Faiths Of The World.

Feeling that I could not disregard such an appeal , I , at some inconvenience , left the party to whom I was speaking , and descended to my visitor , who , having manifested his brotherhood , _ addressed me thus : — " I come from Grand Lodge , being sent round to all thc lodges to get subscribers towards this work" ( holding it up ) . I said ,

" What is it ? " He replied , "you will doubtless recollect that some months ago there was an animated discussion in Grand Lodge as to thc admission of persons of all creeds into the Craft . " I said I recollected something of the sort . " Well , " said he , " this work was published by Dr . Gardner at tho request of Grand Lodge , for the express purpose of proving that Freemasonry is

consistent ivith every known religion , and therefore that persons of every faith are eligible for initiation ; " he then pointed to one- of the engravings described in the letter-press as " The Temple of ton thousand Idols in

Japan . " This he eulogized as a most wonderful production ancl universally admired ; in fact he bad a commission from a very eminent brother to get it painted as soon as be could find some one high enough in Masonry to execute it properly . He then proceeded to state that the whole of Freemasonry was depicted in this wonderful engraving ; the figures in thc centre ( including a very

obese and benign-looking deity ) represented Craft Masonry ; those in the foreground , the " Boyal Arch , and the numerous figures round the walls the higher degrees . Being pressed for time , I took all these statements for granted , as I was dealing- ivith a brother , ancl their improbability did not strike mo . My visitor held in his hand a list of the members of my lod which he had

ge , procured from the Secretary , and urged me so strongly to give my name as a subscriber—pleading that it would probably be the cause of other members of the lodge giving him an order—that at length , although I could not afford it , I put my name down aud took the first part of the work .

I have since carefully perused tho part I purchased , and inspected the wonderful engraving , and have como to the unavoidable conclusion that the statements of my Masonic visitor wero untrue . I cannot find anything in the work ( although iu itself highly interesting aiid worthy of perusal ) connected with Freemasonry , and I think it must require a most enthusiastic imagination to endow

any of the diabolical figures in the illustration with Masonic attributes . I have not taken any of tbe higher degrees , therefore cannot say whether they are or are not symbolised by thc figures that adorn the walls of the temple in the engraving . I can only say that if they are they must be possessed of very groat sameness , as all those figures arc precisely alike .

Perhaps some of your numerous readers can inform me whether there is any shadow of truth in the representations made by tho individual in question ; if not , such an unworthy use of the privileges of Freemasonry should at once bo exposed and " put an end to ; if , on the other hand , these representations are correct , I must cry " peccavi , " and humbly apologise for having entertained

a suspicion to the contrary . Yours fratcrnaliv , EXOELSIOB . [ AVe would advise the next brother who is waited upon by the gentleman , to hand him over to tho custody of the police . Grand Lodgo arc not publishers of Masonic Histories , aud certain ] v do not employ travelling agents . ]

Masonry And The Civil War In America.

MASONRY AND THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA .

-. EDITOJ ! oi- ivr . . rrin ^ rAso :,: ; AziyK A"D MA ^ OXIC 3 [ iin ; oi > . DEAR SIR . \ KT > BRORUEH , —From a private letter I have Per last mail received from my "friend and brother ' Dr . Bob Morris of La Grange , ' Kentucky , U . S ., I learn ' that Masonry continues to ' shed some of its benign influences upon tho brethren unhappily engaged in the internecine strife of which America is at " present thc scene , and that though the instrumentality of these in-

Masonry And The Civil War In America.

fluences our order is proving itself to bo in praci ice ns in theory—a grand ameliorator of the horrors ofiv :: r . Bro . Morris remarks that " tho prospects for an ear !} ' restoration of tho Government arc most cheering . Bar , this , while it gives elation to my spirits , increases my caros . Prisoners of war aro beginning to besiege mo with

communications from their military prisons , reminding me of happy , peaceful hours mutually enjoyed Tho merely politico 1 point between us docs not affect the tie . " With such large-hearted men ns Bob Morris among the teachers of tho craft how could it bo otherwise ? In tho hands of T . G . A . O . T . TJ ., Bob has not been a merely passive agent for good , but has boon most assiduous in

the employment of his powerful eloquent pen in enforcing the duty of the craft to preserve themselves unsullied from the defilements of civil war , and while performing their parts as patriots aud men to remember the-rote ivhich binds them together . Below I append a very popular Masonic Ode written by Dr . Morris , and which is I believe in extensive circulation throughout tho State . " Masonic

Literature" our distinguished transatlantic brother writes , " is suffering woiully from the various troubles of thc clay . Always viewed as a luxury , ryiriugly patronised , ancl that only by tho feiv , it is the first to feel the pressure of" tho times and the last to recover . During the past year nearly every Masonic journal in America has either suspended publication or been thrown up without the promise of resumption . " Amid the -. 'loom in

which , according to previous statement tho j-. J .-isonic literature of tho States has been so long enshrouded it must assuredly be gratifying to know that Morris ' s Voice has been the first to break the silence . That publication has again , made its appearance iu magazine form , and copies of it are in daily expectation of being received in this country . As might have heen anticipated another

effect of the political strife now raging in America , is in the rate of tho increase of lodges and membership being greatly lessened the resources of lodges being curtailed , and thoir treasuries depleted . According to the introductory remarks to Morris ' s . Freemasons Almanack of 18 G 2 , " Grand Lodges have been compelled to resort to unwonted measures of

retrenchment , ancl many of the weaker lodges have surrendered or contemplate the surrender of their charters in consequence of the financial stringency of the time :- ; . Tlio attendance of delegates upon Grand Lodge communications has been reduced liy fully one-third . : u : d tho absence of many leading masons who aro serving in tho armies of the one or tho other sideis observed in tho

, paucity of addresses , reports , & c , in their p-ab'i . -Jicd proceedings . " But to turn to thc other side of thc picture : Tho Ehtional Masonic School of Instruction , under tho presidency of Bob Morris lias held four sessions during the past year—a national m-jvenient which is said to bo accomplishing groat good .

1 am fraternally -cur-, D ' . MUBBAY LY 03 T . PJ . W . Mother Kilwinning , P . G . J . W . of Avrsliire . Ayr , 1-ith April , 1812 . wn SWEAT :, TO I ; :. A TRUE BBOTjuor ; . Dear friends oftlie Square let ns cherish tho fbvth

, Thov . ' f . i broken and torn every other ; Keinomlier tho vow ! AVC swore unto death Wc lA-onld cling-, hand and heart , to a bruth ,: ; -. Then raise up to G-od , up to God the le'V , hruv , With mine join , Avith mine join the other ; Thotta'U Avar blow the blast , and Avith death screw the land

, Wo swear to be true to a brother ! Tiui East lends his light , though , thc ivorld is at war : The South shines ivith g-lory and beauty ; Thc West gently smiles o ' er fields drenched ine-oro ; They teach to each Ci-al ' tsinnn his duty . Then raise up to God , & c .