"A High Mason."

If he wants only to bo attracted , amuse : ! , and have an enjoyable spectacular exhibition bo inakvs a mishdeo ii '

with this purpose ho becomes a Mason . To any such if . might he worth li is exertions to travel up tho heights that lead to tho place , wherever that may Le , of a '' High Mason . " Kaytlone .

Why Masonry Is Pre-Eminent.

WHY MASONRY IS PRE-EMINENT .

An Oration hy Bro . Ira L . Herron , Grand Orator to \ thc Grand Lodge in Colorado , fJOth September ISO . ' .

F \ * HE science and philosophy of Freemasonry have been JL so copiously aud elaborately discussed that bufc little new can be said upon tho subject . All tho wealth of thought and gift of tongue have been freely poured afc ifcs altar . Thc trained pen of eminent scholar and eloquence of brilliant orator havo lavishly added to its literature ,

until to-day , the besfc efforts of a mere tyro in its mysteries can but reflect and express in his own weaker thought and language somo of tho light and truth that has been

disseminated from other and greater minds . Therefore , if afc this time a single thought is awakened as to this Order of ours ancl tho relation ifc boars , through its members , to the world afc large , wo aro content .

All organisations , secret or otherwise , are dependent for their existence and continuity among tho institutions of tho earth , upon the influence they exert over the people among whom they are maintained , and tho permanent value of the principles they enunciate . We proudly claim

for oar Order a pre-eminence and endurance over all others , and that it stands as the institution par excellent among all secret organisations . Assuming this to be trne , ifc devolves upon us fco show on what basis wo maintain our claims .

The political significance of our Order is comprised in the brief and positive admonition that we bo good citizens of thc country in which we live , giving cheerful support to all lawfully constituted authority . While wc aro a social organisation , ifc is but as an incident and nofc as an end to lie attained . . Neither can

we properly claim to be a beneficiary society , for while other societies have set allowances for tho relict' of sick and unfortunate brethren , we , as an Urdcr , have none . While thoy have guarantees of specified sums for their widows aud orphans , no assessment is made on our members by

our Order for such purpose . Even friendship , tho grand characteristic of a Mason , if based on no firmer fonndation than tho simple regard of

one man for another , would cease with tho intimacy that inspired it . There must , therefore , be a grander and more enduring principle than any of these that gives basis to our claim aud permanence to our Order .

Since man first became a factor in the grand handiwork of tho universe , as an intelligent and reasoning beiiif , there has been in him an inherent disposition to recognise

aud worship some supremo power or being-, superior to-nil created nature , and to whom he is responsible ns the author of his existence and the guardian and director of his destinies . This belief is allied to tbo consciousness of

man that there ia thafc within himself which makes him superior to other created beings , and possesses an affinit y to something beyond tbe mere fact of physical existence , and must continue after his animal existence has gono to that decay which comes to all that emanates from the earth .

Wo find this belief pervading all narration and tradition ; the imagery of the savage , the fetish of tho barbarian , tho mythology of fche pagan , and thc religion of civilisation and enli ghtenment , all teach , according to thoir li ght , some interpretation of this sublime principle . It ia of this belief ,

as embodied in tho doctrine or principle of ono supreme , eternal and all powerful God / and of man as thc physical habitation of an immortal spirit , preparing in this life for a closer relation to thafc Supreme Being , as exemplified and taught by thc symbols and philosophy of onr art , that we ,

as Masons , are called ou especially to cozitompiate . This belief forms the basis of all enlightened government ; upon ifc are founded our dearest and purest social and domestic ties ; from the council of state to the fireside afc home , all fho relations of mankind , ono to another , aro purified and ennobled by its bonign influence . It ; is in the adherence to and preservation of this great princi ple that our Order ia indebted for what pre-sminence

Why Masonry Is Pre-Eminent.

it lias among fcho institutions of the earth , and which gives ifc the influence for good thafc ifc exerts among its people . iJptii ; this principle is founded all the beneficiary provision that our Order possesses . Th ; ' love of God for man , and because of thafc lovo , of man ' s love or charity for hia fellows ; it is this that forms tho basis of a Mason ' s charity and makes his friendships sacred and enduring . Involving as ifc does tho principle thafc the spiritual future is tho culmination of tho physical combination of mind and

matter , ifc has maintained our Order as the guardian of Divine truth against tho ravages of paganism and idolatry on the one hand , and of religious fanaticism and persecution on tbe other hand .

