Chips Of Foreign Ashlar.

7 th—The Concordia Grand Lodge of Hesse . 8 th—The Grand Lodge of Bayreuth . 9 th—The Grand Lodge of Luxemburgh . It is also curious to find that thei'e are five lodges which are independent and acknowledge

allegiance to no Grand Lodp-e viz : —two lodges in " -J o o Leipzig , one in Oldenburg one at Gera and one at Hisburghausen . The members of these lodges are however fraternall y received among the craft . Bro . Findel kindl y accompauied us to the Masonic

Temples respectively occupied by the lodges Apollo and JBaldfin in Leipzig , and we found them replete with every convenience . Notwithstanding his residence iu Leipzig , Bro . Findel continues to be the honorary secretary of the lodge at

Bayreuth . The day we spent with Bro . Findel was a redletter one in our history , and we shall long remember his fraternal greeting and the charm of his conversation .

Masonic Discipline.—Ii.

MASONIC DISCIPLINE . —II .

B y C KUX . The very universality of Freemasonry renders it increasingly difficult to maintain that union and combination , which has ever constituted its distinguishing characteristic . The wider its branches extend , the

greater the number of those who " range beneath its banner "; the farther its inumerable ramifications spread—and they are spreading every day—the greater need there is of vigilance upon the part of the brethren . In our articles upon this subject ,

which we have much at heart , we shall treat of the present state of Masonic disci pline . We shall not arrogate to ourselves , as Masons , an infallibilit y belonging fo no human Order , however ancient and honourable . Yvb shall claim for the fraternity all the

dues that are its ri ghtful inheritance , and while we shall be jealous of its privileges , its rites , its degrees , and its b . eiours , u-e shall not be blind to its deficiencies , iuir neglectful of the fact that it has its duties to perform , as well to the brethren , as to the uninitiated world at huge who are not Masons . At present we

are strong iu funds , numbers , and combination , aud i . n the . se three particulars our strength is daily augmenting , but there is room , and we say it boldly , for improvement in our disci pline Because the fortress is strong and the garrison numerous , is the sentinel

to be les * vigilant ? The census of an arm } ' is not always the correct measure of its strength ; every addition is not a reinforcement , nor is every recruit necessarily a true and faithful soldier . All Masons who have the real interests of

the fraternity at heart , must be aware that in accordance with the luxurious spirit and customs of the times , the severity of the discipline in many lodges has somewhat relaxed . A something of au enervating character has crept among us , which bears strong resemblance to what an old

French writer remarks of the Templars : — " La mollesse et le luxe etaient repandus parmi les membres de l'Ordre . " This spirit must be exorcised iu time We have no wish to be martinets : we do not wish

to intimidate . a young brother , or to make it appear to him au impossible achievement ever to reach the chair ; but we do assert , we do maintain , that the chair is not to be gained by every Mason , aud that some are better out of it than iu it . It is not necessary to be a good Mason that a brother must be a

P . M . In our Order as well as in every society , club , or community of men , there are invariably some , who from a variety of causes , are unable to assume a prominent position , but they are not the less valuable and oonafide members of the lodge to which they belong

Imagine what a scenetheinteriorofSt . Stephen ' swould present , if every member of both houses , were endowed with the oratorical powers of Disraeli or Gladstone . It must not be understood , that we wish tr >

deny to brethren the legitimate end of their hopes and aspirati ons , or to debar them from the attainment of that goal which every brother should earnestly endeavour to reach , and should set before him , immediately subsequent to his initiation , as a task to

be eventually accomplished , and a duty to be worthily and effeciently fulfilled . But if unfortunately his qualifications , and his natural bent aud inclinations are not of such a nature , as to enable him to fill the chair with credit to himself , with advantage to his

lodge , and with honour to the Craft , it were better that he remain contented iu the discharge of the duties of an inferior office , than aspire to that to which he has no claim individually , but which , he occupies as the representative of the body to which he has the honour of being attached .

It may be supposed that the reins of discipline may be relaxed , because we are no longer operative or working Masons , but this is a double error . In the first place , were we the idlest aud most inoperative bod y in the

world , that would constitute the strongest grounds possible for maintaining the strictest discipline . Secondly , it is a grevious error to imagine that we are no longer operative Masons . Who can behold the results of our charitable donations and

subscriptions , aud assert that we are not operative for good ? AVe have our schools for the young , our asylums for the aged of both sexes , our boards of relief and benevolence for the needy and the afflicted , and our "calls'' in behalf of those who , from un-