The New Masonic Hall At Philadelphia.

certain sound as to this duty , and later long before it ceased to be operative and became speculative , Avhilst it spoke of the JcnoAvledge cognizable by the five senses , and defined tho seven liberal arts and sciences grammar , logic , rhetoric , arithmetic ,

geometry , music , and astronomy , it continued to point to the One Almighty Architect of the Universe , and charged " Be true to Sod . " In this , it is the same to-day as of old . If the profound mathematician in

the quiet of his study , can by cunning calculations of planetary peturbations find iu the far-off ether a Avorld unseen to the unassisted eye of man , and bid the astronomer so to direct his telescope that Neptune is

discovered , Freemasonry looks still higher , to Him Avho fashioned that remote orb , Imposed his LTWS upon it , appointed its

course and sent it circling around the centre of our spstem . If the geometrician speaks to us of tho point , the line , tho superficies and tho solid , of measures , miles and magnitudes , Freemasonry commands that we look up to Him " ivho laid the

cornerstone of tho Earth , who hath measured the waters in tho holloAv of His hand , meted out heaven Avith a span , Aveighed the mountains in scales and tho hills in a balance . " If the astronomer tells of periods and

eclipses , names the stars and their dimensions , makes a chart of tho Avorlds in the tiacHess heavens , Freemasonry points to Him Avho answered out of the Avhirlwind , " Knowest thou the ordinances of Heaven 1

Canst thou bind the SAveet influences of Pleiades or loose the bands of Orion 1 Canst tliou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season , or canst thou guide Arcturus Avith his sons 1 "

Then Ave may Avell use the language of the preface to the old Constitutions : " If anything could have escaped the censures of this litigious age , if the most inoffensive set of men in the Avorld could be free from

satyr and sarcasm , one would have thought the ancient and noble society of Freemasons should , have been the men . What have

they not to recommend them to the world , and gain the favour and protection of Avis ' e and honest men 1 " And yet against them , with their creed of truth and their spirit of universal benevolence , the rack of tho Inquisition has been used , kings have

pronounced their edicts and pontiffs have issued their bulls . They have been hunted to caves , driven to exile and doomed to death . But the ancient Fraternity , whose life is measured by the centuries , which has

-wdtnessed the rise and fall of empires , ever trusting in Him who is omnipotent , has withstood persecution and outlived tyranny . Prejudice has been its enemy , time its friend , justifier and avenger . In

Freemasonry there dAvells no demon for exorcism to bind , but it is animated by a free vital ,, beneficent spirit which Avill impel it forward until tho fulness of time , Avhen wrong shall be " forever on the scaffold , " and right " forever on tho throne . "

Therefore Brethren , walking Avorthy of this vocation to Avhich we have been called , Ave can to the shafts of uninformed bigotry oppose the shield of indifference and be silent when maligned . The illustrious lives of thousands of the living will be the

champion of our Fraternity , and the noble examples of our honoured dead be its vindicator , our roll is resplendent with names that are immortal , at Avhose mention calumny speaks with bated breath , but there is one before Avhich all others pale and malice is bnsbftd : it is WARrnNOTrw .

Our Lost Pet.

OUR LOST PET .

She -went what time the birds of passage sought The sunny South , her first and only love ; A short and pleasant loan , who only brought Joy to our hearts awhile , then soared above . A star dropped where nought star-like long may be—Fair as a day old flow ' ret washed in dew , With eyes so clear , we fancied we could see Her soul—the angel in her—shining through .

Departed hath she , like the first light snow Quick melted in the early Winter sun ; And all of her we evermore may know Is , that a marvellous sight hath come and gone . For now , left lonely as we are again , Our only darling , gone beyond recall , Is unto us a vision in the brain . . . - A dream -within the heart , and that is all .