With what anxiety the friends of freedom throughout the world are watching us. They understand the magnitude of the issue. Their hopes are centered in

our success.

In such a momentous crisis, our duties as Masons are not uncertain.

By the ancient charges the Mason is bound" to be a peaceable citizen,” “and not to be engaged in plots and conspiracies against the peace and welfare of the

nation."

Says an old Masonic law, "But if it ever so happen that a Brother should be a rebel against the State, he is not to be countenanced in his rebellion, however he may be pitied as an unhappy man."

Twelve years ago a distinguished Mason in an address before the Grand Lodge of Tennessee used this Language,

"Freemasonry demands from her children, obedience to the civil authority and subjection to the powers that be; no man is a good Mason, who is not a patriot as well as a philanthropist, in principle and practice."

Our own Dunlap said, "The true Freemason must be a true patriot," and he asked "Is not our cause and its success in achieving the object for which it was instituted, identical with that of our common country? Is it not the primary and fundamental object of our Institution to promulgate those everlasting principles of truth and morality, which lie at the very foundation of our nationality and from the great under-current in the tide of our national progress?"

Another writer, Br. C. W. Moore, says:

"Masonry has her politics; but not the politics of a party or country. Her political creed maintains the natural equality of mankind-admits of no rank except the precedence due to merit, and sanctions no aristocracy except the unobtrusive nobility of virtue."

Robert Burns, the echo of whose sweet songs will be heard as long as the human breast beats with a generous emotion, sang of Masonry and the equality of man, in the same strain.

This characteristic of Masonry accounts for the genial soil for her growth and expansion that this country has afforded. On the other hand Masonry by its teachings and practice has been a pillar of support to the government. Free Institutions and Masonry are mutually beneficial to each other. Masonry supports the government and the government shelters Masonry. Said Lafayette, "The Masonic Institution in the United States affords an important pillar of support and union to its free institutions and its happy form of government."

Our duties then are plain : we must sustain the government as the very Ark of

the Covenant. Though Brothers may be arrayed in arms against us, we must nevertheless do our duty. We may pity the unhappy condition of those of our Order who may be numbered in the ranks of rebellion; but we cannot stay our hand in the support of our government.

But in such times as these, distress and suffering are fearfully increased, and in the same ratio are our duties to relieve and succor increased. Wherever suffering exists, there the Mason's duty leads him. While he serves his country with all his power, he yet finds time for the exercise of charity. Whether the object of it be a sick comrade, wounded foe, suffering and destitute prisoner, the widow or the orphan, it is all the same to him: it is his pleasure as well as duty to afford relief. And I am happy to find some bright spots in the history of this contest. I am glad to know that there remain some among our misguided Southern Brethren, who have not forgotten all their Masonic duties and obligations. W. Bro. James A. Hall, Master of Alna Lodge, and Grand Sword Bearer of this Grand Lodge, and who is himself now in the army, in December last received a letter containing information that two members of his Lodge (one of them his own brother) who had been taken prisoners at the battle of Bull Run, and were then prisoners of war at New Orleans, had had their wants provided for by M. W. J. Q. A. Fellows, Grand Master of Louisiana. And pains were taken to send word to their families that they were comfortable and in good health. Other Masons of Maine are now in New Orleans (but not as prisoners of war) and I am confident that these noble acts of Grand Master Fellows will be remembered and repaid by them, if opportunity offers.

Let Masonry have its perfect work at home and in the field; but let us rally to the support of that flag beneath whose folds our Institution has so long reposed; and let us find in its stars an emblem of the starry canopy above.

"Our father's blood has hallowed it: 't is part of their renown,
And palsied be the caitiff hand, would pluck its glories down."

But in the future I perceive greater and more responsible duties. I believe this unnatural contest is near its end. But when the sword is laid aside, and our soldiers have resumed the avocations of peace, there remains much to be done. The animosities and hatreds engendered always by war, and especialy by such a war, must be removed. This will be the Mason's duty. Having been taught the exercise of charity and brotherly love, the Masons can do very much to restore the ancient harmony and union, without which peace itself is but a name. I can almost perceive the finger of Providence in the work of raising up so large and so powerful a body, whose especial province it shall be to effect reconciliation and the return of brotherly love.

