First Principles.

Tjnrr , pq w , w oonvn'so'l fhwut-h-Mifc its narioiVirinsi ! S'ich wa « rrr infl'i ^ ncn of nthoMm—*> F " B > h In » ors > lli « m " — le » trn < Hiv « , rai ^ nu " fnev ^ rv social and moral r Hnnn . Snoh would be the result with pr > ema « onrv nn ^ or < nmil <» r inn 'ie *>< wi . That soma 'aw fc > whi < -h T h > v » referred , oavs : " If he ricrhUv nnderstands the Art ; " that is . if h « comnr « h » nls th <> mtnr't , prinoiples .

oWisr'vtioa' * and duties of Frenm . 'wmrv . h « will at ono = * nt ^ civor th- \ t Atheism and Ma * onry are ent-irelv incornn <» tiblo rvitheanh ofcher . He Oinnot take rh «» Rr « fc atop in Ms wav to nnr " ho ' y of Violins " withont professing hi * faith in God . Bur an afcheiar his no faith in G > d , for ho , ] oos nit heli «» ve th » re is a 0 > d , and hen"o ho disoarls the very first orinf'ole aid porn ** ' * -stone of onr Tn" » tit'i > i in .

A \ fiiin rnnv oh » v tho > n > -al la * v ; ho ia " oWi-yfl-1 bv hii fconu'n " to do sr >; hut if th ^ ro bo no G vl , ai wo havo almady stated , thero is no moral la « v . for thorn i * no infal We oiamr 'n enact < v >«; th « re miv be a social law enacted bv onmnwi onnsnnt and for tho crood nf sooro ^ v , but it die * nit r « ioh to the horoa , ft « r , nor involve tho iroal cf won of the soul . If ho " nn'Wifcand . i the Art , he will never

be a stunid afcheiV , nor an irreligious li ' iertine . " Libertine , we believe , coites from the Latin , libertinus , whioh ¦ igniBes a man who was in bondage but has been freed . The word is used in onr old and fundamental law to designate one who does not recognise the bonds or restraints of religions belief , and boasts in being a doubter or freethinker . An "irreligious

libertine" therefore , is one who , with a degree less of unbelief than the atheist , denies the distinctive dootrines of revealed religion , one not under the restraint of law or religion . " In the modern and general acceptation of the word , it signifies " a man of lioentious habits , without moral restraint , a debauohee ; " but in connection with the corner-stone of Freemasonry , the word is applied to a scoffer at

religious truths ; one who has no religious faith on which to form or build religions habits . It is evident , therefore , that snch a man is utterly disqualified to become a member of an association reoog . nising the leading doctrines of revealed religion . A doubter , an atheist , a libertine , can find no room to stand on the corner-stone of our Masonic edifice , and haa no faith in the elements which constitute

that " foundation-stone . " A Mason , it is declared , " must obey the moral law , " that law which God has proclaimed for the government of his intelligent creatures . That law is found in His Word—the " Great Light in Masonry , " and ifc is confirmed and corroborated by the material creation around us . The treeB of the forest , the grass of the field

the running brook , and lofty mountain ; beast , bird and fish ; the luminaries of heaven , and the great solar system , are so many mute but impressive monitors , and their instructions are all confirmatory of the great moral truths of the Bible . A Mason , therefore , musfc admit fche divine oharacter of those truths embraced in this moral code of the Bible , and must accept them as supreme authority , both

in faith and praotice ; they form one of the corner-stones of our mystic edifice . He is " obliged by his tenure " to obey the moral law . Tenure is a legal terra , denoting the manner of holding lands . Under the feudal laws , which formerly obtained in Europe , the word indicated the " consideration , condition or service which the

oconpier of land gives to hts lord or superior for the use of his land . " In the text , as we have quoted from the old Masonio law , it signifies a condition on which an individual may enjoy the rights and privileges of a Mason in good standing ; his membership depends upon his obedience to the moral law . Whenever he

wilfully disobeys that law he ceases to vest npon the chief cornerstone of the Order , and forfeits his membership . No atheist can become a Mason ; and no Mason , if he properly understands the nature and designs of the Art , will ever become a libertine , or throw off the restraints of the moral law . Upon the contrary , his confidence in the truths of Revelation will increase moro and

more ; their claims will be more fully recognised ; and he will be gradually but certainly brought toa more strict and willing conformity to them ; for such conformity is absolutely necessary to enable him to retain his standing in the Craffc . He must remain on the corner , stone , or risk the consequences of an insecure foundation . Let none , therefore , say that Freemasonry , either in theory or

practice , favours infidelity . While it positively prohibits the admission of an atheist , it ejects from its fold every one who scoffs at religion , or wilfully violates the moral law . It leaves each one to entertain his own social or ecclesiastical views , provided they do nofc come in conflict with the fundamental principles which constitute the corner-stone and foundation of fche Institution , which

encourages action rather than profession , and agrees that " pure reli gion and undented , before GOD and fche FATHEE is this—to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction , and to keep himself unipotted from tbe world . " Masonry exhibits a great liberality of Beniiment in religious matters . So the members are " good men and true—men of honour and honesty , " it asks not whether thev are Jews

or Gentiles ; the follower of Calvin or Arminius , of George Fox or Koger Williams ; high cbnrrhmen , low churchmen or dissenters ; whether they have been baptized or circnmcispd , or neither . They may worshi p GOD in Jerusalem or Jericho ; in Geneva or Oxford or la norfields ; in the cathedral or the forest—so they sincerely wor-M » p GOD and obey the moral law , Masonrv will not ask as to fche

m ?? ar oreed or 8 ect or Party they cling to . inis is one of the most beautiful features of Freemasonry . It ontemp lates a universal brotherhood among its members , meeting u uniting on a plane of action far above the petty and chnngms reeda which enter into the religions opinions of the world . It re . Rat * 8 all men as children of one common parent ; 'object to the same

