Physical Astronomy; Or, New Theories Of The Universe.

and the nature " of all the heavenly bodies . " I have not , " he says , " ventured thus to publish my opinions without first having communicated with the great philosophers of the day / 5 So he went , as it appears , to the " great philosophers "

of the time , and said to them : " Am I unscientific , or unphilosophic , in my views ? Is the modus operandi physically impossible ? " But the " great philosophers" of the time shook their heads , and looked still more philosophic . The answer from one of them was : " I have not

thought so deeply as you , and you will find very few who have ; astronomy has nothing to do with how the heavenly bodies are formed . " Another , spoken of in the preface as " one of the greatest astronomers of the day , " replied : " I cannot

venture an opinion upon your theories ; " while a third said : " However valuable this paper may be touching questions of speculative philosophy , it will be unwise to disturb public opinion in reference to established systems , which we had hoped were satisfactory / 5

But the writer of the pamphlet was not to be deterred by the sage opinions of the " greatest philosophers of the day : " and " being assured that the most popular Cosmography ( the Nebular theory ) , as well as other extant , are most

unsatisfactory , and knowing that the attainment of truth is the desire of all philosophers / 5 he " ventured to submit his own theories of the Universe for the impartail opinion of the world / 5 In my next I propose to review these Theories ,

and to examine how far the ideas propounded therein , have come to be developed in later years , forming , as they have since been acknowledged to form , the bases of the most wonderful astronomical discoveries of modern times . ( To be Continued ) .

The Connection Between Freemasonry And Religion.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FREEMASONRY AND RELIGION .

An Address delivered to the Members of Lodge Greenlaw , No . 1 , 095 ly Bro . R . L . SIMNEK , District Grand Warden of British Burmah and W . M . 1 , 095 . Brethren , —Our constitutions wisely prohibit the discussion of all political and religious topics

within our lodges ; the object of this salutary law is at once obvious ; preventing the breaking up of that harmony which is the great characteristic of our assemblies ; for on no subject is the opinion of man more divided than on these two . In the

present age JJ reemasonry has felt a powerful impulse to move forward , and thousands are in consequence now ranging themselves under our banners , thereby increasing our strength : and let us hope our power for good in the world , as well to God s greater glory as the welfare of our fellow creatures .

I am well aware that considerable diversity of opinion exists amongst Masons ; some too , mistaken in their conception of this subject by promulgating their views have led many in and out of the Craft to believe that no analogy exists

between the two . To disprove such a fallacy is now my object , and I trust , speaking to a Lodge of Christian Masons , you will not only see yourselves , but impress on future additions to our order , that one of the great designs of Masonry

is true religion ; comprehended in particular symbols , and founded on a basis without which we would as an Institution become a mockery , in short Masonry teaches us that we are all under the moral government of the Great Architect of

the Universe , to whom we must account for the actions of life ; it points out that strai ght and undeviating line of conduct marked out for our pursuits in the Holy Volume , reminds of tha * unerring and impartial Justice , lifting our eyes with a lively hope in the bright Morning Star , and so to frame our lives in accordance with the

laws of our Divine Creator , that when we are summoned from this sublunary abode , we may ascend to the Grand Lodge above , to shine as the stars for evermore . With a view to this end , let us direct our thoughts to a few of the more

prominent points which will lead us to these con . elusions , and at the same time assist us to advance in Masonic knowledge . Every right thinking Mason must have a wellfounded impression that the members of our lodges

are not as a whole sufficiently self-instructed in the important duties of their Order ; that their views and knowledge are often so vague as to have little value for the guidance either of themselves or others ; I do not refer so much to

accuracy of Masonic knowledge , technically so called ; but to that heartfelt personal knowledge of practical Masonry , which is necessary to help an enquirer into our great and fundamental truths . If none but the officers of a lodge were expected

to be thus qualified , the fact would not be so important ; but our charges insist ( as you are well aware ) in the strongest language , that every Mason