Is Masonry Cosmopolitan ?

other mistaken zeal for the propagation of what men term faith . In the first instance , the brethren who compose our Lodges are , in the main , believers in the truth of the Christian dispensation , not necessarily professors of

relig ion or members of churches , but accepting the Christian religion as the true Faith , just as they accept any other assertion which they do not feel called to investigate or deny . When such men hear in the reli gious service of

the Craft expressions in which the mediation of the Saviour is appealed to , their ears are not offended , because they are accustomed to hear them at church or in family , and they do not reflect that there may be standing alongside of them

one born in a different Faith and initiated into Masonry with the distinct understanding that that Faith shall neither bo interfered with nor insulted , who will be greivously offended , and who has a right to be so offended ,

because he has sought Masonic communion as the place of all others where his peculiar Faith would neither be propagated nor opposed , where he could enjoy the association of his fellow-man apart from all extraneous and conflicting

influences . They forget that , in thus quietly allowing the religious belief of a brother to be rebuked , they are in fact preparing the way for a similar affront to themselves , and , what is infinitely worse , they are tacitly allowing the

foundations of the temple to be uprooted , and the vast and magnificent edifice to be toppled about their ears . They fail to perceive that if the Hebrew brother may be compelled to listen to innovations in direct opposition to his

mode of Faith , it will not be lon g before the Baptist , the Methodist , the Catholic , the Universalfst will , in turn , be obliged to submit to a like infliction , harmony be obliged to

g ive way to discord , and chaos take the place of symmetry and order . And all this , too , be it remembered , in the very face of our profession as Masons , and in direct contravention of our established landmarks and immutable

laws . The second source of danger arises from the mistaken zeal of men , good , earnest , religious men if you please , but men who will not understand that Masonry is not a branch of tho established church , whichever that

may be ; nor its meetings a place for the assertion of any theory of religion in conflict with that laid down in the ancient charges . These men , who are generally ministers of some one of the many sects into which the

church is divided , assume that their calling is of God , and that they are bound , at all times , to be the advocate and champion of what they deem His cause . They seem to forget that the wisest of men has declared that

" there is a time for- all things ; and that if their calling will not allow them to respect the publicly declared principles of our Society , then they should not mingle with us nor promise obedience to laws which they do

not mean to respect . As a rule ministers—of say the Baptist persuasion—do not attend worshi p in Catholic churches or Hebrew synagogues for the reason that they do not believe the forms of doctrine there prevailing to

be the true ones , but if perchance one should be present he surely would not feel called to rise in his place and insult the Faith of the worshippers there assembled . B y a parity of reasoning , when one finds himself in a

Masonic Lodge , composed of men of different nationalities , of every shade of opinion , religious and otherwise , a decent respect for the opinions of others should incite him to avoid expressions which cannot be expected to produce

any legitimate effect , because they do not convince those who are already of the same Faith , and they do embitter those who are not . We will do the brethren of the class who most frequently err in thir respect the justice to say

that we do not believe them , taken as a body , so bigoted as not to be willing to admit that , in almost every case , their offence against the proprieties is the result of long habit in the exercise of their vocations , and an

everpresent conviction of the magnitude of the trust imposed on them as ministers and teachers of the people . But for this very reason we think that they should be exemplars of moderation in all things , and by their strict obedience

to law force their example on the respect and imitation of the brethren . And we earnestly trust that when these lines fall beneath the observation of a clergyman Mason ,

he will take the trouble to convince himself that we have correctly stated the Masonic doctrine , and then resolve ever afterward in his miuistrations among the brethren to conform thereto .

There is still another class of offenders against the Masonic law for whom no excuse can or ought to be made , because , knowing the law , being in many instances its

Is Masonry Cosmopolitan ?

authorized exponents , they wilfully and of " malice aforethought , " offend against it . We refer to those who , in the very face of Masonry , in the presence of its indisputable and long-established landmarks , with a full knowledge of

what it claims to be and the immense success which haa attended its labours under the inspiration of those landmarks and claims , coolly sit down and write out arguments to prove that Masonry is a Christian institution ; or , assembled

in a legislative capacity , representing Jew and Gentile among their constituents , with equal or greater coolness resolve the same thing . We say , and we say it in all sincerity and calmness , that such men have mistaken their

vocation—have misunderstood Masonry , never expanded their minds to the comprehension of its glorious position , have never learned its great doctrine of toleration—should

go back to the profane , and divesting their minds of the narrowing effects of prejudice , re-enter the temple with a larger appreciation of our mission and a more earnest resolve to be Masons in deed rather than in name .

While the causes to which we have here referrred are allowed to continue at work—while their insidious advances are quietly allowed to be made , while we know that men of different faiths are allowed to be insulted in the most

vulnerable point—can we honestly allow those men to come amongst us , or can we say in our conscience that Masonry is Cosmopolitan ? We think not , and we therefore urge

the brethren to thought and to action , that we may ward off this growing danger and preserve the society for our descendants as it came to us from the fathers , a bond of union between men of every country , sect and opinion . — Sydney Freemason .

Plunging.

PLUNGING .

IT would be idle to gainsay the fact that conviviality forms a no inconsiderable feature in the assemblies of Freemasons everywhere , and we have repeatedly asserted in these columns that it would be little short of a calamity were this element of social intercourse interdicted in the

Craft . When the work of the Lodge has been faithfully carried out , and the oftentimes monotonous routine accomplished , it is meet that the brethren and their guests should gather around the festive board and ratify in the " Fourth

Degree " those sentiments of Brotherly Love which have been instilled into them in the Lodge-room . So far as the idea of conviviality is legitimately carried out there can be no objection to it . On the contrary , it serves to bind more

firmly together those brethren of various sections of the Fraternity who " in jolliest friendship meet ; " it rubs off those rough angles of stiff politeness and social distance which could be removed by no better chisel ; and it affords

men of different walks of life opportunities of forming and cultivating acquaintanceships which might otherwise have been absolutely impossible . But , inasmuch as temperance and moderation are amongst the cardinal principles of

Freemasonry , it is most desirable that Masters of Lodges should see the brethren conduct their festivities within the limits of becoming mirth , and that the funds are nob trenched upon with unthinking prodigality , causing not

only uneasiness amongst the right-minded and temperate members , but provoking comments of a by no means favourable nature from those who are disposed habitually to criticise the doings of their more free and easy friends .

It is just as well to state at once that we are led to these remarks by a rumour to which credence is given , and the main points we believe are true , to the effect that not long ago a Lodge , numbering about one hundred and twenty

members , squandered no less a sum than one hundred and fifty guineas over a single banquet ! Now , assuming that the members mustered in their entire strength , which ia hardly feasible , the average cost per head for this

" sumptuous repast " would be within an ace of twenty , five shillings . Let it be understood , we have no right to object to the expenditure of twenty-fivo shillings—or twenty-five pounds , for the matter of that—per head

for luxuries , provided those who indulge m such extravagance are in a position to afford it , and that the outlay does not come , even in part , out of the pockets of those who cannot . But if this unpleasant report be correct , the

Lodge referred to , which shall be nameless , consists almost entirely of men of the tradesman class , who can hardly be expected to stand so great a strain upon their resources as that of which a specimen is given us . We believe that this