Masonry In America.

purification and trials , of rewards and punishments , ancl of some great Spirit , by whom evil ivas to be overcome . "The Hindoo thus defined Deity : 'He who surpasses speech ; whom intelligence cannot comprehend ; who cannot be even seen or heard . ' " This degree whose requirement we this night obey , especially teaches but three things , the unity , immutability , and goodness of God ; tho immortality ofthe soul , and the ultimate defeat ancl extinction of evilwrongand sorrowby a Redeemer

, , , or Messiah yet to come if he has not already appeared , and this fact must be settled by the brother ' s own conscience . " The three great pillars of our Order , Faith , Hope , and Charity , are only the old pillars under different names . For he only is wise who judges others charitably ; he only is strong who is hopeful ; and there is no beauty like a firm faith in God , our fellows ancl ourselves . The obligations of our ancient brethren of the Hose Croix degree were to fulfil all the duties of friendship , charity , peace ,

liberality , temperance , and chastity ; to avoid anger , hatred , and every other vice . Their principal rules were to exercise the profession of medicine charitably and ivithout fee , to advance the cause of virtue , enlarge the sciences , and induce men to live more like brethren . " Whore or when this sublime degree had its origin it is not for me to discuss to-day . Although its ceremonies slightly differ with the degrees of latitude and longitude , and it receives different interpretations , still if we carefully examine all

its emblems , & c , we shall at once see that all the essential elements of the Order are practised in all our sanctuaries . ' None admit an adept until he has been purified at the altar of symbolic Masonry . * * * * " With us , in Scotch Masonry , titles arc numerous and very high sounding . To thoso who ivould laugh at such , I may give hero some explanation of them ; they have with us meanings entirely consistent with the true spirit of Masonry . Tho Knight with us is he who devotes lii . s hand , his heart , his brain to the science of Masonry , and professes himself the sworn soldier of truth . The princo is he who

aims to be chief , first leader among his equals in virtue and good deeds . The sovereign , as one of an oi'der whose members are all sovereigns , is supreme only because the law aud constitutions are so which he administers , ancl by which he , like every brother , is governed . Puissant , potent , wise and venerable , indicate that power of virtue , wisdom , and intelligence which thoso ought to strive to attain who are placed iu high offices by the suffrages of their brethren . " As Hose Croix Masons it is our imperative duty to instruct our brethren , teaching them the lofty qualifications which are required by all who claim our

titles , and not merely idle gewgaws worn iu imitation of the times when tho nobles ancl the priests were masters and the people slaves ; and that in true Masonry the knight , the pontiff the prince and sovereign are but the first among their equals . In ancient times the candidate for admission into this sublime degree presented his petition at the door of the Chapter , kneeling and humbly craving the privileges of the Order . _ S ow no longer is this required , but holding his head erect , as a just and upright Masonhe advances to his brotherhis equalreling on tho rectitude

, , , y of his conduct to gain admission , for Masonry asks no one to kneel but to God . " This evening , my brethren , we commemorate , I said , the passover . Our rules require it . The feast of the passover was thus ordained : ' On the tenth of this . month ( the first month of the Jewish year ) they shall take every man a lamb , a lamb for a house , ancl if the household be too little for the lamb , let him and his neighbour take it according to the number of souls . ' It was imperative that tho lamb should be ivithout blemish ; a male of the first year ; it was to be killed in

the evening and the flesh of it eaten that night roasted with fire , none of it was allowed to remain till the morning , and whatsoever was not eaten was to be burnt up . No bone of it was to be broken , aud it was to be eaten with the loins girded , shoes on' the feet , aud staves in the hand . The object of this was to commemorate more forcibly the last night of their forefathers in the land of Egypt , and indicate their expectations on that night when the destroying angel smote the first born of everything , from the firstborn of Pharoah who sat upon his throne , to the firstborn of the captive who was chained in the dungeon , and turned the wail of sorrow throughout that laud to their advantage , causing the order to go forth with the