Bro. Albert Pike's Remarks On Mackay's 25 Landmarks.

stand on one common level . It is nofc true that we are bound to admit to that common level all men , of all kinds of races , who may apply . " 23 . That Freemasonry is a secret society , in possession of secrets that cannot be divulged .

" It is not true that Freemasonry is a secret society . A secret society is one whose existence is a secret , and its members unknown . But it is a landmark that the secrets of Masonry cannot be divulged .

" 24 . That Freemasonry consists of a speculative science , founded on speculative art . " There is neither science nor art in Freemasonry . Its

true definition is , that it is a system of morality , veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols . It does not pursue scientific studies nor practice of the arts .

" 25 . That the landmarks of Masonry can never be changed . » - ¦ "But they can be , and they have been . It is true that its real landmarks ought not to be changed . But who is to say what these landmarks are ?

" Ono would be warranted in believing that it was an ancient landmark that no one could be admitted into the society except by unanimous consent , but one of the earliest

acts of the Grand Lodge of England was to authorize certain Lodges to receive candidates when unanimous consent was refused by even more than one vote . " It was never a landmark that the voto should be taken

by a secret ballot , although that now seems to possess greater sanctity than many things thafc time has taken away . It was only required that the unanimous consent should be had , the brethren expressing their pleasure in their own way . " Thus most of the so-called landmarks were not Itnown

either to Ancient Craffc Masonry in England or Scotland before the Revolution of 1723 ; or to the new Masonry , as landmarks , for years afterwards . It is a pity that Masonry has not a Pope , or canuotmake one of some Grand Master ,

Editor , Chairman of a Committee on Foreign Correspondence , endowed with infallibility , to determine the age which a landmark must have to entitle it to call itself a landmark . What is tho essential nature of a landmark ?

how many of the supposed twenty-five are landmarks ? and what others the oracular wisdom of the author [ meaning Mackey ] of this catalogue has overlooked ?

"A mushroom may grow ever so tall on a boundary line or in a corner , but it will never bo mistaken for a landmark .

" If there was . such an infallible authority and arbiter , I should like to submit for his consideration a score or so of additional landmarks of the same nature aa some of thoso on the semi-official catalogue , and it seems to me equally entitled to figure in it . "

At Refreshment.

AT REFRESHMENT .

IN the annual revolution of the seasons we have reached the time of Midsummer , and the Craft is generally at Refreshment . The abundant Labour of the preceding Autumn , Winter , and Spring have been properly succeeded

by the Refeshment of Summer . " All work , and no play , makes Jack a dull boy / ' True , we miss thc monthl y meetings with , and greetings of our Brethren , but we shall value ancl enjoy them tho more when we renew them in

September . It is not well to have a monotony , even of our enjoyments . Novelty and change are at least valuable in this , thafc they add zest to our appreciation of either

duties or pleasures , and as a consequence , when our Masonic meetings are resumed iu the Autumn , they will appear almost as fresh and new to us as if they were entirel y novel experiences .

The demand for periodic rest and refreshment is ono which is natural to man , implanted in his physical constitution , One cannot labour continually , either through dav and night , or continuously every day in the year , without

suffering from impaired health or physical or mental debility . We must have rest if we would appear-always nt our bent . Periodicity is a law of our bein < r . The First Great Light in . Masonry informs us thafc even the

Grand Master of fche Universe rested from His labour , and enjoined mankind to rest , iu like manner , one day out of seven through nil time . It is in recognition of a natural law that the Fraternity of . Freemasons regularly supple-

At Refreshment.

ments Labour with Refreshment at Masonic meetings . The Refreshment is wages for Labour . The Brother who has performed his duties to the Craft , who has been present at his Lodge or other meeting , has encouraged and

supported the officers in their several stations and' places , and has aided in the work when required , at the close of the Labour is richly entitled to meet with his Brethren , who like him have conscientiously performed their respective

duties , and share with them in the physical , social , intellectual and convivial pleasures of the banquet board . It is not the material food , which all so much enjoy , as the

good fellowship , the freedom from conventionality , the abandon , the sociability and the spirit of fraternity which so unmistakably prevails . This is true Masonic Refreshment . It exhilarates the mind . It enlivens the heart . It enables

us to understand , appreciate , and value our fellows at their true worth . Man—the machine of machines—ia then repairing and winding up . When we rise from the . social board we feel , in the language attributed to Zachary

Taylor , at peace with the world and the rest of mankind . " This is the reward which accompanies the Refreshment which closes and completes a Lodge , or other Masonic meeting . The Refreshment which results from the omission of

Masonic meetings m either or both of the months of July and August , is of kindred value . In mid summer the Lodge Room is anything bufc comfortable . It appears to be impossible to thoroughly ventilate a Lodge Room ,

crowded with Brethren , even in the Winter season ; and m the summer the conditions are still more unmanageable . Hot air , largely unchanged , is almost unbearable . Who of us has not been present on occasions when fans and

handkerchiefs were powerless to bring comfort . Nature ordains rest in Midsummer , ancl all Masonic bodies except those most pressed with work willingly obey ifc . Among the latter , this Summer , aro the Commanderies . The cry in

them is , "On to Washington , " iu the Autumn ; to attend the Grand Encampment of the United States , and in consequence of , this during the Summer months , Knights are dubbed at au extraordinary rate . Indeed , we have

learned of cases where candidates entered tho Lodge , in tho months recently gone by , with the cry , " On to Washington " sounding in their ears there , and stimulating their zeal . Such a spirit is to be reprobated . Freemasonry is

not a rendezvous for crusaders , and the degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry aro uot mere stepping stones to something beyond . They exist for themselves , and those who use them for ulterior purposes have no proper conception of their dignity , their meaning or value .

One thing is always to be borne in mind with regard fco either hours or ' days of Refreshment , that they aro never to be con voided into occasions for intemperance or excess . Overplay is worse than overwork . Over indulgence in any

form ot amusement during Masonic periods is equally forbidden by the laws of nature and of Masonry . We must temper our zeal for Refreshment with discretion . Men must be men and nofc boys , Masons must be Masons and

nofc profane . We have been initiated into the Craft ; we have made solemn promises which bind us for all time ; wo are uot our own , but built into a Temple which is now visible and temporal , but which we trust will one day be eternal . We are bound to practise out of the Lodge those

duties which we are taught within it . Freemasonry is nofc like clothing , to be pnfc off or on afc pleasnre , bufc is a part of the body and the lifo of every initiate . So completely

is this true , that the common phrase , " once a Mason always a Mason , " expresses the indefectibility of Masonic obligations . They abide with us for ever , so thafc we can never abrogate or renounce them . This is true of the

degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry , but of those of no other so-called Masonry , if ifc comes in conflict wifch our primary obligations , those taken in the Blue Lodge . Whatever is superadded , is subject to tho action of the Lodge and

Graud Lodgo , in case thero be a conflict . This fact should be remembered as well during seasons of Refreshment as of Labour . Our Masonic bodies may not be in session now ,

but we are always Masons , . always bound by tho Mystic Tie , always under obligation to be true men and worthy fellows , a credit to Freemasonry , and worthy of the high vocation of a Master Mason to whicn we havo been called . —Keystone .

Ar01003

FUHHRALS properly carried out and personally attended in London and Country , by Bro . G-. A . HUTTOMV 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , W , C , Monuments erected , Valuations made .