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Contents . tPAGE . Masonic Discipline and the Ritual- —By Crux 3 S 1 Grand Chapter of Canada 383 Gothic Architecture and Operative Freemasonry—By Bro . W . P . Buclian 384 Masonic Celestial Mysteries—By Bro . Henry Melville 387

Masonic Notes and Queries 388 Correspondence 390 Masonic Mems 392 CEAST LODGE MEETINGS : — Metropolitan 392 Provincial 303 Isle of Man 395 Scotland 305

Channel Islands 30 G South Australia 396 Mark Masonry . '¦¦¦ ,,. 397 Religious and Military Order of the Temple ' .. . " . ' 397 Theatrical aud Musical STotes 397 Reviews 397 Obituary 398 Constanthiian Order of the Knights of St . George 398 Scientific Meetings for the Week 390 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 399 To Correspondents 400

Masonic Discipline And The Ritual.—Xxiii.

MASONIC DISCIPLINE AND THE RITUAL . —XXIII .

LONDON , SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 13 , 1869 .

By CRUX . The first step towards tlie remedy of an evil , is tlie full perception and knowledge of its nature and extent . Unless a person is conscious of his fault he , cannot correct it . It is true that he may be

perfectly aware of his defects , and yet either neglect or refuse to " depart from his evil ways . " In that case he is simply laying up for himself that punishment , which sooner or later must infallibly overtake those who despise the paths of

wisdom , and voluntarily stray amid the labyrinths of folly . We have now arrived at such a stage of our discussion upon the present subject , and have elicited in their course , such overwhelming evidence of the imperative necessfty that exists for

improvement in the modern Masonic regime , that it may be truly said of the whole system , corrigendum , est . We have not the slightest hesitation in asserting that the feeling is unanimous , that something ought to be done to impart more uniformity

and regularity to the working of our lodges . This opinion is held , not alone by brethren who , like ourselves , have carefully studied the whole question , but is shared in by those who can perceive , humble as their rank of life may be , the

anomalous ancl contemptible position in which the Craft is placed by the indecision , inaction and apathy of those , who have its affairs in their rule and governance . So far as our rites , ceremonies ,

and ritual are concerned , it is a piain , but deplorable case of "Every man his own Instructor , " and this , in an Institution which , in many countries it may be truthfully affirmed , " the King delightetk . to honour . " AVith no datum , no standard , no

criterion of what is right , and what is wrong , the cry of Masons is Da nobis lux , and this , in an Institution which affixes to the certificates

issued by its supreme authority , the date , A . L .. However brightly the light may have shone in by-gone days , there is very little of it now remaining to enlighten its benighted and bewildered votaries . When the metropolitan brethren are so

much in the dark , imagine what must be the condition of those who are in the provinces ? The excellent letter of a " Provincial Grand Officer "

in the last issue fully corroborates the truth of the statements we have persistently and unweariedly advanced . It has often struck us , when considering the inefficient and pitiable condition to which modern working Masonry has sunk , that

the light of a M . M . is indeed a "feeble ray . " The bitterest enemy of our Order could hardly have devised a more biting sarcasm than the introduction of the whole of that beautiful paragraph into the ceremony of the third degree . How many

a candidate must have given his fullest , but silent assent to the remark , as he thought of the person who with great difficulty and assistance stumbled through that solemn and dignified ceremonial ! It is not the physical , but the mental " feeble ray "

which calls for the greatest fortitude on the part of the candidate . It is high time all this was altered ; incompetent and . uneducated officers are bringing the Craft into contempt even among its own members . Laxity of discipline , and a lethargic

administration , which takes no pains to correct errors , reform abuses , or advocate improvement , will not advance the internal welfare ol' the Order .

The pontificial non possumus is an answer that may do very well for a time and for certain classes , but there are others who do not regard it as a valid reply , and who are able to think , to judge ,, and if necessary to act for themselves .

Resuming our ritualistic criticism , it may be remarked that the wording of the penalty differs in different lodges , so that absolutely , it is a mere chance whether any two brethren are ever " obligated " according to the same formula . This

would be equivalent to administering the oath of allegiance to one person , in certain words , and to another , iu certain others . Comment is snperfluoua ,