Masonry And Society.

MASONRY AND SOCIETY .

THERE is always a little temptation among men to exaggerate the importance of the special pursuit or idea that they happen to represent . The farmers , mechanics , merchants , teachers , physicians , and scientists are each

inclined to think that civilization hinges on their special calling . The fact is that all the great pursuits of civilized communities are of nearly equal importance . Each supplies an essential want . Each is a gem in the crown of civilization and helps to make its composite beauty .

Now Masonry recognizes the fact that it is one of these co-ordinates in society , and therefore takes special care never to put itself in antagonism with the relig ious belief ,

political bias or social status of any member . 'I he only question entertained is he fit to bo a co-worker along our special line of usefulness ?

But Masonry specially benefits society by selecting and grouping the best and most suitable elements for social , moral and benevolent purposes according to natural law . It may be defined as a combination springing from natural

selection , and based on reason , designed to improve the social , moral and material interests of its members , and through them of society at large . It claims no

divinity further than this definition confers . The social element of this combination is based on humanit y itself . It discards all considerations of rank , wealth

or social standing , and considers the man alone . ls he worthy to be a Mason ? In comparison with the dignity of being a worthy man , all the fortuitous circumstances of his surroundings are lost sight of in their

insignificance . Nature has created man so far superior to circumstances that , in the equation of manhood against , manhood , these circumstantial factors maybe practically disregarded , and the problem remains correct . The social

element of Masonry is then in accordance with the laws of nature . The ethics of Masonry teach morality also , according to natural laws . It holds out no hopes of future reward or future punishment as incentives fordoing

right ; neither does it seek special revelations to demonstrate what right is . It teaches man to do right because it is right . To do ri g ht he must live in strict conformity with the laws which govern the universe , and thereby escape

the sure and swift penalty of their transgression . These are made too manifest by their operations to need illuminated finger boards , and their powers are too fearfull y ever-present to need a future eternity to realize their force .

Selecting certain implements made use of in avocations based on natural laws , it deduces from their several uses a moral application for living in accordance with the same ; thus keeping before the initiate constantly a tangible guide

for action . As the square and the compass , the level and the plumb are demanded in rearing a perfect edifice , so do their moral precepts assist in making life a like perfect ancl finished work . How can man be better taught how to do right ?—Lancaster Examiner .

Among the few useful results of the Jubilee craze of the present year may be mentioned the " Islington Jubilee Fund , " which is being raised on behalf of the Great

Northern Hospital , an Institution which has done well in years past , and promises to be of greater benefit to the northern district of London in the future . A-noncr the

foremost promoters of this Fund may be found brethren who have won laurels in the cause of Masonic charity , thus proving that a good Mason can also be a good citizen . It would exhaust too much of our space to detail the varied

means which have been adopted to increase the " Islington Jubilee Fund ; " but there is one now before the public which will , we hope , lead to a considerable addition . Bro . Herbert Sprake , the proprietor of Collins ' s Music

Hall , has kindly set apart the evening of Thursday , the 29 th inst ., for a benefit , the proceeds of which will be given to the Fnnd . This being the only benefit which has taken

place at the Hal ! for many years , we hope it will produce a considerable sum , more especially as we know that Bro . Sprake takes considerable interest iu the object for which he has given the use of his Hall .

Tho cornerstone of the Bennington monument , Vermont , is to be laid with masonic ceremonies .

Death.

DEATH .

WOOD W"A RD . —On Friday , the 16 th instant , at bis resirience , CrnnfieUl Lo tlffe , Uexley Heath , Bro , E . C . WOOJBWAKJ ., J . . IL 332 , 1 . 37 , Jtc . Age U US .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

Wt do not hold ourselves responsibl * for th * opinions of our Ctr . respondents . All letters must bear th * name and addresi of th * Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . W * cannot undertak * to return rejected communications .

