"The Letter And The Spirit."

"THE LETTER AND THE SPIRIT . "

The following sermon svas preached in St . James Church , Vancouver , before the Grand Lodge of British Columbia , by the Right Rev . and V . W . Bro . A . W . Sillitoe , D . D ., Lord Bishop of New Westminster , Grand Chaplain : The Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life . —

2 Cor ., in ., 6 . I trust , brethren , that I may not be deemed impertinent if I venture to break away , this morning , from a line of thought which has almost become consecrated by long use on these occasions , viz ., the historical view of Masonry , and devote my time , and ask your

attention to the consideration of the practical teaching of Masonry ; thc beauty of its precepts , and the nobility of its purpose , and the influence which these ought to exert upon the lives of Masons , when due diligence is applied to the study of them . This , it appears to me , will be more profitable to us than a dissertation on the

antiquity of Masonry , about which sve are all of us agreed . We are familiar svith its claim in this respect , and we are not concerned svith those svho doubt it ; but not the antiquity of the world itself svould lend lustre to any Institution , irrespective of its teaching and practice , and the consideration of these , therefore , will

be both ' more instructive , and more interesting , as well to yourselves , brethren , as to others who hear me . Not that I will be guilty of the presumption of supposing that with regard to the moral precepts of Masonry I can teach anything to those who are so much more competent to be my teachers , or that I can throw new

li ght upon , or add new force to those sublime lectures wherein its beauties are graduall y unfolded to the enquiring mind , but a truth is often emphasised by being presented in a new aspect , and I can , at least , point out the practical application to the personal life , without which , the truth , however beautifully portrayed ,

or perfectly illustrated , fails in the accomplishment of the Will of its Divine Author . For Masonry is excellent , not only , and even not so much , in its conception , or in its plan , as in its effects . It was the completed Temple which excited the wonder and admiration of our ancient brethren , and it is the perfect and upright

man , true to his Maker , true to himself , and true to his brother , who demonstrates in his dail y life the truth of those principles which constitute the foundation stones of the progressive teaching of our art . For it is not enough that no atheist , or wantonly irreligious man can find a place amongst us ; nor is it enough that the

doctrine of the resurrection to a future life is embodied in the landmarks of our Order . Something more than this is necessary . ^ We want the superstructure as well as the foundation ; we want the pinnacle as well as the corner stone . And my anxious desire to-day is to impress upon you all the solemn obligation that is laid

upon each of us by the true spirit of Masonry of making daily progress with the spiritual temple of the heart , the moral edification of a perfect man . Not a mere progress of degrees , or of offices , as if these could in themselves supply a deficiency of honor or dignity in the holder of them , but a progress of the inner man in

knowledge and virtue , the gradual subjugation of every evil thought and unruly passion , the preparation of the heart as a fit dwelling place for the All Holy God . Let me take now three several points , and , briefl y noticing what Masonry teaches with regard to them , examine the practical application

of its teachings to our lives . And , first , the teaching of Masonry as regards the Holy Name , and the Word of God . At the very threshold of their Masonic career are our candidates taught that the blessing and protection of the Almi ghty are necessary to the successful prosecution of every work . And

acting upon this principle , and believing that where tsvo or three are gathered together in His name He will be in the midst of them , we make our supplications , ancl offer to Him our thanksgivings for the light and knosvledge He vouchsafes to us . And so inestimably do we regard the Sacred Name , that it is with the utmost

caution and the most profound reverence that sve approach the utterance of it , veiling it , indeed , 'in its most sacred form , till , after many a probation and trial , a brother has been found worthy to be entrusted with it . With equal regard and reverence do we esteem the Word of God . So that no lodge of Masons is

complete without the sacred volume , and sve apply to it the highest title vve possess in the description of the place it occupies in the science of Masonry . It is the lirst thing upon which the eye of the newly-initiated rests , and it is the last thing to svhich the attention of the brethren is directed svhen they rest from their

labours . Brethren , nothing can be more true , nothing can be more profitable than this teaching . But then my duty is to ask you , as brother Masons , not , do you accept this teaching outsvardly , because I knosv you do , but do you act upon it ' : Do you carry asvay this teaching in your hearts , as you are intended to do , and apply

it , as a rule , to every action of your life : ** Is God in all your thoughts ? Is He so set alsvays before you that there is nothing your hand lindeth to do but what His blessing shines upon you , His sustaining arm strengthens you :- I am speaking of your secular life , not your reli gious life ; and I ask you , do you , in every new enterprise , or in the pursuance of es'ery old one , in

every fresh undertaking , do you acknowledge Him as the onl y Giver of blessing , the only Author of success , without whom nothing is strong , nothing is holy ' - * Do you so live in His presence , that , svithout an effort , as it were by very instinct , your heart and mind are luted up seven times a day in acknowledgment of His Sovereignty and in recognition of His carer This

"The Letter And The Spirit."

