Masonic Ramblings.

ned what before was meagre ancl inornate , but I cannot give them credit for discovering ancl inventing this sublime system of morality , founded on the purest principles of piety and virtue . At the same time I am not a believer in the

" Masonic Arabian Night's Tales . " I think " in medio ibis intissimus " and it is an equally foolish thing to believe everything and to believe nothing . I may quote the never-to-be-forgotten words of Clinton : —

"Although the origin of our fraternity is covered with darkness , and its history is to a great extent obscure , yet we can confidently say that it * s the most ancient society in the world ; and we are equally certain that its principles are based on

pure morality—that its ethics are the ethics of Christianity — its doctrines the doctrines of patriotism and brotherly love—and its sentiments , the sentiments of exalted benevolence . Upon these points there can be no doubt . All that is good ,

and kind and charitable it encourages , all that is vicious and cruel and oppressive it reprobates . " If the operative Masons applied their working tools to the work , we apply them to our morals . If they built splendid Fanes for the worship of

God , and sumptuous mansions for the noble ancl the wealthy , we are informed by speculative Masonry , that the human body is the most wonderful building in existence , " and to keep this edifice pure and unpolluted is the sublime task of Freemasonry , as it now exists ; for in this mortal building : dwells our immortal soul .

Chips Of Foreign Ashlar.

CHIPS OF FOREIGN ASHLAR .

By J . A . H . To THE ADJACENT . An English Mason will no more understand the heading of our present article than he would comprehend a foreign language of which he was

ignorant . "To the Adjacent" is a phrase common enough hi Scotch lodges , but unknown among us . It is used when a brother wishes to retire from a lodge in full session . Thus the brother wishing to retire rises , salutes the chair , and says , " To

the adjacent , Right Worshipful sir ; " the " adjacent " being understood to mean the adjacent room where candidates are prepared . In a Scotch lodge we have heard the R . W . M . compel an initiate to include in his O . B . an undertaking never to

leave the lodge without repeating the formula " To the adjacent , " with its accompanying honours to the chair .

In our present purpose we adopt the words " To the adjacent " as an appropriate designation for any remark we , as connected with English Masonry , may make on Freemasonry in the " adjacent " jurisdiction of Scotland .

A visiting brother cannot fail to notice many differences in the working of Eng lish and Scottish lodges . First , the O . B . is essentially different . In the St . Clair Lodge , Glasgow , which we attended we hard a profane sworn to exclude the following from the order : — 1 st . Lame men .

2 nd . Deaf men . 3 rd . Old men in dotage . 4 th . Young men in non-age ( under 18 ) . 5 th . Knaves . 6 th . Fools .

7 th . Women . We observe that Bro . W . P . Buchan , fortified by the Grand Secretary , has recently admitted a brother who was in the first class . If so we presume the O . B . in Scottish lodges must vary

slightly , or we cannot understand our esteemed , friend's conduct in the matter . The rule of exclusion appears very absurd , but if not legal why should it appear in the O . B . ? In pledging himself not to disclose the secrets of the order , the

candidate had also to undertake not to photograph our mysteries . This was a new idea to us , and we shall certainly not dispute its " modern " origin ..

No doubt , Bro . Buchan , as to this part of Masonry dating since your famous year 1717 ! In London there is or was a so-called " lodge " composed principally of foreign refugees , which maintained an independence of all Grand Lodges

and orients , but from what we have heard Masonry had very little to do with its proceedings . In Germany there are four or five " independent" lodges ,, notably at Leipzig , where our friend Bro . Findel resides . And in ( Scotland there is a large and

prosperous lodge at Melrose which owes no allegiance to the Grand Lodge . The reason why these brethren hold aloof from their sister lodges is said to be that they possess considerable funds in the nature of a friendly society , which they do

not wish to endanger . There are also " Bush , " or illegitimate Knights Templar , who confer the accolade at very moderate prices in sundry public houses .

The Scottish chapers are authorised to give the following degrees : — 1 st . Mark ;