The Connection Between Freemasonry And Religion.

or profane writers . Its chief aim at that remote period was the erection of a Temple to the glory of the Most High , thus connecting itself intimately with the true religion of that day . But let the studious Master Masons wade through the history of the erection of that glorious building to find that

every art work then began and ended foreshadowed a great and more glorious Temple yet to appear . When the mere operative work of Masonry ceased on the divine proclamation to the world , "I will destroy this temple , and in three days I will raise it

up ; " from that moment pure speculative Masonry became a fact , and the real and true light so graphically explained by our Grand Master St . John outshone the splendour of the typical Skekinah , the

comfort of the Jewish people , which from its first appearance to Adam to the dedication of the Temple of Solomon , appeared lastly in the form of the Son of Righteousness manifested at his incarnation , baptism , transfiguration , and ascension . In the first temple he was in the cloud , in the second he

appeared as the brightness of God ' s glory , and the express image of his person as predicted by the prophet Haggai at the building of the second temple ; " the glory of this latter shall be greater than of the former , saith the Lord of hosts , and in this place will

I give peace . " Completing the covenant made with Adam and the patriarchs in the person of the Saviour who appeared in this temple , destroying the rounds or staves of Jacob's ladder as it rested on the two

tables of the law delivered on the rock , and amidst the thunderings of Sinai was raised and immoveably planted on the rock of Calvary , on Him who is the true and living word ; and now speculative Masonry raises in each man ' s heart a temple to the living God . If Masonry had not been so closely connected

with true religion , its existence , its name and even remembrance would have long since disappeared . Empires and kingdoms have fallen , creeds and socalled churches are tottering on their foundations , Masonry still holds high its head pointing to the

bright Morning Star , placing no confidence in the strength of man or councils of men , resting its solid foundation only on the Holy Volume , directing each Mason to seek out his own salvation in that book with fear and trembling , producing those glorious

habits of faith and hope in this life , seeking for the consummation of these two , that brilliant and glorious charity which reigns in the Grand Lodge above , where no wants to relieve , no distress to pity exist , where the souls of the just will form one company

with thoughts , capacities , and powers having but one centre , uniting in adoration to the Great I AM and the Lamb , in peace , harmony , and brotherly love . And now , as your Master , I tell you where true religion is to be found ; there , in that Holy Volume ,

The Connection Between Freemasonry And Religion.

ever expanded in our lodges , will you learn all you require to know . It is its own teacher , and there Masonry leaves you to work as the gayel of conscience will direct ; I can but charge you to consider it as the unerring standard of truth and justice . Therein are you taught the duty you owe to God , your neighbour , and yourself . No book has ever stood the wear and tear of time as it has done .

It has seen the rise and fall of Daniel ' s four empires , Media and Persia , like Babylon which they conquered , have been weighed in the balance and found long ago wanting , Greece faintly survives in its historic name , and the quoin dome of the Cassars has been broken . Yet the book which foretells all this

survives and engages men's deepest thoughts , is examined by the keenest intellect , is more read and sifted , loved and vehemently assailed , more defended and more denied , more honoured and abused , than any book the world ever saw . It survives all changes , itself unchanged ; it sees all things decay , itself

incorruptible ; it sees myriads of other books engulphed by the stream of time , yet it is borne along triumphantly on the wave , and will be borne along , till the mystic angel shall plant his foot upon the sea , and swear by Him that liveth for ever that time shall be no longer 5

for all flesh is as grass , and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass . The grass withereth and the flower thereof fadeth away , but the word of the Lord endureth for ever ; and that ' s the Book Freemasonry urges you to believe , to study , and to accept .

English Gilds.*

ENGLISH GILDS . *

( Oontiimed from page 208 . ) In the more important trades in Germany , this system of travelling led to the formation of special fraternities of journeymen , which so strikingly resemble the trade-unions , that a description of

them may be of interest . The Shoe-servants had a fraternity , imposts , and some articles ; but thafe since these had fallen into abeyance , and the articles had been destroyed in the great fire , the masters had decided " to get some new articles

confirmed , especially as in these evil , unquiet and perverse times it was highly necessary to establish and maintain sound discipline and honesty in the crafts / 5 In the first place , an inn . was established , where all wandering journeymen

had to turn in . The host was called father : the housewife , mother ; the daughters and maid-servants , sisters ; the sons and servants , brothers . To call them otherwise was an offence for which