While Masonry is conservative and preservative rather than radical and constructive , still the grand doctrines ifc embodies , illustrating as they do man ' s relation fco himself , his follow and his God , and being as thoy are the fundamental principles of all enlighfcmenfc , have ever kept ifc with tlio vanguard of civilization .

Even admitting , which we do not , that our version of tho existence of God and the immortality of the soul is but a beautiful myth , still fche world is nobler , purer and

better for tho belief , and the sceptic and scoffer were better employed in contemplating the beneficence of the results attained than in cavilling at the literal exactness of its belief .

As in contemplation of the Golden Legend we admire tho beautiful story of integrity and self-sacrifice set forth , rather than question the literal exactness of its detail ; so in thc greater and broader dogma of man ' s relation to his God and his fellow , the result obtained is beneficent enough fco warrant its existence , were the detailed history of its

origin never so meagre . Masonry uses the symbolism of the oldest and most enduring operative art to illustrate the grandest and most sublime truth ; and as the work of the Operative Mason

endures after thafc of his fellow artisan has crumbled to the dust , so the truths it illustrates will endure through all eternity as grand , glorious and imperishable as the source from whioh they emanate .

Our influence for good in thc world as Masons depends upon how w o reflect upon it the light wo receive from its symbols and philosophy . It matters little whether wc date our ori gin as an Order from the revival of Alasonry afc the beginning of the

eighteenth century , from the return of tho crusaders , the travelling workmen of tho middle ages , tho building of King Solomon ' s Temple , or even to the stone of foundation , the great philosophic ancl moral precepts preserved b y it have endured sinco man was first capable of conceiving them .

U / 'm them he has built all Im morals , religion and civilisation ; to them he looks for all spiritual , intellectual and social progres ? , and in them ho treasures his faith of an eternal and glorious existence hereafter . And , my brethren , as fche moon afc ifcs full reflects with softening

refulgence upon the darkness of the ni ghfc , the brilliant rays of tho sun , so let » . « , being full of the ^ lovo of God and our follows , reflect ; upon tbo world thc glorious light of divine truth shed abroad from tho altar of Freemasonry .

lhen can we truthfully claim our pre-eminence as an Order and proudly maintain our position as the conservators and guardians of civilisation . — Voice of Masonry .

Not every Mason ta qualified aud authorised to examine a visiting Brother . Thia is evidenced by Worahipful Masters selecting a Paat Master , and with him the most experienced Brethren of fche Lodge , as tho examining committee . Wo may bo satisfied thafc a man ia a Mason , but yet , wouldnot be willing to vouch for thafc manintbebody

of an open Lod ge . Id is not proper to talk of fche business outside of fcho Lodgo to any ono uniess you can vouch for him in an open Lodge . Stop und remember th : it Masonic business abonJd only bo talked over in n Maaonic manner in tho body of tho Masonic Lodgo . It ia tho safest to confine Masonry within fche walla of Masonry aud to Masons only . —Exchange .

/ foLr . MUrs Onr-DtENT AUD Puts . —Never at fault . —In all irritations of tho sl ; in , s . i-os , ulcers , and . scrofulous enlargements o £ tlio glands , Holloway's OiiiwuEiif . presents a ready and easy means of caro which novor disappoints the most favourable expectations . It manifests a peculiar power in restrainin ' , ' riiUmmation , removing stagnation , cooling fche boated blood ancl checking acrimonious unhealth

all or y discharges . Whilst thns actini ; locally , thoso Pills arc no less remarkable for their power in improving tho general c miYdion and habit of body , which readers the cures complete and pcrmamenfc . Cmlur the general influence 0 f those poteat remedies , the puny infant becomes tlie robust child ; tho pale and emaciated regain colour and rotundity ; anj } tho dyspeptic eats freely without fesr ,