The Grand Treasurership.

favour . It will therefore be understood that we do not intend anything personal to either candidate in any remarks we now offer . We speak of the office , not of the officer , and in that regard we consider

a mistake has been committed m making so much ol the annual election of Grand Treasurer . We are aware that so far the periodical contests have been conducted with good feeling , ancl without any very . -. t . . II * J . 1 * out in meir

serious harm resulting , we see continuance much that will be productive of evil , and may tend to disturb the harmony of the Craft . We shall be greatly surprised if some

alteration in the present mode of procedure is not attempted at no very distant date . Many think it would be well to prohibit canvassing , although we suppose the answer to this proposition will be that

such a course is absolutely impossible . We should like to see a suggestion that the election be by proxy , and in such case would propose that every TT _ " ! . _ * A 1 _ _ if -- _ l T- » r ^ .-.- « -. ^ j--- Il n i-l TTtl -4 . lt f \ TTATl v » * - »• wim to

. . UOtlge m tne ivmguom ue auppiit * u vumug paper , so that all the members eligible to vote could do so without the necessity of personally

attending Grand Lodge in London . Such a conrse would render the Grand Treasurership an office 1 of far greater honour than at present attaches ; to it , while the brother so chosen would really be the

elect of the Cralt rather than ol a section , as is now the case , when the election really rests with those who live within easy distance of Grand Lodge , or who

can spare time and money lor the purpose oi recording a vote which should be free and open to all , and rendered as easy of being registered as

possible . If our suggestion ol sending voting papers to every Lodge was adopted we would stipulate that the votes should be recorded in open Lodge j and by ballot , the sheet sent to headquarters simply i

giving the result of a ballot such as is taken m every private Lodge for its own Treasurer . We believe that ' by enlarging the method of recording votes Grand ,

Lodge would create a greater interest m its affairs j generally , and many brethren would be elected to take part in its concerns who are now kept out simply

because they do not approve of the course under which success is likely to be secured . We are further of opinion that the greater the interest shown in the affairs of the Craft the greater will be the good accomplished through its means , and the greater its power and usefulness , all of which considerations should be worthy of thought by those who desire to promote the welfare of Freemasonry .

Pillars Of Masonry.

PILLARS OF MASONRY .

An Address delivered before the Grand Lodge of Illinois , 3 rd October 1888 , by Rev . Geo . G . Lorimer , Grand Orator .

INSPIRED poetry , picturing the universe as a stupendous and sublime structure , exclaims , " Wisdom hath builded her house , she hath hewn out her seven pillars , " and again , " the pillars of the earth are the Lord's , and He

hath set the world upon them . " But these mighty and wonderful supports , whatever they are , are not independent of their Creator . By a bold flight of fancy He is conceived as the greater Atlas , upholding not only

the globe , bufc upholding everything on which its stability depends . Hence , ifc is written : " The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved ; I bear up the pillars of it ; " " He shaketh the earth out of his

place , and the pillars thereof tremble ; likewise , "the Pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at His reproof . " According to this vivid imagery , everything is , as it were , instinct with life : the granite foundations , the snow clad

peaks , ard starry dome hear the Divine voice , feel amazement , and can fear and be humbled bofore its reproaches . This striking language is doubtless designed , like ofchei

poetic passages , for the imagination rather than for the reason , and the effort should not be made to interpret it too literally . In general terms , simply and yet magnifi-

Pillars Of Masonry.

cenfcly it teaches that all secondary means and intermediate agencies , employed in maintaining the order and operations of the universe , are dependent on the Almighty for

their existence and efficiency . Whilo we may not too nicely inquire into the essential nature of these subordinate causes it must be evident to us from what we see of

creation thafc they are characterised by irresistible powerthafc tbey are strong ; tbat they are co-ordinate and harmonious in their working , contributing regularly to specific ends—thafc is , they aro wise ; and that they are

distinguished by features which charm tho eye and exalt the soul—that is , by beauty . Wisdom , Strength and Beauty—theso are the pillars of the Cosmos . These underlie all that the Almighty hath made , and by these and

through tho ? e ail things subsist , resting in turn on Him who is called " the only wise God , " of whom it is said , "With Him is wisdom and strength , " and who is also revealed as a " King in his beauty . " Let then the Craffc ,

gathered to these solemnities , seek " the wisdom which is from above ; pure , peaceable and gentle ; " and let its members " ascribe strength unto God , " and " worship the Lord in tho beauty of holiness . "

In the ancient mysteries of various lands three pillars occupied a conspicuous position . Among the Hindu illuminants they were p laced east , west and south , and the one in the east denoted Brahma , or wisdom : the one in the

west represented Vishnu , the preserver , or strength ; and the one in the south symbolised Siva , or beauty . These deities were considered as a trinity , and three pillars were regarded by many mystics as emblematical of the Divine

Triad . The prevalence of such conceptions may be inferred from the fact that the Persians claimed thafc their Mithraic Cave was supported by three

intelligences—Ormisda , Mithra , and Mithras ; and thafc the Egyptian Deity was presented under the forms of Wisdom , Power , and Goodness . So general was the custom of combining these attribute that the Oracle of Damascus is credited with the

saying : " Throughout the world a Triad shines forth , which resolves itself into a Monad . " In studying this mystery , and meditating on its significance , I have come to the

belief , thafc while fche primary reference is to Deit y , in a secondary sense it is to man ; that the Divine trinity of Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty is destined to resolve itself , as from eternit y ran the purpose , in the human Monad .

This impression is strengthened by the importance attached to the three pillars in Speculative Masonry , A Lodge has a two-fold relation : one to King Solomon ' s Temple , the other to the universe . In regard to both , the

genius of the Order is that of spiritual architecture . Its degrees , legends , symbols are derived mainl y from the House of the Lord at Jerusalem , or from the glories and wonders of creation . At every turn the world , considered

as a magnificent building , is ptessed on the attention of the neophyte and initiate ; and in harmony with this fundamental conception , and adhering consistentl y to the figure , the three pillars which sustain the

universe—Wisdom , Strength and Beauty—form the principal supports of the Lodge . But these attributes do not find their fulfilment merely in rules , precepts , ceremonies , in which doubtless much of the sagacity , vigour , and attractiveness

of the Order consists , bufc rather in human beings—iu the Monad . Hence it is written in the Ritual : " The column of Wisdom is situated in the east part of the Lodge , and is represented by the Worshipful Master , because it is

presumed that he has wisdom to devise labour for the Craft , and to superintend them during the bours thereof ; the column of Strength is situated in the west part of the Lodge , and is represented by the Senior Warden , because

it is his duty to strengthen and support the authority of the Master ; and the column of Beauty is situated in the south part of the Lodge , and ir , represented by the Junior Warden , because from his position in the south he is the

first to observe the meridian sun , which . is the beaut y and the glory of the day—to call the Craffc from labour to refreshment , to superintend them during the hours thereof , " & c , & c . But while the ritual is thus specific in its

application of these symbols , let it never be forgotten that , primarily , they denote the supports of the Order , and that , therefore , what is true of the officers must likewise be true , though possibly in a less decree , of the members—tor

without their conjoint wisdom to contrive , their combined strength to support , and thiir uuited beauty to adorn , the Masonic edifice would be un-1 hie ancl incomplete . It is this great truth , Most Worshipful and Brethren , for

the good of the Fraternity , that I desire to further unfold