(H; 1 ' 4» V V* .< £ L ao «a m o ■£* rf o L E R A N c 3" THE <> * DfEtial Jmtnral of tjrc Jnikitt aik |)nmitife fate of JjJasmuqj. Published under the Authority of the Sovereign Sanctuary for Great Britain and Ireland, Edited by the GRAND SECRETARY-GENERAL. Vol. II., No. 18. ] JUNE, 1882. (Subscription, Is. M. per [MONTHLY. CRATA REPOA ; Fourth Grade. — Chistophoris. Battle of the Shades (Tertnllian, de Militis Corona). The term of anger was ordinarily eighteen months, and when that had passed the Thesmophoris went to see the Initiate, saluting him graciously, and, after arming him with a sword, and buckler, invited him to follow him. They over-ran the sombre galleries, when suddenly some men masked under hideous figures, with flambeaus in their hands and serpents round them, attacked the Initiate, crying — Panis ! The Thesmophoris incited him to confront all dangers and surmount all obstacles. He defended himself with courage, but succumbed to numbers ; they then bandaged his eyes and passed a cord round his neck, by which he was led into the hall where he was to receive a new grade. He was then raised extended and introduced to the assembly, hardly able to sustain himself. The light was restored to him, and his eyes were dazzled with the brilliancy of the decorations ; the hall offered an assemblage of the most gorgeous pic- tures. The King, himself, was seated beside the Demi - nryos , or Chief Inspector of the Society. Below these high personages were seated the Stolista (Purifier by Water) ; the Hierostolista (Secretary), bearing a plume as his coiffure ; the Zacotis (Treasurer) ; and the Komastcs , or Steward of the Banquets. All wore the Alyclee [Alctheia] , truth. It was an Egyptian decoration. Actianus, Yar. Hist. liv. 14., chap. 34, speaks in these terms : — “ Eum omnium hominum justissimum et tenacissimum opportebat qui circa collum imaginem ex Sapliiro gemma confectam gestabat/’] They presented him with a cup filled with a very bitter drink, which they termed cice , which it was necessary he should drain. [This was the veritable beverage which bore the name of Xuxeon : Athenee, liv. 91 . They invested him with divers ornana put upon him the buskins of Anubis (or Mercury) ; and they covered him with the mantle of Om, orna- mented with a hood. They ordered him to seize upon a scimitar which was presented to him, in order that he might strike off the head of an individual to be found at the bottom of a very deep cavern which he had to pene- trate, and bring the head to the King. At the same moment all cried — “ Niobe, behold the enemy’s cavern ! ” Entering there, he perceived the figure of a very beautiful woman ; it was composed of very fine skin or bladder, and so artistically manufac- tured that it seemed to be living. The new Chistophoris approached the figure, took it by the hair, and struck off the head, which he pre- sented to the King and Demiurgos. After applauding this heroic action, they informed him that it was the head of the Gorgo [Gorgo t Gorgol , Gorgonne , are the Egyptian names of Medusa] , or spouse of Typhon, and who was the cause of the assassination of Osiris. They seized upon this circumstance to impress upon him that he was to be always the avenger of evil. He then received permission to put on a new clothing which was presented to him. His name was in- scribed in a book amongst the other Judges of the land. He rejoiced in free communication with the King, and received his daily nourishment horn the Court. [Diodorus of Sicily, liv. 1, de Judiciis iEgyptiorum.] With the Code of Laws they gave him a decora- tion which he could only wear at the reception of a Cistophorus, or in the City of Sais. It represented Isis, or Minerva, under the form of an owl ; and the allegory was thus interpreted : — Man at his birth is blind as the owl, and becomes man only by the aid of experience and the light of philosophy. The casque expressed the highest degree of wisdom ; the decapitated head the repression of the passions ; the buckler a legitimate defence against calumny; the column firmness ; the cruse of water a thirst for ; the quiver, garnished with arrows, the of eloquence ; the pike persuasion carried A THE KNEPH. 