Masonic Jottings From Abroad.

Scotland and Ireland . In England the feast of St . John was , in olden times , a great annual celebration . Bonfires Avere lighted in every toAvn , around which danced young en and maidens Avith garlands wrought of motherwort , with flowers in their hands , " Whereas they all do fondly thinke

, That AvhosooA * er standes . And thorow the floAvers beholds the flame , His eyes shall feel no paine . When thus to night they danced have , They through the fire amaine , With striving minds doe rmme , and all Their hearbes they cast therein .

These mysteries , we are reminded by Brother Arn Schlonbach in the " BauJmtte , " have a deep masonic signification : "On the height of humanity Ave kindle the John ' s fire of Love . Erom Lodge to Lodge runs the friendly Avords of greeting , " Come to us , think of your brethren , on this day , in all parts of the earth !"

The flames of inspiring words and song , the perfume of floAvers and garlands shall cleanse our soids from the musty and poisonous odours of everyday-life , Avill animate within us UOAV germs of goodness and beauty , and all things shall be worthy sacrifice to the spirit of eternal light—of free humanity ! " At the Berlin grand festival

on St . John ' s day Prince Eredrick Wilhelm Avas present , and entered upon the post of the order held by the late General A'on Selasiusky . ' We have already assumed that the Prince has been since named " Ordensmeister" of

all the German lodges ; and that a Vienna journal , the Peoples Friend , mentions the election of the Prince , and ventures to assert that the order of E . M . is founded AA * ith the intention of OA'erthroAving crown and altar , and wonders that a princly chief should ever belong to it . The same journal adds— "butAveknoAv that the

admission of such secret chiefs to a knoAvledge of the proper secret p lans of E . M . Avould not be permitted , except to serve as bucklers and charts of security . " The National Journal observes * " on the silliness and ignorance of the above and similar journals there can be no wonder ; but such expressions show that it enjoys a freedom which is

denied to the rest of the press . " On the 24 th June , Avas celebrated at Hamburg , the 50 th anniversary—the jubilee of Bro . K . G . Priitzel the

veteran poet . The brethren formed a en'cle round him and greeted him Avith a festive song on the occasion . He Avas then named an honorary member of the " Grand Lodge" and clothed with the insignia belonging to it . On the 3 rd inst ., Bro . Dr . Wendler of the " Mineiwa , " Berlin , had also his jubilee festival . In the morning the

three Lodges of that city , accompanied with a band , proceeded to his house and gave him a serenade . In the evening there Avas a great gathering in the local Lodge , AA'hich Avas opened Avith a discourse by Bro . Muller , and singing . Bro . Dr . Wendler , after other appropriate ceremonies had been performed , AV . IS presented b y Bro .

Muller Avith the golden apron of honour and a silver tea-service , and uncoA'ered the excellent portrait of tbe worthy member painted by Bro . Souchon . After this , the various deputies presented their greetings . Bro .

Masonic Jottings From Abroad.

Marbacli , master of the "Ealduinzur Lodge , " presented to Bro . Wendler in the name of the lodge a gold ring viith the motto : " Non nisi digno ; " other deputies came forward to name him an honorary member of their respective lodges . Altogether the proceedings were of the most harmonious character . At the close of the Lodge the

brethren found the gardens illuminated in honour of the event . Cheerful tidings reach us from Norway and Sweden , as to the condition and groAvth of lodges in these countries . There is a " Northern Stuart Lodge" in Christiana . The St . Andrew ' s Lodge numbers 47

masters , and 44 felloAvs . The St . John Lodge number 143 masters , 64 fellows , and C 7 apprentices . The " Matricle" as been received , which extends to nine pro-A'inees in the north ; and as an appendix to it , the funeral oration pronounced by Br . A . W . Eaugen , 0 A * er the late Br . King Oscar .

We obseri'e announced , " Eoden fiber Er . Mrei , & c . " ( " Discoui'ses on Ereemasonry , to thinking Non-Masons ) , " a second edition , published at Leipsic , by H . Luppe . This work has been favourably noticed by both the Masonic and non-Masonic Press . That it has

reached a second edition , is some testimony to its value , and AA e are glad to learn that it begins to aAA'aken some interest in Austria . We bespeak the attention of Brethren conversant Aiith German , to an excellent Avork , by Br . J . G . Eindel , " Die Classische Periode der Deutschen Nationalliteratur un achtzchuten Jahrhumdest , " a series of readings from the Avorks of the master minds of Germany .

Cursory Remarks On Freemasonry .— No. Vi.

CURSORY REMARKS ON FREEMASONRY . — No . VI .

ONE of the most hopeful symptoms of the present state of Ereemasonry is the number of young members of the Order one constantly meets with , who are dissatisfied with the too much prevailing practice of holding our Lodges at public houses , and Avho are also in

favour of dispensing , almost or entirely , Avith the system of spending any portion of Lodge Eunds in eating or drinking . They ICUOAV that if any religious sect were to meet in a room in an inn , to offer up their prayers to Almighty God , and to be taught their duty towards their Maker and to all His creatures , or to take into

consideration the best means of aiding missionary enterprise , either amongst our OAVU population , or in heathen lands ; and , if at the conclusion of such meetings , bibles and hymn-books Ai'ere cleared , and pipes and glasses brought in in their stead ; they knoAV full Avell that such a mode of procedure Avould not cause the tongue of

good report to be heard in favour of their sobriety , but that Humour , with his hundred tongues , Avould cry out—Eie upon sueh proceedings . And yet there are Lodges in this country , neither feAV nor far betAveen , Avhose meetings are regularly held iu rooms in taverns , AA'here ( though the tyler keeps all coAvans and intruders from