Masonic Notes And Queries.

daily attaching themselves to the Order , that it is not to be wondered at if ive occasionall y see an expression of countenance ivhich plainly ) says , "Is this all ? Is this that Freemasonry of which I have formed and long entertained a favourable opinion ? Gentlemen , I am disappointed ! " My clear brothers , these things

ought not so to be . The candidate ought to be , and generally speaking is , pleased , astonished , delighted ; he will be , if the work is done by skilful hands . If our speculative workmen emulated the ancient operatives , we should see the wise and the good irom the uttermost parts of the earth again

journeying to the East to behold the wisdom of Solomon , and exclaiming , "the half Avas not told me . " But there is a further light in Masonry somewhat different from the mere intellectual instruction which has just been mentioned—the light of a Masonic life . How beautiful does the light of a fair , bright character

, in a Ereemason , enliven the countenance , and cause gladness in the heart of his brother . Such a light is often seen as one that shines in the dark places of the earth , exciting observation , engaging attention , and gladdening the hearts of beholders . Let Ereemasonsthenby obeying the teachings of our Order

, , , live soberly and ri ghteously , do justice , love mercy , and Avalk humbly before God . Let them cause the heart of the widow to rejoice , and the fatherless to call them blessed . Then shall the li ght of their example spread its influence every way , diffusing knowledge , goodness , motives to reform , and

encouragement to virtue . Other bodies around them will thus become a centre from which will radiate through all time to come , -rays of purest light . There are few of us that are fortunatel y gifted as suns which shine of their own power , but many who have the gift of reflecting . It is our duty as well to nourish this , h lesser

thouga gift , as it ivould be to trim the more brilliant li ght . Let us then bring our minds within the sphere of radiation of such minds as Oliver , Gadicke , Preston , Hutchinson , Scott , Harris , Anderson , and others , and become the reflectors of their light if we cannot shiuein a lendour all our own

sp . I am proud of the Craft , and my pride is sensibly increased by learning of tho great success of this magnificent enterprise—an enterprise so bold in its conception , so thoroughly adapted to the fraternit y in its details , aud which promises such unbounded results in its execution . What greater honour need

any Ereemason desire than that of linking his name ivith this effort to bring Avithin the reach of the humblest the means to pleuish his lamp with the purest oil , that his path may be lighted cheerfully to the tomb to which ive are all hastening ? On behalf of a grateful brotherhood , I thank the bold hearted

brethren who have thus thrown themselves into the breach to check the tide of innovation , " to bring back to a wandering people , " to dispel the gathering gloom , to offer to all a thing of great value ; to the old , that Avhich is worthy of contemplation , to the young instruction : in a word , " Further li ght in Masonry . " —JOHN SCOTT .

COMMENCING TO BUILD . The following practical remarks , from the preface of Wheeler ' s " Sural Homes , " are strikingly applicable to the moral labours of the Masonic Institution . — " The best way to set about building a country

house , I suppose I ought , with Abernethy , to say , is to ' take advice ; ' put yourself under the guidance of a professional man . We will suppose that already done , and so I , standing in the light of an architectural adviser , will proceed , with the best of my ability , to give the requisite information as fully as if my retaining fee had been secured in the shape of a

promised five per cent , upon the cost of the proposed erection . The true way to commence , is to first consider the subject in its common sense , working-day , light . You are going to put up what 3 ou mean as your home ; you want screening from the sun , and sheltering from the cold ; you desire to be at all times

snug and comfortable ; and free from all harassments . in any way traceable to your dwelling ' s external character or internal accommodations . You have a wholesome dread of the horrors of a leaking roof , and of possible weekly repairs ; you shudder at the idea of a damp bedroomor a mouldy cupboard ; and you

, have misgivings touching the amount of your St . Anthony-like forbearance under broiling tortures of a- stifling July night , beneath a metal roof , and in an unventilated bedroom ; and so all these thoughts make you reflect very deeply before choosing your material and your style . You notice I class these two

together because I hope to show that the one influences the other rather more than it is the fashion just now to allow . In choosing your material you are , of course , influenced by tbe selection your neighbourhood affords . Wood and stone are those generally used , brick not being introduced so often into country buildings as I think it might be Avith great

advantage . Eor a house on a very large scale , wood seems unsuitable , because , in a greater or less degree , it is suggestive of temporary intention in the erection . Stone is of many characters , and needs varied treatment . Its use is often a source of very great expense ; ivhere a character is attempted the particular specimens of material will not allow . Brick

does not seem as yet to have had a fair chance of trial ; and though Avhere stone and timber are in abundance , I would not , of course , prefer its adoption ; still there are many places in this country where it is both cheap and readily obtained , and in such places I conceive a far better use mi ght be made

of it than has , so far as my observation goes , been attempted . If your building is of moderate dimensions , and with timber conveniently near , you prefer to use wood , do thus : let timber , and timber only , be evident in every part of your building . Don't veneer it all over with a thin ceiling of inch boards

, nicely planed ancl fitted , and then sanded , ancl painted , and lined off , in the imitation of stone , because if you do , no one will really be deceived by it but yourself . Especially don't heap Pelion on Ossa , and glue up fluted monsters of carpentry in front , and fancy because they have the outline and proportions of

Doric columns , and have painted white lines at even distances thereon , running around them at about the height courses of stone would be cut . You have shown your classical taste , and possess a Grecian edifice . You have no such thing ; you have only a deal of and woodwork

great unnecessary expensive constant ^ to paint and keep in repair , and which the sooner you sweep aAvay the better . " THE LEVEL AND LEVELLING . A king , in the lodge , is reminded that although a