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wilful sin of false-witness-bearing and breaking their neighbour's bread . " We commend to the pious Secretary of the Religious Tract Society—who , in holding Bro . Rogers up to disfavour because he was Master of

a Masonic Lodge , understands neither what he says nor whereof he affirms—the following important extract from our transatlantic contemporary , the National Freemason : —

THE DUTY OFVPIOUS MEN TO FREEJIASOXEY . By Aug . G . I . Arnold , LL . D . The Society of Freemasons is not a club of reckless , fun-loving men , who repudiate all that is serious , and ridicule all the grace of piety—it is a

body of earnest men , intelligent men , good and true men , who love virtue , reverence religion , ancl worship God . Ancl besides , the arrangements of the Order have been adapted with special reference to their religious and moral bearing-. Tlie

great fact—the sentiment of accountabilitvwhich underlies all religions which may claim to be Divine , is the central idea around which all our ceremonies revolve—the fountain whence all our moral lessons are drawn ! There is not a rite

in our Order which does not look backward to the Creator , and forward to eternity—which does not forth-shaclow some of the profoundest mysteries of the soul and contribute directly to man ' s moral growth . The moral and religious aspects of the

institution should recommend it to the . attention and love of all serious-minded men . But another reason presents itself , still more powerful , perhaps . Let it bo observed that in the United States alone there must be an almost

unnumbered multitude of them . Let it be also j observed that these are men for the most part in J active life—a majority of them probably heads of families , and ^ ail of them together commanding an' influence which reaches to , and affects directly ,

nearly one million of persons ! Ancl the circle of this influence is ever enlarging ! It is not a superficial , transient inlluence , but deep and abiding—thousands aud tens of thousands are governed by it , sustained by it , and consoled by

it ! Here , then , in the very heart of the com- ; munity , is a mighty and ever-increasing power , which must and will control the destinies of millions ! This power is an existing fact—this influence is now in active operation all around us— ' for good or for evil , ifc ivill make itself felt . Think

Strange Revelations.

of this , Christians , who love virtue , humanity , and and God , and consider well Avhether yon are not in duty bound to give your countenance to the Order—to direct it by your wisdom , and govern it by your virtue ; and thus bind it indissolubly to

the cause of good morals and religion . O CD The influence of Masonry is , must , and will continue to be widely felt ; and if you have fears and doubts with respect to the character of that influence , come with us , labour with us , and secure

to this body a healthy influence . For ourselves , we have no fears , no doubts , as to the practical workings and ultimate results of Freemasonry . And were you , the good , tho wise , the religiousall associated wifch us , the bare supposition of evil

results would be impossible while anticipations of great and incalculable good would be absolutely certain .

Laying The Foundation Stone Of The Greyfriars' Church, Dumfries.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE GREYFRIARS' CHURCH , DUMFRIES .

Referring to the particulars of the proceedings in connection with fche above ceremonial as given in our last , the following is the address delivered on the occasion by the R . W . Bro . Henry Inglis of Torsonce , Deputy Grand Master : —

"It affords me infinite pleasure , as the representative appointed by the Grand Lodge of Scotland , in the unavoidable absence of the Grand Master , to attend upon this interesting occasion , within the ancient capital of the south of Scotland . It

is always a pleasing duty for the Craft of Freemasons to assist their fellow countrymen in laying the foundations of public edifices of importance ; but that duty becomes indeed a- labour of love when they are called upon to lay the corner stone of a

temple to be dedicated to the worship of the living God . Gentlemen , the very fact that we have been requested to come here to-day for such a purpose is a commentary upon the principles of our Craffc , which is worth a hundred homilies .

For thousands of years , beyond the epoch of written history , yet not the less assuredly , Freemasonry lias been at work inculcating the great truths of justice and charity throughout the globe , extracting- all that was beneficial from savage

superstitious ; all that was Godlike from Pagan philosophies ; all that was loving from unmitigated Theism ; upholding justice ; upholding charity ; combining against the evil in defence of the good . And , after the lapse of ages—from that time when