indeed is to " walk svith Him , " and to walk with Him is to walk securely , to fear no evil , and to have the assurance of success . But this hourly uplifting of the heart to God , this delight in His presence is a matter of cultivation ; and it is not of natural growth , but spiritual . It is the result of an intimate acquaintance

vvith God as He reveals Himself in His word ; and it is b y making that word a " li ght unto our feet , and a lantern unto our paths , " that vve learn the pleasure of serving Him , and the joy that flows eternally from His love . Every Mason , therefore , who would be true to his profession is bound to be a diligent student of the

Holy Book ; not satisfied with merel y gazing on it as it occupies its conspicuous position of honour in the midst of the lodge , but truly making it the handbook of his daily life , learning therein the beginning of wisdom , which is the fear of God , not a servile or conscience-stricken fear , but a holy , reverential awe , such

as is due from a creature to his Creator , from a son to the Almighty Father of all , and learning so to fashion his life according to its precepts , that , vvhen the time of eternal refreshment arrives , he may receive his share of the inheritance of "just men made perfect . " My second point is the teaching of Masonry in regard to

brotherly love ; and about this , thank God , there is but little to say , inasmuch as , whatever may be our failings and shortcomings in other respects , love is the predominating character of Masonic life , whether we view it in the calm serenity of the Iodge , or in its relation to worthy distressed brethren without . I know nothing

that so truly emphasises the good that still remains in our fallen and corrupt nature as the mutual forbearance , the patient tolerance , and the harmony that distinguish meetings of the Fraternity , even on occasions when there is room for wide divergence of opinion . The very atmosphere of the Iodge seems laden vvith

goodwill , and it is as if the Spirit of peace and of love made this His special dwelling place . A part of this is due , no doubt , to the solemn dedication of our halls in the name of the Most Hi gh , and to the honour of His glory ; but I believe that in greater measure it is due to the spirit of Masonry itself ; to those cords of love

which bind us together more firmly than could any material bands , and which , if they only prevailed more generally , would make " wars to cease in all the world , and break the bow , and snap the spear asunder , " and bring in the reign of peace and purity and love . This reign , dear brethren , you and I may not live to see ,

though I for my part do not deem it very far distant ; but , at least , it is our duty each to do his part , according to his vocation and ministry , to prepare the way for the Prince of peace , and the accomplishment of God ' s great design in the ultimate unity of creation . And to this end vve need do no more than steadfastly

and faithfull y carry out the precepts of our Order . Our obligations as Masons extend to all mankind . We are in an especial manner , no doubt , bound to our brethren in the Craft , but all others are our brethren besides . Love is an infinite thing , and it is beyond our power , as it is beyond our prerogative , to limit it ; for ,

if we limit it , it ceases to be . And , therefore , the love wherewith sve love our brethren of the mystic family must be read y to include all men alike , and to exert itself on their behalf freely and ungrud gingly , even as the love of God is bountifully poured . out upon ourselves . My third point concerns the teaching of

Masonry regarding man ' s duty to himself . We descend here to a Iosver plane than those we have occupied hitherto , ancl yet , vvhen we remember the end and purpose of our being , viz ., the glory of God , it is scarcely possible to regard this branch of our subject as of lower importance than the others . It is a difficult

thing , no doubt , when vve look around and see the lives that are being lived by multitudes of our fellovvmen , to realise that the image of God is stamped upon us , and that for his glory we are and were created ; but this is so , and the fact discloses the terrible and incomprehensible truth , that every wasted life robs God of a

proportion of His eternal glory . Yes , brethren , and it discloses this truth as well , that every life that falls short of the possibility of attainment wherewith God has endowed it is a humanly wrought failure of the omnipotent design and will . There are those vvho in His inscrutable wisdom He has left in the darkness of

ignorance concerning themselves and Him ; for them he will make excuse . It is not so with ourselves . We have the light . We make our boast of the light . And , therefore , if we be not walking in the light , we are stultifying ourselves , we are doing violence to our consciences , and we are mocking the Author of light .

What then does our li ght teach us in this respect •¦ It teaches the necessity and importance of self control . It teaches us to put such constraint upon our affections ancl passions as will bring the bod y into subjection , and set the mind and spirit above all the allurements of vice . It warns us

of the weakness of human nature , unable of itself to withstand the posver of darkness , and needing the assistance of that " Power which is from above . " It teaches us that life is a school of disci pline whereby the rough corners of our characters are to be broken off , and every jagged edge and rude unevenness made smooth ; that so wc may be fitted to take our places as

' living stones in that house not made vvith hands , eternal in the heavens . " It teaches us , moreover , that this task of self-improvement is a hard and difficult and weary one , like the toilsome ascent of a winding stair , up which , step by step , we must go , dail y being strengthened by an increase of knowledge , and the increase of virtue that comes from the nearer approach to Gud . It teaches us that thc Masonic life is a life of special dedication to the service of God , that it is so confessed in thc lirst prayer offered a candidate within

"The Letter And The Spirit."

