Lodge Duties.

understood and endeavoured honestly to carry out those duties which do devolve upon every Freemason during his lodge career , the Order would take a new departure . VVe should no longer see empty seats at our lodge meetings , we should see a falling away of unworthy and idle brethren , and a corresponding accession of men of intelligence and position . Our lodges would become in fact what they were intended to be—level floors upon

which would meet educated and inquiring men of all classes , who would exchange sentiments , elevate one another ' s tastes , gain oneanother's esteem , and realise that , whatever may be the conflict of religious or political opinion , there are things greater than dogmas of sects or fads of doctrinaires , that the great Brotherhood of Humankind is God-born , and that the highest duty of every member of it is to try to live a God-like life and to cherish

God-like sentiments—that every man who denies the existence of the Great Architect of the Universe is an enemy of society and of his fellow men , and the worse and more dangerous enemy because he commonly has the special qualification of the Old Serpent , in the characteristic of Plausibility . Believe me , brethren , there is yet a grand possible future for our noble old Craft . Those who say that it is an effete organisation , that its

members are overgrown children , that its ceremonies are meaningless twaddle , talk of what they do not understand . Freemasonry is like a galvanic battery , lt makes no show , It is passive and seemingly inert to the outer world—and , I am sorry to think , and to know , to many of its own members as well . But let the contact once take place . Let two Masonic hearts ' that love thc true principles of the Order meet and the thrill is felt

in a moment . The electric current of sympathy and the anxiety to effect some good for the Order and for the great brotherhood of man runs unchecked through the fraternal circle—and the union is complete . And this is why I have selected as the subject of my address to you to-night— " Lodge Duties "—because I wish to sketch out for you some ideas of my own as to what are the duties that fall to the lot of the average Mason as he passes

through the phases of a Masonic life in hislodge , and I hope to be able to prove to you the advantages that would accrue to our Order could we induce our brethren to regard Freemasonry as not a trifling matter , but as a profession , having the highest claims upon our love and attention , and in the faithful discharge of which we might largely add to thc happiness of ourselves , the usefulness of our Order , and the advancement of that time when peace shall

reign triumphant over our world . Let us then take the case of a candidate of intelligence and educationand all candidates , whatever their rank in life , should have these qualifications—who is about to pass through the ceremony of initiation . What is the duty of his proposer towards him 7 I sometimes have regretted to observe a great deal of nonsense talked , even to the extent of forcing thc mind that the solemnities of

candidate into such a giddy condition of the ritual have been unable to compel him to preserve his normal balance of thought , wilh the inevitable result that his earliest impressions of the Order arc of tho lightest and most ridiculous kind . The careless and foolish observations of brethren in thc ante-room often tend to disturb the sedate feelings with which every man should enter the portals of a Lodge , and I think one

of thc first duties of every Mason is to check any unseeml y or irreverent conduct that hc may note , more especially in connection with the introduction of a novice . For these and other reasons it is most desirable that , whenever possible , a candidates' room should be provided , so that the thoughtless conversation of arriving brethren and the bustle of the Tyler should not interfere with the thoughts of the aspirant . In spite of all the

many drawbacks that arc apt to occur , it is usually sufficiently evident that candidates are greatly impressed by their first introduction into our lodges , and this fact alone should add weight to our anxieties that such impressions should not be rubbed off or injured in any degree . But I fear that occasionally the moulding of opinion that has been cast during the ceremony is torn or disturbed during the subsequent proceedings of the evening . I

think I was never so much disgusted as on one occasion when refreshment had followed the closing of a lodge at which a candidate had been initiated , and when I had asked the novitiate what he thought of the ceremony . He was in the act of telling me that he was greatly impressed with the ideas suggested to him , that lie thought the meeting one of the pleasantest kind , and that such an association might be productive of great good by ( as poor