BRO . 0 . E . MEYER AND BRO . J . F . BRENNAN . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Having seen Bro . W . J . Hughan ' s statement in last week's FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE , I wish to say "ditto" to it , in every way , iu every sentiment , and in its entire protest .

I hope Bro . Brennan will , on reflection , Masonically admit , thafc he has done Bro . Meyer grave injustice , and as a good Freemason will at once apologise for an hasty ebullition , for a singularly ill-omened insinuation .

I havo already said fully much fco the sune effect , though nofc so forcibly as Bro . Hughan has put . it , and I will only now reiterate my regret , thafc what mi ^ ht be a fair 'in . I open discussion , should be characterised by such illogical and such iu . w .. rranfcable potaonalities . Fraternally yours , A . F . A . WOODFORD .

MASONIC LANDMARKS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In the " Proceedings " of the Grand Lodge of Iowa for tha current year ( p 198 ) , there appears fche follow , ing passage , being tho criticism of Past Grand Master Parvin , on some observations of Bro . Charles Inglesby , Grand Secretary and Reporter

on Foreign Correspondence , Grand Lodge of South Carolina : — "Our brother holds to the observance of ' . he landmarks of Masonry , which i * all well enough if he knows what they are . If Bro . Inglesby can enlight II in a * , to wli . it , are the landmarks , and where they can be fonn .., we will extend t" him > w hearty thanks . Wo have been in

search of then for , lo , the . c irnrty year- * , and when ever we found a list of them presented by Dr . Mackey , of his own jurisdiction , or anyone else in the land , including Pcjnusyl . ¦ innia , we havo found the list ever varying and changing , as the moon . Some recognised as a

landmark in ono jurisdiction are totally repudiated in another . There are a few , and a very few , that are universally recognised as such , and to them wo can most heartily give our assent , but they are not the landmarks so commonly referred to . To tho doubtful ones wo yield no allegiance . Tours fraternally , R F G 22 nd Sept . 1887 .

Notes For Masonic Students.

Notes For Masonic Students .

HARLEIAN MS . 1942 . A POINT has to be considered in reference to aa allegation of tampering with Masonic MSS . to suit cert _ in passing views , which I should have noticed in my last paper , bnfc was afraid to make it too long . A great deal of tbe theory of snch falsification of MSS . seems to rest curiously enough on alleged acts of Anderson . " Exempli gratia , " it is averred that , by interpolating the word

" Grand " before " Master , " Ac , in the New Articles he quotes in 1738 , he falsified the Harloian 11 H 2 if he copied it . Now these are hard words and a serious accusation , arid deserve our attention , for though the old proverb tells us well , " hard words break no bones , " jnsfc as " soft words butter no parsnips , " yet I think they aro really and truly

undeserved , hasty and unreasonable . Tho argument reall y is to the effect , if Anderson did one thing , he might do another , and others might do the same . The whole contention is reduced , when yon look into it , into a suppositious afterthought , for what after all . treating ifc

dispassionately anct critically , did Andersen really do ? If Anderson did not see another transcript of tho Harleian , then no doubt if he professed to copy the Harleian , or even Eoberts' form ,

he pub in the word " Grand " before Master . It is most important always fco copy documents correctl y , and no one has a right to profess to givens a true copy of a document which he has altered himself .

But I think still , as I have always thought , that Anderson ' s offence is a venial one . He gave to the older form of 1 G . 3 what was the term iu use for the person intended by the word "Master" in the New Articles , the fifth clause , or rather as mentioned in the Harleian No . 30 .

By text aud context it is clear the Master of the General Assembly is meant , not the Master of a Lodge , but the Master of fche General Assembly , under whatever term he is known by . Anderson terms him " Grand Master , " meaning thereby , as he understood it , that tho presiding officer of tho General Assembly . vas

Grand Master or General Master . I do not think he was right in using these words without explaining why he did so ; but I cannot see that he intended to impose on his readers then , or ns , or whafc good he could obtain b y doing so . Nothing was involved in it , aud he states it aa a fact .