An Eloquent Defence.

lives , the most exemplary in their dealing with their fellow men , the most charitable in their conversation , the most liberal in their contributions , and the most tireless in their endeavours to advance the interest of this congregation and in their attendance upon the worship , are Masons and

Oddfellows . Membership in these two Orders is highly beneficial and productive to Christian growth ; and instead of retarding the work of the church , is an actual aid to it . It makes a better church member of a man to belong to these two Orders , and I for one do not hesitate to advocate and advise it .

Any Institution in existence to-day which elevates morals , refines sensibilities , advances education , relieves distress , visits the sick room , buries the dead and cares for the aged and infirm , is from God , is doing the work Christ commanded , and is to be encouraged , commended and upheld ; for , after

all , what is pure religion and undefiled before God the Father ? It is this : " To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep ourselves unspotted from the world , " and in so far as any man , woman , church , or secret organisation does this they are doing the command of Jesus Christ .

And in so far as they refrain from doing this , or interfere with those who do , they become an absolute detriment to Christianity , and a blighting curse to the world , and an enemy to humanity . After all , " By their fruits ye shall know them , " said Christ , and the Masons and Oddfellows are content to be so known . — " American Tyler . "

Hospitality A Lost Art.

HOSPITALITY A LOST ART .

FROM a social point of view , nothing could be more lamentable than the obvious decline of hospitality in our western world . Is it because we are too busy to think of

others ? Is it because we are not at heart social at all and have no . desire to open our hearts to others ? Is it because we are so self-sufficient that we fancy we shall never ourselves have need of hospitality ? Whatever the causes may be , the western world has but a sorry reputation for

hospitality , and unfortunately it seems to be growing worse instead of better . We may be superior in our strength , enterprise , inventive geniust , military prowess , but in the gentle and yet noble virtue of hospitality , the Orientals are vastly our superiors .

And yet I would not be too severe upon my own countrymen , for as Hugh Miller says , " Hospitality generally flourishes where it is most needed . Where men are planted sparsely it blossoms and matures . It flourishes where the inn and lodging house cannot exist . " The typical

gentleman of tire Southern States has been a man of royal and genial hospitality . Nor was it the vulgar hosj ) itality of lavish expenditure upon social entertainment , but that far nobler hospitality which welcomed the stranger without fear or question . Less courtly , but not less genuine , has been the

hospitality of-the country inhabitants of our Western states . In my own father ' s humble country home in Oregon there was a hospitality so genuine and real that is has often reminded me of Washington Irving ' s words . " There is an emanation from the heart in genuine hospitality , which

cannot be described , but is immediately felt , and puts the stranger at once at his ease . Though it used sometimes to seem too costly in food , of which there was all too little , and in labour , of which there was already too much , it has after all ever been to me a sweet memory that my father ' s house

opened to the lightest touch of the stranger ' s hand . But the cities grow and become crowded . 1 he country tavern supersedes the natural hospitality of the home . The hotel succeeds the tavern . The tenement house succeeds the home , and hospitality becomes a lost art- A thousand pities ! Not

so much on account of the stranger as for the sake of those who would be blessed by opening their hearts and doors . For as Emerson says , " The magnanimous know very well

that they who give time or money or shelter to the stranger , so it be done for love and not for ostentation , do , as it were , put God under obligations to them , so perfect are the compensations of the universe . "

It should , therefore , be matter for congratulation that hospitality is b y open profession and declaration a characteristic of Knight Templarism . Doubtless many of us behold our faces in the glass of such a declaration as that and then

strai ghtway turn about and forget what manner of man we were . _ Probably in not a few cases , it is but an empty profession . Nevertheless , here is a good point of emphasis . Our brusque Anglo-Saxon , forceful , enterprising , but not too

Hospitality A Lost Art.

often a gentleman , needs to be reminded that he has some relations with the rest of the world . It is good to have an Institution in the community , one of whose ideals is knightly v courtesy , perhaps best expressed in that fine old word , hospitality . —George L . Perin , Prelate of Boston Commandery .

****************** Masonry has succeeded because it has been intensely charitable . It has been charitable for sweet charity ' s sake .

It was the Mason who first grasped the hand of the little orphan , built for him a beautiful home , taught him of the goodness and greatness of God , and made him a useful and honest citizen . —Edward W . Pou , North Carolina .

Let each of us remember that there is no room for drones in Masonry ; that we are by nature but rough and unpolished

stones ; that it is our duty so to live , so to act , as to reach that state of perfection at which we hope to arrive , by a virtuous education , our own endeavours , and the blessings of God . —Orlando Sheppard , South Carolina .

********** The good-natured strife which prevails among Lodges to excel in the exemplification of esoteric and exoteric work

is commendable , for whatever has been nearer ideal m either , has been instrumental in promulgating the underlying lessons of the Institution of Freemasonry , which should be our ultimate aim . —W . S . Nay , Vermont .

********** Good ritualism is no sign that a Brother is a good Freemason ; nor is it evidence that he is a bad one , but it . is evidence that he thinks enough of the Order to devote much valuable time to it , which should always be something in his favour . — " Texas Freemason . "

********** Through all these vicissitudes of time the tenets of our Order have been guarded , preserved and handed down to this generation in all their ancient glory and perfection .---Willis G . Emerson , Colorado .

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