Gentlemen Masons.

GENTLEMEN MASONS .

TO our view , and doubtless in accordance with tho views of the readers of Tlie Keystone , a Freemason is nothing if not a gentleman . A gentleman must bo the very corner-stone of a Freemason . Tho corner-stono of a

material edifice , in Masonic symbolism , itself represents a true Mason , who is always a perfect Ashlar—plumb , level and square . There is an eminent fitness in this symbolism , because early in the last century , when

Freemasonry ceased to be in any degree operative , and became purely speculative—that is , when Freemasons were no longer builders of cathedrals and other stately edifices , but when gentlemen who wero not operative Masons camo to

be admitted into the old cathedral organizations , or operative Lodges deduced from them , and wero there taught moral lessons from the implements of Masonry and tho old legends of the Craft—this now class of members of the

old Masonic Fraternit y were denominated " Gentlemen Masons . " We quote from one of tho old MS . of the last century . "What do you learn bv being a gentleman Mason ?

Answer : Secrecy , Morality and Good Fellowship . What do you learn by being an operative Mason ? Answer : To Hew , Square and Mould Stone , lay a Level and raise a Perpendicular .

As our readers are aware , the transition of Freemasonry from having been an operative art to being a speculative science , was gradual , and almost imperceptible . Just as now the various tradesmen ' s guilds of London elect as

members gentlemen who are innocent of knowledge of their respective trades , so in the olden time , when Freemasons wore famous only as fabricators and architects , they occasionall y admitted men eminent for social or political

distinction as members of their Lodges . This has been adundantly proved by old Minnte-Books of Lodges , old MSS . and old books of general information , likes Plot ' s

History of Staffordshire . The fact is mcontestible . . But we are not concerned with this fact now , further than so far as it introduces us to one of the names—Gentlemen

Masons , given to members of the ancient and honourable Craft . It is a good name , a significant name , a name that wc should cherish . It betokens more than it literall y expresses . It signifies now not only one who is not an

operative Mason , manually using in building operations the Plumb , the Level and tho Square , but one who is a worthy successor of the middle-age Freemasons , to whom we owe the most of the glories whioh belong to Gothic architecture in that wonderful era . It signifies to us that

a man must be in the accepted sense of tho terra , to-day , a gentleman he / ore lie can be a Freemason . Freemasonry founds itself now exclusively upon gentlemen as its corner-stone . And , mark you , gentlemen ai'c born , not

made ; resembling poets in this respect . Education will do wonders , but we do not believe it can make a gentleman . Only the Grand Architect of the Universe can do that . A gentleman is a fine piece of clay , a specimen man , the

farthest remove from a boor ; a man you can trust , a man you can respect a man you can love . In such an one you may implicitly repose brotherly love , and this is the particular kind of love Masonry bestows . With gentlemen

for the Cornerstone of Masonry in these modern times , what is Freemasonry not susceptible of , in the way of fraternal accomplishment ? A gentleman is a pleasant Brother to meet in your Lodge , a pleasant man to meet

when you are away from home . He is approachable , affable , with a heart as well as a head , with kindly sympathies as well as au eye for " the main chance . " He

is " one of ns " because he deserved to be , and however much of a gentleman lie was before he was made a Mason , he is more of one now . Ho lias been taualifc that he is not

an " independent" iu this world , not even merely a family man , bound to specially regard only those of his own flesh and blood ; but ho has broadened his views in becoming a member of our universal brotherhood . Just as the sun is

said never to go down ou tho British possession ; :, so tho sun never goes down ou the brotherhood of Freemasons . They are in every civilized country . They brave even the dangers of the Arctic circle and the wilds of Africa . They

are everywhere . In every country the i ' reetnason finds a Brother , aud in every land a home . This feature alone leads not a few to attentively regard the Craft , and seek to

be included in it . Upon the few rare Masonic occasions that a public procession of the Craft appears , the world inevitably notices tho bearing and character of the brethren

Gentlemen Masons.

who so appear and notes tho fact that they aro gentlemen , men of social and business position , including among' them tho leaders iu all the great social aud industrial movements of the day . Masonry does not make a display in public

for tho purpose of calling attention to this fact , but tho fact is always evident on tho rare occasions referred to . It is because these occasions are rare , that gentleman do not hesitate to appear ou them , for if they were every day , many gentlemen would decline to participate .

Tho Craft has every reason to be proud of this old designation , " Gentleman Mason , " because it is not merely the index to an interesting history in connection with tho

origin of the term , but it represents an actual fact , which reflects honour upon our ancient and honourable Fraternit y in its accepted form to-day . —Keystone .

Is Freemasonry Declining.

IS FREEMASONRY DECLINING .

OF the former glory of Freemasonry there can be no question . As a system , it has passed through various processes of evolution , and advanced by successive steps , all along tho way making expression of essential truths well calculated to give lig ht and blessing to the

world . As an organization it has broadened and deepened its influence , becoming a factor of no small importance among tho benign forces of society . It has acquired resources both of material and of higher good , and thus has insured a remarkable degree of success . It has

attained an honourable position , because of the principles and ideas it has illustrated , and because of the practical services it has rendered iu ways- of moral and social

usefulness . The record which the Masonic organization has made is one of bright and blessed accomplishment , and Craftsmen may will rejoice that so much of inspiration is to be gathered from a survey of tho past .

There is no question as to the prestige which comes from former days of Masonic progress and accomplishment . That ancient renown is an indisputable fact . But how does the Institution manifest itself at tho present time ? Is it holding its own ? Is it augmenting its power and

usefulness , or is it declining ? There are those who tell us that Masonry is on the wane , that it has about fulfilled its mission , and is not well adapted to the needs and conditions of modern life . There are others who say that the character of the Institution has been impaired by

changes of system aud administration—by innovations that ono'hfc not to have been allowed , and which surely involve a loss both of strength and utility . Aud still another class

tell us that there is not now any such attachment to the Craft as formerly existed , and on this allegation they formulate their pessimistic theories of Masonic deterioration , decay , and death .

We take no slock in these gloomy prophecies . Our belief is , that Freemasonry was never in a condition of so much strength and prosperity as now . To-day it gathers to itself more of the increments of power than in any former period of ' its history , and exercises a broader and more potent ministry of blessing than ever before .

Freemasonry is not declining ! It is not declining as a system . It still stands for the same great principles which o-ave it character and prominence in the early time , and sets forth a code of morals and ethics that may well claim the assent of intelligent and noble minds . Brotherly love ,

relief , aud truth , are still emphasized as the fundamental ideas of the system , which is illustrated by ancient form aud ceremony . No changes have come in to destroy or cripp le the primal teachings of Freemasonry as regards man ' s duty . There is the same call now , the same clear

enfo . cement by word and illustration by a varied symbolism that were put before the fathers as they were instructed in the M--. sonic system . Changes may have crept into the ritual and the work , but these have in no sense affected

the oTeat , distinguishing princip les tha . ! . underlie tho institution . Freemasonry in its essential character , retains the ancient impress , and presents itself to the world in au undiunued moral splendour .

Its organic life i * not declining . It never had n more numerous following than now . Its membership has increased during the year just ended . It has prospered m . he things that appear in trie outward showing ;

establishing new Lodges in all the countries of the civili / . ed world ; buildiuo- new halls , gathering material resources to a o'reatcr extent than in any former period ; aud in manifold