What Can I Dop

" flowery beds of ease" will find before he reaches that celestial home that thorns will disturb his ease . We are all influenced by public opinion , and in a measure we should . be . He is not a true man who does not seek to bear a good reputation among his fellows . " A

good name is rather to be chosen than great riches . " The judgment of public opinion , however , is not always correct . It is biased by the requirements of isociety , circumscribed by custom , and prejudiced by self-interest . An action that

would be approved by one social set would be condemned by another . The gentleman in one would be regarded as a boor in another . But public , opinion is a great censor , and , is certainly a promoter of morals and restrainer from evil .

" What will people say ? " has deterred many a man from doing a noble and generous act , simply because , he feared to offend certain set rules of aristocratic society . It has been a fashionable fad to go " slumming" to behold the worst side of human nature , to go into dens of iniquity , and

by feeing the habitues of those places to have them make exhibitions of their depravity , to thus encourage ; them to continue their evil ways . " People" say that it is not to be condemned , because , forsooth , it is fashionable . But the man who goes among such classes to try to rescue them from

their wickedness is too often regarded as a fanatic , a crank , and public opinion thus sometimes keeps men from doing something which would be for good . In this fear of pubnc opinion there is no independence . The man who is

continually afraid that he will infringe some law of the great social world and be deemed eccentric , is an abject slave to society and does not act for himself . Fie bows to the will of others , and slinks away Hke a whipped cur , his conscience applying ; the lash .

The independent , the manly , the true spirit within one leads him to ask his own heart , What can I do ? To do that which is approved of by his conscience may lead to the loss of some friend because that friend is of-a

different mind . Shall he hold that friend at the expense of his own peace ? Can he make any excuse to his innocent soul , his constant companion , for offending it to please a

friend ? No . The silent monitor within is sensitive to every infraction of right , but we may destroy its power to warn us of wrong by refusing to listen to its admonitions , until the heart becomes seared and hard like the hand of the labourer

and receives no impression whatever , and we plunge headlong into the whirlpool of careless action . Many a man laughs loud to stifle and silence an upbraiding conscience . When troubles come upon a man and he feels cast down he sometimes seeks relief in the foaming cup of intoxication .

It is then that his conscience rebels , but he drowns its cry in the ribald jest and the drunken laugh . Even public opinion is forgotten , for that has ceased to have a restraining

influence . Fie should ask himself ' What can I do to escape this dreadful feeling of depression , to free myself of these great troubles ? " He should encourage conscience to keep on warning him of approaching danger .

To serve his fellowman is the grandest aim of man , and he who fearlessly stands by his conscience , enlightened by the spirit of God , approved , will find his name , like that of Abou ben Adhem , written first upon the list of good men by the Angel of Light . To do what is right is to fulfil the law

of God . A perverted conscience or a heart mindful of public opinion alone will not do right at all times . To serve properly , the mind must be educated to perceive the truth ,

and the heart trained to obey the truth , no matter where it it may lead . Many a good , honest man has been ostracised from society because he refused to bow to the idol of untruth set up by social requirements .

What can I do ? I may not be able to build a cathedral , or endow an asylum , but I can do what is equally as important—I can minister to those in need , I can help to teach the truth , I can do some little act that will benefit

some individual , and thereby strengthen my power , and add to my own contentment as well as bring joy , perhaps , to a joyless heart . It is the little things of life that make up the sum of human happiness . — " Masonic Standard . "

An Enduring Institution.

AN ENDURING INSTITUTION .

rip HIS is an intensely practical age . So much progress JL is being made in every department of life , and the activities of every thinking person are so stimulated in

An Enduring Institution.

consequence , that naturally the spirit of the age judges everytmng by its ability . Its tendency to assist or retard progress at once determines the estimation in which anything is held at the present day . It follows trom this that old institutions which have outlived the necessity that gave

them birth , which may have been m their day the greatest aids to civilisation in its struggle with ignorance ana superstition , but which belong to a place oi activity that the rising tide of civilisation has submerged and obliterated , have ceased to interest the present age . Institutions thus

discarded are like the geological stratas in the earth's crust They were once the lite of the planet , but now , though still a part of it , and essential to the existence of the whole , they are buried deep out of sight and forgotten . Our fraternity , however , is of a different class . Its objects are advocacy and

practice of charity , benevolence and Brotherly affection , and in the realisation of these objects it is a silent power , ever active for the right , an influence ever present to stimulate virtue . In degree its effect may and does depend upon the

stage of intellectual and moral development of the people , but its benign influence is ever present and active , like the sunlight which warms the desert and the beautiful garden alike , however different the effect of its genial , life-giving rays may be upon them .

Age , therefore , only increases the influence of . our Brotherhood . The element of veneration is added . Its age and its vigour but exemplify and prove its excellence . Freemasonry is the oldest social organisation in the world . It has also the largest membership and exercises the

greatest influence for good . It is in full sympathy with the activities of the present age . Age has not brought infirmity . It is an athlete with the dust or centuries resting upon its garments , and stands to-day as the champion and cultivator of the most extensive moral field in the civilised world .

Masonry is an aid in the elevation of individual character towards the perfect model . It is not exclusive but will work and co-operate with other aids in this grand object . It is not required to crowd the church and religion out of the

man to make room for Masonry . Both can exist together in harmony , and he who is so narrowly constructed as to have insufficient moral or mental compass for both has obviously too little for either .

On such , broad , catholic foundations was this institution built , that it has been growing in strength and usefulness from year to year and from century to century , and so long as its precepts are obeyed by the fraternity , so long as its members live out in their daily lives the principles it teaches ,

and the conduct it demands trom them , just so long will it continue in its present power , freshness and vigour , a blessing to humanity , honoured and revered by men ; so long

will it remain as now a Gibraltar of moral and social strength , alike indifferent and impregnable to the attacks of ignorance , intolerance and bigotry . —H . H . Falk Grand Master Mississippi .

''A Sprig Of Acacia.''

''A SPRIG OF ACACIA . ''

ON Saturday , 23 rd inst ., the mortal remains of Bro . John Brewer , of jjarnstaple , were interred in the cemetery , amidst signs of deep sympathy . Deceased , besides being a prominent Mason , had been active in the promotion of the welfare of several Charitable institutions . Me was the agent

to Earl Fortesque , who was represented at the funeral by Viscount Ebrington . Bro ; J . Stocker P . G . S . P . M . was present on behalf of the Freemasons of the Province , deceased having formerly been the Prov . G . S . Bros . Joseph Kingdon P . M ., and W . Mountjoy P . M ., represented the bouthmolton

. freemasons and a number of Barnstaple Brethren were , present , the wreath from the Freemasons of the Province was lowered into the family vault with the coffin . ' The funeral ceremony was performed by the Rev . E . C . Atherton ( Vicar of Fioly Trinity ) .

rr \ HE funeral of Bro . Francis Riphard Geary , of . Redland , X took place on Tuesday , 19 th inst , at Greenbank Cemetery . 'The deceased was a welhknown Mason , Past Master of his Lodge , the Royal Clarence , No . 68 , and P . Z . of the Clarence Chapter , and was held in high esteem

amongst his Brethren , many of whom attended the service at the Church as a tribute to his memory . The wreaths , which were many and beautiful , included tributes from the Royal Clarence Lodge , the Royal Clarence Chapter , and the Canynges Mark Lodge .