Leech makes his cockney sportsman say ) ' \ brineing people together as would not otherwise meet . " Just then came up the candidate ' s proposer , and said : " Now then , come along into the supper-room } the real thing is going to commence . Hope you haven't been bored to death . " I need hardly say that such a speech was calculated utterly to destroy any good tm . nrfnt ' mn fhat miirht have * h <« pn laid that evenintr . and I tell the storu onlv

for the purpose of illustrating the absolute and imperative duty of saying and doing nothing that might lend to destroy , or even injure , the desire which we wish to see grafted upon every candidate ' s mind- —the desire to take an early and living interest in the Order he joins . The same remarks stand good for the Second and Third Degrees . If candidates are permitted

to slip through , with no Knowledge ot tne test questions ; u mey are lea to the belief that the whole thing is a farce , or an idle excuse for a festive evening , it would be far better for our Order if candidates never joined us . If the evil seeds sown are ever uprooted , it will take time and labour to effect it ; but thc probability is , that as long as these disappointed members live they will never forget their first impressions—which are tverything .

And when a brother has passed through his Three Degrees , and is invested with the distinguishing badge of a Master Mason , what are his duties ? I take it that they are ampl y laid down in general form in the charge in thc First Degree , and in the investment ceremonies , in addition to which every brother hears an additional exhortation as to his lodge duties at the installation of every Worshipful Master . But it may be that there are

points of duty that may be emphasised more particularly , and which are worth some comment and attention . I think that one important idea to be kept before his mind by every brother who hopes to succeed in Masonry , and to win the affections of his brethren , is that he is only one of a body , and that the objects of a lodge are not selfish , but the general pleasure ancl happiness of the whole Fraternity , combined with the success and prosperity of the

lodge itself . Every brother should look with special reverence towards his mother lodge , in which he first saw the light , and his constant wish should be to aid its advancement and reputation . It is the absolute duty of every brother upon thc floor of a lodge to aid by his acquiescence , if not by his active energy , thc endeavours of the brethren upon thc dais to forward the lodge

interests . Those brethren have , upon the face of it , nothing to gain . They have passed the chair , the * highest honour the lodge has in its power to bestow on any of its members , and the very fact of their constant attendance proves that their anxiety is to promote the welfare of the lodge . Those who have passed the chair naturally have gained , under even the most adverse Circumstances , an experience that cannot have fallen to the lot of those , how-

Lodge Duties.

ever old in the Craft , who have not enjoyed that honour , with its difficulties and trials , and it is only fair to them to believe that their subsequent action is urged by nothing more nor less than an anxiety for the future of the lodge that gave them their position . A brother on the floor who sets himself in opposition to the body of Past Masters on the dais forgets , or is ignorant of , his lodge duties . Such brethren are occasionally to be found , and if their

cases were inquired into , it would generally be discovered that they were of a cantankerous disposition , ready to foment disturbance in any society , and pre-eminently selfish . For them the lodge has no significance . They are careless of its progress , or success , or reputation , so long as they can serve their own ends , or gratify their own ambition or spite . No lodge would be advantaged by the accession of such members , and their conduct sufficiently

proves their own complete unfitness even to occupy the chair of K . S . I am perfectly satisfied that no brother of education and intelligence , who is content to work and wait , will ever work and wait in vain ; but the one who tries to force events , in spite of the better knowled ge and experience of his elders , will find his prototypes in the three ruffians who stayed not their hands at murder for the sake of a mad endeavour to obtain what might have been

theirs by right of merit , had they not given themselves up willing victims to overweening pride and self-conceit . The time will surely come to every well conducted and competent brother when he is asked to take an office in the lodge . This is the period when it will fall to him to prove his capabilities . It is not given to every man to succeed , and many brethren have no ambition to occupy the chair ; but when a

brother has the opportunity given him to exhibit his prowess , it should be his first care to render himself perfect for whatever post it may have pleased the W . M . tonominatehim . Somemenmakeafatal mistake in neglecting their duties whilst occupying the inferior offices . Nothing succeeds like success , and if it be noticed that an officer is perfect in his work , even if he be covered by no more important a collar than that of Inner Guard , his chances of

promotion will be largely increased . Every master likes to see his work done well and smartly , and those officers who are most punctual and diligent are certainly the most likely to be advanced in the future . Every officer should also feel it his imperative duty to consistentl y and heartily support the VV . Master . He who takes an opposite course is distinctly disloyal , and forfeits his opportunities . I can quite understand a brother being placed in

