True Courtesy.

until a generous thought and purpose become active ; and reverenco is turned into actual service , and tender feeling into helpfulness of word and deed . Here we see the aim of Freemasonry to make men

something more than courteous in behaviour by obedience to certain technical rules—to aid them not only in acquiring fine manners , but so act upon the moral faculties as to bring out what is noblest and best in their natures ,

disposing them to be kind , humane , benevolent in all their relations and dealings with each other . Freemasonry justifies its life as it succeeds in this kind of culture , and so helps the world to better understand the duties , and more

greatly enjoy the privileges , of related life . —Freemason ' s Repository .

The Masonic Family.

THE MASONIC FAMILY .

THE Masonic Fraternity owes a large part of its charm to the fact that it is in the truest sense of the term a family , with all of its members brethren . The family was divinely ordained , but when the second-born was slain by the first-born , faith in the institution was sadly shaken .

The children of ono father are not infrequently so different in temperament as to be naturally unfitted to associate closely together . Freemasonry seeks to restore , as far as may be , the prestige of the family relation . To accomplish

this it selects its membership , and associates in its family only those who , presumably , have the same general tastes and aims , and are possessed of those traits of character

which usually characterise gentlemen . Uprightness , reputableness in the community , the possession of sufficient means , these are some of the qualifications which Masonry demands of all who seek an entrance into her charmed circle .

King David says , " God setteth the solitary in families . " Individual Freemasons were " solitary , " before they became members of the Fraternity . They felt , many of them , the need of fellowship , of social enjoyment , of communion with kindred spirits , of association with those

whose purpose is to elevate their minds and purify their hearts—and all of these they found within the ancient and honourable institution of Freemasonry . It is a family institution . Its members all meet " on the level . " It

knows no cliques . A member of any one Lodge , in Philadelphia for example , is practically a member of every Lodge in the world . Ho has access to all , he is welcomed

in all , he finds enjoyment in all , and succour in distress , if needed . Every Masonic body which is a constitutent of the Masonic family , and every individual member of the same , stands ready to heed his call .

There is a practical aspect of this subject which it becomes us all to regard ; indeed , the continued welfare of our Fraternity in large degree depends upon it . Every Freemason has a common interest to support , and a

common honour to maintain , in the mystic family of which he is a member . If it be dishonoured , he is dishonoured with it ; if it enjoy renown , he shares in that enjoyment . Hence

the importance of admitting no one to membership in the Masonic Fraternity who will in the least degree lower its rank . Let us consider this matter a little in detail .

The genius of Freemasonry forbids that any initiate should be received into its mystic family simply because of his worldly wealth ; yet when the proprietor of a diamond mine sends in his petition , is his character scanned with

the same critical care as if ho were an ordinary financial mortal ? True wealth is in no sense a disqualification for Masonry , but it should not blind one to the serious faults of tho applicant , if they bo prominent , or discoverable . A

man may purchase political station , but it is a part of tho pardonable pride of Freemasonry that , lacking the necessary qualifications , no one can purchase admission into the Masonic Fraternity .

VVe might take , in succession , all of the qualifications ( which are well known to Craftsmen ) aud argue in favour of upholding , in their strictest letter , the observance of these ancient requirements . There is too great a tendency ,

in our times , to " let down the bars , " and allow committees of inquiry to do all the work . And how often they inadequately perform it ! How often ihe three leavo tho burden

of labour to one—tho chairman ! This is not only wrong , it is suicidal The applicant should be scanned from at least three points of view , and scanned closely . Whenever wc cease to examine into the . character and standing of

The Masonic Family.

applicants , we cease to care for our Fraternity , and wo become tho probable authors of its decline . Tlie only method by which to maintain its pristine character is to stedfastly preserve the purity of its membership . In

politics we sometimes hear tho phrase , " principles , not men , " justified . No such justification can be successfully attempted in Freemasonry . Wo must have principles and men , or else we shall soon have neither men nor principles .

We none of us can entertain too high a respect for the Masonic family . Every Brother in it is our Brother . If there be disreputablo men in the Craft , they are our Brothers , also . Tho disesteem in which they are held will

insensibly lessen the esteem in which we are held . Just as the accession of the best men to us maintains the elevation of our character , so the permission of the unworthy to creep into the Masonic family discreditably reflects upon us . Our principles may remain as pure as the driven

snow , but if our membership comes to be composed of inferior material , the charmed life of the family will be gone , and it will not require a prophet to foretell the end . —Keystone .

Incumbrances In Masonry.

INCUMBRANCES IN MASONRY .

WELL , when any Masonic body ceases for any considerable time to gain accessions , and begins to lead a straggling or struggling life , the time is come to wind it up , if it neglects or refuses to perform that office for itself . Their non-action is a rank contradiction to their own

professions as well as the fundamental teachings of the Order ,

and gives sharp witted observers outside the gate abundaut opportunity to charge the whole Order , , through their unrectified neglect , with inconsistency . Such

incumbrances should be summarily cast off when reasonable expostulation fails to effect a change , since their negative influence intensifies the zeal of anti-masons and obstructs

the progress of life , energetic Chapters which are true to their high calling . After observation , running through many years , wo have reached the conclusion , that those who drop out of

Masonry , may be arranged in two classes : first , such who are too stupid to master the esoteric work , and because of their incompetency become ineligible to office ; these , discovering their inferiority , soon weary , and knowing that if

they remain they must comply with the financial rules of the body to which they belong or suffer suspension , choose the latter , and save the payment of dues and assessments , flattering themselves that they have gained somewhat by

their shrewdness ; secondly , those who learn the work parrotfashion , but neither comprehend nor are able to expound and illustrate its real meaning , and as soon as their inability in this respect becomes pronounced , and in consequence

they are not selected to impart the work , become inddfereut , next non-attendant , then dimit , or what is quite as common imitate the other class in shirking the duties of membership . The first has neither memory , understanding nor

conscience ; the second has memory , but lacks the other qualities . The love of money rules the first , and the love of place the other . Both are unfitted for co-operative labour . If they remain , as some of them do , they clog

the efforts of their fellow-members , who keenly feel the weight of their great responsibilities and endeavour to fulfil them , but find their labours half-nullified by tho votes of such members . We regard their departure from any

Masonic body to which they may belong , as both a blessing and a warning ; a blcsting by bi ' mg rid of their fellowship ; a warning to be nnro critical afterwards in investigating

the character and qualifications of candidates for Masonic honours , and thus avoiding the introduction of imperfect , material . —J . II . Brown .

The installation of the W . M . of tho Crusaders' Lodge took place at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , on Wednesday . Bro . W . F . Garrud was installed , tho ceremony being performed by the Immediate Past Master ( Bro J . J . Stockall ) .

IIOLLOWAY ' S FILM . —Tho changes of temperature and weather frequently upset persons who are most cautions of their health , and most particular in their diet . These corrective , purifying , and gentle aperient 1 'ills arc tho best remedy for all defective actions of the digestive organs ; they augment tho appetite , strengthen the stomach , correct biliousness , and curry off all that is

noxious from the system . Hollo-way ' s Pills aro composed of rare balsams , unmixed with baser matter , and on that account are peculiarly well adapted for the young , delicate , aud aged . As this peerless medicine has gained fame iu the past , BO will it preserve it in the future by its renovating and invigorate iug qualities , and its incapacity of doing harm .