Volubility.

Fraternity , don't talk . Are you inquired of as to the truth or falsehood of some rumour affecting the good name and fair fame of some reputed Brother , don't talk . " By their fruits shall ye know them . " Freemasonry needs no apologists . Against any and all attacks it needs no defenders .

It has no reasons to give for proposed action , nor explanations for that which has been accomplished . As ifc solicits no one , it is responsible to no one . Self-contained and with noble purpose , it pursues the even tenor of its way , accomplishing its mission alike indifferent to the storms of calumny or the adulation of flatterers . Kingdoms , powers and even peoples have passed away , and

Freemasonry still is . It is alike potent in autocratic Eussia and free America , in the wilds of Arabia and the peaceful islands of Great Britain , where the Nile pours down its annual flood or the Amazon pursues its channel to the sea . It is a universal language . Without a spoken word its fraternal responsibilities can be commanded wherever its beneficent instruction has been disseminated .

Kings and princes have humbly knocked at its doors and , when divested of all that adorns or protects the highest as well as tbe lowest estate , have been admitted to its mysteries . Freemasonry knowns neither rank nor power . It asks only that those who come be good men and true , sound and whole and

competent to earn their support . The world presents no fairer page than that which Freemasonry offers . The best of men of all ages have found their opportunity for good within the tyled Lodge . The brightest minds have adorned its records . The most puissant have not disdained its shelter .

These are the facts of history . They do not need the blare of trumpets to command a hearing . They are known of all wen To us of the guild these things are as an open scroll . We have seen the waves of hate and rage surge up and break harmlessly at the base of our strong towers . The Church has fulminated its

edicts ; politics have proscribed its votaries ; treachery has sought to throw open its guarded avenues without avail . Silently aggressive , dumbly adamantine , voicelessly increasing in power of numbers , Freemasonry has survived all shocks , and is universally accorded its high place in the world ' s agencies for good . — " Keystone . "

A Good Member.

A GOOD MEMBER .

AS it takes all sorts of people to make a world , so we find all sorts of men iu a Lodge . There are diversities of nature and disposition , classed in society differences in tastes , ideas and opinions , grades of mental ability and educational acquirements , varieties of occupation and calling , degrees in learning and

refinement , existing in all communities , and men cannot divorce themselves from these conditions any more than an Ethiopian can change his skin or a leopard his spots . With all these variations of social and mental conditions men connect themselves with Masonry , aud bring into the Institution their different natures . It is not to be expected that the mere act of uniting

with a Masonic Lodge is going to alter them , except as their hearts are wrought upon by the refining influence and ennobling principles of the lessons and ceremonies of the Fraternity . These influences act upon men ' s nature , as does the work . of the polisher upon the marble , which removes the roughness of the stone and reveals the beautiful veins which are hidden under the rough exterior .

The men of a Lodge should be alike in many things , and they are ; and as they associate in good works , they come to be more and more assimiliated . They are all alike in the manner of corning into the Fraternity , that is , voluntarily , being " under the

tongue of good report , " morally upright , and " with charity toward all and malice toward none . " They are alike and equal when they enter through the inner door . Each asks , seeks , knocks and is received , in the same manner . All are alike in

their declaration of faith and trust , and when they meet upon the checkered floor all are equal . But in these things alone are they alike , for their different natures , advantages and positions naturally appear and are sure to be manifested ? These conditions of men influence their

usefulness m the Lodge . 'J here are men in the various Lodges who , while they occupy lower positions in the world outside , yet are far above " , in point of value to the Lodge , those who are socially their superiors . There is a difference between the standard of Masonry and the standard of the world . In the world the possession of millions of money entitles a man to a

certain rating . With this qualification alone he may be received into the millionaire ' s club . It is his password into the charmed circle of exclusive society . In Masonry the man of millions must approach the altar precisely as does the man who earns his bread in the sweat of his brow . There is equality within the walls of the Lodge room , but no \? here else . Neither church nor State can claim any spot where all are equal , although the

A Good Member.

