My Masonic Brethren.

of such a platform and solicited the suffrages of the people in his candidacy for President of the United States . Henry Clay Pasfc Grand Masber of Kentucky , who " would rather be right than be President , " spurned the nomination , and

Andrew Jackson Past Grand Master of Tennessee taught the aspiring candidate that the presidency of fche republic was nofc to be attained by an assault upon tbe mosfc pacific and upright secular Institution ever endowed by man .

" The blood of the martyrs is fche seed ofthe church , " and the very persecution bhrough which our institution has passed has purified and refined it like gold in the fire . It has risen , Phoenix-like , from the ashes of its own burning , and is stronger , betber , healthier , by reason of its persecution .

I refer only in passing to the thunders of the Vatican . That Operative Masonry builded its cathedrals and laboured for its success for centuries , is historic . That popes , bishops and priests have fraternised with the institution and patronised its assemblies , even in its speculative character , is conceded ; and it remained for the period of fche Ultramontane docfcrine to promulgate excommunications and fulminate anathemas against

Freemasonry . The real enemies of Freemasonry now are the tendencies to dissension within the ranks of the Institution . They may be classed under three heads . The multiplication of decrees , the introduction of Masonic politics , and the application of Masonic law .

I approach the first topic with diffidence . Having stopped afc the Arch , I should not , perhaps , attempb to cribicise those who wear the nodding plume or wribe signatures followed by degrees , to say naught of minutes and seconds .

But" A man must serve a time to every trade save censure , Critics all are ready made . " It has grown fashionable not only to be a Mason , but to advertise one ' s self as such . Observe fche young Brother who has just taken all of the degrees . Attached to his watch chain is the

Maltese Cross , with symbols of the York Eite from Lodge to Commandery , though in most cases he only attends fche Commandery . Upon his finger is the inevitable broad-gauge circlet of the Scotbish Eite , and upon his manly bosom , displayed whenever a passing zephyr blows aside his coat , are the crescent and scimitar of the Orient .

How much Masonry does he really know , and what Masonry has he studied ? Has he ever read fche Ancient Charges ? Has he any knowledge of fche war betAveen the Ancients and fche Moderns , or even of the dual Grand Lodges of New York ? Does

he know that under the old regime the E . A . wrought seven years before becoming a Fellow Craffc , while he has taken all the degrees in the calendar in six months ? Has he made a study ofthe philosophy of his profession V Does he know anything of the history , nofc to say the traditions , of Freemasonry ?

Has he learned the lessons oi the various degrees through which he has passed , or contented himself with their acquisition , still remaining the rough ashlar he was on his entrance into the Lodge ? Has he any higher ambition than to wear the uniform

and boast the possession of many steps he has passed over so quickly and so ignovantly ? Or , if perchance he has learned some of fche work , has he mastered its philosophy as well as its verbiage ?

As far as I have gone the subject .. of Masonry presents a fruitful theme for study and research . Apparently both in reason and sentiment fche ultima thule is reached at the Arch . The

completeness and perfection of the plan are there accomplished . Personally , I do not know how the subject is reopened or broadened . Whether an attempt is made to build higher on bhe same superstructure , or if fche lines lead in tangents into other

fields of thought . Do all these roads lead to Eome ? Is fche Polar Star kept in sight ? is is perfection of Masonic light and truth the aim , or are these multiplied degrees simply the creatures of ambitious minds intent upon new theories ?

Does the multiplication of branches add to or subtract from , the strength of the old tree we revere so much' ? If the latter , would it not be belter to prune off some of them rather fchau impair the vitality of the parent trunk—reduce the quantity rather than the quality of the fruit ? Return to something of the simplicity of John Moore ' s day .

Note the present strife between the warring factions of fche Scottish Eite . Are you aware , Brother President , that your invitation to our Maryland Veterans to join the National body must be declined , because a number of our Brethren are debarred

by a provision in your constitution relative to membership in one of these factions ? I do not pretend to compare the merits of the two , to determine which is right and which is wrong , but if the dissension now existing is to continue , I would say with Mercutio , " A plague ' o both your houses . "

Perhaps a legitimate outgrowth of tha multiplication of degrees is the ambition for office . Having acquired all the degrees to be purchased , the tyro looks about for other worlds to conquer . Hitherto he has only served in the ranks . Now he

My Masonic Brethren.

would command , would wield the gavel , would issue orders , wear the insignia , aud enjoy the dignity and distinction of rank . It was the custom of the Craft in the early days to adjourn for dinner and discuss fche merits of those named for Grand

Master . A choice thus carefully and considerately made was nofc likely to be an unwise one . Ib was fche case of fche office seeking the man , and the result could not fail fco be satisfactory . How much good could be accomplished by the adoption of such a rule in all Masonic bodies .

