Masonic Jottings, No. 69.

MASONIC JOTTINGS , No . 69 .

BY A PAST PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER . THE CHARGES OP 1723 . These Charges may nofc unfitly be called the " Palladium " of English Freemasonry . They

were the first step in fche direction of universality ; " the Christianity of the Church of England and of certain Sects giving Avay , and general Christianity taking the vacant place . " *

THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE . The Speculative Mason necessarily meditates ou the incomprehensible : for he meditates on the Infinite ; he meditates on the Great Architect of the universe .

THE EARTH'S BENEFACTORS . Brother , in the number of theSarth'sBenefactors place the inventor of the Moral Fable , and place the inventor of the Masonic Myth . SOME STAINS Dear Brother , * * * Be of good courage .

There are , indeed , some stains ou the Masonic page , bufc they are nofc indelible . MASONIC FALLACIES OF 1870 . The chief Masonic fallacies of 1870 , were continuations of those of 1868 and 1869 ; and concerned the Religion of English Freemasonry as a Particular Freemasonry , and the 1717 Revival .

SYMBOLISM . Freemasonry , it is believed , is , at this day , the ¦ onl y true exponent of the science of Symbolism . GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE . Brother " T . C . L ., " there is very little that , in

my judgment , connects the study of the origin of Gothic Architecture , interesting as it is , with the study of the origin of Speculative Masonry .

MASONRY . Masonry is a part of the human mind , and the brother who denies its existence before 1717 , only shows that he knows nofc what Masonry is . RELIGION—SYMBOLISM—MASONRY .

A Brother thinks that in the Reli gion of some antient nations , there Avas a gradual absorption of its Symbolism in its Masonry . LECTURES EXTEMPORE . Before the Revival of 1717 our Lectures were extempore .

The Clergy And Masonry.

THE CLERGY AND MASONRY .

We are aware thafc m alluding to this topic , Ave are stepping on somewhat dangerous ground , bufc as usual Ave claim the right to express our views freely and independently . We , afc once , may state that Ave like to see the clergy in our

lodgerooms . We ahvays hail with special pleasure a petition from a minister of God when seeking admission Avithin our portals . Their presence adds dignity and causes respect . As a class the Apostles of Religion are faithful to their vows and

make members of sterling worth , Their presence in the lodge-room prevents levity , which afc times might otherwise , by younger members , be carried into excess . Their very profession , as a rule , vouches for their character and honour .

Again , let us look at the opposite side and what do Ave see ? We read in the " New York Herald" a call- signed by over one hundred ministers for the purpose of denouncing masonry . Who are these men ? They are the slaves of a creed

and tbe bigots of a church . They are seeking notoriety and neglecting the salvation of souls . While then we condemn these narrow-minded

and arrogant puppets , Ave do not condemn the thousands of clergy ( good men and true ) who have enrolled themselves under our banners . These men are an honour to the world . They see in Freemasonry a something , after which man

constantly craves . What is it ? It is brotherhood . The intelligent teacher of the doctrines of Christ sees in our Order a bond that links together men of all creeds and classes . It is exactly what he requires .

Iu the church sectarian bigotry springs up . In Masonry such cannot be the case . God said " Let there be light , aud there Avas light . " So do Ave , the sons of light , endeavour to shed symbolically those rays ivhich illumine fche home of a widow ,

brighten the table of the poor , and cheer the broken heart of the orphan . The clergy , by allying themselves Avith us prove to the world the falsity of those statements wilfully made to mislead the uninitiated ; their presence adds much to the

prestige of the Order , their allegiance proves thafc Freemasonry and Religion go hand in hand . So then may it ever be .

The clergy ( the chosen of God ) are ever welcome to our mysteries , and Ave only hope that the day is nofc far distant Avhen fche black sheep among