A Word To The Wise.

A WORD TO THE WISE .

THE Masonic papers Aveekly teem Avith advice ancl instruction to ^ the Brethren , Avise ancl sage counsel is given to all . It might , therefore , be considered superfluous on my part offering any advice , when we read from day to clay orations that contain all , and

more than I could possibly transcribe Avith my feeble pen . Still I feel that Avhile going over again such Avell-trodden ground , ancl calling your attention to advice ancl counsel so often given , that I may yet be doing an importaut duty to Masonry . Remember the lesson of the Chisel so often

inculcated m our Lodges , " Perseverance is necessary to ensure Perfection . " It is to the rulers of the Craft especially that I now address myself—I mean to AVorshipful Masters and Past Mastersthose among you AVIIO rightly know ancl

duly perform your duties require no reminding from me , and will kindly bear with me . The reason of my Avriting this article is the unparalleled progress and good fortune of Masonry in Groat Britain ; in fact , at such a headlong speed does our

prosperity seem now to carry our charity of " Faith , Hope , and Charity , " that it is necessary to apply the drng ere it may be too late . I would urge it on you W . M . ' s aud your AA'orthy predecessors in the chair ( for such is the glut of Avork that Past

Masters with all and sundry will have to come to the front to assist you iu your arduous duties ) . I Avould urge it on you , Avorthy Wardeus , aspirants for the chair of your Lodge , to be careful AA'IIO you admit as candidates . Examine Avell their

personal characters , their daily lives . Make it difficult in this respect to gain admittance to your Lodge . If a candidate is proposed by a well-known and AA'orthy brother , inform yourselves through him of his fitness for admission , that " So their li ght may shine before men and glorify their Father AA'hich is in Heaven . "

Do you folloAV me , brethren , you AA'IIO rule Lodges ? Undoubtedly you do , and will duly i > erform your duties ; but a Avord to the Avise is never in vain , prosperity ancl good fortune mi ght turn the head of the best amongst us . Be careful ! AVatch !

To you AA'orthy Past Masters I AVOUIC say , though you have now laid down the seals of office , yet even in your case you cannot yet enjoy that comfortable " otium

cum dignitate" that you so hoped for , another sphere of usefulness is open to you . AVhen the proposers ancl seconders , when the rulers of your Lodge have clone their duty , your turn comes . You , the old ancl venerated rulers of the well-skilled ( as you

should be ) in the various duties , various teachings and lectures ; you , I say , haA'e noAv your work— "the instruction of Initiates . " You have not only to explain the ceremonial through Avhich they have gone , you have not only to prepare their

minds for Avhat is to folloAV , you have to inculcate in them the true spitit , tlie true aim of Masonry . You have to form , Masouically speaking their infant minds , so that as they rise gradually on the ladder they may duly appreciate the beauties of our Order , ancl seek earnestly to penetrate the inner arena of our science .

Has this thought ever struck you , AA'orthy P . M . ' s ? Doubtless many , very many , of you haA'e felt it , and acted conscientiously upon it , but , as iu the case of the initiate these aspirations , he becomes a lukeAvarm Mason , perhaps seldom again entering a

Lodge . So also in your case , there may ba many evm amongst you AVIIO say , " I haA'e done my duty , I may HOAV rest from my labours . " Absentees from Lodge , even in your exalted grade , sometimes exist . I Avrite in all kindnessnot doubting you as

, a whole , but does not the zeal flag sometimes ? Doas not the youthful zest that once animated you sometimes fail you ? When you see your Lodge prosperous and the Avork li ght . Brethren , I say your work had need neA'er be li ght ; you can iu your

different spheres of usefulness assist your ProA'ince , your Provincial Grand Master ; you can labour for the charities ; you can instruct your less informed brethren . In fact , on " you depends the spirit , the feeling , the ardent Avish for more li ght , that

should ever be the actuating motives of your Lodge , especially among its junior members . " Your W . M . is the heart that conceives , and the heart that clevises , and it will be in vain if you , the hands , be not prompt to execute the design .

Though the chief part of what I had to say has IIOAV been said , I feel that my object Avill not have been fully accomplished , Avithout a few Avords to the newly Initiated . You , my younger brethren ( if I may so call you ) , have latel y entered a most ancient