May he speed the happy day, when this shall be accomplished; when Brothers may greet Brothers throughout the land; when there shall be no contest, save in good works; and when with a restored Union, and a firm government, we shall again take our place among the nations of the earth, as a free, prosperous, happy, united and independent people.

Thus we shall show that popular government is not a failure; that while it gives to those who live under it more freedom, prosperity and happiness than any

other, it is the strongest of all governments, because the source of its power is in the hearts of the people.

Then it may be said of us,

"The germ wafted over the ocean, has struck its deep root in the earth and raised its high head to the clouds.

"Man looked in scorn, but Heaven beheld, and blest

Its branchy glories, spreading o'er the West.

No Summer gaud, the wonder of a day,
Born but to bloom, and then to fade away,

A giant oak it lifts its lofty form

Greens in the sun and strengthens in the storm.
Long in its shade shall children's children come
And welcome earth's poor wanderers to a home.
Long shall it live, and every blast defy,

Till time's last whirlwind sweep the vaulted sky."

OUR PATRON SAINTS.

ARE THEIR FESTIVALS NO LONGER TO BE CELEBRATED? We do not know, nor is it necessary to ascertain the fact, whether it be so or not, that the Masons of the present day are gradually becoming more and more forgetful of the good old customs of our Masonic forefathers. We have time and again heard it ascerted that the present age was progressive; but in our opinion, the progress has been backwards in many important particulars. Among those which we name as having got into almost dissuetude-more is the shame -is the due celebration of the great festal days of the Craft.

In the good old days, when Masonry was in its prime, the Festivals of the most ancient and honorable Society now existing were universally kept and duly honored, and many of these occasions have become not only historical, but have ever been deemed red-letter days in the Fraternity, and we can ourself remember the great gratifications experienced by our participation in those "feasts of reason and flow of soul," which in our younger Masonic days were duly celebrated.

How changed is the picture. In the great city of New York, with its hundred and twenty Lodges working in the American language, and their thousands of membership, the Great Festivals of our patron Saints seem now to be not only overlooked, but entirely discarded; and, as far as we can perceive, the socialities of Masonic brotherhood, with all their genial influence sacrificed to a parrot-like acquaintance with the ever-changing rituals, which are aught but Conservated, though not from lack of would-be Conservators. We of course, allude to the ignoring of the Anniversaries of our Patron Saints, the Baptist' and 'Evangelist,' as festival days-days which should never be forgotten by the enlightened Free

mason.

The former of these has just passed by, and no record of it has been made by

the New York Lodges; that is, as a body of Masons and in a Masonic manner. More is the pity-more is the shame.

Whether St. John the Baptist was a Mason or not, is not material; yet, as the Forerunner, his birthday has, from time immemorial, been celebrated as the great feast day by the Masonic Fraternity. It was to the generations of Masons, who existed for the last one hundred and fifty years, historical and fruitful of deep thought. It was on the Anniversary of the Baptist in the year 1717, that the revival of Masonry in England took place, from whom has sprung our present Masonic system. Two years later-June 24, 1719-' The old, regular and peculiar toasts or healths of the Freemasons were introduced;' and it was on that great festal day, in 1721 that the 'Thirtynine General Regulations' of the Craft, prefaced by the old 'Constitutions,' were approved.

The system of Masonic Government thus instituted, and the Landmarks thus laid down on these memorable days, are still acknowledged by regular bodies of associated Masons.

At annual feasts of old, difficulties were healed, the charity funds increased and the ties of brotherhood strengthened. Masonry then exercised its proper influence, inasmuch as it was under proper restraints, and the social and intellectual qualities combined increased and matured over the festive board.

It was but a few years since that the growing neglect to perpetuate these good old customs was thus brought to the attention of one of our Grand Lodges, whose Grand Master thus, in one of his addresses, alluded to the subject :—

