Operative Masonry And Freemasonry.

The rites and ceremonies of Freemasonry form the distinctive peculiarity of the institution . In their nature they are simple , in their end instructive . They naturally excite a high degree of curiosity in a newly initiated brother , aud create in him an earnest desire to investigate their meaning and become acquainted with their object and design . Ifc

requires , hoivever , both serious application aucl untiring diligence to ascertain the precise nature of every ceremony which our ancient brethren saw reason to adopt , in the formation of an exclusive system which ivas to pass through the world unconnected with the reli gion aud polities of all times , and of every people amongst whom ifc should flourish and increase .

But the zealous and assiduous Mason , with the assistance of an intelligent Master in the chair ( and none but intelligent brethren should ever be placed in that responsible situation ) will nofc fail to derive instruction from every ceremony he may witness , and improvement from every ordinance with which he may become acquainted . The first business which occupies the brethren when assembled at their stated meetings , is AAdiat is technically termed

the opening of the Lodge , Avhen , at the Avell known signal , the officers and members , and visiting brethren , clothed in their appropriate insignia , repair to their respective stations , and await the command of the Worshi pful Master ; the avenues of the Lodge are secured , and the ceremony of opening proceeds .

The ceremony of closing differs from that of opening only in the necessary change of phraseology , and in certain precautionary measures . Tho brethren are all expected to assist iu the performance of both duties , and much of tlie beauty and harmony of tho scene depends on their quiet de ]) orfcnienfc and strict attention to the business beforo thorn .

In this , as Avell as other Masonic ceremonies , everything approaching to levity or rudeness in speech or action , is to be deprecated aud avoided . A Freemason should never forget thafc he is it-gentleman ; ancl that all the peculiarities he witnesses , or iu Avhich he is required to participate ivhilst in the Lodge , are designed to illustrate and inculcate some great moral truth . The peculiar beauty of our ceremonies s , thafc they all tend to cultivate and improve the mind , and consecrate the affections to virtue .

The labours aucl duties of fche Lodges should begin and end with prayer . The brethren cannot be too often reminded of their dependence on the Great Architect of the universe for every blessing they enjoy . Prayer is an ancient and beautiful custom of the institution ; it Avas the constant practice of our forefathers ; it is enjoined by the Constitutions ,

ancl cannot with propriety be dispensed with . It has been beautifully said , that the Worshi pful Master opens the Lodge at sunrise , with solemn prayer ; the Junior Warden calls the brethren from labour to refreshment when the sun attains its meridian hei ght ; and fche Senior Warden closes the Lodge with prayer at sunsetwhen the labours of

, our ancient brethren ended . The great luminary of creation rises in the east to open and enliven the clay with a mild but genial influence , ancl all nature rejoices in the appearance of his beams . He gains his meridian lustre in the south , invigorating all things with the perfection of his ripening qualities ; and with declining strength ho sets in the west to

close the clay , leaving all mankind at rest from their labours . This is a type of the three most prominent stages in the life i > f man—infancy , manhood , aud age . The first , characterized by the blush of innocence , is as pure as the tints which gild the eastern portals of the day ; tho heart rejoices in the unsuspecting integritof its oivn unblemished virtuesnor fears

y , deceit because ifc knoivs no guile . Manhood succeeds ; the ripening intellect arrives at , the meridian of its powers ; and afc the approach of old age , man ' s strength decays , his sun is setting in the AVest ; enfeebled by sickness or bodily infirmities , he lingers on till death closes his eventful day , and happy is lie if tlie sefctiiiL- splendours of a virtuous life id Id

Operative Masonry And Freemasonry.

his departing moments Avith the gentle tint of hope , and elosi his short career in peace , harmony , and brotherly IOAT .

Uniformity Of Working.

UNIFORMITY OF WORKING .