138 afar, which is to say, that by his reputation one can at a great distance make a profound impression ; the palm and olive branches were the symbols of jieace. [Grand Cabinet Romaine, p. 26.] They further taught bim that the name of the great legislator was Jao. [Diodorus of Sicily, liv. 1, De Egyptiis Legum Latoribus.] This name was also the word of the Order. The members held meetings at times, where Chis- tophores alone could be admitted. The Chapters were called Pixon (Source of Justice) ; and the word in use at these holdings was Sasychis (an ancient priest of Egypt). The Initiate was taught the Ammonitisli lan- guage. [Ammonifcish was a mysterious language ; see word of the 1°.] The Aspirant having over-run the Lesser Mysteries , the object of which was to pre- pare him, they instructed him in the human sciences, up .to the moment of his being admitted to the Greater Mysteries , and to the knowledge of the sacred doctrine called the Grand Manifestation of Light, when there were no more secrets for h im ,*] AMERICAN JURISDICTION. New York, May 27th, 1882, E.V. To the Editor of “ The Kneph.” Dear Sir and Illustrious Brother, In tlie February number of your valuable journal devoted to the interests of our beloved Rite, you publish an article headed “American Jurisdiction,” and state that you will be glad to hear the other side of the question from me. So be it. A few facts will I think settle the question, which I sum up in these few words : — TVhether there exists a Sov. Sanctuary of the Antient and Primitive Rite of Mempdiis, in America, other than the one of which I am the Sov. Grand Master General ? I emphatically say No ! and if any body of men claim a right to hold meetings as a Sov. Sanctuary they do so with- out a shadow of authority, and are self-constituted, and therefore cannot be recognized by any body acting under legal warrant or charter. I could send you copies of numerous letters re- ceived from the Brethren in Canada in 1876, and later, when they applied ; to me for a Charter for a R.C. Chapter, and after for Senate and Council Charters, but you could not devote the space neces- sary to publish them ; but I will give you extracts, showing how anxious they were to obtain these Charters horn me, and willing to subscribe their names to the usual oaths of Fealty to the Sov Sanctuary and the Mt. 111. Sov. Grand Master General, Alexander B. Mott, in and for the Continent Jambliclius clearly explains what this was. The Priests professed absolutely to exhibit to the Epotae the various orders of Spirits. The Hero, or half gods, the elemental potentates archangels, angels, and tutelary Spirits. Moreover they described and explained the origin and qualities of these different orders of the upper world, in a clear and precise manner, shewing the great perfection to which the Egyptians had reduced the science of Theology.— John Yarker of America . How well they have kept that oath, and the numerous others they have taken, is best shown by the letter published in your issue of February, 1882, wherein a Canada Brother denies the authority of the Sov. Sanctuary from which the Brethren obtained their Charters for subordinate bodies for which they applied in due form, and over then* signatures, subscribing to the Oath of Fealty in each instance. It might be well to state how the Antient and Primitive Rite of Memphis^ was introduced into Canada. During the early part of 1876, Bro. R. G. Hervey of Maitland, Ontario, Canada, called upon me and ex- pressed a desire to receive the Chapter Degrees of the Antient and Primitive Rite of Memphis, and stated that he was instructed by some Brethren in Canada to make arrangements to obtain a Charter for a Chapter there. After giving him all the infor- mation he required, J told him that if the Masonic Brethren who desired to aid in the organization of the body, would take an Oath of Fidelity to the Rules and Regulations of the Sov. Sanctuary, 33-96°, over which I presided, I would communicate the degree to him, and authorize him to confer the same upon those who would sign the usual declaration (which was duly forwarded to me) : — .... * Dated 7th February, 1876. Signed by “ George C. Longley. R. T. Harris. A. G. Hervey. John Dumbrille. D. Collins. Theodore H. Tebbs. F. C. Stratton. J. Easton. F. B. Welles. M. W. Lafontaine. F. McManus.” Shortly after this an application for Charter for a Chapter was made by the above M. M. with William Dobbin added, and I gave full authority to Bro. Hervey to confer and communicate the Chapter degrees ; and later all the degrees to the 33°, upon Bros. G. C. Longley and John Dumbrille, and after returning to me their Oath of Fealty I authorized them to call together the other Brethren, and confer the lower degrees upon them. Feeling desirous of advancing their interests, I offered them a charter for a Mystic Temple, which they gladly accepted, and again the oath was taken as per voucher A certified. If such a Masonic Oath is not binding, what is ? I also send extract from letter dated April 1st, 1876, from Bro. A. G. Hervey. “ Dear Sir and Illustrious Brother, “I received your parcel containing Charter and Ritual per express, on the 29th. I called a meeting yesterday, and obligated Brothers Longley and Dumbrille. We organized a Mystic Temple, having of course previously obligated the rest of the Brethren, and whose obligations, together with our own, duly signed, I now enclose. We then organized 4 Kemi ’ Rose Croix Chapter. We went through the Ritual, and thoroughly explained the Chapter Degrees, with which all the Brethren were very much pleased. . . . [ We have been, compelled to excise the form of declara- tion. for reasons which will be readily understood by all Masons.