'A more general attention to the festivals of St. John's days-those time honored periods of Masonic rejoicing-is to be earnestly recommended. A due attention to the practice of our fathers in this respect cannot fail to have a most vivifying influence upon the Masonic fraternity. Masonic festivals teach to their members the symbolic and emblematic lessons of the institution. The regular ceremonies observed upon such occasions are full of symbolic instruction to the iniliated; nor can a Brother be said to have his Masonic education complete until he has frequently participated in and thoroughly comprehended them. Masonic festivals polish the glorious chain of sociability. Masons who join heartly and understandingly in them grow brighter by the act; become more social; are more amiable; enjoy better the society of the Craft. Half the difficulties that come before us to be quieted, originate in the want of mutual intimate acquaintance-a want that can only be remedied by frequent social meetings on the festival days, sacred to Masonic memorials in the dead ages past. Masonic festivals exercise a beneficial influence upon the minds of the uninitiated public. All the community demands, to estimate our community above all others, is to hear their sublime principles enunciated, and to witness their admirable ceremonies as performed upon festival days. The effect is ever to swell our ranks by the wise and good, who are charmed by that which appears public upon such occasions. I would, therefore, warmly recommend to the Lodges in each district, to unite in convenient bodies and celebrate, statedly, the St. Johns' Days of June 24 and Dec. 27.'-N. Y. Sat. Courier.

MASONIC CHIT CHAT.

READING THE MARKS.-From the very excellent series of Masons' Marks appearing in the (London) Freemasons' Magazine I canno1 but suppose there was a meaning attached to them and I am fortified in this opinion by the following in Lawrie's History of Freemasonry, page 412, where it is stated :--"The points of the several forms [of Masons Marks] were also used to indicate a kind of secret language, regulated by certain rules, whereby instruction was imparted in a popular manner, and is known amongst Masons as 'Reading the Marks,' of which the following is an illustration:- How many points has your mark got? Three points. To what do they allude? To the three points of an equilateral triangle. Please demonstrate it as an operative Mason? A point has position, without length, breadth or thickness; a line has length without breadth or thickness, and terminates in two points; and three lines of equal length, placed at equal angles to each other, form an equivalent triangle, which is the primary figure in Geometry. Please to explain this figure as a speculative Mason? The equilateral triangle represents the Trinity in Unity. The Great Architect of the Universe having no material form, exists, prevading all space; the Creator of all things, governor of all animate and inanimate nature, the Fountain of Wisdom: whose greatness, prefection and glory, are incomprehensible and whose loving kindness and tender mercies are over all His works." However correct these formulas may be, they in no way apply to the method of deciphering Masons' Marks, and it must be admitted that the marks were placed on buildings for some purpose more than to point out each Craftsman's labor. But, if so, what was the purpose? Can an alphabet or dictionary of them be formed by which we can arrive at their meaning?

AN OLD MASON.-Mr. Charles McCue, of Dereham, C W, who was born in Ireland in 1758, and consequently is now one hundred and four years old, is probably one of the old. est men, as well as one of the oldest Masons, in America. He is yet hale and hearty-attends church regularly, and is active, both in mind and in body, as most men are at 70. He

walked into town on Tuesday last, and visited St. John's Masonic Lodge. We hope the venerable Brother may live to see many more St. John's Days.-Ingersoll (Canada) Chronicle.

LOUISIANA. We have received a copy of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, had at its Annual Communication in February last. R. W. Bro. Samuel Todd, of New Orleans, has been elected Grand Secretary in place of R. W. Bro. Samuel G. Risk, deceased. Bro. J. Q. A. Fellows was reelected Grand Master. We regret to notice in the address of the Grand Master the death of R. W. THOMAS H. LEWIS, Esq., P. D. G. M. He was a Brother of great intelligence and usefulness.

BR. C. W. MOORE-In the pamphlet copy of the Proceedings of Sup. Council for 1862, page 199, the names of Ill. H. A. Johnson, M. D., and George W. Deering, Esq, of IIlinois, were inserted under the head of Honorary Members, whereas they were elected Active Members of the Sup. Council in 1861, and retain that rank. Their names should have appeared in the list of Active Members, pape 198.

ALBERT CASE, A. G. S G.

Boston, June, 1862.

GODEY'S LADY'S Book for August has been upon our table for two weeks past a fact indicating the promptness with which the work is furnished to its subscribers. The number before us is filled with the usual variety and excellence of literary matter, and is enriched with its usual amount and beauty of illustration. "The Proposal" is excellent. "Webster at the Tomb of Shakspeare," ought to have been excellent, also.

THE BARON DE KALB, was a Brother of the mystic tie, and fell gloriously at the battle of Camden, in the Revolutionary war. The American officers received his body and buried it with Masonic rites Years afterwards, the Masonic Brethren of New Jersey discovered, after much difficulty, the place of his burial, and thereon erected a handsome monument with appropriate designs.