Some Reasons For Our Being A Secret Order.

mass of mankind . We do not meddle Avith politics , nor the extension of a creed by proselytism - Ave seek only to cultivate the social virtues among ourselves , to benefit each other by deeds of love , and indirectly to benefit the Avorld by our own improvement .- —Neiv York Masonic Reporter .

The Pen-And-Ink Sketches Of One Fang.

THE PEN-AND-INK SKETCHES OF ONE FANG .

{ Continued from page 273 . )

THE PRECIOUS WHEEL OF INSCRUTABLE MELODY .

Oration

ORATION

Delivered l > y Bro . Bramwell Smith , Frov . G . Chap ., at the laying of the Foundation Stone of the JSIew Masonic Sail , Birmingham , on Wednesday , September 20 th . My Lord Leigh and brethren , your worship , and felloAV

toAvnsmen" A thing well begun is half clone . " Seasonably then may Ave congratulate ourselves on Avhat has been already done this day . From the very beginning of the Avork before us Ave have been reverently and devoutly heedful of the Great Architect of the Universe . " He who hath built all things is God . " " Except He

build the house their labour 12 but lost that build it . " Therefore , in his thrice holy name , and Avith rites of sacred and pious significance , have we laid the foundation stone of this building . Nor shall any novice measure his ivork here until his measuring- tool , according to its prime moral use , had summoned us and him to

spend some time in prayer to Almighty God . In the comprehensive prayers offered by my brother chaplains , Ave have virtually besought a blessing on that which has been sagely prepared by the master-hand directing successively the pencil , compasses , and skirret , and upon that Avhich has been accurately

proved with the craftsman ' s tests of square , level , and plumbrule . Only after solemn prayer may be heard here in due course the sound of the common gavel and the chisel wielded by 'prentice hands . As to our Masonic manner of laying the first stone iu the N . E . corner , that is quite concordant with the

main purpose for which a stately edifice is to beerected here . So soon as its top-stone is brought forth , the Masonic brotherhood must prepare themselves to dedicate all the inner precincts of the building to God and his service , for the making and perfecting of Masons on a foundation laid Avell and

devoutly in the proper rectangular corner , and like to the Divine laying of our true Corner Stone—the prime Brother of all brotherhoods , Avhether theirs or ours . Is not the Great Architect of the Universe a tried stone , the Stone of Israel , one in substantial accord with the Rock of Ages , the God of Israel ? To this doctrine—to the doctrine , Avhich is according to godliness , Freemasonry is a handmaid . The doctrine of the Lord is vividly and impressively

inculcated by Freemasonry , for it is an outward and visible exponent of the brotherhood of mankind . In attesting this grand truth , and in protesting upon occasion to vindicate this truth , Freemasonry , in its use ot symbols , points the expert brother to the deep unfathomable ground in ivhich this truth is rooted , and

by Avhich it is perpetually upholdcn despite the blasts and couuterblasts of divers and strange doctrines that tend to alienate and estrange man from man . Grounded eternally upon the fatherhood of God is that vital and practical truth for Avhich Freemasons signally protest throughout the four quarters of the

globe . Mankind is really a brotherhood , because the one living and true God is the God and Father of us all ; Ave being his offspring . Now both these grand truths , even Avhere they are generally and formally acknowledged , do yet need to be attested so manifestly that they may become as

frontlets between our eyes . Is there not just cause to attest them in ways Avhich will so salutarily impress our hearts and minds as to guard us from the brood of errors , mistakes , misapprehensions , and sins , by Avhich Ave aro tempted continually to overlay the truth of Godand obscure it as is a liht Avhen put

, g under a bushel or under a bed ? Alas ! for the coverings , Avhich are not of God's Spirit , and Avhich audaciously embolden men to love darkness rather than light , because their deeds are evil .

Whether these base coverings for adding sin to sin are composed of the greed of filthy lucre and covetousness in the form of a bushel , or of idleness , luxury , and sensuality in the form of a couch , the predominant Avish of a good Freemason ' s heart is to restore and preserve the primal gift of light ( light of light ) ,

which the darkness comprehendeth not . Whereinsoever any of the offspring of God are effacing his image , either by a course of evil doing , or by growing weary in well doing , Freemasonry Avould lain lift up a standard ao , aiusfc it . In . harmony Avith the attesting and protesting strain of our Grand Master Moses , we endeavour to make heard among all nations of men