— Ed. Kneph.] THE KNEPH. 139 “I enclose petitions for Senate and Council Charters, which I hope you will grant, and forward as soon as possible .... The two Charters were very much admired, and by the time this reaches you they will be handsomely framed, and hanging up in a pro- minent place in our Masonic Hall. I have reserved a place on either side of these, for the other two, which we will expect at an early date. “ Fraternally, “ A. G. HERVEY.” At the bottom of this letter is written the follow- ing : — “ Dear Sir and Brother, “ The Mystic Temple for the province of Ontario, Canada, being duly formed, I beg to report myself as having assumed the office of Grand Master of Light, and to state that having read the above letter of Brother A. G. Hervey, 83°, that I fully concur in all the statements therein contained. Thanking you very sincerely for your fraternal kindness and courtesy in so liberally acceding to our wishes in establishing the A. and P. Rite in Canada, “ I remain, very fraternally, “ GEO. C. LONGLEY, 83°, “ G. M. of L.” You can readily appreciate that with these aiid numerous other similar documents, all bearing upon their face the words “ Sov. Sanctuary in and for the Continent of America,” of which M. 111. Brother A. B. Mott, 38-96°, is Sov. Grand Master General, I am at loss to understand how they can owe allegiance to any other Sov. Sanctuary, or by what power or authority they can claim the right to con- stitute such a body. Who gave them authority to make a sufficient number of 33° members to constitute a Sov. Sanctuary, and where is their Charter ? (I only made three 33° members). To refute the statement of your correspondent, on the subject of the Charter of this Sov. Sanctuary, containing the words, “ United States of America ,” I can only refer you to page 172 of the Constitution and History of the Rite as published by us in 1874, and you will there find the word “ Amerique,” which in plain English means America, and therefore includes Canada as well as the United States, and South America, Canada being comparatively a small portion. Representatives from the Sov. Sanctuary are to be found exercising their authority throughout the two continents. If worthy and enlightened Masons of the Parent country had not considered that our Charter had a wide and extended jurisdiction, they would never have been willing to accept from us a Charter for Great Britain and Ireland, and it is with pride that we notice upon its certificates and other documents this acknowledgment of the fact ; and as co-workers in the good cause we admire their energy and glory in their success. Sincerely and fraternally yours, ALXER. B. MOTT, 83-96-90°, M. HI. Gd. Master Genl., In and for the Continent of America. $$tasffmc Holes anb (Queries, ASSYRIAN ANTIQUITIES. In No. 4 of this Journal will be found a query by our lamented Bro. J. Monckman Collier, 32° (Masonic Hermit), as to the meaning of certain symbols given by Bonomi in ‘‘Nineveh and its Palaces.” He mentions “a Maltese Cross and a Sun sur- rounded by a Circle,” worn by the king as jewels ; and within the margin of the tablet “ a Sun within a Circle, the symbol representing two horns, the winged globe of the Assyrians, and what is apparently a Tent surmounted by a Crown.” He men- tions, also, that in other parts of the work mention is made of representations of a king wearing a necklace on which are the following emblems: “the Sun surrounded by a Bing; the Moon, the Maltese Cross, the two-horned symbol and the three-horned Cap within a Bing,” and implies that these sym- bols are Masonic. The subject was taken up some time after by 111. Bro. C. James, who, in an exhaustive treatise (unfor- tunately too long for our columns), demonstrates that Masonic Hermit was totally in error as to the correctness of the descrip- tion given, and also as to any application they could possibly have to Masonic symbolism, and proceeds to give a more cor- rect description of the figures referred to and their accepted meaning. As III. Bro. James has evidently been at great pains to investigate the matter, and his arguments are, in our opinion, unanswerable, as well as most instructive, we have taken the liberty to reduce the article into such a form that we can print it, and with this preface present it to our readers. Having first stated that he had failed to identify the