The Object Of Freemasonry.

THE OBJECT OF FREEMASONRY .

THERE is one important consideration in regard to the object of Freemasonry which is overlooked b y most Masonic writers , and that is , the positive duty of all Freemasons to practice the teachings of the Institution , so as to improve their moral natures , that they may hecome better and better , and continually advance to a hi gher plane of action . It must be evident to every reflecting mind that the most elaborate writers upon the subject of

Freemasonry , instead of having a unity of design with the above object in view , in imitation of the example of the various sects of relig ionists , promulgate theories and dogmas , which they expect their readers to subscribe to—and thus establish opinions , which after all . are mere opinions , and which result in diverting the Masonic mind from the true object and intent of Freemasonry , if the question were asked what has Freemasonry done in elevating the

moral status of its members , what answer could they give ? Ifc would not be satisfactory to refer the inquirers to . the law , to the lessons inscribed upon the Masonic trestle board , or the beautiful theories and treatises written on the subject of Freemasonry , The response would be , that the Book of the Law contains the moral code of all creeds , and from tens of thousands of places at least one day out of even- seven , those who have made the Book

their particular stud y , explain and expound the meaning of the information contained in its pages , according to the theories ofthe particular church they are authorized to represent , and yet the result of all these efforts is to produce an antagonism , a variance

between man and his fellow . Such has been the experience Images past , and a like condition of disagreements and differences exists in the Masonic institution , not as to the duty of living up to the teachings of Freemasonry , but in the controversies arising in regard to the | 'letter of the ' faw , " the other , the most important consideration , is overlooked . A \ c have controversies in regard to almost every imaginable subject by which hostile feelings are

engendered , and the main object , indeed the sole object for which Freemasonry was instituted , viz ., the progressive development of our better nature , is sacrificed to the discussion of mere theoretical opinions . This has resulted irom the writings , professedl y Masonic , of such men as Oliver , Hutchinson , aud others whom " we could name . The consequence is , that the standard of Masonry is lowered , aud it has not developed in practice in conformity to its

teachings . There is not that living inspiration in the cvery-day actions of Freemasons to influence the world around them to progress to a higher plane , to advance from good to better , and thus to improve the condition of society , such its the teachings of Freemasonry contemplate . The practice of the virtues is what Freemasonry demands , and not mere sentimental theorizing or speculating upon its teachings . We have had h of thislet

enoug ; us resolve to do , to reduce to practice the teachings of Freemasonry , to aim to be better ourselves , and to love our fellow men , and then we will truly manifest to the world around us , the object of Freemasonry , —American Mirror and Keiistone .

Old Rochester Bridge.

OLD ROCHESTER BRIDGE .

1 ' P . OM time to time your contemporary , the Times , has chronicled the gradual destruction of this once famous bridge . The last time I was at Rochester—the summer of 1858—hardly one stone was left on another , but there yet remained the vast foundation pites , which , at low water , the sappers and miners were busily employed m uprooting . Those of your readers who , like Mr . Pickwick , have admired the picturesque scenery of the Medway from the line old brid

ge , will forgive my calling their attention to a few facts relating j" its history . It ivas built , at the close ofthe fourteenth century ^ "y Sir Robert Knowlcs and Sir John dc Cobliam , the former brid ge , which ivas of wood , haying been rendered unsafe by Simcn < te Mont-fort when he besieged the castle , which was held ' by Earl U arren for the king . Lainbarde , in his Perambulation of Kent , says" The olde work of timber buildinge f b '

, was yrcd ySymon , me Earl of Leicester , in the reigne of Hen . 3 , and not full twentic •}! M les ! } ft 01 ' . ' was borne away by the ice , in the reigne of K . l'l " . ' a j ' ' ' i ' . soime . " Cobham appears to have been the most iberal in bis donations towards keeping the bridge iu repair . At "w east end there was a •'• lyttel chapel edifvect , " where were sung any three masses , to enable travellers to worship as they passed longh the episcopal collect

city , a special being said at each serine lor the souls of Sir John and some others specified in the V « l , a latcr l ' iod > Archbishop AVarham and Bishop ^ . . ner were benefactors to the bridge . Warham bestowed on it a •¦ -lot iron copings , ivhich Mr . Lower conjectures were wrought at too ' - ° 7 ° ° ° arcl " P < - ° pal manor at Mavfield . Fisher * h * -cat interest m the improvements which ivcrc in progress in

Old Rochester Bridge.

