Voices From Ruins.

AVhose dwelling is the light of setting sun ; A motion of the spirit that impels All thinking things , all subjects , aud all thought , 'That rolls through all things . " There is a lamp in every ruin , before whose pale ray is read the story of the eloquent though voiceless past . The passing waves of humanity have left its glory unextinguished ,

the tumults of a thousand years and generations have faintly touched the castle rampart , but the cloistered repose of the ancient minster acquired the shadows of the passions which disturbed the outward world ; and its tenants cultivated the arts and sciences unmolested , went to their account , and were succeeded by brethren who prosecuted their studies ancl died

in their turn . In the ruin we see the outline of beauty in form which the inroads of corrupt tastes and fashions have been unable to obliterate . Who gazes upon the massive blocks of stone within which emperors worshipped and empires congregated around 1 To us who have derived our glory and our fame from the temples dedicated to the

cultivatiou of reli gion and . morality , the sig ht of a ruin should furnish food for contemplation . The conqueror has lit his watchfires at its base , the unfortunate have found mercy and oblivion in its embrace , and plenty and peace have flourished beneath its tall shadow . The ruin is a standing witness against humanit y , as ifc is the glory -of man ' s genius . It

stands in solemn contrast to the modern mockeries that rise up around it . Profanation is subdued in its presence . The limits of earth and water have retired before its mysterious warnings . The brave man whose life has been devoted to the practice of good and the cultivation of virtue , finds in the evening of his time the consolation which keeps alight

the fire of life ; and when he falls his name remains to his children , urging to duty , charity , and hope . So with the ruin . There is a sermon to the pride of man upon every disintegrated fragment which the caprice of the storm scatters abroad . The ruin must in the course of things pass away , but the devout in future ages will pause as they pass , and ivhisper to their children "Here it stood . "

Random Thoughts.

RANDOM THOUGHTS .

¦ ' ' Aud a certain man pulled a bow at a venture . " Wi-IAI" is Masonry ? This is a question that may be answered by some few members ( and some few only ) in each -Lodge , with schoolboy correctness , who may yet , notwithstanding , be utterly unable to explain the several points which form that answer . And even members of '

many years standing may be asked this question without being able to give you the simple answer , which thoy must repeatedl y hear while attending the ceremonies of the second degree . Hundreds , nay thousands , who receive the light (?) of Masonry , think their task accomplished when thoy have but imperfectly mastered those signs , tokens , etc ., which are the

safeguard of tho Order , and thus so far accustomed themselves to Lodge routine , as to be able to bear , without much discomfort , Lodge business and ceremonies . But few there are who can point out to us in what the allegory consists , Avhere is the symbolism , or what peculiarity there is in the moralit y that is set forth . They arc not taught by Past Alasters

when preparing for the several degrees , or by the after proceedings of most of our Lodges , the necessity of knowing ^ these points , and . therefore it is that knowled ge Js so universall y neglected . They hear ceremonies pushed throug h with undue haste , and the most important portion promised "if time will permit "—which it very seldom doesand

— thus our lectures are seldom heard , and but seldom are the explanations of our beautiful tracing board given . But Masonry was intended for hi gh and useful purposes , -the magic initials "P . M . " ( as at present conferred ) arc not the only things worth striving for—there are the first principles of Masonry which require fully mastering , ere

those letters can have their full meaning , and their right signification . A P . M . should be a teacher of his brethren , and that teaching not confined to the mere care of seeing that the officers only correctly perform the ceremonies , but that the meaning of every portion of those ceremonies is well understood by the brethren at large . This is a duty

of the Past Master of the Lodge , and his aim should be to see thafc his children are well trained in the mysteries of our glorious old Craft . In some Lodges ( but , alas I not in many ) , it is a rule that the Worshipful Master should lecture his brethren on Masonic subjects ; and it is a rule that might be advantageously adopted by many Lodges that now exult in

the term " Crack . " Crack many of them may be , as far as the mere working is concerned . Correct they may be , with , perhaps , parrot-like correctness ; but unless the different portions of the ceremonies are analyzed aud explained at various times , but few can know the real meaning and import of those workings . We are not peculiar in having a language that the uninitiated , world cannot understand . Other times and . other

people have thought it necessary to clothe in allegory or symbolism their peculiar discoveries in science , their philosophy , and even their religion . As far back as the reign of the hi g h and mighty kings who built those stupendous erections , the pyramids—which promise to last as long as time ancl . this world exist together—symbolism had full

sway . Their philosophy , politics , and religion , ware all concealed by hieroglyphics ; while even their princijiles of government . were deemed tCbe so invaluable as to be expressed only by signs and symbols , and these signs and symbols were revealed to their Magi alone , who were bound over to an inviolable secrecy . From the Egyptians we may trace

the origin of those societies in which everything associated with their workings was likewise veiled in allegory ; and as time rolled on so we believe ; did these societies improve in their moral aspect , until Masonry , their top stono as it were , sprung out from them- —a beautiful system , shining forth in a

halo of glory , in which those divine truths may be learned which will lead its true ancl genuine members to a participation in the glory and happiness of the eternal heavens . Unlike ; the ; system of Pythagoras and others who followed him , Masonry is founded upon a rock , and must endure so long as that rock remains upon which its superstructure is based . It stands upon holy ground—it is supported by

wisdom , strength , and beauty . Wisdom is in all its paths , and conducts its members in all their deliberations ; strength is given to them to pursue their righteous course under difficulties and dangers ; while the beauty of the divine laws are exemplified in their workings , and shine forth pre-eminently in every line of her invaluable lecturesand in all the precepts

, of tlie glorious old Craffc . It is a system that has been railed , against , persecuted , and anathematised ; but it has come out of the fire purified even as silver is purified by the hands of the refiner .

. [ . here is a rich field here lor learned dissertations , and we have men in the Craffc who ought to take up these subjects , ( though not after the Oliverian style ) because God has blessed them with the intellect necessary for this cask , ancl the influence required to enable tin mi to be teachers of their brethren . There is one of our illustrations or symbols only

that I shall now glance at , and that is the shape of a Masons ' Lodge—which our " authority " tells us is that of an oblong ; in length , from east to west ; in breadth , from north to south ; and yet so simple as is this symbol , and so oft repeated , I never met with one who has given an explanation of it . They repeat the stereotyped words and content

themselves with that ; but this taking things as a matter of course is foreign to the true spirit of Masonry . We are forbidden from discussing , in Lodge , matters pertaining to politics or religion , but not matter's relating to Masonic knowledge . Ou the contrary we arc exhorted to " dedicate