Creator has established an equality from which none can escape . Every man is born in the world precisely the same , and when he takes his exit from it , it is through the self-same door . Naked he came into the world , and naked he leaves it . It is only during the interim between the cradle and the grave that the inequalities of life are experienced . Beyond the grave all men stand equal before the Great Judge and each receives the sentence his bodily deeds have earned .

The good member is one who manifests a deep interest in the work of the Fraternity , whose actions prove that the lessons taught have not b ° en forgotten , who realises that his obligations have a meaning , and who faithfully endeavours to keep them . He is not ambitious to hold office , but in an humble position he performs his duty well , and faithfully fulfils every requirement of

his membership . He is tbe man who in a quiet , unobtrusive manner works for the welfare of the Lodge and the good of the individual members . He seeks no other reward than the approval of his own conscience . He carries sunshine with him everywhere . His gentle voice is music in the ears of his sick Brother , and his smile a beam of bright hopefulness . Such a man

is never absent from his Lodge meetings except when unavoidably kept away . He is qualified to fill any office , bufc aspires to occupy none except temporarily . Such a man is always missed when nofc present at the meetings . He is a bulwark to the Lodge , an Aaron and Hur to the Master , a friend to every Brother , and a good member . — " Masonic Standard . "

Performing The Work.

PERFORMING THE WORK .

MASONIC- work is a mosaic . It is composed of a number of parts , each of which must be perfect , to ensure the perfection

of the whole . The "W . M . is the centre piece , but surrounding him , the great luminary , are lesser lights , which , if they perform their parts well , will reflect his glory and display the surpassing power of the ritual . He is the star in the mosaic pavement , the

sun in the Masonic heavens , the hero in the dramatic performance ; but those assisting him may mar the entire work if they are inefficient or ignorant or presumptuous . Hence the importance of having every Officer , elected and appointed , perfect in his part , rendering it correctly in matter and impressively in manner .

There is a large difference between theory and practice , so that a Brother may be a master of the one and a tyro in the other . In Masonic matters it is emphatically true that " practice makes perfect . " This is fche great advantage afforded by a School of Instruction—it gives the Officer experience in advance for the

execution of his duties , so that when he comes to perform them he feels as though he were " to the manner born . " He is in no danger from " stage fright , " and he acts thoughtfully , sensibly , and with self possession . In these days when such unrivaled facilities , in different localities , are afforded Officers of Lodges ,

they do both themselves and their Lodges injustice if they fail to become members of an authorised School , where it is possible . Possessed of the material part of the work , the next thing is to render it with force , with emphasis , with dignity , with feeling , and with true Masonic spirit . Let us consider these matters .

The first requisite for the competent performance of the work is , that it should be entirely audible to every Brofcher present . No whispering tones , no indistinctness of expression , no mumbling is permissible , if fche W . M . would acfc well his part . He should never drop 'his voice so as to have it reach only a

portion of his audience . Every part of the work is for the instruction of the entire body of Brethren . It is not merely for the initiate , but for everyone present . All are learners , all are entitled to instruction . But if the W . M . is not heard , he

necessarily fails to interest , he is a failure and his work is also a failure . A clear , distinct tone of voice is the first demand which is reasonably made of every Masonic Officer , and ifc is a demand wifch which every one , with ordinary effort , may comply . It is absolutely inexcusable for a W . M . to speak in a whisper .

Presupposing thafc every Brother can distinctly hear the work , the next and most important thing is to make him feel ifc . In Freemasonry , feeling , and not seeing , is believing . How shall every Brother thus be made sensible of the power , the beauty ,

the glory , and the true meaning of Masonic work ? How shall he be impressed , and made to realise that beneath the form of fche ritual is the substance , which alone is potent—the form being the shell and the substance the kernel ? How shall every Brother be privileged to taste the delicious flavour of this kernel ?

( 1 ) By being natural . Both in speech and conduct it is important that a W . M . should " hold the mirror up to nature . " He- must be himself , not another man . He must not be stilted , nor artificial , but speak out like a man , and he must be in earnest , and mean what he says .

( 2 ) By speaking with appropriate emphasis . Very often the whole force , effect and meaning of a phrase are made apparent by the proper emphasis of a word , or even the skilful inflection