Toleration.

Europe awakened from its lethargy of centuries it soon demonstrated the fact that men vtcte as capable of grappling with tho problems of lifo as were the wisest of the worthies of the past . When the way to more perfect understanding was opened , and when it became possible

for information to bo widely diffused , the dark age passed away . As we read the story of the intellectual awakening of Europe , we are struck with the progress made where tolerance of new views was the rule , and equally are we struck by the slower developments were efforts were made

to bind the people to the opinions and traditions of the ages gone before . To those who study the history of this present century , rejoicing at our marvellous advancement in scientific knowledge , the query is constantly presented , Why did not the other centuries anticipate ours in these

fields ? Roger Bacon broadly hinted at some of our modern discoveries . Galileo opened the gateway to the true study of the heavens , and far back in tho past the foundations of chemical science were laid , yet , until the present century , men had not fairly come into tho heritage

of power which has become ours through tbe marvellous discoveries lately made . Through all the centuries the resources of Nature were present . Chemical combinations were possible , the unharnessed forces were as potent , but the talisman necessary to make these things the obedient

servants of man was not known . Why ? Because ignorance and bigotry were afraid to permit the investigations which were essential to a right understanding of Nature . Intolerance would not permit any study which might result in a shattering of old forms of belief . The

prison , the scourge , the stake awaited those whose independent habits of thought led them to a free expression of opinions which antagonised the beliefs of tbe holders of power . It is to the glory of Masonry that since its first institution it has always taught toleration , and embodied

in its system a practical illustration of reasonable freedom . Within the Lodge all are taught to meet upon the levelthat there , however great and wise some may be , those of lowly estate and with but the rudiments of knowledge aro entitled to consideration and protection . And yet Masonry

has never encouraged ignorance . On the contrary , it has always incited to an endeavour to learn all the secrets of Nature possible to the human understanding , and much of its beautiful instruction has been given in order to create a strong impulse to the pursuit of knowledge . " With all

thy getting get understanding " has ever been tbe charge to the neophyte . The beauty of wisdom , and the necessity of increased knowledge has been suggested . But , with the urgent invitation to mental cultivation , there has ever been a tenderness in dealing with tliose who were hindered

from reaching large attainment . Ignorance has never been accounted a crime , and that toleration of different beliefs which is necessary to true brotherhood has been taught and practised . The peculiarities of mind have been

understood by Masons , and quick growth in all knowledge has not been expected . Time and training are requisite to development , and in nothing is this more true than in knowledge .

" Heaven is not renohed at a single bound ; We build the ladder by which we rise From the lowly earth to the vaulted ekies , And we mount to its summit ronnd by round . " But this doctrine of toleration , as enunciated in Masonry

and practiced by the members of the Fraternity , is not founded npon pity for ignorance , but upon a nobler principle of action . Even the wisest men are but relativel y

wise . The fields of knowledge are limitless , and though a long life be spent in gathering the flowers which grow therein , yet are there limitless fields unknown . The root of Masonio toleration is found in the noble doctrine of

brotherhood . We are members of one famil y , and whatsoever our country , race , or kindred , we are brothers . As the outgrowth of this doctrine , and the feeling it inspires , we are compelled to grant a large amount of libert y to one another , and gradually this doctrine has reached such

development that the Masonic Fraternity has set its face unalterably against all forms of intolerance or bigotry , wheresoever the same may presume to manifest themselves . Masonry , then , stands for the liberty of the individual . It stands for that broad charity which can tolerate what it

cannot accept . And this is one reason why Masonry has found arrayed against it all tbe socifcies which thrive on the intolerant dogma of past ages . The church which permits no independent thought in its schools , which brands as heresy any departure from a statement of doctrine foxmu-

Toleration.

lated a thousand years ago , which tortures the body upon tbe pretence of saving tbe soul—such a church can see in Masonry nothing of good . The church is right in its opposition to Masonry if it purposes to bind the people in tho unquestioning submission of the past , for it is tho

purpose of Masonry to free mankind from whatever prevents the full development of all our powers . The farseeing hierarchy of Rome sees the true tendency of Masonic teaching , and knows that where the people come under its influence they are quickened to a new lifo—a life where the

freedom of the individual soul and personal accountability to the Creator must affect all human relations . Whenever the individual conscience has learned that it is directly and not mediately responsible to God , the power of ecclesiasticiam over that conscience is forever broken . This is what

ecclesiastical fulminations against Masonry mean . They recognise tbe fact that Masonry seeks to emancipate the world from all forms of slavery , and though the hierarchy would be unwilling to acknowledge unquestioning and blind obedience to priesthood to bo a form of slavery , yet

by whatever name the condition of mind which leads to this result may be called , in tbe final analysis it is found to be slavery . But it may be asked , Does this hierarchy now demand the blind obedience of tbe middle ages ? If this were the year 1274 , and the decree of Innocent IY . that

" All translation of the Scriptures into the vulgar tongue of any country should be given to the flames , " we might say the ignorance of the middle ages is at fault , but when Rome places upon its index oxpurgatorfns the translations of the Gospels into French made in the year 1887 , and

approved by the Pope himself , what shall we say ? What shall we call the action of tbe hierarchy when , on 19 th December 1887 , it proscribed and damned tbe very book which but a short time before had received tho approval of the Pope ? And remember , too , that this translation was not

made by a protestant , bat by a devout member of tbe Roman Church , whose work had been approved by a great number of bishops , priests and pious laymen . Why , then , was this done ? The secret of the whole matter was that a critical examination of the translation disclosed the fact

that some of the renderings of Greek words were not in accordanco with the dogmas of the Romish Church . Although the whole French people were longing for such living translation of God ' s Word as it is , they were denied , because above all things the dogmatic treatment of tho

Scriptures favoured by Rome must not be endangered . It is not the truth which the hierarchy is anxious to save , but tho power which comes from a particular interpretation of Scripture . It matters not whether that interpretation be right or wrong , it is the interpretation of the church , and

as such it must stand though all the progress of the world be stopped . Is it to be wondered at , then , that from the same source aro sent out from time to time bulls denouncing Masoury ? Let Masonry rejoice that tbe issue is so clearl y defined , aud that it is tbe recognised friend of human

liberty , the champion of spiritual and mental emancipation . Until all forms of bigotry are ended , until man is free in all righteous senses of the term , nntil the day of perfect onlightenment , Masonry has a mission . It is in the world because the world needs its unwavering testimony to

human rights and brotherhood , and it will continue on its beneficent way unchecked by any opposition based upon selfishness or upon a desire to perpetuate spiritual bondage . So long as ignorance abounds , so long as oppression causes tears to flow , so long as vice lifts up its head , just so long

will Masonry strive for the betterment of humanity . Its challenge is to all that tends to degrade men , or to prevent the accomplishment of the great possibilities with which all are gifted . Aud if in this it meets opposition , it will still march on as in years gone by , knowing that trnth is

mighty and will prevail . Toleration in beliefs is , then , a cardinal doctrine of Masonry , and one of its chief sources of its wonderful hold upon the intelligence of the age . Liberty of thought is essential to perfect individual growth , and whatever prevents or seeks to check the free action

of the human mind , is an enemy to human progress . Threats aud compulsions aro checks to the free expression of thought , and to the proper government of free men . Recognising this fact , Masonry plants itself firmly on the doctrine of toleration , aud seeks to inspire men with such

a lofty conception of humanity as will secure true regard for the rights of the individual . If Masonry accomplishes only this much for our race it blesses the world and brightens human life . And this is a part of its mission . Men of different beliefs , of different races , of peculiar