Masonic Influences Affecting Character.

1 . Mvstpry without mischief . 2 . Subjection without servitude . 3 . E Jtahlishment without display , and—4 . A"P ° rafcion without pretensi > n , —all of which aro prominent character'cs of the C ^ afr , and exercise a wholesome control in the

development of the excellence and grandeur of the Masonic spirit . This Temple and the Craft represent the principle of Mystery without mischief . These solid walls enclose the shrine of Reticence and Caution . When you visit the granite Temple of Masonry which graces the Empire City , at the head of the grand

staircase yon see a statue of spotless marble , —a female figure , her fingers touching her lip , —the impersonation of Silence . 2 Jo such creation of artistic genins guards our portal ; but the angel of silence hovers over tho place ; and when yon snrvov onr belongings , and p er into nooks and corners , tho uses of which yon can only

distantly conjecture , even the careless will feel their senses burdened with an nnusnal and unacconnfcahle awe . Though to-night ; our corridors may echo with unacenstomed footfalls , and many a solid door swing on easy hinges , it is nnderstood that this courtesy is extended for this one occasion . When Masons transact Masonic

business they retreat from the pnblic gaze , and discreetly cover their labours with tho mantlo of reserve . Of this retirement the uninstructed aro disposed to complain . "Why hide '' thev ask , " unless there is someting to hide ? " " Why darkness rather than light , unless ft cloak for evil ?"

Bat , in the Divine order , darkness has a place . When the world was making , the Almighty set tho night beforo tho light . The evening and the morning were the first day . Is speech silver ? Thon silence , reflection , meditatioi , which teaches tho right spepch , is gold . In a certain place , the Rook of books—our book as well as

yonrs—bids all to bo " swift to hear , s ' oic to speak ; and , in another passage , teaches the prayer , " Keep Thou the door of my lips . " " Hear much and speak little , " says Sir Walter Raleigh ; " for the tongue it the instrument of the greatest good and the greatest cril that is done in the world . "

How can you better distinguish wisdom and folly than by this sign , —that the wise man knows all he tells , while the fool tells all he knows ? Tho landmark of Masonic secrecy which has come down throngh the ages is a Mentor of prudence and

circumspection in character . To docido what shonld be revealed , and what concealed : to weigh possibilities and consider conseqnences ; to rognvl relations and obligations , — all this is culture of the judgment , and imparts firmness and decision to tho mind . Were this the solitary benefit of our secret tradition . T wonld

cherish it as an invaluable instrurrventalitv for education . The mysteries I admit ; but that mischief lurks behind them I deny . Time enough for those who misunderstand them to decry them when th ^ y can trace disorders to the door of the Lodge . Their trail does no ' lio that way : for which reason we , who have thn matter nnder onr

own control , may be expected to speak when tho inclination takes ns , and to be silent when wo are in the silent , mood . Our Temple has also a primary purpose , controlling its formation , from the living rock at its ba » e , to the highest point which fc ^ e builders reached . This leading thought is service for the Craft , to

be first and foremost for Masonry . The needs of onr peculiar art are met in every particular , nothing being omitted which is required for convenience or rendition ofrifnal . And yet no pretence is offered that it copies King Solomon ' s Temple , or any other holy place . Ifc offers the . essentials of a Masonic edifice , and , besides this , displays an individuality quite its own , thus teaching Submission without

servitude . This is a cardinal principle of Masonic law . The Lodge in session is a wondrous teacher of the Order ; for the snn rising in the east , orgJeaming in meridian splendour , or slowly dropping in the western sky , is not more regular to allotted tasks than each brother Mason and the officers ho has sot to rule . Out of a world where freedom is

often a name to cover anarchy , we pass to a kingdom where the one privilege i 3 perfect liberty to do tho right . Masonic government is a blending of autocracy and democracy in a nnique system which insures the maximum of order , while it preserves in highest degree all personal rights .

I confess , in this presence , that I never reflect upon the regularity of the Lodge , its beauty , its perfect calm , yvithout recognition that this Institution is a potent teacher of conservative citizenship and a substantial bulwark of free institutions . The tyrant dreads its influence and the superstitious and narrow-minded fulminate

male-, dictions against its principles and organization ; for , while it plots against none , all evil powers feel the antagonism of its spirit . Let them rage ; for ifc will survive to benefit mankind when the throne of the one and the parchmonts of the other have crumbled into indistinguishable dust .