par- ticular figure mentioned as No. 174, Bro. James proceeds to say that in no Assyrian remains can a Maltese Cross be dis- covered, but that a Cross patee is frequently found, and assumes this emblem to be the one referred to ; also that the jewels, apparently dependent from the left breast, are really part of a necklace encircling the neck, and that this consists of two rows of ornaments, three in the upper row being rosette-shaped, and four in the lower star-shaped, enclosed in circles. The figure 174 represents one side of an obelisk from Nimroud, the subject being the reception of tribute by Shalmaneser H. from Shud, King of Goryan, and Jehu, King of Israel, *and belongs to the period 860 to 825 b.c. In the high back-ground are two emblems, the one resembling the winged globe of the Egyptians, and the other a circle surrounding a star. Bro. James considers the first to be a contraction of the figure of the divinity which accompanies the king to battle, and shews that instead of a winged globe the disc should have been filled up by the rosette ornament, usually employed when the figure of the god is omitted ; and the Cross patee given by Bonomi is really a star of seven and eight points in Layard’s illustration, which last is undoubtedly correct. Having thus cleared the ground, Bro. James supplies the meaning of the symbols. The star which in the old Accadian writing was the ideograph of the gods became, at a later date (probably before 2000 b.c.), the particular symbol of the Supreme Being, or “ Father of the Gods,” whom we may call “ Ilu,” and from whom proceeds time and matter as well as all the other gods ; but it was under the name of “ Anu” that he was known to mortals, or rather “ Anu ” was that aspect of “ Hu ” which the mind of man was able to conceive. He it was whose name was the awful and unpronounceable — known to the god Hea only — -and here it may be remarked that one,of the great points of difference be- tween the Assyrian and Egyptian religion was that in the latter a knowledge of the great and awful name could be ob- tained by mortals ; indeed, it was the last and mighty secret imparted to the fully initiated, but with the Assyrians it was only known to “Hea,” the god of Wisdom or Divine intelli- gence, himself— Hea being only another form of Anu. But the star was no longer the symbol of “ Anu ” in the time of Shalmaneser II.— many centuries before it had been usurped, together with his worship, by the goddess Ishtar, once con- sidered the mother goddess and symbolised by the moon ; but when the masculine “ Sin ” came to be considered the moon god, Ishtar was called his daughter, and also daughter of “ Anu,” and in the latter character obtained both the symbol and worship of that god. The other symbol which Bonomi erroneously describes as the “winged globe” is the contracted form of the god “Bel.” 140 THE KNEPH. When this gol is depicted in his complete form it is as a man from the waist upward, wearing the dress of an Assyrian king, and from the waist downward the expanded tail of a bird (dove .') ; passing behind the shoulders of the figure and in front of the tail is a circle, and upon it a scroll : the god is seen passing through the circle, the head rising above it ; within the circle is generally the cross patee, and four tongues of flame issue between the arms ; to the right and left of the circle are the wings of a bird, and these, with the tail and body of the god, form a cross. As we have seen, the half-human figure of the god is sometimes omitted, and the centre of the circle occupied by the rosette ornament — in other cases by the cross patee only ; this symbol being pecu- liar to Bel as the Demiurgus, a character assigned to him in the later Assyrian mythology. In the representation of a good king, the Assyrians depicted him as sitting on a throne attended by the gods, “ Sin” (Crescent Moon), “Shamas” (the Sun), and overshadowed by “Bel” (Cross patee), these being one of the forms of the Assyrian Trinity. The other emblems mentioned by Masonic Hermit are : — first, the Crescent Moon, with horns prolonged to meet in a circle — emblem of the god •‘Sin.’