Beatrice.

p leasant faces and gentle eyes which haunt you , in crowds or in solitude , with a pleading vision which will not be gainsaid , with a witchery as of old , Avith a reality which never dies , with AA'ords and doings , and solemn associations and loving souvenirs , Avhich " time cannot weaken or decay , much less utterly destroy . " Though creatures of the present , we still , all of us , who are living at all , live more or less in the past . ( To be continued . )

Masonry Veiled In Allegory.

MASONRY VEILED IN ALLEGORY .

From the " Scottish Freemason . "jyTASONRT veiled in allegory ! Truly is it so . The human mind is so self-sufficient , - * - ' - * - so self-absorbed , that to clothe " Truth " in the ordinary every-day garb of the world would have . the effect of making men despise and shun it . Yes , verily it is so ! Look around you in the world at large , you find mankind divided into -numerous

religious sects and forms of faith , each believing his own to be the best , whether this apparent religion is hereditary or acquired . But examine into the hearts of your neighbours , and their actions , and what do you discover ? Mankind has certain undefined ideas of religion and morality ; and so the world goes on , believing that , in the end , things will all come right , but without " Faith—true and earnest faith . " How many are there who give not even a moment ' s thought to the great principles of life ?

In their way they are charitable and forgiving , and live honourably . But what is their " Faith ? " The simple truths of " Belief in God , Charity , and exact living , " are taught them by their Church or reli gion . But though they hear it often , how little do they consider the depths of the great subject : " Their duty towards God , their neighbours , and themselves . " This is the primum mobile of all true religion , and is professed by every religious sect or form of worshi p in the world . The ordinary passengers

through this life see the mi ghty duty " only through a glass darkly . " What we have described as the primum mobile of all reli gions is the corner-stone of Masonry . And so Masonry is the handmaid of reli gion . It belongs to all sects , all religions , but in itself is no religion , because it embodies the main truths of all . Unless led b y Masonry , or kindred feelings , would the so-called self-sufficient Christian hold ont a helping hand to a poor Hindoo Mohammedanor Parsee ? Yes ! he might ive him a feAV coinsbut

, g , Avould say in his heart : " That child of the dust ivill never see God . " And that is no ordinary spirit of uncharitableness , but because he thinks that no man can reach heaven , unless he has the same belief as himself , "thus endeavouring to fathom and set bounds to the mercy of _ the Almighty . Even to come nearer home , we see sects of our own form of faith believing that they only can be saved .

No ! Brethren , this is not the real thing required . T . G . A . 0 . T . U . is All-Merciful ! He has not formed any for naught . We have , every one of us who are his creatures , all our separate duties to perform in this transitory life . A true spirit of " the Universal Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man " is the surest and soundest oasis to commence upon . If you have this , and truly worship and fear God , you can tender your adoration to Him in the manner that seems best to conA-ey your hopes and tears and prayers . It is ' not then your outward but your inward Faith and Belief that will bring you nearer to your God . For God seeth not as man seeth : " God looketh to the heart . "

Masonry only sets one limit to your religious convictions , " Faith in God , " and this most advisedly . It is of itself no reli gion , but belongs to all sects , religions , and Beuets . It is the groundwork of all , and therefore antagonistic to none but Athdits J -t is the common ground of universal Brotherhood— " the Brotherhood of Man