Crevasses In Masonry.

CREVASSES IN MASONRY .

A PLEASANT sight in nature , to one not experienced in life along the Mississippi river bottoms , ia tho trickling rill which occasionally percolates through a loveo . It is tiny in size , as innocent in appearance as an angel , of

no presen t strength to accomplish either good or evil , simply n harmless , beautiful rivulet . It may increase almost impercep tibly in volume but it appears to grow thereby in beanty , which , to a stranger , would excite feelings of added

p leasure . A still moro agreeable sight is that visible on an Alpine o-lacier , with its vast mass here and there seamed with slig ht crevices . The sea of ice sparkles in tho sunshine , nnd tho delicate clefts in the frozen expanse are noticed

only to excite curiosity and admiration . It is a mosaic pavement of glass , the pieces scarcely separated , and all together forming a beautiful composite , a perfect whole . But that which was seemingly harmless and beautiful ,

soon proves to be a dark demon of destruction . The rill , gently percolating throngh the levee , reinforced by the river behind it , quickly becomes itself a river , and before men aro aware of it a crevasse is made in the embankment , and a flood inundates the lowlands , dealing

destruction and death . Landmarks are obliterated , lives are lost , and if the flood should be stayed , its effects to the present generation are direful in the extreme . In like manner the delicate , serrated crevice in the glacier

is a harbinger of woe . Without warning it enlarges , a huge mass of ice becomes detached , and sweeps down the valley , carrying before it whatever stands in its path . Even vast boulders of rock are dislodged , to join the relentless mass .

There are also crevasses in Masonry . These crevasses , in their beginnings , are seemingly beautiful , harmless , and even praiseworthy , betokening a sympathy with the age in which we live , and the progress which distinguishes it ; with the society in the midst of

which we dwell , to which we are such large debtors ; with the members of our families , and especially our wives and daughters , our sisters , cousins and aunts , who are entitled to some kindly recognition ; with the unfortunate among

our fellows , who are maimed or decrepit in body , but have snch bright minds and good hearts ! Let us view certain Masonic crevasses , which are the results of false views such as these .

Giving the Grand Honours in public is a Masonic crevasse . They are so impressive and beautiful ! The public are entitled to see something of Masonry ! True , they cannot go to the Lodge , so let the Lodge go to them , and give them a hint of the beauties of the science which

are exemplified in secret . Woo the profane ; invite them to join by dumb shows . ' We will not ask them to join us , but we will maJce signs for them to come !

A Public Installation is a Masonic crevasse . It is akin to the Public Grand Honours . It is at once an exhibition of puerile Masonic vanity , an unlawful advertisement of the Craft , a breach of the Landmark which forbids Masonic

work to be witnessed by the profane , and a mangling of tho work in the attempt to render it seemingly iit for a public spectacle . It lowers tho dignity of Freemasonry , exposes a ceremonial which is official , and as much a part or the work as the making of a Mason , and paves the way for

otber innovations , which are certain to follow . Ladies at a Masonic banquet are a Masonic crevasse—a beautiful , lovely , charming crevasse , but a crevasse , nevertheless . The adjectives are all right—we like " beautiful , lovel y , charming" things—but they cannot qualify the

noun out of existence . A crevasse is a crevasse , no matter how beautiful it appears . Stand in its way , and its beauty diminishes . Ladies cannot be made Masons , they cannot " 9 in the Lodge when it is at Labour—not lawfully , in a socalled " public installation , " nor lawfully at a banquet , for mat

• cu would be a crevasse , and beautiful , but dangerous , ¦ —¦ we know not how dangerous A pproving and initiating an applicant who is physically ^ qualified "in merely * a small particular" is a crevasse .

e gm by receiving one with a finger off , and soon you will ^ ave an army of halt , lame and blind men in the Craft ; men inus a left arm , a right hand , and throwing signs and giving gnp 3 w j th ti , eir feet ! Begin to err , and error qmckl y becomes rampant . It cannot be a servant , but if is the Craft at all it will be a master . Keep it out !

Crevasses In Masonry.

Asking and accepting a profane Charter for a Masonic Lodge is a crevasse . There is no sufficient reason for a Masonic body becoming a creature of the State . The State is a stern ruler It has the eyes of an Argus , which may be

prying into Masonic secrets , and the hands of a Briarens , which may lay judicial hold upon the corporation whioh it creates . Freemasonry is a sovereign mystery , and it should never subject itself to a profane sovereign master .

A written or printed ritual is a crevasse . Nothing which is printed or written is secret . With one copy in existence , any number of copies are possible . Besides , with a printed

ritual , one of the striking intellectual characteristics of the Craft is wanting : Masons without minds are then possible- — to match the Masons without arms , legs and perhaps heads .

But why go further ? Enough crevasses have been named to inundate Freemasonry with innovations and . cover the Fraternity with shame . That Grand Lodge , that subordinate Lodge , that Freemason , who watches for these crevasses , and stops them in

time to prevent injury , is a Masonio benefactor , a true member of the Craft ; while those who are ready to enlarge and multiply such crevasses , will go down to Masonio posterity as misguiding leaders , and enemies and anti-Masons in the guise of friends . —Keystone .

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