The Mason: A Sincere Man.

refinement of mind and manner which characterise the gentleman . Otherwise , and we cited a not improbable case , he might involve the Order he represented in endless ridicule . In the present article we shall mark the limits of our proposition somewhat more precisely , and not

without reason . We claim that every true Mason is essentially a sincere man . It is quite possible , of course , that some may be more sincere than others . Some , again , are sincere under certain conditions , while others exhibit this trait under certain other conditions . But , though the scale of sincerity

which prevails among the brotherhood may be graduated , the quality itself is of the very essence of Masonry . To take a man on the very threshold of his Masonic career ; — -he joins the Order from pure love and respect for its principles . So , offering himself as a candidate for the

first degree , he openly avers that he has no ulterior hope of gain in becoming a Mason . He is aware of the respect almost universally accorded to Freemasons in free countries . He is not ignorant of the oppression and persecutions to which the brotherhood have been and still are subjected

under despotic governments , or of the reasons that have led to such oppression and persecution . He knows there is one mystic tie which , quite apart from all other ties , unites all the brethren in all parts of the world . With this knowledge , he voluntarily undertakes the obligations of

Masonry . Can it or ought it to be doubted that such a man is actuated by sincerity ? Some there may be who are influenced by other and less worthy motives . They see or think they see their way clear to profit by the new " connection " they have established , anticipating , perhaps ,

a speedier advance in wealth and social estimation , or some other advantage more or less material . In ordinary circumstances this kind of motive—that is , a desire for

advancement in wealth and the world s esteem—may not be looked upon very unfavourably , but we trust and believe that the Masons who hope for profit from their enrolment in the Order are few and far between .

It is , perhaps , in the nature of things thatsome men should be more , some less sincere than others . All minds are not constituted alike . There are those which are readily impressed by momentary occurrences , but the impression soon passes away , and is forgotten . Others again are influenced

but very slowly , but the influence is an abiding one . There is , in fact , the same difference between these two classes of men as between tablets of wax on the one hand , and tablets of stone or brass on the other . The inscription on the former is clear and precise enough while it lasts , but the

material of the tablets is very perishable . Equally clear and precise are the inscriptions on stone or brazen tablets , but stone and brass , as compared with wax , are , so to speak , imperishable . The impression remains therefore , nor can it be removed , save by tho utter destruction of

the tablet on which it is engraven . Again , the smooth soft surface of wax is capable of receiving any number of impressions one after the other . A very moderate degree of heat or pressure suffices to remove all traces of the first , and but little is necessary to make a second , and , it may be ,

an entirely opposite one . This is not possible with such unyielding material as stone or brass . Time and labour are required both to efface the old , and substitute the new inscription . Thus , tho impressionable man is no doubt sincere enough so long as the impression remains , but only

for so long ; while he who yields less readily is , in the majority of cases , more lastingly impressed . Of course every man must judge for himself as to the worthiness or unworthiness of the motives which prompt him to any

particular course . Our province is to point out what motives should influence the Mason in the entering upon and fulfilling his duties . Assuredly not the least important among them is sincerity .

We offer these remarks in perfect good faith . Many people imagine that Masonry is a kind of hobby , which men folloAV for mere amusement . They are not aware that

every member on entering the brotherhood binds himself , by the most solemn obligations , to certain rules of life , that he accepts certain principles to guide him in his relations and intercourse with the other brethren . Some

regard it as an ancient mystery , with much quaint ceremonial , but comparatively meaningless . Others fancy that admission to a Lodge is pretty much the same thing as admission to a club . It is perfectly true that Masons have

certain signs and symbols for the purpose of mutual recognition . It is highly probable that a Mason is what Dr . Johnson called a clubbable man . But these notions fall very far fchort of the reality , ignoring , as they do , the

The Mason: A Sincere Man.

true aims which have always influenced Masons from the remotest ages . We are neither surprised nor offended that the outer world should hold these views . Considering the state of darkness in which they live , they could hardly ,

indeed , do otherwise . The business of a Mason is the fulfilment of certain sacred duties , and no one can con-, scientiously observe these duties , who is not animated by the purest and most disinterested motives , or , in other words , who is not a perfectly sincere man .