. ^ preme moral law ; inheritors of a common deRtinv , and pquMlv p e h rea , ! in the future . Uniting upon these broad and com-£ tensive priocinles , it brings all together before the altar of upreoie Divinity , where thoy may mingle their vows , th . 'ir often ^ ' k the ' '' ' , ip 8 without 'liscord or dissen-i m . How the ftf 18 ! , i ? H ' CharcD - Episcopalian and the Presbyterian , ¦ ^ 'hodaafc aud the Baptist , tne Jew and fche Quaker , seen

First Principles.

¦ ninrli-t ? in rrvr » -T » l h-r-nniv * in onr Liioro " . Brethren travel . 'iri'f 11 t ,- •« M < I •l-v >! ail s ' lirirt ? * Ho saTV * h ^ v * •, b ^ n 1 ir »*^ •Trie bv sM < > > fore 'l-n who look * at tho heart and mt at tho creid , ¦ wl wh i vill lltir-oU'Ov " trv onr work . " not bv the theory ou which it has bein forned , hut hv its co noloton ^ a of finish , a * vl aUptatiou to a pi we in tho "Temple not mado with hand * . " Thia feature iu

Freemasonry—this structure raised and resting npon tho foundation I hivo dosoribod . exhibit- ,- " nofc onlv its Beauty , but tho Wisdtm of its o-eanisation , and tho incomoirablo Strength of its Union . It doe 3 not permit the discussion of creeds , either political or religious , within its peculiar circlo . Tho greifc theme is lovo fco GOD and to love mm ; " fa th in GOD , hope in imraortility , and oharifcy towards ill -nankind . "

Tha-ie are tho outgrowths from thoso groin principles which conntrute the foundation of Freom \ s mrv . Wh-mover we ignore the foundation , or so iff at . tho ontgr > wt , h wh'fh sorings from and rests upon it ,, then wo have forfeited our pnro noble Misonhood , and ifc were better to retire from all oonnootion with the O-dar , for it will not be worth the timo and expense required to sustain an institution thus divested of all vitality , and of a foundation on whioh to rest .

Hia Royal Hig-hnegs the Prince of Wales , Moat Worshipful Grand Master , has been graciously pleased to grant a warrant for a London Lodge , to be called " The Gallery Lodge , No . 1928 . " The petitioners are some of the representatives of the newspaper press in the Reporters' Galleries

of the Houses of Parliament , for the convenience of which class the Lodge has been designed . The Lodge meetings will be held at the Brixton Hall , Acre Lane , Brixton , and it is proposed to have it consecrated if possible before the close of the present Session of Parlimenfc .

Speech day at Christ ' s Hospital is fixed for Wednesday next , the 27 th inst ., and when the speeches have been delivered , the cnstomary distribution of Prizes will follow .

The Lord Mayor will preside on the occasion , and Bros . Rev . — Lee , M . A ., Head Master , and Ernest Brette , D . D ., Head French Master , will play a leading part in the proceedings , which will commence at 2 p . m . precisely

We very much regret to hear that the medical advisers of ex-Lord Mayor Bro . Sir F . W . Trnscott , Past G . Warden England , have suggested a second period of residence on the Continent with a view to the improvement of his health .

Bro . Sherwill , formerly of the Guildhall Tavern , has just become the proprietor of the refreshment department at the Brighton Aquarium . We wish him all success .

The Thirty-sixth Anniversary Festival of the Royal General Theatrical Fund will take place on Friday next , the _ 29 th instant , under the presidency of Bro . . Henry Irving . Bro . Ganz , P . G . Organist , will be in charge of the mnsical arrangements on . the occasion .

Dalhousie Lodge of Instruction , Wo . 880 . —Held at Bro . Smyth ' s , Sisters' Tavern , Pownall-road , Dalston , on Tuesday , the 19 tb inst . Bros . Smyth W . M ., Christian S . W ., Young J . W ., Marsh S . D ., Catling J . D ., A . Clark 1 . 0 ., J . Lorkin Secretary , Brasted acting Preceptor ; also Bros . Carr and others . Lodge was opened to

the second degree . Bro . Catling , as candidate , was entrusted and raised . Bro . J . Lorkin worked the third seotion of the lecture , assisted by the brethren . Tbe Lodge was resumed to fche first degree . Bro . Christian was eleoted W . M . for the ensuing week . Lodge dosed in due form , and adjourned .

Ad01102

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