Freemasonry And Public Service.

FREEMASONRY AND PUBLIC SERVICE .

WHILE there is a strong feeling among tlie leaders of the people to remove all disabilities from the lower classes of public servants , and place all on an equality so far as electorial and other privileges are concerned , there is an equally strong force at work in other quarters to create new barriers and distinctions , and make it illegal for juniors to enioy the same freedom as their superiors in matters

purely outside the range of official duties . Freemasonry is frequently to the front in this respect , and only during the last few days attention has been directed to the subject in the general press of the country—in one part a protest being offered against the admission into Freemasonry of members of the Koyal Irish Constabulary , and in another a desire being expressed to similiarly penalise the

uncommissioned ranks of the army . The first task of those who desire to see a destination in this respect is to make out a case , for it is clear that some reason must be put forth which shall induce the authorities , to consider the matter , else there is no possible chance of bringing about the desired restriction . To do this is not by any means easy , and the mere fact that in the majority of cases sentimental grievances are the only ones that can be

urged shows how little ground there is for the argument set forth . In , most cases official favouritism is the first—and often the sole—evil that can be urged against continued freedom of action , the argument usually being that this or that subordinate is allowed greater privileges than his fellows ,

simply because he is a Freemason , and thereby in closer touch with his superiors than those who haye not made themselves members of our Fraternity . There may be some amount of truth in such an allegation , but Freemasonry , or indeed secret

societies generally are not > the only factors which influence the superiors in their dealings with the men under their charge . An officer may have known one of his privates as a lad , they may have both come from the same district , may have been brought up from childhood amid the same surroundings , and finally the officer may have personally induced the private to enter the service , with the promise of keeping a watchful eye over him . Thus we have a personal interest manifest between the two . and if . as

is often the case , the subordinate is a better man in consequence , what wonder that he should be advanced and allowed greater privileges than those of his companions who , probably without an aim in life , go through their duties in a listless sort of manner , and

always endeavour to do as little as possible in as slovenly a way as they are able , and only just contrive to keep themselves within tlio strict letter of the law . It is always urgent that Freemasonry is likely to ¦ jaake a man better than he wonld be without it ; indeed no man can master the teachings and , precepts

Freemasonry And Public Service.

[ of our Order and fail to recognise the advantages of acting up to its principles , and this may in a measure account for what at first blush seems to be a system of favouritism .

In the case of the Eoyal Irish Constabulary there is at all times a cause for disagreement , on the ground of religious differences . The feeling of the Romish Church towards Freemasonry is so well

known as to account for any amount of hostility in this direction , indeed the latest attack brought under our notice is rather an appeal for religious persecution than any sincere intention of counteracting the professed evils of allowing the juniors and the leaders of the force to associate themselves with the same rites of Freemasonry .

It is not for us to decide which is the best system to adopt to ensure good order and regularity in the army , navy , and other public forces ; whether it is best to treat the men as dogs , and allow them no privileges ; or to recognise them as fellow human beings , with feelings and aspirations similar to those enjoyed by their superiors—there are warm advocates

of both systems , but happily the ieelmg is rapidly growing that the latter course is the only correct one to follow , and such being the case it is evidence of a desire for retrogression to argue in favour of new restrictions , or to attempt to enforce fresh barriers between the two great divisions of the human racethe masters and the men .

Why Masonry Prospers.

WHY MASONRY PROSPERS .

An Oration by Bro . E . R . Roe , at the Public Installation of the Officers of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Illinois , in Alton , 4-th October lSJf . 8 , in which he portrayed the character and trials of Masonry and the cause of its prosperity .

( Continued from page 195 . ) AND shall the solemn and imposing rites of Masonry be discarded to satisfy the cavilling of him who affects to be superior to the influence of human feeling and human sentiment ? If Masonry was made for angels instead of

men , and if angels are uninfluenced by solemn rites and moral ceremonies , then discard them all . But while there are human hearts to feel their influence , they will never bo forgotten—no , never ! I call npon you , my brethren , to bear me witness , if you have ever beheld the initiate enter

the outer chamber of our courts , and watched the progress of the solemn rite until the candidate had been bound by the cement of brotherly love , as a living stone in the temple of Masonry , without feeling that you was a purer and a better man .

III . A few words upon the present condition of Masonry in the world , and we are done . Masonry is prosperous beyond anything in the annals of linma-i institutions . Great indeed would be the success of thifc system which pervaded only the confederated states of the American Union . Travel nround its borders and look at its vastness ! Let ns start from Bwtport , in