Masonic Rencontres — The Two Isthmus.

MASONIC RENCONTRES — THE TWO ISTHMUS .

BY BRO . WALTER SPENCER , F . R . G . S ., & c . Sequel .

"VTINE years later , in March 1872 , steaming past the J . i historic ranges of Sinai and from the Red Sea up the gulf of Suez , recollections of the Western Isthmusrecurred to me ; of five weary days passed killing time at Colon ; of a passage up the Gulf of Mexico , and the ruses adopted to escape the kind inquiries of Captain Semmes , the

notorious Alabama ; of the first burst of the fury of the Equinoctials off Cape Hatteras , where , hove to for three days off a lea shore , two drifting wrecks showed us the possibilities fate had in store . How different looked the landscape here ! Instead of wooded emerald islets in " dark purple

spheres of sea "—were desolate sandy shores with background of bare inhospitable rock . The sunshine poured down in torrid brilliancy , making the atmosphere vibrate and giving to distances a prismatic or mirage-like effect ; no soothing tints of verdure for the scorched eye to rest

on , but cruel colouring of sand and stone . Provided with gauze-sided , smoke-coloured " goggles /' we landed at Suez—clad all in white , from helmet and puccheree down to canvas shoes . In the mingling of nationalities , the contrast with America seemed greatest ;

we were brushed by the flowing garments of oily Armenians and sleek Persians ; scowled at by vagabond Arabs and stalking Bedaween ; importuned by Egyptian touts and Coptic porters . In place of the negro vendors of Columbian staples : ragged mincing Greeks , of noble features and voluble

mendacity , vociferously drew attention to gorgeous Nile hookahs ( mad e in Germany ); variegated Syrian scarves ( fresh from Manchester ); Fez caps from Constantinople and French photographs without end . The monetary medium , alone furnished some point of analogy . The currencies of both

Isthmus were alike bewildering in complicated variety . But whilst that of Panama consisted of eagles , condors , doblons , dollars , reals , milreis , cents and the same mutilated into quarters and eighths , of every State of the Americas , in addition to the coins of Europe ; this of Suez comprised

queer specimens from all parts , including forgotten Mediterranean coinages , those of Spain , Portugal , Italy , Greece , and many whose elegant flourishes betokened Asiatic or

African origin , together with the dumpy bits from Siam , and solid itziboos from far Japan . The effigy of the first Napoleon was on some pieces , recalling his Egyptian expedition and vain dream of Asiatic Empire .

On the same afternoon the fine steamshi p " Poseidon " entered the Canal cut by the great Lesseps ; restorer of communication which the wisdom of a Pharoah , and after of a Ptolemy , had provided centuries before . When the disasters of NAPOLEON III . shall have classed him with

Francis I . and Charles XII . in historical statistics , a great name tvill live and a trite fame be founded UPON THE BENEFICENT PATRONAGE AND COSMOPOLITAN STATESMANSHIP , WHICH ENSURED THE EXECUTION OF THIS COLOSSAL WORK ! We stood on deck under the awning , and marvelled how

sufficient depth could be secured in the yielding sand-bed of so narrow a way . It seemed almost possible for one to jump ashore on either side . In one place was a ferrybridge ; a long train of Arabs , with their Avomankind and loaded camels , came toiling from off the desert to the

marge , to wait for a chance of crossing . Their striped burnous and long guns slung behind them , confirmed forcibly the conventional pictures of Eastern scenery

familiar to us . Past these , an unexpected obstruction appeared . The tide was falling , and right ahead we descried an ugly iron steamer lying diagonally on her beam-ends across the channel . We dropped anchor , and

soon two boat loads of our passengers proceeded to the place , to see how matters stood . Looking backward from