Government Of A Lodge.

GOVERNMENT OF A LODGE .

Every lodge is to be ruled with dignity and decorum , and to be governed with mildness and moderation . There is a way of inspiring obedience and respect in a lodge without haughtiness and austerity ; in fact , they are forbidden . Nothing can be more distasteful than the exercise of power among Masons , simply because one can exercise

it . Power is to be exercised when it must be—when necessity demands it ; and to exercise it systematically at any other times is usually injurious . Tet , Masters , or those acting as such , are but human , and often are very positive , affirmative , and representative men , and , unless they are constantly on guard , and have their obligation ever before them , they are likely to administer

the laws and usages in a way that they would not like to have enforced upon them . Such men , on the whole , make the most successful governors , but they need to govern themselves , both in and out of the lodge . Neither the voice nor manner of the Master should indicate authoritydisrespect , or difference among the

, brethren . Any brother infirm in manner , poor in speech , or timid among others , should be first noticed , then encouraged , then upheld , until the Master is certain that he has said all he wishes or ought to , and that he is understood . The brethren will readily sympathize with such treatment , and with fair opportunity all may beheard .

It should be the constant study of the Master and brethren to have every brother , at proper times , present any matter in his charge himself , instead of having some spokesman to do it for him . The nearer a lodge can be induced to feel live , and speak , like a well-regulated family , the better for its comfort and success . There are few brethren who like to be spokesmen , and few who

do so escape evil eifects . Every Master and every Mason should regard his obligation to sustain and obey the law , but this does not mean that every thoughtless disobedience or violationevery unintentional mistake—every misconstructionevery ebullition of temper , jealousy , or folly—every thing done out of order or place—is to be visited with

punishment , censure , or even notice . A child should learn that a wilful and wicked disobedieence is sure of its penalty , but a constant hectoring , punishing , and reprimanding , is sure to produce a dogged disposition or a crafty and deceitful character . Kind treatment , gentle reproofs , and rare but thorough punishment , are far more effective , in nearly all cases , than severer modes . Just so in the

lodge . Let love and affection rule ; and if a Master , by equitable , impartial , and genial government , ean gain the love of his brethren , and their confidence withal , his rule will be more in the name than in tlie fact . This only proves that a Master is to be ever watchful and ever guarded . Success , love , and confidence , are his certain rewards . —The Trowel .

Royal Arch Masonry.

ROYAL ARCH MASONRY .

The degrees of Freemasonry known as the Entered Aprentice , Fellow Craft , and Master Mason , were first instituted , and . arc of antiquity long anterior to the subsequent Orders , and are the foundation upon which tbe latter were built . They are more widely diffused than the higher Orders ; are incorporated into every rite , and embrace those pure principles of morality which , by their practicerender men wiser and better .

, The origin of Royal Arch Masonry is distinctly traced to the erection of the second temple of Jerusalem , five hundred and thirty-two years before Christ , when , iu the fulfilment of prophecy , the Jews repaired from Babylon to Jerusalem to rebuild the house of the Lord which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar . The magnificent temple erected by Solomon was situated on

Mount Moriah , near the place where Abraham was about to offer up his son Isaac , and where David met the destroying angel . The foundation of this temple was laid in thc fourth year of the reign of Solomon , in he year of the world 2 , 292 , and , in

consequence of tbe wise regulations of the founder , it was completed in all its parts in little more than seven years . It was at this period the original degrees of Masonry were instituted , and so admirably were they designed , that the work proceeded with the utmost regularity , and during the period in which the workmen were engaged , neither the sound of the hammer , the axe , or any other tool of iron was heard . In the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah , the city of

Jerusalem was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar . Tho siege was continued with great vigour , and the city was as vigourously defended by Zedekiah , who was at length compelled to surrender in the eleventh year of his reign . Zedekiah himself was conducted in chains to Babylon , where he remained in prison until his death , his eyes , according ' o tbe barbarous practice of the timeshaving being previously put out . Bthe orders of

, y Nebuchadnezzar , the temple , and palaces , and other sumptuous edifices , were razed to their foundations ; "temple and tower went down , " leaving scarcely a wreck behind . Fifty years after the destruction of tho temple , Cyrus , who then filled the throne of Persia , being moved by the prayers of the captive Jews , issued a decree authorising them to return to Jerusalem to rebuild tho house of tbe Lord ; at the same time

he addressed a letter to the Governors of Syria , in which he informed them that he had " given leave to the Jews to return to their own country , to rebuild their city , and to build the temple of God at Jerusalem on the same place it was before . In consequence of this decree , the Jews repaired in great numbers to Jerusalem , where they first built an altar that they might offer sacrifices according to the laws of Moses . In the

following year they laid the foundation of the second temple ; but they had riiade but little progress in the work , when they were compelled to desist by order of Aitaxerxes , who was induced , by the representation of the Samaritans , to issue this decree in opposition to that of his predecessors . Tlie work was at a stand for fifteen years , when Darius Hystaspes ascended the

Persian throne . In the second year of the reign of Darius Zerubbabel , a prince of the house of Judah , proceeded at the head of a deputation of the council or Sanhedrim of Jerusalem , to the court of the Persian king ; and having gained admission to his presence , he prevailed upon Darius to abrogate tbe decree of Artaxerxes , and permit the Jews to proceed with the work . Zerubbabel returned to Jerusalemand the work was

, recommenced , and the temple was finished and dedicated in . the sixth year of the reign of Darius , or 511 years before Christ . Tbe Degree of Royal Arch Mason is founded upon circumstances which then occurred , and upon important discoveries made , when the workmen were preparing for the foundation , and Masonic tradition with regard to those discoveries are corroborated by various passages in the Sacred Scriptures .

This degree is usually divided into two sections , but , with more propriety , it may be divided into three . The first relating to the opening of tbe chapter ; the second , relating to the circumstances connected with the siege and capture of Jerusalem , and the destruction of the temple ; the third , to the building of the second temple , in the reign of Darius Hystaspes . This degree of Masonrywhen properly conferred is one . of

, great impressiveness and solemnity . It teaches some important truths , of which , without its aid , the world would still have been ignorant , and it inculcates , many sublime principles of morality , in a manner calculated to make an indelible impression . In this , as in the preceding degrees , " every utensil of work is an impressive emblem ; every ceremony causes an illusion to some historical fact ; every jewel is a symbol of moral virtue and every external

ornament or appendage , is a silent but faithful prompter of those graces and virtues which should adorn the'iuner man . " In passing through thc ceremonies of this Order the path may be rough , a true representation of the rugged path of life we are all destined to travel ; but the rough places become smooth , and crooked things straight , by the lessons of moral virtue which are sought to be inculcated . —Masonic Record .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

MRS . STIRLING'S READINGS .

Another of the series of Shakespearean reading which , are being given by the popular actress took place on the 11 th inst ., at St . James' Hall , and it is scarnely necessary to say that it was attended by a large ancl appreciative audience .