What Masonry Is And Does.

through us to the cognisance and senses of mankind ? Should nofc these considerations commend themselves to the attention of all members of the Craft ? There are those whose interest in Freemasonry is so great that they would willingly incur pecuniary sacrifice for its advancement , who would both labour aud suffer for

its good . May I ask them , Do their lives exemplify its character , and do they thus win for it " golden opinions " ? It is not enough , if we would secure for the Craft the regard of the good , that we tell them it inculcates the purest and subhmest morals . We must show by our conduct that such are its teachings . Abstractions

cannot deeply enlist the feelings of men . They must have images presented to their minds , truth embodied , before they accept ifc . This principle has been shown by an eloquent writer , in one of his most brilliant passages , to have had much to do with the rapid dissemination of Christianity itself , as contrasted with Judaism .

" God the uncreated , the incomprehensible , the invisible , says he , " attracted few worshippers . A philosopher might adore so noble a conception , but the crowd turned away in disgust from words that presented no image to their minds . " It was before Deity , embodied in human form , walking among men , partaking

of their infirmities , leaning on their bosoms , weeping over their graves , and bleeding on the cross , that the prejudices of the synagogue , the doubts of the academy , the pride of the portico , and the fasces of the lictor were humbled in the dust . So as to Freemasonry ; if we would disarm all animosity , and silence all

opposition and remove all obstacles in the way of its universal spread among men—to their good and its own honour , let us embody its principles and teachings , and become , I will not say wiser and better than others , as that might be invidious , but

wiser and better than we were before we became members of the Order . I trust the explanations given in this address , of the requirements and sublime teachings of Freemasonry , has satisfied every hearer that the institution is lofty in character and benevolent in its aims , its purpose and its results .

In spite of the most candid explanation of the principles and objects of Freemasonry , some , who are intelligent in all other respects , condemn the institution as a whole because a few of the members of the Fraternity do not give evidence in their lives of conforming to the rules of the Order . It may often occur

that they are new members and not conversant with all the rules of the Order . New Masons , like new Christians , must be taught and grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth . Whoever heard of a man who had just joined the church that was thoroughly familiar wifch all its rules , or knew his whole duty to man and to God ?

The very principle upon which Masonic affairs are conducted is to bring men by diverse influences of joy and sorrow up to that habit of thought , and judgment and discrimination , that shall make them able to judge for themselves , what is the right and the wrong csurse , to do their own thinking , to form their own opinions , and correct ones . They are afc school in Masonry

for thafc very purpose . The whole economy of God is against laziness , and in favour of intense responsible activity . The whole moral scheme of Masonry is one that puts upon men the duty of learning—in judgment , in taste , in moral sentiment . Ifc is an economy which is driving men up to a nobler , higher manhood . Yet , notwithstanding all these laudable purposes , there are good men who fear the church will be injured by Freemasonry .

Freemasonry is no religion , nor does it assume to take tbe place of any religion , but only to inculcate those principles of pure morality which reason reads in the great book of nature , and to teach those great primary truths on which all religions repose . What edifice of faith and creed each Brother builds

upon that foundation we have no right to inquire , and therefore we do not seek to inquire . It is enough for us to know that each believes in the existence of a Supreme Intellect , Creator and Preserver of all things , a Deity of infinite tenderness , pity and love ; and that we are not mere successive phenomena proceeding

from combination and organisation , but living souls , distinct from matter , and destined to survive after our bodies are dissolved . To one who does not thus believe , our symbols have no meaning . It seems to me that nothing can be so unwise as that misunderstanding spirit which is jealous of any good done except

through fche Church itself . Thafc is like a schoolmaster who is waking the genius and intellect of a child , and who , when that child begins fco point out new things in any direction , insists that the child shall not think anything except through him . Masons are more generous than this ; they labour for the good which is done out of the Lodge as much as for that which is done in it .

Masonry is the co-worker of the Church , and has no jealous feeling toward it , but applauds its efforts in behalf of the people , granting that it may arouse the conscience to a higher morality , and give ifc a broader view of the Christian life , but it oughfc nofc to insist that all endeavours to advance morality shall be done in the Church ; it is contrary to the order of God and utterly impossible . There never was a time when we could so ill afford to lose the influences of Masonry . There never was a time when there

What Masonry Is And Does.

was more faith in God and in the Eedeemei- of the World among Masons than now . If men tell you of the decadence of Masonry , heed not their tale . It is a deceit , a snare , a falsehood . The glory of the Order was never so great . Its need was never more urgent ; its fruits never more ample . Its officers , both Grand

and subordinate all over fche continent , were never more inspired wifch heavenly wisdom than now . May God hasten the day when the hearts of all its votaries shad be tilled wifch the light and warmth of Masonic influence and of the light of the gospel

of Christ ; and may virtue , morality and blessedness extend from sea to sea and from north to south , and may the devotional spirit of all the people , burning under their sacred influence , gird the world wifch salvation , that the whole earth may know the Lord . — " Voice of Masonry . "

Freemasonry And Conviviality

FREEMASONRY AND CONVIVIALITY

ARE to the uninitiated synonymous terms , but those who have passed the threshold of the Craft know that Masons never assemble around the festive board without remembering very practically the poor and the needy . They started 18 9 8 very well by entertaining the aged

annuitants of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution at their home at Croydon with a bountiful repast , which they give annually on the first Wednesday of the New Year , when many ladies and well known Brethren , friends of the Institution , joined them in their festivities . In the evening

the inmates and their friends witnessed a capital musical performance , with the Graphophone ancl a Cinematographe of the Diamond Jubilee Procession . At the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , Clapham Junction , the pupils who remain in the school during the Christmas holidays had a

Twelfth Night entertainment , with a conjuring exhibition and dancing . The expenses of these delightful evenings are not found out of the subscriptions to the Institution , but are

provided by voluntary donations for this especial purpose , and supporters of these charities cannot therefore complain that their mone } ' is diverted from the objects for which it is subscribed . — " South Western World . "

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