Whither Are We Drifting?

these women have an organisation of their own , separate from the male bodies , and known by the name of the Adoptive Rite . My own investigations , however , and the statements of several well informed Brethren , leave no doubt whatever that these women are invested witb all the signs and

passwords of the symbolic degrees from the first up to the fourteenth degree of the Scottish Rite . They have been seen in the symbolic Lodge of the first three degrees during the conferring of degrees , giving Masonic signs , and have been seen in more public celebrations , identifying themselves in every way with the male members of the Craft .

Exponents of the " Mexican side" of this unpleasant question have been heard , but they have signally failed to substantiate their case , and we fear that Bro . Chism ' s account of the utter debasement of the Craft and its prostitution to political aims is only too true . The Chicago " Legal News " of 20 th July says :

TRULY THE MASONIC WOBLD MOVES . The wife of T . W . Parvin , the daughter of a Past Grand Master , and the daughter-in-law of Most Worshipful Brother Theodore Sutton Parvin , of Iowa , Past Grand Master Past Grand Commander Past High Priest , and an active member of the Southern Supreme Council , 33 rd and last degree , is a fourteenth degree Mason , Lodge of Perfection , and was the Worshipful Master of Martha Washington Lodge of Master Masons in Mexico .

Brother Theodore Sutton Parvin was himself knighted in Apollo Commandery , No . 1 , of Chicago , 10 th January 1855 . He never expected then to live to see the day when his son and son's wife would meet in the same Master Mason's Lodge , and the son's wife would be the Worshipful Master .

In a personal letter to us , Mr . James B . Bardwell Secretary of the Chicago " Legal News " Company , says : * * * That women are now admitted as Masons in Mexico there is no doubt . They are not only admitted as Masons , but hold high offices in some of the Lodges . Should you desire any further proof of this fact , I am prepared to furnish it .

Not knowing but that there might possibly be some mistake in the article in the " Legal News " we wrote to Bro . T . S . Parvin , inquiring as to its authenticity . His reply leaves no room for doubt in the matter : Cedar Rapids , 25 th July 1895 . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your favour with slip from Chicago " Legal News " duly received .

Yes , " Truly the Masonic world moves , as did the physical in Gallilio ' s day , so fast that I can't keep up with its movements . You ask , " What does it ( the statement ) mean ? " Just what it says , strange as it may seem . I spent two months , February and March this year , in the city of Mexico and several state capitals and learned these facts : That the Supreme Council of Mexico admits women to seats in its Lodge of Perfection , 4 th to 14 th degree

— " no further , " said the Sovereign Commander Dr . Pombo . The " Grand Dieta Symbolico" did , by its legislation of 1890 , authorise the making of women Master Masons , and under that law some five of its constituent Grand Lodges did make women Masons . In a few years later that law was repealed , and they do not now make Masons of women , but those previously

made are recognised and visit Lodges and Grand Lodges as I learned . Masonry in the republic is badly mixed up , and from our standpoint is deserving of much censure upon the Grand Officers—yet from a Mexican standpoint Masonry has been a grand factor in the government and progress of her people , as I had ample opportunity to see during my visit . Fraternally and truly , T . S . PARVIN . — " Masonic Eecord . "

Brotherhood.

BROTHERHOOD .

DOES anyone ever think what the progress of the world might be if the sentiment'of brotherhood became universal , and the time , means and energies now devoted to wars and preparation for war were turned to irrigate the waste places of humanity ? There is enough now squandered in that way to feed every hungry person , clothe all the naked , and provide a comfort

able home and a good education for every child . We contemplate with mingled complacency and amazement the condition of our ancestors a few centuries back , but hardly reflect that future generations will regard us in much the same way . —Cornelius Hedges in " Voice of Masonry . "

Masonry's Lessons Still Needed.

MASONRY'S LESSONS STILL NEEDED ,

THERE is still much need that the lessons of Masonry should be taught and exemplified in the world ; that men should more thoroughly learn the great central truths of equality and fraternity , and brotherly love , relief and truth . We should all remember that no man liveth to himself alone ; that we are all dependent one upon the other ; that the great object in life

is to be serviceable to our fellowman . And , we fondly hope , that these lessons will be so learned that out of these troublous times there will grow up a better feeling ; that , when the golden sun of prosperity shall again shine , as we surely believe it will , the world will be the better for the lessons we have learned in these trying times . —J . C . Moreland Grand Master Oregon .

Doing Work That Will Live.

DOING WORK THAT WILL LIVE .

XTO society can exist long unless it has a definite , reasonable object to - - accomplish . The object of Freemasonry is to relieve the distressed , and promote harmony in the community . The secret work , enabling one Brother to know another wherever he may chance to meet him , is only a

Doing Work That Will Live.

means to an end , making possible the perpetuation of the Order . It should never be the chief aim , yet we fear that too many Brethren deem themselves good Masons when they are possessed only of the ritualistic work , and practice not its precepts . Empty words and forms are as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals , calling the attention of all to the vainglorious possessor of

the semblance of Masonry . Far too many become members of the Order because they consider that it will gain them influence either in business or politics . These members are barnacles , weighting down the Order , and seriously interfering with those who are real Masons . They give no strength , and , like vampires , drink the very life-blood of Masonry . The unostentatious

member who reads his lesson aright , carries the Fraternity onward and upward by doing good nnto all , without expectation of sordid gain , and it is he who will stand before the Great White Throne and receive the greatest of all rewards . Masonry to live must be made practical in the line of establishing Masonic Homes , in dispensing charity , and in promoting a wholesome

sociability and harmony amongst the members of the Lodge . Its mysteries will never hold it together , and in this advanced age , free from superstitious awe , they should not . They serve the purpose well when they act as distinguishing marks of the Order . The mission of Freemasonry is practical ,

and its salvation must be wrought out on this line , or it will go down never to rise again . We feel in our hearts that Masonry is doing work that will live , and that the Fraternity is making the world better ; that it is fostering and strengthening a firm belief in the Great Architect of the Universe , and that it will live because it deserves to live . For all of which we are unfeignedly thankful . —Robert Lowers , of Nevada .

" Great Thoughts , " which has been giving a Railway Insurance Coupon for a long time past , has now gone one better'than any of its rivals in the matter of Insurance . The Coupon this week insures for £ 2 , 000 against accidents while travelling in Railway Trains , Cabs , Buses , or Steamboats

or if a twelve months' subscription is paid in advance , either to the publisher or to the subscriber's local newsagent , and the receipt registered at " Great Thoughts " office , it is not necessary for such a subscriber to sign the coupon at all , which obviates the possibility of the Insurance Company invalidating the insurance through lack of the owner's signature .

The new up-to-date cookery book which Messrs . Cassell and Company published last autumn , after some years of preparation , is now about to he issued in sixpenny monthly parts . The work is entitled " Cassell's New Universal Cookery Book , " and is written by Miss Heritage , holder of First

Class Diplomas in Cookery and Domestic Economy , and contains a preface by Leonard Griinenfelder , chef , Grand Hotel , London ( formerly chef of the Reform Club ) . It contains twelve coloured plates and numerous illustrations .

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