I asked a good Brother in a state where rotation in office is fche rule , what if you get a first-class man in bhe Grand Master ' s chair , a man of especially fine qualifications , and he serves satisfactorily the limit your custom has fixed . The answer came promptly : "He goes oufc all the same ; he is not

permitted to block the road to ambition . " In 110 years in Maryland we had had but twenty-nine Grand Masters . Three of these died in office , or we should not have had so many , and one never served at all , and therefore ought not , stricfcly speaking , to be counted .

Annually , upon the election of Officers in one of the Grand Lodges in the country , the newspapers announce the fact in sensational style , relating with much gusto the combinations and skilful manipulation which accomplished the result , very like the proceeding of a political convention .

Have a care , my Brethren . Once upon a time there were two Grand Lodges in your stabe , and it required many years to heal their differences . Should such a calamity again occur , leb ib not be said bhat it was caused by Masonic politics .

Masonic Law . What ; is ifc ? I was taught bhat Dr . Anderson formulated , or rather , collated ifc in the Ancient ; Charges . These truly are few and simple . But I have in my possession quite a collection of Codes of different states . They are as voluminous as fche Criminal Codes of the same states , aud some of them emulate the scope of the Civil Codes . And then , too , our good

friends of fche reportorial corps , sometimes irreverently called the Mutual Admiration Society . How they do take up questions and decide them . . In most cases their views are printed and disseminated before the Grand Lodge meets . But it is too late to take it back , and the next year brings up new questions . A writer of correspondence must keep abreast of the times or he will " get left . "

I have also a book of upwards of 200 pages on Masonic Parliamentary Law , written , too , by a very distinguished Mason , but in the decadence of his career . How learnedly he discusses the various meritorious and dilatory motions . One would suppose thab a Mason to visit his Lodge should prepare himself

as carefully on this topic as though he had been elected a member of the Legislature or of Congress . I was present in a Grand Masonic Body once when the discussion became warm , and various motions were fired at the presiding officer in such quick

succession as to confuse him . One Brother earnestly asked which motion was in order . An old stager present came to the rescue with the answer , " Whichever motion the presiding officer sees fit to pub . " There was more Masonic parliamenbary law in that remark than in a whole book on the subject .

Brethren—Companions—Veterans . We have all passed the meridian and our shadows no longer fall westward . We received the legacy of Freemasonry pure and unsullied from our fathers . They passed through bhe fire of malice and persecution and quailed not . The secret of their success in times of peril , like

that of good soldiers in the shock of battle , was that they stood together , shoulder to shoulder . The pressure was then from without , and perhaps more easily resisted , barring the physical courage required . Whatever may occur iu our day , let us

endeavour to transmit to out * successors the same legacy unbroken and unimparied as when ib came bo us . No matter what may happen fco the higher degrees or the new theories of office , law , or what nob , let us hold bo the pure , true , simple Freemasonry of John Moore's day . — " American Tyler . "

SUMMER HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS . ELSEWHERE in this issue will be found particulars of the summer train service of the Midland Railway from St . Pancras to the Peak of Derbyshire district , as well as to tbe Yorkshire Watering places , tho Lake district , & c , while details arc also given of the splended service of Dining Carriages now beiug run by tbis enterprising Company . A special feature in

this direction is the extension of tho comfort and convenience of Luncheon and Dining Carriages to third class passengers , who are now treated almost as sumptuously in this respect as their more fortunate first class fellow travellers , and aro not slow to show their appreciation of the advantages provided . The * service of Sleeping Cars , Family Saloons , & e „ is also most

complete on this Company ' s system , the through expresses to the north and Scotland being particularly well supplied . We may also direct attention to the arrangements made for the conveyance in advance of Passengers' luggage , and the different publications of the Company , as set out in the announcement to which we refer .

, fl HE Great . Western Railway announce alterations in the dates for return _ L of thoir excursions from Paddington on 19 th and 26 th inst ., and the arrangement of a new excursion every Saturday during thc season to the Weymouth district , to take the place of the one now booked for Fridays .