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( fcantmis , ¦ PAGE . Masonic Discipline—By Crux 81 Sermon by Bro . the Rev . J . E . Cox , M . A 83 The Mark Degree —By Bro . Frederick Binckes 80 Burgh Records—By AA . P . Buchan 87 Masonic Notes and Queries 88 Correspondence S 9

Masonic Mems 01 United Grand Lodge 91 CRAFT LODGE MEETINGS : — Metropolitan 91 Provincial 91 Isle of Man 94 South Australia 94 Eoyal Arch 95

Knights Templar 98 The ' Royal Albert Orphan Asylum 96 Freemasonry among the Mormons 97 Literature , Science , Music , Drama , and the Fine Arts 98 Poetry 99 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 99 To Correspondents 100

Masonic Discipline.—Xvii.

MASONIC DISCIPLINE . —XVII .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JULY 31 , 1869 .

BY CEUX . The remarks made by one of our correspondents respecting the self-election of what are known as " Masonic Instructors / ' and their ipse dixit style of teaching , amply corroborate the

statement put forward in some of our previous articles . One can hardly imagine that although the officers of lodges , ancl the brethren at large , are left at perfect liberty to work as they like , that the professors of the art and science of Masonry should

be equally free to advance any theories they choose , any dogmas they may believe or invent , any manner of working or any ritualistic phraseology they may either have learnt from their predecessors , or , as the Germans say , evolved from " their internal consciousness . " But so it is .

Supine , and inert , the supreme authority in the Craft takes no pains , makes not the slightest effort , to establish an uniformity of working , even among those who disseminate among the brethren , the theory and practice of Masonry . So monstrous

an anomaly as uncertificated instructors , does not at the present time exist in any department of our civil or military government , and yet Freemasonry , which extends its branches over the whole habitable surface of the glebe , possesses not a single

institution , not a single constituted body , charged with the educational surveillance of its officers ancl members , and the selection of those who may be qualified to act as instructors , or , to use our own term , "Masonic Professors . " Considering the disadvantage under which all self-constituted fceachers 4 abour , the highest credit is due to those

who have taken upon themselves a duty so arduous , and have displayed so much zeal in the interests of the fraternity . At the same time it is not the less a disgrace , not the less a reproach to the Craft , that its members are indebted for their knowledge

of Masonry , to brethren who have derived their own instruction from sources unauthorised , uncared for , and in many instances unknown to those ,, whose first duty is to provide for the educational status of the members , whom it professes to rule ,

govern , and dictate to . The subject of " Masonic Instruction , " which it is unnecessary to remark is at a wretchedly low pitch , although intimately connected with Masonic Discipline , " is one which we shall not particularly treat of at the present

moment , but shall pass on to discuss the further discrepancies in the ritual relating to the opening of a lodge . Having'determined the proper manner in which the first and succeeding interrogatories of the

W . M . should be addressed to his officers , we may now proceed to examine into the nature of the dialogue itself . In the answer to the first

question , a confusion incessantly arises between it and a very similar one put at the closing of a lodge . This can be scarcely be included under the category of " discrepancies " nor can it be regarded as a serious mistake . It is simply an instance of

stupid blundering , and proves how little earnest attention . is paid to the intent and meaning of what is said in a lodge . It is somewhat humiliating to the zealous neophyte , to witness old Masons unable to distinguish between the

" proper " and the " close " tyling of a lodge , and to be compelled in silence to listen to the accurate question and the inaccurate answer , or to the incorrect interrogatory and the correct response .

How often have we heard brethren , to whom , to judge from appearances young members would naturally look up with reverence ancl respect , confound the "first" with the " constant" care of a Mason ! Is there any necessity to observe that

there is nothing so prone , so admirably contrived to dissipate the ardour of an aspiring brother , to destroy his love , his zeal for the science , as the glaring incapacity of those , to whom he considers he is bound to apply to for information , and to

regard as his superiors in the Craft ? Alas ! how many , whom at our initiation , we regarded with feelings of awe ancl esteem , have we wei ghed in the balance and found miserably wanting ! A little reflection will readily point out that " to see