The Principles Upon Which Our Institution Is Based.

without distinction of class or condition , and correctness and uprightness of life and conduct . These are the higher principles of Masonry , but many others exist . Amongst the foremost may be mentioned that good and brotherly feeling existing amongst Masons , and particularly amongst brethren of ^ th e same lodge . Where

true Masonry exists , ill-feeling'' ; and jealousy must o f necessity be expelled . Brethren , how many instances have we had in our midst ivhere members of this lodgo have had temporary differenceslupon ' personal and private matters ; for a time those dissensions have continued , but they have been like ^ tke fleeting shadow , and

when the bright rays of Masonry have broken forth they have been dispelled never to gather again . Differences of opinion will always exist , but I maintain that where a true Masonic feeling is present in a lodge , enmity can never permanently prevail . Again ; one of the principal advantages of Masonry is

the substantial relief which brethren of affluent means gave and always will be willing to extend to poor and distressed Masons , Masonic Charity is a virtue which is sometimes abused ; but " Charity suffereth long and is kind ; " and there are many genuine cases where pecuniary relief is absolutely required , and cheerfully rendered ;

words cannot tell how much private good Masons have done to their poorer brethren ; and I trust that no sincere brother will ever forget the hour of his own poverty and destitution ; but when he meets with a case of real distress , that his heart will be opened , and he will be led to practise a virtue which is one of the chief characteristics of our order .

But Masonic charity is not co nfined to private assist ance ; our public Masonic charities are the pride of our honourable society . Our Institutions for the relief of aged and decayed Masons , and our Boys' and Girls . Schools , are institutions of so noblo a character as to call forth the warm approval of the country at large ; there

never was a time when these charitable establishments were in so flourishing a condition ; and yet there never existed a period when our individual and united exertion was more loudly called for on their behalf . I feel sure that we as a lodge shall not be backward in promoting by every means in our power institutions ivhich have in

view such benificent and admirable purposes . Such being the sentiments aud intentions of every right-thinking Mason , tho man must be bold indeed who would venture the opinion that Masonry had no practical meaning in thc present enli ghtened age . But , brethren , ive must not stand still or the

inclination to go back may steal upon us -, let us endeavour to become better acquainted with that heautiful ritual which has been handed down to us by tradition . Let us make a daily progress in Masonic principles , ' but , above all , let us by every means in our power endeavour to extend those practical uses and advantages to which our

Institutions ought to be zealously applied . I fear that in tho course of the few words I have addressed to thc lodge I have failed to bring forward much that is novel , but you will agree that we , as Masons , pride ourselves on that which is old , and if , in speaking on a subject of which antiquity is thc pride , I

The Principles Upon Which Our Institution Is Based.

have said that which is true , you will require fesr apologies , for the truth will always bear repetition . I cannot do better than conclude those few remarks by a quotation from an address delivered to a raised , audience by that distinguished Mason ,. Bro . MarwooS , D . Prov . G-. M ,, a short time back , on laying the

foundation stone of the present Masonic Hall , at Whitby . Hesaid : — "We wish it to be fully understood by all here : present that we do not , as Masons , arrogate to ourselves the character of being better men than others . Par from us be any such intentions . There are many thousands who havo not joined our fraternity who are as good and

true men as can be ; but wc believe that the true practice of Masonry has a natural tendency to refine and improve the hearts of all those who truly follow its precepts ; ' chafe it awakens in our minds feelings of brotherly love ami universal benevolence , thereby enabling us to becsu _ s better members of society than we were before . The

speculative Masonry of the present day has been justly denominated a peculiar morality , not the cold morality of the schools , but the genuine morality that springs from religious feeling instilled into our hearts by the perusal of the volume of the sacred law , which Holy-Book is ever in our lodges , the unerring standard c £ truth and justice , the one groat light to rule and govern our faith and conduct . "

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

EK & HSH EBEEHASONS—THEIR NOTIONS 03 ? THS DEITY . In my communication entitled "Ideology anel Freemasonry , " and printed vol . xiii ., p . 246 , of the PEBBI-IABO ^ S' MAGAZINE , there is a statement ; that the ideologists in France with Avhom I have

conversed at sundry times in the last fifty years have notions of the Deity very unlike those entertained by-English Freemasons . Upon this statement , a brothee at Lyons , describing himself as belonging to a Pieimontese lodge , has sent me some desultory remarks ,

Avhich he concludes by asking numerous questions . The remarks , as it seems to me , do not call foe observation . The questions , it will upon reflectioia be manifest , are all substantially answered by the few lines now subjoined . English Freemasons are Christians or Theists ; almost all are Christians , very few

are Theists . With regard to the notions of the Deity entertained by those who are Christians , of course nothing need here be said . With regard to thc notions of the Deity entertained by those who are Theists , they may he found iu Paley ' s " Natural !

Theology . " It appears from the notice of Paley , contained in the " Dietionnaire des Sciences Philo sophiques , " that this work has been translated into French— "La Theologie Naturelle a etc traduit en Francais . Par Pictet , de Genu ye . Paris : 1815- "CiiAHiES P [ linos' COOPEE .