Our Temple , to outward view , while singularly solid and massive , is severel y plain . It retreats from the bustle of the great highway , spreads its foundations over an ample space , and rises in the beauty of useful adaptation , wifch no effort for ornament or display . It embodies establishment without ostentation . This statement applies

to the Fraternity as a whole . Its basis is the broad earth ; for Masons inhabit every continent , and are dispersed among the scattered isles . All classes and conditions of men—tho lofty and the

lowl y , the rich and the poor , tho learned and the unlearned—here Bieet on a common level , study the symbols , and , though from opposite sides of the globe , meeting , have acknowledged the Fraternal Tie .

And this edifice of Masonry comes up from the past , —a past so remote that it antedates the dawn of history . Nevertheless , the snn , which bathes its walls to-day , reveals no marks of decay . In bnt-Iress , in springing arch , in fluted column , —everywhere appear

strength , massiveness , establishment , llulers of kingdoms consider » ne Mason ' s clothing a mark of honour . Washington was Master of a - ^ odge , and selected many of his frostiest counsellors and generals irom the Order . Many of his successors in the Executive Chair of the nation have been distinguished in the Craft , among whom I note

Masonic Influences Affecting Character.

President Arthur and the lamented Garfield . The coming King of England hold * tho gavel as Grand Master of Masons , ami , within the year , Prince Edward , Heir apparent , has become a Master Mason .

And vot this fraternity , standing as solidly on the centuries as the pyramids on the sands of the Nile , easily the mistress and queen , shuns the ostentation of idle display . Of her ministrations to the widow and the fatherless we may say in the familiar lines : —

" In silence Steals on soft-handed Charity , Tempering her gifts , that seem so free By time and place ; Till not a woe the bleak world see , But finds her grace . "

While tender to tho needy , she crowds no foreefm alms upon the strong , and suffers not the trumpeting of her benefactions . Modest in extending , she is modest in inviting help . With the reserve of a chaste and high-bred maiden , she seeks no homage , and lets her suitors woe before they win , and press their suit with free and

untrammelled will . This consciousness of worth , which attracts the worthy , lends dignity to the Masonic attitude . The Temple stands , its upper windows looking down upon surrounding dwellings , and yet its topmost pinnacle far short of the ridge of yonder sanefcnary of religion , whose spreadiug roof

reechoes tho song and prayer of devotion , aud whoso ascending spire points toward the stars , and G > d , aud heaven . This spirit , which reaches skyward just so far and as boldly halts , bespeaks aspiration without pretension . The Masonic spirit is devout , reverential , earnest in search of truth and the essentials of a i'ip n ning manhood .

To subdue his passions , to moderate wrath , to deal justly and love mercy , are daily precepts . To believe in God , the Supreme Architect of tho Universe ; to accept the Holy Bible as an unfailing guide far duty ; tooling to an eternal hope , —all aro fundamental to the Masonic character . Ifc has well been said : " The highest art is

always the most religious , and the greatest artist is always a devout man . A scoffing Raphael or Michael Angelo is not conceivable . " So a scoffing Mason is not conceivable . But while he aspires toward trafch and virtue the true Mason avoids all extravagnnco of eulogy for his Craft . Enemies taunt him with

confusing Masonry with religion , but the most he asks is that Masonry bo known as tho handmaid of religion . All his first Grand Masters were devoutly religions men . His ancient charges bade all Masons adopt , t he religion of their native country , and if now the r'gour of this obligation is relaxed it is otdy that each soul may serve God as

best it can . Mas mry and religion have no c inflict . Each has its field in which each may helo the other . For many years I have felt the conviction that the Ch'istian who is a faithful Mason will be the better Christian , and that the Mnson who is an honest Christian can better fulfil every veeuvrirtg Masonic duty .

The Tomp ' o which we dedicate will fill its place in tho mend of earthly activity . Built , of peris h able material , it will yield to the corrosions of time . What storied cities have passed away , their places marked only by heaps of ruins , or lost to the remembrance of man ! But the temple Masons build in character can never , never

dio . Squaring our conduct by our Masonic profession , wo set in motion hidden forces , which , reacting on tho social order , svill continue to bless mankind when governments quake with convulsion , and tho great deep is broken up . Mason ! Ifc is a title of dignity and honour . Princes may exu't in

the stability of their thrones , philosophers leap with joy at discoveries in science ov art , generals recount their victories , and authors dro . nrn of works which posterity will cherish ; but the proudest and he . "t of

them all , when the even-tide of life draws on , may have , sunlight iu his soul , if tho muse of history , repeating his triumphs , can add , as final proof of stability and royalty of character , HE WAS A FAITHFUI , MAN AND MASON .

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