tne chair antl disappointing thc expectations of his brethren , although when this does occur , I feel sure that the fiasco has arisen as much through the indiscretion of thc lodge in placing the brother in his high position , as through any fault of the brother himself . Yet this does not excuse any member of the lodge for any act of insubord ination or disloyalty . _ As a brother progresses through thc various offices he should make it a

duty to acquaint himself not only with the ritual and peculiar work appertaining to each office , but should endeavour to master the history , traditions , landmarks , and constitutions of the Craft ; and he will find his natural and ready tutors to be thc W . M . and the Past Masters of the lodge . Judging from my own observations and experience , I have no hesitation in saying that no brother ever offered himself as a ounil who did not find a readv

response from thc dais . Generally speaking , the difficulty with the leaders of a lodge is , to find young brethren who will take sufficient interest in its concerns to spend the time and attention requisite to qualify themselves to sit on its councils , and the Past Masters arc only too happy to find a rising Mason of intelligence who will work with them . It is sometimes a source of serious anxiety with old members of a lodge to note the indifference to lodire

concerns on the part of their juniors , and they are happy when they find a brother who promises to follow in their steps , and to expend some of his energies in carrying out the work they have begun . The field is always large , and there is room for all , more than all , who come forward . One thing that brethren of all grades should keep in view is the necessity to exclude from the lodge meetings everything that mieht tend to create a

division of opinion . It is especiall y the case in small towns that there are questions , neither political nor religious , on which serious and sometimes hot disagreements exist , and I have known cases myself where the introduction of such subjects has led to fatal misunderstandings and the rupture of Masonic friendshi ps . Let brethren always remember that the object of our meetings is to be happy and to communicate happiness . There are

always plenty of topics in this busy world sufficiently popular to prevent any chance of discord , and it should be the duty of every brother to avoid the introduction of any subject which could by any possibility raise feelings of animosity ; and , as in polite society , so in Masonry , if indications should crop up of the least feeling of soreness in any quarter , it is the imperative duty of every good Mason to turn the conversation , and hold out the olive

branch of peace . Of all the officers of a Lodge , the Wardens and Secretary occupy the ™ ° st important positions , because the two former should be the right and left hands of the Master , and the latter , if a qualified brother , is to a large extent the pivot upon which the Lodge moves . The Wardens should be members tx-officio of all Lodge Committees , and in most well regulated Lodges they , with the Secretary and Treasurer , are members nf the Standlna

or General Purposes' Committee , and represent in its councils the element below the Chair . Their sympathies should therefore be in accord with every member of the Lod ge , and they should feel it a duty to make themselves acquainted with the feelings and wishes of the brethren generally , and should never lose an opportunity of using every endeavour to smooth over , as far as possible , any difficulty that may arise . In view of their own

progress to the Chair they should especially perfect themselves in the details of the ceremonial , and impress upon their brother officers the necessity for punctuality and attention . Nothing is more depressing or wearisome to a Master than to feel himself badly supported by his Wardens , and nothing is more likel y to give a good impression to thc members generally than to see the chairs in the West and South promptly and efficiently occupied .

When the Wardens of a Lodge arrive late , or are deficient in their work , not all the promptitude and energy of the Master can compensate . The effect is necessarily deleterious , and the Lodge always suffers , both in the estimation of its members and of their visitors . Not very long ago an instance occurred in a Lodge in one Province where the Junior Warden disputed the decision of the Master on a point of ritual in open Lodge . A more gross case of insubordination could not occur , and the brother who thus

transgressed showed himself , by his action , to be quite unfit ever to occupy the Chair , since he had not learned the early elementary lesson of the duty of every brother to submit and obey . It is by the exhibition of energy , zeal , promptitude , and care in a Warden ' s chair that a brother has opportunities of proving to the members of his Lodge that he is qualified to preside over them , and the brother who does not realize this , and who does not act accordingly , cannot expect to rule his Lodge successfully . ( To be continued . )