Origin Of Freemasonry In Nova Scotia.

MASONRY AND RELIGION . —We have heard persons , apparently in good faith , declare that Masonry seeks to set itself up as a kind of reli gion , thus inculcating teachings Avhich find expression in the saying of some of the members , that they

" want no better reli gion than Masonry . " Jfen may have given utterance to such language , but certainly none connected

with the Order will claim that it teaches anything like a reli gious dogma , or that it fails to inculcate the broadest catholicity of thought and feeling , ancl at tho same time is founded on the broadest principles of morality . The folloAAnng extract , from an

address delivered some time since by Grand Chaplain John G . Webster , of New York , is to the point : — " Freemasonry never yet , as I have heard , attempted to work miracles . It never yet infused brains into a cranium that had no cavity for their reception , nor did it ever send human Hood

coursing through a heart of granite , nor make a man out of a natural born beast , and I don't suppose it ever Avill . Its mission is to improve , not to create , and the material for its use must be capable of being moulded , or it cannot Avork it up .

Again , Masonry is not religion , in a sectarian sense , nor a substitute for it , and he Avho pretends that , or declares it to be ' a good enough religion' for him , hoists it out of its legitimate place , inflicts upon it a grievous Avrong , and lays himself open to

tlie suspicion of i gnorance of its teachings . While it inculcates a firm faith in the Being and divine attributes of God , almighty and eternal , ancl AvhUe it includes within its acknoAvledged brotherhood , standing side by side upon the same level of mantood , my Hebrew brother , AVIIO Avorships God in unity , and myself , AAIIO Avorships Him triune ; and Avhile it jnesents to me ,

as it does not to him , the story of the Messiah in many of its ceremonies ; and while it inculcates to both of us alike , reverence of the Divine Being , attention to His Avord , and invocation for His aid in all ° ur laudable undertakings , it imposes upon neither reliious dogmaIt leaves that

g . for a different department of man ' s duties . « is no substitute for that department , never Avas intended to be , and never will "o pretended to be , by the well instructed Mason . "—ne Voice of Masonry .

EEBUILDING THE ALEXANDRA PALACE . —The Builder states that the plans for the reconstruction of Alexandra Palace having been drawn up ancl agreed upon , the ruins have IIOAV been handed over to the builders , ancl the rebuilding of the palace will be commenced as soon as the ruins can be

cleared away . It is said , that , Avith the exception of the Avails of the centre transept , the building -will be entirely reconstructed . The neAv palace is to be larger than the old building , being both longer ancl broader . It is to have three transepts

, one forming a concert hall , another a theatre , ancl the third is , it is stated , to be devoted to bazaar purposes . These Avill be connected by corridors , in which light goods will be exhibited for sale . In some respects the new building Avill resemble the

Crystal Palace , it having been decided that iron ancl glass shall be largely used in the construction of the building . It is expected to be completed ancl ready for opening in June next .

RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS IN AMERICA . — EoAA ell ' s new "American NeAVspaper Directory , " says the Chicago Daily Tribune , reports the existence . of 400 religious journals in the United States . Forty-seven of these are under the control of the

Methodists , the largest number in . the hands of any single denomination . The Eoman Catholics have forty-one , the Baptists thirty-five , the Presbyterians , tAventy-nine , the Episcopalians , tAventy-one , the Lutherans and Reformed Germans , fourteen each , the JOAVS , nine , ancl the Congregationalists , eight . There is a large number classed as Evangelical .

IHE AVIII of the late Mr . John Stuart Mill bequeaths to Miss Taylor all his estate , real and personal ; Avith entire discretion as to the publication of his autobiography . In the event of Miss Taylor pre-deceasing him he bequeaths , among other legacies , £ 3 , 000 to the British Universit y which shah first open its degrees to women .

THE London and North-Western directors have determined to run their heavy passenger trains at a slower rate of speed than has hitherto been the practice . THE Thames in the neighbourhood of Richmond is in a very bad condition , and the people of the district are much dissatisfied .