the question of the W . M . relative to his owu place in the lodge . In some lodges the question is put to the W . M . ,-

in others to the I . P . M ., or to the brother who may be occupying his position on the left of the W . M ., and may therefore be supposed to act as his proxy . It would be absurd to ask respecting this trivial point as well as respecting many others

of far greater importance , which is right , for there is no right or wrong in such Masonic matters . There is no standard , no datum , no real landmark of any kind to guide the novice , or correct the erring . It is pretty much a case of " every Mason his own instructor . "

In the various criticisms that have appeared at different times upon our articles , it has been asserted that some of the alterations we have suggested are founded purely upon fancy . We should like very much to have oue of those fanciful

emendations pointed out to us , as we have always endeavoured to adduce fair and just grounds for every instance in which a verbal departure from the ritual has been advocated . This observation is apiropos to a slight correction which is now put

forward regarding the closing sentence of the beautiful little prayer with which the lodge is opened in the first degree . The sentence runs thus , " May our labours thus begun in order , be conducted in peace , and closed in harmony . " A

more elegant rendering would change the word conducted to " continued . " Why ? simply because the proper and antithetical terms to use , not

merely in this instance , but in any other where the sequence is the same , are , " begun , continued and ended . '" The word " closed" Masonically speaking is synonymous with " ended / ' ancl may therefore be retained with perfect propriety . It

is in fact purely a Masonic term , and no other should be used in its place . There is however no necessity for having scruples about its predecessor , ancl the sentence would thus run " May our labours thus begun in order , be continued in

peace , ancl closed in harmony . ''' Many brethren will consider perhaps that what mi ght be called , this refinement in the ritual is unnecessary and wholly impossible to carry out in practice . Some may exclaim " do you suppose , Bro . Crux , that there

are not numerous lodges composed of members of a comparatively inferior rank , who would be unable to appreciate very elegant language , even if they were persevering enough to learn and employ it ? " To

these we reply " certainly you are right , ' we are perfectly well aware that a homely style of phraseology must always be adapted , when teaching or even addressing men who are comparatively uneducated . We know that there are abundance of societies and communities of men where the Queen ' s English is

" clipped horribly , " but we also know that there are certain classes and certain society where it is spoken purely and grammatically . There is a class of society where a uniform standard of speaking and writing correctly is to be found . But where is such a

standard in Freemasonry ? Where are the lodges—where is there one lodge where this desideratum is to be found ? In ninety-nine out of a hundred lodges , the Masonic Ritual , imperfect as it is , is " clipped horribly . " It is not to he expected that all ranks of

brethren , socially considered , could he brought to adopt the same precise ritualistic phraseology , but at any rate it would be an easy matter to induce more uniformity than what at present exists , from the highest to the lowest lodge . On the other hand it is

to be expected , it ought to be expected that there should be some lodges in which the members are educated men , where the greatest degree of perfection in the phraseology of the ritual should be used , consistent with an adherance to Masonic terms and

the meaning and intent of the sentences . It is impossible for us to arrive , humanly speaking , at perfection in anything , but in trying to attain to it , in raise ourselves infinitely above the condition we should be in without such efforts . Are not such efforts , urgently needed in Freemasonry ? Our fraternity

is not composed as it was in bye-gone days . It is adding daily to its ranks men who partake of the inquiring spirit of the age , who take nothing for granted and who are sceptical upon a point directly they find that its truth or falsehood rests upon nothing better

than antiquity , or presumed antiquity . These are the men , who while they will accept readily enough our ancient rites and ceremonies , look for a high standard of thinking , speaking and acting in Masonic matters . The practical working of Freemasonry , as

exemplified in our lodges at the present day resembles a splendid ruin , a sad relic of its pristine glory . IJncared for , and neglected , it has become dilapidated and almost disintegrated . Piece by piece it has fallen away , until there is scarcely a fragment left to indicate

what the original structure resembled . Is it too late to restore it ? Can it not be remodelled to suit the times ? If no efforts are made in its behalf it may be truly said of the Masons of the nineteenth century , that they have ears and they hear not , they have eyes and they see not .

THE Queen bas presented to the Eoyal Academy the bust of herself , executed by tbe Princess Louise ,