* In the early Turanidu mythology the moon had been the first object of worship ; and although on the predominance of the Semitic element in the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates the personification of the moon deity underwent a great change, its old pre- eminence as an object of worship was never quite obliterated. Second : the Cross patee is. as we have already seen, the em- blem of Bel. Third : the Six-point Star is the emblem of *■' Ishtar,” the Assyrian Venus. Fourth, the Homed Cap : this is a symbol of the Divine intelligence, and is only to be met with upon the head-dres3es of divinities or divine ani- mals, or in some special cases their priests. The symbol con- veys that grandest mystery of human life — man’s power to transmit to his offspring the intellectual or spiritual as well as the animal principle of life. Fifth, the so-called Horn symbol is a Trident : symbolic of the divine right, power, or prerogative of the king over the lives of his subjects. It is the emblem of destruction, and is represented as shooting down from the god Bel into the hand of the king as he is at his devotions before the sacred tree. It would be interesting to pursue this subject through its many ramifications, but we have already devoted to it a much larger space than we had at first intended ; and we must refer those who desire a further acquaintance with Assyrian mythology to Layard’s Nineveh. MASONRY AND RELIGION. From the “Voice op Masonry.” By an article on “ Masonry and the Bible,” in the April num* ber of the Voice, I endeavoured to show the relationship which the Word and the Craft bear to each other, and the views therein expressed are incidental to and intimately connected with the consideration of the present theme. It is not at all improbable that the relationship of Masonry to Religion is but imperfectly understood by the profane world, and also by many of the Craft. I have sometimes been pained to hear — and I presume others have also heard — Masons declare that Masonry was “ good enough a religion for them,” that “ if a man lived according to its teachings he need not trouble himself about religion or church affairs.” The Mason who has studied Masonic philosophy knows this to be erroneous and mis- chievous in its results, as tending to prejudice Christian men against an Order which never, even passively, arrays itself against or seeks to usurp or exercise the functions and character of Religion. The brother who holds or utters such views may be a zealous Mason, and may be a strictly moral man, but his zeal is greater than his knowledge, and his professions can only result in injury to the Institution which he attempts to magnify. It is, in fact, an ignorant perversion of Masonic teachings which, if even tacitly tolerated as Masonic doctnne, would drive from among us all conscientious Christians. The perfect ideal of Masonic character is never attained by even the highest type of morality. Masonry teaches that no man should even enter upon any great or important under- taking without first invoking the blessing of Deity It is not the purpose of this paper to inquire into or discuss the question as to how far a man must be religious m order to be eligible or qualified to pray, but it is clearly evident that he must have faith in God, as a prerequisite to praying, and it is logically presumable that if he has faith m God it is through the teachings of the Bible, and hence that he is a Christian. The religious teachings of Masonry are as definite as they can be made without placing the Craft on a higher and more dis- tinctive plane, and making it what it is not, and never was intended to be, a strictly religious organisation ; a character which it seeks to avoid. It imposes on its membeis no peculiai religious creed or test further than faith in God, and peisonal responsibility to His laws, and herein lies the great bulwark ot its strength, whereby it unites in its fraternal embrace men of every country, who meet its requirements. But while it grants liberal latitude as to creed, it does not encourage the idea that a Mason needs no creed, no religious belief, or that Masonry is in any respect a substitute for Religion. It does, however, place in his hand the book of divine revelation, which contains the fundamental truths on which Religion is based, and he cannot accord to that book the respect and veneration which Masonry demands at his hands without being governed by its teachings in forming his religious views. There is a vast difference between the mission of Masonry and that of the Church, a marked difference in their philo- sophies, as acting upon and affecting the human family. Religion claims to be regenerative. The Church professes to regenerate man through the power of Revealed Religion, to radically change his habits and actions, and to sustain aud uphold him in hiR revolutionised and Christianised moral and spiritual manhood. Its inceptive and developed principle of action may be expressed in the single word, regeneration. It is, in its propagandism, active and aggressive. It goes out into all the highways and byways, and by invitation and argu- ment seeks to win all classes of men to its fold. Its primary and fundamental object is to win and prepare souls for eternity, and a celestial inheritance beyond the grave, and the morality which it enjoins is necessarily a concomitant