The Bible And Masonry.

institution . If we heed the injunction , so to demean ourselves while mingled with the busy world without , as becomes men and Masons , we shall gather converts to our cause , and the order will prosper as it has never prospered before .

But , let us turn away from these duties , and practise in an inverse manner , and it easy to see that we shall be found scattering our own best principles to the winds , and the whirlwind will carry them away . The good , the virtuous , the upright ,

the devotional will be repelled , and converts , or members worthy of the order will be hard to gain . Indeed , they will be like angels visits , " few and far between . " But acknowledging the teaching of the sacred writings in conjunction with the

excellent tenets of our order , let us see to it that we reduce them to practice in our every-day life , and we shall then , and not till then , stand before the world as just ancl upright Masons . The world well bless our labours , and further light will

shine upon the mysterious development of the Grand Artificer ' s great trestle-board of nature . —Mystic Star .

Masonic Jottings.—No. 42.

MASONIC JOTTINGS . —No . 42 .

BY A PAST PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTEE . FORM 01 * OBLIGATION . A Brother inquires if there is trace in the Archives of Grand Lodge of any authorized form

of obligation of any candidate not being a Christian candidate . I believe there is not . The custom is to obligate a Jew on the Pentateuch , aMahomedan on the Koran , and a Parsee , as I have heard , on the Zend Avest-a . The most correct mode

would be to obli gate them all in the way in which the oaths of pure Theists are taken iu our Courts of Justice , it beiug as Theists , and not as Jews , Mahomedans , and Parsees , that they are admitted into our Freemasonry .

READING OP THE BIBLE IN LODGE . My answer to the inquiry of a Member of Grand Lodge upon this subject is , that I am not able to say whether the usage is , or is not , altogether extinct .

UNANIMITY . A Brother complains that there is not unanimity in Masonry . Surely he forgets that there is not unanimity in Philosophy ; and Masonry is Philosophy .

Masonic Jottings.—No. 42.

CREATION OP MAN . The infusion of Reason was the Creation of Man . A TRACT OE LAND . An old member of the Craft likens Masonry to a tract of land , having a forest on the surface , ancl

minerals beneath the surface . Our forefathers have cut down the forest , and they might have got the minerals , but they did not . LESSING . Lessingwas ametemsychosist . —See a communication '' Freemasons' Magazine , " vol . xvii ., page 289 .

EBEEMASONBY AND CHRISTIANITY . Bro . F . CD ., "Hutchinson ' s Spirit of Masonry , " and " Ashe's Masonic Manual " are books which yon ought to possess . Bro . H . B . White cites both works in his communication , " Freemasonry and Christianity " " Freemasons' Magazine , " vol

xvi ., page 4-43 , and vol . xviii ., page 21 . LODGES—SCHOOLS-COLLEGES . In the ancient Lodges instruction varied , as in our modern schools and colleges it varies , with the position and z * equirements of the persons

needing it . The instruction of the Operative Mason was not the same as the instruction of the Speculative Mason . MASONIC TEACHINGS , AND MASONIC TEACHERS . Whoever will take the trouble to look through

the numerous tracts that appear for the instruction and edification of our Craft will soon come to the conclusion that , of our different teachings , that which comprises our Myths and Legends is the most in favor with our teachers .

LIBRARY FOR MASONIC INVESTIGATION , At the Grand Lodge held in May , 1814 , the Duke of Sussex said it would be found that " a library formed for Masonic Investigation , mustembrace a very numerous collection of rare and valuable books in Hebrew , Celtic , Greek , Latin ., and Oriental lane-uao-es . " O O

A LESSOR TO LEAKS . —Says tlie "Masonic Tidings : " Let no one imagine that because lie 1 ms passed through tho ceremonies of the several degrees , and become a Templar Mason , that Masonry has done its work upon him , and that there / ore , he is bright in tlie noble art , and that all that remains for him to clo is to adorn himself externally with Masonic emblems , and proclaim to the wcricl that he is a luminary in its sacred temple ; but rather let him seek to adorn his mind and heart ¦ with its

noble principles and generous affections , by studying its moral teachings , and expending the money wasted on those expensive emblems in drying tlie tears of the widow and orphan , cheering the heart of tlie desolate , so that when ho " nioe ' es at the iloor ol our Grand Loclge above , our supreme Grand Master will say , Come , ye blessed of my Father , inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world ; lor I was a lmiigred and yc gave mo meat ; I was thirsty and ye gave me drink ; I was a stranger and ye took nic in .