the lodge ; and it is further so implied in the fact ofthe dedications of our halls ; for if the material building be dedicated , how much more should they themselves be who dare to dedicate a building to the Most High V For if the temple be holy , so must they be vvho serve therein . And , brethren , the holiness which vve are

taught to cultivate within our lodges must sanctify our whole life in the world , as well as in the lodge . We cannot pretend to have a dual existence , one as Masons , another as men . We must be upright men , altogether , and at all times , or we are not true to the Craft , to ourselves , or to God . And this , then , is the conclusion

I wish to draw : there must be a reality in all that vve do . Masonry must not be a mere profession of morality with the lips , without the solid foundation of moral life . We must not clothe ourselves with the emblem of innocence , and then put off innocence vvhen we put off the emblem . We must not one moment be giving

expression to the sublimest sentiments of religion and morality , and the moment after become mere children of this world . Masonry is not a pastime , nor the lodge a club . We are souls in search of the light whereby we may see and know God , and it is by keeping this object in view that Masonry will prosper , and Masons

be built up in virtue and m truth . Even our best endeavours will but ill prepare us for the presence of the Grand Master , but half-heartedness and lukewarmness , and unreality doom beforehand to disappointment hereafter , and only merit here the contempt of all earnest and straightforsvard men . A Mason at certain

times must needs be slipshod , but Masonry itself should never be slipshod . With a perfect being to glorify , antl perfection to aim at in ourselves , how can sve be anything but profoundly and solemnly in earnest V Let the spirit of Masonry , then , prevail in our hearts anc !

in our lives . Let the beauty and harmony and unity of our Order be conspicuous in all we do . Let all the world be better for the good that resides in Masons . Let us in the lodge and in the world be real , and true to God , to our neighbours , and to ourselves .

Christmas Day.

CHRISTMAS DAY .

At the Field-lane Institution , Vine-streel , Clerkeuwell-road , recently , upwards of 700 of ( the poorest people were entertained svith a substantial dinner . They were a motley looking company , and obtained admission by being attendants at the Ragged Church service held at the institution every Sunday morning .

Each guest had received an invitation last Sunday at the service . The whole of these people may be said to be homeless , living principally in the lodginghouses and casual wards , but their behaviour on this occasion vvas all that could be desired . B y 10 o ' clock the people began to arrive at the doors in twos and

threes , and as they came they were admitted , no one having a ticket being kept waiting . By 11 o ' clock a large company had assembled , and a short service was then commenced . Addresses were delivered , and hymns were sung , and several pieces were rendered by the choir of the institution , which was conducted by

Mr . Evans . Dinner svas served at 12 o'clock . About 100 ladies and gentlemen attended to carve and wait upon the guests , and the joints of beef and the potatoes were brought from the kitchen * by a stream of men who were inmates of the refuges . The following are the details of the viands consumed . * 4961 b . of beef ,

ooolb . of plum pudding , seven sacks of potatoes , 150 quartern loaves , and 700 oranges . The rooms of the institute were suitably decorated vvith evergreens and appropriate texts of Scripture . The Committee also gave the provision for a similar feast to poor families living in the neighbourhood of the charity . The entire

cost of these Christmas treats is paid by voluntary offerings to which many Masonic brethren contributed . Mr . Peregrine Platt , the energetic Secretary , like Oliver Twist , is asking for more , in the shapeof money , to entertain some 1000 City arabs to a similar feast early in the year .

Order Of The Secret Monitor.

Order of the Secret Monitor .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS .

George Andrews Conclave \ Nu . in . — A meeting svas held on Wednesday , December iSth , at thc Holborn Restaurant . Present : Bros . J . G . Thomas , S . K . ; R . T . Stringer , C . ; E . G . Bax , C . ; VV . Andresvs , Treas . ; J , J ., Pakes , P . G . Gdr ., Sec ; Waghorn , Stsvd . ; VV . Martin , N . Biokenshire , Dandridge , and A . Dealer , V . D . 's ; Vohmann , D . C ; Walkley , Sentinel j and !•' . Walden .

Visitors : Bros . I . Zacharie , G . S . R . ; Horatio II . Shirley , G . V . ; and Charles B . Cooper , and Edwin Storr , ( . 1 . Stesvards . The conclave having been opened , by the unanimous svish of the brethren , Bro . Horatio Shirley occupied the chair of S . R . Bro . R . T . Stringer , S . R . elect , svas admitted to the Second Degree . Bro . I . J . Pakes , P . G . Gdr .,

assumed the chair for the purpose of installing Bro . R . T . Stringer . The G . S . R ., Bro . Dr . Zacharie , assisted in a portion of the ceremony . Bro . R . T . Stringer , the nesvlyinstalled S . R ., was unanimously elected as Grand Stesvard to represent the conclave for the ensuing year . At thc subsequent banquet the usual toasts were duly honoured .

In responding to thc toast of "The G . S . R ., " Bro . Dr . Zacharie spoke of the very rapid strides the Order svas making in all parts of the globe , and expressed the great gratification he felt at being present to ss-itness the excellent manner in which Bro . Shirley had performed the ceremony of the Second Degree , and Bro . Pakes thc ceremony of installation .