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GHontente . PAGE FEDEUASOHS' MAOAZIHE : — Visiting Brethren 62 Notes on American Freemasonry 62 Masonic Jottings—No . 54 65

Masonic Notes and Queries 66 Correspondence 67 Reviews 68 Masonic Sayings aud Doings Abr-oad 69 MASONIC MIKEOK ;—Masonic Meins .- •¦• 70 CEAET LonGE MEETINGS : —

Metropolitan , 70 Provincial 72 India 76 RovalArch 70 Knights Templar 79 Ancient and Accepted Right 79 Poetry 79 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week SO Notice to Correspondents 80

Visiting Brethren.

VISITING BRETHREN .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JANUARY 28 , 1871 .

Masonry teaches brotherly love , not alone to the individual members of one ' s own Lodge , but to all men -who are Masons . If there is any time , especially where brotherly love should be displayed , it is at the reception of a visiting brother . A

stranger knocks at your door , far from home ; no one to vouch for him , lie asks to be admitted , and desires to be examined as to his worthiness . From the time a creditable examination has been passed he should be made to feel that he is among

brothers and friends . A little courtesy goes a great way to a man away from home and friends : it Avarms his heart and strengthens his faith in the goodness of his fellow-men . Selfishness and . exclusiveness have managed in

unguarded moments to creep into some Masonic Lodges . A visitor is not at ease for a moment from the time he interrogates the Tyler to the time he leaves the Lodge . He is made to feel as though he were an interloper , trespassing on tbe domain of others . It is too often the custom to

pass a brother by the Tyler after a favourable report from the Examining Committee , and then to forget all about him . This is entirely wrong it is unmasonic , discourteous to the visiting brother , and heathenish altogether . It should be

the especial business of all members of a lodge Avhen " called from labour" to look up visiting brethren , speak to them , aud show an interest in those Avhom they have acknowledged to be brothers by admitting them to the Lodge . This

Visiting Brethren.

should not be performed as a duty , as a disagreeable job that has to be done , but as a pleasure , aud to a man lit to be a Mason it will be a pleasure . Any one unwilling to carry out the principles of Masonry has no business to apply to a lodge for

admission . No man can really become a Mason without first being properly prepared in his heart . We wish the members of some of our metropolitan Lodges could visit lodges in other parts of the Avorld , say in India , China , Australia . The

true brotherly reception they Avould meet Avitli would teach them a lesson they Avould be many clays in forgetting . Too many men become Masons for selfish motives . They join the lodge with the expectation of receiving a benefit or

benefits , and their selfishness so befogs their understanding that the lesson of charity is not learned , and the sublime principles of Masonry are never understood . Would it not be Avell for our

lecturers while inculcating the "" standard " work , to try and instil into the minds of the brethren some of the great moral principles which uphold the structure of Speculative Masonry . Masters might , with benefit to themselves and to their

lodges , study on the true meaning of the Ritual , It is not enough to be word-perfect in the performance of the work , but it is necessary to understand the spirit of the words , for he who does not speak with the understanding , AVI'U fail

to convey to others the true meaning of the beautiful allegories which form the body of Masonic work . We are of opinion that if the word Brother was studied a little more , we should be better Masons , and accord a more cordial reception to visiting brethren . —Cosmopolitan .

BEAUTIFUL EXTRACT . —And now , having finished onv hurried sketches in intervals snatched from tho cares and pressing calls and anxieties of a busy , bustling life wo loiter a moment before saying Vale ! If thoro is a green spot under the canopy of heaven whero tho wearypilgrim may rest , Masonry is our choice . However the

storms of life may buffet us , and our bar ! -: bo tossed about and rent in the troubled voyage of life , wo never foil to find a sympathetic friend within the hallowed walls of the Craft . A gleam of sunshine dispels the gJooni , and points to that final resting place where the " wicked ceaso from troubling and the weary are at rest . " God

bless you all , esteemed friends and correspondents . May our pathway through life be serene , and your reward that of the just . Our cause is righteous , and , if faithful , our reward will be eternal . —Cor . Q . Council Michigan .