effect connected with the first great object. Masonry, on the con- trary, differing in all these characteristics, makes no claim and entertains no idea of regenerating degenerate man. It seeks not to propagate its system by solicitation, or open invitation to all men. It employs no direct instruments or agencies to induce men to enter its portals. Calmly and quietly it awaits the advances of those who seek to penetrate its mysteries, and subjects them to rigid inquiry and crucial test as to moral fitness and character, before proceeding even to vote upon their eligibility for admission. Masonry does not assume to regenerate or change man’s nature. It seeks by every means to avoid the necessity of such an effort, knowing that it could only result disastrously. It admits, or means to admit, noting but good, sound, moral material. It aims to make good men better, but never to make bad men good. That it succeeds grandly in its aims none can deny. There can be no practical limit to human and moral improvement, and the advantages and opportunities of moral development are strengthened and increased by association and co-opera- tion. To the young man who enters the Masonic family these advantages are of inestimable value. He is brought not only under the influences of salutary laws, which restrain the natural tendencies toward immorality, and the formation or indulgence of mischievous habits r but by daily contact and association with men of high moral character he gradually and unconsciously assimilates with their habits and thoughts, and thus developes those nobler qualities of his nature which fit him for the esteem of man, and usefulness to society. But he is never taught that this is the acme of Masonry. If he has studied its philosophy and comprehended its symbolism he has learned that “ it is not all of life to live,” even though that life be morally faultless, but in the sublime symbolism of the. third degree he must have learned that which implies a future THE KNEPH. *4*i state of existence, and of preparation in this life for that eventful period. Masonry is ever the handmaid of Religion, the monitor of the necessity of religious life and conduct, hut never assumes to offer itself as a substitute for Religion. While these state- ments are undeniable facts, it is also true, paradoxical as it may seem, that the bitterest, most malignant opposition to Masonry, amounting, were it possible, to persecution, is found in some so-called Christian Churches. But when we reflect that these churches have, on account of difference in petty doctrinal points, persecuted one another even to attempted physical extermination, we cease to wonder that Masonry- should become the objective point of their malignity, and it is, perhaps, fortunate for Religion that such an object exists, on which they may train their quaker guns, and discharge their blank broadsides, as, were it not so, they would be forced to find victims or subjects of persecution among their own ranks. Masonry is not only invulnerable to these puerile attacks, but, secure in her armour of eternal truth, can calmly pray, “ Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The true relations of Religion and Masonry may be sym- bolised by two rivers having a common parent fountain, and flowing in courses nearly parallel to each other. The first, a broad, deep and tranquil stream, whose waters are clear and pure, a great highway free to all countries, and to every people, bearing on its placid current the vessels of every denomina- tion, sect and creed, freighted with cargoes of precious souls, bound to the port of the Eternal Kingdom. It is, perhaps, unfortunate that all cannot be subject to the same general laws of navigation, that rivalry and strife should exist, that collisions should occur, and that emissaries should cajole or drive the passengers of one vessel to embark on another, bearing a different denominational flag, but it is in no sense the fault of the stream that this should occur. Nor yet is it through any superiority of water or channel that these rival contentions are never suffered to exist on the sister stream. The waters of the first are an invigorating alterative, strengthening the spiritual nature, and qualifying it for eternal life; of the other, a stimulative moral tonic, acting upon the heart, quickening the impulse of charity, and developing the highest, noblest aspirations of the soul, in the Brotherhood of man, and the perfection of human character in this life. On the rippling current of the second, but one flag is ever seen, its only motto being the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. A stream bordered by groves of ever verdant foliage, resplendent with the brilliant hues of bloom- ing flowers, and fragrant