1531 . He used , "for his recreation ancl diversion , " to go and look at the workmen who were employed in the repairs . The first and third piers were to be maintained by the bishop and hi .-. * tenants . Lambarde gives the agreement in Latin : — "Episcopm-. Eoff : debet facerc primam .-peram de ponte Eolfensi , et debet invenire tres sullivas , et debet plantare tres Virgatas super pontem . —Episcopns Roft ' : debet facere lertiam peram , et debet tres sul-1

livas et p lantare duas Yirgatas ct cumid . ' Strange to say , the name of the architect is not known . Until Westminster bridge was built , Rochester bridge ranked as second in the kingdom , in 171 ) 3 , it was widened and beautified , under the direction of Mr . Alexander . Being at length considered insufficient for the requirements , both of the town and the river , tbe noble old bridge has iven place to a noble and handsome erectionwhichhowever

g , , , will never possess the associations of its predecessor . I may mention that Queen A'ietoria passed over the old bridge on her way to visit her wounded soldiers , at Fort Pitt hospital , thus fitly closing the long series of historical recollections with ivhich its ancient arches teemed . *—J . V . " Vi .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

XETIlEKLAXOlSIt 11 ASOXIG SOXCiS . "Worshi p ful Sir and Brother , —You will excuse my Dutchman's English . In your Magazine for ^ VIay , 1850 , at page 920 , is asked for a Netherlandish- translation of your Entered Apprentice ' s Song . I cannot precisely supply a translation , but in my own Lodge the banquet is usually closed after the following song : —¦ "BAND VAN BROEDERSCHAP .

"Air : —Frerc ; : et Compagnonx . " Legt , brooders 't-werktuig neer , AA'ilt uwen arbeid staken ; Un werlc strekt u tot eer 1 Laat oris tie rust nn smaaken , Die de Orde elk Jfetslaar schenkt , Ewaan list hart een wellust doet ervaaren ,

Die maimer 't reinst genoegen krenkt , Ot'naberoun kait baaren . "Bit gloedend druiven sap , Doon broederhand geschonken , Zij onzer broedersckap AA elmeenend toegedronken . Eenmaal tock , zeker , zal

De Metslaarij heel de aarde aliim verlicliten , En elk , door ons volmaakt getal , Ons edel werk verriehten 1 " The spelling of some ofthe Dutch words is not modern . [ Literally translated ] . "BAND OF BROTHERHOOD . " Lay , brethren , the working tool down .

Your labour cease ; Your work is honourable 1 Let us now taste the repose AA'hich the Order to every Mason gives , Ancl which to the heart a pleasure bring * , AA'hich never the purest harms , Or repentance can bring forth . " This lowing grape juice

g By brother ' s hand poured forth , Be our brotherhood Sincerely drunk to . For certainly will Masonry the whole earth everywhere enlighten . Let us each , by our perfect number , Our noble work perforin ! " '

These two stanzas arc selected from a work called Ce-angbocl : com- Vrijmetselaren ( Songbook for Freemasons ) , Amsterdam , 1800 , still our most common song book . It contains a number of both Dutch and French songs . Some Dutch Lodges have peculiar song books . AA ' e used to rise at the beginning of the last strophe . Sometimes the brethren will join in singing the Freres el Compagnons .

I cannot ascertain that quite the same verses and custom prevail throughout the Netherlands ; and this summertime I shall not get information thereupon . * According to Dr . Thorpe , the first bridge ( of wood ) over the Medway was built by Edgar the Peaceable , who levied an annual tax on "divers tracts of land for its repair . " A Saxon MS ., still extant , marks with exactness such portions of the work as were to bo executed by Ihe respective landowners . It was -130 feet long , and had nine piers with eight arches , — Vide Beattie ' s Castles and Abbeys of England ,