A Masonic Hymn.*

A MASONIC HYMN . *

THIRTEEN hundred years lie buried 'Mong the ages that have passed , Since our Brethren first did fashion Stones to build a Temple vast ; Well they planned the sacred building

To resist Time ' s fearsome blast . But relentless Time doth ever Wield with force his mighty sway , And the Temple fell to ruins By the stress of Nature ' s way ;

Yet its crumbling walls were stately Still majestic in decay . Then the Church where now we worship , Which so long has Time withstood ; Was uprea . red by worthy Masons ,

Craftsmen skilled and true and good : Members of our ancient Order They adorned our Brotherhood . Took they from that olden Temple Stones to build this noble fane ; Stones left sound by storms of ages

Formed a House of Prayer again , Where we now adore the Master Who in Grandest Lodge doth reign . ******* We , Most High , would find a Temple

Where Thine Heavenly Zion stands ; We would praise Thee in the precincts Of Thine own diviner lands ; We would seek Thy many mansions In that House not built by hands . O Thou Great Geometrician ,

Still Thy guardian-power extend ; Still watch o ' er Thy earthly builders Still beguide us and befriend : That when earthly Labour ' s over We have Rest which knows no end .

Help our Order with Thy Blessing , Lead us still in paths of Right ; Give us Strength and give us Wisdom—Fit us for the constant fight , So that we behold the Beauty Of Thy never-failing Light .

CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D . Bradford . * Written by special request of the members of the Erkenwald Lodge , No . 2 S 08 , for their Masonic service on 21 st July 1901 , at

which the Lord Bishop of Barking P . G . C will preach a sermon in aid of the fund for restoring the Parish Church of Barking . This Church was built of the very stones fashioned by our ancient Brethren in A . D . 666 , for the erection of Barking Abbey , by Erkenwald , first Lord Bishop of London .

Pennsylvania Conservatism.

PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVATISM .

•PENNSYLVANIA is known as an extremely conservative jurisdiction , probably the most conservative among the many which make up the jurisdictions of the United States .

In a recent number of the " Keystone , " of Philadelphia , the editor writes at some length of the attitude of the Cratt in his jurisdiction . The article is well worth reproduction .

Perhaps it will help to lead the Brethren of other jurisdictions to a better understanding of the true intents and purposes of the Institution or distract their attention from their running after strange gods . The article says :

In the Masonic jurisdiction of Pennsylvania , the " established , " the ancient law and regulations of Freemasonry are cherished , believed in and maintained . The ceremonial , rbe absolute adherence to its traditional teachings , the strict

conformity to the " work " as it has come to' us from the " fathers , " are regarded with a veneration which the generations have followed . As we received , so we practice , and then those who come after us will be imbued with the ancient obligation of unquestioning obedience .

It is the glory of the Craft in Pennsylvania that it is steadfast in its devotion to the unaltered , unimpaired law and landmarks on which Freemasonry was founded . In the hundreds of Lodges of our Fraternity in our great jurisdiction , the most earnest zeal is always abiding to support , maintain

, and abide by the ancient law . Here " novelties , " " new departures , " keeping step with the " progress of the times / are unknown . A Lodge is not by us to be made a " circus , " " a dime museum " or a side show . It is a Lodge of ancient , free , and accepted Masons , it is constituted and dedicated to the sole and exclusive purpose of performing the ceremonial , ritual and " work " of

Pennsylvania Conservatism.

Freemasonry—Freemasonry , as it was since the beginning hoary with the wisdom which the fathers knew , which they taught and which only exists in the bounds of our Brotherhood . The true Freemason knows what are the relations each

Mason has with every other Mason , for he voluntarily accepted them as he was taught . He may forfeit the right to enjoy them , but he can never be absolved from his duty

to maintain them . If he violates the law of Masonry and is found guilty , he is excluded from the Craft . Some offences are of so serious a character as to demand the infliction of the high penalty he invoked on himself .

These general reflections come from the perusal of some of the " exchanges " that we have the opportunity to peruse , which essay to indite Masonic sentiments . It is by no means uncommon to find very remarkable notions of the spirit of

Masonry as it is made to bear on what Freemasonry really and truly is in our original constitution . One would think from some of these notions that the subjects discussed belonged to a modern experiment of profane imitators of the ancient Craft .

The trend of much of the opinion expressed seems to be that impulses of modern society are to be injected into our organisation . The presence of women , public ceremonies , attractive presentation of scenes , theatrical exhibition of some ceremonies , the public processions , the gathering of ladies

and gentlemen at meetings and banquets , indicate that the influence of modern attractions are within the necessities to obtain members and funds to carry on the proper purpose

of some organisations . Freemasonry is ignored , or what is the same thing , the essential principles of the true ancient Masonic Institution are wholly obscured , lost sight of , regarded as too ancient to longer be tolerated .

. Modern society will not be content with what belongs to the past . The future , the present , the best means , the most efficient , those which will enlist the sympathy of the young , all these are potent factors trying to force a new system of ceremonial and ritual into Masonry .

All this may be and is disguised m specious efforts to enlarge , broaden , extend , the regulations which in Masonry are unyielding , strong , indestructible , as long as Masonry exists .

The peril will be found in these efforts as they are now exerted . The appeal to the superficial , the enthusiastic , the curiosity of those who are satisfied to see the attractive , but who have no other desire than to be amused .

When Masonic Lodges are brought into rivalry with public amusements , theatres , shows , scenic exhibitions , then , ah yes , then the solemn rites of our Brotherhood will be put out of doors . Masonry will then linger round what is left of its ancient foundation , and , lingering , will die .

It is the solemn , imperative duty , a duty that must be performed , to warn with earnest warning the true Masons to be prepared to guard and defend their heritage . —The " American Tyler . "

* ******* * ******* No immoral sentiment has ever been traced to the Lodge Room ; no treason has poisoned its teachings ; but at all times it has been loyal to order and law . For centuries it has been the promoter of education , the preserver of

history and literature , the patron of noble arts , the friend of liberty . It has at all times taught virtue and denounced vice . It has been the handmaid of the church ; •to the widow it has been a husband ; to the orphan it has been a father ;

it has been the protector of virtue ; in death it has been a comforter ; its charity has been boundless ; its glorious success is now disputed by no one . —E . W . Pou , North Carolina .

********** In our boast of antiquity and in our pride of ancestry , we are too prone to pause and linger in the lap of the past . We are too prone to rest on the laurels which our forefathers so worthily won . They contended for principles which they

defended with their blood . Without a stain upon their escutcheon , they have been committed to our keeping . Duty demands that we should accept the charge , take up the work , and push it to a still greater degree of perfection . We are stupid , indeed , if we are not wiser than our ancestors . —Wm . A . Davis , Georgia .

********** To receive recognition and promotion in Masonry is an honourable ambition , but to obtain it there is but one