Oration.

and burden of the day , desire to end their lives in blissful peace . It is our duty , brethren , tD prove to the world that Freemasonry is something more than a name—that its principles are pure , its designs praiseworthy—and the clearest and most logical way to convince the sceptic or

the scorner is by a steady and consistent practice of the benevolent precepts of the Order . Freemasonry will then not only present to the mind of the philosopher an organised system of peculiar knowledge unfolded in ceremonies known only to the initiated , but to mankind in general it will appear as a beneficent

institution , teaching morality , and visibly bearing the fruits of charity and goodwill . May the lodge which we inaugurate this day prove a conspicuous example of all the virtues that adorn the Masonic character ; may it convey to distant posterity the august lessons that have been handed down from our forefathers ; may it

ever be the shrine of intellect and the temple of thought , the home of peace , and the abode of joy ; established by the hand of genius , and supported by the pillars of intelligence , may it remain as an imperishable memorial of its founders , growing year by year in prosperity and happiness , and shining brighter and brighter in the glorious firmament of fame !

Fourth Decade Of Masonic Precepts.

FOURTH DECADE OF MASONIC PRECEPTS .

( From Bro . PURTON COMER ' Manuscript Collections . ) XXXI . —ENGLISH AXD AMERICAN FREEMASONRY . Brother , in thy personification of English and American Freemasonry thou may ' st fitly call them Sisters ; for , after a few years , have not a young mother and her daughter a resemblance rather sisterly than maternal

and filial ? XXXTI . —FRIENDSHIP . Brother , walk with him , make him thy friend , to whom " what he finds of flavour in fruit , or of scent in flower , brings the remembrance of a present God , " the glorious Architect of Heaven and earth .

XXXIII . —SIN Brother , know that the sin which thou callcst light , is nevertheless a heavy load . Wonder not , then ; that thou walkest with difficulty . XXXIY . —BLAKE . "When thou blamest thy brother , forgot not that in

like circumstances thou might ' st have done the same . XXXV . —CHILDREN . Au English brother has abandoned his Christianity , hut his wife continues a devout Christian . This brother should leave to his wife the education of their children * XXVI . —AlDD 101—CIEL T ' AIDURA .

Aidetoi : ciel t ' aidera . Translation—Do thy duty as a true Freemason , and the Great Architect of the Universe will assist thee . XXXVII . —ATHEISM . Brother , tolerate not Atheism in thy house . Wouldst thou tolerate in thy house what thou wouldst not tolerate in thy lodge ?

Fourth Decade Of Masonic Precepts.

XXXVIII—THE NAME or GOD . Brother , when thou pronouncest the name of God , Glorious Architect of Heaven and Earth , remember the custom of thy country ' s greatest philosopher * . XXXIX . —HASTEN TO SUCCOUR .

Do thou , Brother , hasten to succour ; the Great Architect of the Universe will judge . XL . —SLAVERY . Brother , art thou the owner of slaves in a country where slavery has not yet been abolished ? Know that

emancipation is thy duty , notwithstanding thou may'st deem such emancipation a pecuniary detriment to thy family .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

JiKO . II . 13 . WHITE . My brother "White , having explained the signification attached by him to the terms "INatural Religion" and "Revelation , " as used in his letter ( page 251 ) , nothing now remains except to record the pleasure afforded me by the courteous manner in which my remarks have been met . —C . P . COOPEE .

DEO . EIIOEXAI . A correspondent , member of a metropolitan lodge , inquires what ought to be done in a case resembling that stated by 13 ro . Elioenai , page 290 of the present volume . My answer is that , if a metropolitan lodge has knowingly admitted a candidate who " professes

Atheistical ideas , and scoffs at the public worship of the Great Architect of the Universe , " the matter ought to be carried before Grand Lodge with the smallest possible delay . —C . P . COOPER .

A SIirZ'IE QUEET . "What I knew about Masonry a long while ago has become lost under rust and crust , seldom relieved even by the lig ht of knives and forks . I am told by some revolutionist that an ancient form of getting into a lodge in Germany was by taking your hat off and on . He says he has seen Masons wearing their hats in a funeral procession . My friend says he is a member of a London lodge . —HATTEK .

BEO . EDWAED STKONG . In "Notes and Queries" is a note from " " W " . E . A . A . , " of Strangeways , referring to an entry in the "Monthly Mirror" ( JN . S . ix ., US ) , of a letter on astrology , signed "H . Herbert . " The writer speaks of having in his possession a copy of Aubrey ' s

" Miscellanies " annotated by Pope ihe poet , one of whose notes io " Odd Observation of St . Paul ' s Cathedral , from the ' London Journal' of Saturday , Peb . 15 th , 1723-4 : "— "On Saturday last died Mr . Edward Strong , formerly mason of St . Paul ' s Cathedral . " Pope ' s note then goes on to record the

fact of the cathedral having been begun and finished under one architect , one mason , and one bishop . This note , repeated like a reflection in loolung-glasss or an echo , gives the time of death of Bro . Edward Strong ,