A * . IOXGST the members of the Craft under the English constitution , travellers or other brethren enjoying opportunities of visiting a variety of Lodges , must be greatly astonished at the Avaut of uniformity in Avovking . Peculiar alterations are made in our ritual hy the insertion of forms borrowed frequently from Scotch , Irish , American , and other foreign sources , without the slightest regard to the ancient landmarks of the Order , and totally

ignoring the authority of the Grand Lodge , Avhich forbids innovations of any kind . Brethren initiated in these Lodges , whilst receiving their Masonic education , have communicated to them a mixture of truth ancl error , which can never , except by good fortune and skilful teaching , be separated . Meeting after meeting confirms the erring impression , until at last , scarce a vestige of the proper Avorking remains . The end no doubt is the sameand

, the possessor of Masonic secrets will , it is to be hoped , hai-e an ample knowledge of the science , no matter how conveyed . But something more than that is required by the Constitutions , and ive should not only instruct candidates in the same mysteries , but our method of imparting the instruction should also be the same , so that a person initiated in the most remote Lodge from England , ought to enjoy equal advantages Avith his ( at present more

fortunate ) brethren at home . Regular Lodges of Instruction are particularly useful , but under the present regulations , much cannot be hoped from them . Brethren residing in England ma }* , with slight exertion , render their knowledge of our approved ritual almost perfect ; but the multitude of brethren , located out of the United Kingdom , do not enjoy the same facilities , and Avithout

the existence of one recognized author ) ty , to determine the merit . ' of rival Lodges , no complete ancl general system of Masonic instruction can be established . It might be suggested to the members ofthe Grand Lodge , that they should form a committee to revise the entire present ritual , ancl create one from ivhich no deviation should be at any time allowed ; that a council be selected from amongst the most approved and efficient brethren who have served

as Masters of Lodges , to Avliom this revised ritual be entrusted ; that the council consist of — members , to bear office for such period as may be deemed expedient , and vacancies in its numbers be filled up by the Grand Lodge ; that the council shall have full jioivers of adjudication upon matters connected ivith the ritual , ancl be , in other Avords , a Loclge of Instruction , acting ivith supreme aucl recognized authority ; that certain days in the

month be set apart for examination , at which a majority of the council to attend , and any Worshipful Muster or Past ' Mister under the English Constitution be allowed to present himself ; should those examinations be satisfactory , the brethren to be entitled to a certificate of proficiency , under such Masonic rank and jewel as may be decided upon ; that brethren so qualified should be requested to point out to the Worshiful Masterivhen visitin"

p , a strange Lodge , any deviation from the authorized ritual . This plan , of which the present article is a crude ancl hasty sketch , seems to promise fair . In a feiv years , brethren possessing the required proficiency ivould be . scattered over the globe , giving by their own perfected knowledge , assurance to the skilful and assistance to the incorrect . M . M ., INDIA .

'I ' m ; QVAKF . II IVLisox—H is contrary to the discipline 01 ' U \ v , Society of Friends to allow any ul' their members to join the Masonic fraternity . Nevertheless , not a few of that persuasion have at different limes and places entered the Order . Aiming others there was ouee a Quaker who had six sons , all of Avhom were Freemasons . By some means . Levi , for that ivas his name , finally found his way into our mystie pale . The Friends found it out , aucl sent a committee of two , Abraham and Joseph , to express their concern to the erring brother , and secure from him au of to the articles of

assurance fidelity discipline . Abraham called ivith his associate on Levi , when , as it is reported , something like the following dialogue took place : —Abraham , the spokesman , after having stated that they had come as a committee from the Friends , said , " Levi , no understand that thou art a Freemason . " " I ) llire had that reputation for twenty years . " c ; But will thou tell us , Levi , Avhether thou art a Mason ? " "So , Abraham , I will not tell thee Avhether f am or not . " "Shall ive tell the meeting , Levi , that thor dost renounce Freemasonry ?" "lS o , Abraham , I ivill not . I will see theo condemned first . " Tim committee left him anil reported to the meetiiK .-- lint Levi continued lo preach , and wa .-i n <> more mulcted after ( hat .