with their delicious aroma, among whose branches birds of bright plumage flit to and fro, in the happy freedom of their natures, their merry chirping and gleesome songs pealing forth in happy strains, and borne on the gentle breezes from side to side of the rippling stream. A stream whose channel flows and meanders through the valleys and deserts of human life, yet ever bordered by trees, foliage, and flowers, flowing on and on, until, sweeping beneath the ever verdant acacia, it passes into and merges with the dark waters of the sea of eternity. How beautifully do the teachings of Masonry blend with those of Religion in subduing the passions of men, and in elevating their thoughts and aspirations from the lower levels of sensual desires, sordid pursuits and earthly hopes, to the more sublime aspirations for exalted character, moral rectitude, and hopes of a bright immortality beyond the grave, above the mists and shadows of human life, that ever hover, like a dark pall, along our pathway ! And how strong, how sustaining, is that con- fidence and hope, springing ever from a consciousness of rectitude, and of trusting, cheerful obedience to the Divine law. Dangers may menace, misfortunes may gather, malice may threaten and assail, and calumny may secretly hurl her venomed barb, but the just and upright Mason neither fears nor heeds them. Clad in the armour of Truth and Virtue, he moves, invulnerable to all their attacks ; yet the true Christian has greater and still stronger panoply, for he can look beyond and above all the cares and trials that confront him here ; hopeful, strong and strengthening in a future life of perfect happiness, in “ that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” IJota to ^orre^oitkitts, To facilitate information as to the reception of Master Masons in good standing into the A. and P. Rite, enquiries may be made either personally or by letter — In Manchester, of the Sov. Gd. Master Genl., Bro. John Yarker, 33°, 96, the “Poplars,” Burton-road, Withington, Manchester. In London, of the Gd. Trea. Genl., Bro. J. H. South wood, 33°, 98, Houndsditch ; or of the Gd. Sec. Genl., Bro. James Hill, 33 3 , 91, Clarence-road, Clapton. In Dublin, of the Gd. Expert Genl., Bro. Dr. Davies, 33°, 10, Lower Sackville-street. In Glasgow, of the Gd. Examiner Genl., Bro. T. M. Campbell, 33°, 10, Carrick-street. In Aberdeen, of the Gd. Inspector Genl., Bro. T. L. Shaw, 33°, Regent Quay. In Burnley, Lancashire, of the Gd. Administrator Genl., Bro. S. P. Leather, 33°. In Havant, Hants, of the Gd. Keeper of the Golden Book, Bro. Jabez N. Hillman, 33°, Bedhampton. Forms for the return of members are supplied to each body gratuitously on application. Declaration forms in Books of 50, 2/6 each. Bro. J. Healy. — We do not understand the drift of your ques- tions. Surely it is not necessary now to demonstrate the value of the Masonic Institution. If a Brother in reality, which we are disposed to doubt, you must have made very bad use of the opportunities afforded you to be enquiring “What is the use of Freemasonry?” and as to the high grades it would be fruitless to enter into a discussion as to their object and meaning with one who apparently is unable to master the A B C of Masonry. Still less should we be tempted to enter upon a controversial discussion as to the relation which Masonry bears to religion, or to a par- ticular sect. In Masonry we know nothing of Jew, Mahom- medan, Christian, Parsee, Bhuddist, or the like. Only recognising all as brethren — children of the same Father — heirs of the same immortality — it is enough. Sectarian hatred and persecution has piled up hecatombs of victims ; and, blaspheming the holy name of God, declared it done in His honour and to His Glory. Wc want no religion of that kind. We venture to think that Masonry comes nearer to the Divine standard than many so-called religious Socie- ties of the present day. That it is not perfect is merely to say that it is human; and, like all human institutions, liable to error ; but we trust that, in His own good time and way, T.S.A.O.T.U. will guide and direct us to the light, and in this hope we are content to remain. Bro, J. H. Fash. — It is not permitted to discuss Masonic sub- jects with a profane. When one of the outside world requires information on Masonic matters, he should be directed to the Lodge-room, where, if found worthy, he would be instructed. We are glad to afford information where we can, but we may not trespass on the privileges of the Lodge. Bro. A. Shaw, New Orleans, $*2 reed., with thanks ; parcel sent. Bro. G. C. Knowlton, St. Louis, per Bro. W. B. Lord, $1, with thanks. Bro. Harvey, Goodale, missing numbers sent; book packet advised not yet reached here, will register in future. Journals,